GB2339682A

GB2339682A - Walking aid ferrule with ball joint and spring

Info

Publication number: GB2339682A
Application number: GB9816302A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jacqueline Ann Robins; Tracey Diane Youde
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-07-27
Filing date: 1998-07-27
Publication date: 2000-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 2018-07-27
Also published as: GB2339682B; EP1097691B1; ES2212475T3; GB2339682A8; GB9816302D0; DE69911970T2; EP1097691A1; ATE251442T1; DE69911970D1

Abstract

The invention proposes a foot-like device for a crutch or crane that provides the required degree of usefulness and simplicity at an economic outlay. More specifically, the invention suggests, for use with a walking aid, a ground-engaging device which is like a shin-ankle-foot combination; it has a shin-like mounting member (16), to be carried by or adapted to be mounted on the shank (11) of the aid, and a terminal gound-engaging foot-like member (17) connected to the shin (16) by a ball-and-socket coupling (21,22) that will permit a limited degree of flexing of the foot (17) about the axis of the shank (11), the coupling's ball (21) being fixedly secured to the shin (16) and being retained within a socket (22) in the foot (17) in which there is a ball-supporting plunger (25) resiliently biassed (26) towards the ball (21) so as to provide a degree of shock absorbency. <IMAGE>

Description

2339682

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred form of the invention will now be described by way of illustration only with respect to the accompanying drawing which is an axial sectional view through the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

This invention relates to a shock absorbing non-slip ftvice for the ground engaging ends for walking aids.

Walking aids normally comprise of a rigid aluminium tube with a rubber grommet on the ground engaging end and a fixed hand grip on the opposite end.

According to the present invention there is provided a-ground engaging end for the device :1 - 0 which always sits flat to the engaging surface even on a compound angle, also it is spring loaded in such a way that is has an inbuilt shock absorbing feature.

Fi-ure I Shows an example of the complete assembly.

0 Figure 2 Shows a cross section of the assembled device.

a- 5UMMARY QF ME IMM Accordingly, the present invention relates to a ground engaging foot device for a crutch or other walking aid for a disabled person comprising a longitudinally extending shank having a ground engaging foot distally mounted thereon, characterised in that the device comprises a mounting member carried by or adapted to be mounted upon the said shank and a terminal ground engaging member connected to said mounting means by a coupling means, said coupling means permitting flexing of said ground engaging member about the longitudinal access of said shank, said ground engaging member and/or said mounting member being provided with means for limiting the extent of flexing of said ground engaging member relative to said mounting member.

Preferably, the mounting member comprises a sleeve member which is a push, screw or other fit upon the distal end of the shank and carries a distally projecting ball which engages as a captive fit within a corresponding socket in the proximal end of the ground engaging member.

Preferably, the ground engaging member contains a spring or other bias means for ensuring a frictional engagement of the ball or other coupling means in the socket in the ground engaging means. This spring or bias means also provides a measure of shock absorbency when the ground engaging member strikes the ground. Preferably, the distal end of the ground engaging member carries a rubber or similar pad to provide a friction surface to the distal end of the member.

The means for limiting the extent of flexing or pivoting of the ground engaging member relative to the mounting member can take the form of inter-engaging chamfers or tapers on the opposed faces of the mounting member and ground engaging member. Alternatively, the opposed faces of these members may carry axially projecting stocks against which the other member bears as the ground engaging member pivots or flexes about the longitudinal access of the shank. In a further alternate, the ground engaging member can be provided with a sleeve which extends axially to encompass at least part of the mounting member and/or the shank and the clearance between the inner wall of the sleeve and the outer wall of the shank or mounting member permits flexing or pivoting of the ground engaging member until the sleeve engages the shank or mounting member.

Preferably, the device has radial symmetry and the ground engaging member can flex or pivot through an angle of from 5 to 20 degrees about the longitudinal access of the shank in all directions.

Claims

A walking aid device, comprising of a sleeve member with ball end or other coupling means, a ground engaging member, means for reasonably securing the said walking aid device to walking aids by means of push, screw or other fit, the base of the said walking aid device being a non - slip engaging pad, the inner of the said walking aid device being a spring offering a shock - absorbing feature, and the said walking aid device thereby always sitting flat to the engaging surface even on a compound angle.

2) A walking aid device as claimed in Claim I wherein the ground engaging member conceals a spring or other bias means, for ensuring ffictional engagement of the ball or other coupling means in the socket of the ground engaging means I The said spring or other bias means also provides a measure of shock - absorbency when the ground engaging member strikes the ground. 3 A walking aid device as claimed in Claim I and Claim 2, wherein the sleeve member with ball or other coupling means is attached to the ground engaging member by means of a split retaining cap Item 2, shown in the section view of Figure I, thereby engaging said sleeve member with ball end or other coupling means in a corresponding socket within the body of the ground engaging meiTfkf 4) A walking aid device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the split retaining cap is Atfkhed to the ground engaging member by means of retaining screws, bolts or other retaining means. 5) A walking aid device as claimed in any Preceding Claim, wherein the said walking aid device has a non - slip engaging pad, being rubber or similar, attached to the ground engaging member by means of retaining screws, bolts or other retaining means, to provide a fiiction surface at the distal end of the member.

6) A walking aid device substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 5 off 6 ( Item 4), sheet 3 of 4 ( figure I), sheet 4 of 4 ( figure 2), of the accompanying drawings.

I J-- Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A ground-engaging device to be attached to the end of a crutch or other walking aid for a disabled person, the crutch or other aid being of the type having a longitudinally-extended shank onto the distal end of which the ground-engaging device can be mounted, which device comprises:

mounting member mountable on the shank, and ground-engaging member connected to the mounting member by a coupling means that in use permits flexing of the ground-engaging member about the longitudinal axis of the shank; and wherein:

the ground-engaging member incorporates a socket, and the coupling means is a ball joint the ball of which is fixedly attached to the mounting member and is rotatably retained within the socket in the ground-engaging member; resilient biassing means is disposed within the socket so as to engage with the ball and provide a measure of shock absorbency; and the ground-engaging member and/or the mounting member is/are provided with means for limiting the extent of flexing of the ground-engaging member relative to the mounting member.
2. A ground-engaging device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the mounting member comprises a sleeve member.
3. A ground-engaging device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the sleeve member is a push fit on the shank.
4. A ground-engaging device as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the ball of the ball joint is retained within the socket by means of a split retaining cap.
5. A ground-engaging device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the split retaining cap is attached to the ground engaging member by screws.
6. A ground-engaging device as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the bias means in the ballretaining socket is a spring cooperating with a plunger/piston in actual contact with the ball.
7. A ground-engaging device as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the ground-engaging member carries a rubber or similar pad to provide a friction surface for secure ground engagement.
8. A ground-engaging device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the means for limiting the extent of relative flexing of the ground-engaging member and the mounting member takes the form of inter-engaging chamfers or tapers on the opposed faces of the mounting member and ground-engaging member.
9. A ground-engaging device as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the ground-engaging member can flex or pivot through an angle of 5 to 20 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the shank in all directions.
10. A ground-engaging device as claimed in any of the preceding Claims and substantially as described hereinbefore.