GB2468897A

GB2468897A - Pair of crutches with handles comprising complimentary engagement means

Info

Publication number: GB2468897A
Application number: GB0905189A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon John Buckingham; Nigel Anthony Chute
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-03-26
Filing date: 2009-03-26
Publication date: 2010-09-29
Also published as: GB0905189D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a pair of crutches 1, each crutch having handle 4 extending from the crutch shaft 2. At least one crutch handle 4 supports an engagement means 10A, 10B to connect the handle 4 of one crutch 1 to the handle 4 of another crutch 1. The two crutches 1 can be joined by their handles 4 to allow a pair of crutches 1 to lean against a vertical surface X. Preferably, the engagement means comprises a pair of magnets, the first magnet having a first polarity and the second magnet having a second polarity. The magnets are optionally supported in a disc-shaped casing 10A, 10B, with the first face of the casing 10A, 10B attached to the free end 4A of the crutch handle. The first face of the casing 10A, 10B may support a self adhesive pad.

Description

Title: Improvements Relatiqg to Crutches.

The present invention relates to improvements relating to crutches.

Many people need to walk with crutches. Such crutches usually have a shaft with an upper end supporting a C-shaped sleeve to engage around the arm of a user, and a handle below the C-shaped sleeve extending from the shaft to which can be held in the user's hand. The lower end usually has a "single point" rubber foot to engage the ground.

When such crutches are discarded, e.g. when a user sits down, it is common practice to lean each crutch against a surface such as a wall. Because each crutch rest on a single point rubber foot with only the friction of the surface it rests against keeping it upright, it can easily topple over making it difficult for a user to pick up and the crutch may damage other items such as furniture.

The invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a pair of crutches each crutch having handle extending from the crutch shaft which can be held in a user's hand, at least one crutch supporting an engagement means to connect the handle of one crutch to the handle of another crutch whereby two crutches can be joined by their handles to allow a pair of crutches to lean against a vertical surface.

Preferably the engagement means is in the form of a magnet exposing a face of a first polarity and connected to the end of a handle on one crutch, and a magnet exposing a face of a second polarity and connected to the end of a handle on the other crutch, whereby the end of the handle of one crutch is attracted to the end of the handle of the other crutch.

Preferably each magnet is supported in a disc-shaped casing with one first face of the casing connected to the end of a crutch handle. The first face may support a self adhesive pad.

The invention also relates to a pair of disc-shaped casings each of a size to fit of the end of a crutch handle and each being magnetic, each disc having one face supporting a self adhesive pad to connect the one face to the end of a crutch handle, and the opposite face of one disc being of opposite polarity of the opposite face of the other disc.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a view of a disc casing on a crutch handle, and Figure 2 shows a view of a pair of crutches connected together.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a pair of identical crutch handle 4 each forming part of a crutch I shown in Figure 2. Handles 4 each have a generally planar and circular free end 4A.

Engagement means in the form of a pair of disc shaped casings 1OA,1OB are provided to connect the two handles together.

Casing 1OA has an internal magnet hA, and has a first face 12A supporting a layer of self adhesive 13A having a removable cover sheet 14A. Once cover sheet 14A is removed, first face 12A can be bonded to the free end 4A of handle 4. Casing 1OA has second face iSA opposite face 1 2A. Magnet 1 1A is orientated so that second face 1 5A exposes a magnetic field with a "North" polarity.

Casing lOB has an internal magnet 11B and a first face 12B supporting a layer of self adhesive I 3B having a removable cover sheet I 4B. Once cover sheet 1 4B is removed, first face I 2B can be bonded to the free end 4A of handle 4. Casing lOB has second face 15B opposite face 12B.

Magnet 11 B is orientated so that second face 1 5B exposes a magnetic field with a "South" polarity.

As shown in Figure 2 a pair of crutches 1 are provided. Crutches 1 have an adjustable height shaft 2 with an upper end supporting a C-shaped sleeve 3 to engage around the arm of a user, and a handle 4 below the C-shaped sleeve extending from the shaft which can be held in the user's hand. The lower end of shaft 2 has a "single point" rubber foot 5 to engage the ground.

As shown in Figure 2, the engagement means, as provided by the pair of disc-shaped casings 1 OA, I OB, attract and thus connect the handle of one crutch to the handle of another crutch whereby two crutches can be joined by their handles to allow a pair of crutches to lean against a vertical surface such as a wall "X".

It is envisaged that the disc-shaped casings could be fitted to a pair of crutches, or sold separately for fitment to a pair of crutches. In this case the self adhesive may not be required as the disc could be secured to crutch handle by other means or magnets could be integrally moulded with the crutch handles. The invention thus also relates to a pair of disc-shaped casings each of a size to fit of the end of a crutch handle and each being magnetic, each disc having one face supporting a self adhesive pad to connect the one face to the end of a crutch handle, and the opposite face ofone disc being of opposite polarity of the opposite face of the other disc.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above. For example the engagement means could be a mechanical connector to connect two handles together rather than a magnet.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. According to the present invention there is provided a pair of crutches each crutch having a handle extending from the crutch shaft which can be held in a user's hand, at least one crutch supporting an engagement means to connect the handle of one crutch to the handle of another crutch whereby two crutches can be joined by their handles to allow a pair of crutches to lean against a vertical surface.
2. A pair of crutches according to claim 1, wherein the engagement means is in the form of a magnet exposing a face of a first polarity and connected to the end of a handle on one crutch, and a magnet exposing a face of a second polarity and connected to the end of a handle on the other crutch, whereby the end of the handle of one crutch is attracted to the end of the handle of the other crutch.S S
3. A pair of crutches according to claim 2, wherein each magnet is supported in a disc-shaped casing with one first face of the casing connected to the end of a crutch handle.
4. A pair of crutches according to claim 3, wherein the first face may support a self adhesive pad.
5. A pair of crutches substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
6. A pair of disc-shaped casings each of a size to fit on the end of a crutch handle and each being magnetic, each disc having one face supporting a self adhesive pad to connect the one face to the end of a crutch handle, and the opposite face of one disc being of opposite polarity of the opposite face of the other disc.
7. A pair of disc-shaped casings substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
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