JP2008517665A - crutch - Google Patents

Abstract

A crutch used for walking includes a lower cylinder member and an upper cylinder member nested in an upper end of the lower cylinder member. A device for connecting the upper cylindrical member to the lower cylindrical member is provided. The device eliminates the need for tools to adjust crutches and reduce noise. A structurally designed handle and knob structure is placed adjacent to the upper end of the lower tubular member to improve operation and assembly. The compressible tip contracts to absorb energy and the effects of squeaking due to impact on the ground, and then returns the energy to the user to assist in the forward force. The arm rest connected to the upper end of the upper cylindrical member is provided to prevent slipping from the side during use, and the arm rest is structurally deformed while the upper arm extension is greatly extended. Fits aside as you do.
[Selection figure] None

Description

Inventor: Richard C. Davis
This application gives priority to the applicant's US Provisional Application No. 60 / 621,161, filed Oct. 25, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Insist.
The present invention relates to crutches. In particular, the present invention relates to crutches having telescoping cylinders, side supports, handle / knob assemblies, silencers / push buttons, and compressible tips.

  Various forms of crutches have been used for 5000 years. The crutches are the current form of armpit and forearm crutches made of wood and aluminum, starting with the use of fallen tree branches to balance and assist walking. Has evolved into The material of construction may be changed, but the overall structure of the crutch is almost the same. The crutch is basically a rigid cane having a handle and armpit support or forearm support.

  The first US patent specification for crutches was issued to Tuttle in 1885 (U.S. Pat. No. 332,684), then a number of patents for crutches were issued, and thereafter Related patents disclose other ancillary features including arm rests adapted to body lines, more ergonomic handles, improved tips, and the like. Applicant's invention has actively contributed to the improvement of the structure of crutches over the past 20 years. No. 5,103,850, “Radial Cruc Tip Assembly”, US Pat. No. 5, “Radial Cruc Tip Assembly”. , 353,825, “Radial Cruction Tip Assembly”, US Pat. No. 5,409,029, “Improved Crut”, US Pat. No. 5,411. , 045, “Crutch” US Pat. No. 5,417,234, “Crutch” US Pat. No. 5,465,745, and “Crutch” US Patent 5,458,145 Pat is a list of prior art this incidental application of the applicant in connection with the present invention. The disclosures of the above patent documents are incorporated herein by reference.

  However, despite the applicant's improvements and improvements being made by others, current crutch construction continues to present a series of important unresolved issues regarding crutch users. For example, the high energy consumption of the current crutch structure is considered. The standard crutch described by the prior art still requires about twice the energy required for normal walking to walk from a resting state to “arm swing walking”. This means that while the “arm swinging with crutch” movement is a very dynamic process, the user stretches while maintaining the left / right balance of the user and the vertical gap necessary for the user's feet. This is due to the need for both complex balance and strength in order to maintain vertical orientation by the total weight of the user over the upper arm rest on the upper arm. This energy consumption is further increased when a load is applied downward by a user wearing a leg, knee, ankle or foot cast or other external orthopedic fixation device / external orthopedic fixation device. Will be increased.

  That is, the upper body's resistance response to the impact of positioning and colliding the crutch tip is transmitted to the user's upper arm and shoulder above the crutch shaft, thus reducing the effects of these squeaks. Adaptive response is required. The user essentially needs to push up the whole body for each swing swing while maintaining the balance of the user over the two swivel bars not connected to the body.

  Repeated wounds (caused by repeated vertical loads and torsional moments on the hands, wrists, arms and shoulders): Standard crutches described by the prior art do not incorporate appropriate human factors Therefore, it does not fully adapt to the continuously and dynamically changing shoulder belt structural relationship that occurs during crutch use. Thus, prior art structures generally exacerbate wounds due to repetitive motion. The resulting wound is an axial load that, during use, imparts stress on the upper arm muscles, joints, long bones and other structures due to abnormal postures that occur because they are not adapted by the rigid structures inherent in prior art structures. Caused by both rotational loads. In addition, standard crutch users may have other wounds or other illnesses (such as multiple sclerosis, seizures, obesity, etc.) such as inflammation (ie, arthritis) that affects upper arm function or related strength. If so, another wound, pain, or other undesirable effect is likely to occur.

  Wounds caused by falls: Standard crutches described by the prior art promote excessive fatigue in the user's upper body, which can increase the occurrence of slipping and falling, and can be seriously injured there is a possibility.

  Small size range: Conventional crutches commonly used today are children (4 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 2 inches), adults (5 feet 2 inches to 5 feet 10 inches), and tall adults (5 feet 10 inches). To obtain three different sizes of crutches (inch to 6 feet 6 inches), it typically consists of a short vertical adjustment member with a small range of height adjustments that requires crutch preparers. This structural limitation increases the need for inventory and the operating costs of the crutch preparer, and therefore the cost.

  “Crutch paralysis”: Conventional crutches commonly used today can cause crutch paralysis in the form of severe brachial nerve damage that occurs when the user places his weight on the armrest There is. Therefore, the current usage instruction is that the user adjusts the height of the crutch so that the arm rest is arranged with a width of two or three fingers below the armpit, and this distance relationship is dynamically changed. Need to be maintained during proper use. This instruction request allows the user to compress the arm rest between the user's chest wall and the user's upper arm during use to prevent the upper part of the crutch from sliding down from the arm and at the same time The handle must be pushed up so as to apply the entire weight of the person to prevent contact with the arm rest during use. Maintaining both of these actions simultaneously requires a very unnatural arm position and requires a large degree of upper body strength and energy consumption in order to utilize this form of crutch. This combination of unfavorable structure and unfavorable compliance from the associated instructions for use results in excessive fatigue, friction, pain, discomfort, and increases the possibility of non-compliance and further injury.

  Disadvantaged arm length adjustment: The standard crutches commonly used today utilize a 1.5 inch arm length adjustment that may not make it possible to properly fit a large number of patients, Many patients must bend or bend over and use crutches, which can cause additional wounds.

  Small weight range: The standard crutches commonly used today are weight limited for patients weighing up to 275 pounds, thus creating problems for today's exercisers who have weights well above this limit To do.

  Pain, discomfort and friction: Standard crutches described by the prior art appear to be uncomfortable in use and cooperate with dynamically changing human structures that occur during the complex walking process of crutches Not designed properly. The movement of the shoulder belt during walking with crutches is described in detail below. The disadvantages of the structure of the individual components of standard crutches, such as arm rests, tubes, handles, and tips, contribute to user pain, discomfort and friction.

  For example, conventional crutches commonly used today incorporate hard rubber arm rests, which are concave on the top / bottom surface, and thus during walking movements with crutches. It does not fit into the cup-shaped armpit formed by the shoulder girdle muscles and tendons when supporting weight during dynamic changes in the upper arm extension as it occurs. Hard rubber arm rests are extremely uncomfortable and are not intended to be in dynamic contact with the user's side during use, nor do they provide cushioning or promote energy return to the user .

  A cylinder provided on a conventional crutch typically has a pair of hard aluminum (or wood) supporting a centrally located arm rest, handle and vertical height adjustment cylinder with a hard rubber tip. It consists of parallel tubes. The entire assembly is relatively rigid and does not include curved or other shaped energy storage means that allow energy to be returned to the user. In addition, disadvantageous tolerances and collision deficiencies increase the rattling noise in use and other unpleasant noises and rattling noises.

  Conventional crutch handles typically consist of a short circular handle located in the center, and are arranged between parallel tubes so as to have a center of mass located via a vertical center moment. The handle has a hard rubber circular grip that is generally too small for an adult male hand, causing the hand and wrist to be in an abnormal position, which can result in repeated use wounds as described above .

  Finally, conventional crutch tips incorporate an essentially flat hard rubber tip against a slightly concave annular tread with a large concentric square "U-shaped" annular groove molded inside. It is out. The structure of these chips is not particularly elastic, not compressible or does not correspond to uneven ground. The structure of these tips results in sacrificing comfort and safety for longer wear characteristics and does not promote cushioning, contouring to the ground, or energy return to the user.

  Finally, one of the biggest drawbacks of the prior art is that in these structures, the human factors related to walking with crutches are not well understood. This structure also does not understand the dynamic structure of the upper arm and shoulder band associated with the use of crutches. The movement of the shoulder band during walking with crutches is not fully considered in the prior art. Most structures are devised to accommodate the simple concept that the shoulder supports the movement of the arm and functions like a hinged joint that only pivots forward and backward while using crutches. ing. Many structures actually incorporate this disadvantageous concept by providing a hinged pivoting arm rest support (eg, US Pat. No. 2,429,409 to Eidman). , U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,005 to Yamazaki et al.).

  In reality, walking with a crutch is much more complicated, because the shoulder strap is actually a loose bearing ball joint that slides, and this bearing ball joint is a repetitive motion. This is because, while receiving a vertical vibration load, it moves across the chest, that is, in all directions of the dome-shaped lateral side wall of the upper chest wall, so as to draw a complex three-dimensional arc. During walking with crutches, more than 20 muscles are moved simultaneously to control the dynamic movement of the shoulder band, and several stresses put the user's weight over many moving structures . http: // www. upstate. edu / cdb / grossanat / limbs3. See "The Male and Female Criteria: Human Factors in Structure" by Thevin Al. R. Tilley (The Measurement of Man and Woman: Human Factors in Design).

  Assuming that the user is standing upright in a balanced neutral position at the starting position, the initial motion spans the anterior medial side of the shoulder band which imparts an approximately 20 degree inward pronation rotation to the arm. The arm itself extends about 30 degrees forward, and is turned about 20 degrees laterally in a large arc. The arm then positions the crutch and collides with the crutch tip so that the upper arm muscles (i.e., triceps, biceps and triceps) are the anterior saw, subscapular, Along with the supraspinatus, subspinous, trapezius, pectoral, circular (great and small), latissimus dorsi and other muscles, it is tightened to secure the shoulder band. Importantly, in particular, the user gradually puts the user's weight on the user's upper arm, and finally the user's arm in the middle position of the arm swing completely completes the user's total weight. When the biceps and triceps tendons are responding to the increased vertical load generated when supporting the arm, the armpit shape is removed from the smooth tip connection. It is greatly deformed into a deep pocket-shaped inner dome shape. Also, in addition to the musculature of the upper arm and shoulder belt, the user can use a bipedal platform that swivels and collides with the side surface when the armpit slides and moves in an arc shape across the chest wall. The forearm muscles are moved to assist in placing them to support their weight.

  When walking on crutches, when the forearm and hand muscles cooperate to complete the complex motion by stabilizing the crutch handle by gripping motion, large loads are applied to the joints of the hand, wrist and elbow At the same time, the user tightens the upper arm rest between the inner surface of the upper arm and the chest wall. Next, the user further leans forward, moves the user's center of gravity, pushes the user's body forward with the two legs and the user's “healthy” legs, Therefore, the crutch is advanced "by arm swing". As the user's weight moves along the arc across the transverse chest wall, the shoulder girdle slides to the rear and rear edges to arm about 20 degrees of outward supination rotation of the shoulder belt maximum range To give. In this way, both the user's arm and the placed crutch tip are subjected to a vertical vibration load that is at least equal to the user's weight (often several times that), and from the first point of impact to the end. A torsional moment of about 40 degrees is applied to the release point.

  This movement is reversed until the crutches that are no longer loaded are lifted off the ground, swung forward, and again placed in front of the user, so that the entire cycle is repeated every forward walk. Repeated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a group of integrated features that can function individually and synergistically to provide crutch users with a crutch that overcomes or substantially reduces a number of disadvantages of the prior art. Is described.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a crutch comprising components that are inexpensive to manufacture and facilitate assembly into a final product without the use of tools.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a crutch that can be purchased at a low cost by the user and has a high effect on the cost.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a crutch that is comfortable in use and easy to adjust at the time of purchase without the use of tools.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a crutch that is extremely ergonomic and conserves energy.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a very strong but lightweight crutch.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a crutch that allows a wide range of height adjustments for the user to eliminate the need for large quantities of inventory.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a crutch means that is extremely easy to operate and highly durable.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a crutch that can be used quietly while walking and provides the user with some security and safety.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a crutch having slip resistance.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a crutch that contributes to beauty.

  In summary, the present invention provides a crutch for assisting in walking. In one form, the lower cylinder member and the upper cylinder member are interconnected in a nested manner within the upper end of the lower cylinder member. The silencer / push button device disposed within the lower cylinder member is configured to allow a predefined amount of movement between the upper cylinder member and the lower cylinder member. The handle / knob structure is secured adjacent to the upper end of the lower tubular member for holding by the user. A compressible tip disposed adjacent to the outer surface of the lower end of the lower cylindrical member engages the ground, and an arm rest connected to the upper end of the upper cylindrical member is provided for comfort and stability.

  The arm rest may be a side rest made of a lightweight, compressible, self-skinned closed cell polyurethane foam cushion. The cushion body has a dome-like back surface and is configured to be connected to the upper cylindrical member. The cushion body also has a convex front buttress portion that moves to the concave center portion along the back direction and reaches the convex rear buttress portion at the rear portion. The flat bottom surface of the cushion body is on the opposite side of the back surface and has an extension directed downwardly below the bottom surface. The curved asymmetric central cavity traverses the interior of the cushion body parallel to the bottom surface from the front buttress portion toward the rear buttress portion. In the rear buttress portion, the central cavity is curved substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface passing through the downwardly oriented extension. A retaining plug adjacent to the front buttress and central cavity is included for function and aesthetics.

  The crutch handle includes a cantilevered longitudinal body having an upper dome-like surface and a lower back surface. The dome-shaped surface and the back surface have apexes approximately at the center of the cantilevered longitudinal body. The back surface gradually spreads radially in the lateral direction, and gradually tapers at an angle of about 20 degrees toward the upper end so as to match the angle of the gripping wrist. The circumferential width of the dome-shaped surface and the back surface tapers toward the end so as to form a narrowed end.

  At the narrow end, the bulbous buttress member can be smoothly integrated into the handle. The flange located at the proximal end of the cantilevered longitudinal body is arcuate and can be oriented perpendicular to the cantilevered body to extend below the back It is. A through-fixing bolt insert molded into the inner core of the cantilevered longitudinal body is at the top of the flange and is screwed to engage the fastener at the proximal end of the flange. The cantilevered cap is secured to the end and resides within the inner core of the cantilevered longitudinal body.

  The crutch knob includes a disk-shaped base having arcuate grips that are removed from the periphery of the disk-shaped base at evenly distributed intervals. On the opposite surface is a circular end having ribs that connect the periphery of the disc-shaped base to the central surface of the circular end. The center plane is flat with the exception of ridges oriented at the periphery of the center plane and along the connecting ribs, and has a securing device disposed on the hub of the center plane.

  The crutch tip has an elongated cylindrical cavity extending from the vicinity of the tapered conical upper surface, the convex lower surface, and the narrow end of the tapered conical surface toward the surface dividing the upper surface and the lower surface. Including. The convex lower surface includes a plurality of concentric outer dimensions of a flexible protruding ring having a generally distal end, and the cylindrical cavity includes a plurality of flexible members extending along the length of the cylindrical cavity. Including.

  The crutch silencer / pushbutton device includes a cup-shaped cylindrical structure having a generally closed end connected to the open end. The cup-shaped cylindrical structure has a plurality of void paths that extend a substantial distance from the open end toward the substantially closed end. An elastic member extending from the substantially closed end toward the open end is interlaced with the gap. The button and the restrictor are located at the end of the elastic member and are on opposite sides of each other. Buttons and restrictors engage the alignment holes in the cylinder to adjust the height of the crutch. A pair of circular holes that are substantially parallel to the generally closed end are provided to accommodate the through-fixing bolts. The generally closed end has an outer base surface with a slot so that rotational force can be applied and is configured to extend beyond the outer radius of the lower tubular member.

  The arm rest cup includes a cylindrical central portion having an upper opening and a lower opening. The central part is configured to be connected to the upper cylindrical member. Around the center, a U-shaped outer ellipse having a lower closed end and an upper open end can be designed to accommodate an extension directed downward of the arm rest. The arm rest cup is held in the cylindrical central portion by a latch tab button disposed in the upper opening.

  The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with the general description above and the following detailed description, illustrate various features of the present invention. Used for.

  The foregoing is provided for illustrative purposes only, and is shown in more detail in these drawings and is intended to limit the scope of the invention of this application that claims the portions described below. Is not intended.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Many problems associated with the prior art disclosure are due to the inherent lack of perception of the complexity of walking movements with crutches from the perspective of human factors (as described above) in the prior art disclosure. And a lack of understanding of the importance of designing effective energy storage properties that maximize propulsion, incorporate comfort properties, and minimize fatigue during use.

  The present invention is designed to overcome these and other disadvantages by incorporating a series of improvements that are devised to minimize or eliminate these undesirable effects. Thus, the present invention summarizes a series of new engineering design characteristics that can improve the performance and usefulness of crutches to overcome the shortcomings of current designs and provide overall improvements to the related art.

  1 to 8D show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a crutch 10 for assisting walking. The crutch includes a side pad 20, an upper cylinder 30, a lower cylinder 40, a handle 50, a knob 60, and a tip 70. The crutch 10 basically includes a telescopic strut structure that can incorporate only two cylinders, and the one cylinder has a single-structure cylindrical curved portion and a non-metallic fastener. . The structure of the crutch 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 incorporates an upper cylinder 30 that is nested in the lower cylinder 40. The tube can be any suitable cross-sectional shape, such as a circular or oval tube. The cylinder may be manufactured from any number of suitable materials such as plastic resin, steel or aluminum cylinders. In addition, a substantially circular thin-walled flexible tubular material made of chromium alloy steel (Chromium Alloy (registered trademark)) is preferable for some applications because the tubular material is stronger and presently used. Is cheaper than the aluminum structure, and therefore the manufacturing cost can be significantly reduced.

  In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-8D, the upper tube 30 has a single-structured cylindrical curved portion that can be attached to the side pad 20. A top tube 30 having a right angled portion about 8.6 inches long may be about 31.9 inches high. The 22 holes 31 can be aligned in a straight line along the upper cylinder 30 and can be equally spaced at an interval of 1 inch with respect to the center of the hole. The top tube 30 is made of Chrome Alloy® steel having an outer diameter (OD) of about 0.9 to about 1.0 inches based on failure mode analysis of about 150% or more with a load of up to 300 pounds. It can be manufactured from a tubular material. The tubular material can be designed to commercial grade AA-54658 standard or military standard MIL-STD-105.

  The lower cylinder 40 may have an inner diameter that is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the upper cylinder 30. Close tolerances between the tubes allow for proper telescopic motion and reduce unwanted noise. The lower cylinder 40 having about 29 holes 41 aligned in a straight line along the length of the lower cylinder 40 and equally spaced at intervals of 1 inch with respect to the center of the hole has a height of 37 inches. It is preferable. The lower tube 40 may have a collet 42 disposed at its upper end and made from a material such as plastic or metal. When the tip 70 is attached to the lower end of the lower tube 40, the uppermost hole 41 of the lower tube 40 can be arranged at a height of about 36.5 inches from the ground. A top hole 41 located at a height above the ground provides maximum height adjustment and arm length over the widest range of user heights. The crutch expansion and contraction structure accommodates users who are 4 feet 6 inches (children) to 7 feet 0 inches (very tall adults). The lower cylinder 40 can be manufactured from the same material as the upper cylinder 30 and designed to the same standard.

  The silencer / push button 80 shown in FIG. 4A connects the upper cylinder 30 to the lower cylinder 40. The silencer / push button device 80 incorporates an integrally molded cylinder silencer / push button made of polypropylene filled with glass at the lower end of the upper cylinder 30. The through-holes (31 and 41 in FIG. 1) are accurately aligned, and rattling noise and noise at the interface of the cylinder are prevented.

  The integral silencer / push button 80 is cylindrical and has a generally closed end 83 connected to an open end 88 as shown in FIG. 4A. The closed end 83 is slightly larger so as to have a larger radius than the lower tube 30. In this way, galling or vibration between the tubes is mitigated by the molded silencer. The silencer having the closed end portion 83 can also function as an expansion / contraction sliding assisting portion, a tube centering assisting portion, a hole alignment assisting portion, and a height positioning assisting portion. The cylindrical perimeter has a plurality of air gaps 87 that extend a substantial distance from the open end 88 toward the generally closed end 83. An elastic member 84 extending from the substantially closed end portion 83 toward the opening end 88 is interlaced with the gap path. The elastic member is long enough to produce a sufficient lever action of the button, and allows the telescopic cylinder shape to be used with complete adjustment. A silencer / push button with a hole diameter of about 1.0 inch is used to allow the tube to be compressed to the maximum size when stretched, and to allow crutches to be used by children who are 4 feet 6 inches tall Is approximately 1.9 inches long. The length is a length that does not hinder the adjustment position of the handle.

  The button 82 and the restrictor 85 are disposed at the end of the elastic member 84 and are opposite to each other. Button 82 and restrictor 85 engage the alignment hole of the cylinder so as to adjust the height of crutch 10. It is also possible to form the restrictor 85 as another button to provide additional measure lock security. A pair of circular holes 81 that are substantially parallel to the substantially closed end 83 are provided to accommodate the through-fixing bolts 51 (shown in FIG. 4). The substantially closed end 83 has an external base surface with a slot 86 for use, for example, for screwdrivers, so that a rotational force can be applied.

  It will be appreciated that the silencer / push button 80 can be used in any application to engage one telescopic tube with another telescopic tube. For example, the silencer / push button 80 may be used on a paint roller, window washer, or telescopic handle for a felling machine.

  In another embodiment of the silencer / push button 80 ′ as shown in FIG. 4B, the silencer / push button 80 ′ includes an interconnected push button 82 ′ and spring 84 ′ and silencer 83 ′. Including. The user presses the push button 82 ′ and compresses the spring means 84 ′, thereby removing the upper tube 30 from the lower tube 40. A circular cylinder silencer 83 'is press-fitted into the bottom end of the upper cylinder 30 to reduce noise, maintain cylinder centering, align the holes, maintain the height position, and push button 82' and spring means 84. 'Can be held in the upper tube 30.

  The present invention relates to a standard crutch made of aluminum having four cylindrical bends and at most eight fasteners and incorporating four cylindrical members having a linear cylinder more than twice the number of feet. Make a clear contrast. Those skilled in the art will recognize that metal cylinders, their manufacture and assembly are the most expensive of the individual components of a crutch assembly, and the numerous fasteners create crutch complexity, cost and unwanted noise. You will recognize that

  The upper cylinder 30 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 is fitted with a side pad 20 made of a lightweight, compressible, self-skinned closed cell polyurethane foam, adapted to the body line. Foam cushions are more durable and do not oxidize and deteriorate like rubber parts. Because the foam is easily cleanable, the foam is safer and more hygienic than a product filled with latex. The foam is more attractive in appearance and has greater compressibility with a high degree of elastic memory. The foam also has a durometer-like density, such as a triceps survivor at rest.

  5A-5D show various views of the domed back surface 23 that traverses the top of the side pad 20. As for the shape of the side pad 20, the upper part and the lower part have a peanut-shaped appearance. 5E and 5F show symmetrical front buttress means 21 and rear buttress means 22 that can use crutches on either the left or right side. The front buttress means 21 and the rear buttress means 22 are convex and contact the central recess 25. The convex part and concave part of the side pad 20 are extremely sufficient to prevent sliding from the side during use, and the user does not need to hold the side pad 20 under the arm of the user. However, the reason for this is particularly important. While the upper arm is stretched greatly in cooperation with the musculature of the shoulder band, the armpit is structurally deformed to form a deep cup-shaped pocket. In some cases, the side pad 20 has a dome shape, so that the side pad is compressed and naturally aligned with the body line, and can be placed at an appropriate position on the top of the side.

  FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the side pad 20 of the embodiment of FIG. The interior of the side pad 20 includes a cylindrical central cavity 26 that can be coupled and placed over the curved structure of the upper cylinder 30. The central cavity 26 traverses the inner core of the abutment 20 that extends parallel to the bottom surface 28, curves about 90 °, and exits perpendicular to the bottom surface 28. At least the retaining plug 27 as shown in FIGS. 5B, 5C and 5H covers the hole formed by the central cavity 26 of the front buttress means 21 as shown in FIG. 5G. The retaining plug 27 provides a decorative surface and helps prevent the side pad from slipping from the upper tube 30. A properly placed centerpiece mass center is located at the foremost point of the center moment of the swivel line at the uppermost end of the crutch shape, and in this way when weight is applied to the handle 50, An unstable shape is generated, and the forward force is biased in the desired direction of movement.

  As shown in FIGS. 5B and 5F, the abutment 20 includes a downwardly oriented extension 24 that extends a distance along the upper tube 30. Overall, the side pad is twistable and deformable and pivotable in the axial direction, but the central cavity 26 extends downward and is coupled to the upper end of the upper cylinder 30 so that the side pad An elastic biasing force is generated in the side pad 20 to elastically bias the spring back to the vertical neutral position. While walking with crutches, it is necessary to follow the relationship of the changing structure caused by the armpit while the interface with the armpit is continuously changing, so that the armpit is made vertical by the extension 24 directed downward. It is possible to simultaneously compress, bend in the lateral direction and rotate in the axial direction by applying torque. The downwardly directed extension 24 is characterized by an arm abduction stage in walking with crutches when the armpits are relatively relaxed and not deeply recessed, and a shoulder band traverses the dome-shaped upper chest wall up and down Especially during both the "arm swing" phase when the arm is moved in a three-dimensional arc and the armpits are very stiff and deeply dented by the muscle tissue of the shoulder band under load It is.

  6A-6D illustrate a number of facet profiles for an embodiment of the handle 50. A large cantilevered lever handle 50 has a dome-like top surface 53 and a bottom back surface 52 as shown in FIG. 5G. The dome-shaped top surface 53 incorporates a wide heel end and a gradually narrowing end. The domed top of the top surface 53 is in the middle and receives a load transmitted vertically through the carpal and metacarpal bones along the radius and ulna with the elbows in a hard and extended position It is properly aligned with the hand line of a person who is actively grasping. The handle 50 is sufficiently long to allow the adult hand holding it to easily touch the gripping surface of the handle 50 without the upper tube 30 interfering with the arms and forearms. It has sufficient longitudinal dimensions to be arranged in the rear. The handle 50 has a center of mass positioned at the forefront of the swiveling line, and a vector force is generated in the line by the projected forward movement of the crutch 10 in the desired direction of movement.

  The bottom back surface 52 of the handle 50 is a surface having a slight central dome shape molded to its longitudinal dimension. This dome-shaped feature is dimensioned enough to provide a support surface that is aligned with the palm line to prevent spread between the bones that can cause inherent muscle pain, fatigue and convulsions. Have. The handle 50 spreads radially and symmetrically in both lateral dimensions so as to form a comfortable undergrip on the bottom back surface 52 that fits the fingers of both hands appropriately.

  The bottom back 52 is gradually tapered at an angle of about 20 degrees towards the top of the distal end to match the angle of the gripping wrist that is subject to dynamic vertical loading by the forearm held tightly downward. Become. Correspondingly, the circumferential width of the handle tapers similarly towards the distal end to form a narrowing end. At the narrowing end, the smoothly integrated buttress member 55 is provided with bulbous features at the end of the handle to prevent hand slipping. As shown in FIG. 6E, the handle 50 has a shield-shaped opening 59 surrounded by a buttress member 55 at the most distal end. The opening 59 is connected to a stepped empty space 58 having a similar shield-like peripheral dimension. The handle 50 is configured with an empty space in order to reduce the weight. The handle 50 can be cushioned to have a molded lightweight, compressible, self-skinned closed cell polyurethane foam grip. The density of the handle 50 as measured by the durometer can be similar to the density of the irony of the palm.

  The handle 50 can be designed to fit comfortably in the hands of children and adults. In addition, the outer circumference of the handle 50 is dimensioned with a sufficient width and gradually narrowing along its extending direction to allow virtually any user to locate the position having maximum comfort. The position of maximum comfort is time-consuming so that various positions can be utilized from time to time to relieve stress on the hand, reduce fatigue, and reduce the possibility of injury. It may vary from one use to the next. Thus, to minimize the use of the repetitive shaft and to minimize the possibility of pain, fatigue and injury so as to significantly improve the comfort of the handle 50 in use, such a handle 50 allows The user can frequently change the position of the hand.

  FIG. 6B shows a flange portion 54 that can be placed at the proximal end of the handle 50. The flange portion 54 has an arc shape and extends vertically below the bottom rear surface 53 of the handle and is oriented so as to contact the lower tube 40 along the longitudinal axis of the lower tube 40. The flange portion 54 has two downwardly aligned straight lines spaced 1 inch from the center of the recess to accommodate the button 32 of the silencer / pushbutton device, as shown in FIG. 6D. A cylindrical recess 56 is included in the base surface of the flange portion 54. A through bolt 51 extends at least about 1.5 inches from the generally inner central portion of the handle 50 and passes through the arcuate surface of the flange, above the center of the uppermost cylindrical recess by 1 inch. . FIG. 6B shows the through bolt 51 having a smooth dome-shaped taper at the end of the through bolt 51 in order to guide the through bolt 51 through the cylindrical alignment holes (31, 41). The through bolt 51 having a diameter substantially the same as that of the push button 32 can be manufactured from 1/4 inch carbon steel.

  FIG. 6E shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6A. The handle 50 uses the structure of a molded lightweight cantilevered handle 50. This structure incorporates an insert-molded fixing bolt 51 and eliminates the possibility of the through bolt 51 coming off the handle 50. Is done. Furthermore, the handle 50 and the flange 54 are made of a fracture resistant polymer material that does not crack, break or break under extreme loads. Both features provide the crutch user with a very positive “feel” for the handle that provides additional strength and safety while in dynamic use.

  FIG. 6F shows a right perspective view of the handle end plug 57. The end plug 57 includes a ribbed shield-like cylinder 57b that engages a matching shield-like empty space 58 at the end of the handle 50. In order to prevent unwanted debris from entering the opening 59 and the empty space 58 of the inner core, to provide a decorative surface for displaying a logo, and to improve the overall beauty of the crutch 10, The plug 57 may have a shield-like flat surface 57a at its most distal end.

  7A to 7D are rotatable by the action of a high lever having an integrated fixing means 62 (insert molded or ultrasonic welded or the like) that connects and incorporates an insert-molded through-fixing bolt 51 of the handle 50. A large diameter knob 60 is shown. The knob 60 includes a curved radial spoke that forms a circumferential circumferential groove to allow clearance for the engaged push button 32 during rotation. The curved radial spokes are external to the knob 60 where a plurality of anti-rotation members 61 are formably disposed to prevent unwanted unstable rotation during use, as shown in FIG. 7C. Move to the peripheral ridge. The anti-rotation protrusion is configured to provide a ratchet effect. As shown in FIG. 7B, the knob also has a plurality of arcuate grips 63 that are equally spaced around the periphery to facilitate gripping the knob. Therefore, the handle 50 can be easily adjusted without using a tool, and the telescopic cylinder is fixed and tightened simply by rotating the large-diameter knob 60 that can be rotated by the action of a high lever. In this way, rattling noise and noise at the interface of the cylinder are prevented by compressing the cylinders together so as to function as an integral cylinder.

  FIG. 8A shows a symmetrical, compressible, integral polymer tip 70 that reconfigures its shape. The compressible tip 70 can be manufactured from a durable compressible non-marking elastic TPE that reconfigures its shape. FIG. 8B shows a tapered conical upper surface transitioning to the bottom convex lower surface. As shown in FIG. 8C, the elongated cylindrical cavity 71 extends from the top surface along the longitudinal axis of the tip 70 to a surface within the tip that divides the tapered conical upper surface and the bottom convex lower surface. Exists. The cylindrical cavity 71 includes a plurality of vertical linear grooves that can be expanded and contracted to fit tubes of various diameters. Compressible tip to accommodate walking sticks, crutches and walker, or other devices that need a compressible and / or energy-returning elastic tip, such as pogo sticks, stilts, ladder legs, seat legs, etc. It is understood that can be used. A cylindrical cavity 71 may be formed to accommodate these other devices.

  A tapered conical upper surface and a bottom convex lower surface at the position of the maximum equator diameter so as to maximize bending distortion in all directions when the washer 72 is deformed and contracted under vertical and / or oblique loads. The washer 72 can be insert-molded along the plane dividing the. The compressed tip 70 is elastically deformed and spread to the periphery during dynamic vertical loading and / or off-axis / offside loading, and thus the surface contact area of the compressed tip 70 is increased. Significantly increased and the effect of squeaking and impact on the ground due to the engagement of the tip to the ground is significantly reduced. The compressible tip 70 in the shape memory state elastically returns to the non-compressed state when no load is applied, and in this way, the stored energy is converted into the angular momentum of the crutch, and therefore, the off-axis central moment of the user The forward walking power is assisted to reduce fatigue.

  In addition, the convex bottom of the chip is from a series of flexible protruding rings 73 of outer dimensions having a generally tip that contracts and deforms to fit any uneven line on the ground, as shown in FIG. 8C. Can be. The flexible projecting ring 73 is elastic and significantly increases the grip surface area, especially in initial contact and with increasing vertical loads. This further increases the grip surface and facilitates the return of energy when the flexible rings are elastically returned to their intermediate biased position, assisting the forward force.

  As shown in FIG. 8E, the flexible protruding ring 73 has a circular shape. Also, these flexible protrusions can have other shapes as long as they contract and deform to fit any irregular line on the ground. For example, the flexible protrusion can be formed as a pentagon or a rectangle. At the nominal angle of use, the plurality of flexible protruding rings 73 grip the ground at approximately the same time while increasing slip resistance. When the convex surface of the compressible tip 70 is further steep, only the outer flexible protruding ring 73 collides with the ground, and the slip resistance becomes smaller than ideal. Even when the convex surface of the compressible tip 70 is gentler, only the outer flexible protruding ring 73 collides with the ground, and the slip resistance becomes smaller than ideal. The present invention has been optimized by extensive empirical analysis tests utilizing various convex shapes, protruding shapes, materials, impact angles and loads.

  To mimic the dynamic swinging motion of an adult ankle, the diameter of the bottom surface of the convex bottom can be designed to be about 2.5 inches at its maximum point. The compressible tip 70 can also be modified to have a central through hole for draining fluids such as rainwater that may accumulate in the cylinder.

  FIG. 9A shows an arm rest cup 90 that includes a cylindrical center defined by an inner wall 94 and an outer wall 95. The cylindrical central portion has an upper opening adjacent to the top surface 97 that communicates with the lower opening adjacent to the bottom surface 96, as shown in FIG. 9E. As shown in FIG. 4, the central portion is configured to be connected to the upper cylindrical member 30 of the crutch 10. As shown in FIG. 9E, there is a U-shaped outer ellipse defined by surfaces 91 and 93 around the center. The U-shaped outer ellipse closes a vacant space designed to accommodate an extension 24 directed downwardly of the arm rest 20 as shown in FIG. 9E. The arm rest cup 90 is held in the cylindrical central portion by a latch tab button 92 (FIGS. 9A and 9D) disposed in the upper opening. The arm support cup 90 provides additional support to the downwardly extending extension 24 while protecting that portion and mitigating unnecessary movement, thereby reducing the utility of the arm armpit 20. Is significantly improved. The arm rest cup 90 can be manufactured from a material including plastic and metal. Various views of the arm rest cup 90 are shown in FIGS. 9A-9E.

  Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to certain preferred embodiments, the described embodiments may be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Numerous modifications, alterations and changes to the form are possible. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments that have been described, but is intended to have the full scope defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

Brief Description of Drawings
1 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of a crutch assembly manufactured in accordance with the principles of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the crutch assembly of FIG. 1. It is a front view of the crutch assembly of FIG. 1 is a left cross-sectional view of a crimped crutch assembly manufactured in accordance with the principles of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 5 is a left sectional view of the silencer / push button of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a left sectional view of another embodiment of the silencer / push button of FIG. 4. 1 is a right perspective view of an arm rest manufactured according to the principles of the present invention. FIG. It is a right view of the arm rest of FIG. 5A. FIG. 5B is a front view of an arm rest having the holding plug of FIG. 5A. It is a rear view of the arm rest of FIG. 5A. It is a top view of the arm rest of FIG. 5A. It is a bottom view of the arm rest of FIG. 5A. It is a right perspective view of an arm rest. FIG. 5B is a right perspective view of the holding plug of FIG. 5A. 1 is a rear perspective view of a handle manufactured in accordance with the principles of the present invention. FIG. It is a right view of the handle of Drawing 6A. FIG. 6B is a front view of the handle of FIG. 6A. FIG. 6B is a rear view of the handle of FIG. 6A. FIG. 6B is a right side cross-sectional view of the handle and handle end plug of FIG. 6A. It is a right perspective view of a handle end plug. 1 is a top perspective view of a chip manufactured in accordance with the principles of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 7B is a front view of the chip of FIG. 7A. It is sectional drawing of the washer insertion part for the chip | tips of FIG. 7A. FIG. 7B is a plan view of the chip of FIG. 7A. FIG. 7B is a bottom view of the tip gripping raised portion of FIG. 7A. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a knob manufactured in accordance with the principles of the present invention. FIG. It is a bottom view of the knob of FIG. 8A. FIG. 8B is a side view of the knob of FIG. 8A. It is a top view of the knob of FIG. 8A. 1 is a top perspective view of an arm rest cup made in accordance with the principles of the present invention. FIG. It is a right view of the arm rest cup of FIG. 9A. It is a rear view of the arm rest cup of FIG. 9A. It is a top view of the arm rest cup of FIG. 9A. It is a bottom view of the arm rest cup of FIG. 9A. It is sectional drawing of the arm rest cup of FIG. 9A.

Claims (40)

Crutches,
A lower cylinder member;
An upper cylindrical member nested in an upper end of the lower cylindrical member; and
A limiting structure disposed between the upper cylindrical member and the lower cylindrical member and configured to allow a predetermined amount of movement between the upper cylindrical member and the lower cylindrical member;
A handle / knob structure having a dome-shaped top surface and a bottom back surface and disposed adjacent to the upper end of the lower cylindrical member;
A tip assembly having a tapered conical upper surface radially extending with respect to a substantially convex lower surface, wherein the convex lower surface includes a plurality of flexible projecting rings of concentric outer dimensions having a substantially distal end; A chip assembly disposed adjacent to an outer surface of a lower end of the lower cylindrical member;
A peanut-shaped arm rest having a dome-shaped back surface, wherein the arm rest is connected to an upper end of the upper tubular member and has an extension portion directed downwardly extending a certain distance along the upper tubular member. Having a peanut-shaped arm rest,
Crutch with The lower cylindrical member includes a linear circular cylinder;
The crutch according to claim 1. The lower tubular member comprises a plurality of holes disposed at incremental intervals of about 1 inch;
The crutch according to claim 1. The lower cylinder member includes a thin wall flexible cylinder made of chromium alloy steel.
The crutch according to claim 1. The upper cylindrical member includes a circular cylinder having a straight portion and a curved portion that is oriented perpendicularly to the straight portion and disposed at the upper end of the upper cylindrical member.
The crutch according to claim 1. The straight portion of the upper tubular member includes a plurality of holes disposed at incremental intervals of about 1 inch;
The crutch according to claim 1. The upper cylinder member includes a thin wall flexible cylinder made of chromium alloy steel.
The crutch according to claim 1. The lower cylindrical member and the upper cylindrical member include any one of a steel cylinder of a quadrangle, a hexagon, and an ellipse,
The crutch according to claim 1. The lower cylindrical member includes a collet disposed adjacent to the upper end of the lower cylindrical member;
The crutch according to claim 1. Arm support for crutches,
A polyurethane foam abutting body having a dome-shaped back surface configured to be connected to the upper cylindrical member;
A convex front buttress portion that transitions to a concave central portion along the back direction of the side pad and reaches a convex rear buttress portion at the rear,
A flat bottom opposite the back;
A downwardly directed extension extending a distance from the bottom surface;
A curved asymmetric central cavity that traverses the inside of the side pad body parallel to the bottom surface from the front buttress part toward the rear buttress part, and in the rear buttress part, the central cavity is: A central cavity that curves substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface passing through the downwardly oriented extension;
A retaining plug adjacent to the front buttress portion and the central cavity;
Arm armpit with. The polyurethane foam side pad is a lightweight, compressible self-skinned closed cell having a foam density in the range of about 5-19 pounds / ft ³ , preferably 11-13 pounds / ft ³ ;
The arm support according to claim 10. Crutch handle,
A cantilevered longitudinal body having an upper dome-like surface and a lower back surface, the back surface being at an angle of about 20 degrees toward the upper end so as to match the angle of the gripping wrist. A cantilevered longitudinal body that tapers gradually,
The circumferential width of the dome-shaped surface and the back surface tapering towards the end to form a narrowing end;
A bulbous buttress member smoothly integrated at the end of the cantilevered longitudinal body;
A flange portion disposed at a proximal end of the cantilevered longitudinal body, the flange portion having an arc shape, oriented perpendicular to the cantilevered body, and A flange portion extending downward;
A through-fixing bolt insert-molded into the inner core of the cantilevered longitudinal body, the bolt base end being at the top of the flange and screwed to engage the fastener at the base end Through fixing bolts,
A cantilevered cap fixed to the end and present inside the inner core of the cantilevered longitudinal body;
In the crutch handle with
The dome-shaped surface has a top at a substantially central portion of the cantilevered longitudinal body;
The back includes a slight dome shape, has a top at the central portion of the cantilevered longitudinal body, and extends radially in the left-right lateral direction;
Crutch handle. The flange includes at least two cylindrical depressions aligned downwardly to accommodate the button protrusions;
The crutch handle according to claim 12. The handle comprises a lightweight, compressible, self-skinned closed cell polyurethane foam;
The crutch handle according to claim 12. Crutch knob,
A disc-like base having an arc-shaped gripping portion cut out from the periphery of the disc-like base at evenly distributed intervals;
A circular end portion having a rib connecting the peripheral edge of the disc-shaped base to a central surface of the circular end portion, wherein the central surface is oriented at the peripheral edge of the central surface and along the connecting rib A circular end that is flat except
A securing device disposed on a hub of the central surface of the circular end;
Crutch knob equipped with. The fixing device includes one of an insert molded screw device or an ultrasonic weld screw device;
The crutch knob according to claim 15. The knob includes a thermosetting resin;
The crutch knob according to claim 15. Crutch chips,
A tapered conical upper surface extending radially with respect to the substantially convex lower surface;
An elongated cylindrical cavity extending from the vicinity of the narrow end portion of the tapered conical surface to a surface dividing the upper surface and the lower surface;
In the crutch chip with
The convex lower surface includes a plurality of flexible projecting rings of substantially concentric dimensions having a distal end, and the cylindrical cavity extends a plurality of flexible lengths along the length of the cylindrical cavity. A crutch tip containing a sex member. Further comprising an annular washer insert-molded on the tip of substantially the surface that divides the upper surface and the lower surface;
The crutch chip according to claim 18. The protruding ring is substantially triangular and protrudes substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical cavity;
The crutch chip according to claim 18. The protruding ring contracts vertically and spreads around to absorb the energy imparted to the crutch, and then the protruding ring returns to its original shape and returns the energy to the crutch,
The crutch chip according to claim 18. The protruding ring comprises a compressible thermoelastic polymer that reconfigures the shape;
The crutch chip according to claim 18. The protruding ring includes at least one of a hemispherical shape or a rectangular shape,
The crutch chip according to claim 18. Crutch silencer / push button device,
A cup-shaped cylindrical structure having a generally closed end connected to the open end, the cup-shaped cylindrical structure extending a substantial distance from the open end toward the generally closed end; And a cup-shaped cylindrical structure having a plurality of gaps intersected by an elastic member extending from the substantially closed end toward the opening end,
A button disposed at an end of the elastic member;
A restrictor on the opposite side of the button and disposed at the end of another elastic member;
A pair of circular holes generally parallel to the generally closed end and spaced from the generally closed end;
In the crutch muffler / push button device comprising:
A crutch silencer / pushbutton, wherein the substantially closed end has an outer base surface with a slot for applying a rotational force and is configured to extend beyond the outer radius of the lower tubular member apparatus. The slot traverses the entire thickness of the generally closed end;
25. A crutch silencer / pushbutton device according to claim 24. The slot does not traverse the full thickness of the substantially closed end;
25. A crutch silencer / pushbutton device according to claim 24. The depth of the restrictor is substantially equal to the depth of the alignment hole of the lower cylindrical member;
25. A crutch silencer / pushbutton device according to claim 24. The restrictor is formed to be another button;
25. A crutch silencer / pushbutton device according to claim 24. The pair of circular holes are aligned to receive through-fixing bolts;
25. A crutch silencer / pushbutton device according to claim 24. Crutches,
A lower cylinder member;
An upper cylindrical member nested in an upper end of the lower cylindrical member; and
Means for limiting movement of the upper cylindrical member relative to the lower cylindrical member;
A handle / knob structure having a dome-shaped top surface and a bottom back surface and disposed adjacent to the upper end of the lower cylindrical member;
A tip assembly having a tapered conical upper surface radially extending with respect to a substantially convex lower surface, wherein the convex lower surface includes a plurality of flexible projecting rings of concentric outer dimensions having a substantially distal end; A chip assembly disposed adjacent to an outer surface of a lower end of the lower cylindrical member;
A peanut-shaped arm rest having a dome-shaped back surface, wherein the arm rest is connected to an upper end of the upper tubular member and has an extension portion directed downwardly extending a certain distance along the upper tubular member. Having a peanut-shaped arm rest,
Crutch with The lower cylindrical member includes a linear circular cylinder;
The crutch of claim 30. The lower tubular member comprises a plurality of holes disposed at incremental intervals of about 1 inch;
The crutch of claim 30. The lower cylinder member includes a thin wall flexible cylinder made of chromium alloy steel.
The crutch of claim 30. The upper cylindrical member includes a circular cylinder having a straight portion and a curved portion that is oriented perpendicularly to the straight portion and disposed at the upper end of the upper cylindrical member.
The crutch of claim 30. The straight portion of the upper tubular member includes a plurality of holes disposed at incremental intervals of about 1 inch;
The crutch of claim 30. The upper cylinder member includes a thin wall flexible cylinder made of chromium alloy,
The crutch of claim 30. The lower cylindrical member and the upper cylindrical member include any one steel tube of a hexagon, a pentagon, and a rectangle,
The crutch of claim 30. Arm rest cup,
A cylindrical central portion having an upper opening and a lower opening communicating with each other and configured to be connected to the upper cylindrical member;
A U-shaped outer ellipse having a lower closed end and an upper open end;
In the arm rest cup comprising
The cylindrical central portion has a latch tab button disposed in the upper opening for engaging with the upper cylindrical member,
The U-shaped outer ellipse is configured to accommodate an extension directed downwardly of the arm resting body,
Arm rest cup. The arm cup is manufactured from a material such as plastic or metal;
The arm rest cup according to claim 38. The compressible tip allows a plurality of flexible protruding rings to impact the ground at substantially the same time.
The crutch according to claim 1 or 30.

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