US108303A

US108303A - Improvement in crutches

Info

Publication number: US108303A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1870-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 1887-10-11

Description

JOHN WENTWORTH TUTTLE, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

'Letters Patent No. 108,303, dated October 11, 1870.

IMMPROVEMENT lN CRUTCHES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent au making part; o theaame.

To all persons to whom these presents may come:

Be it known that i, Jona iinnrwonrrr TUTTLF., of Newton, of the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Crutch- Foot; and do hereby declare the same to be fully dcscribed in the following speci'iication and represented in the accompanyingr drawing, of which- Figure 1 is a front elevation ot part of a crutch with my improved ball-audsocket foot applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same.

In such drawing` A denotes the lower portieri oi' a crutch, such asis commonly used by an invalid or lame person.

B is the foot, which is connected to the crutch by a hall-and-socket joint, the ball of which is shown at (t, and its socket at h, the ball beingr fixed to a shank, c, which screws up into the crutch.

The body of the foot is a cylindrical metallic case, e, open at bottom, and there having an annulns or metallic disk, f, screwed into it, the case being formed with a female screw to receive a corresponding Inalc screw cut on the periphery of the annulus or disk.

To the said. annulus or disk there is fastened, by screws or other proper means, a cylindrical sole, g, of leather or other suitable material, having a diameter greater than that of the disk o1' annnlus, the same being so as to cause the sole to project beyond the disk al1 around the latter, and where'l projecting to constitute a shoulder to bear against the lower edge of the case, and there make a close or tight joint when screwed up against it.

The socket b is made in or constitutes part cfa cup, h, which is of metal and separate from and arranged within the case c.

Between the said cup andthe annulus or disk fis one or a series of India-rubber rings or springs, it', which serve to sustain the cup and as a cushion to relieve the crutch or the user from concussion or jar resnltingr from the blow of the foot on the ground or a floor while the crutch may be in use.

An elastic bow, l, made of India rubber encompasses the shank of the ball, and covers the ball and the openinzgr m in the top of the case, and' is confined to the case by a dat annulns, n, and a series of screws, o, going through the latter and being screwed into the top of' the case.

The elastic baud, while admitting the necessary lateral and up-and-dwn movements ofthe crutch relatively tothe foot, protects the ball and its socket from dust and water, which otherwise would be liable.

to work thereon during use of the crutch.

Freni the above it will be seen that the ball-socket is completely protected from the entrance of water or dirt at either end of the foot or its case.

The foot, while the crutch may b'e in use, will readily adapt itselfl to the surface on which it may be pressed, whether such may be horizontal or more or less ininclincd. The sole heilig of a yielding material will prevent the crutch from slipping on an icy or wet surd face.

I claim- 1. 'lhe combination and arrangement of the screw, disk, or annuius f, with the sole g, the case e, and ball a and socket b, thereof.

2. The combination of the elastic hood land -its fastenngs n o with the ball aand its shank c, the case e, and the socket or cup h, for support-ing the ball.

3. 'lhe arrangement and combination of the annular spring or springs t', the disk or annulus f, the sole g, the cup h., the ball a, and its shank c, and the case e, all as described.

4. The combination and arrangement cf the sole g, the annnlus f, the cup h, the case c, the ball a, and its shank c, and the elastic vhead l, all made as explained.V

5. The sole g, the annulus f, the case e, the

spring or springs t', the cup h,the ball a, and its shank c, and the elastic hood l, all constructed, combined, and arranged substantially as and to operate as described.

JOHN WENTWORTH TUTTLE. Y Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, J. R. SNOW.