US1262905A - Extension-crutch. - Google Patents

Description

A. A. ANDERSON.

EXTENSION CRUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1917.

1,262,995. Patented A'pl 16, 1918.

HTTQHNBYE ALBERT A. ANDERSON, OF NORTH FOND DU LAG, WISCONSIN.

EXTENSION-CRUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918..

Application filed May 28, 1917. Serial No. 171,374.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT A. Annnnson, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Fond du Lac, in the county of Fond du Lac and State of /Visconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in llxtension-Crutches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in crutches, and more particularly is directed to an arrangement of parts whereby, with out sacrificing neatness or durability of construction the crutch readily may be adjusted to suit the requirements or preference of any person who may use the same. More specifically the improved crutch of my invention comprises in combination with a saddle or rest and the usual bows a substantially V shaped fitting the ends of which are conformed and arranged to receive and to be secured to the lower ends of the crutch bows. Formed in the aforesaid V shaped fitting is a vertical cylindrical passage the axis of which substantially bi-sects the angle between the arms of said fitting, said vertical passage arranged freely to receive a rod or tube which at its lower end carries a suitable shoe or tip, and at its upper end is threaded through a transverse bar disposed above the aforesaid V shaped fitting and extending from one of the crutch bows to the other. By virtue of this arrangement it is possible to adjust the aforesaid rod or tube with respect to the crutch bows and thereby vary the effective length of the crutch.

These and other features of my improved crutch will appear as this description progresses.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the improved crutch of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the lower end of the crutch showing more clearly the several parts whereby the effective length of the crutch is lengthened or shortened as desired; and

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective illustrating a modified form of V shaped fitting.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, at 55 I have illustrated the bows or side pieces of a crutch which are attached to and extend downwardly from the rest or saddle 6. It will be noted that the rest or saddle herein shown is provided with a portion 6 which extends considerably above the upper ends of the bows, the purpose of this portion 6 of the saddle being to prevent the saddle from slipping from under the arm of the user when the crutch is in use. It will be understood that both ends of the saddle may be conformed to extend upwardly if desired. The lower ends of the bows 55 are provided with reduced portions fitted within the hollow arms 77 of a fitting 8 which in Figs. 1 and 3 is shown as an integral casting, a plurality of screws 9-9 being employed to retain the lower ends of the hows within the hollow arms 77, as is most clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. Formed in the casting 8 is a vertical cylindrical passage 10 the axis of which substantially bi-sects the angle between the hollow arms 7-7. Extending freely through the passage 10 is a member 11 which may be in the form of a solid rod or in the form of a tube, as shown in Fig. 3. The rod or tube 11 is provided at its lower end with a shoe or tip 12 and at its upper end is provided with screw threads 13. Intermediate its ends the rod or tube is knurled as illustrated at 14: to facilitate adjustment of the rod or tube.

The upper end of the rod or tube 11 is threaded through a transverse bar 15 the ends of which are seated in notches formed in the side bows 5-5 and are retained in said notches by screws 1616. It will thus be seen that the rod or tube 11 may be adjusted with respect to the bows 5 5 by grasping the knurled portion 14 of the rod or tube and screwing the same upwardly or downwardly with respect to the transverse bar 15 and fitting 8. If desired the fitting 8 may be provided with a set screw 17 to prevent turning of the rod or tube 11 after it has been suitably adjusted with respect to the fitting and the transverse bar 15.

A handle 18 is also arranged to be adjusted with respect to the side bows 5-5, the said handle being provided at each of its ends with a pair of clampin members 19 m arranged to embrace the a jacent one of the bows Each of the clamping members 19 is hingedly connected to the handle 18 as shown at 20 and is provided with an outwardly projecting lug arranged to be engaged by a screw 21 whereby to draw the clamping members of each pair together. It will thus be seen that by loosening the screws 2121 the handle 18 readily may be adjusted to any position along the bows 55.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated a modified form of V shaped fitting which. may be employed if desired. The fitting shown in this figure comprises two substantially symmetrically dished sheet metal members 22 and 23 arranged to be welded together to form a fitting substantially like the cast fitting shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Suitable apertures 24-24 are formed in each sheet metal halt whereby to secure it to the side bows. will be unnecessary to describe this modified fitting in detail as its purpose is identical with the fitting heretofore described.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An extension crutch comprising in combination with a saddle and a pair of bows depending therefrom, a substantially V shaped fitting the arms of which are conformed to receive the lower ends of said bows, a vertical passage in said fitting the axis of which substantially bisects the angle between the arms of the fitting, a rod extending through said passage, said rod threaded at its upper end, and a transverse bar into which the upper end of said rod is threaded, said transverse bar seated in said bows and disposed above said fitting.

2. An extension crutch comprising in combination with a saddle and bows depending therefrom, a substantially V shaped fitting the arms of which are conformed to receive the lower ends of said bows, a rod extending through said fitting between the arms thereof, and a transverse bar disposed between the bows and above said fitting, the upper end of said rod being threaded into said transverse bar.

3. An extension crutch comprising in e0m bination with a saddle and bows depending therefrom, a fitting arran ed to embrace the lower ends of said bows, said fitting con1- prising two symmetrical substantially V shaped dished sheet metal. halves which pro- 50 vide two upwardly projecting hollow arms, and a vertical passage the axis of which substantially bisects the angle between said hollow arms, a transverse bar extending between the bows and disposed above said fitting, and a rod extending through the vertical passage in said fitting and having its upper end threaded in said transverse bar.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 25 day of May, A. D. 1917.

ALBERT A. ANDERSON.

lVitnesses JAMES A. PULLEN, Bnn'rna M. PULLEN.

Castes of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C."

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