US1613535A - Stilt - Google Patents

Description

Jai.. 4, 1927.

1,613,535 1 B. ROOT STILT Filed March 27, 192e f z 7 2.9 LZy/QZ IN1/mma,

A TTORNE Patented Jan. 4, 1927.

UNITED STATES@ LLOYD B. ROOT, 0F NORTH TONAW'ANDAj NEW YORK.

STIL'IK Application filed March 27, 1926. Serial No. 97,914.

This invention relates to walking stilts and has for its primary object, the general improvement of the construction oi' such articles in such manner as to make them easier and `more comfortable to use and improve th-e strength and durability otl the same.

The invention contemplates the provision of a pair ot' supporting members having straight lower portions which converge and are secured together at their lower ends while the intermediate portions ot 'the members and the upper ends of the straight portion are held in spaced relation by a pivot member upon which a toot rest is pivotally l mounted. The upper portions of the members are curved in the same direction and when applied b-ear against the users leg in such a manner as to assist the user in maintaining his equilibrium under all conditions. An auxiliary supporting member depends trom the front portion ot the underside or' the foot plate and the other end of the supporting member is pivotally attached to the front portion of a tread plate, while the oonvergent ends of the supporting members are pivotally secured to the rear of this tread plate member. Improved joint connections between the pivotally connected parts of the members :term an additional feature of the device as does also the particular manner in which the tread plate of the stilts is formed.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the 'following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, with the understanding that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawingl but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure 'from the salient features ot the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

ln the drawing Figure l shows in front elevation the stilt embodying this invention, the same being adapted for use upon the right side.

Figure 2 shows the stilt in side elevation, showing` in dotted lines the manner in which a users toot and leg is secured thereto.

Figure 3 is a section taken upon the line 3 3 of Figure 2 looking upwardly.

Figure 4 shows in bottom plan the bottom plan of the tread plate, of .the stilt,

Figure 5 shows in side elevation a modiiication ot the pivotal connection between the foot rest and the front or auxiliary support therefor.

Figure 6 shows in 'front elevation the modified joint referred to in Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wher-ein like numerals oit' reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several Mews shown, there is indicated generally by the numerals l and 2 the inner and outer supporting members respectively, of a right stilt, oit the type embodying this invention.

The description'is here confined to the showing ot one stilt only, the same being adapted to be us-ed upon the right side but it is ot course understood that the stilt to be used upon the left in cooperation with this one shown, is an exact duplicate of the one described with the single exception of the upper portion of the members l and 2, in whichl case these :portions will be curved in the opposite ldirection to the members here shown.

As is clearly shown in Figure l each ofthe members constitute two distinct portions, the straight relatively heavy low-er portions 3 and 4 and the lighter curved upper portions 5 and 6, respectively. The upper portions l5 and (i, as shown, are cur-ved or bowed both in th-e same direction, which is toward the outer side ot the stilt shown.

The free or lower ends of the portions 3 4 converge as shown and are brought together and held by the screw bolts 7. The upper ends of the members 3 4 or that part lying between the members 3 4 and the members 5 6, which is indicated by the numeral 8, are held in spaced relation by the combined spacing and supporting pin 9.

The bolts 7 which secure the lower ends ot the members 3 and 4 together also serve to secure against the outer side of each of these members the hinge plate l0 the lower end of which plate extends a substantial distance beyond the ends oi the members 3 4 and these lower ends are apertured and the inner tace of each of the plates has formed thereon about the aperture an inwardly extending boss l1.

Positioned between the portions 8 of the members l, 2, is a foot rest or support indicated generally by the numeral `12. The rear or heel portion of this foot rest 12 has formed transversely of the underside thereof the hinged knuckles 13 .through which lthel pivot supporting pin v9 passes thus pivotally securing the toot plate 12 at its rear, between th-e members 17 2, in the manner shown. An upstanding flange 14 is termed about the heel portion et the toot plate 12 and from this flange there extends, from each end, a rear toot strap portion 15 which strap portions are adapted to be secured over the instep of the user oft the device.

' Adjacent the toe end of the toot plate 12 is a shoe clamp formed oi' a pair ot Vclamp members 1G which are adapted 'to engage the edges of the sole ot a. shoe while the inner ends or these clamps are down turned and in spaced aligned position as indicated at 17'and provided with threaded apertures therethrough. e.' right and lett hand threaded bolt 18 engages in the apertures in these spaced portions 17 ot the clamp to draw the clamp members together. fl. central bolt guide and supporting lug is indicated at 19, completing the clamp structure. As will be readily observed this clampstructure is substantially the same as that used upon the ordinary skate.

Secured to the underside of the toot plate 12 rearwardly of the shoe clamp above described, in such position as to lie beneath the ball of the users foot, is an inverted substantially U-shaped member 2O the side legs or ear portions 21 ot which are apertured to receivethe pivot bolt or pin 22.

Associated with the front portion ot the foot plate 12 is an auxiliary front supporting rod The upper endet this rod 23 is apertured and provided with a bearing sleeve through which the pivot bolt 22 eX tends when the apertured end is positioned between the ears 21. members 23 is also slotted to receive one end ot a rlink 24 as shown.

A tread plate is indicated generally at 25. This tread plate is relatively long as is shown and has a broad tread surface covered by a. non-slipping surt'acing material 2G such as rubber or other apin'opriale substance. rlhe tread surface ot the plate 25 is divided into three portions. the intermediate portion 27 being relatively that. and lying be-l tween the pivot points l) and 22, the rear portion lying between the points 28 is slightly curved upon an are struck from the pivot l) and the `forimrd iliortion lying between the points 29 is curved upon an are struck trom' the pivot point 22. Thus when the stilt is in use the curved end portions oit the tread surface ol the plate make the use ot the saine easier than would be the case iii the plate were fiat and the interino te portion 2T being relatively flat makes it easy 'tor the user ot' the stilts to stand as the tread plates will naturally come toY rest upon this intermediate relatively latportion. Further. the tread surface ot' the plate is at an angle with the top or in other words the inner wall The lower end of theV of the plate is of less height than the outer wall to enable it to come to rest flat upon the surface 27 as otherwise proper positioning oit the tread plate would not loe had, because oit the outward curving or" the stilt against the leg.

The apertured lower ends of the hinge plates 10 are positioned one on each side et the rear portion of the tread plate 25, the

bosses upon the inner faces of the plates 10 acting as bearings against the sides ot the plate. A securing pivot pin or bolt 30 secures these members in position.

There is eut into the top ot the plate 25 at the 'liront thereof the recess or socket 31. lnto this socket there is extended the lower end ot the link 24 through which the pivot bolt extends. The other end of the link engages the member 23 as described above and shown in the drawing.

Attached to one ot the members 5 or 6 as at 39, is a legengaging strap 40,the strap having secured thereto at the point where it ittaches to the member of the stilts, the ring 41. considerable length of the free end ot the strap 40 is reduced to provide the narrow strap 42 and when the broad strap 40 is passed aboutV the leg of the user of the stilts, after being placed between the members 5 and 6, the narrow stra-p 42 has i its end passed through the ring- 41 and reversed or passed back over itselt and the Jtree end of this strap is then passed through the buckle 43 which is carried by the broad strap 40 and lies on the other side ot the stilt from the ring 41, when the strap is in use. The upper portions ot the members 5 and 6 are thus held securely against the sides of the legs ot the user.

The inodii'ication shown in Figures 5 and 6 has to do with the method in which the upper end of the auxiliary supporting bar 23 is hingedly attached to the plate 12. in this construction the upper end ot the supporting bar 23" is provided with a slot or recess thereacross as indicated at 33. which recess merges with the transverse aperture through the end ot the bar, into which a perture the sleeve 84 is fitted. There is thus formed at each end oi" the sleeve the upstanding ears 35'. The central portion et the sleeve 34 has a transverse slot 3G cnt therethrough which slet extends through substantially halic the dirnneter ot the sleeve and opens upwardly through the slot fll in the end et the bar 22%. The slot 36 is ot niaterially less width than the slot il?, in

the bar and there is passed over the sleeve on either side oi the slot 36 the substantially U-shaped securing members 3l. The y-'ikes of these members lie across the sleeve While the legs thereof pass downwardly upon each side ot' the bar 23a. The; ie ends of the legs of the members 3T are pointed and turned inwardly and `forced in- Gil lou

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to the body of the bar. Suitable binding thread 8S is then wound about the legs of the member 37 to prevent the accidental displacement of the same. This end of the bar 23a is not positioned or secured between the ears 21 of the foot rest 12, but is carried by the bolt member 18 of the shoe clamp. When the end of the member 23a is positioned upon the bolt 18 the supporting guide stud 19 of the bolt extends through the slot 36 in the sleeve 34 while the ear portions 35 are arranged between the opposed ends 1T of the clamp members 1G and the adjacent faces of the st-ud 19. The bolt 18 serves the double purpose of shifting and securing the clamp members 16 and also piif'otally supporting the auxiliary supporting bar 23 in t-he manner shown and described.

From the foregoing description it will he readily seen that the herein described stilt structure is of materially improved design, strong and durable and of safe construction.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. A stilt of the character described, comprising a pair of main supporting` members convergent at their lower ends and having their upper ends in spaced curved relation, a tread plate, a foot rest pivotally secured at one end between said members intermediate the ends thereof, an auxiliary support for the forward part of said rest, and pivotal means connecting the front and rear ends of said plate to said auxiliary support and convergent members.

2. A stilt of the character described, comprising a pair of elongated supporting` members secured in spaced relation at their central portions and secured in convergent contacting relation at oneend, the other ends of the members being curved alike toward one side, an elongated tread plate, a hinge joint between the convergent ends of said members and one end of said plate, a foot 'support hingedly mounted at one end between the members at their central point of connection, and an auxiliary supporting bar pivotally attached at one end to the forward part of said plate support and at its other end to the forward end of said foot.

3. A stilt of the character described, comprising a pair of elongated supporting members secured in spaced relation at their central portions and secured in convergent contacting relation at one ond, the other ends of the members being curved alike toward one side, an elongated .tread plate, a hinge joint between the convergent ends of said members :rnd one end of said plate, a foot support hingedly mounted at one end between the members at their central point of connection, and an auxiliary supporting bar pivotally attached at one end to the forward part of said foot support and at its other end to the forward end of said plate, said plate having its tread surface provided with a relatively flat central portion and slightly curved upwardly at each end of said portion.

t. A joint in a device of the character set forth including a foot plate carrying a shoe clamp comprising a pair of clamp members having turned opposed inner ends a draw bolt passing through said ends an a guide lug carried by the plate between said ends, a supporting rod for the front of said plate having one end transversely apertured and further having a slot formed in the end transversely of the aperture to receive said lug, a sleeve in said aperture through which said bolt is adapted to pass, having a transverse slot of less width than and opening into said irst slot to receive said lug, and a pair of strengthening substantially U-shaped members overlying said sleeve one on each side of the slot therein and having their legs secured to the rod.

In a stilt of the character set forth, a main supporting structure, a forward auxiliary support, a tread plate pivotally connecting between the lower ends of said supports and having the front and rear portions of the tread surface curved, and a foot support pivotally mounted adjacent its front and rear, on said auxiliary and main structures respectively, the arc of said curved front and rear portions being struck from the corresponding front and rear pivotal points of said foot support.

(3. In a stilt of the character set forth, a main supporting structure, a forward auxiliary support, a tread plate pivotally connecting between the lower ends of said supports and having the front and rear portions of the tread surface curved, and a foot support pivotally mounted adjacent its front and roar, on said auxiliary and main structures respectively, the arc of said curved front and rear portions being struck from the corresponding front and rear pivotal points of said tread plate support, that portion of the foot, lying between the curved portions thereof being flat, and ofa length corresponding to the distance netween the pivotal points of the foot support.

7. In a stilt of the character set forth, a main supporting structure, a forward auxiliary support, a tread plate pivotally connecting between the lower ends of said supports and a foot support pivotally mounted on said auxiliary and main structures respectively, the front and rear pivots of said foot support being so located as to fall directly beneath the ball and heel respectively of the wearers foot.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature hereto,

.LLOYD B. ROOT.

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