US2398534A - Crutch - Google Patents

Description

FQ KLAusNlTzER r- TL d 2,398,534

l GRUTCH Aprila, 1946.

l Filed June 8, 1945 INVENTORS PAM/vk KLm/slwrzsn GUY w- :A1-ras.;-

% 1 f .ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 16, 1946 CRUTCH Frank vKlausnitzer and Guy Battles, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Applicationuune s, 1945, seriamussazzz (ci. ,rss- 50.)

rClaim's.

This invention relates broadly to crutches, but more particularly to shock absorbers for crutches, and important objects and advantages of the invention .are to provide a shock absorber of the character described, which embodies resilient means for reducing to a minimum all shocks and jars inevitably concomitant with the use of crutches on concrete pavements, floors, and analogous unyielding surfaces, and in consequence providing ease and comfort to the user; which may be readily installed to crutches of any type already constructed as well as form a `component part oi new crutch structures, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, durable and eicient in its use, compact, attractive in appearance, positive ,in its action, and comparatively economical in its manufacture, installation, and maintenance. i

With the foregoing and .other objects in View which will appear `as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, ycombination, and arrangement of parts herein specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is .to be understood that changes in the form, proportions and details of construction may be resorted to that come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

in the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of a crutch with a shock absorber constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a full-size elevational view, partly in cross section, of the shook absorber, and illustrating the connection of the latter with the crutch structure.

Referring in detail to the drawing I and 2 denote the side arms of the crutch, to the upper ends oi which side arms the shoulder bar 3 is secured. The side arms, intermediate their ends, have secured therebetween a handle grip 4. The construction and assembly of the side arms, shoulder bar, and handle grip conform to the conventionaltype of crutch well known in the art to which the invention appertains.

The lower ends of the side arms I and 2 converge and combinedly merge to form a cylindrical .shank 5. The lower end portion of the shank is of less diameter than its upper portion and thereby provides a reduced end portion 6 and a peripheral shoulder 'I.

An aperture 8, open at the free end of the reduced end portion 6, extends longitudinally through the axial center of the latter, and con- -tinu'es `a considerable distance into the shank 5 above the shoulder .'I.

The improved shock absorber includes a bottom stem 9, whichhas a reduced end portion I0 at the `upper end 'thereof providing a peripheral shoulder II. A suitable cushioning member vin the form of a conventional type of rubber cap ferrule I2 is secured to 4the lower end portion of the bottom stem 9 for the obvious purpose of mitigating shock and for preventing wear at the lower end of 'the Abottom stem.

Mounted on andextending Lfrom the reduced end portion B of the shank 5 is an upper sleeve I3, which abuts against 'the peripheral shoulder 1. The upper sleeve 'I3 is rigidly secured to the shank (5 by a transversely extending rivet I4.

A lower sleeve I5 is Yiixedly secured to the reduced end portion le vof the bottom stem 9 by means of a transversely extending rivet I6, and abuts against the peripheral shoulder II of said bottom stern. The lower sleeve I5 is inserted in the upper sleeve I3 and is telescopically shiitable in the latter.

. An apertured holding disk Il is ixedly secured, in any suitable manner, in the upper end of the lower sleeve I5. A screw bolt I8, extending through and being shiftable in the holding disk l?, is iixedly screwed into the aperture 8 in the shank 5. The head I9, of the screw bolt I8, is vdisposed in the lower sleeve I5 below the holding disk I'I. Ample clearance 2E! is provided between the holding disk I1 and the top of the bottom stem 9 to allow the necessary operating movements of the head I9 in said clearance, as shown in dot and dash lines in Figure 2.

It will be noted that the sleeves I3 and I5 are inseparately joined together in their telescopic inter-engagement by the extension of the screw bolt I8 through the holding disk I1, and by the engagement of the screw bolt in the shank 5, in the manner set forth. The extension of the screw bolt through the reduced end portion 6 of the shank and Well into the latter, servesn to reenforce said reduced end portion 6. The screw bolt is further secured in position in the shank 5 by means of the rivet I4, which latter extends transversely through the upper sleeve I3, through the reduced end portion 6, and through the screw boltl I8, whereby all of these elements are simultaneously secured in their assembled positions when the rivet I4 is secured in position.

A spiral spring 2| is mounted on the screw bolt I8 within the upper sleeve I3. The lower end of the spring seats upon the holding disk I'I, and the upper end thereof abuts against a `Washer 22,

which is positioned against the lower end of the reducedend portion 6 of the shank 5. The normal action of the spring tends to forcibly project the lower sleeve I from the upper sleeve I3, and to tensionally hold said lower sleeve at its maximum extended position.

It will be apparent that when weight is imposed upon the improved crutch by the user, the lower sleeve I5 will be partially forced into the upper sleeve I3 against the resilient action of the spring 2|, whereby shocks and jars are reduced to a minimum.

The present invention provides a most eilicient device of its kind, which may be economically constructed, and successfully employed for the purposes and in the manner herein set forth.

What we claim is:

l. In a crutch structure, a shank, an upper sleeve connected with said shank, a bottom stem, a lower sleeve connected with said stem and being telescopically engaged in said upper sleeve, a screw bolt xedly secured in said shank and depending into said sleeves, means for shiftably joining said bolt with said lower sleeve, and resilient means mounted on said bolt and being normally o-perable to forcibly project said lower sleeve from said upper sleeve. Y

2. In a crutch structure, a shank, an upper sleeve connected with said shank, a bottom stem, a lower sleeve connected with said stem and being telescopically engaged and shiftable in said upper sleeve, a screw bolt xedly secured in said shank and depending into said sleeves, means for shiftably joining said bolt with said lower sleeve and for limiting the movement of the latter in ing disk secured in said lower sleeve and engaging said bolt for shiftably joining said lower sleeve in said upper sleeve, and resilient means mounted on said bolt and being normally operable for holding said lower sleeve in the extended position in said upper sleeve.

4. A crutch comprising a shank having a handle forming element lprojecting thereabove and further having a longitudinally disposed aperture in its lower portion, an upper sleeve secured to and depending from said shank, a bottom stem carrying a cushioning member at the lower end thereof, a lower sleeve secured to the upper end of said stem and being telescopically engaged and in said aperture and depending into said sleeves and including a head, a holding disk Xed in the upper end of said lower sleeve, said bolt being shiftably extended through said disk with the head thereof being disposed below said disk to connect said lower sleeve in said upper sleeve and to limit the longitudinal movement of said lower sleeve in said upper sleeve, meansextending transversely through said upper sleeve and through said shank and through said bolt for securing said blank in V,said upper sleeve and for xedly securing said bolt in said shank, and a spiral spring mounted on said bolt and being disposed between said disk and the lower end of said shank, the normal action of said spring tending to force said lower sleeve from said upper sleeve and to hold said lower sleeve in the extended position in said upper sleeve.

5. In a crutch structure, a shank, an upper sleeve connected with said shank, a lower sleeve telescopically engaged in said upper sleeve, a screw bolt lixedly secured in said shank and depending into said sleeves, means for shiftably joining said bolt with said lower sleeve, and resilient means mounted on said bolt and being normally operable to forcibly project said lower sleeve from said upper sleeve.

FRANK KLAUSNITZER. GUY W. BATTLES.

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