US2474722A

US2474722A - Adjustable walking aid

Info

Publication number: US2474722A
Application number: US647616A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert E Blume
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-02-14
Filing date: 1946-02-14
Publication date: 1949-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 1966-06-28

Description

H. E. BLUME ADJUSTABLE WALKING AID Jane 28, 1949.

Filed Feb. 14, 1946 HETET E. Bums Patented June 28, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE WALKING AID Herbert E. Blume, Tripoli, Iowa Application February 14, 1946, Serial No. 647,616

2 Claims. (01. 135--50) physically handicapped find it impossible or extremely difiicult to ascend or descend stairs,

chiefly due to the fact that conventional crutches will not reach one step while the person using the same is standing on another. Such persons are thus unable to support themselves in a substantially erect position and their difficulty in ascending or descending the stairs becomes clearly bvious.

It is therefore, a further object of the invention to provide a walkin aid which may be adjusted to compensate for the difference in level between the steps, thereby permitting the persons using the same to support themselves in a substantially erect position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a walking aid which, in addition to the adjustevent f ascending or descending stairs, when such adjustment may be made without the necessity of the user removing his hand from the hand grip.

A further object of the invention is to provide a a walking aid in which a visible means is provided to indicate to the user that the crutch or the like, has been properly adjusted and is in readiness for safe use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a walking aid which is of simple construction and which cannot easily becomedamaged.

With the above more important objects in view, and such other objects as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged detail thereof, the same being partially broken away to reveal its construction.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional detail, illustrating the manner in which the leg portion is secured to the crutch,

Figure 4 is a side elevation, showing the leg standard per se, and

Figure 5 is a side elevation illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention, as applied to a walking stick.

Like characters of reference are used to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of a pair of tubular side members I0, the same being relatively parallel and connected together at the upper ends thereof by means of an arcuate strap Hi. This strap is welded or otherwise secured to the side members and is adapted to support a conventional arm rest I l, the latter being attached to the strap by suitable bolts H.

Each of the side members In is provided medially of its length with a plurality of vertically aligned ridges l2, and a transversely extending hand grip I3 connects the two side members as will be clearly apparent from the accompanying drawings. The grip I3 is provided at each end thereof with a releasable clamp M, which is secured thereto by means of the bolts I5.

A pair of tubular extensions it are telescoped and relatively slidable in the lower ends of the members II], the lower ends of the extensions being inserted into the upper end of the leg per-- tion H.

The latter assumes the form of a pair of convergent tubes I8, connected together adjacent their upper ends by means of the brace IS, the ends of the extensions It being secured in the tubes l8 by means of suitable, transversely extending rivets 20.

A tubular sleeve 2| is provided at the con vergent end of the portion I1 and a leg standard 22 is slidably positioned in the sleeve M, as will be clearly apparent from the accompanying drawmgs.

The standard 22 is formed with a plurality of vertically aligned apertures 23 and a transversely extending bolt 24 passes through the sleeve 2| and through one of the apertures 23 to secure the standard 22 in position.

a plurality of aligned bearing blocks 26 and with a pair of slots 21. A pair of anchor bolts 28 are slidably positioned in the blocks 26, each of the bolts extending through an aperture 29 formed in the members l and projecting into one of a plurality of vertically aligned apertures 30 provided in the extensions l6.

Each of the bolts 28 is also provided with a transversely extending'pin 3 l ,*-one end-of each of these pins projecting-through the aforementioned slots 21. A compression spring 32 is positioned between each of the pins 3| and the blocks 26, whereby the bolts 28 are urged outwardly into the apertures 30.

The inner ends of the bolts 28 are angulated downwardly and terminate in the bevelled surfaces or extremities 33. latter are slid ably engageable with the inclined inner surfaces 34 of a triangular pocket 35. This pocket in'turn, connected to a stem 36 which extends ups "31 'Thehpper end "of one end bfthe' nut 39 'is "thrfeaded "irito "ivar'dly "and "is sliuabw jo iirria'lfed "inft'he" provided on the tie rod'j25. Fines-temps isthreafdfe'd into] as a u' a Tampa-"handle h era-ea in "the accompanyingmgure: 2.

Y A compression spring muspchubnea en the t 'stemj'36jbetwe jtn bassfm and the mesa as, metering urgiii'g the pocket downwardly and thereby assisting the aforementiiined springs"32" "iirging'theboltsf28fiiito the apertures A suitable pin- 4| extendstrahsversely through the stem 36 to limit the slidi'rigmovmntthereof ""liiidifthge resiliency of the spring "40.

It shdiild befihd'erst'oo'd that while th stem :is freely slidable,'axialtrotation thereeris not sired and is prevented by forming a portion of 'he sternand the'b'orejip the boss-31 of a square, her than of a circular cross-sectional con- "Having thus described the =construc-tionaldetails of the invention, its methodof operation wnrn 'wnt di The 1 relative 1 position of the-hand grip 4 3 With respect to -the side members 1-0 should first 'beadjjusted t suit the arm=leng th of the individual 'wishing to use-the crutch *This 'adJ'ustment is accomplished by loosening -the bolts "I ;whereupon the clamps Mandtheass'oci'ated grip-I3 may be moved upwardly-or downwardly on the members a I 0 I to engage i any "suitable pair of the ridges l2. The gripl3 isretained'in' asuitably adjusted position by 'tig-htehihgthe 'b'olts' I5.

The adjustment of the leg standard 2 next be madepthesam being acconiplishe by removing the bolt "24 and sliding "the "sta'.liiii'l ld upw-arclly 'or' downwardly in the sleeve fl and -,reinsertin -the bolt 24 into' one of the'aper i es 23 when a suitable L position" 'of the states has been found. It should be riot df mection that 'this ad ustment articularly --'a'da pte'd-fr 'use whe 'several i'nd id iials employingthe same' c 'teh. "when only perso'nis "using the sarh th'e s'taffdafidw 2" maybe formed integrally with or otherwise suitably Mndwerinanenuy seeu'r'eu to the tiibes ia nce a f lbrigitiidifial" adjusfiirlefiwf" the S'tarfdafd W'i'll hot he necessary. I e

The crutch is new inre'aig i'iness foruse'in ear-- mal walking on level grdinfdfeindfwhen"itis"deemaining end of the nut, as isbe's't illus- 2 hould Yaw 1.5 5 6. 3

30. "The members l0 may now be adjusted upwardly or downwardly on the extensions l6 and when the next pair of apertures is brought into alignment with the anchoring bolts 28, the springs 32 will force the bolts into said apertures and thereby lock the members [0 and the extensions I6 in position. The spring 40 will return the pocket 35 and the associated handle 39 to its =original position, whereupon the "crutch is in readiness'fo'r use.

When ascending or descending stairs, the exf-tensions l6 may be extended outwardly so as to increase the over-all length of the crutch. In this manner, the person using the same is able r to supp'ort himself in an erect position on one step while bearing with the extended crutch on antither s'tephta 'relatively lower level. Alter- ;natively, the extensions I6 may be adjusted to an indrawn position in the members I 0 so as to shorten the over-all length of thecrutch and enbldsuhfbe'isdhto'stand on 'one step andbear w th the crutch on another step at a" relativu higher level. 7

'{It will 'be observed that' in this' manner, the l task of ascendin or' descending stairs becomes coriiparatively simple and -the adjustment Ofithe "crutch m'ay'be easily and co'nv'eniently'ma'debe- "fore and'aft'er each time "the stairs are used.

It should be alsonoted'that the position of "the'handle 33 is such that it maybe conveniently 'Inaiiipulatedwithout the necessity of the. person releasing his hand from the grip I3. Furthermore. by unscrewingthe handle 39' from-themut 3'8 and substituting 'saidhandle by anotherhaw ing a comparatively longeror shorter stem, -the 'fhandle 39 may be -brought closer-toorfurther from the hand grip l3, to suit the best convenience of the user.

Referring nOw-to-the modified embodiment of {the invention illustrated 'in the accompanying Figure 5, the latter substitutes a -walking+stick T in ;-p lace of the I aforementioned crutch. I

' This stick assumes the form -of a handle 42 positioned in one end of a tubular casing on mem- -ber 43, while'a suitableextension leg 44 is-slidably positioned in the remaining and oi-said' member. -Theupperend of the l'egextension flr-is formed with a plurality of vertically aligned r-apertures -similarto the aforementioned apertures- :38, any 50 one of which may be engage'dby a slidable anchor ;-bolt 45. ,The'latteris similar to the aiorementioned bolts i Zit -and is -suitablyi'journaled in a bracket -46: provided on the' memb'en-M. "A comipression sprin'g l'i'is used"to"urge the bolt l5 'iiito *the aperturesdn'the leg- 44. 1

"The outer' end er the 5016 15 15 augalatd and bevelled to engage the inclined inner surface of e latter in turn ilbein'gchhncted "seem n provided with the finger piece br hajn'dle' t'all. Thef-up'per' enact-mmcenr aa-isrrely the member 43.

"When this embodiment *of the invention is placed in-use} the walkihgstickfisemployed irr'the already desbii'bed incoiin'ectionwitlfthe aforementioned crutch by pulling upwardly 'bn the" finger piec'e fi'tto withdraw the bolt-45 from "t eaeertur s-in theleg l l. "*Tnefeupmftneotr- "aybeadjuste'dfaiid when I ropera'd ustmem has" een ""adef' the".spring -'-"wi11"agam"urgdtne bolt is in tqnals uitable eperture, thus locking thememb'ef n 'an'd"'the-leg44 er u v '75 Refriihg'bnce 'ag'a'into the 'crutch efnbodiment of the invention, it will be observed that the position of the pins 3| in the recess 21 is directly related to the extent to which the bolts 28 project into the apertures 30. In this manner, the pins 3| may be used to indicate to the person using the crutch that proper adjustment has been made and that such crutch is in readiness for safe usage. If desired, the pins may be luminously colored, whereby their position may be readily ascertained when the crutch is being used at night.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an adjustable walking aid including a tubular member and an extension slidably telescoped therein, means for releasably locking said extension in said member, said means comprising a laterally projecting bracket provided on said member, a spring-pressed anchor bolt slidable on said bracket and engageable with apertures formed in said member and in said extension, said bolt having an angulated portion terminating in a bevelled end surface, a vertical stem slidable in said bracket, and a substantially triangular pocket provided on said stem, said pocket having an inclined inner surface in operative en- 6 gagement with the bevelled end surface of said bolt.

2, In an adjustable walking aid including a pair of spaced members and a pair of extensions slidably telescoped therein, means for releasably locking said extensions in said members, said means comprising a transverse tie rod connecting said members together, a pair of spring-pressed anchor bolts slidable on said tie rod and engageable with apertures formed in said members and in said extensions, said bolts having angulated portions terminating in bevelled end surfaces, a vertical handle slidable in said tie rod, and a substantially triangular pocket provided on said handle, said pocket having inclined inner surfaces in operative engagement with the bevelled end surfaces of said bolts.

HERBERT E. BLUME.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 885,339 I-Iargrove Apr. 21, 1908 1,035,760 Walton Aug. 13, 1912 1,073,991 Jones Sept. 23, 1913 1,505,081 Arndt Aug. 19, 1924 1,720,593 Geiser July 9, 1929 2,146,495 Amdur Feb. 7, 1939