US2495889A - Detachable crutch bracket - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 33, 1950 c. R. CONNAGHAN 2,495,889

DETACHABLE CRUTCH BRACKET Filed Nov. 4, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 my! F2912 ATTORNEYS 1950 c. R. CONNAGHAN 2,495,889

DETACHABLE CRUTCH BRACKET Filed Nov. 4, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fe 6 m 9 F4 10 I Z0 LA- a L\ J I) I N VEN TOR.

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ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 31, 1950 ,IFIQI'NITEDS'TATES P ENT, .QFFICE Charles R. Connaghan, Niantic, Ill.

Application November 4, 1946, Serial No. 707,573

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in crutches, and more particularly to the provision of a device to render the use of crutches more comfortable.

In the usual use of a crutch, the injured leg is usually suspended and dangles in the air, with considerable discomfort to the crippled person.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an attachment for a crutch upon which a crippled person can rest the knee or other part of the crippled leg, enabling the crippled person to walk with much more ease than is possible with the injured dangling unsupported.

A further object is to provide a device which can be easily attached to the ordinary crutch without alterations.

These and other objects are attained by the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of a crutch showing attached thereto a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view taken on the lin 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a part of a clamp used in the device.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 'l-'i of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a plate used in a modified form of clamp.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the clamp using the plate shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the modified form of clamp.

Fig. 11 is a side view of another modified form of clamp.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the clamp shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a view taken on the line l3l3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of an eye bolt used in the device.

Fig. 15 is a side view of a bolt used in the device.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1, the device is shown attached to the lower end of the two legs or sides I and 2 respectively of the crutch A. In Fig. 2 the device is shown to comprise a rest plate 3 supported by an upper clamp on the legs or sides I and 2, and by a bracket 4, which is supported by a lower clamp on the legs or sides. (See Fig. 2.)

The upper clamp and the lower clamp are identical in structure and only one assembly need be described.

Each clamp comprises a U-shaped looped memher 5 as shown in Fig. 6, and an eye bolt 6 (see Fig. 14) with nut. The member 5 is placed around one of th legs or sides I or 2 (see Fig. 5), and the eye bolt 6 is passed through the looped ends 3 of the legs of the U-shaped member 5. The member 5 is clamped to the leg or side by means of a nut 9. Through the eye of the bolt 6 is passed a bolt 1. This bolt passes through the eyes of the bolts 6 on both the legs or sides I and 2 as shown in Figs. 5 and 7.

Over the lower bolt '1 is placed the looped end 10 of bracket 4, the parts being held in place by bolt 1 and nuts II.

The plate 3 is secured by a bolt l2 to the upper end of the bracket 4. The plate 3 is at tached to the upper clamp assembly in the same manner as described above for the lower end of bracket 4 to the lower clamp assembly.

It will be seen that all of the clamps of each assembly are identical, which enables the device to be quickly and conveniently attached. In use, the crippled person rests his knee or other part of the leg on the plate 3 and is thus able to walk with greater ease and comfort than is possible with the ordinary crutch.

In the modified form of clamp shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10 U-bolts 20 with nuts 21' and 22 ar employed instead of the looped clamp member 5 as shown in Fig. 6. Otherwise the structure is the same.

In the modification in Figs. 8, 9, 10, the U- bolts 20 pass through a plate 23 thus eliminating the use of the eye bolts 6.

In the form shown in Figs. 11, 12, 13, the clamp is formed by a plate 3|] having welded or otherwise secured thereto an L-shaped member 3|, the plate 30 and member 3| being clamped to a leg or side by a bolt 32 and nut 33. The structure is otherwise the same as described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

It is obvious that the attachment is simple and of considerable value in rendering comfort to crippled persons. It is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, and can be made of metal or the plat 3 and bracket 4 can be molded in one piece from a plastic material.

The above description is to be regarded as illustrative and not descriptive of the invention, of which modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as denoted by the appended claim.

The invention having been described, what is claimed as new is:

In an attachment for a crutch, an upper and lower clamp assembly each assembly comprising two U-shaped members adapted to be attached to the two legs or sides of a crutch, eye bolts passing through the U-shaped members of each assembly, a bolt passing through the eyes of the eye bolts of each assembly, a supporting 3 4 member attached to the bolt of the lower clamp UNITED STATES PATENTS assembly and a curved rest plate connected atone end to the bolt of the upper clamp assembly Number N Date and at the other end to the supporting mem- 753,482 Smlth Apr-26, 1904 b 5 1,063,846 Winthers June 3, 1913 CHARLES R. CONNAGHAN. 1,120,305 Graves Dec. 8, 1914 1,463,675 Coleman July 31, 1923 REFERENCES CITED 1,769,167 Scheihing July 1, 1930 The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 10

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