US2793647A - Adjustable crutch - Google Patents

Description

H. "T. URlE ETAL 2,793,647

ADJUSTABLE CRUTCH Filed July 27, 1954 May 28, 1957 Harold 7.' Url'e Robert E. Urie INVENTORS,

2,793,647 ADJUSTABLE cnurcrr Harold T. Urie and Robert E. Urie, New Hampton, N. H. Application July 27, 1954, Serial No. 445,982 3 Claims. Cl. 135-50 This invention relates generally to improvements in.

crutches and has for its primary object the provision of structural improvements in crutches whereby the same are rendered of more light weight construction which at the same time is of extremely rigid construction and which is permitted of relatively easy and rapid adjustment.

Another object of this invention'is to provide an improved crutch construction which includes a pair of channel-shaped upright members and a supporting leg member grooved so as to be securely engaged by the uprights before being placed in any one of several adjusted positions.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved crutch construction in which the hand grip member as well as the supporting leg is adjustable to suit the individual needs of the user, the hand grip including guide shoe members slidably received in the channel shaped uprights and adapted to be secured in several adjusted positions therein.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crutch constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal section taken substantially along the plane of section line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the manner of attaching the hand grip member to one of the uprights; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged horizontal section taken substantially along the plane of section line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numerals and 12 indicate a pair of upright members which form the main supporting frame assembly of the crutch and which are, as will be readily seen, of rectangular channel shape to each present a pair of spaced longitudinal flat edge flanges 14 and 16 on each member at right angles to and interconnected by an intermediate flat bight portion 18. The upper ends of the uprights 10 and 12 are rigidly interconnected by means of an underarm support member 20 which includes a lower base portion 22 which is equal in thickness to the distance between the spaced flanges 14 and 16 of the upright members such as to be received snugly therebetween as will be seen most clearly in Figure 2 and secured thereto as by fasteners 24 which project through the bight portions of the uprights and into the base 22 of the underarm support 20, the underarm support being preferably constructed of wood or similar material.

Each of the uprights 10 and 12 is so configurated that the lower ends thereof are disposed in rather closely spaced relation whereas the upper ends and intermediate portions 2,793,647 Patented May 28, 1957 are spaced relatively far apart in the manner shown. The

1 ment of the flanges 14 and 16 of the uprights within the i lower ends of the uprights are secured in clamping engagement to a supporting leg member 26 which cooperates in conjunction with the specifically configurated upright members 10 and 12 to form a rigid and sturdy crutch assembly. clearly in Figure 5, opposite sides of the supportleg 26 are provided with pairs of grooves 28 and 30 which receive the spaced flanges 14 and 16 of the upright members 10 and 12 and impart through normal usage of the crutch substantially uniform stresses throughout that portion of the support leg with which the uprights 10 and 12 are engaged. That is, any lateral play or movement which may be tended toward is distributed to a rather large area of thesupport member 26 through the engagegrooves 28 and 30 in the leg. To maintain the upright members in properly clamped relation upon thesupport leg, a pair of bolt members 32 and 34 may be provided which project through bight portions of the uprights and through selected ones of a plurality of transverse apertures 36 provided in the support leg 26 between the notches 28 and 30. Wing nuts 38 and 40are associated with the bolt members 32 and 34 to permit rapid removal and replacement of these assemblies.

Disposed at a; predetermineddistance below the underarm support member 20 is a hand grip member 42 which is held in position by a bolt member 44 and associated wing nut 46 which extends through the exposed bight portions 18 of the uprights 10 and 12. The bights of the uprights 10 and 12 are provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced, horizontally aligned apertures 48 provided for the reception of the bolt member 44 so that the hand grip member 42 may be disposed in a plurality of selected adjusted positions to suit the individual needs of a user. The opposite ends of the hand grip member 42 are provided with the slats 50 such that the thickness therebetween is substantially equal to the distance between the flanges 14 and 16 of the uprights such as to prevent turning of the hand grip member with respect thereto. Guide shoe members 52 and 54, vertically elongated, are associated with the opposite ends of the hand grip member 42 and are slidably received in the channels provided by the uprights 10 and 12 in the manner shown. Central portions of the guide shoes 52 and 54 are notched as at 56 for the reception of the flatted end portions of the hand grip member previously described, to permit these ends to project slightly between the flanges 14 and 16 of the uprights so as to prevent turning movement of the hand grips as above set forth. Also, the: notches 56 in the guide shoes 52 and 54 provide for positive engagement between the hand grip member 42 and these guide shoes when the bolt member 44 is removed such as to permit the hand grip members and guide shoes to be moved as an assembly to a new location by merely raising Or lowering the hand grip member itself. In this manner, it will be readily apparent that a very rapid and easy adjustment of the hand grip member may be obtained.

Likewise, the adjustment of the support leg 26 is equally as rapid and easy as the adjustment made to the hand grip member and in this respect it is to be noted that removal of the bolts 32 and 34 will permit the support leg to he slid to a new position, the apertures in the uprights receiving the bolts 32 and 34 at the same time being maintained in proper transverse alignment with the plurality of openings 36 in the support leg to permit ready relocation of the bolt members 32 and 34 to the newly adjusted position.

From the foreging, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since In this respect, as will be seen most.

channeled uprights, each having apair of" longitudinalfiat edge flanges a 1 support leg forming an extension-- of said uprights longitudinallyadjustable between the lower ends of-said uprights, said support -leghaving pairslof longitudinally extending grooves formed in opposite sides thereof, 1 receiving thepair of flanges of-saiduprights; fa'steners interconnecting the lower ends-of said upr'iglits; said 1 support leg being provided with aplural-it-yof long'itudinally spaced apertures-intermediate said pai-rstotlgrooves,

selectively receiving said-fasteners in-varieus projectedposit-ions ofthe-support -leg,-and-'a' handgrip assembly a p i. .20

'2 An adjustable crutch comprising a--pair of spaced.

secured betweensaid uprights.

channeleduprights, each-having'a pair of-lon=gitudinal flatedgeaflang'esa support legtormingan extension of saiduprights longitudinally adjustable..-between the-lower ends of said uprights, and a hand grip assembly secure'dsaiduprightssaidhand grip assembly including vertically elongated opposite guideshoe members slidably received in said uprightsbetween theflangesofthe pairs 'ofiflanges thereof; and ahand-grip disposed centrally between said v2 between-said uprights for .a sliding adjustment relative-ta slioes'a nd' having ends recessed into said slioes, said hand grip assembly being secured to said uprights in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions.

3. In an adjustable crutch, a pair of spaced channeled uprights, each having a pair of longitudinal flat edge flanges a hand grip assembly secured between intermediate portions of said uprights, a support leg forming an extension of said uprights, longitudinally adjustable between the lower ends of said uprights, said hand grip as sembly including vertically elongated opposite guide shoe members slidably received in saiduprights between the flanges thereof, and a hand grip disposed centrally between said'shoes and having ends recessed into'said' shoes and flattened at opposite; sides of; the hand grip to fit between said flanges to prevent the hand grip from turning, said hand grip assembly being secured to said uprights in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions relative to said leg.

References Cited in th'e'file'of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,157,314 Le COmpte'et a1. Oct. 19, I915 1,358,643 Lamming Nov. 9} 1920 1,383,156 Sherman 'June 28, 19 21 FOREIGN PATENTS 187,555. Germany July.23, 1907 695,987 France Oct. 7, .1930

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