US3738674A - Ski equipped crutch - Google Patents

Ski equipped crutch Download PDF

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US3738674A
US3738674A US00204598A US3738674DA US3738674A US 3738674 A US3738674 A US 3738674A US 00204598 A US00204598 A US 00204598A US 3738674D A US3738674D A US 3738674DA US 3738674 A US3738674 A US 3738674A
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ski
section
crutch
shank
ski section
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E Pauls
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    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63CSKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
    • A63C11/00Accessories for skiing or snowboarding
    • A63C11/22Ski-sticks
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61HPHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
    • A61H3/00Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about
    • A61H3/02Crutches
    • A61H3/0288Ferrules or tips therefor
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63CSKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
    • A63C7/00Devices preventing skis from slipping back; Ski-stoppers or ski-brakes
    • A63C7/10Hinged stoppage blades attachable to the skis in such manner that these blades can be moved out of the operative position
    • A63C7/1073Ski-brakes
    • A63C7/108Ski-brakes operated by hand, e.g. using a stick, by leg or by boot
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63CSKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
    • A63C2201/00Use of skates, skis, roller-skates, snowboards and courts
    • A63C2201/10Use of skates, skis, roller-skates, snowboards and courts for handicapped people

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A ski equipped forearm crutch that converts from a downhill skiing aid to a walking aid by rotating the ski from a horizontal (skiing) position to a vertical (walking) position.
  • a latch controlled remotely from the hand grip locks the short ski in the vertical position enabling the user to support his weight upon the rear end of the ski.
  • a skid resistant member is attached at the rear of the ski to further aid walking on slippery surfaces such as packed snow or ice.
  • a claw-like member, also fixed to the rear of the ski is employed as a means of acting as a brake to slowdown a moving skier by rotating the ski to a position in which only the rear of the ski contacts the snow surface thereby causing the claw to dig into the snow surface and cause a retarding force.
  • crutch skis Prior to this invention crutch skis were cumbersome to use when walking about because of the slipperiness of their bottom surface and also because the necessary length of the ski is very awkward to maneuver while walking up or down a stairway or in crowded areas.
  • Prior crutch skis sometimes employed a spike-shaped member that could be made to protrude through the bottom of the ski to provide a resistance member to resist skidding while using the crutch ski for walking.
  • the spike is difficult to extend and retract, and the length of the ski was not reduced, thereby making walking more difficult than with a conventional forearm crutch not equipped with a ski.
  • the present invention relates to a ski equipped crutch that easily converts to use for walking.
  • the crutch further includes means to permit use of the ski crutch to retard speed of the skier if necessary.
  • the conversion of the crutch ski from a downhill skiing aid to a walking aid (or for use as a conventional ski pole) is quickly done by the user merely by pulling a release device.
  • the ski is spring loaded to its walking position and will automatically go to this position when the release is tripped.
  • the release locks theski in the walking position for safe reliable use. By again tripping the release member and overcoming the spring force the ski is quickly moved to its skiing position.
  • An object of this invention is to present a crutch ski device which makes walking with ski equipped crutches no more difficult or restricted than walking with conventional crutches not equipped with skis.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide an easily controlled means of retarding the forward velocity of a skier using crutch skis.
  • FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a crutch ski constructed according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the crutch ski shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the crutch ski of FIG. 1 showing the ski rotated into the vertical walking or ski pole position;
  • FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the braking device located on the rear end of the ski.
  • FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG. 1 showing the crutch ski positioned in the braking mode of operation.
  • a short length of ski l is attached to a yoke 2 that has a pair of upstanding legs 2A and 28 by the means of screws 17 and 18.
  • the crutch assembly combines an outer crutch shaft 5 that mounts a telescoping tube 4.
  • a pivot shaft 3 is mounted on the legs 2A and 2B of the yoke 2 and passes-through a provided hole in tube 4, so that the tube 4 and ski 1 can pivot relative to each other.
  • Spacers 2'8 and 29 provide axial positioning of tube 4 with respect to the legs of yoke 2.
  • the tube 4 is held in longitudinally spaced along shaft 5.
  • the crutch shaft 5 and tube 4 are a conventional assembly used on arm crutches for length adjustment.
  • the shaft 5 mounts a crutch handle 7 and forearm cuff 8 which are common to most commercially available forearm crutches.
  • a latch pin 9 is slidably mounted in provided holes in a pair of brackets 10 and 11 which are affixed to lower tube 4 and extend to one side thereof.
  • a compression spring 12 encircles latch pin 9 and is re strained on its upper end by bracket 10 and on its lower end by a pin 13 in latch pin 9.
  • the spring 12 urges latch pin 9 downward into engagement with the upper edge of upright leg 2A of yoke 2 which has notches 25 and 26 defined therein and which are of size to receive the latch pin 9.
  • the latch pin is bifurcated so that the end is guided on opposite sides of leg 2A.
  • the leg 2A has a top edge formed in an arc to form a shaft control quadrant structure.
  • a cord 15 is secured on its lower end to latch pin 9 by passing the cord through a hole in latch pin 9 and tying the cord back upon itself.
  • the cord can be adjustable in length to fit different lengths of the telescoping shafts.
  • the shaft 5 and tube 4 are shown collapsed and they can be lengthened substantially for proper length.
  • the upper part of cord 15 passes through a guide eye 17 fixed to crutch shaft 5 and the cord is then tied to cord anchor 16 which is secured to crutch handle 7 by the means of a screw 23.
  • a double coiled torsion spring 24 is mounted over the spacers 28 and 29. That length of the double torsion spring 24 connecting the two coils of torsion spring 24 is restrained by lower tube 4.
  • double torsion spring 24 rest against the cross member or base of the yoke 2 as shown in FIG. 1 in dotted lines.
  • the action of double torsion spring 24 is to continuously urge yoke 2 to rotate with respect to lower tube 4 into a position in which ski 1 is most nearly parallel to tube 4 as illustrated in FIG. 3.
  • the latch pin 9 cooperating with slots 25 or 26 will act to hold the ski in the desired rotational position with respect to tube 4.
  • the user of the crutch ski controls the rotational orientation of the ski with respect to the crutch shaft without removing his hand from crutch handle 7.
  • the ski 1 may be rotated from the skiing position as illustrated in FIG. 1 to the walking position as illustrated in FIG. 3, by lifting the entire crutch ski from the snow surface and then by the user extending his fingers downward and around that part 15A of cord 15 which lies directly under crutch handle 7 and then, by pulling upward on that portion of cord 15, so that upward motion will be imparted to latch pin 9.
  • the upward travel of latch pin 9 is great enough to allow the lower end of latch pin 9 to clear detent portion 27 of the leg of yoke 2 between notch 26 and notch 25.
  • Double torsion spring 24 then causes yoke 2, together with ski l, to rotate to the walking position as illustrated in FIG. 3.
  • the leg of yoke 2 has a stop end portion 26A that engages the pin 9 even when it is lifted.
  • the user then releases cord 15 and the compression spring 12 causes latch pin 9 to move downward into notch 26 thereby locking ski 1 into a fixed position with respect to crutch shaft 5.
  • the notch 26 prevents pivoting of ski l in either direction about pivot shaft 3.
  • the user again pulls on cord 15 which causes latch pin 9 to disengage from notch 26 and at the same time the user also pushes downward on crutch handle 7 with enough force to overcome the opposing force of double torsion spring 24.
  • This action causes ski l to be rotated from the position illustrated in FIG. 3 to the position illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • the user then releases cord 15 which allows latch pin 9 to engage the elongated notch 25.
  • the ski may then rotate with respect to the crutch to the extent allowed by length of notch 25. This lets the ski 1 move slightly during skiing to pass over uneven snow.
  • Claw 21 and stop 22 are affixed to ski l by the means of screws.
  • the rear end of claw 21 is serrated as shown in FIG. 4 and the points of the serrated portion are positioned slightly beyond the rear end of ski l and in approximately the same plane as the running surface of ski l.
  • Claw 21 is employed as a skid resistant end for ski 1 when the crutch ski is used as a walking crutch and also as a means of braking the users forward velocity when skiing.
  • claw 21 To employ claw 21 as a brake the user tilts the crutch shaft 5 rearwardly until latch pin 9 engages the end of slot 25 which then tilts the ski 1 to the position illustrated in FIG. 5.
  • Stop 22 is affixed to ski 1 by the means of screws 23 and is employed as a means of obtaining a greater surface area to resist penetration of the end of ski 1 into soft surfaces, such as snow, when the ski l is oriented in the walking position as illustrated in FIG. 3.
  • the unit thus is quickly converted from a skiing aid that helps support and also helps maintain speed of a one legged or otherwise disabled skier, to a walking aid that can be used for support for walking.
  • the claw and stop give positive holding action on ice and snow so the skier can use the device in the manner of a conventional ski pole when the skier is walking on skis, as well as when the skier has removed his skis.
  • the automatic movement of the ski to the walking aid position makes the conversion simple and quick.
  • the user only has to pull the cord and the torsion spring snaps the ski to walking position.
  • the conversion from walking aid to skiing aid is likewise quickly and easily done by pulling cord 15 to release the latch and then merely pushing down on the ski until it reaches its proper position.
  • the user does not have to lift the deupwardly curved forward end, and a rear end portion,
  • releasable latch means comprising a latch member and latch pin to retain said ski section in said second position, and means mounted adjacent the grip means to permit the user to selectively disengage the latch member and latch pin.
  • said latch member includes an elongated notch permitting travel of said latch pin relative thereto for a preselected amount when the ski is in its first position.
  • ski crutch of claim 1 and an anti-skid member extending rearwardly from said ski section and positioned to engage the supporting surface for the 'user when the ski section is in said second position.
  • said grip means includes a hand grip member for a user, and means employable by a hand on said hand grip operable to release said releasable means.
  • a ski crutch for use on supporting surfaces comprising a support shank member having grip means to permit control thereof by an arm of a user, a short ski section, said ski section having a running surface, an upwardly curved forward end, and a rear end portion, means to pivotally mount said ski section to said shank to permit movement of said ski section from a first normal position wherein said running surface engages the supporting surface when held by a user, to a second position wherein the forward end extends upwardly adjacent said shank with the rear end portion extending downwardly from said shank, releasable latch means to retain said ski section in said second position, including means to limit the amount of pivotal movement between said shank member and said ski section when said ski section is in said first position, and an anti-skid member attached to the rear portion of said ski section and extending rearwardly therefrom, and being above the plane of said running surface of said ski section, said anti-skid member engaging the supporting surface when the forward end of the ski section extends upwardly with the ski section in said second position and

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Abstract

A ski equipped forearm crutch that converts from a downhill skiing aid to a walking aid by rotating the ski from a horizontal (skiing) position to a vertical (walking) position. A latch controlled remotely from the hand grip locks the short ski in the vertical position enabling the user to support his weight upon the rear end of the ski. A skid resistant member is attached at the rear of the ski to further aid walking on slippery surfaces such as packed snow or ice. A claw-like member, also fixed to the rear of the ski is employed as a means of acting as a brake to slow down a moving skier by rotating the ski to a position in which only the rear of the ski contacts the snow surface thereby causing the claw to dig into the snow surface and cause a retarding force.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Pauls SKI EQUIPPED CRUTCH [76] Inventor: Edward A. Pauls, Rte. 1, Box 615P,
Excelsior, Minn. 55331 22 Filed: Dec.3, 1971 [21] App]. No.: 204,598
52 US. Cl. 280/1137 B, 135/47, 135/475,
51 1111. C1. A63c 11/22 58 Field of Search 280/1139, 11.37 c,
230/1137 J, 11.37 B, 124 A, 16, 11.13 2;
[111 3,738,674 June 12, 1973 167,749 7/1950 Germany 135/53 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Washing Post, Times Herald, Feb. 13, 1955 Primary Examiner-Leo F riaglia Assistant Examiner David M. Mitchell Attorney- Dugger, Peterson, Johnson & Westman 5 7] ABSTRACT A ski equipped forearm crutch that converts from a downhill skiing aid to a walking aid by rotating the ski from a horizontal (skiing) position to a vertical (walking) position. A latch controlled remotely from the hand grip locks the short ski in the vertical position enabling the user to support his weight upon the rear end of the ski. A skid resistant member is attached at the rear of the ski to further aid walking on slippery surfaces such as packed snow or ice. A claw-like member, also fixed to the rear of the ski is employed as a means of acting as a brake to slowdown a moving skier by rotating the ski to a position in which only the rear of the ski contacts the snow surface thereby causing the claw to dig into the snow surface and cause a retarding force.
7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION People that have only one leg or disabled legs who participate in the sport of snow skiing usually use ski equipped crutches known as crutch skis, to give them support and stability while pursuing this activity. Prior to this invention crutch skis were cumbersome to use when walking about because of the slipperiness of their bottom surface and also because the necessary length of the ski is very awkward to maneuver while walking up or down a stairway or in crowded areas. Prior crutch skis sometimes employed a spike-shaped member that could be made to protrude through the bottom of the ski to provide a resistance member to resist skidding while using the crutch ski for walking. However, the spike is difficult to extend and retract, and the length of the ski was not reduced, thereby making walking more difficult than with a conventional forearm crutch not equipped with a ski.
Prior to this invention it was also difficult for a slow moving handicapped skier using one conventional ski on one leg and ski equippedforearm crutches to retard his velocity down a ski slope. At high speeds it is quite easy to turn the conventional snow ski perpendicular to the direction of travel to effect a retarding force. However, at slow speeds, turning the conventional ski is more difficult and to effect a retarding force without turning the conventional ski the handicapped skier must turn the short crutch skis on the arm crutches at an angle to his direction of travel in order to effect a retarding force by dragging the crutch ski edges on the snow. This maneuver is difficult because skis tend to slide in their longitudinal direction and because when trying to retard speed the longitudinal direction of the crutch skis is not the direction of the skiers movement, the crutch skis tend to slew to either side of the skier thereby making balancing on the one conventional ski difficult for the skier.
Examples of prior art patents include U.S. Pat. No. 3,421,773 and US. Pat. No. 3,273,575.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a ski equipped crutch that easily converts to use for walking. The crutch further includes means to permit use of the ski crutch to retard speed of the skier if necessary. The conversion of the crutch ski from a downhill skiing aid to a walking aid (or for use as a conventional ski pole) is quickly done by the user merely by pulling a release device. The ski is spring loaded to its walking position and will automatically go to this position when the release is tripped. The release locks theski in the walking position for safe reliable use. By again tripping the release member and overcoming the spring force the ski is quickly moved to its skiing position.
An object of this invention is to present a crutch ski device which makes walking with ski equipped crutches no more difficult or restricted than walking with conventional crutches not equipped with skis.
A further object of this invention is to provide an easily controlled means of retarding the forward velocity of a skier using crutch skis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a crutch ski constructed according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the crutch ski shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the crutch ski of FIG. 1 showing the ski rotated into the vertical walking or ski pole position;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the braking device located on the rear end of the ski; and
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG. 1 showing the crutch ski positioned in the braking mode of operation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the accompanying drawings which form part of this disclosure, a short length of ski l is attached to a yoke 2 that has a pair of upstanding legs 2A and 28 by the means of screws 17 and 18. The crutch assembly combines an outer crutch shaft 5 that mounts a telescoping tube 4. A pivot shaft 3 is mounted on the legs 2A and 2B of the yoke 2 and passes-through a provided hole in tube 4, so that the tube 4 and ski 1 can pivot relative to each other. Spacers 2'8 and 29 provide axial positioning of tube 4 with respect to the legs of yoke 2. The tube 4 is held in longitudinally spaced along shaft 5. The crutch shaft 5 and tube 4 are a conventional assembly used on arm crutches for length adjustment. The shaft 5 mounts a crutch handle 7 and forearm cuff 8 which are common to most commercially available forearm crutches.
A latch pin 9 is slidably mounted in provided holes in a pair of brackets 10 and 11 which are affixed to lower tube 4 and extend to one side thereof. A compression spring 12 encircles latch pin 9 and is re strained on its upper end by bracket 10 and on its lower end by a pin 13 in latch pin 9. The spring 12 urges latch pin 9 downward into engagement with the upper edge of upright leg 2A of yoke 2 which has notches 25 and 26 defined therein and which are of size to receive the latch pin 9. The latch pin is bifurcated so that the end is guided on opposite sides of leg 2A. The leg 2A has a top edge formed in an arc to form a shaft control quadrant structure.
A cord 15 is secured on its lower end to latch pin 9 by passing the cord through a hole in latch pin 9 and tying the cord back upon itself. The cord can be adjustable in length to fit different lengths of the telescoping shafts. The shaft 5 and tube 4 are shown collapsed and they can be lengthened substantially for proper length. The upper part of cord 15 passes through a guide eye 17 fixed to crutch shaft 5 and the cord is then tied to cord anchor 16 which is secured to crutch handle 7 by the means of a screw 23.
A double coiled torsion spring 24 is mounted over the spacers 28 and 29. That length of the double torsion spring 24 connecting the two coils of torsion spring 24 is restrained by lower tube 4.
The two legs of double torsion spring 24 rest against the cross member or base of the yoke 2 as shown in FIG. 1 in dotted lines. The action of double torsion spring 24 is to continuously urge yoke 2 to rotate with respect to lower tube 4 into a position in which ski 1 is most nearly parallel to tube 4 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The latch pin 9 cooperating with slots 25 or 26 will act to hold the ski in the desired rotational position with respect to tube 4. The user of the crutch ski controls the rotational orientation of the ski with respect to the crutch shaft without removing his hand from crutch handle 7.
The ski 1 may be rotated from the skiing position as illustrated in FIG. 1 to the walking position as illustrated in FIG. 3, by lifting the entire crutch ski from the snow surface and then by the user extending his fingers downward and around that part 15A of cord 15 which lies directly under crutch handle 7 and then, by pulling upward on that portion of cord 15, so that upward motion will be imparted to latch pin 9. The upward travel of latch pin 9 is great enough to allow the lower end of latch pin 9 to clear detent portion 27 of the leg of yoke 2 between notch 26 and notch 25. Double torsion spring 24 then causes yoke 2, together with ski l, to rotate to the walking position as illustrated in FIG. 3. The leg of yoke 2 has a stop end portion 26A that engages the pin 9 even when it is lifted. The user then releases cord 15 and the compression spring 12 causes latch pin 9 to move downward into notch 26 thereby locking ski 1 into a fixed position with respect to crutch shaft 5. The notch 26 prevents pivoting of ski l in either direction about pivot shaft 3. To rotate ski 1 back into the skiing position as illustrated in FIG. 1, the user again pulls on cord 15 which causes latch pin 9 to disengage from notch 26 and at the same time the user also pushes downward on crutch handle 7 with enough force to overcome the opposing force of double torsion spring 24. This action causes ski l to be rotated from the position illustrated in FIG. 3 to the position illustrated in FIG. 1. The user then releases cord 15 which allows latch pin 9 to engage the elongated notch 25. The ski may then rotate with respect to the crutch to the extent allowed by length of notch 25. This lets the ski 1 move slightly during skiing to pass over uneven snow.
Claw 21 and stop 22 are affixed to ski l by the means of screws. The rear end of claw 21 is serrated as shown in FIG. 4 and the points of the serrated portion are positioned slightly beyond the rear end of ski l and in approximately the same plane as the running surface of ski l. Claw 21 is employed as a skid resistant end for ski 1 when the crutch ski is used as a walking crutch and also as a means of braking the users forward velocity when skiing. To employ claw 21 as a brake the user tilts the crutch shaft 5 rearwardly until latch pin 9 engages the end of slot 25 which then tilts the ski 1 to the position illustrated in FIG. 5. This causes ski l to ride with only its rear end on the snow 30 thereby causing the serrated points of claw 21 to dig into the snow 30 and cause a retarding force that brakes the skier and aids him in staying in control without tending to slew or slide the ski l outwardly.
Stop 22 is affixed to ski 1 by the means of screws 23 and is employed as a means of obtaining a greater surface area to resist penetration of the end of ski 1 into soft surfaces, such as snow, when the ski l is oriented in the walking position as illustrated in FIG. 3.
The unit thus is quickly converted from a skiing aid that helps support and also helps maintain speed of a one legged or otherwise disabled skier, to a walking aid that can be used for support for walking. The claw and stop give positive holding action on ice and snow so the skier can use the device in the manner of a conventional ski pole when the skier is walking on skis, as well as when the skier has removed his skis.
The automatic movement of the ski to the walking aid position makes the conversion simple and quick.
The user only has to pull the cord and the torsion spring snaps the ski to walking position. The conversion from walking aid to skiing aid is likewise quickly and easily done by pulling cord 15 to release the latch and then merely pushing down on the ski until it reaches its proper position. The user does not have to lift the deupwardly curved forward end, and a rear end portion,
means to pivotally mount said ski section to said shank to permit movement of said ski section from a first normal position wherein said running surface engages the supporting surface when held by a user, to a second position wherein the forward end extends upwardly adjacent said shank with the rear end portion extending downwardly from said shank, releasable latch means comprising a latch member and latch pin to retain said ski section in said second position, and means mounted adjacent the grip means to permit the user to selectively disengage the latch member and latch pin.
2. The ski crutch of claim 1 wherein said latch member includes an elongated notch permitting travel of said latch pin relative thereto for a preselected amount when the ski is in its first position.
3. The ski crutch of claim 1 and an anti-skid member extending rearwardly from said ski section and positioned to engage the supporting surface for the 'user when the ski section is in said second position.
4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said grip means includes a hand grip member for a user, and means employable by a hand on said hand grip operable to release said releasable means.
5. The combination of claim 4 and bias means acting between said shank member and said ski urging said ski to said second position.
6. A ski crutch for use on supporting surfaces comprising a support shank member having grip means to permit control thereof by an arm of a user, a short ski section, said ski section having a running surface, an upwardly curved forward end, and a rear end portion, means to pivotally mount said ski section to said shank to permit movement of said ski section from a first normal position wherein said running surface engages the supporting surface when held by a user, to a second position wherein the forward end extends upwardly adjacent said shank with the rear end portion extending downwardly from said shank, releasable latch means to retain said ski section in said second position, including means to limit the amount of pivotal movement between said shank member and said ski section when said ski section is in said first position, and an anti-skid member attached to the rear portion of said ski section and extending rearwardly therefrom, and being above the plane of said running surface of said ski section, said anti-skid member engaging the supporting surface when the forward end of the ski section extends upwardly with the ski section in said second position and the ski crutch is moved to engage the supporting surface.
7. The combination of claim 6 and a stop member attached to said ski section at the rear portion thereof positioned to engage a supporting surface for a user to restrain the rear portion of said ski section from embedding in the supporting surface when the ski section is in said second position and a downward load is placed on said shank.
* t k i

Claims (7)

1. A ski crutch for use on supporting surfaces comprising a support shank member having grip means to permit control thereof by an arm of a user, a short ski section, said ski section having a running surface, an upwardly curved forward end, and a rear end portion, means to pivotally mount said ski section to said shank to permit movement of said ski section from a first normal position wherein said running surface engages the supporting surface when held by a user, to a second position wherein the forward end extends upwardly adjacent said shank with the rear end portion extending downwardly from said shank, releasable latch means comprising a latch member and latch pin to retain said ski section in said second position, and means mounted adjacent the grip means to permit the user to selectively disengage the latch member and latch pin.
2. The ski crutch of claim 1 wherein said latch member includes an elongated notch permitting travel of said latch pin relative thereto for a preselected amount when the ski is in its first position.
3. The ski crutch of claim 1 and an anti-skid member extending rearwardly from said ski section and positioned to engage the supporting surface for the user when the ski section is in said second position.
4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said grip means includes a hand grip member for a user, and means employable by a hand on said hand grip operable to release said releasable means.
5. The combination of claim 4 and bias means acting between said shank member and said ski urging said ski to said second position.
6. A ski crutch for use on supporting surfaces comprising a support shank member having grip means to permit control thereof by an arm of a user, a short ski section, said ski section having a running surface, an upwardly curved forward end, and a rear end portion, means to pivotally mount said ski section to said shank to permit movement of said ski section from a first normal position wherein said running surface engages the supporting surface when held by a user, to a second position wherein the forward end extends upwardly adjacent said shank with the rear end portion extending downwardly from said shank, releasable latch means to retain said ski section in said second position, including means to limit the amount of pivotal movement between said shank member and said ski section when said ski section is in said first position, and an anti-skid member attached to the rear portion of said ski section and extending rearwardly therefrom, and being above the plane of said running surface of said ski section, said anti-skid member engaging the supporting surface when the forward end of the ski section extends upwardly with the ski section in said second position and the ski crutch is moved to engage the supporting surface.
7. The combination of claim 6 and a stop member attached to said ski section at the rear portion thereof positioned to engage a supporting surface for a user to restrain the rear portion of said ski section from embedding in the supporting surface when the ski section is in said second position and a downward load is placed on said shank.
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Cited By (42)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3868122A (en) * 1972-06-26 1975-02-25 Nippon Musical Instruments Mfg Auxiliary ski for physically handicapped persons
US3879048A (en) * 1972-12-18 1975-04-22 Donald A Penney Ski pole handle
US3948535A (en) * 1972-12-02 1976-04-06 Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha Ski-equipped crutch
US4009496A (en) * 1976-05-24 1977-03-01 Allen Iii Ralph Samuel Prosthetic adapter for ski poles and the like
US4043565A (en) * 1976-05-25 1977-08-23 Paul Mogannam Recreational device
FR2405076A1 (en) * 1977-10-10 1979-05-04 Wasem Denys CROSS-COUNTRY SKI STICK
US4196742A (en) * 1977-10-31 1980-04-08 Owen Clure H Jr Ski-pole or crutch
US4252138A (en) * 1979-04-04 1981-02-24 Fowler Ivan A Crutch
US4258735A (en) * 1980-06-23 1981-03-31 Meade Charles P Step assisting device
US4274430A (en) * 1979-08-15 1981-06-23 Schaaf Cecil F Walking cane apparatus
US4884587A (en) * 1987-10-13 1989-12-05 Mungons Edwin M Auxiliary cane or crutch device for helping to lift legs or feet or foot
US5120227A (en) * 1991-01-07 1992-06-09 Born Christopher M Ski training device
US5318057A (en) * 1992-06-12 1994-06-07 Wallum Ronald I Half-step stability cane
US5318058A (en) * 1993-06-21 1994-06-07 Zimmerman Dennis V Swing-free crutch
US5379758A (en) * 1993-03-23 1995-01-10 Snyder; Samuel J. Hand held surgical retractor
US5640985A (en) * 1994-09-21 1997-06-24 Profit Building Services, Inc. Cane with grasping apparatus
US5782256A (en) * 1996-05-03 1998-07-21 Bradley; Paul M. Contoured foot for ambulatory aid
DE29814576U1 (en) 1998-08-14 1998-10-29 Richter Reha Design GmbH, 95349 Thurnau Ski crutch
US5829463A (en) * 1996-05-16 1998-11-03 Galan; Juan Caro Crutch tip and method of making the same
US5938240A (en) * 1996-02-09 1999-08-17 Gairdner; James R. Control device and method for wheeled skates and the like
US6170500B1 (en) * 1998-03-31 2001-01-09 Gene D. Turechek Retrievable cane
US6217073B1 (en) * 1998-09-16 2001-04-17 Paul Hoffman Collapsible snow pole
US6592150B2 (en) 2000-07-27 2003-07-15 Joseph F. Kernan Ski rocker training device for instructing able bodied and disabled skiers
US20050016572A1 (en) * 2001-03-30 2005-01-27 Townsend Bary W. Mobility assistance apparatus and method
US20050104359A1 (en) * 2003-10-02 2005-05-19 Spragg Justin M. Snowboard utility pole
US20050121480A1 (en) * 2003-09-15 2005-06-09 Erik Cooley Systems and methods for providing a self-arresting device
US20060185703A1 (en) * 2001-03-30 2006-08-24 Townsend Barry W Mobility assistance apparatus
US20070106397A1 (en) * 2001-03-30 2007-05-10 Townsend Barry W Mobility assistance apparatus
US20070222202A1 (en) * 2006-03-27 2007-09-27 Richards William M Protective ski appliance
EP1758658B1 (en) * 2004-06-24 2010-02-17 Swix Sport A/S A device for changing between two different tips on a pole
US20100206348A1 (en) * 2009-02-13 2010-08-19 Demetrios Markou Crutch
US20120074661A1 (en) * 2010-09-29 2012-03-29 Alreh Medical Sp. Z.O.O Pair of Runners for Walking and/or Travel Movement
US20120200073A1 (en) * 2011-02-03 2012-08-09 Haukeahoe Ventures, Inc. Dba Snowshifts Apparatus, system, and method for controlling movement of a user on snow
US8919362B1 (en) * 2013-10-04 2014-12-30 Billy Mortenson Walking cane with platform
EP3138550A1 (en) * 2015-09-04 2017-03-08 Zurecon AG Walking aid
US10039688B1 (en) * 2017-02-03 2018-08-07 Robert Epp Walker glide
US10064781B2 (en) * 2016-12-01 2018-09-04 Össur Iceland Ehf Crutch with energy storage and energy return
USD850094S1 (en) * 2018-04-16 2019-06-04 Zooey Chia-Tien Chu Underarm crutch
WO2019140262A1 (en) * 2017-01-11 2019-07-18 Applied Mobility Devices, LLC Frame configurations for mobility aid devices
USD880145S1 (en) * 2018-04-30 2020-04-07 Zooey Chia-Tien Chu Forearm crutch
US20220110817A1 (en) * 2020-10-08 2022-04-14 Walqer Llc Walking assistance devices and rehabilitation systems
US20230077456A1 (en) * 2021-09-13 2023-03-16 Aligned As Designed, LLC Upper arm cuff crutches

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US2828135A (en) * 1956-07-24 1958-03-25 Koci Mike Brake attachment for skis
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US2828135A (en) * 1956-07-24 1958-03-25 Koci Mike Brake attachment for skis
US3273575A (en) * 1964-06-29 1966-09-20 Thomas R Aldrich Attachments for crutches and like walking aids
US3456663A (en) * 1967-06-20 1969-07-22 Howard F Blum Combined walking cane and shovel
US3421773A (en) * 1967-10-24 1969-01-14 Martin Pearson Sport vehicle
US3561783A (en) * 1969-06-09 1971-02-09 Richard H Ellett Ski bike
US3647238A (en) * 1969-12-15 1972-03-07 Trio Machine And Mfg Co Inc Handtruck
US3646949A (en) * 1970-05-22 1972-03-07 Maurice W Streeter Crutch with retractable ice gripper

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Cited By (52)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3868122A (en) * 1972-06-26 1975-02-25 Nippon Musical Instruments Mfg Auxiliary ski for physically handicapped persons
US3948535A (en) * 1972-12-02 1976-04-06 Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha Ski-equipped crutch
US3879048A (en) * 1972-12-18 1975-04-22 Donald A Penney Ski pole handle
US4009496A (en) * 1976-05-24 1977-03-01 Allen Iii Ralph Samuel Prosthetic adapter for ski poles and the like
US4043565A (en) * 1976-05-25 1977-08-23 Paul Mogannam Recreational device
FR2405076A1 (en) * 1977-10-10 1979-05-04 Wasem Denys CROSS-COUNTRY SKI STICK
US4196742A (en) * 1977-10-31 1980-04-08 Owen Clure H Jr Ski-pole or crutch
US4252138A (en) * 1979-04-04 1981-02-24 Fowler Ivan A Crutch
US4274430A (en) * 1979-08-15 1981-06-23 Schaaf Cecil F Walking cane apparatus
US4258735A (en) * 1980-06-23 1981-03-31 Meade Charles P Step assisting device
US4884587A (en) * 1987-10-13 1989-12-05 Mungons Edwin M Auxiliary cane or crutch device for helping to lift legs or feet or foot
US5120227A (en) * 1991-01-07 1992-06-09 Born Christopher M Ski training device
US5318057A (en) * 1992-06-12 1994-06-07 Wallum Ronald I Half-step stability cane
US5379758A (en) * 1993-03-23 1995-01-10 Snyder; Samuel J. Hand held surgical retractor
US5318058A (en) * 1993-06-21 1994-06-07 Zimmerman Dennis V Swing-free crutch
US5640985A (en) * 1994-09-21 1997-06-24 Profit Building Services, Inc. Cane with grasping apparatus
US5938240A (en) * 1996-02-09 1999-08-17 Gairdner; James R. Control device and method for wheeled skates and the like
US5782256A (en) * 1996-05-03 1998-07-21 Bradley; Paul M. Contoured foot for ambulatory aid
US5829463A (en) * 1996-05-16 1998-11-03 Galan; Juan Caro Crutch tip and method of making the same
US6170500B1 (en) * 1998-03-31 2001-01-09 Gene D. Turechek Retrievable cane
DE29814576U1 (en) 1998-08-14 1998-10-29 Richter Reha Design GmbH, 95349 Thurnau Ski crutch
US6217073B1 (en) * 1998-09-16 2001-04-17 Paul Hoffman Collapsible snow pole
US6592150B2 (en) 2000-07-27 2003-07-15 Joseph F. Kernan Ski rocker training device for instructing able bodied and disabled skiers
US20050016572A1 (en) * 2001-03-30 2005-01-27 Townsend Bary W. Mobility assistance apparatus and method
US7954502B2 (en) 2001-03-30 2011-06-07 Bioquest Prosthetics, Llc Mobility assistance apparatus
US20070106397A1 (en) * 2001-03-30 2007-05-10 Townsend Barry W Mobility assistance apparatus
US20060185703A1 (en) * 2001-03-30 2006-08-24 Townsend Barry W Mobility assistance apparatus
US7735501B2 (en) * 2001-03-30 2010-06-15 Bioquest Prosthetics Llc Mobility assistance apparatus and method
US20050121480A1 (en) * 2003-09-15 2005-06-09 Erik Cooley Systems and methods for providing a self-arresting device
US7172219B2 (en) 2003-10-02 2007-02-06 Sparker International, Inc. Snowboard utility pole
US20050104359A1 (en) * 2003-10-02 2005-05-19 Spragg Justin M. Snowboard utility pole
EP1758658B1 (en) * 2004-06-24 2010-02-17 Swix Sport A/S A device for changing between two different tips on a pole
US7837232B2 (en) * 2006-03-27 2010-11-23 Richards William M Protective ski appliance
US20070222202A1 (en) * 2006-03-27 2007-09-27 Richards William M Protective ski appliance
US20100206348A1 (en) * 2009-02-13 2010-08-19 Demetrios Markou Crutch
US8567800B2 (en) * 2010-09-29 2013-10-29 Alreh Medical Sp. Z.O.O. Pair of runners for walking and/or travel movement
US20120074661A1 (en) * 2010-09-29 2012-03-29 Alreh Medical Sp. Z.O.O Pair of Runners for Walking and/or Travel Movement
US8814212B2 (en) * 2011-02-03 2014-08-26 Thomas Bennett Apparatus, system, and method for controlling movement of a user on snow
WO2013126038A3 (en) * 2011-02-03 2013-11-14 Thomas Bennett Apparatus, system, and method for controlling movement of a user on snow
US20120200073A1 (en) * 2011-02-03 2012-08-09 Haukeahoe Ventures, Inc. Dba Snowshifts Apparatus, system, and method for controlling movement of a user on snow
US8919362B1 (en) * 2013-10-04 2014-12-30 Billy Mortenson Walking cane with platform
EP3138550A1 (en) * 2015-09-04 2017-03-08 Zurecon AG Walking aid
US10821048B2 (en) 2016-12-01 2020-11-03 Össur Iceland Ehf Crutch with energy storage and energy return
US10064781B2 (en) * 2016-12-01 2018-09-04 Össur Iceland Ehf Crutch with energy storage and energy return
US11833104B2 (en) 2016-12-01 2023-12-05 Össur Iceland Ehf Crutch with energy storage and energy return
WO2019140262A1 (en) * 2017-01-11 2019-07-18 Applied Mobility Devices, LLC Frame configurations for mobility aid devices
US10039688B1 (en) * 2017-02-03 2018-08-07 Robert Epp Walker glide
USD850094S1 (en) * 2018-04-16 2019-06-04 Zooey Chia-Tien Chu Underarm crutch
USD880145S1 (en) * 2018-04-30 2020-04-07 Zooey Chia-Tien Chu Forearm crutch
US20220110817A1 (en) * 2020-10-08 2022-04-14 Walqer Llc Walking assistance devices and rehabilitation systems
US11963922B2 (en) * 2020-10-08 2024-04-23 Walqer Llc Walking assistance devices and rehabilitation systems
US20230077456A1 (en) * 2021-09-13 2023-03-16 Aligned As Designed, LLC Upper arm cuff crutches

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