US3858596A - Underarm crutch - Google Patents
Underarm crutch Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3858596A US3858596A US379055A US37905573A US3858596A US 3858596 A US3858596 A US 3858596A US 379055 A US379055 A US 379055A US 37905573 A US37905573 A US 37905573A US 3858596 A US3858596 A US 3858596A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- side frame
- frame members
- handgrip
- underarm
- holes
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61H—PHYSICAL 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
- A61H3/00—Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about
- A61H3/02—Crutches
Definitions
- ABSTRACT An underarm crutch having tubular side frame member's, a tubular underarm support, and a handgrip and center leg element adjustably mounted on and between said side frame members.
- the side frame members are angularly movable relative to each other to disengage said handgrip and center leg element so that they may be moved to different positions, and to reengage said handgrip and center leg element so that they may be secured in said different positions.
- the principal feature of this invention resides in the locking means which securely attaches the underarm support to the side frame members while enabling said side frame members to engage in relative angular movement for height or handgrip adjustment purposes.
- the crutch When the crutch is fully assembled and set up for use, its several components are rigidly secured to each other.
- two fastening members When it is desired to adjust the length (height) of the crutch or the height of the handgrip (in relation to the underarm support), two fastening members are detached and the side frame members are thereby released for relative angular movement without weakening their connection with the underarm support.
- the side frame members may be swung apart and the center leg element and handgrip (either or both) may be raised or lowered in accordance with the individual requirements of the user.
- the side frame members may then be swung back to their original positions, and when the fastening elements are re-attached, the crutch is fully assembled in adjusted condition, ready for use.
- the underarm support remains securely fastened to the side frame members.
- the side frame members and the underarm support are made of metal tubing, preferably but not necessarily aluminum.
- a lighter metal such as magnesium or a magnesium alloy may be used, or a heavier metal such as steel.
- the metal should be substantially malleable, since it is this property or characteristic which lies at the foundation of the present invention.
- the tubular side frame members are inserted through a pair of properly spaced holes into the tubular underarm support. The inwardly projecting ends of said tubular side frame members are then expanded to the extent necessary to lock said side frame members and said underarm support together. However, sufficient clearance is provided within the underarm support holes to enable the side frame members to engage in relative angular movement.
- Such relative angular movement is required in order to move the side frame members apart sufficiently to adjust the center leg element and the hand-. grip to selected positions. Such relative angular movement is further necessary in order to enable the side frame members to swing back toward each other and into engagement with the center leg element and the handgrip. This relative angular movement in either direction is structurally feasible without weakening the connection between the side frame members and the underarm support.
- FIG. 1 is a side view of an assembled underarm crutch made in accordance with the principles of this invention.
- FIG. 2 is a partly exploded view showing said crutch with its side frame members swung away from each other to disengage the center leg element and the handgrip.
- FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the underarm support, taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 4 is another enlarged longitudinal section through said underarm support, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.
- FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 2.
- FIG. 6 is an enlarged prospective view of the handgrip.
- FIG. 7 is a transverse section on the line 7-7 of FIG. 1'
- FIG. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of FIG. 1.
- underarm crutch 10 which exemplifies the present invention, comprises the following component parts: a pair of side frame members 12 and 14, an underarm support 16, a handgrip 18, a center leg portion 20, and a pair of fastening elements such as bolts 22 and thumb nuts 24.
- the side frame elements, the underann support and the center leg element are all made of metal tubing, preferably but not necessarily aluminum.
- a lighter metal such as magnesium or a magnesium alloy may also be used in order to lighten the weight of the crutch.
- steel tubing may be used for added strength, although, possibly, at the expense of additional weight. In all cases, however, the metal must be malleable, at least to the extent necessary to lock the underarm support to the upper ends of the side frame members by the means or method hereinafter described.
- the side frame members 12 and 14 bow outwardly intermediate their respective end portions, and their lower ends converge toward and into engagement with the center leg element 20.
- the lower converging ends of the side frame members are deformed to provide concentric inner and outer walls 15 and 15a, respectively, the inner wall 15 forming a concavely shaped seat for the center leg element 20.
- a plurality of holes are formed in the center leg element 20, so that the center leg element may be adjusted longitudinally relative to the side frame members.
- the drawing shows six such holes 28 for three levels of adjustment, but this is purely illustrative.
- handgrip 18 is provided with a pair of pins or studs 30 extending from opposite ends thereof in coaxial relationship. These pins or studs 30 are non-circular in cross-section, for example, they may have square cross-sections, as FIG. 6 of the drawing clearly shows.
- Each side frame member 12, 14 is provided with a series of correspondingly shaped holes 32 which are adapted to receive and engage pins or studs 30 and prevent them and the handgrip itself from rotating. This is shown in FIG. of the drawing, wherein seven square holes 32 are shown formed on the inner face of side frame member 14. As will be understood, holes 32 are of a size and shape to accommodate one of the pins or studs 30 in order to support the handgrip on the side frame members while preventing the handgrip from rotating about its own longitudinal axis relative to the two side frame members.
- the underarm support is downwardly curved, to form a generally convex lower wall 16a and generally concave upper wall 16b. Since the underarm support is made of tubing, preferably, but not necessarily, cylindrical, the lower convex wall 16a and the upper concave wall 16b are, of course, continuous with each other.
- a pair of holes 40 are formed in the lower convex wall 16a of the underarm support, and these holes are spaced to receive the upper ends of said frame members 12 and 14. Sufficient clearance is provided for said side frame members in holes 40 to enable the side frame members to move angularly relative to each other and relative to the underarm support, as FIG. 2 clearly shows.
- the side frame members are free to swing apart from their FIG. 1 to their FIG. 2 position, and they are equally free to swing back from their FIG. 2 to their FIG. 1 position.
- a forming tool is driven into each of the inwardly projecting ends of the side frame members to deform same in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 3 and4. More particularly, the inwardly projecting ends of said side frame members are deformed or expanded to provide rounded embossments 12a and 14a, respectively.
- the precise shape of these embossments is not critical, but what is necessary is that they effectively increase the cross-sectional dimensions of the inwardly projecting ends of the side frame members to the extent necessary to prevent their withdrawal from holes 40.
- the result is a secure connection between the side frame members and the underarm support, but the side frame members remain free to engage in relative angular movement for the adjustment purposes of the handgrip l8 and center leg element 20 above described.
- a forming tool such as a punch with a rounded point
- Plastic caps 44 may also be used to close the ends of the underarm support and to round off its edges. The invention is obviously not limited to the specific method of interconnecting caps 44 with sleeve 42 shown in FIG. 4 of the drawing.
- An underarm crutch comprising:
- c. means securing said underarm support to said side frame members but allowing said side frame members to move angularly relative to each other;
- g. means adjustably and detachably securing said handgrip to said side frame members
- said underarm support comprising a tubular memher
- tubular underarm member being downwardly curved along its longitudinal axis to define a concavely curved upper wall and a convexly curved lower wall
- said side frame members being formed of malleable metal tubing
- said handgrip being provided with a pair of supporting pins extending from opposite ends thereof in coaxial relationship, and
- said side frame members being provided with a plurality of opposed, horizontally aligned holes formed therein to engage said handgrip pins, and thereby to attach the handgrip to the side frame members,
- each of said side frame members being provided with a plurality of such holes spaced vertically therein and registering horizontally with the corresponding holes of the other of said side frame members in facing relationship,
- the handgrip pins are non-circular in cross-section
- the holes formed in the side frame members are of corresponding non-circular configuration
Abstract
Description
Claims (2)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US379055A US3858596A (en) | 1973-07-13 | 1973-07-13 | Underarm crutch |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US379055A US3858596A (en) | 1973-07-13 | 1973-07-13 | Underarm crutch |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3858596A true US3858596A (en) | 1975-01-07 |
Family
ID=23495634
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US379055A Expired - Lifetime US3858596A (en) | 1973-07-13 | 1973-07-13 | Underarm crutch |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US3858596A (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4566474A (en) * | 1984-04-13 | 1986-01-28 | Burke Edmund T | Crutch |
US4733682A (en) * | 1986-12-16 | 1988-03-29 | Guardian Products, Inc. | Tubular crutch construction |
US5645095A (en) * | 1996-10-16 | 1997-07-08 | Ramonowski; Roland | Low friction crutch pad cover |
US5791360A (en) * | 1992-11-16 | 1998-08-11 | Tubular Fabricators Industry, Inc. | Stable tubular crutch with adjustable hand grip |
US20070108806A1 (en) * | 2005-11-07 | 2007-05-17 | Wornie Smith | Portable chair and method of use thereof |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1157314A (en) * | 1914-04-04 | 1915-10-19 | Edward P Le Compte | Crutch. |
US1209997A (en) * | 1916-06-20 | 1916-12-26 | James C Pettingill | Crutch. |
US1332642A (en) * | 1919-03-05 | 1920-03-02 | Leonard F Tarbell | Crutch |
US2197279A (en) * | 1939-09-05 | 1940-04-16 | Thorssen Syndicate | Crutch |
-
1973
- 1973-07-13 US US379055A patent/US3858596A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1157314A (en) * | 1914-04-04 | 1915-10-19 | Edward P Le Compte | Crutch. |
US1209997A (en) * | 1916-06-20 | 1916-12-26 | James C Pettingill | Crutch. |
US1332642A (en) * | 1919-03-05 | 1920-03-02 | Leonard F Tarbell | Crutch |
US2197279A (en) * | 1939-09-05 | 1940-04-16 | Thorssen Syndicate | Crutch |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4566474A (en) * | 1984-04-13 | 1986-01-28 | Burke Edmund T | Crutch |
US4733682A (en) * | 1986-12-16 | 1988-03-29 | Guardian Products, Inc. | Tubular crutch construction |
US5791360A (en) * | 1992-11-16 | 1998-08-11 | Tubular Fabricators Industry, Inc. | Stable tubular crutch with adjustable hand grip |
US5645095A (en) * | 1996-10-16 | 1997-07-08 | Ramonowski; Roland | Low friction crutch pad cover |
US20070108806A1 (en) * | 2005-11-07 | 2007-05-17 | Wornie Smith | Portable chair and method of use thereof |
US7258401B2 (en) * | 2005-11-07 | 2007-08-21 | Wornie Smith | Portable chair and method of use thereof |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: TEMCO HEALTHCARE INDUSTRIES, INC.; 125 SOUTH ST., Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:THOMAS, MORTON I.;REEL/FRAME:004070/0518 Effective date: 19820208 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: TEMCO HEALTHCARE INDUSTRIES, INC. Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:TEMCO PRODUCTS INC.;REEL/FRAME:004162/0419 Effective date: 19801126 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: TEMCO HOME HEALTH CARE PRODUCTS,INC. Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:TEMCO HEALTHCARE INDUSTRIES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:004170/0506 Effective date: 19830829 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: TEMCO DELAWARE, INC. A CORPORATION OF DE Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:TEMCO HOME HEALTH CARE PRODUCTS, INC., A NJ CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:005877/0301 Effective date: 19880816 Owner name: TEMCO NATIONAL CORP., A CORPORATION OF DE Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:TEMCO HOME HEALTH CARE PRODUCTS, INC., A CORPORATION OF DE;REEL/FRAME:005877/0307 Effective date: 19890302 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GRAHAM-FIELD TEMCO, INC. A NEW JERSEY CORPORATIO Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:TEMCO NATIONAL CORP.;REEL/FRAME:005926/0232 Effective date: 19911017 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION, NEW YORK Free format text: PATENT COLLATERAL ASSIGNMENT AND SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:GRAHAM-FIELD TEMCO, INC.;REEL/FRAME:010804/0944 Effective date: 20000412 |