US788541A - Cane or crutch attachment. - Google Patents

Description

PA'IENTED MAY 2, 1905.

A. KUNKEL.

CANE 0B. CRUTGH ATTAGHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 10.1905.

Inventor.

Attorneys )'ITBD STATES Patented. May 2, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST KUNKEL, OF JOHNSTOVN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALFTO HARRY KUNKEL, OF JOHNSTOW'N, PENNSYLVANIA.

CANE OR CRUTCH ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,541, dated May 2, 1905.

Application tiled February 10, 1905. Serial Noy 245,156.

To nl?, whom it' may cori/cern:

Beit known that I, AUGUST KUNKEL, a citizen of the United States, residing' at Johnstown, in the countyiof Cambria and State-of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Cane or Orutch Attachment, of which the following is a specification.

rIhis invention relates to devices adapted for attachment to walking-canes, crutches, some ro forms of articial limbs, and similar articles, and has for its object to produce a simple and efficient structure applicable to devices of this class which will be longitudinally yieldable under pressure, and thus relieve the user from t 5 jars or concussione incident to the act of walk ing or otherwise moving from place to place.

l/Vith these and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in certain zo novel features of construction, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, is illustrated the preferred form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying' the same into practical operation, it being understood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, as various changes 3o in the shape, proportions, and general assemblage of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

In the drawings thus employed, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cane with the improved construction applied. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View of the improved device. Fig. 3 is a side view of a crutch, on an enlarged scale, with the improvement applied.

40 The improved device comprises a stock or su pporting member 10, which may be the stick portion of a cane, as in Figs. 1 and 2, the supporting' member of a crutch, as in Fig. 3, or any other member' to which it may be applied or where a yielding movement is required when pressure is applied, such as in some forms of artiiicial legs and the like, and I. do not, therefore, wish to be limited in any manner to the'use to which the supporting member shall be applied or to the form or size of the same.

The supporting member is provided near one end with an annular channel or groove 11 and is litted with an inner tubular member 12, the latter having' an annular bead 13 closely 55 engaging the annular channel in the support' ing member and firmly attached thereby to the latter.

The bead 13 will preferably be formed in the inner tubular member by a suitable mechanism after it is placed in position upon the supporting member in a manner well understood by mechanics. The opposite end of the inner tubular member is Viared outwardly, as at 14.

Slidably disposed upon the inner tubular member is an outer tubular member 15, large enough to inclose the Haring end 14 of the inner tubular member and with the inner end compressed, as at 16, to closely engage the body of the inner tubular member and also provided with an annular bead 17, forming a bearing against the body of the inner tubular member and spaced from the compressed end 16. f

rIhe outer tubular member is provided at its free end with a closure 18, which will be in the form of a handle, as in Figs. 1 and 2, when the device is applied to a walking-cane or as a tip when the device is applied to a 30 crutch, as shown in Fig. 3, and will also be in the form of a tip when the device is applied to an artiiicial leg, as will be understood.

A spring 19 is disposed within the tubular 85 members and bearing against the closure 18 andthe end of the supporting' member 10. The force of the spring thus maintains the outer tubular member 15 and its closure 18 normally disposed in outward position, with the bead 17 of the outer tubular member bearing against the iiaring end 14k of the inner tubular member and yieldable to pressure applied to the closure member.

The strength ofthe spring will be proportioned to the implement or structure to which the device is applied, and a stronger or stiffer spring will necessarily be employed Jfor crutches and artificial legs than for wall;- ing-canes and similar structures, as will be obvious.

It will thus be obvious that a simply-constructed and efficient device is produced which may be inexpensively manufactured and will add materially to the comfort of Athe user by relieving him from the jars and concussione incident to the walking action.

The exposed portions of the tubular members may be plated or otherwise ornamented or protected and may be of any required size or strength or of any required material or compositions of materials.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- In an implement of the class described, a supporting member having an annular groove near one end, an inner tubulaimember having an annular bead at one end engaging said annular channel and with the opposite end flaring outwardly, an outer tubular member inclosing said inner tubular member and with one end extending' inwardly for movably bearing upon the body of said inner tubular member and with an annular bead spaced from said inwardly-projecting end and likewise movably bearing upon the body of the inner tubular member, a closure forthe free end of said outer tubular member, and a spring disposed within said tubular members and bearing against said closure and `said supporting member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my Own I have hereto afxed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

AUGUST KUNKEL. l/Vitnesses:

JOHN L. DECKER, JOHN G. HAssINGER.

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