US2388778A - Crutch - Google Patents

Description

' WITNESS Nov. 13, 1945. J. D. WHEELER 2,388,778

CRU'ICH Filed June 20; 1944 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 13, 1945 OFFICE f cnorcn I John D. Wheeler, Vancouver, Wash. Application June 20,1944, Serial No. 541,154 3 Claims. (Cl. 135-49) The present invention relates to improvements in crutches and has for its general object the provision of an improved crutch which is more comfortable and convenient to use than the ordinary crutch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a crutch comprising upper and lower tubular sections, each section beingadjustable as to length and adapted to be folded for a convenient placement in a position of rest or storage when not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crutch of the above character including an arm rest that is rockably mounted so as to reduce to a minimum soreness under the arms of the user.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a crutch which is of light and durable construction and one which will afford a maximum of comfort to the user.

The invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be hadto the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a crutch constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a viewin side elevation illustrating the crutch in folded position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper section of the crutch with parts being shown in elevation.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view illustrating the manner of joining the upper section with the lower section.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional View similar to Figure 5 with the crutch in folded position.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the im proved crutch is generally designated in the several views by the reference numeral 8 and comprises upper and lower sections generally designated by the reference numerals 8 and Iii, respectively. The lower section it is of tubular formation and comprises the tubular members it and i2 arranged in telescoping relation with the member i2 adjustably held within the member ll by'means of a pin or the like It. The member' H has its upper portion curving outwardly as indicated at it and is then ,bent at right angles to form a hand grip 15. As more particularly shown in Figure 4 or the drawing, the hand grip i6 is of tubular formation and retains therein the upper section 9. The upper section 9 comprises tubular members I8 and il held in adjusted telescoping relation by means of a pin or the like 18. The lower end of the member it extends at' right angles and is held within the hand grip l5 as indicated I 'at it). The end as is rotatably held within the hand grip it so that the crutch may be folded to the position shown in Figure 2. When in extended position, however, the end i9 is locked within the hand grip is by means of a pin 29 carried on the end oi a leaf spring '2! riveted or otherwise secured as indicated at 22 to the hand grip I5. The pin 2d fits within an opening 28 formed in the end it, a pair of such openings be= ing provided so that said end 19 may be locked when the upper section is either extended or folded.

The upper end of the member I'd also extends at right angles and is substantially parallel to the end l9, said upper end being designated by the numeral 2d. The end it is disposed within a channel 25 formed in the base 26 of the arm rest 2'8. The base 26 is pivotally connected to the end 25 by means of a pin or the like 2&3 whereby the arm rest 27 will rock on its pivot as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. The rocking of the arm rest ill materially reduces or eliminates soreness under the arms of the user.

The improved crutch in accordance with the present invention is adjustable from either its upper or lower section. Adjustment of the upper section is occasioned by the necessity for decreasing or increasing the distance between the arm rest 2; and the hand grip 15 as some users may have longer or shorter arms than other users. Adjustment of the lower section is occasioned by the height of the user but when either section has been adjusted and locked by means of their respective pins, further movement is precluded. When desiring to fold the section 9 relative to the section It, the pin it is retracted from the opening 23 and the former section swung downwardly to the position shown in Figure 2. Thepin 28 is then replaced in its corresponding opening 23 for locking the sections in their folded position.

A rubber cap is is frictionally held on the lower end of the tubular member 52, said cap being of the type conventionally employed for preventing slipping of the crutch when in use.

Also it will be understood, of course, by those skilled in the art that variations in the hereinabove described device involving the substitution of substantial equivalents for the devices described are intended to be comprehended within the spirit of thepresent invention and'that the invention is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not afiect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

eluding upper and lower tubular members, said lower member being telescopically held within i said upper member, said upper member having 1. A walking crutch comprising upper and lower sections, each section including telescoping tubular members, an arm rest carried by said upper section, a hand rest carried by said lower section, and means for foldably mounting said upper section relative to said lower section.

2. A walking crutch comprising upper and lower detachable sections, and an arm rest carried by said upper section, said lower section inits upper portion curved outwardly and bent inwardly at substantially right angles to the vertical plane to form a hand grip, the lower end of said upper section being pivotally mounted within said hand grip whereby said sections may be folded together.

3. A walking crutch comprising upper and lower detachable sections, said upper section including upper and lower tubular members, said lower member telescoping within said upper member, the free end of said upper member being bent at right angles to form a support for an arm rest, the free end of said lower member being bent at right angles in a plane parallel to the bent end of said upper member, said lower section including upper and lower tubular members, said lower member thereof telescoping within said upper member thereof, andmeans for foldabl mounting said upper section relative to said lower section.

JOHN DQWHEELER.

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