WO2015034707A1

WO2015034707A1 - Collapsible crutch

Info

Publication number: WO2015034707A1
Application number: PCT/US2014/052618
Authority: WO
Inventors: Randall Levy Bernard; Kar Leung POON
Original assignee: Apex Medical Corporation
Priority date: 2013-09-06
Filing date: 2014-08-26
Publication date: 2015-03-12

Abstract

Disclosed is collapsible crutch configured to be reduced in size when not in use such that the crutch may be stored in a compact manner. The crutch may include an upper section having a first end and a second end, and a lower section coupled to the upper section at the second end of the upper section such that the upper and lower sections may be decoupled relative to each other at a coupling point near the second end. A resilient biasing member may couple the upper and lower sections together such that the sections remain attached to each other whether the sections are in the coupled or collapsed configuration. The lower section may include a central leg configured to engage with a junction member from either end of the junction member and completely disengage there from to change the junction member engagement.

Description

COLLAPSIBLE CRUTCH

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application serial number 61/874,786 filed on September 6, 2013, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to crutches, and in particular, to a collapsible crutch that reduces to a small, compact size and allows for ease of use and improved safety.

Description of Related Art

[0003] Crutches are useful mobility aids that transfer weight from one's legs to their upper body. People who cannot support their weight with their own legs for whatever reason (e.g., injury, loss of their legs, etc.), whether it be a short term disability or a long-term disability, may find great utility from crutches to facilitate ambulation, allowing them to move from one place to another more easily.

[0004] Traditional crutches are generally designed to be long enough to extend from the floor or similar surface to the armpit region of the user when the crutches are in use. This length constraint makes it difficult to store the crutches in when they are not in use because the user must find a place with enough space to store the crutches. For example, the user typically rests the crutches against a wall, or places them on a shelf or in a closet that is sized to hold a full-size crutch, to name a few example places for storage of traditional crutches. However, traditional crutches typically cannot be stored in more compact, size-restricted places, such as within a small storage compartment of a vehicle (e.g., an airplane or a car storage compartment), under a desk or table (e.g., a restaurant table or school desk), and the like.

[0005] Solutions to the aforementioned cumbersomeness of full-size, traditional crutches have been developed to aid in reducing the size, or otherwise adjusting the length, of the crutch to alleviate the issues of storing the crutch in a size-restricted place. Such designs include crutches with telescoping sections to reduce the length of a portion of the crutch when not in use, or crutches with sections that are hinged together via solid, mechanical hinges to allow for limited folding the sections of the crutch. However, such previous solutions fail to reduce the size of the crutch to a suitable degree for ultra-compact storage spaces. The previous solutions may also compromise structural stability of the crutch (e.g., misaligned sections to enable collapsing the crutch). Additionally, designs that utilize solid, mechanical hinges may pose a safety concern for end users (e.g., hinges that get caught on clothes, etc.) and/or they may be difficult to operate in certain circumstances (e.g., only provide limited two dimensional, in-plane rotation of folding sections).

SUMMARY

[0006] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0007] Accordingly, disclosed herein is a collapsible crutch configured to be reduced in size when not in use such that the collapsible crutch may be stored in ultra-compact areas where space is significantly limited, such as airplane storage spaces (e.g., overhead storage bin, under a seat, etc.), storage areas on a crowded bus, under a desk or table, and the like. The collapsible crutch of the embodiments disclosed herein is also easy to operate when collapsing or erecting the crutch, especially where space and range of motion are limited. The collapsible crutch disclosed herein is also designed with components having improved safety features.

[0008] In some embodiments, a crutch configured to be collapsed comprises an upper section having a first end and a second end, and a lower section that is coupled to the upper section at the second end of the upper section such that the upper and lower sections may be decoupled relative to each other at a coupling point while remaining attached to each other. The lower section may comprise a central leg in telescopic engagement with a junction member having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being closer to the coupling point between the upper and lower sections. With this configuration, the central leg can be fully disengaged from the junction member and telescopically engaged with the junction member from either of the proximal or distal end of the junction member to minimize the overall size of the collapsed crutch.

[0009] In some embodiments, a crutch configured to be collapsed comprises an upper section having a first end and a second end, a lower section configured to telescopically engage with the upper section at the second end of the upper section in fixed relative position to the upper section, and at least one resilient biasing member having a first end coupled to the upper section and a second end coupled to the lower section such that the upper and lower sections are biased toward each other by the resilient biasing member. The upper and lower sections may be telescopically disengaged in order to decouple the sections relative to each other at a coupling point located at the second end of the upper section so that the sections may be collapsed while remaining attached to each other by the resilient biasing member.

[0010] The collapsible crutch disclosed herein allows for quick operation when collapsing/erecting the crutch for storage/use. According to some embodiments, by using a resilient biasing member between the upper and lower sections of the crutch, the crutch may be easily collapsed or erected even when a user is in an area where space or range of motion is limited. That is, the flexibility of the resilient biasing member allows for virtually unlimited degrees of freedom for movement of the upper and lower sections relative to each other when they are decoupled, allowing a user to maneuver the sections within confined spaces during collapsing/erecting. Furthermore, the resilient biasing member is slim, inconspicuous, and does not pose a safety hazard to a user like a rigid mechanical hinge might otherwise pose. Additionally, in some embodiments, by using a central leg that fully disengages and detaches from the remaining components of the lower section of the crutch, the crutch can be further reduced in size by engaging the central leg with a proximal end of the junction member near the coupling point between the upper and lower sections. Such a configuration makes the collapsible crutch ideal for compact storage in ultra-compact storage areas. The embodiments disclosed herein also provide improved convenience, safety, and mobility to a user of the collapsible crutch.

[0011] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention, which refers to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same reference numbers in different figures indicate similar or identical items.

[0013] Fig. 1A illustrates a front, plan view of an example collapsible crutch comprising an upper section and a lower section configured to decouple and collapse relative to each other about a transverse plane.

[0014] Fig. IB illustrates a side, plan view of the example collapsible crutch shown in Fig. 1 A.

[0015] Fig. 2A illustrates a close-up side, cross-sectional view of a portion of the collapsible crutch shown in Figs. 1A and IB along section A-A of Fig. IB, showing an example resilient biasing member coupling the upper and lower sections together.

[0016] Fig. 2B illustrates an even closer side, cross-sectional view of a coupling point between the upper and lower sections of the collapsible crutch of Figs. 1A and IB, showing the upper and lower sections decoupled relative to each other.

[0017] Fig. 2C illustrates the close-up side, cross-sectional view of Fig. 2B with the upper and lower sections decoupled relative to each other and placed in a collapsed configuration while remaining attached to each other by the resilient biasing member.

[0018] Fig. 3A illustrates a front, plan view of the lower section of the example collapsible crutch of Fig. 1A with the central leg fully disengaged from the remaining components of the lower section.

[0019] Fig. 3B illustrates the lower section of the collapsible crutch of Fig. 3 A with the central leg reversed in orientation.

[0020] Fig. 4 illustrates the collapsible crutch of Fig. 1A in a collapsed configuration where the upper and lower sections have been decoupled relative to each other and placed in a collapsed configuration, and with the central leg in the configuration of Fig. 3B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Figs. 1A and IB illustrate front and side plan views, respectively, of an example collapsible crutch 100. The collapsible crutch 100 of Figs. 1A and IB comprises an upper section 102 and a lower section 104. The upper section 102 of the collapsible crutch 100 is configured to decouple relative to the lower section 104 and collapse about an imaginary transverse plane that is aligned with a coupling point 106 between the upper section 102 and the lower section 104. When the collapsible crutch 100 is upright, the transverse plane is oriented substantially parallel to the ground or a similar surface (e.g., a floor) that the collapsible crutch 100 is to be used upon. The collapsible crutch 100 will be shown in the collapsed configuration in Fig. 4, below.

[0022] The upper section 102 of the collapsible crutch 100 may be an elongated member having two ends: a first end 108 A that is farthest away from the coupling point 106, and a second end 108B that is nearest the coupling point 106. The lower section 104 of the collapsible crutch 100 may be coupled to the upper section 102 at the second end 108B of the upper section 102, or otherwise at the coupling point 106 that lies on the transverse plane. The upper section 102 may comprise an underarm member 110 at the first end 108 A of the upper section 102. The underarm member 1 10 is configured to be positioned under a shoulder of a user and within an armpit of the user such that the collapsible crutch 100 may support the weight of the user upon the underarm member 1 10 when the collapsible crutch 100 is in use. The underarm member 1 10 may be made of any suitable material or combination of materials that provide both rigidity for structural support and cushion for comfort of the user who is to rest their underarm upon the underarm member 1 10. At least a portion of the underarm member 1 10, such as a top surface, may be made of a relatively soft material, such as a soft, resilient rubber material to provide comfort to the user's underarm. In some embodiments, another portion of the underarm member 110 may be made of a rigid or semirigid plastic material, such as a molded acrylonitril butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, or a suitable polymer, such as polyethylene, or the like, known to a person having ordinary skill in the art.

[0023] In some embodiments, the upper section 102 comprises at least two, laterally spaced posts 1 12 and 1 14. Although Fig. 1A shows the collapsible crutch 100 as having two posts 112 and 114, it is to be appreciated that any suitable number of posts may be utilized without changing the basic characteristics of the invention. For example, a single post, or perhaps three or more posts may be utilized with the upper section 102 depending on the desired properties of the collapsible crutch 100. That is, more posts may be utilized where improved structural stability is desired and when material cost is perhaps not an issue. Likewise, fewer posts (e.g., a single post) may be used for simplicity of manufacturing or reduction of material cost, or for other reasons.

[0024] In some embodiments, the upper section 102 is adjustable such that it may be collapsed to a shorter length or expanded to a longer length. Accordingly, as shown in Figs. 1A and IB, the post 1 12 may comprise a first post 1 12A and a second post 1 12B that are configured to telescopically engage and adjust relative to each other along a longitudinal axis of the posts 112A/B. In this configuration, a diameter, D, of the first post 1 12A may be a different size (e.g., larger) than a diameter, d, of the second post 1 12B such that one of the posts fits within the other post. Detents 1 16 may be provided on any of the posts 1 12, 1 14 to provide a locking mechanism that secures posts 112A and 1 12B relative to each other in fixed relative position. The posts 114A and 114B may be similarly configured to adjust and lock at fixed relative positions. The detents 116 are to be received within apertures or holes of a corresponding post to provide fixed relative positioning of the posts 1 12A and 1 12B and/or 114A and 1 14B.

[0025] The upper section 102 may comprise a hand grip 118 configured to be gripped by a hand of a user. The hand grip 1 18 may, but need not, be of similar material construction to the underarm member 110, such that a portion of the hand grip 118 (e.g., the top surface) may be of a soft material (e.g., soft rubber) to provide cushion and comfort to a user's hand, while another portion of the hand grip 1 18 (e.g., a lower surface) may be of a more rigid material (e.g., ABS plastic, etc.). The hand grip 118 may be removably coupled to the posts 112 and 114 via one or more fasteners 120 which may include, but are not limited to screws, bolts with corresponding nuts (e.g., bolt and wing nut), pins, clamps, nails, etc. Alternatively, the hand grip 118 may be permanently or semi-permanently attached to the posts 1 12 and 114 such as via rivets, adhesive, welding, or the like. The hand grip 1 18 may provide support to the collapsible crutch 100 by acting as a "cross-beam" between the laterally spaced posts 1 12 and 1 14.

[0026] In some embodiments, the lower section 104 is configured to telescopically engage with the upper section 102 at the coupling point 106 to provide structural stability of the collapsible crutch 100. That is, telescopically engaging the upper section 102 with the lower section 104 helps to maintain coaxial alignment between the upper and lower sections 102, 104 when they are in the configuration shown in Figs. 1A and IB, which further improves the safety to the user when using the collapsible crutch 100. In this scenario, at least one additional detent 122 may be provided on either of the upper section 102 or the lower section 104 to provide a locking mechanism for maintaining a fixed relative position between the upper and lower sections 102, 104 while the detent 1 12 is engaged in an aperture of the corresponding post.

[0027] The lower section 104 of the collapsible crutch 100 may generally be an elongate member comprised of one or more posts. In some embodiments, the lower section 104 comprises multiple (e.g., two) laterally spaced, converging posts 124 and 126 that are configured to correspondingly engage or couple with the posts 1 12 and 1 14 of the upper section 102 at the coupling point 106. Fig. 1A illustrates that the posts 124 and 126 may be at approximately the same lateral spacing as the posts 1 12 and 114 near the coupling point 106, and then may converge in closer spaced relation to each other farther from the coupling point 106. A junction member 128 may be disposed between the converging posts 124 and 126 at a location where the converging posts 124 and 126 converge in closer spaced relation to each other. The junction member 128 may have a proximal end 13 OA that is closest to the coupling point 106, and a distal end 130B that is farthest from the coupling point 106. The junction member 128 may be in telescopic engagement with a central leg 132 that is configured to support the collapsible crutch 100 at the ground/floor via a tip 134. The tip 134 of the central leg 132 may be made of a soft, resilient material (e.g., soft rubber) to absorb shock when a user is using the collapsible crutch 100 to ambulate.

[0028] In some embodiments, the junction member 128 comprises at least one aperture 136 configured to receive at least one detent 138 on the central leg 132 to lock the central leg 132 in fixed relative position to the junction member 128. In some embodiments, multiple apertures 136(1)-(N) may be provided on the junction member 128 to allow the central leg 132 to be adjustably positioned within the junction member 128 so that the overall height of the collapsible crutch 100 may be increased or decreased according to the needs of the user.

[0029] In some embodiments, a collar 140 is provided to retain the junction member 128 at its proximal end 130A such that the junction member 128 remains fixed in position and does not decouple from the lower section 104. The collar 140 may also provide improved structural stability of the converging posts 124 and 126 by surrounding and retaining the converging posts 124 and 126 with the junction member 128 disposed there between. The lower section 104 may further comprise a boot retainer 142 configured to secure the junction member 128 with the ends of the converging posts 124 and 126.

[0030] As further shown in Fig. IB, the hand grip 118 may be adjustable such that it may be removably attached to different locations on the laterally spaced posts 1 12 and 1 14 of the upper section 102. Accordingly, apertures 144 may be provided in the posts 112 and 1 14 to allow for the hand grip 118 to be coupled to the posts 1 12 and 1 14 via the one or more fasteners 120.

[0031] It is to be appreciated that the specific dimensions, proportions, shapes and configurations of each of the upper and lower sections 102, 104 and their component parts are not specific to the present invention. For example, the posts 112, 1 14, 124 and 126 may be shaped or contoured in various ways in addition to generally straight, cylindrical shaped posts. That is, posts of various cross sectional geometries (e.g., square, triangle or any polygonal shaped cross section) may be used. The upper section 102 and lower section 104 may be of various sizes, or heights. In some embodiments, the overall height of the crutch may be adjusted between approximately 41 inches in a shortened, erected configuration, and 58 inches in an extended, erected configuration. In some embodiments, the collapsible crutch 100 may have a width, w, of approximately 7.5 inches.

[0032] In some embodiments one or more of the posts 112, 114, 124 and 126, the central leg 132 and/or the junction member 128 may be made of any suitable rigid material to provide ample structural support and load bearing properties to support the weight of a human being. Suitable materials may be rigid, waterproof, and/or resistant to chemicals, heat and stress. In some embodiments, the aforementioned posts, central leg 132 and/or junction member 128 are made of aluminum. It is to be appreciated that any suitable material that is relatively lightweight, yet structurally rigid (e.g., wood, carbon fiber, etc.) may be used for any or all of the components of the collapsible crutch 100 without changing the basic characteristics of the invention.

[0033] Referring now to Fig. 2A, a close-up side, cross-sectional view of a portion of the collapsible crutch 100 is shown along section A-A of Fig. IB. Specifically, Fig. 2 A shows a portion of the collapsible crutch 100 including the second post 112B of the upper section 102 and a portion of the converging post 124 of the lower section 104. Although Fig. 2A only shows a portion of the collapsible crutch 100, it is to be appreciated that the post 114B of the upper section 102 and the converging post 126 of the lower section 104 may be configured in a similar manner for embodiments where the upper and lower sections 102, 104 include multiple posts. In some embodiments, Fig. 2A may represent portions of the upper and lower sections 102, 104 having a single post. In any case, Fig. 2 A illustrates a configuration where the post 1 12B of the upper section 102 and the converging post 124 of the lower section 104 are telescopically engaged at the coupling point 106 that lies on the transverse plane between the upper and lower sections 102, 104. Although Fig. 2A shows a telescopic engagement at the coupling point 106, it is to be appreciated that the upper and lower sections 102, 104 may be coupled via any suitable mechanism, including, but not limited to, fasteners, clamps, alternate interlocking features, etc.

[0034] As described above with reference to Figs. 1A and IB, a detent, such as the detent 122, may be provided on either of the posts 112B or 124 to provide a locking mechanism for securing the posts 112B and 124 in fixed relative position once they are engaged telescopically. Fig. 2A shows that the detent 122 is provided on the converging post 124 of the lower section 104. Accordingly to this configuration, each of the posts 112B and 124 may be tubular posts, each having an outer diameter and an inner diameter defining an inner conduit or cavity within the tubular post. In some embodiments, the converging post 124 may have a stepped outer diameter such that an end portion 200 of the converging post 124 at an end of the converging post 124 to be received within the post 112B has an outer diameter that is smaller than an outer diameter of the converging post 124 on the remainder of the converging post 124. The stepped diameter is apparent in Fig. 2B with the upper and lower sections 102, 104 disengaged from each other.

[0035] In order to assemble the upper and lower sections 102 and 104 in an erected configuration for use of the collapsible crutch 100 to ambulate, the detent 122 may be depressed manually (e.g., by a user's finger or thumb) in order to insert the end portion 200 within the conduit of the post 112B at the coupling point 106. Upon sliding the converging post 124 telescopically within the post 112B to a point where the detent 122 aligns with an aperture (shown in Fig. 2B) of the post 112B at the second end 108B of the upper section 102, the detent 122 is biased by a spring 202 made of a suitable resilient material (e.g., steel, bronze, etc.) such that it is received within the aperture of the post 112B to lock the post 112B in fixed relative position to the converging post 124. To disengage or unlock the upper and lower sections 102, 104, the detent 122 may be manually depressed back through the aperture of the post 112B so that the converging post 124 may slide out of the post 1 12B. Fig. 2A also shows the detents 1 16 described with reference to Figs. 1A and IB that facilitate adjustment of the upper section 102 between shorter or longer lengths. The detents 1 16 may operate in a similar manner to the detent 122 such that springs 204 bias the detents 1 16 in the position shown in Fig. 2A, and upon manual depression of the detents 116, the post 1 12B may be telescopically translated within a tubular conduit of the first post 112A of the upper section 102. A user may adjust the posts 1 12A and 112B relative to each other by use of the detents 116 that are to be received in at least one corresponding aperture of the first post 1 12A to lock the posts 1 12A and 112B in fixed relative position with one another.

[0036] Fig. 2A further illustrates that the collapsible crutch 100 may comprise a resilient biasing member 206 configured to couple and bias the upper and lower sections 102, 104 together. As shown in Fig. 2 A, the resilient biasing member 206 runs through the conduits within each of the posts 112B and 124. In this way, the resilient biasing member 206 is inconspicuous to an end user using the collapsible crutch 100. The resilient biasing member 206 may be of any shape, size, length and material suitable for coupling the upper and lower sections 102, 104 together and for biasing the upper and lower sections 102, 104 toward each other. In some embodiments, the resilient biasing member 206 comprises an elastic cord including one or more strands of elastic material. The elastic material may be any suitable rubber material, such as natural rubber (e.g., latex), synthetic rubber (e.g., neoprene), or a combination of natural and synthetic rubbers. The resilient biasing member 206 may be made of any suitable material to provide extensibility (i.e., the ability to be extended), resilience (the ability to regain its original shape after being extended), and adequate tensile strength (the ability to be extended under a foreseeable load without breaking). In some embodiments, the resilient biasing member 206 may include a fabric covering or sheath over the aforementioned elastic cord. The fabric covering may be made of woven cotton, nylon yarn, polypropylene, or any suitable fabric material covering. The fabric covering may be woven or braided such that when the resilient biasing member 206 is extended under a tensile force, the fabric covering radially compresses, or squeezes, the elastic cord to provide further tensile extension to the resilient biasing member when extended.

[0037] In some embodiments, the resilient biasing member 206 is coupled to the upper section 102 at a first end 208 A of the resilient biasing member 206 and is further coupled to the lower section 104 at a second end 208B of the resilient biasing member 206, thereby coupling the upper and lower sections 102, 104 together. When the upper and lower sections 102, 104 are coupled together, as shown in Fig. 2A, the resilient biasing member 206 is under tension and provides a biasing force along a longitudinal axis of the resilient biasing member 206 to pull the two sections together. Any suitable coupling mechanism may be used to couple the resilient biasing member to the posts 1 12B and 124B of the upper and lower sections 102, 104, respectively, including, but not limited to, screws, nails, staples, adhesive, hooks, clamps, etc. Fig. 2A illustrates one example coupling mechanism comprised of a crimped or swaged cap 210 that is coupled to an anchor 212. The crimped cap 210 may be crimped around an end of the resilient biasing member 206 so that the resilient biasing member 206 cannot be easily pulled out of the crimped cap 210. The crimped cap 210 may further comprise a hook or eyelet 214 to receive the anchor 212 configured to anchor the resilient biasing member 206 to the post 1 12B or 124. For example, the anchor 212 at the first end 208 A of the resilient biasing member 206 may substantially span the outer diameter of the post 112B so that, when oriented correctly, it will not be pulled through the conduit of the post 1 12B, thereby anchoring the first end 208A of the resilient biasing member 206 to an end of the post 1 12B that is a distance from the coupling point 106. The same coupling mechanism is shown at the second end 208B of the resilient biasing member 206 to couple the second end 208B of the resilient biasing member 206 to the post 124 of the lower section 104 at a distance from the coupling point 106.

[0038] Fig. 2B illustrates an even closer view of the coupling point 106 between the upper and lower sections 102, 104 along section A-A of Fig. IB, showing the upper and lower sections 102, 104 decoupled by being telescopically disengaged from each other. To arrive at the configuration shown in Fig. 2B, a user may manually depress the detent 122 when the upper and lower sections 102, 104 are in the configuration of Fig. 2A, thereby pushing the detent through the aperture in the post 112B (now shown as aperture 216 in Fig. 2B) to allow the converging post 124 to be slid out from within the post 112B. Because the resilient biasing member 206 is constantly in tension, the user must apply a tensile force to the resilient biasing member 206 to pull the upper and lower sections 102 and 104 away from each other to disengage the two sections at the coupling point 106. The upper and lower sections 102, 104 remain attached to each other by the resilient biasing member 206 even though they are telescopically disengaged in Fig. 2B.

[0039] Fig. 2C illustrates the same cross-sectional view of Fig. 2B, but with the upper and lower sections 102, 104 decoupled relative to each other and placed in a collapsed configuration while remaining attached to each other by the resilient biasing member 206. Decoupling and collapsing each section relative to the other may be performed manually by a user while the user keeps enough tension on the resilient biasing member 206 to keep the upper and lower sections 102, 104 decoupled and disengaged while collapsing the sections relative to each other. The ease of operation when collapsing the collapsible crutch 100 is enabled by the simplicity of the design comprising the resilient biasing member 206 for quickly and easily collapsing and erecting the collapsible crutch 100. Notably, the resilient biasing member 206 is flexible, allowing for essentially unlimited range of movement so that the upper and lower sections 102, 104 may be manipulated and oriented in any manner when they are telescopically disengaged, as shown in Figs. 2B and 2C. For example, a user in a size-restricted space, like an airplane cabin, may easily collapse or erect the collapsible crutch 100. Furthermore, the resilient biasing member 206 is sleek and unobtrusive, making it safer than a more prominent and cumbersome mechanical hinge. This improves safety to an end user in that the resilient biasing member 206 won't get caught on fabric (e.g., the user's clothes), and it poses very low risk of injury to an end user. The collapsible crutch 100 is shown in a fully collapsed configuration in Fig. 4, which will be discussed further below.

[0040] Referring now to Figs. 3 A and 3B, the lower section 104 of the collapsible crutch 100 of Figs. 1A and IB is shown from a front, plan view according to different configurations of the lower section 104. Specifically, Fig. 3 A shows the lower section 104 with the central leg 132 fully disengaged from the junction member 128, while Fig. 3B shows the central leg 132 in a reversed orientation where the central leg 132 is telescopically engaged with the junction member 128 from the proximal end 13 OA of the junction member 128. At least one detent 138 may be provided on the central leg 132 to provide for locking the central leg 132 in fixed relative position to the junction member 128 when the central leg 132 is telescopically engaged with the junction member 128. The operation of the detent(s) 138 is similar to that described above with reference to the detents shown in Figs. 2A-2C in terms of how the detents interoperate with apertures in a corresponding part of the collapsible crutch 100. As described above, the central leg 132 may be adjusted within the junction member 128 by virtue of the plurality of apertures 136(1)-(N) provided in the junction member 128, according to some embodiments, where the apertures 136(1)-(N) are configured to receive the at least one detent 138. It is to be appreciated that, although Fig. 3 A shows two detents 138 on the central leg 132, any number of detents from a single detent to three or more detents, may be provided on the central leg 132.

[0041] When the user desires to use the collapsible crutch 100 to ambulate, the central leg 132 may be telescopically engaged with the junction member 128 from the distal end 130B of the junction member 128, for example by inserting the central leg 132 within the junction member 128. Accordingly, the junction member 128 may be a tubular post with a hollow interior or conduit. Alternatively, the central leg 132 could be a tubular member configured to receive the junction member 128 according to alternate embodiments.

[0042] When a user desires to collapse the collapsible crutch 100, one option for reducing the size of the collapsible crutch 100 is to adjust the central leg 132 within the junction member 128 such that the tip 134 is in close proximity to the boot retainer 142, as shown in Fig. 1A. Alternatively, for even further reduction in size, the central leg 132 may fully disengage from the junction member 128 (and the other components of the lower section 104) so that it is completely detached and isolated, as shown in Fig. 3A, and reversed in orientation so that it may be inserted into the junction member 128 from the proximal end 130A of the junction member 128, as shown in Fig. 3B. As shown in Fig. 3B, the length, L, of the lower section 104 may be minimized by the configuration shown in Fig. 3B to facilitate collapsing the collapsible crutch 100 to an ultra compact configuration. The ability to fully disengage and insert the central leg 132 into the junction member 128 from the proximal end 130A of the junction member allows for ultra-compact arrangement of the lower section, thereby providing a collapsible crutch 100 with a minimized length, L, in the collapsed configuration.

[0043] Fig. 4 illustrates the collapsible crutch 100 of Figs. 1A and IB in a collapsed configuration where the upper and lower sections 102, 104 have been decoupled relative to each other at the coupling point 106 and collapsed while remaining attached to each other by the resilient biasing member 206. Fig. 4 A also illustrates the central leg 132 being telescopically engaged with the junction member 128 from the proximal end 130A of the junction member 128. Accordingly, the length, L, of the collapsible crutch 100 may be minimized in the collapsed configuration of Fig. 4 when the upper and lower sections 102, 104 are decoupled relative to each other and placed in the collapsed configuration. In some embodiments, the length, L, may be reduced to approximately 20 inches, facilitating ultra-compact storage of the collapsible crutch 100 in small storage spaces. Fig. 4 further illustrates how the exposed resilient biasing members 206 in the collapsed configuration of Fig. 4 are inconspicuous and do not pose a safety hazard to an end user.

[0044] Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the present invention should be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A crutch configured to have at least a stable and weight supportive assembly that is selectively collapsible, the crutch comprising:

an upper section having a first end and a second end; and

a lower section coupled to the upper section at the second end of the upper section such that the upper section and the lower section are configured to decouple relative to each other while remaining attached to each other at a coupling point located between the upper section and the lower section, the lower section comprising:

a junction member having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the junction member being closer to the coupling point than the distal end of the junction member; and

a central leg configured to telescopically engage with the junction member from either of the proximal end or the distal end of the junction member, the central leg being configured to fully disengage from the junction member.

2. The crutch of claim 1 , wherein the junction member comprises a tubular member including a plurality of apertures, and the central leg comprises at least one detent configured to be received through any one of the plurality of apertures in the junction member such that the central leg is adjustable in relative position to the junction member.

3. The crutch of claim 1 , further comprising at least one resilient biasing member coupling the lower section to the upper section, the at least one resilient biasing member having a first end coupled to the upper section and a second end coupled to the lower section such that the upper and lower sections are biased toward each other by the at least one resilient biasing member.

4. The crutch of claim 3, wherein the lower section is further configured to telescopically engage with the upper section in fixed relative position to the upper section such that when the lower section is telescopically disengaged with the upper section, the upper and lower sections remain attached to each other at the coupling point by the at least one resilient biasing member.

5. The crutch of claim 4, wherein the upper section comprises at least one aperture configured to receive at least one detent on the lower section to enable the fixed relative position of the upper and lower sections when telescopically engaged.

6. The crutch of claim 4, wherein the upper section comprises at least two tubular upper posts that are laterally spaced, each tubular upper post having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, and wherein the lower section comprises at least two tubular lower posts that are laterally spaced near the coupling point and converge in closer spaced arrangement near the proximal end of the junction member, each tubular lower post having a stepped outer diameter, the stepped outer diameter comprising: a first outer diameter at a first end of the tubular lower post that is to be received by a corresponding one of the tubular upper post of the upper section, the first outer diameter being smaller than the inner diameter of the tubular upper post; and

a second outer diameter a distance from the first end, the second outer diameter being substantially equal to the outer diameter of the tubular upper post.

7. The crutch of claim 3, wherein the upper section comprises at least two tubular upper posts that are laterally spaced, and wherein the lower section comprises at least two tubular lower posts that are laterally spaced near the coupling point and converge in closer spaced arrangement near the proximal end of the junction member, and wherein the at least one resilient biasing member includes two resilient biasing members, each resilient biasing member having:

a first end coupled to an associated tubular upper post at an end of the tubular upper post that is a first distance from the coupling point; and

a second end coupled to an associated tubular lower post at an end of the tubular lower post that is a second distance from the coupling point,

wherein each resilient biasing member is disposed within the associated tubular upper post and the associated tubular lower post.

8. The crutch of claim 1, further comprising an underarm member coupled to the first end of the upper section.

9. The crutch of claim 1 , wherein the upper section further comprises a hand grip.

10. A crutch configured to have at least a stable and weight supportive assembly that is selectively collapsible, the crutch comprising:

an upper section having a first end and a second end;

a lower section configured to telescopically engage with the upper section at the second end of the upper section in fixed relative position to the upper section; and

at least one resilient biasing member having a first end coupled to the upper section and a second end coupled to the lower section such that the upper and lower sections are biased toward each other by the at least one resilient biasing member, the upper and lower sections, when telescopically disengaged, being configured to decouple relative to each other at a coupling point located between the upper section and the lower section while remaining attached to each other by the at least one resilient biasing member.

1 1. The crutch of claim 10, wherein the lower section comprises:

12. The crutch of claim 11, wherein the junction member comprises a tubular member including a plurality of apertures, and the central leg comprises at least one detent configured to be received through any one of the plurality of apertures in the junction member such that the central leg is adjustable in relative position to the junction member.

13. The crutch of claim 10, wherein the upper section includes at least two tubular upper posts and the lower section comprises at least two tubular lower posts, and wherein the at least one resilient biasing member comprises at least two resilient biasing members each disposed within one tubular upper posts and one tubular lower posts, each resilient biasing member having:

a first end coupled to the one tubular upper post an end of the one tubular upper post that is a first distance from the coupling point; and

a second end coupled to the one tubular lower post at an end of the one tubular lower post that is a second distance from the coupling point.

14. The crutch of claim 13, wherein each tubular upper post includes an inner diameter and an outer diameter, and wherein each tubular lower post includes a stepped outer diameter, the stepped outer diameter comprising:

a first outer diameter at an end of the tubular lower post nearest the coupling point that is smaller than the inner diameter of the tubular upper post; and

a second outer diameter that is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the tubular upper post.

15. The crutch of claim 13, wherein at least one of the upper section or the lower section comprises at least one aperture configured to receive at least one detent of the other section to enable the fixed relative position of the upper and lower sections.

16. The crutch of claim 10, wherein the upper section is adjustable in length to bring the first and second ends of the upper section closer together or farther apart.

17. The crutch of claim 10, wherein the resilient biasing member is made of one or more strands of rubber material.

18. The crutch of claim 17, wherein the resilient biasing member is an elastic cord.

19. The crutch of claim 10, further comprising an underarm member coupled to the first end of the upper section.

20. A crutch configured to have at least a stable and weight supportive assembly that is selectively collapsible, the crutch comprising:

an upper section having a first end and a second end; and

a lower section coupled to the upper section at the second end of the upper section by a resilient biasing member such that the upper and lower sections are configured to decouple relative to each other at a coupling point located between the upper section and the lower section, the upper and lower sections being configured to telescopically engage with each other in fixed relative position and to telescopically disengage and remain attached to each other by the resilient biasing member, the lower section comprising: