US2159301A - Crutch or supporting device - Google Patents

Description

y 1939- c. D. UPTON CRUTCH OR SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 11, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l 6 Wh z/V fiwm/ X z A TTO/PA/E May 23, 1939. c. D. UPTQN 2,159,301

CRUTCH OR SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 11, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 23, 1939 2,159,361

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CRUTCH R SUPPORTING DEVICE Clifford D. Upton, Covington, Ohio Application December 11, 1937, Serial No. 179,345

2 Claims. (01. 155-22) This invention relates to crutches or devices comprises a horizontal handle-bar I0, and legs II for supporting lame or infirm persons or cripples firmly secured to and extending downwardly in walking, and more particularly to improvetherefrom in such diverging relation as to rest on ments in crutches for use by persons, who from the floor or ground at relatively widely spaced 5 any cause, are too weak, infirm or timid to walk points so that the crutch will stand alone and 5 with the usual separate crutches which the user form a stable support for a person grasping and holds under the armpits in walking with them. bearing his weight on the handle-bar. Prefer- The objects of my invention are to provide a ably, there are three of the legs ll, arranged so strong and rigid but light crutch of novel form that their lower ends are disposed at the three and construction, which can be easily handled corners of a triangle, with the middle or front leg 10 and used by a weak or infirm person, and in the extending forwardly with relation to the handleuse of which he will have a feeling of security bar and the other two or rear legs. The legs and cannot lose his balance, as in the use of ordiare connected below the handle bar, preferably at nary separate crutches; which is self-supporting their lower portions, by cross rods or braces l2 5 and provides a support which the user can push and I3 which extend from the front leg to the or move along in frontof him and bear his weight two rear legs. A cross brace is not used between on as he progresses; which is of collapsible or the lower portions of the two rear legs, thus knockdown construction adapting the parts to be leaving the space between the rear legs unobgrouped in a compact form or bundle convenient structed, so that the feet and lower legs of the for transportation; and which has the other feauser can be moved freely in between the rear legs 20 tures of improvement and advantage hereinafter of the crutch in the use of the same, as indicated described and set forth in the claims. in Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawings: In the preferred construction shown, the han- Fig. 1 is a front elevation, on a reduced scale, dle-bar and legs of the device are made of some of a crutch embodying my invention and illustrat- Wood which is strong and stiff or rigid, but light, 25 ing the manner of using the same. and the legs are detachably connected to the Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the parts knocked hand e-b a by threading the pp e of down and grouped side by side, thus adapting the legs and screwing them into threaded sockets them to be secured in a compact bundle or pack- 5, 5 and IT in the handle-bar, these Sockets age convenient for carrying or transporting the being bo ed a pp p eng1eS,Su0hthatWheI1 30 device. the legs are screwed therein, they will diverge Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sectional plan views on a, downwardly in the stated triangular relation to still larger scale through the several legs of the each other. The brace rods are connected to the crutch, respectively showing the connections belegs so as to permit the disconnection of the tween the several legs and the connecting braces e s frOm e handle-bar, and the Shifting 35 th r f grouping of the handle-bar, legs and braces in Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, side elevation of one substantially parallel positions beside one another. leg and the detachable connection between the Preferably the brace rods l2 and I3 are hinged same and the associated brace. to the front or middle leg, and the opposite end Fig. '7 is a similar view of the hinge connection of each brace rod is detachably connected to 40 between the brace and another leg. one of the rear legs. Each brace rod has a metal Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation showing the de ring or eye 18 secured on its front end and passtachable connection between the brace and the ing through and adapted to turn in a hole in a lug leg with the parts disconnected. I9 projecting from a sleeve 2!] fixed on the front While it is important that the crutch be selfleg of the crutch. Fixed on the opposite end of 45 supporting or adapted to stand alone stably on each brace rod is a ferrule or sleeve 2| made the floor and have the required strength and with a transverse hole adapted to engage over a rigidity to afford the necessary support and sense stud 22 projecting from a sleeve 23 fixed on the of security to the user, it is also important for the adjacent leg, and the ferrule of the brace rod is crutch to be of light weight and compact form, removably held in place on the stud by a nut 50 capable of being conveniently handled and used 24 screwed on the end of the stud above the brace by an infirm or feeble person Without fatigue or rod. By unscrewing and removing the nuts 24, undue exertion. The crutch is therefore conthe rear ends of the brace rods can be disengaged structed so as to give these results. from the rear legs and the rods swung on their As best shown in Fig. l, the crutch or device hinge connection with the front leg into positions 55 alongside of this leg, as shown in Fig. 2, and each of the legs can then be unscrewed from its socket in the handle-bar. Then the handle-bar and all of the legs with the brace rods can be placed side by side and placed in a suitable carrying case or tied or otherwise secured together in this position for convenience in carrying the device about.

The lower ends of the legs of the crutch are preferably equipped with shoes or ferrules 25 of rubber or other'suitable material which will prevent the crutch from slipping on smooth or slippery floors or surfaces.

In using the described crutch, it is placed to stand on the floor in front of the user who grasps the handle-bar so as to support her weight thereon while standing back of the crutch. As represented in Fig. 1, the user can then step between the rear legs of the crutch and advance the latter by successive movements as successive steps are taken, the crutch always being in a position where the user can steady or support herself by her grasp on the handle-bar.

The described crutch being light, is easy to manipulate in use, and being collapsible, can be conveniently carried from place to place, as may be necessary. Nevertheless it provides a strong, firm support for the user which gives one a feeling of security in its use and prevents the user from losing his or her balance.

Invalids who have found the use of ordinary crutches practically impossible, can get around with comparative ease and rapidity with the aid of the crutch described.

I claim as my invention:

1. A crutch for supporting a person in walking comprising a horizontal handle-bar, rods rigid with said handle-bar and extending downwardly therefrom forming front and rear legs which diverge downwardly having their lower ends arranged to bear on the floor at points widely spaced apart in both lateral and fore and aft directions so that the crutch will stand stably on the floor, and brace rods connecting said front and rear legs below the handle-bar, the space between the lower portions of said rear legs being left unobstructed to allow the feet of the user to move freely between the rear legs of the crutch, said legs having releasable connections with the, handle bar and said braces which adapt said members to be shifted into a compact side by side relation.

2. A crutch for supporting a person in walking comprising avhorizontal handle-bar, rods rigidly but removably attached to said handle-bar and extending downwardly therefrom forming downwardly diverging front and rear legs having their lower ends arranged to bear on the floor at points widely spaced apart in both lateral andfore and aft directions so that the crutch will stand stably on the floor, and brace rods rigidly connecting said front and rear legs below the handle-bar, the space between the lower portions of said rear legs being left unobstructed to allow the feet of the user to move freely between the rear legs of the crutch, each of said brace rods being detachably connected at one end to one leg and movably connected at its other end to anothor leg to fold to a position beside this latter leg, for placing the handle-bar, legs and braces in a compact side by side relation.

' CLIFFORD D. UP'I'ON.

Images