US2077569A - Wheel supported crutch - Google Patents

Description

April 20, 1937. T. F. KISH WHEEL SUPPORTED CRUTCH Filed Dec. 4, 1934- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 T. F. KISH WHEE-L SUPPORTED CRUTCH Filed Dec. 4, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 20, 1937.

Patented Apr. 20. 1937 I UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to supporting devices for assisting invalids and others in walking and has for its primary purpose the provision of a mobile supporting device which has a pair of adjustable crutch members upwardly extending from a base frame. Trunnion wheels are disposed at each corner of the frame. A cushioning device is associated with each of the trunnion wheels. The crutch members are adjustable transversely at their top ends to accommodate users of different widths and the height of the crutch saddles and of the hand stirrups associated therewith are adjustable vertically relative to the crutch members to accommodate users of different heights. v

One of the objects of my invention consists in providing a device that may be used by invalids and others and through the use of which they may propel themselves with facility and with minimum effort.

A still further object of my invention consists in so arranging the crutch elements that the users may readily adjust the same to their respective heights, arm lengths and chest widths.

A still further object of my invention consists in providing a trunnion support that may be adjusted to effect a cushioning of the device while in use, thereby eliminating nerve shock incident to the use of ordinary crutches.

A still further object of my invention consists in providing optional and selective means for retarding the progression of my device, thereby rendering its use free from obvious objections.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims, and a preferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter shown with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the assembled device.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the assembled device.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional side view of the comer of the frame and of the trunnion wheel and support adapted thereto.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view partially in section of the upper end of the crutch.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of the assembled device. This view is taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 6 is a sectional end view of the lower end of the crutch and illustrates the adjustable connection disposed between the crutch and the frame. This view is taken on line fi-J of Fig. 5, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 7 is a sectional side view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 6. This view is taken on line 1-1 of Fig.6, looking in the direction indicated.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

I preferably form the base frame of my device from a single piece of any suitable material, preferably light tubing. The frame is comprised of a single piece embodying a central front member I, and parallelly disposed rearwardly extendinglegs 2 and 3. Thelegs 2 and I are formed integral with the front member by providing rightangular bends 4 and 5. This construction leaves the frameopen-ended at 6, to permit the user walking or being moved directly thereinto or to facilitate the assembly being moved directly to the user while he is in a sitting or reclining position. A trunnion wheel or caster support is disposed at each corner of the frame, as illustrated at 'l, 8, 9 and I0. These trunnion wheels are pref erably rubber tired as illustrated at H and are provided with anti-friction bearings relative to the frame to facilitate freedom and ease of movement of the assembly. The arms of each of the trunnion wheels have an upwardly extending stem l2 and an annular ball receiving race is disposed upon its upper periphery into which balls l3 are placed. A thimble H is disposed about the stem and a companion annular ball receiving race is disposed upon its underside into which the balls ii are positioned. The thimble is secured to the stem by any suitable means as through the use of a screw fastening IS. A sleeve I8 is adapted to the frame l1 and is fixedly secured relative thereto.

A collar I8 is disposed with n the sleeve and a compressible element, as a coil spring I! is disposed between the thimble H and the sleeve It. The thimble has a shoulder disposed upon its outer surface and upon which rests one end of the coil spring IS. The oppositely disposed end of the coil spring engages theunderside 2| of the collar l8. A desired preioading may be placed upon the spring I9 by the threading of acap 22 to the upper end of the thimble It. This adjusts the spring to the tensions required by the weight of the user of the device.

It may be desirable to place a brake upon one or more ofthe wheels. When so desired, a brake shoe 23 is placed in juxtaposition to the tire II. The brake shoe is secured to a bell crank 24 and the bell crank is hingedly secured about a brake shoe supporting pin 25. An actuatingpull rod 26 is disposed longitudinally of the stem l2. One end of the actuating pull rod is secured to the bell crank as illustrated at 21, by the placing of aball 28 within the ball receiving recess disposed upon the end of the bell crank 24. This actuating pull rod terminates in an actuatinghandlever 2| and permits the user of the device to apply a braking pressure to one or more 01 the trunnion wheels, as is required.

A pair ofcrutch members 30 and 3| extend upwardly from the frame. Handstirrups "and 33 are secured to the respective crutch members. The stirrups are adapted for being moved longitudinallyof the crutch members and are locked relative thereto in desired placement by threadedclamps 34 and 36 respectively.Crutch saddles 36 and 31 are adapted to the upper ends of the crutch members. The crutch saddles are placed under the arm pits of the user andare adjustable to the user's height by being adapted for motion longitudinally of the crutch members, and are locked relative thereto by theclamping sleeves 38 and 39 respectively. This vertical adjustment of thestirrups 32 and 33 and of thecrutch saddles 38 and 31 adapts the crutch members to the arm pit height and to the arm length of the user. The transverse distance between the crutch saddles may be adjusted through the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 4, 6 and '7. Sleeves'lil and 4| are fixed to the rearwardly extendinglegs 2 and 3 respectively.

Arms 42 and 43 each terminates in aquadrant head 44 upon its upper end. The upper,outer side walls 45 and 48 of the quadrant are uniformly tapered and an adjusting slot 41 is disposed within the head. A second pair ofsleeves 48 are rotatably disposed upon the rearwardly extendinglegs 2 and 3 andarms 49 extend upwardly from thesleeves 48.Heads 50 terminate the upper ends of thearms 49. A fitted recess is disposed in the under side of thehead 50 into which thequadrant 44 is fitted. Thehead 50 is provided with a pilot and shoulder against whichtubular crutch member 51 is adapted to be fixed. Thehead 50 is provided with a hole, radial to the center line of rotation of thesleeve 48 and in registry alignment longitudinally of the base frame with the slot 41 in thequadrant 44, and threaded rod Ill is disposed therethrough, terminating in internally threadedmember 52. Acollar 53 is fixed to the threaded rod Bi and is adapted to bear up onupper face 54 of thehead 50. Arod 55 is fixed to the.collar 53 and terminates at its upper end in a knurled hand grip 58 which crownscrutch member 51. The knurled hand grip 58 is free to rotate relative to thecrutch member 51, but is restrained from longitudinal motion relative thereto by any suitable means as by shoulder screws 58 engaging a groove 69 disposed within a piloted end of the knurled hand grip 58.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described isadmirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the embodiment shown, but to cover all forms coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a U-shaped trunnion supported tubular frame, a pair of sleeves disposed upon the opposite sides of the frame, arms upwardly extending from each of the sleeves and said arms adapted for cooperative engagement with said sleeves, a pair of crutch members associated with and upwardly extending from the arms and attachable relative thereto. a knurled hand grip terminating the upper end of each of the crutch members, a rod depending from each of the knurled hand grips extending longitudinally of the crutch members and passing through the ends of the respective pairs of arms, each of said rods being threaded on its lower end and a nut secured to the lower end-of each of the rods and cooperating means for tightening the crutch members to the arms when the knurled hand grip is turned in one direction and for loosening the same when it is turned in the opposite direction, a crutch saddle rotatably mounted upon each of the crutch members and adjustable longitudinally of each of the crutch members, a hand stirrup disposed upon each of the crutch members adjustable longitudinally thereoi', means for locking the crutch saddle and the hand stirrup in adjusted placement upon each of the crutch members, and a brake actuating hand lever associated with each of the hand stirrupsand means communicating the hand brake lever with a brake disposed at one of the trunnion supporting wheels.

2. In a device oi the class described, the combination of a trunnion wheel supported tubular open ended frame, said frame having rearwardly extending legs, supports for crutch members secured to each of the legs and rotatable therearound, crutch members upwardly extending from each of .the crutch supports and lockable relative thereto, a crutch saddle and a hand stirrup disposed in spaced relationship upon the crutch members and rotatable therearound and each being acUustable longitudinally thereof, means for locking the saddle support and the hand stirrups in adjusted placement relative to the crutch members and a brake actuating hand lever associated with each of the hand stirrups and cooperating means associated with the hand lever for applying braking pressure to some of the trunnion supporting wheels.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a U-shaped open ended tubular frame, a crutch having a crutch saddle and a hand stirrup adjustably secured thereto disposed in registry alignment with each other and disposed upon the U-shaped tubular frame, trunnion wheels secured to the U-shaped tubular frame, each of the trunnion wheels being secured to and having upwardly extending stems. a thimble disposed about the stem and adapted for longitudinal movement relative to the stem, a coil spring disposed about the thimble and resting upon its respective ends upon shoulders disposed upon the stem and upon the sleeve and a cap threaded to the thimble to provide means for predetermining the cushioning of the coil spring.

THEODORE F. mBH.

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