Crutch

Nov. 20, 1951

J. M. PETERS

CRUTCH

2^75,651

Filed March 23, 1948

SHEETS—SHEET 1

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Attorneua

Nov. 20, 1951

J. M. PETERS

CRUTCH

2,575,681

Filed March 23, 1948

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SHEETS—SHEET 2

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A -ctorrjecjs

Patented Nov. 20, 1951

2,575,681

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,575,681

CRUTCH

Jerry M. Peters, Walker, Mo.

Application March 23, 1948, Serial No. 16,459 * 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in crutches, including crutches of the foldable type.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved crutch which better distributes the weight of the user thereon so that it is less cumbersome and less tiring in use.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of an improved crutch of the above indicated character involving a novel association and arrangement of parts wherein the arm rest on the upper crutch section is angularly displaced laterally inwardly with respect to the lower crutch section, and the hand grip extending laterally outwardly from the lower crutch section.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an improved crutch of the above indicated character wherein the upper crutch section can be folded downwardly and be locked in parallelism with the lower crutch section, in such a way that the crutch becomes an efficient and well-balanced cane, and the length of the crutch is substantially reduced for storage and/or shipment.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration only, a specific embodiment of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general front elevation of said embodiment, in unfolded position, a right-hand crutch being shown in association with the right hand and arm of a user.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 2—2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the inner side of the joint.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevation showing the upper crutch section folded down and locked parallel with the lower crutch section.

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section taken through the lower part of the lower crutch section.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the crutch.

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 7—7 of Figure 1, showing the adjustment locking spring clip or ring; and

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 8—8 of Figure 6, showing the padded construction of the arm rest.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the illustrated crutch comprises the straight lower section 9 which is adapted to engage the ground in a generally perpendicular position, and the (Cl. 135—49) upper section ί I which inclines laterally inwardly from the upper end of the lower section at an angle of about 140 degrees when in use, as shown in Figure 1, and when folded downwardly, as 5 shown in Figure 4, is parallel to the lower section 9.

The lower section 9 comprises a straight metal tube (2 having telescoped on its lower end a metal tubular extension 13 having a wooden plug 14 in10 serted in its lower end anchored by a rivet 15 traversing it and the extension, as shown in Figure 5, with a rubber cup-like base 16 secured to the exposed lower part of the plug and telescoped on the lower end of the extension.

The metal tube 12 and the tubular extension 13 are formed with vertically-spaced pairs of transversely aligned bolt holes 17, 17 through which a bolt 18 is adapted to be projected to be clamped by a wing-nut 19, whereby the effective 20 length of the lower section 9 is readily adjusted for proper length.

The outboard side of the upper end of the tube 12 is formed, as shown in Figure 2, with a right angular tubular hand grip extension 20 on which ²⁵ a preferably corrugated rubber grip 21 is secured.

The upper end of the tube 12 is closed by a wall 22 which declines somewhat laterally inwardly to act as a stop when engaged, as shown in Figure 2 by the lower end wall 23 of the upper crutch 30 section K. The inboard side of the upper end of the tube 12 is provided with a pair of jointforming lugs or ears 24, 24, which are vertically elongated, so that their upper rounded ends 25, 25 project slightly above the upper end of the 35 tube 12, as shown in Figure 4. These upper end ear portions are concentrically traversed by a pivot pin 26 having preferably rivetted heads 27, 27 on its opposite ends. On a line parallel with the axis of the tube ί 2 and below the pivot pin 26 40 the lower part of the ears are traversed by a pivot and clamping bolt 28 having a wing-nut 29 on the end opposite the head 30.

The lower end and the inboard side of the upper section 11, like the lower section, formed of 45 metal tubing, have projecting therefrom a single ear or lug 31 for close sliding fit between the lugs 24, 24, the lug 3 f being generally fan-shaped and working through openings 32 and 33 in the top wall and side wall, respectively, of the upper 50 end of the lower section 9, as shown in Figure 2, the fan-shape being lowermost in the erect position of the upper section with a vertical lug extension 34 extending above the ears 24, 24, as shown in this figure.

The lug 3i is traversed at a point intermediate

9,576,681 its upper and lower ends by the pivot 26 whereby it is permanently pivoted to the lower crutch section. In its erect position the lower fanshaped portion is apertured to be traversed by the bolt 28 whereby the upper section is locked and clamped in erect position. The upper lug extension 34 has a bolt hole 35, which receives the bolt 28 in the folded-down position of the upper section 11, shown in Figure 4, whereby the sections are locked in parallelism and the crutch is arranged for use as a cane. In this position the bolt hole 36 in the fan-shaped lug portion is exposed above the joint, as shown in Figure 4.

The upper section 11 consists of the metal tube 37 open at its upper end to telescopically secure the fore-arm rest shank 38 which has fixed on the outboard side of its upper end the U-shaped rest 39 consisting of a metal core 40 and enclosing padding 41 of appropriate type. As shown in Figure 1, the general horizontal plane of the rest 39 is parallel to the hand-grip 20.

Means for locking the forearm rest shank 38 in different vertically adjusted positions comprises a spring ring or clip 42 comprising two arms 43, 43 terminating in inwardly-directed pins 44, 44, the opposite ends of the arms being joined and inwardly spring-tensioned by a bight portion 45 which is curved to fit the curvature of the inboard side of the upper section ί ί, as shown in Figures 1 and 7, with pins 44, 44 projecting through pairs of transversely aligned holes 46, 46 and 47, 47, respectively, provided at vertically spaced intervals in the tube 37 and shank 38.