Exercise devices – Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof – Elevated walking device
Patent
1994-06-21
1996-05-07
Reichard, Lynne A.
Exercise devices
Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof
Elevated walking device
482 76, A63B 2500
Patent
active
055140548
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to stilts.
Stilts are well known and are used to increase the height of an individual and to permit the individual to walk from one position to another at an elevated level. Stilts are worn by circus clowns and other entertainers, but specialist stilts may be worn by tradesmen or fruit-pickers who have to work in areas above normal arms-reach and where it is otherwise difficult to install platforms, ladders and the like.
In their simplest form, stilts comprise a pair of elongate members, each member supporting a block which provides a platform for a foot of the user. The lower end of each member engages the ground, while the upper end serves as a hand grip. In other versions, the members are strapped to the respective lower legs of the user. Such stilts have traditionally been fabricated from wood. However, various forms of improved stilts are disclosed in my International Patent Publication No. WO91/11222. The embodiments of stilts described each have a resilient foot which considerably facilitates walking, particularly when compared with conventional, rigid stilts. In one embodiment the flexible foot is hinged to move laterally as well as back to front and this improves the stability of the stilt and facilitates running and use of the stilts in sports. The disclosed arrangement includes a foot having a flat sole and two upstanding portions which define a longitudinal channel to receive a downward projection on a lower stilt member. The downward projection carries a pivot pin which is received in vertical slots provided in the upstanding projections on the foot. Coil springs are provided at the front and rear of the foot and a shock absorbing rubber pad is also disposed between the top of the sole and the bottom of the leg projection to cushion the wearer whilst walking or running. While this arrangement has been found generally satisfactory it has been found that, on occasion, because the flat sole stays in contact with the ground, lateral movement of the stilt may cause the pivot pin to be dislodged from one of the slots when the stilt is tilted to one side. Also, the arrangement is relatively complex to manufacture.
Other forms of stilts provided with resilient feet have been proposed including those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,835,493 and 4,927,137 to R. P. Skaggs et al and Speer, respectively. Skaggs et al disclose a foot arrangement somewhat similar to my own arrangement as described above, but without the provision of a shock absorber, and Speer provides a clevis on the lower leg portion of the stilt which is attached, by means of a pivot pin, to an upstanding rib on a foot plate. Further, Speer and Skaggs differ somewhat from my prior proposal in that the foot plates are not capable of pivoting about a front to back, or longitudinal axis.
Further, while existing stilt designs may be adequate for simple walking, when slits have been used during sports, acrobatics or in performance arts difficulties have been encountered due to the increased forces which the stilts must bear. In traditional stilt design, the upper stilt member which extends upwardly from the foot support platform is strapped to the outside of the calf of the user. Thus, the calf strap is subject to twisting forces or torques which may be uncomfortable to the user. Also, with this arrangement it is difficult to prevent relative movement between the upper stilt member and the leg. In my WO91/11222 I disclose a number or stilt configurations in which the upper stilt member extends up the front of the leg, to also act as a shin guard, but in use it has been found that, without very heavy construction, the upper stilt member is prone to flexing in response to torques, which creates an undesirable sensation of instability for the user.
In Speer's US Patent, the upper section of the stilt includes two parallel support members for disposition on either side of the user's leg. Both members are longitudinally rigid and the outer member is also preferably laterally rigid. However, the inner
REFERENCES:
patent: 2357893 (1944-09-01), Harrington
patent: 3070807 (1963-01-01), Wheeler
patent: 4927137 (1990-05-01), Speer
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