Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Canes – sticks – crutches – and walking aids – Combined and convertible
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-29
2001-07-24
Canfield, Robert (Department: 3635)
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Canes, sticks, crutches, and walking aids
Combined and convertible
C297S005000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263892
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to a support assembly for a crutch user, and more particularly to a seat system for a crutch user that serves to transfer a portion of the support of the body weight from the user's hands, arms, underarm areas and shoulders to the user's buttocks so as to reduce the fatigue, exertion, and damage associated with the use of crutches.
2. Description of the Related Art
The field of the prior art includes several prior attempts to provide a support assembly for a crutch user. For example, British Patent 112,098 by Clifford describes a suspended seat and breeches and pads that pass under the user's “fork” (i.e. crotch). This device is impractical in use, in part due to the difficulty of getting into and out of the device. Attaching to the device is inconvenient and difficult, making it less useful for frequent travel over short distances. Separating oneself from the device is both inconvenient and potentially hazardous. If the user forgets to remove the device and, for example, attempts to sit down in a chair, he may become entangled in the device and crutches and fall.
Also, the publication titled “A New Saddle-Crutch” by Dr. James R. Taylor in The Medical Record (Aug. 4, 1883) shows a small saddle worn under the user's crotch and inside the user's clothing. To separate himself from the crutches, the user unhooks the suspenders from the crutches. Wearing the saddle under clothing is inconvenient, because the user must partially undress to get into or out of the saddle. Wearing the saddle inside the clothing and the suspenders outside the clothing, when not on the crutches, may be uncomfortable (for example when sitting in a chair). Saddle type devices that fit inside the user's crotch may be awkward for discreet use by a person wearing a skirt or dress.
British Patent 140,171 by Dunne describes telescopic crutches with a suspension seat or saddle. The seat connects to and operates a telescoping mechanism built into the special crutches. This device requires special crutches and may not be used with standard crutches. The device contains forked rods and appears to be rigid. This makes the device impractical for compact transportation when not in use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,035 by Porter discloses a harness assembly for a crutch user. The user is strapped or buckled into the harness with a waist belt, leg straps, and optional suspenders. The fastenings are designed to stay fastened until the user manually unfastens them. To sit down in a chair, the user must always remember to first detach either the harness from himself or the harness from the crutches. If the user forgets, he may become entangled, may lose his balance, and may fall and be injured. After remembering to manually detach either the harness from himself or the harness from the crutches, the user must locate all required fasteners and operate them. To get back into the device, the user must manually reconnect all required fasteners in their correct locations. As described above, this is time consuming and inconvenient, and greatly limits the utility of the device for frequent uses. Like saddle type devices that fit inside the user's crotch, harness type devices that fit inside the user's crotch may be awkward for discreet use by a person wearing a skirt or dress.
Thus, what has been needed and heretofore unavailable is a support assembly for a crutch user that is effective, safe, comfortable and convenient to use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, applicant provides a support assembly for use with crutches. The seat assembly is designed specifically for minimizing the discomfort, exertion and damage associated with the use of crutches. The invention includes a seat assembly that is suspended from a pair of crutches and at least partially supports the user's body weight and reduces the force on the user's upper body. The invention also includes at least one seat urging means to urge the seat assembly towards the user. An attachment means
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may releasably attach the seat urging means from the seat assembly to the crutch, to the user's clothing, or to the user. The seat assembly may disengage from the user at a predetermined position and/or the seat assembly may automatically disengage from the user at a predetermined force.
The seat may support the user while the user is walking with the crutches or while the user is stationary. The seat encourages the user to reduce the amount of force applied to the upper body by the crutches, and spreads the burden of supporting the user over a larger region of the body. One advantage of the present invention is that it reduces the risk of injury to the upper body. Several locations in the upper body such as the axillary nerve under the armpit or nerves in the hand may be acutely or chronically damaged by localized pressure caused by the use of standard axillary crutches.
Another advantage of the invention is that it reduces fatigue and repetitive overuse injuries, as a crutch user may not be accustomed to supporting their body weight with the muscles bones and joints of the upper body, which are smaller and weaker than those of the lower body and have not evolved for this purpose. Sitting in the crutch seat may be more convenient than sitting on a chair, which requires the extra work of getting down onto and getting up from the chair.
One object of the present invention is to provide a seat assembly that the user may enter and exit relatively easily, conveniently and safely thus overcoming the limitations of the prior art.
An optional object of the present invention is to urge the seat close to the user to reduce the chance of the seat slipping off the user, while maintaining the advantages of easy entry and exit.
Another optional object of the present invention is to provide a seat system that automatically disengages from the user at a predetermined position.
A further optional object of the present invention is to provide a seat system that automatically disengages from the user at a predetermined force.
Yet another optional object of the present invention is to provide a seat system that may be used with conventional crutches.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the features of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 768882 (1904-08-01), Morse
patent: 1063846 (1913-06-01), Winthers
patent: 1769167 (1930-07-01), Scheihing
patent: 2257831 (1941-10-01), Wood
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patent: 4786082 (1988-11-01), Sweitlik
patent: 4793370 (1988-12-01), Perez
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patent: 5313971 (1994-05-01), Upshaw
patent: 5348035 (1994-09-01), Porter
patent: 5353824 (1994-10-01), Woods et al.
patent: 5664713 (1997-09-01), Burgstahler
patent: 5673719 (1997-10-01), Shofner
patent: 5755644 (1998-05-01), Breems
patent: 5911234 (1999-06-01), Hirst
patent: 4102498 (1992-07-01), None
patent: 506235 (1920-05-01), None
patent: 112098 (1917-12-01), None
patent: 140171 (1920-03-01), None
patent: 1713582 A1 (1992-02-01), None
patent: 1717135 A1 (1992-07-01), None
Article Taylor, J A New Saddle-Crutch Aug. 4, 1883, The Medical Record p136.
Canfield Robert
Leary James J.
Titus Carol D.
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