Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Canes – sticks – crutches – and walking aids – Crutches
Patent
1991-12-20
1994-02-22
Friedman, Carl D.
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Canes, sticks, crutches, and walking aids
Crutches
135 65, 280821, D 8DIG6, A61H 302
Patent
active
052878708
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This application is the U.S. National Phase of PCT/GB90/00437, filed Mar. 22, 1990.
This invention relates to a walking aid.
Help with walking would be beneficial to persons of all ages in a wide variety of circumstances. Illness or infirmity can make walking unaided difficult or impossible. Apart from convenience in getting about, walking is excellent exercise and it is therefore doubly important to remove or reduce disincentives to walking, or indeed provide an opportunity to enhance performance, while keeping a natural upright posture.
The traditional aid for walking is a walking stick. Even when properly fitted to the user as regards length, a walking stick is not satisfactory. It impairs the normal walking action, requires a considerable amount of strength in the arm and, in particular, in the grip, and pressure through the palm of the hand is a source of discomfort. Since the user of a walking stick may often be in poor general health in any event, the necessary strength of grip may be lacking.
The invention seeks to provide a walking aid improved in the above respects.
According to the present invention there is provided a provided a walking aid which comprises an elongate shaft having a handle at or near its upper end, characterised in that the handle is inclined at an angle to the axis of the shaft and comprises a central column adapted to be held by the hand, the column having toward the lower portion thereof a laterally extending platform capable of supporting the ulnar border of the hand, a further platform or ledge provided toward the upper portion of the column and on the opposite side from the platform to support the thenar eminence extending along the thumb margin such that, in use, the plane of the thumb metacarpal is at right angles to that of the remaining metacarpals.
The invention seeks to provide a walking aid which is adapted to be gripped `downwardly` and thus allows the forearm to take up a position with the wrist joint lying such that the palm is vertical and in line with the forearm, thus in the position of least strain. The arm swings in this position and the elbow joint and arm muscles can efficiently contribute to the normal walking pattern of the lower limbs and can contribute effectively to forward propulsion.
An object held in the hand with the forearm in the horizontal position, the palm vertical and wrist lying straight would naturally incline forwards to an angle of approximately 15 degrees. With the forearm in this position the most appropriate location for the base of the stick is a position directly below the centre of the hand. Accordingly it is preferred that the handle is inclined to the shaft at an angle of about 15.degree. or more.
It has been established that the optimum position of the forearm for any particular individual will vary according to their physical condition. The forearm position preferably lies between the horizontal and an angle of about 35 degrees below horizontal, preferably toward the latter. In general the weaker an individual is the more near vertical the forearm requires to be, as they need to transfer more load into the walking aid and demand a greater stabilising effect. Furthermore the physical size of the user varies considerably and this factor must be compensated for. Thus by ensuring that the handle is at an angle to the shaft, the base of the shaft can be in a position directly beloe the centre of the hand. The aid is gripped `downwardly`, that is in a very similar way to a pistol grip, with the shaft extending from the bottom of the fist rather than the top. Thus, a shaft/handle angle of about 15.degree. would be appropriate for use with the elbow at or near the horizontal, and a greater angle would be required for a shorter shaft approximately in proportion to the angle of declination of the elbow. For example, if a shaft length involving an elbow declination of 25.degree. was chosen, the handle angle might be approximately 40.degree. to the shaft.
The aid should be of such a length that it is below the elbow height of the user, fo
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Friedman Carl D.
Mai Lan C.
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