Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Canes – sticks – crutches – and walking aids
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-29
2001-05-15
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Canes, sticks, crutches, and walking aids
C135S077000, C135S075000, C294S019200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230726
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to walking aids which can be attached to walking sticks and crutches, and to walking sticks and crutches with the walking aids attached thereto.
Persons with spinal disability value the assistance of walking aids on stairs, inclines and the like. The same disability may prevent them from bending to reach the ground and retrieve articles such as clothing, tools and keys, or to pick up a walking stick or crutch if dropped.
Walking on cambered surfaces such as roads and footpaths carries extra risk, and oil contamination increases the risk. Outpatient Departments of hospitals usually provide only the cheapest and most limited aids.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a walking aid for attachment to a leg of a walking stick or crutch which addresses the above problems.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a walking aid for attachment to a leg of a walking stick or crutch, comprising: a foot member having a peripheral edge defining a contact region for contact with the ground; and an attachment device for attaching the foot member to the leg, wherein the foot member and the attachment device are constructed and arranged such that in use with a leg attached to the foot member by the attachment device, a portion of the peripheral edge protrudes a sufficient amount to enable the leg when resting on the ground to be tilted to a substantially upright position by appropriate application of foot pressure to the portion of the peripheral edge.
With such a construction, then when fitted to the leg of a walking stick or crutch, the contact area with the ground is increased due to the protruding peripheral edge, thus improving grip and reducing the possibility of slipping. Moreover, the ability to be able to tilt a walking stick or crutch fitted with the walking aid to an upright position by application of foot pressure to the peripheral edge, is of benefit to a person who is unable to bend to reach the ground to pick up the walking stick or crutch if dropped.
Furthermore, with a suitable size and shape for the foot member, a walking stick or crutch fitted with the walking aid can be left standing upright on the foot by itself, which is an added benefit.
Preferably the amount of protrusion of the portion of the peripheral edge is greater than 10 mm to ensure suitable application of foot pressure.
The attachment device may comprise any suitable means whereby the foot member can be attached to the leg.
For example this may comprise a socket member formed with a socket for accommodating an end of the leg. The socket member may be formed integral with the foot member, and may comprise for example a socket formed in the foot member such as in the case of an integral molding, or a special purpose socket member bonded to a surface of the foot member.
Alternatively the socket member may be provided separate from the foot member and formed with a base which in use abuts against an upper surface of the foot member, and there may be provided a connection device for detachably connecting the socket member at the base to the upper surface of the foot member.
The base may be convex so as to assist articulation against the upper surface of the foot member. By having such articulation, cambers and inclines can be accommodated as the user leans into them to keep balance.
The connection device may be any suitable device whereby the socket member can be detachably connected to the foot member. For example this may comprise a rod member spanning between the socket member and a first aperture in the foot member and a tensioning device for tensioning the rod member so that in use the base is clamped against the upper surface of the foot member.
Preferably the rod member has a head portion encapsulated in the socket member and a threaded portion protruding therefrom and extending through the aperture, and the tensioning device comprises a nut or a threaded portion in the first aperture for threading onto the threaded portion of the rod member to tension the rod member and hold the resilient attachment member tightly against the foot member.
With such a construction, the socket member can be easily removed from the foot member for replacement of either member as required.
The foot member may be of any suitable form depending on requirements, provided the construction is such that a portion of the peripheral edge protrudes a sufficient amount to enable a leg fitted into the socket and resting on the ground to be tilted to a substantially upright position by appropriate application of foot pressure to the portion of the peripheral edge.
In order to enhance use on rough surfaces, a lower surface of the foot member may be such as to make multiple contacts on the ground. For example the foot member may have three, four or more ground contactors. These may be arranged in a ring.
The construction may be such that the foot member is of a generally rectangular shape in plan view, and the first aperture is disposed substantially centrally on the foot member, and there is further provided a second aperture disposed a predetermined distance in a longitudinal axis direction from the first aperture, for optionally accommodating the rod member when the walking aid is used for attachment to a leg of a crutch.
By having a second aperture at a different location to the first aperture, then the foot member can be attached at a more suitable location depending on whether the aid is used for a walking stick or crutch.
The socket member may be made from a resilient material such as rubber so that in use articulation is enhanced between a leg fitted into the socket and the foot member.
Furthermore, the socket member may be further provided with a waisted portion disposed between a bottom end of the socket and the base such that in use articulation is further enhanced between a leg fitted into the socket and the foot member.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a walking aid substantially as described for the first aspect, wherein the attachment device comprises a fastener for connecting the foot member to an end of the leg, instead of the above described socket member. In this case the foot member may be fixed to the end of the leg with no flexibility therebetween.
To enhance articulation between the leg and the foot member, the attachment device may further comprise a resilient spacer which separates the foot member from the end of the leg.
The fastener may comprises a rod member adapted for connection to the leg, a first aperture formed in the foot member for accommodating the rod member and a tensioning device for optionally tensioning the rod member when fitted between the leg and the foot member. In this case the resilient spacer may be formed with a through hole for taking the rod member. Moreover the tensioning device may be suitable tensioned to compress the spacer lightly between the foot member and the end of the leg to a variable extend to suit the users preference.
Again as for the above mentioned case of the walking aid comprising the socket member, the foot member may be of a generally rectangular shape in plan view, and the first aperture may be disposed substantially centrally on the foot member, and there may be further provided a second aperture disposed a predetermined distance in a longitudinal axis direction from the first aperture, for optionally accommodating the rod member when the walking aid is used for attachment to a leg of a crutch.
Any suitable material may be used for the walking aid as described above depending on requirements and costs and the like. For example the walking aid may be molded in polymer or its mechanical equivalent. In the case of the walking aid where the socket member is formed integral with the foot member, then the two parts may be molded as one. Reinforcing may be provided in the form of inserts, or ribbing as required.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a walking stick or crutch fitted
Cuomo Peter M.
Fisher Michael J.
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