GB2473622A

GB2473622A - A brace for a crutch handle

Info

Publication number: GB2473622A
Application number: GB0916289A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Ugboma
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-09-17
Filing date: 2009-09-17
Publication date: 2011-03-23
Also published as: GB0916289D0

Abstract

'Permenforce' are steel devices that permanently reinforce a pair of crutches by reducing the pressure that is placed onto the hand grip of the elbow crutch by absorbing and dissipating this pressure onto the elbow crutch leg. 'Permenforce' comprises a bracing arm 18 fixed at one end to the crutch leg using a bracket 21 and bolt 24 through aperture 23, locked with nut 25. The brace 18 attaches to the handle 15 using coupling device 19 which may extend into the handle 15. Alternatively the brace 18 may be attached with a strengthening pin (26, see figure 2) or the brace may be integral with the handle (see figure 3). A method of using the brace is provided. The brace supports the handle and can withstand a larger downward force. The brace therefore strengthens the crutch handle against breaking.

Description

A Method of SuDporting Hand Grip of a WaIking Aid The present invention relates to a method of supporting a hand grip of a walking aid.

Walking sticks and crutches are well-known walking aids that are used to support a user while walking, for example. The walking aids may be used to help a user maintain their balance while walking or to otherwise enable a user to walk while impaired with an injury.

It has been found however that hand grips of Walking aids can break or otherwise become detached from a support member of the walking aid, under the force applied thereto by the user. This can clearly lead to the user falling and possibly suffering an injury or further injury.

I have now devised a method of supporting a hand grip of a walking aid which alleviates the above mentioned problem.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method of supporting a hand grip of a walking aid, the aid comprising a support member and a hand grip disposed upon the support member which is arranged to extend substantially transverse thereto, the method comprising the steps of: -coupling a first end of a bracing member to the hand grip; and, -coupling a second end of the bracing member to the support member.

The bracing member serves to support the hand grip and redistribute the force applied to the hand grip to the support member, as a user leans upon the hand grip.

A section of the bracing arm disposed proximate to the first end thereof is preferably arranged to extend along at least a portion of the length of the hand grip. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, a section of the bracing arm disposed proximate to the second end thereof is preferably arranged to extend along at least a portion of the length of the support pole.

The first end of the bracing member is preferably coupled to the hand grip by passing first coupling means from the first end of the bracing member along at least a portion of a length of the hand grip.

The method preferably further comprises passing the first coupling means along the length of the hand grip so that a distal end of the first coupling means engages with the support member.

The first coupling means preferably comprises a strengthening member which is preferably passed within the hand grip. The method preferably further comprises aligning an aperture disposed at the first end of the bracing member with the hand grip and passing the strengthening member through the aperture into the hand grip.

The second end of the bracing member is preferably coupled to the support member by positioning a bracket upon the support member and coupling the second end of the bracing member to the bracket.

Preferably, the second end of the bracing member is coupled to the bracket by aligning an aperture on the bracket with an aperture disposed at the second end of the bracing member and passing a pin or similar through the aligned apertures.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a crutch comprising a hand grip, a support member and a bracing member; Figure 2 is an exploded view of a further crutch comprising a hand grip, a support member and a bracing member; and, Figure 3 is a perspective view of a further crutch comprising a hand grip, a support member and a bracing member which is formed integrally with the hand grip.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the crutch of figure 3 during use.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a walking aid or crutch 10 for supporting and or aiding a user (not shown) while walking. The crutch 10 compriseS a support pole 11 having a foot section 12 disposed at one end thereof, which is arranged to contact the ground, a stabilising support 1 3 disposed at the other end thereof for stabilising a users forearm 14 upon the crutch 10 and a handle 15 disposed intermediate opposite ends thereof.

The support pole 11 is telescopic and comprises a first and second pole member 1 la, lib which are arranged to move in sliding relation, with the first pole member ha being arranged to move within the second pole member lib. The first and second pole members 11 a, 11 b are releasably lockable, by a locking pin (not shown) disposed upon the first pole member 11 a. The locking pin (not shown) is arranged to snap locate within one or more of a plurality of apertures 16 disposed at selected positions along the length of the second pole member lib, to provide the required length of support pole 11.

The stabilising support 13 comprises first and second support arms (only one of which (13a) is illustrated in figure 4) which extend from an upper end of the support pole 11 and which extend forwardly of the support pole 11 along an arcuate path to provide a channel therebetween. The channel 17 is arranged to extend substantially parallel with the support pole 11 and is arranged to receive a users forearm 14.

The handle 15 extends substantially forwardly of the support pole 11 in substantially the same direction as the stabilising support 13, substantially perpendicular to the support pole 11. The handle 1 5 is coupled at a proximal end thereof to the support pole 11 by a collar 17 which extends around the pole. It is envisaged that the collar 17 and handle 15 may be detachably secured using fastening means (not shown) or formed integrally as a one piece unit.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in figure 1 of the drawings, the handle 15 is further supported upon the support pole 11 by a bracing arm 18 which is arranged to extend from a distal end of the handle 15 to a position upon the pole 11 intermediate the collar 17 and the foot section 12. The bracing arm 18 is coupled at a first end thereof, to the handle 15 by passing a strengthening member such as a bolt 19 through an aperture 20 disposed upon thebracing arm 18 at the first end thereof, into a distal end of the handle 15. The bolt 19 is arranged to extend long the length of an interior of the handle 15 and couple with the section of support pole surrounded by the collar 17.

A second end of the bracing arm 18 is coupled to the support pole 11 using a bracket 21 which is arranged to extend around the support pole 11 at a position disposed intermediate the collar 17 and foot section 12. Distal ends of the bracket 21 are turned outwardly away from the support pole 11 in a direction substantially forwardly of the support pole 11 and comprise an aperture 22a, 22b formed therein. The second end of the bracing arm 18 is arranged to extend between the distal ends of the bracket 21 such that an aperture 23 disposed at the second end of the bracing arm 18 becomes aligned with the apertures 22a, 22b disposed upon the bracket 21. A bcating bolt 24 is then passed through the aligned apertures 22a, 22b, 23 and a locking nut 25 is secured upon the bolt 24 to prevent its removal from the apertures 22a, 22b, 23.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in figure 2 of the drawings, the handle 15 is further supported upon the support pole 11 by a bracing arm 18 which is arranged to extend from a distal end of the handle 1 5 to a position upon the pole 11 intermediate the collar 17 and the foot section 12. The bracing arm 18 is coupled at a first end thereof, to the handle 15 by a strengthening pin 26 which is arranged to extend from the bracing arm 18 into a distal end of the handle 15. The strengthening pin 26 is formed integrally with the bracing arm 18 and is arranged to extend along at least a portion of the length of the handle 1 5. A second end of the bracing arm 18 is coupled to the support pole 11 in the same manner as the first embodiment.

According to a third embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in figure 3 of drawings, the handle 15 is further supported upon the support pole 11 by a bracing arm 18 which is arranged to extend from a distal end of the handle 15 to a position upon the pole 11 intermediate the collar 17 and the foot section 12. The bracing arm 18 is formed integrally with the handle 15 and extends from a distal end of the handle 15 to a sleeve 27 disposed upon the support pole 11 intermediate the collar 17 and the foot section 12. The sleeve 27 extends around the support pole 11 and is rigidly secured thereto, The sleeve 27 is formed integrally with the bracing arm 18 such that the handle 15, bracing arm 18 and sleeve 27 comprise a one-piece unit.

In use, the user inserts their forearm 14 between the support arms 13a, 13b of the stabilising support 13 and grips the handle 15. The bracing arm 18 of each embodiment described above serves to support the handle 15 and redistribute the force applied to the handle 1 5, to the support pole 11. A first section of the bracing arm 18 disposed proximate to the first end thereof, may be configured to extend along a portion of an underside of the handle 15 and a second section of the bracing arm 18 disposed proximate to the second end thereof, may be configured to extend along a portion of a forward facing section of the support pole 11. The first and second sections increase the contact area of the bracing arm 18 with the handle 1 5 and support pole 11 respectively, to reduce the pressure at the coupling points between the bracing arm 18, and the handle 15 and support pole 11.

The bracing arm 18 thus enables the handle 15 to withstand a larger downward force than would be possible without a bracing arm 18 and so the possibility of the handle 15 breaking or otherwise becoming detached from the support pole 11 is reduced. From the foregoing therefore, it is evident that the method of the present invention provides a simple, yet effective technique of supporting a hand grip of a walking aid.

Claims

A method of Supporting a hand grip of a walking aid.CLAIMS1. Permenforce dissipates the pressure that is applied to the elbow crutch hand grip by the user to the leg of the elbow crutch which is stronger than the hand grip.
2. Permenforce and the permenforce crutch considerably reduce the pressure that is applied to the elbow crutch hand grip by the user therefore it permanently reinforces the crutch handle.
3. Permenforce and the permenforce crutch prevent the elbow crutch hand grip from breaking as a result of the pressure that is applied to it by the user.
4. Permenforce and the permenforce crutch are durable and it allows the user of the elbow crutches to confidently carry any shopping and other items that are heavy in weight and are useful in their daily lives without breaking the elbow crutch hand grip.
5. Permenforce and the permenforce crutch stops the user of the elbow crutch from injuring themselves as a result of the elbow crutch hand grip breaking.
6. Permenforce and the permenforce crutch allow the user to continue to go to and from work without disruption they will be protected from the disruption to their * :. life caused by taking time out to replace a pair of broken crutches. IS..
7. The person that uses the crutches that has permenforce attached to it Qermenforce crutch) will have the peace of mind that they deserve and they will be able to get L: on with their daily life knowing that their crutches are truly safe, more secure and reliable they will also be assured that the crutches will last them for a very long * * time.
8. Permenforce and the permenforce crutch does not cause any discomfort to the user and when they are attached to the crutch any additional weight onto the crutch is negligible permenforce does not make the crutch heavy for the user.
9. Permenforce is transferable, it can easily be removed from one elbow crutch and transferred to another elbow crutch and reattached to it in minutes.
10. Permenforces shape and its size are permanent and universal, it does not need to be adjusted or restructured when it is transferred from 1 elbow crutch to another.
11. Permenforce can be attached to any and all elbow crutches in minutes.