Hinge apparatus

• US 4,865,064 A
• Filed: 07/08/1988
• Issued: 09/12/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael S. Kent, Thomas O. Parsons, Thompson, Kenneth C.
• Original Assignee: Michael S. Kent, Thomas O. Parsons, Thompson, Kenneth C.
• Inventors: Thompson, Kenneth C., Kent, Michael S., Parsons, Thomas O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sam, Charles H.
• Application Number:
  US07/217,048
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 135/65, 135/66, 135/68, 135/69, 135/70, 135/71-86, 272/70-74, 403/53, 403/72, 403/100, 403/102, 403/291-297, 215/355
• US Class Current: 135/68
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/02 Crutches
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/10 Arrangements for locking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32409 Members locked in axial alignment

Abstract

A hinge apparatus for coupling the component parts of a foldable device is provide. The hinge apparatus comprises a moveable sleeve adapted to tightly fit a guide and stop bushing operably connected with the support components of the foldable device. With the foldable device is in the use extended position, the moveable sleeve may surround and provide support to a hinge link. The hinge link is adapted to permit folding of the foldable device when the moveable sleeve is not surrounding the hinge link. A folding crutch comprising the hinge apparatus is provided. The folding crutch, comprising the hinge apparatus, provides the crutch user with safe, firm and sure support.

Claims

1. A hinge apparatus, for coupling a foldable device comprising a first end section comprising an attachment zone and a second end section comprising an attachment zone, said hinge apparatus comprising:

a. a first hinge link pin;

b. a second hinge link pin;

c. a hinge link means comprising a first end and a second end and a first hinge link pin hole adapted to receive the first hinge link pin and a second hinge link pin hole adapted to receive the second hinge link pin;

d. a first hinge end piece adapted for attachment to the attachment zone of the first end section of the foldable device, said first hinge end piece comprising a hinge link means cavity adapted to receive the first end of the hinge link means and comprising a hinge link pin hole adapted to receive the first hinge link pin;

e. a second hinge end piece adapted for attachment to the attachment zone of the second end section of the foldable device, said second hinge end piece comprising a hinge link means cavity adapted to receive the second end of the hinge link means and comprising a hinge link pin hole adapted to receive the second hinge link pin;

f. a securing means for securing the first hinge end piece to the attachment zone of the first end section of the foldable device;

g. a securing means for securing the second hinge end piece to the attachment zone of the second end section of the foldable device;

h. a substantially cylindrical elongated moveable sleeve guide bushing operably connected to the first end section of the foldable device;

i. a substantially frustoconical shaped elongated moveable sleeve stop bushing operably connected to the second end section of the foldable device, and

j. an elongated hollow moveable sleeve, having a first end and a second end, wherein when said hinge apparatus of said foldable device is in the use extended position, said second end of the hollow moveable sleeve is operably moveable, over the first end section of the foldable device, over the moveable sleeve guide bushing, over the first hinge end piece, over the second hinge end piece, and over the moveable sleeve stop bushing, to a rigid use position determined by the contact of the moveable sleeve with the moveable sleeve stop bushing and the moveable sleeve guide, wherein the interior dimension of the first end of the moveable sleeve is substantially cylindrical in shape and is the same as the exterior of the substantially cylindrical moveable sleeve guide bushing and the interior dimension of the second end of the hollow moveable sleeve is substantially inverse frustoconical in shape and the elongated hollow moveable sleeve has interior dimensions selected so that the sleeve fits tightly around the stop bushing and the guide bushing and wherein the guide bushing and the stop bushing comprise a composition which permits the guide bushing and the stop bushing to fit tightly within the moveable sleeve.

2. A hinge apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said moveable sleeve has a length sufficient to surround the first hinge end piece and the second hinge end piece and the moveable sleeve stop bushing is adapted to stop the movement of the moveable sleeve at a position over the first hinge end piece and the second hinge end piece.

3. A hinge apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said moveable sleeve guide bushing has a length L₁ and has an external dimension D₁, wherein said moveable sleeve stop bushing has a length L₂ and has a first end and a second end and has a first external dimension D₂ at the first end and a second external dimension D₃ at the second end, wherein the dimension D₃ is greater than the dimension D₂, and wherein said moveable sleeve has a length L₃, comprising a first end having an internal dimension D₄ and second end having an internal dimension D₅, wherein the dimension D₄ is substantially the same as dimension D₁ and the dimension D₄ is less than the dimensions D₂, D₃, and D₅, and wherein the dimension D₅ is greater than the dimensions D₁, D₂, D₃ and D₄, and wherein length L₃ is greater than length L₁ plus L₂.

4. A hinge apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the moveable sleeve guide bushing and the moveable sleeve stop bushing comprise a rigid plastic composition.

5. A hinge apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein a filler is used with the attachment zone of the end section of the foldable device and the hinge end piece.

6. A folding crutch comprising:

a. A top crutch portion comprising an underarm hold means having a first end and a second end, a handle means having a first end and a second end, a first top support member and a second top support member, said first top support member comprising a first end section and a second end section and said second top support member comprising a first end section and a second end section, said first end section of said first top support member being operably connected to the first end of said underarm hold means and said first end section of the second top support member being operably connected to the second end of the underarm hold means, and at a point below the underarm hold means, said first top support member being operably connected to the first end of said handle means and said second top support member being operably connected to the second end of the handle means, wherein the second end section of said first top support member comprising an attachment zone and the second end section of said second top support member comprising an attachment zone;

b. A bottom crutch portion comprising a bottom stop means, a brace means having a first end and a second end, a first bottom support member and a second bottom support member, said first bottom support member comprising a first end section and a second end section and said second bottom support member comprising a first end section and a second end section, the first end section of said first bottom support member being operably connected to said bottom stop means and the first end section of said second bottom support member being operably connected to said bottom stop means, and at a point above said bottom stop means, said first bottom support member being operably connected to said first end of said brace means and said second bottom support member being operably connected to the second end of said brace means, wherein the second end section of said first bottom support member comprising an attachment zone and the second end section of said second bottom support member comprising an attachment zone; and

,

c. A hinge apparatus connecting said top crutch portion with said bottom crutch portion, providing alternative crutch positions comprising a use extended and secure position wherein said first top support member is axially aligned with said first bottom support member and said second top support member is axially aligned with said second bottom support member and said top support members have positions that are fixed in relation to the positions of said bottom support members and comprising a nonuse folded position wherein said top support members and said bottom support members are not axially aligned and do not have fixed relative positions, said hinge apparatus comprising;

(1). a first hinge link pin;

(2). a second hinge link pin;

(3). a hinge link means comprising a first end and a second end and a first hinge link pin hole adapted to receive the first hinge link pin and a second hinge link pin hole adapted to receive the second hinge link pin;

(4). a first hinge end piece adapted for attachment to the attachment zone of the first end section of the foldable device, said first hinge end piece comprising a hinge link means cavity adapted to receive the first end of the hinge link means and comprising a hinge link pin hole adapted to receive the first hinge link pin;

(5). a second hinge end piece adapted for attachment to the attachment zone of the second end section of the foldable device, said second hinge end piece comprising a hinge link means cavity adapted to receive the second end of the hinge link means and comprising a hinge link pin hole adapted to receive the second hinge link pin;

(6). a securing means for securing the first hinge end piece to the attachment zone of the first end section of the foldable device;

(7). a securing means for securing the second hinge end piece to the attachment zone of the second end section of the foldable device;

(8). a substantially cylindrical elongated moveable sleeve guide bushing operably connected to the first end section of the foldable device;

(9). a substantially frustoconical shaped elongated moveable sleeve stop bushing operably connected to the second end section of the foldable device, and

(10). an elongated hollow moveable sleeve, having a first end and a second end, wherein when said hinge apparatus of said foldable device is in the use extended position, said second end of the hollow moveable sleeve is operably moveable, over the first end section of the foldable device, over the moveable sleeve guide bushing, over the first hinge end piece, over the second hinge end piece, and over the moveable sleeve stop bushing, to a rigid use position determined by the contact of the moveable sleeve with the moveable sleeve stop bushing and the moveable sleeve guide, wherein the interior dimension of the first end of the moveable sleeve is substantially cylindrical in shape and is the same as the exterior of the substantially cylindrical moveable sleeve guide bushing and the interior dimension of the second end of the hollow moveable sleeve is substantially inverse frustoconical in shape and the elongated hollow moveable sleeve has interior dimensions selected so that the sleeve fits tightly around the stop bushing and the guide bushing and wherein the guide bushing and the stop bushing comprise a composition which permits the guide bushing and the stop bushing to fit tightly within the moveable sleeve.

7. A folding crutch in accordance with claim 6 wherein said moveable sleeve has a length sufficient to surround the first hinge end piece and the second hinge end piece and the moveable sleeve stop bushing is adapted to stop the movement of the moveable sleeve at a position over the first hinge end piece and the second hinge end piece.

8. A folding crutch in accordance with claim 6 wherein said moveable sleeve guide bushing has a length L_l and has an external dimension D_l, wherein said moveable sleeve stop bushing has a length L₂ and has a first end and a second end and has a first external dimension D₂ at the first end and a second external dimension D₃ at the second end, wherein the dimension D₃ is greater than the dimension D₂, and wherein said moveable sleeve has a length L₃, comprising a first end having an internal dimension D₄ and second end having an internal dimension D₅, wherein the dimension D₄ is substantially the same as dimension D_l and the dimension D₄ is less than the dimensions D₂, D₃, and D₅, and wherein the dimension D₅ is greater than the dimensions D_l, D₂, D₃ and D₄, and wherein length L₃ is greater than length L_l plus L₂.

9. A folding crutch in accordance with claim 6 wherein the moveable sleeve guide bushing and the moveable sleeve stop bushing comprise a rigid plastic composition.

10. A folding crutch in accordance with claim 6 wherein a filler is used with the attachment zone of the end section of the foldable device and the hinge end piece.

11. A folding crutch in accordance with claim 6 wherein the brace means comprises a hinge apparatus.