Crutch equipped with restraining safety means

• US 8,453,663 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2009
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cesare Schiavi, Matteo Fioravanzo, Valter Zordan
• Original Assignee: Cesare Schiavi, Matteo Fioravanzo, Valter Zordan
• Inventors: Zordan, Valter, Fioravanzo, Matteo, Schiavi, Cesare
• Primary Examiner(s): YIP, WINNIE S
• Application Number:
  US12/998,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20110232709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 135 65- 66, 135/68, 135/69, 135 71- 73, 602 20- 21, 602 23- 29, 243/07, 243/09, 243/10, 243/16, 24/16.R, 24/23.B, 24/411, 24/42, 24/68.R, 482 75- 77, 482 79- 80, 482146-147, 623/28
• US Class Current: 135/71
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/02 Crutches

Abstract

A crutch (10) for orthopaedic or similar purposes which can be used with the arms to support the body and/or the legs, the crutch (10) being equipped with a semicircular element (13) which in turn presents two wings (14, 15) facing the front part of the crutch according to the usual forms currently in use, the crutch being fitted, at the ends of the two wings (14, 15) of the semicircular element (13), with a strap (16) of appropriate length and shape to allow the forearm to be restrained in the semicircular support element (13).

Claims

1. A crutch (10) for orthopaedic or similar purposes adapted to be used with an arm of the user to support the user'"'"'s body and/or legs, said crutch (10) comprising:

an elongated rod (11) adapted to extend to the ground;

a grip (12) extending substantially at a right angle from said rod (11) adapted to be gripped by a hand of the user;

a semicircular element (13) arranged at an upper end of said crutch adapted to accommodate a forearm of the user, said semicircular element including two wings (14, 15) extending fowardly from said semicircular element (13); and

a strap (16) having first and second ends extending between said two wings (14, 15) and adapted to restrain the user'"'"'s forearm in said semicircular element (13), each of said first and second ends of said strap (16) being pivotally attached to said two wings (14, 15), respectively, whereby to permit angular movement of said strap (16) about said two wings so that upon release of said grip (12) the user retains possession of the crutch (10) while also allowing movement of the user'"'"'s forearm.

2. The crutch (10) for orthopaedic or similar purposes as defined in claim 1, wherein one of said first and second ends of said strap (16) terminates in a toothed tailpiece (18) engaging with a buckle (19) pivotally attached to the respective one of said two wings (14, 15) to which the other one of said first and second ends of said strap (16) is not attached.

3. The crutch (10) for orthopaedic or similar purposes as defined in claim 2, wherein said buckle (19) includes a spring biased elastic tab for restraining the toothed tailpiece (18) of said strap (16) in a most appropriate position.

4. The crutch (10) for orthopaedic or similar purposes as defined in claim 2, which further includes protruding notches (20) arranged on the one of said two wings (14, 15) of said semicircular element (13) to which said buckle (19) is attached which limit the rotation of said strap (16) when said toothed tailpiece (18) is engaged with said buckle (19).

5. The crutch (10) for orthopaedic or similar purposes as defined in claim 4, wherein the rotational limit of strap (16) is established by the positioning of said protruding notches (20) acting as limit stops.

6. The crutch (10) for orthopaedic or similar purposes as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second ends of said strap (16) terminates in a toothed tailpiece (21) each engaging with a buckle (22) each pivotally attached to one of said two wings (14, 15) of said semicircular element (13).

7. The crutch (10) for orthopaedic or similar purposes as defined in claim 1, which further includes a rapid-release safety system (23) for said strap (16) whereby said strap (16) is released in the event of a fall.

8. The crutch (10) for orthopaedic or similar purposes as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second ends of said strap (16) are fitted with hook and loop closures and are adapted to be inserted in slotted hooks (25, 26) pivotally attached to said two wings (14, 15) of said semicircular element (13).