Patent Application
20160113832
1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates generally to crutches, and more particularly to crutch grips.
2. Background Art
Patients use crutches for a variety of reasons. For example, when a person sprains an ankle or breaks a leg, they may use crutches to help them remain ambulatory while the injured leg heals. Others use crutches for stability. Some people use two crutches, while others use only a single crutch.
Traditional crutches include an arm support, a pair of vertical posts, and a hand support. The vertical posts extend in a wishbone fashion from the arm support, which rests under the person's underarm, to a bottom post that engages the floor when the crutch is in use. Both the hand support and the arm support are designed to bear some or all of the weight of the user. The height of the handgrip is generally adjustable by removing an elongated screw that passes through the handgrip and both vertical posts. It would be advantageous to have a handgrip that was easier to adjust and manipulate.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure.
Embodiments of the disclosure are now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.” Relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. Also, reference designators shown herein in parenthesis indicate components shown in a figure other than the one in discussion. For example, talking about a device (10) while discussing figure A would refer to an element, 10, shown in figure other than figure A.
Prior art crutch grips, such as those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,069,869 to Huang and U.S. Pat. No. 6,314,977 to Obitts et al. include grips that terminate with circular rings that slide about the vertical posts of a crutch. While these grips are adjustable up and down the posts, they are not easily removable from the crutch. The only way to remove these grips is by disassembling the crutch itself to remove the armrest and expose the ends of the crutch posts. This is cumbersome, time consuming, expensive, and, if not done properly, can compromise the reliability of the crutch itself. With these prior art systems, if a crutch grip becomes soiled or damaged, the only way to replace it is to completely take the crutch apart, replace the grip, and then completely reassembly the crutch.
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a crutch grip that can be easily adjusted or replaced without disassembly of the crutch itself. Embodiments of the disclosure allow the grip to be easily and completely removed from the crutch posts, thereby allowing the grip to be replaced without crutch disassembly. In one embodiment, a crutch grip includes a grip that is disposed between a first grip end and a second grip end. Each of the first grip end and the second grip end define a partially annular receiver for a crutch post. In one embodiment, the partially annular receiver is a semicircular receiver that, when the crutch grip is disposed between two crutch posts, only partially encircles each post.
The crutch grip is then retained in place along the crutch posts by one or more retaining clips. In one embodiment, each retaining clip comprise a base member, a first, curved, cantilevered leg extending from a first side of the base member, and a second, curved, cantilevered leg extending from a second side of the base member. In one embodiment one or more retaining clips can removably engage an outer surface of one or more of the first grip end or the second grip end such that an annular clasp is defined between the first grip end or the second grip end and the at least one retaining clip. As used herein, the term “removably engage” or “selectively engage” refers to the fact that the retaining clips can engage the grip ends to retain the grip securely at a location along the crutch posts, but that can also release and be removed from the grip ends in response to user action to allow the crutch grip to be removed from the crutch posts.
In one embodiment, the retaining clips are manufactured from a pliable rubber or pliable thermoplastic to allow the cantilevered arms to deflect about the base member to selectively engage or disengage the grip ends. One example of a material suitable for use in manufacturing the retaining clips is styrene-butadiene rubber. Other materials will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. The use of a pliant material also helps to withstand impact when a crutch using a crutch grip configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure is accidentally dropped or otherwise receives an impact force. While prior art crutch grips manufactured from hard plastic may crack under such circumstances, the use of a pliant material ensures that reliability will not be compromised as a result of impact forces contacting the retaining clips or the grip itself.
In one or more embodiments, each retaining clip also includes a grip engagement post extending distally from the base member through a central axis and through an opening of the a C-shape defined by the cantilevered arms. The grip engagement post can pass through an aperture in the crutch post and into an aperture in one of the grip ends to securely retain the crutch grip at a desired height along the crutch post. For increased stability, in one embodiment the grip engagement post is manufactured from a different material than the rest of the engagement clip. For example, while the base member and cantilevered arms can be manufactured from a pliant material such as hard rubber or soft thermoplastic, in one embodiment the grip engagement post is manufactured from metal and is insert molded into the retaining clip.
Turning now to
In one embodiment, the crutch grip 100 includes a grip 101 that is disposed between a first grip end 102 and a second grip end 103. The grip 101, first grip end 102, and second grip end 103 can be manufactured as a unitary part in one or more embodiments. For example, in one embodiment the grip 101, first grip end 102, and second grip end 103 are manufactured as a single, unitary part from a rigid thermoplastic material by way of an injection molding process. In another embodiment, the grip 101, first grip end 102, and second grip end 103 can be manufactured as a single, unitary part from another material, such as metal, wood, rubber, acrylic, or other materials.
In other embodiments, the grip 101, first grip end 102, and second grip end 103 can be separable from each other. For example, in one embodiment the first grip end 102 and second grip end 103 are separable from the grip 101 such that different grips can be attached to a first grip end 102 and second grip end 103 pair. Other ways of configuring the grip 101, first grip end 102, and second grip end 103 will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
In one or more embodiments, a covering can be applied to the grip 101. For example, a rubber foam or sponge type coating can be applied to the grip 101 to make it softer and more comfortable for a user. Perspiration absorbing materials, antimicrobial materials, friction increasing materials, or other materials can be applied to the grip 101 as well.
In one embodiment, the grip 101 has an arcuate outer surface 104. As best shown in
In one embodiment, best shown in
In one or more embodiments, one or more retaining clips 108,109 retain the crutch grip 100 to the crutch posts 106,107. In the explanatory embodiment of
In one embodiment, each retaining clip 108,109 includes a base member 408,409, a first, curved, cantilevered leg 410,411, and a second, curved, cantilevered leg 412,413. In the illustrative embodiment of
In one embodiment, the base member 408,409, the first, curved, cantilevered leg 410,411, and the second, curved, cantilevered leg 412,413 are manufactured from a unitary pliant material such that the first, curved, cantilevered leg 410,411 and the second, curved, cantilevered leg 412,413 can selectively deflect outwardly from a central axis 416,417 of the first retaining clip 108 and the second retaining clip 109, respectively. This allows each of the first, curved, cantilevered leg 410,411 and the second, curved, cantilevered leg 412,413 to deflect about the crutch posts 106,107 and then attach to the outer surfaces 202,203 of the first grip end 102 and the second grip end 103.
For example, in one embodiment the base member 408,409, the first, curved, cantilevered leg 410,411 and the second, curved, cantilevered leg 412,413 are manufactured from a hard rubber material such as styrene-butadiene rubber. Other materials will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. For example in another embodiment, the unitary pliant material can be a pliant thermoplastic material. The use of the pliant material serves multiple purposes. As noted above, it allows the first, curved, cantilevered leg 410,411 and the second, curved, cantilevered leg 412,413 to deflect about the crutch posts 106,107 when attaching the retaining clips 108,109 to the first grip end 102 and the second grip end 103. However, the use of a pliant material also helps to withstand impact when a crutch using the crutch grip 100 is accidentally dropped or otherwise receives an impact force. While prior art crutch grips manufactured from hard plastic may crack under such circumstances, the use of a pliant material for the retaining clips 108,109 ensures that reliability will not be compromised as a result of impact forces contacting the retaining clips or the grip itself.
In one embodiment, the base member 408,409, the first, curved, cantilevered leg 410,411 and the second, curved, cantilevered leg 412,413 curve about a central axis 416,417 so as to define a partially closed C-shape. The partially closed C-shape results when the base member 408,409, the first, curved, cantilevered leg 410,411 and the second, curved, cantilevered leg 412,413 span a radial angle 418 of more than 180 degrees such that the opening 419 between the first, curved, cantilevered leg 410,411 and the second, curved, cantilevered leg 412,413 spans a radial angle 418 of less than 180 degrees.
In one embodiment, the first, curved, cantilevered leg 410,411 and the second, curved, cantilevered leg 412,413 each comprise one or more protruding finger grips 420,421,422,423. A user can grasp the one or more protruding finger grips 421,421,422,423 to deflect the first, curved, cantilevered leg 410,411 and the second, curved, cantilevered leg 412,413 about the base member 408,409 radially away from the central axis 416,417 to selectively release the one or more retaining clips 108,109 from the outer surface 202,203 of the first grip end 102 and the second grip end 103. In one embodiment, the finger grips 420,421,422,423 each define a finger grasping surface 424,425,426,427 is concave relative to the opening 419 of the partially closed C-shape of each retaining clip 108,109. Accordingly, a user can reach from the outside of a crutch post 106,107, grasp the finger grasping surfaces 424,425,426,427, pull against the finger grips 420,421,422,423, and deflect the first, curved, cantilevered leg 410,411 and the second, curved, cantilevered leg 412,413 about the base member 408,409 radially away from the central axis 416,417 to selectively release the one or more retaining clips 108,109 from the outer surface 202,203 of the first grip end 102 and the second grip end 103. Ridged surfaces can be disposed along the finger grasping surfaces 424,4425,426,427 to make this action easier.
In one embodiment, each retaining clip 108,109 also includes a grip engagement post 204,205 extending distally from the base member 408,409. In this explanatory embodiment, each grip engagement post 204,205 extends distally from the base member 408,409 through the central axis 416,417 and through the opening 419 of the partially closed-C shape defined by the base member 408,409, the first, curved, cantilevered leg 410,411 and the second, curved, cantilevered leg 412,413 of the retaining clips 108,109.
As best shown in
In one embodiment, the grip engagement posts 204,205 are manufactured from a rigid material such as metal. Where the base member 408,409, the first, curved, cantilevered leg 410,411, and the second, curved, cantilevered leg 412,413 are manufactured from a pliant material, such as styrene-butadiene rubber or a pliant thermoplastic material, the grip engagement posts 204,205 can be insert molded into the styrene-butadiene rubber or pliant thermoplastic material in one embodiment.
In one embodiment, to better align the crutch posts 106,107 between the annular clasp 602,603 defined between the first grip end 102 and the first retaining clip 108 and the second grip end 103 and the second retaining clip 109, respectively, one or more crutch post alignment recesses can be included. As shown in
Similarly, in one embodiment each engagement clip 108,109 can also include a crutch post alignment recess. As best shown in
In one embodiment, each retaining clip 108,109 includes a protrusion 308,309 disposed along an exterior of the partially closed C-shape defined by the base member 408,409, the first, curved, cantilevered leg 410,411, and the second, curved, cantilevered leg 412,413. In this explanatory embodiment each protrusion 308,309 is disposed along the base member 408,409 opposite the grip engagement post 204,205. While optional, inclusion of the protrusion 308,309 helps to protect the crutch grip 100 when it is accidentally dropped or otherwise receives an impact force. This is especially true when a pliant material is used to manufacture the protrusion 308,309, the base member 408,409, or both.
In one embodiment, to facilitate better retention when the first, curved, cantilevered leg 410,411 and the second, curved, cantilevered leg 412,413 of the retaining clips 108,109 engage the outer surface 202,203 of the first grip end 102 and the second grip end 103, each of the first grip end 102 and the second grip end 103 can include a detent 302,303 disposed along the outer surface 202,203 of the first grip end 102 and the second grip end 103, respectively. In one embodiment, both sides of the first grip end 102 and the second grip end 103 include detents 302,303. The detents 302,303 can define engagement recesses into which the ends of the first, curved, cantilevered leg 410,411 and the second, curved, cantilevered leg 412,413 of the retaining clips 108,109 engage the outer surface 202,203 of the first grip end 102 and the second grip end 103.
In one embodiment, each of the grip 101 and the engagement clips 108,109 can be color-coded. For example, in one embodiment, the base member 408,409, the first, curved, cantilevered leg 410,411, the second, curved, cantilevered leg 412,413, the first grip end 102, the second grip end 103, and the grip 101 all have a common color, such as red or blue. In other embodiments, the grip 101, the first grip end 102, and the second grip end 103 can have a first color, while the base member 408,409, the first, curved, cantilevered leg 410,411, the second, curved, cantilevered leg 412,413 have a different color.
Turning now to
Recall from above that with prior art crutch grips include grips that terminate with circular rings that slide about the vertical posts of a crutch. While these grips are adjustable up and down the posts, they are not easily removable from the crutch. The only way to remove these grips is by disassembling the crutch itself to remove the armrest and expose the ends of the crutch posts. This is cumbersome, time consuming, expensive, and, if not done properly, can compromise the reliability of the crutch itself. By contrast, the crutch grip assembly 900 illustrated in
Turning to
Turning to
As shown in
When the grip 101 needs to be changed, due to it becoming soiled or for other reasons, it is very simple to do so using embodiments of the disclosure. The user simply needs to once again remove the retaining clips 108,109. The result is shown in
In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the claims below. Thus, while preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been illustrated and described, it is clear that the disclosure is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the following claims. For example, while numerous utilitarian features of crutch grips configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, each device has associated therewith a multitude of ornamental design features as well. To be sure, some of the elements associated with embodiments of the disclosure provide both functional and ornamental design features.
Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present disclosure. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims.
