Patent Application
20100093501
(NOT APPLICABLE)
(NOT APPLICABLE)
The invention relates to stilt systems, particularly stilt systems used in the construction industry for accessing raised working surfaces such as ceiling structures and the like.
In order to access raised working surfaces, construction workers and other skilled craftsmen frequently use stilt systems. Such systems permit them freedom of movement by walking, while raising the workers to a desired elevated height. Such stilts are known in the art and are sold under various trade names. One well-known stilt system is sold under the trade name DURA-STILT and is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,102,272 and 3,902,199, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The DURA-STILT is an adjustable stilt to be worn on each leg. It has a floor platform and a shoe platform that are connected by two parallel spring-loaded pivotally mounted vertical members. A hollow tubular leg support is attached to the rearward vertical member. Straps are provided for attaching the leg support to the user's leg and for attaching the ankle area and the toe area of the shoe to the shoe platform. Because the vertical members are pivotally attached to the upper shoe platform and the lower floor platform and are spring-loaded, the vertical members are maintained in a substantially parallelogram configuration. This configuration permits the user to walk readily on the stilts and maintain balance.
Existing stilt systems utilize a one-piece or rigid floor platform. Although the spring system purports to provide a “give and release” action when walking, the product in reality is very cumbersome, and the walking action is more of a lumbering two-stage landing. Most significantly, only the rear or lead edge of the floor pad is in contact with the ground during the vast majority of the walking process.
It would thus be desirable to modify the floor platform to provide a more accurate reflection of a human foot, providing a smooth rolling action while walking.
With the design according to preferred embodiments described herein, the floor platform is divided into two separate and independently pivotable sections, e.g., a heel section and a toe section. In this manner, at least one pad maintains full contact with the ground at all times. Both the heel and toe sections rotate freely and independently, thereby providing a reflection of the ankle joint and toe joints to provide a smooth rolling action while walking.
In an exemplary embodiment, a walking stilt includes a shoe platform, a support attached at one end to the shoe platform, and a floor platform connected to an opposite end of the support. The floor platform includes a heel section pivotally attached to the support and a separate and independently pivotable toe section pivotally attached to the support. The walking stilt may include a pair of supports attached at the one end to the shoe platform, where the heel section is pivotally attached to one of the pair of supports, and the toe section is pivotally attached to the other of the pair of supports. In one embodiment, the pair of supports are pivotally attached to the shoe platform. A support bracket may be secured between the pair of supports, which is preferably pivotable relative to the pair of supports. In one arrangement, the support bracket includes a first plate member secured to the one of the pair of the supports, a second plate member secured to the other of the pair of the supports, and a pivot member pivotally connected between the first and second plate members.
A leg support bracket assembly may be mounted to one of the pair of supports for securing a leg support to the walking stilt. In this context, the leg support bracket assembly includes a leg support bracket attached to the one of the pair of supports, a bolt extendable through the leg support bracket, and a failsafe member cooperable with the leg support bracket and the leg support. The failsafe member secures the leg support upon failure of the bolt. The failsafe member may be a second bolt extendable through an opening in the leg support bracket, which opening is oversized relative to the second bolt.
In another exemplary embodiment, the heel section may be pivotally attached to the support at an interim position of the heel section between ends thereof, and the toe section may be pivotally attached to the support at an interim position of the toe section between ends thereof
In one arrangement, the floor platform is constructed and assembled such that with the walking stilt pitched toward the heel section, the entire heel section maintains ground contact, and with the walking stilt pitched toward the toe section, the entire toe section maintains ground contact. The floor platform may additionally or alternatively be constructed and assembled such that with the walking stilt pitched toward the heel section, substantially none of the walking stilt load is supported by the toe section, and with the walking stilt pitched toward the toe section, substantially none of the walking stilt load is supported by the heel section.
These and other aspects and advantages will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring now to the drawings,
Vertical support members 16, 18 are each telescoping and have adjustment holes 57 which are engaged by wing nut bolts 59, thereby permitting the vertical support members 16, 18 to be vertically adjusted.
It is preferable to form the heel and toe sections 202, 204 using a soft elastic material such as rubber, soft plastic, or the like. The softer material serves to provided a level of suspension while walking, thereby making the stilts more comfortable while walking. Alternatively or additionally, the heel and toe sections 202, 204 may be provided with suspension structure utilizing springs or the like to better absorb impact while walking.
With the floor platform 12 separated into two independently pivotable sections 202, 204, it is desirable to include a support bracket 206 secured between the supports 16, 18. The support bracket 206 is preferably placed above the floor platform 12 to prevent movement between (to, from, or side-to-side) the supports 16, 18. To accommodate such movement, the bracket 206 is preferably pivotally secured to the supports 16, 18. A simple construction of the bracket 206 is shown in
An alternative embodiment is shown in
With the walking stilt assembly according to the preferred embodiments, by splitting the floor platform into a heel section and a toe section, at least one pad maintains fill contact with the ground at all times. Moreover, the separate and independently pivotable heel and toe sections mimic ankle and toe joints of a human foot, thereby providing a smooth rolling action while walking. Although the invention has been described and illustrated with the heel and toe sections completely independent of each other, it is contemplated that some connecting structure may be provided between the heel and toe sections while still enabling the heel and toe sections to be separate and independently pivotable.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
