DE20005625U1 - Attachment system for attaching hand sticks, forearm supports, armpit supports and similar devices - Google Patents

Description

Fastening system for attaching hand sticks, forearm supports, shoulder supports and similar devices

The invention relates to a fastening system for attaching hand sticks, shoulder supports, forearm supports and similar devices to a support structure.

There are various aids for older people, people with walking difficulties or those undergoing rehabilitation to help them maintain their independence and mobility. For example, wheelchairs and walkers enable these people to go for walks alone or to do their shopping without help. For those with more severe walking difficulties or to cover longer distances, there is a wheelchair. For shorter distances or within

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Patent Attorneys · European Patent Attorneys ■ Authorized representatives before the European Patent Office
Authorised representatives at the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market

Lawyer: admitted to the Hamburg courts

Deutsche Bank AG HanjßusgJNr" 05 2S4^^L?*2*Q0 l$%§\'$os$^alqfäg, &Ngr;_&Ggr;.·28^2&phgr;6 (BLZ 200 100 20)
: Dfcsdner Bartk AG HJmBur^ No. 9336035 {BLZ 200 SOO OD) t:

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In buildings, however, many people with walking disabilities resort to walking sticks, shoulder supports, forearm supports or similar devices.

The problem is now "switching" from one aid to another. For example, the hand sticks, shoulder supports, and forearm supports are often not immediately available when they are needed after using a walker, rollator, or wheelchair. However, carrying sticks or supports on the wheelchair is dangerous because they can fall down, block the wheelchair from moving, and lead to falls and accidents.

If the person with walking difficulties moves around with sticks or supports and does not need them for a time, for example because he or she is sitting down, taking a seat in a means of transport or pushing a shopping trolley, it is often difficult to position the equipment in such a way that it does not get in the way or fall to the ground and that it is easy to resume use.

Based on this, the invention is based on the object of creating a device which facilitates the transport, temporary storage and use of hand sticks, shoulder supports, forearm supports and similar devices.

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The object is achieved by a fastening system having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the fastening system are specified in the subclaims.

The invention consists in a fastening system for fastening hand sticks, shoulder supports, forearm supports and similar devices to a support structure with a clamping device for clamping a shaft section of the device to be fastened, a receiving device arranged at a distance from the clamping device below the latter for supporting and laterally enclosing a shaft end of the device to be fastened and devices for fastening the clamping device and the receiving device to the support structure.

The fastening system can be easily attached to a support structure by means of the devices, which can be, for example, a rollator, a walker, a wheelchair, a shopping cart or another rolling device. The support structure can also be a piece of furniture such as a chair or a bed. The support structure can also be a vehicle, in particular a means of public transport. In addition, the support structure can be a structural element of a building, for example a wall, a grille or the like. The fastening system can be permanently attached to the respective support structure. The person with walking difficulties can then use his or her stick or support.

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or a similar device in the fastening system, preferably by inserting this device with the lower shaft end into the receiving device and then fixing it to the shaft section arranged above it within the clamping device. The advantage here is that this fastening is particularly energy-saving because the receiving device absorbs the weight of the device to be fastened and the clamping device only prevents it from tipping over, so that relatively low clamping forces are sufficient. Since two sticks or supports are usually used, two fastening systems are preferably used. This can significantly increase the mobility of disabled people by attaching it to rolling devices or in private or public areas, by enabling safe storage that makes it easier to use and even the carrying of sticks, supports or similar devices.

Preferably, the clamping device can have a spring-loaded clamping element with a C-shaped cross-section with inwardly projecting boundaries of the opening of the C-cross-section, so that the opening expands elastically when the shaft section of the device to be fastened passes through it from the side and then springs together after the shaft section has passed through. The clamping element then forms a type of bracket that simultaneously receives the shaft section and secures it with its spring effect. Preferably, the inwardly projecting boundaries of the opening are formed by roller elements that are arranged around rollers directed transversely to the C-cross-section.

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Axles are rotatable in order to roll on the shaft section of the device to be attached when it is pushed in from the side. This makes it considerably easier to push in and remove the stick or support. In addition, damage to the surface of the stick or support caused by the clamping device is avoided, especially if the roller elements have an elastic soft material at least on the circumference.

In addition, the clamping element can have a bearing base with a concave bearing surface for the shaft section of the device to be fastened on the inside of the base of its C-cross section. This achieves a defined fastening of the shaft section between the bearing base and the boundaries of the opening.

The receiving device can be pot-shaped, with the upper pot opening being arranged on the side of the clamping device. To make it easier to insert the lower shaft end of the device to be attached, the receiving device can widen upwards in a funnel shape. It can also have a small drainage opening in the base for liquid, which can run off the device on rainy days, for example.

• · » * · · »with

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the receiving device is made of an elastic material or has a casing section made of an elastic material in order to prevent damage to persons, equipment or buildings in the event of a collision.

The clamping device and/or the receiving device can be provided on one side with a mounting base with a concave receptacle for fixing to a pipe or similar of a support structure. This makes it easier to attach to trolleys, rollators, walkers, wheelchairs or other pipe structures. Preferably, the clamping device and the receiving device are fixed from the outset to a common support bar at a distance from one another, which support bar can then be attached as a whole to a support structure. One or more mounting bases can then be arranged on the side of the support bar that faces away from the side with the clamping device and the receiving device.

Finally, a clamp and/or cable tie and/or sheet metal screw and/or adhesive fastening can be provided for mounting the clamping device and/or receiving device on the support structure. This makes it particularly easy to attach the fastening system.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings of exemplary embodiments. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 the fastening system with clamping device and receiving device on a support bar in side view, partially cut away;

Fig. 2 the same fastening system in top view; Fig. 3 the same fastening system in bottom view; Fig. 4 the same fastening system sectioned along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 Clamp fastening of the fastening system in a cross-section through a support structure;

Fig. 6 Cable tie fastening of the same fastening system in a cross section through a support structure;

Fig. 7 Screw fastening of the same fastening system in a cross-section through the support structure;

Fig. 8 shows a section of a hand stick for insertion into the fastening system.

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1 to 5, the fastening system comprises a clamping device 10 and a receiving device 20 which are fastened to a rigid support bar 30.

The clamping device 10 comprises a bow-shaped clamping element 11 with a C-shaped cross-section. The clamping element 11 is made of spring steel. It has inwardly projecting limits in the form of roller elements 12 at the ends of its legs. These are mounted on axles 13 which extend perpendicular to the clamping element 11 and are attached to tabs on both ends of the same.

The roller elements 12 have a series of six inwardly curved grooves on the circumference, which adapt to a concave contour of an object to be picked up. The roller elements 12 are made of a soft, elastic plastic or rubber material. They delimit an opening 14 between the legs of the C-cross section of the clamping element 11.

On the inside of the base of the clamping element 11 there is a bearing base 15 with a concave bearing surface 16 facing the opening 14. A rod-shaped object inserted through the opening 14 in a transverse orientation to the plane of the drawing with spring-elastic expansion and contraction of the clamping element 11 can thus be held clamped between the bearing surface 16 and two concave grooves of the roller elements 12.

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The clamping device 10 is fixed by means of screws 17, which pass through its bearing base 15, in threaded holes in the support bar 30 on both sides of the base of its clamping element 11. The clamping element 11 is fixed with its base between the bearing base 15 and the support bar 30.

The receiving device 20 is essentially pot-shaped and widened upwards in a funnel shape with a pot opening 21 on the upper side facing the clamping device 10 and a drain opening 20 for liquid in the bottom 23. It is preferably made of a soft elastic plastic or rubber material.

A retaining strip 25 is arranged on the inside of a casing 24 of the receiving device 20, by means of which the receiving device 20 is fixed to the carrier strip 30. The receiving device 20 is secured to the carrier strip 30 by means of two screws 26. The screws 26 pass through holes in the carrier strip 30 and the casing 24 and are screwed into threaded holes in the retaining strip 25, so that the casing 24 is clamped between the carrier 30 and the retaining strip 25.

The support bar 30 carries the clamping device 10 and the receiving device 20 on one side near different ends. The support bar 30 can in particular be designed as a metal rod.

4 C* >«β· ·· »&idigr;

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On the opposite side, the support bar 30 carries mounting bases 40, 50. These are short conductor sections whose width corresponds to that of the support bar 30. On the side opposite the clamping device 10 and the receiving device 20, these have concave receptacles 41, 51, which serve to fix them to a pipe or similar long element with a convex outer curvature of a support structure. The mounting bases 40, 50 are fixed in threaded holes in the support bar 30 using screws 42, 52 with countersunk heads.

Various possibilities for attaching this fastening system to a tube 60 of a support structure are explained with reference to Figs. 5 to 7.

According to Fig. 5, the fastening is carried out by means of clamps 70, which have a screw clamping device 71. The clamps 70 are guided with their clamp band through transverse grooves 43, 53 on the inside of the mounting bases 40, 50, which faces the support strip 30. Furthermore, the clamp bands 21 wrap around the pipe 60 so that they clamp the mounting bases 40, 50 with it.

According to Fig. 6, the mounting bases 40, 50 are each clamped to the tube 60 via cable ties 80, which cable ties 80 are also guided through the grooves 43, 53 and enclose the tube 60.

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According to Fig. 7, the mounting bases 40, 50 are fixed by means of screws 90 in threaded holes in the tube 60. The screws 90 penetrate holes in the support bar 30.

The fastening system can also be fixed to a pipe 60, for example by means of adhesive fastenings.

The fastening is preferably carried out on a vertical or almost vertical tube of a support structure, for example a walker. The fastening is carried out in such a way that the clamping device 10 is at the top and the receiving device 20 is at the bottom. Two of these fastening systems can be fastened next to one another, e.g. on opposite sides of the same tube 60, or on different tubes 60 of a support structure, for example on tubes on both sides of a walker.

A hand stick 100 according to Fig. 8 is now temporarily accommodated in the fastening system by first inserting it with a rubber stopper 101 at the lower end of its shaft 102 through the insertion opening 21 into the receiving device 20. The hand stick is then pivoted with its shaft 102 towards the clamping device 10 until it passes through the opening 14 and is clamped in the clamping device 10 between the bearing surface 16 and the roller elements 12 in the manner described above. Removal takes place in the reverse order. A particularly large

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No effort is required for this. Nevertheless, the walking stick is held securely enough for transport in the fastening system.

Claims (14)

1. Fastening system for fastening hand sticks, shoulder supports, forearm supports and similar devices ( 100 ) to a support structure ( 60 ) with a clamping device ( 10 ) for clamping a shaft section ( 102 ) of the device to be fastened ( 100 ), a receiving device ( 20 ) arranged at a distance from the clamping device ( 10 ) below the same for supporting and laterally enclosing a shaft end ( 101 ) of the device to be fastened ( 100 ) and devices for fastening ( 40 , 50 , 70 , 80 , 90 ) the clamping device ( 10 ) and the receiving device ( 20 ) to a support structure ( 60 ). 2. System according to claim 1, wherein the clamping device ( 10 ) has a resilient clamping element ( 11 ) with a C-shaped cross-section with inwardly projecting boundaries ( 12 ) of the opening ( 14 ) of the C-cross-section, so that the opening ( 14 ) widens when the shaft section ( 102 ) of the device to be fastened ( 100 ) passes through laterally and springs together after the shaft section ( 102 ) has passed through. 3. System according to claim 2, wherein the inwardly projecting boundaries ( 12 ) of the opening ( 14 ) are formed by roller elements ( 12 ) which are rotatable about axes ( 13 ) directed transversely to the C-cross section in order to roll on the shaft section ( 102 ) of the device ( 100 ) to be fastened when it is inserted laterally. 4. System according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the clamping element ( 10 ) has on the inside of the base of the C-cross section a bearing base ( 15 ) with a concave bearing surface ( 16 ) for the shaft portion ( 102 ) of the device to be fastened ( 100 ). 5. System according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the receiving device ( 20 ) is pot-shaped and has its upper opening ( 21 ) on the side of the clamping device ( 10 ). 6. System according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the receiving device ( 20 ) widens upwards in a funnel shape. 7. System according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the receiving device ( 20 ) has a small drainage opening ( 22 ) for liquid in the bottom. 8. System according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the receiving device ( 20 ) is made of an elastic material or has an elastic casing portion. 9. System according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the clamping device ( 10 ) and/or the receiving device ( 20 ) have on the outside a fastening base ( 40 , 50 ) with a concave receptacle ( 41 , 51 ) for fixing to a tube ( 60 ) of a support structure. 10. System according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the clamping device ( 10 ) and the receiving device ( 20 ) are fixed on a common carrier strip ( 30 ) at a distance from one another, which carrier strip ( 30 ) can be fastened to a carrier structure ( 60 ). 11. System according to claim 10, wherein the at least one mounting base ( 40 , 50 ) is arranged on one side of the carrier strip ( 30 ). 12. System according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the clamping device ( 10 ) and/or the receiving device ( 20 ) on the support structure ( 60 ) have a clamp and/or cable tie and/or sheet metal screw and/or adhesive fastening ( 70 , 80 , 90 ). 13. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, mounted on a rolling device or in or on a vehicle or on a piece of furniture or on a structural element of a building. 14. System according to one of claims 1 to 13, comprising two arrangements of a clamping device ( 10 ) and a receiving device ( 20 ).