US2037015A - Crutch pad - Google Patents

Description

pr M, 1936. c. M; FALLON CRUTCH PAD Filed April 25, 1955 ATToR/EV Patented Apr. 14, 1936 PATENT OFFICE CRUTCH PAD Clarence M. Fallon, San Diego, Calif., assignor of one-half to Minnie Louise Fallon, San Diego,

Calif.

Application April 23, 1935, Serial No. 17,812

10 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved pad or cushion construction which is mounted upon the upper end portion of a crutch to protect the arms of crutch users adjacent to the arm pits.

The present application pertains to an improvement upon the crutch pad described and claimed in my Patent No. 1,980,044, issued No'- vember 6, 1934. Insofar as the comfort of the user is concerned, the merits of the p-resent invention are similar to those set forth in the patent above referred to, but the present invention embodies additional advantages among which are lowered cost of manufacture and more convenient replacement of the pneumatic sac whenever this becomes necessary on account of wear or injury.

The invention is not limited to the use of a pneumatic pad, but includes also a novel crutch structure whereon a non-pneumatic pad may be supported in an improved manner.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which r illustrates what is at present deemed to be preferred embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the complete structure.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional detail taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

30 Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a Vertical section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modication parts being broken away to contract the view and other parts being broken away to uncover interior structures.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the crutch member 5 is bifurcated to provide the usual two staff arms 6 which are held in properly spaced relation to each other not only by the lower spacing pin 'I but also by the cross bar 8 near the upper end of the crutch.

The upper end portion of each stair arm 6 is cut away or deeply notched for more than half its breadth, thus providing a shoulder .9 at each side of the"`crutch substantially on a level with the upper surface of the cross bar 8, said shoulders both being located near the same side of said bar. In the assembled structure the end portions of the pneumatic rubber bag or short tube I0 are seated 50 in the two angular notches resulting from cutting away the structure above the shoulders 9, in the manner above stated, leaving the narrow upper staif arm extensions I I.

In order to secure said tube I0 in place and at the same time provide an ecient closure means (Cl. 13B-52) for its end portions, the clamping pieces or fol-` lowers I2 are furnished, said pieces having thru each of them a plurality of bolt holes I3. The oppositely disposed stall parts II are likewise provided with alining bolt holes, in order that 5 bolts I4 may be inserted and nuts I5 screwed on to them to afford a clamping means. Preferably the parts II and I2 are respectively countersunk at I6 and Ii', and washers I8 may also be used. The end portions of the tube Ill will, of course, be l0 perforated where the bolts pass thru them.

As an additional means for securing an air tight closure of the end portions of the tubular member I0 a short cord 2) is extended longitudinally across the inner face of each stati part II near 1.3V

the bolt holes therethru, thus producing a line of additional pressure transversely of the ends of the tube I0 to close the ends thereof in an air tight manner when the nuts I5 have been screwed down.

The pad II) is provided with a conventional inating tube or stem ZI which is led down thru a hole 22 provided therefor thru the cross bar 8.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modification which diifers from the form already described only in that rein- 25 forcing metal strips 25 are inserted in grooves provided for them in the upper face of the cross bar 8a near each end thereof, said strips 25 having their outer end portions fitted within notches 26 cut into the shoulders 9. strip and the side walls of the notch 26 at that side extends a bolt 21, and bolts 28 thru the grooved portions of the cross piece 8a and the strips 25`complete the structure.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A crutch structure including a pneumatic tube positioned to form a pad for the arms of the user, and means to mount said tube upon the clutch and to clamp its end portions to close them in an air tight manner.

2. A crutch structure including a pneumatic tube positioned to form a pad for the arms of the user, a crutch stair portion overlying one side of said tube near each end thereof, and clamping means including followers which engage the opposite side of said tube to grip the end portions thereof and close them air tight.

3. A crutch structure including a pneumatic tube positioned to form a pad for the arms of the user, a crutch stair portion extending across Thru each end of said 30 clamping pieces which oppose said staff portions, cords extending across said tube between said pieces and the opposed staff portions, and clamping elements to force said stair portions and said pieces towards each other and then maintain them in the clamping condition.

4. A crutch structure including a pneumatic tube positioned to form a pad for the arms oi the user, a crutch staff portion extending across one side of said tube near each end thereof, clamping pieces which oppose said stai' portions, cords extending across said tube between said pieces and the opposed staff portions, and bolts provided with nuts to complete the clamping structure.

5. In a crutch structure, a staff having separated arms at its upper end, a pad positioned to protect the arms of the user, said pad bridging the space between said staff arms, and clamping means mounted on each of said stair arms and grippingthe end portions of said pad.

6. In a crutch structure, a staff having separated arms at its upper end, a pad positioned to protect the arms of the user, said pad bridging the space between said staff arms, a cross bar which unites said arms and underlies said pad to aid in supporting it, and clamping means mounted on each of said staif arms and gripping the end portions of said pad.

7. In a crutch structure, a staff having separated arms at its upper end, a pad positioned to protect the arms of the user, said pad bridging the space between said staff arms, a clamping member mounted on each of said staff arms and gripping the end portions of said pad, and a cord interposed between at least one of said clamping members and the adjacent side of said pad to produce a line of additional pressure across said pad.

8. In a crutch structure, a stai having separated arms at its upper end, a pad positioned to protect the arms of the user, said pad bridging the .one side of said tube near each end thereof,

space between said staff arms, a cross-bar which unites said arms below said pad, and a reinforcing strip for an end portion of said cross bar, there being recesses in said cross-bar and the adjacent staff arm to receive said strip, and securing means to keep said strip in place.

9. In a crutch structure, a staff having separated arms at its upper end, a cross-bar bridging the space between said arms, said cross-bar being near the upper end' of said staff, the ends of said cross-bar abutting against the inner sides of said arms, there being grooves in the upper sides of the end portions of said cross-bar which open out at the ends thereof, reinforcing strips occupying said grooves and having end portions which project beyond the ends of said cross-bar, there being recesses in said arms into which the projecting end portions of said strips extend, means to secure said projecting end portions of said strips to said arms and to secure the remaining portions of said strips to said cross-bar, and a pad mounted upon the crutch above said crossbar.

l0. In a crutch structure, a staiT having separated arms at its upper end, a cross-bar bridging the space between said arms, said cross-bar being near the upper end of said stair, the ends of said cross-bar abutting against the inner sides of said arms, there being grooves in the upper sides of the end portions of said cross-bar which open out at the ends thereof, reinforcing strips occupying said grooves and having end portions which project-beyond the ends of said cross-bar, thereby providing shoulders near the end of said crossbar, grooves extending across said shoulders into which the projecting end portions of said strips extend, means to secure said strips severally in the two grooves thus provided therefor, a pad mounted above said cross-bar and having end portions occupying the spaces above said shoulders, and clamping means above said shoulders engaging the end portions of said pad.

CLARENCE M. FALLON.

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