WO2019095015A1

WO2019095015A1 - A crutch stand system

Info

Publication number: WO2019095015A1
Application number: PCT/AU2018/051225
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andy SCOTHERN
Original assignee: Scothern Enterprises Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Scothern Enterprises Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2017-11-20
Filing date: 2018-11-16
Publication date: 2019-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 2020-05-20
Also published as: AU2018367060A1

Abstract

A crutch stand system has upper magnetic snap together connectors which connect between a pair of crutches and a lower kickstand which connects to one of the crutches. Each snap together connector and the lower kickstand may be configured for connecting to existing crutch poles and may have a body defining a semicylindrical collar and a retention member which closed around a crutch pole within the collar for retention. The body of the lower kickstand may define a pivot to which a radial arm which is pivotally coupled thereto for being kicked up into a stowed configuration wherein the radial arm is above the collar and substantially parallel with the crutch pole and being kicked down into a deployed configuration wherein the radial arm is substantially orthogonal with the crutch pole. The snap together connectors may be configured for splaying the crutches apart when connected to increase stability.

Description

A crutch stand system

Field of the Invention

[1] This invention relates generally to a system for holding a pair of crutches upright.

Background of the Invention

[2] Picking up crutches is difficult for the infirm and leaning crutches against objects is unreliable. As such, various ways exist for holding crutches upright when not in use.

[3] For example, WO 2014115085 A1 (OOSTHUIZEN) 31 July 2014 [hereinafter referred to as Dl], DE 102004017354 A1 (DOHLE ROLF) 27 October 2005 [hereinafter referred to as D2], US 5339849 A (STUTZ) 23 August 1994 [hereinafter referred to as D3] and DE 10008078 A1 (SINGER SIEGBERT) 01 March 2001 [hereinafter referred to as D4] disclose various ways of coupling crutches together and further disclose the use of downwardly extending tripod arms in embodiments.

[4] US 6561206 B1 (WILKINSON) 13 May 2003 [hereinafter referred to as D5] and GB 2363980 A (WILKINSON CHRISTOPHER MARLOW) 16 January 2002 [hereinafter referred to as D6] each disclose a coupling for crutches which uses magnetic force.

[5] DE 202011108476 U1 (SCHORCHT TAMINO) 30 March 2012 [hereinafter referred to as D7] discloses a crutch having a handle lever which, when pushed downwardly, retracts a pair of lower side arms via an internal shaft. FR 2758979 B1 (POUGNAUD JEAN) 28 May 1999 [hereinafter referred to as D8] discloses a similar internal mechanism for deploying a tripod of lower side arms via an internal arrangement.

[6] FR 2603479 A1 (ELROMED LTD) 11 March 1988 [hereinafter referred to as D9] discloses a device which can deploy a pair of downwardly extending tripod arms.

[7] The present invention seeks to provide improvements to these prior art arrangements, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[8] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Disclosure

[9] There is provided herein a crutch stand system comprising upper magnetic snap together connectors which connect between a pair of crutches and a lower kickstand which connects to one of the crutches.

[10] Each snap together connector and the lower kickstand may be configured for connecting to existing crutch poles. In this regard, each may comprise a body defining a semicylindrical collar and a retention member, such as a strap and buckle arrangement, which closed around a crutch pole within the collar for retention.

[11] The body of the lower kickstand may define a pivot to which a radial arm which is pivotally coupled thereto for being kicked up into a stowed configuration wherein the radial arm is above the collar and substantially parallel with the crutch pole and being kicked down into a deployed configuration wherein the radial arm is substantially orthogonal with the crutch pole.

[12] To support the crutches upright, the upper magnetic snap together connectors are snapped together and the lower kickstand is kicked downwardly. As such, the lower ends of each crutch and the distal end of the radial arm of the kickstand support the crutches stably upright at three points of contact.

[13] As such, the present configuration allows for a much shorter radial arm as compared to the unwieldy longer downwardly extending tripod arms of D1 - D4 for example.

[14] Furthermore, the pivotal coupling of the radial arm to the pivot of the kickstand body allowing for kicking thereof is a much simpler and robust configuration as opposed to the more complex internal arrangements of D7 and D8 which are operated using shafts and the like operable from the handles of the crutches.

[15] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the upper snap together connectors are configured so as to hold the crutches at an angle such that the lower ends thereof are splayed apart which increases the stability of the tripod formation thereof in use.

[16] Specifically, each snap together connector comprises a body defining the semicylindrical collar at one end and which has a plate magnet at an opposing end for magnetic snap together connection. The body is shaped such that the semicylindrical collar defines an axial engagement axis and the plate magnet defines a connection plane and wherein the axial engagement axis is angled with respect to the plane.

[17] As such, when the respective plate magnets of the snap together connectors magnetically snap together in a coplanar arrangement (which maximises the magnetic attraction therebetween), the respective crutch pole retained thereby are angled with lower ends thereof apart for increased stability.

[18] In contradistinction to Dl, and apart from the disadvantages of the unwieldly tripod arm thereof, the connector of Dl holds the crutches together substantially parallel, such as, for example, as shown in Figure 8 of Dl which is an unstable configuration as compared to the one achievable with the present upper snap together connectors.

[19] Furthermore, the snap together connectors may have a span which, with reference to Figure 3, allows the cuffs to touch together with the handles approximately 90° apart, thereby being ready for take-up. Furthermore, the touching together of the cuffs prevents the crutches from rotating with respect to each other which furthermore reduces the likelihood of twist apart disconnection of the plate magnets.

[20] Furthermore, the kickstand may be connected to one of the crutches at an angle of between 90° and 135° with respect to the respective handle so as to lie just beyond an orthogonal axis with respect to an elongate axis of the handle and at an opposite side thereof. The rearward location thereof allows the crutches to lean rearwardly, especially those crutches bending slightly backwards from the handles and furthermore retains the kickstand outwardly and away from the user's feet when in use.

[21] According to one aspect, the crutch stand system comprises upper magnetic snap together connectors and a lower kickstand wherein the upper snap together connectors each comprise a connector body defining a semicylindrical connector collar at one end and a connector retention member cooperating oppositely with the connector collar for retaining a respective one of a pair of crutch poles within the connector collar in use and having a plate magnet at an opposing end of the body for coplanar magnetic snap together connection with an adjacent plate magnet of another connector and wherein the semicylindrical connector collar defines an and axial engagement axis and wherein the plate magnet defines a connection plane and wherein the axial engagement axis is angled with respect to the connection plane such that, when the respective plate magnets of the snap together connectors magnetically snap together in a coplanar configuration, the respective crutch poles retained thereby are angled outwardly with lower ends thereof apart and wherein the lower kickstand comprises a kickstand body defining a kickstand semicylindrical collar at one end and a kickstand retention member cooperating oppositely with the kickstand collar for retaining one of the crutch poles therein and pivot at an opposite end of the kickstand body and a radial kickstand arm pivotally coupled to the pivot such that the radial kickstand arm is pivotable about the pivot between a stowed configuration wherein the radial arm is pivoted above the kickstand body and is substantially parallel with the one of the crutch poles and a deployed configuration wherein the radial kickstand arm extends radially substantially orthogonally with respect with the one of the crutch poles.

[22] The connector body may define a cowl surrounding the plate magnet.

[23] A first of the snap together connectors may comprise a female cowl and a second of the snap together connectors may comprise a male cowl of lesser diameter than the female cowl and wherein the male cowl fits within the female cowl when the snap together connectors connect.

[24] The snap together connectors may comprise a span when connected together such that cuffs of the crutches touch together. [25] The span may be such that the handles are at approximately 90° with respect to each other when the cuffs of the crutches touch together.

[26] The cuffs have a diameter of approximately 100MM.

[27] The span may be between a centre point of each crutch pole and wherein the span may be approximately 83M M MM.

[28] At least one of the retention members may comprise a strap pivotally coupled at one end and which may be connected at a distal end to cooperate with a semicylindrical collar to define a cylindrical engagement for the crutch pole.

[29] The retention member may comprise a buckle at a distal end of the strap which may be releasable to lengthen the strap and engageable to shorten the strap.

[30] The pivot may be formed by the kickstand body comprising a trifurcation within which a bifurcation of the pivot arm pivots with a pivot pin therethrough.

[31] The pivot pin may be tightenable to control the resistance of the pivot.

[32] The radial arm may comprise at least one kick protrusion for engaging a foot in use.

[33] The at least one kick protrusion may comprise a pair of kick protrusions at opposite sides of the radial arm.

[34] The radial arm may terminate in a planar face and wherein, in the deployed configuration, the planar face engages the ground flush.

[35] A distal end of the radial may bend away from an elongate axis thereof.

[36] According to another aspect, there is provided a method of standing crutch is applied using a crutch stand system as disclosed herein, the method comprising connecting the upper snap together connectors to respective upper portions of a pair of crutch poles and connecting the lower kickstand to a lower portion of one of the pair of the crutch poles and bringing the crutch poles together such that the upper snap together connectors magnetically attractable and connect and kicking the radial arm of the kickstand down to pivot outwardly so as to be substantially orthogonal with respect to the one of the pair of crutch poles and wherein the upper snap together connectors are arranged to hold the crutch is apart at an angle when the respective plate magnets thereof connect in a coplanar configuration such that the crutches supported between the lower ends of each crutch pole and a distal end of the radial arm of the kickstand.

[37] The method may comprise connecting the kickstand such that the radial arm is located outwardly with respect to the respective handle in use and orientated more than 90° from an elongate axis of the respective handle.

[38] The radial arm may be orientated less than 135° from the elongate axis of the respective handle. [39] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[40] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[41] Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of a crutch stand system in accordance with an embodiment;

[42] Figure 2 shows a side perspective view of the crutch stand system;

[43] Figure 3 shows a top perspective view of the crutch stand system;

[44] Figures 4 and 5 show a kickstand of the system in further detail in accordance with an embodiment;

[45] Figure 6 shows snap together connectors of the system in further detail in accordance with an embodiment;

[46] Figure 7 shows an exploded top perspective view of the kickstand in accordance with an embodiment;

[47] Figure 8 shows a first of the snap together connectors in accordance with an embodiment;

[48] Figure 9 shows a second of the snap together connectors in accordance with an embodiment; and

[49] Figure 10 illustrates the snap together connection of the connectors in accordance with an embodiment.

Description of Embodiments

[50] Figure 1 shows a crutch stand system 100 for standing a pair of crutches 101 upright in the manner shown. Each crutch 101 comprises a crutch pole 104 which may be telescopic comprising upper and lower telescopic members 104A and 104B.

[51] Each crutch has a handle 103 typically located approximately three quarters of the way up the pole 104 at a slight rearward bend thereof and semicylindrical cuff 102 at an upper terminus of the crutch pole 104. The lower terminus of each pole 104 may be covered with a rubber boot 105

[52] The attachment system comprises upper snap together connectors 106 and a lower kickstand 107. The upper snap together connectors 106 snap together to retain the crutches 101 together and the lower kickstand 107 pivots down from an upright vertical orientation to form a third point of contact in addition to those of the boots 105 such that the crutches 101 are held stably upright. [53] As can be seen from Figure 1, the upper snap together connectors 106 may be configured such that the crutch poles 104 are angled such that lower end thereof are spaced apart which increases the stability of the assembly.

[54] Furthermore, with reference to Figure 3 the snap together connectors 106 may have sufficient span such that such that the cuffs 102 may touch together, thereby preventing the crutches 101 from rotating with respect to each other along their respective elongate axes. With reference to Figure 10, when the connectors 106 are connected together, the span measured from the centre point of the poles may be approximately 83 mm.

[55] Furthermore, the handles 103 may be poised at approximately 90° in this configuration, ready for take up when required and the kickstand 107.

[56] With reference to figure 3, the handle 103 may define an elongate axis. Furthermore, the kickstand 107 may be angled beyond 90° from the elongate axis at an outside of the pole 104. Orientation of the kickstand 107 just beyond 90° from the handle axis allows the crutches 101 to lean slightly backwards, especially those having a backward bend at the handles 103.

[57] Furthermore, the kickstand 107 is preferably located outwardly, such as between 90° and 135° out from the elongate axis of the adjacent handle 103 such that the kickstand 107 is retained outwardly and away from the user's feet in use.

[58] Figures 4 and 5 show the manner of engagement of the kickstand 107 in further detail. The kickstand 107 comprises a radial kickstand arm 108 which is pivotally coupled to a kickstand body 109.

[59] Figures 4 and 5 show the kickstand 107 in the deployed configuration wherein the radial kickstand arm 108 is substantially orthogonal with respect to the respective crutch pole 104. The kickstand 107 may be kicked upwardly however, so as to assume a stowed configuration wherein the radial arm 107 is substantially parallel with the respective crutch pole 108 and therefore out of the way allowing for use of the crutches 101 as per usual.

[60] Figure 6 shows the manner of engagement of the upper snap together connectors 106 in a snap together configuration. As can be seen, the snap together connectors 106 may be configured so as to be able to hold the crutch poles 104 slightly apart. Specifically, as can be seen, each pole 104 defines a respective longitudinal axis/axial engagement axis 131. The longitudinal axes 131 are angled and converge above the crutches 101 such that the lower end of the poles 104 are splayed apart for stability as alluded to above.

[61] Figure 7 shows the kickstand 107 in further detail. The kickstand 107 comprises the radial arm 108 which is pivotally coupled to a pivot 118 of the kickstand body 109. The pivot 118 may be formed by the proximal end of the radial arm 108 comprising a bifurcation 114 defining a slot 113 therein and planar lateral sides and the kickstand body 109 defining a trifurcation 118 defining dual channels 117 therein which engage the respective slot 113 and lateral planar sides of the proximal end of the radial arm 108 in a pivotable manner. A pivot pin 116 may engage respective through hole apertures 115, 122. With reference to Figure 4, a tightening nut 140 may be used to control the resistance of the pivot.

[62] The radial arm 108 may comprise protrusions 112 which may be kicked when kicking the radial arm 108 up or down. Protrusions 112 may locate on either side of the radial arm 108 to allow for left or right-handed utilisation thereof and may locate approximately midway the radial arm 108.

[63] The distal end of the radial arm 108 may define a planar face 111 which may be angled so as to lie substantially flush with the ground surface when engaged thereon in the manner shown in Figure 2. In this regard, the distal end of the radial arm 108 may bend slightly towards the planar face 111. The planar face 111 may comprise a frictional pad or the like in embodiments., The distal bend of the radial arm 108 may leave a gap to the adjacent crutch pole 104 which facilitates the insertion of a foot therebetween for kicking the radial arm 108 down.

[64] The kickstand body 119 defines a semicylindrical collar 119 opposite the pivot 118. A kickstand retention member closes around the kickstand collar 119 for retaining a crutch pole 104 therein. In the embodiments shown, the retention member comprises a flexible strap 120, such as of rubber, which is pivotally coupled to collar 119 at a pivot 123 at one side thereof and which may comprise a buckle 121 at an opposite side thereof which shortens or lengthens the strap 120. The buckle 121 may be released to increase the space between the strap 120 and the collar 119 such that the end of the pole 104 may be inserted therethrough whereafter the buckle may be closed again to decrease the space between the strap 120 and the collar 119 to retain the pole 104.

[65] Figures 8 and 9 show the snap together connectors 106, which, for ease of reference will be described as comprising a first snap together connector 125 and a second snap together connector 126.

[66] Each snap together connector 125, 126 may comprise a body defining a semicylindrical collar 119 configured for engaging upper portions of the poles 104. In a similar manner as described above, a retention member, which, in embodiments may take the form of a strap 120 connected at a pivot 123 at one side of the collar 119 and shortened at a buckle 129 at an opposite end thereof may retain the pole 104 to the collar 119.

[67] The body may transition via a neck 128 to a plate magnet 134. In the embodiment shown, the plate magnet 134 is a disc magnet and which may be supported within a cowl 127 and retained thereto by a centre screw. [68] In the embodiments shown, the first snap together connector 125 may comprise a female cowl 127A which may guide a corresponding male cowl 127B of lesser diameter therein so as to guide the respective plate magnets 134 together.

[69] Figure 10 illustrates the configuration of the snap together connectors 106 which hold the poles 104 apart in the aforedescribed manner for increased stability. Specifically, each collar 119 defines an axial engagement axis which each are angled with respect to the connection plane 139.

[70] As such, the shape of the body of each connector 125, 126 allows the plate magnets 134 to snap together in a coplanar configuration to increase magnetic attraction therebetween while allowing the angled outward splaying of lower ends of the poles 104 for increased ability.

[71] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed; obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, they thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

[72] The term approximately as used herein should be construed as being within 20%.

Claims

1. A crutch stand system comprising upper magnetic snap together connectors and a lower kickstand wherein the upper snap together connectors each comprise a connector body defining a semicylindrical connector collar at one end and a connector retention member cooperating oppositely with the connector collar for retaining a respective one of a pair of crutch poles within the connector collar in use and having a plate magnet at an opposing end of the connector body for coplanar magnetic snap together connection with an adjacent plate magnet of another connector and wherein the semicylindrical connector collar defines an axial engagement axis and wherein the plate magnet defines a connection plane and wherein the axial engagement axis is angled with respect to the connection plane such that, when the respective plate magnets of the snap together connectors magnetically snap together in a coplanar configuration, the respective crutch poles retained thereby are angled outwardly with lower ends thereof further apart than upper ends thereof and wherein the lower kickstand comprises a kickstand body defining a kickstand semicylindrical collar at one end and a kickstand retention member cooperating oppositely with the kickstand collar for retaining one of the crutch poles therein and pivot at an opposite end of the kickstand body and a radial kickstand arm pivotally coupled to the pivot such that the radial kickstand arm is pivotable about the pivot between a stowed configuration wherein the radial arm is pivoted above the kickstand body and is substantially parallel with the one of the crutch poles and a deployed configuration wherein the radial kickstand arm extends radially substantially orthogonally with respect with the one of the crutch poles.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector body defines a cowl surrounding the plate magnet.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein a first of the snap together connectors comprises a female cowl and a second of the snap together connectors comprises a male cowl of lesser diameter than the female cowl and wherein the male cowl fits within the female cowl when the snap together connectors connect.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the snap together connectors comprise a span such that when the snap together connectors connect together, cuffs of the crutches touch together.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the span is such that the handles are at

approximately 90° with respect to each other when the cuffs of the crutches touch together.

6. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cuffs have a diameter of approximately 100mm.

7. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the span is between a centre point of each crutch pole and wherein the span is approximately 83mm.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the retention members comprises a strap pivotally coupled at one end and which is connected at a distal end to cooperate with a semicylindrical collar to define a cylindrical engagement for the crutch pole.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the retention member comprises a buckle at a distal end of the strap which is releasable to lengthen the strap and engageable to shorten the strap.

10. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivot is formed by the kickstand body comprising a trifurcation within which a bifurcation of the pivot arm pivots with a pivot pin therethrough.

11. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivot pin is tightenable to control the resistance of the pivot.

12. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radial arm comprises at least one kick protrusion for engaging a foot in use.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the at least one kick protrusion comprises a pair of kick protrusions at opposite sides of the radial arm.

13. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radial arm terminates in a planar face and wherein, in the deployed configuration, the planar face engages the ground flush.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein a distal end of the radial bends away from an elongate axis thereof.

15. A method of standing crutch is applied using a crutch stand system as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising connecting the upper snap together connectors to respective upper portions of a pair of crutch poles and connecting the lower kickstand to a lower portion of one of the pair of the crutch poles and bringing the crutch poles together such that the upper snap together connectors magnetically attract and connect and kicking the radial arm of the kickstand down to pivot outwardly so as to be substantially orthogonal with respect to the one of the pair of crutch poles and wherein the upper snap together connectors are arranged to hold the crutches at an angle with lower ends thereof further apart than upper ends thereof when the respective plate magnets thereof connect in a coplanar configuration such that the crutches are supported between the lower ends of each crutch pole and a distal end of the radial arm of the kickstand.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the method comprises connecting the kickstand such that the radial arm is located outwardly with respect to the respective handle in use and orientated more than 90° from an elongate axis of the respective handle.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the radial arm is orientated less than 135° from the elongate axis of the respective handle.