Abstract:
A crutch support system including a harness assembly to be secured to the upper parts of the crutches and secured to the person on the lower neck and upper back. The crutch support system allows for hands free maneuvering when the person wants to let go of the crutches such as when walking up stairs.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The invention relates to accessories and systems for walking crutches to make their use more versatile and safe, and more particularly to a crutch support system that retains the crutches&#39; arm supports generally under the user&#39;s underarms even when a crutch user raises or lifts his or her hands and arms away from the crutch. 
         [0002]    Underarm walking crutches are used by patients with a variety of temporary to permanent medical conditions and can be helpful to aid in patient mobility. There is also a style of walking crutches that include arms cuffs that engage around the user&#39;s forearms and prevent inadvertent dropping of the crutch. However, these arm cuff style of crutches require more physicality on the part of the user since the patients body weight will be more carried on the hands than under the shoulders. 
         [0003]    One shortcoming with present underarm crutch designs is that if a user does not keep the underarm support of crutch closely engaged with the user&#39;s underarms, the crutch can fall down. In situations where a user wishes to user his or her hands to carry items, open doors, etc., losing a crutch can be a big problem. Retrieving a fallen crutch can also be difficult, which can further the risk of the user falling down, and risking further injury. 
         [0004]    There accordingly remains a need for a crutch support system that is easy to use, can be retrofitted to existing crutches, and is low in cost. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The crutch support system includes arm loops (or straps) which attach to the upper end of the underarm crutch below the underarm supports. The arm loop extends from one side of the upper end of the crutch to the other side of the upper end of the crutch to allow a person&#39;s arm to pass therethrough and loop over the shoulders. The arm loop is preferably adjustable to adjust for different arm/shoulder sizes and to adjust how snugly the crutch&#39;s underarm support will fit under the user&#39;s underarms. The arm loops will act to retain the upper support end of the crutch in close proximity to the user underarm and permit the user to lift his or her arms without otherwise holding another part of the crutch (e.g. the crutch&#39;s handle grip). The crutch support system includes a retention strap arrangement that extends across the user&#39;s shoulders/upper back from the shoulder loop of one crutch to the shoulder loop of the other crutch or could be used on the user&#39;s upper chest. The retention strap arrangement prevents the arm loops from sliding down off of a user&#39;s shoulders and down the arms, and will allow for adjustment for different chest sizes and shoulder widths. A quick release mechanism can be included as part of the retention strap arrangement. This will permit a user to easily and securely slide the crutch support system on and off. For greater adjustability and comfort, the retention strap arrangements can be adjustably retained on the arm loops by sliders. The crutch support system of the invention can be provided as an accessory to attach to existing underarm walking crutching, or can be incorporated into the design of existing crutches. 
         [0006]    The invention also provides additional safety and convenience features for underarm walking crutches. One additional improvement is a hook member that can be attached to the underarm support portion of the crutch for hanging items such as plastic handle bags and the like. Another feature is a hand grip extension strap that will be attached to the crutch in the vicinity of the hand grips and which extends outwardly to permit a user to hold the handle extension strap while carrying items in his or her hand. 
         [0007]    These and other features are better described with reference to the attached drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view showing a crutch user using an exemplary embodiment of the crutch support system of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a front view showing the same crutch user using the exemplary crutch support system of  FIG. 1  lifting his arms without dropping his crutches. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a front view showing a conventional underarm crutch that is equipped with the exemplary crutch support system of  FIG. 1 , along with an optional item carrying hook and an accessory hand grip. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a top view showing the arm loop of the exemplary crutch support system of  FIG. 1  with attachment and loop adjustment devices. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a rear view showing the exemplary crutch support system of  FIG. 1  attached to two crutches. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a rear view showing a user using the exemplary crutch support system of  FIG. 1  with the retention straps crossing over the upper back between the two arm loops. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is detail of the underarm portion of a crutch being retained under a user&#39;s underarm, and the optional item carrying hook of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a cross-section view through view lines  8 - 8  of  FIG. 3  showing the item carrying hook is attached to the crutch. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing how the optional item carry hook is used to carry items in a hands-free manner. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing how the accessory handle of  FIG. 3  can be used by a user to carry items while still maintaining a secure grip on the crutch in the, vicinity of the crutch&#39;s existing hand grip. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view showing a crutch user (in phantom) using an exemplary embodiment of the crutch support system  10  of the invention. The crutch support system  10  includes arm straps  14  that are attached to each underarm crutch  18 A and  18 B in the vicinity of underarm supports  16 . A retention strap  14  is used to hold the two arm straps together. The user&#39;s hands are shown supported on hand grips (shown as  32  in  FIG. 10  visible) but with accessory hand grips  30  (in the form of straps) being used. The accessory hand grips  30  can comprises strap that will be attached to the crutch in the vicinity of the hand grips  32  and extend outwardly to permit a user to hold the accessory hand straps  30 , while carrying items (e.g. a bottle “B”) in his or her hand. The accessory hand grips  30  can be conveniently affixed to the crutch by the same bolt  34  used to retain the hand grip  32  between the two tubes  20 A and  20 B of the crutch  18 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a front view showing the same crutch user using the exemplary crutch support system of  FIG. 1  lifting his arms without dropping his crutches. As can be seen, the arm loops  12 , retained together by the retention strip  14  keep the underarm supports  16  of the crutches  18 A and  18 B in place generally under the user&#39;s underarms, and permit the user to more free use his or her arms and hands with less risk of falling when trying to do other activities, like grabbing something, opening a door, etc. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a front, partially exposed view showing a conventional underarm crutch  18  that is equipped with the exemplary crutch support system  10  of  FIG. 1 , along with the optional item carrying hook  36  and the accessory hand grip  30  retained in vicinity of hand grip  32  by the same bolt  34  used to retain the hand grip  32  between the two tubes  20 A and  20 B. The arm loop  12  is retained in the vicinity of the upper end of the crutch by using an attachment mechanism  22  and an adjustment mechanism  24 . The attachment and adjustment mechanisms  22  and  24  are best shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7 , and function to retain the arm loops  12  to extend from just below the position of the underarm support  16  on the tubes  20 A and  20 B, respectively. The optional item carrying hook  36  can be convenient positioned so that its free hook end  40  is open to received items to be hooked thereon. The underarm support will typically have a underarm structural portion  42  connected to the top end of the two tubes  20 A and  20 B, and will have a padded cover  44  to provide comfort and cushioning for the user. An engagement end  46  of the item carrying hook  36  fits over the underarm structural portion  42 . Besides being attached in this manner, the item carrying hook can be fitted to the crutch in other manners as well, such as by attaching with screws, bolts, brackets, and the like to the crutch. A attachment  50 , such as loop of material, is attached to the retention strap  14 . The attachment is preferably slideably engaged with the arm loop  12  to permit adjustment of the position of the retention strap  14  on the user&#39;s back or shoulders. 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a top view showing the arm loop  12  of the exemplary crutch support system of  FIG. 1  with its attachment device  22  and the loop adjustment device  24 . One embodiment of the attachment device can comprise a bracket that can be clamped to one tube (e.g.,  20 A) of the crutch, and is used to fix an end  62  of the arm loop thereto. In order to clear the underarm support  16 , if desired, the attachment device can have an offset  60  to which end  62  of the arm loop  12  is fixed. The loop adjustment device  24  can likewise comprise a bracket that can be clamped to the other tube (e.g.,  20 B) of the crutch, and includes a device that permits adjustment of the working length of the arm loop  12  by permitting and end  28  of the arm loop to moveably slide through the loop adjustment device  24 . This can comprise, a spring loaded lock, a screw lock device, or simply a small orifice in the loop adjustment device  24  that require a considerable amount of pulling to move the arm loop therethrough. Other conventional locking devices can be used. This embodiment of the crutch support system  10  is designed to be used for retrofitting conventional underarm crutches. However, if desired, the arm support features can also be directly incorporated into the design of underarm crutches. Also, while the arm loops are shown as being generally circular in cross section, they can comprise straps, have a contoured profile, can be padded, etc. 
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a rear view showing the exemplary crutch support system  10  of  FIG. 1  attached to two crutches  18 A and  18 B. A quick release device  54 , such as a quick release buckle, can be provided with the retention strap  14  to permit the user to slide the arm loops off the user&#39;s arm. The quick release device  54  can optionally also include a strap length adjustment device to adjust the effective distance between the two arm loops  12 , and/or length adjustment device(s)  52  can be included with the attachments  50 . In this embodiment, the retention strap actually has two portions  14 A and  14 B, each connected to one length adjustment device  52  and the quick release device  54 . Although the term “retention strap” is used, the shape of the retention strap need not be flat and wide, but just functions to retain the two arm loops in a desired spaced apart orientation. 
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is a rear view showing a user using the exemplary crutch support system  10  of  FIG. 1  with the retention straps  14 A and  14 B crossing over the user&#39;s upper back between the two arm loops  12 . The quick release device  54 , attachments  50  and their length adjustment device  52  are shown. 
         [0024]      FIG. 7  is detail of the underarm portion of a crutch being retained under a user&#39;s underarm, and the optional item carrying hook  36  shown.  FIG. 7  shows the adjustment mechanism  24  as including a slider unit  64  with a tube portion  66  through which the free end  28  of the arm loop passes. A grasping ring  68  projects outwardly from the tube portion  66 , and provides an easy way for slide the slider unit  64  relative to the arm portion  12 . The tube portion  66  will have through channel that is size such that some force is required to move the arm loop therethrough. The inventor has found that elastic type of “bungee cord” functions well for the arm loops since is provided some flexibility and by pull on the free end of cord  28 , the diameter of the cord passing through the tube portion  66  will tend to diminish, and thereby more easily allow the working length of the arm loop to be changed. For, example, to shorten the working length of the arm loop (to snug up the arm loop) with this embodiment, the user can grasp the free end  28  of the cord while holding the slider unit  64  against the adjustment mechanism  24 , and then release the free end when the desired working length is achieved. To lengthen the working length of the arm loop (to loosen up the arm loop) with this embodiment, the user can simply grasp (e.g. by the grasping ring  68 ) and slide the slider unit  64  downwardly away from the adjustment mechanism  24 . When the desired working length is achieved, the user can then stop pull down on the slider unit  64 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 8  is a cross-section view through view lines  8 - 8  of  FIG. 3  showing the item carrying hook  36 . The optional item carrying hook  36  can be convenient positioned so that its free hook end  40  is open to received items to be hooked thereon. The engagement end  46  of the item carrying hook  36  fits over the underarm structural portion  42  and will be covered by the padded cover  44 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing how the optional item carry hook  36  is used to carry items (e.g. a bag  70  with handle straps  72  in a hands-free manner. 
         [0027]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing how the accessory handle  30  of  FIG. 3  can be used by a user to carry an item “B” in the user&#39;s hand while still maintaining a secure grip on the crutch in the vicinity of the crutch&#39;s existing hand grip  32 . As is well shown, the accessory handle  30  can comprise a flexible strap, which can be displayed outside of the line of the crutch tubes  20 A and  20 B The same bolt  36  used to retain the hand grip  32  can be used to retain accessory handle  30  and provides for great user versatility. 
         [0028]    Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the above disclosures are exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.