Abstract:
A support apparatus for crutches that can be configured in one position to hold a pair of crutches in an upright position that is convenient for the user to reacquire for use and takes up less floor space than laying the crutches on the floor. In a second configuration the apparatus is stored in a compact area so that it will not interfere with the normal use of the crutch to which it is attached. The apparatus is modular and can be designed to work with a variety of existing or new designs of crutches.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to crutches and more particularly pertains to a new vertical support for crutches for stowing crutches in a position that is convenient for the user to reacquire the crutches for use. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of crutches is known in the prior art. More specifically, crutches heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art, which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 3,606,898, which teaches a vertical crutch support device that attaches directly to one or more crutches to support the crutches in a vertical orientation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,828 teaches a cane with supports to provide additional stability and to allow the user to set the cane in an upright position. U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,001 teaches a cane with adjustable feet to convert from a single tipped configuration to a multi-tipped configuration, which would allow the cane to remain in an upright position when not in use. U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,486 teaches a crutch with a powered telescoping armature specifically for transitioning the user from a sitting to a standing position. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new vertical support for crutches. The inventive device includes one support apparatus attached to one crutch to hold the crutch in a vertical position and a second apparatus that can attach to either crutch to attach the second crutch to the crutch with the support apparatus to provide the same support to the second crutch. 
     In these respects, the vertical support for crutches according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the stowing of crutches in a position that is convenient for the user to reacquire the crutches for use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of crutches now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new vertical support for crutches construction wherein the same can be utilized for stowing crutches in a position that is convenient for the user to reacquire the crutches for use. 
     The general purpose of stowing crutches in a position that is convenient for the user to reacquire the crutches for use of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new vertical support for crutches apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the crutches mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new vertical support for crutches which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art crutches, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises one support apparatus that may be attached to one crutch to hold the crutch in a vertical position without the user&#39;s aid and a second apparatus that can attach to either the support crutch or a second crutch to couple the second crutch to the crutch with the support apparatus to provide the same upright support to the second crutch as the first crutch enjoys. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the stowing crutches in a position that is convenient for the user to reacquire the crutches for use of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new vertical support for crutches apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the crutches mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new vertical support for crutches, which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art crutches, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new vertical support for crutches, which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new vertical support for crutches, which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new vertical support for crutches which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such vertical support for crutches economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new vertical support for crutches, which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new vertical support for crutches for stowing crutches in a position that is convenient for the user to reacquire the crutches for use. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new vertical support for crutches, which includes one support apparatus that may be attached to or integrated into one crutch to hold that crutch in a vertical position without the user&#39;s aid and a second apparatus that can attach to or be integrated into either the first support crutch or a second crutch to couple the crutches together so that the support apparatus of the first crutch can support both crutches in an upright position. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new vertical support for crutches that can be attached to existing crutches to provide support for holding one or more crutches in an upright position. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new vertical support for crutches that can be integrated into the design of new crutches to provide support for holding one or more crutches in an upright position. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a new vertical support for crutches according to the present invention. The invention is depicted in its modular embodiment with the support legs retracted in the stored position. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the present invention. The invention is depicted in its modular embodiment with the support legs deployed in the stand position. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the modular embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new vertical support for crutches embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the vertical support for crutches  10  generally comprises a leg assembly  20  and a coupler  70 . 
     The leg assembly  20  may comprise a body  22  which may comprise a hollow rigid conduit. The hollow conduit of the body  22  may be defined as having a body interior  24  and body exterior  26 . The body  22  is principally used to accommodate the shuttle  36  and to contain the legs  38  when the leg assembly  20  is in the stored position. The body  22  depicted in the illustrations is cylindrical, although the invention is not so limited. The body  22  may conform to triangular, rectangular, square, oval, irregular or composite elongated conduit depending on the mechanical design or aesthetic quality desired. Furthermore it is also anticipated that the interior shape of the conduit may not correspond with the exterior shape of the body  22 . The body  22  may possess two opposite ends referred to as the top end  28  and the bottom end  30 . 
     The shuttle  36  may be positioned within the body interior  24  so as to be able to slide along the length of the body  22  from the top end  28  to the bottom end  30 . The shuttle  36  may be shaped to generally conform to the body interior  24  in whole or in part. For example if the body interior  24  was triangular the shuttle  36  may be triangular conforming to match all three sides and all three angles of the body interior or It could be in the shape of a hexagon contacting all three sides but none of the angles of the body interior. Similar configurations for the triangular shape in the example may include pentagonal touching tree sides and one angle, truncated triangle touching three sides and two angles, circular contacting tree sides and no angles, etc. Without reference to the specific shape of the body interior or the shuttle  36  the shuttle  36  will be able to nest within the body interior so as to allow for the shuttle to travel the length of the body  22  from end to end. 
     One or more legs  38  may be connected to the shuttle. The leg  38  may comprise a rigid armature tipped with a foot  42 . The leg may be connected to the shuttle  36  via a flexible connection so that it can move from an attitude generally parallel with the body to an attitude oblique to the body. The flexible connection may comprise a leg joint  40  which may include a plurality of mechanical means to allow movement of the leg  38  in the appropriate arc. Such means may include a hinge, a ball joint, an axis pin, a section of flexible material, etc. The foot  42  of the leg  38  may comprise a conformable grip or non-skid pad designed to provide contact with a ground surface. The foot may be constructed from a variety of materials such as rubber, durable plastic, cork, leather, etc. 
     The shuttle may also include a retaining device  48  to secure the shuttle  36  in one or more positions in the body  22 . Such a retaining device  48  may include a biased detent  50  that would engage an indent  52  located in the body interior  24 . The detent  50  is depicted in FIG. 3 as a cylinder containing a coil spring and ball. The ball would act as the detent  50  and the coil spring as the biasing means, but the invention is not so limited. For example, the detent could comprise a raised surface of an elongated prong and the biasing means may comprise the biasing of the prong against its natural position creating a leaf spring apparatus to provide bias for the detent engaging the indent. Conversely, the detent may be located on the body  22  and the indent contained in the shuttle  36 . Many other methods of detent/indent apparatus are known to those skilled in the art and could be practiced alternatively to the examples given here without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     In one preferred embodiment, a biased detent is incorporated into the shuttle and two indents  52  are located on the body interior  24 . One of the indents is located generally near the top end  28  of the body  22  and is referred to as the top indent  54 . Another indent is located generally near the bottom end  30  of the body  22  and is referred to as the bottom indent  56 . 
     When the detent  50  of the shuttle is engaged in the top indent  54 , the leg assembly  20  is in the stored position, and the legs  38  may be held parallel to the body  22 , or the legs  38  may be entirely or partially retracted in the body interior. When detent  50  is engaged in the bottom indent  56 , the leg assembly  20  is in the stand position, and the legs  38  may be held oblique to the body  22 , or a majority portion of the legs  38  may be extended beyond the body  20 . 
     In embodiments utilizing a single leg  38  it may be necessary to increase the size of the foot  42  to be able to provide lateral stability. The foot may comprise a bar mounted perpendicular to the leg, similar in design to that of a kick stand or two legged ironing board. 
     In embodiments utilizing more than one leg, a means to deploy the legs may be necessary. Such means to deploy the legs may include the addition of a separating bias  44  between the various legs. In FIG. 4 one such means is illustrated, and demonstrates a two-legged leg assembly  20 . The drawing figure shows the leg assembly  20  in the stand position. The shuttle  36  is positioned at the bottom end  30  of the body  22 . The two legs  38  are positioned oblique to the body  20 . Between the two legs  38  is a separating bias  44 , depicted as a coil spring attached to both legs  38  by a spring mount  46 . In the illustration, the spring mount is depicted as a rivet that has been placed through the shaft of each leg and fixed to the opposite ends of the coil spring. Optionally, the invention may employ a leaf spring with its ends strapped to each leg meeting near the parting of two legs (crotch) on the shuttle  36 , or a rubber or resistant block of material located at the crotch of the two legs  38 , or a sealed air bladder located near the crotch of the two legs  38  to provide the biasing means between the various legs. Using any of the aforementioned methods, the legs would repel from each other in the standing position. 
     Alternatives to the retaining device  48  and the separating bias  44  will be obvious to those of relative skill in the art. Combinations of the two means may also be employed. For example, the foot  42  ends of the legs  38  may have a separating bias  44  when retracted in the body interior  24  would be biased against the body interior  24  so that the bias exerted by the foot against the body interior would cause the shuttle  36  to be relatively fixed in the stored position. The separating bias  44  may also be able to provide the splayed legs  38  in the stand position with sufficient biasing to secure the shuttle at the bottom end  30  of the body interior  24  by the bias force mechanically translated from the sides of the legs  38  to the bottom end  30  of the body  22 . 
     To assure that the shuttle  36  remains in the body interior, it may be beneficial to add retention blocks  58  to the bottom end  30  and/or the top end  28  of the body interior  24 . Retention blocks  58  may comprise an obstacle to the sliding of the shuttle  36  in the body interior  24 . The obstacles may take many forms, including but not limited to, a constriction of the conduit comprising the body interior  24 , one or more projections within the body interior  24  that would interfere with the passage of the shuttle  36 , or an end cap connected to the body  22 , etc. 
     The leg assembly  20  may be attached to the first crutch  12  with a variety of mounting devices. In the illustrations of one preferred embodiment, a pair of screw thread (or bicycle) clamps are used as an upper mount  32  and a lower mount  34 . The upper and lower mounts encircle both the body  22  and the crutch leg  14 . When the clamps are sufficiently tightened the leg assembly  20  is fixed to the first crutch  12 . Although this structure is depicted in the figures, the invention is not so limited. For example, screw holes could be integrated on the body exterior  26  to engage holes in the crutch leg  14  or the crutch upper support  16  through holes designed for adjusting the length of the first crutch  12 . Screws from the leg assembly could be screwed into the wooden sections of a wooden crutch  12 . Alternative latching devices may be employed such as, for example, hook mounts, spring fasteners, tension locks, pin blocks, and cotter pins, hook and loop fasteners, adhesives, etc. 
     The coupler  70  couples the first crutch  12  to one or more second crutches  13 . In one preferred embodiment, the coupler  70  comprises a pair of connecting collars  72  fixed to a connecting link  74  so that the two connecting collars  72  face opposite to each other. The link may span any distance between the connecting collars  72 , or the two connecting collars  72  may be connected directly to each other with no intervening space. The object of the design is for the coupler  70  to act as a link between a first crutch  12  and one or more second crutches  13 . The example illustrated in FIG. 3 shows connection collars  72  that may comprise flexible encircling armatures that could spread out when being connected to a crutch  12  or  13  and to spring back to form a spring biased grip against the portion of a crutch  12  or  13 . The illustration in FIG. 3 shows two different sized connecting collars  72  designed to grip two different portions of crutches  12  or  13 , but the invention is not so limited. For example, the connecting collars  72  may be the same sizes designed to grip similar portions of matching crutches  12  and  13 . It is anticipated in the use of the coupler  70  that one connecting collar  72  may be relatively permanently attached to one of a pair of crutches  12  or  13 . With one permanently attached the user need not worry about loosing the coupler  70 . 
     Alternatives to the illustrated coupler  70  may include connecting collars  72  with a center ring for connection to a crutch  12  so that the two sets of connecting collars, with one mounted on each side of the first crutch  12 , may allow a second crutch to be mounted on either or both sides of the first crutch  12 . 
     In FIG. 1, the leg assembly is shown in the stored position. The majority of the legs  38  are inserted into the body interior  24  and the shuttle  36  is located near the top end  28  of the body  22 . The leg assembly is connected by an upper mount  32  and a lower mount  34  to the crutch leg  14 . The crutch leg  14  may be attached to the crutch upper supports  16  with two sets of bolts and wing nuts through a set of adjustment holes that allow for the length adjustment of the first crutch  12 . The coupler  70  is shown attached to the crutch leg  14  of the first crutch  12  just above the leg assembly  20 . A second crutch  13  is depicted mounted on the coupler  70  at a level just higher than the first crutch  12 . 
     In FIG. 2, the leg assembly is in the stand position. The majority of the legs  38  are extended out of the body interior  24  and the shuttle  36  is located near the bottom end  30  of the body  22 . The feet  42  of the legs are in contact with the ground. The two feet  42  of the leg assembly  20  and the crutch foot  18  of the first crutch  12  form a tripod for supporting the weight of the first crutch  12  and the second crutch  13 . The leg assembly is connected by an upper mount  32  and a lower mount  34  to the crutch leg  14  of the first crutch  12 . The coupler  70  is shown attached to the crutch leg  14  of the first crutch  12  just above the leg assembly  20 . The second crutch  13  is depicted mounted on the coupler  70  at a level just higher than the first crutch  12 . 
     FIG. 3 shows the coupler  70  and the leg assembly  20  without the first  12  or second  13  crutch. The leg assembly  20  is depicted in the stand position. The majority of the legs  38  are extended out of the body interior  24  and the shuttle  36  is located near the bottom end  30  of the body  22 . The detent  50  spans across the shuttle  36 . The detent  50  in aligned with the bottom indent  56  and the top indent  52  is located near the top end  28  of the body  22 . The upper mount  32  and the lower mount  34  are expanded showing the space for the crutch leg  14 . The coupler is also shown in a location relative to the leg assembly  20  representative of the location when mounted on the first crutch  12 . 
     FIG. 4 shows the lower section of the leg assembly  20  with the legs  38  in the stand position. The majority of the legs  38  are extended out of the body interior  24  and the shuttle  36  is located near the bottom end  30  of the body  22 . The feet  42  of the legs are in contact with the ground. Between the two legs  38  is a separating bias  44  that is attached to each leg  38  with a retaining device  48   
     In use, the leg assembly  20  is connected to the first crutch  12 . with one or more mounting devices. One preferred embodiment favors the use of a pair of mounts, an upper mount  32 , and a lower mount  34 . As the user is using the first crutch  12  for walking, the leg assembly  20  is in the stored position with the shuttle  36  located near the top end  28  of the body  22 . The shuttle  36  is held at the top by a detent  50  located on the shuttle  36  engaged with an indent  52  located near the top end  28  of the body interior  24 . A majority of the legs  38  may be located in the body interior  24 . 
     When the user decides to stop walking and possibly sit down, the leg assembly is changed from the stored position to the stand position. This transformation occurs in the following manner. Force is exerted on the shuttle  36 , either by pushing directly on the shuttle  36  through the opening at the top end  28  of the body  22 , or by pulling the feet  42  or legs projecting from the bottom end  30  of the body  22 . With the application of sufficient force, the detent  50  will release from the top indent in the body interior. The user will then continue to apply force as the shuttle slides down the body interior until it reaches the bottom end of the body interior and the detent  50  engages the bottom indent  56 . 
     The user may then reposition the legs  38  from their original parallel attitude to the body  22  to an oblique attitude to the body  22 . This step may occur without user assistance if the leg assembly is fitted with a separating bias  44 . The leg assembly  20  is now in the stand position. 
     The user may then set the first crutch  12  on a level section of ground or floor. The feet/foot  42  of the leg assembly  36  and the crutch foot  18  of the first crutch  12  define an area wherein the center of gravity of the crutch will focus. The legs  38  provide stability to the first crutch to stand without need any other assistance such as leaning against a wall or other object. 
     After standing the first crutch  12 , the user can then take the second crutch  13  and connect it to the first crutch  12  by connecting the connecting collar  72  of the coupler  70 , which is already fixed to the crutch leg  14  of the first crutch  12  and the crutch leg  14  of the second crutch  13 . The coupler is attached to the first  12  and second  13  crutches so that the center of gravity does not shift to an area outside the area defined by the supporting feet  18  and  42 . The leg assembly  20  in the stand position then supports both crutches  12  and  13  in a vertical position that is easy to access and takes up less floor space than laying the crutches on the floor. 
     When the user desires to use the crutches  12  &amp;  13  for walking, the operation is reversed. First, the second crutch  13  is detached from the first crutch  12  by decoupling the coupler  70 . Sufficient force is applied to the two crutches spreads the connecting collar  72  attached to the second crutch  13  and the collar slips off. The legs  38  are then inserted in the body interior  24  by reorienting the legs  38  from their oblique position to a position relatively parallel to the body  22 . This may be made more or less difficult depending on whether or not the legs  38  are fitted with a separating bias  44 . The legs are then pushed into the body interior  24  by applying sufficient pressure to unseat the detent  50  from the bottom indent  54  and sliding the shuttle  36  up through the body interior  24  from the bottom end  30  to the top end  28  where the detent  50  will engage with the top indent  52  and hold the shuttle  36  in the stored position. 
     With respect to the above-description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.