A forearm crutch has a cane assembly including a main cane and a hand grip mounted on the main cane, an adjustable base slidably mounted on the main cane, a forearm support assembly including a forearm support cane securely attached to the adjustable base and a cuff mounted on the forearm support cane, and a first locking assembly selectively locks the adjustable base in place on the main cane. When the first locking assembly is unlocked, the adjustable base and the forearm support assembly can slide along the main cane. By sliding the adjustable base and the forearm support assembly downward, the forearm crutch can be shortened and occupy small room, so as to be suitable for storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mobility aid, especially to a forearm crutch.

2. Description of the Prior Art(s)

A crutch is a common mobility aid and basically includes a stick made of wood or metal. The crutch is also an important medical auxiliary equipment used in rehabilitation and may be a cane, a forearm crutch, an axillary crutch, and so forth. The forearm crutch has advantages of providing support for patients, reducing burden on a wounded limb, and improving walking stability, and therefore assists the patients in walking.

However, a conventional forearm crutch has a long and unadjustable length. Thus, it is inconvenient in storing the conventional forearm crutch when the conventional forearm crutch is not in use.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a forearm crutch to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a forearm crutch. The forearm crutch has a cane assembly including a main cane and a hand grip mounted on the main cane, an adjustable base slidably mounted on the main cane, a forearm support assembly including a forearm support cane securely attached to the adjustable base and a cuff mounted on the forearm support cane, and a first locking assembly selectively locks the adjustable base in place on the main cane.

When the first locking assembly is unlocked, the adjustable base and the forearm support assembly can slide along the main cane. By sliding the adjustable base and the forearm support assembly downward, the forearm crutch can be shortened and occupy small room, so as to be suitable for storage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference toFIGS. 1, 2, 9, and 10, a forearm crutch in accordance with the present invention comprises a cane assembly10, an adjustable base20, a forearm support assembly30, and a first locking assembly40.

The cane assembly10includes a main cane11and a hand grip12. The main cane11is telescopic and has an upper end. The hand grip12is mounted on the upper end of the main cane11.

With further reference toFIGS. 6 and 7, the adjustable base20is slidably mounted on the main cane11and has an upper end surface, a lower end surface, a main mounting channel21, and an additional mounting channel22. The main mounting channel21extends between and is formed through the upper end surface and the lower end surface of the adjustable base20, and is mounted around the main cane11. The additional mounting channel22is formed in the upper end surface of the adjustable base20, obliquely extends relative to the main mounting channel21, and is independent from the main mounting channel21.

The forearm support assembly30is used for supporting a forearm of a user, so as to provide support for the user, reduce burden on a wounded limb, and improve walking stability. The forearm support assembly30includes a forearm support cane31and a cuff32. The forearm support cane31is telescopic and has an upper end and a lower end. The lower end of the forearm support cane31is mounted in the additional mounting channel22of the adjustable base20and is securely attached to the adjustable base20. The cuff32is mounted on the upper end of the forearm support cane31.

The first locking assembly40selectively locks the adjustable base20in place on the main cane11.

With reference toFIGS. 3 and 6, the forearm support assembly30together with the adjustable base20can slide along the main cane11of the cane assembly10. As shown inFIG. 3, when using the forearm crutch, the adjustable base20slides upward along the main cane11, the forearm support assembly30upwardly protrudes from the cane assembly10, and then the first locking assembly40locks the adjustable base20in place. Thus, a relative of the forearm support assembly30and the cane assembly10is locked and the extended forearm crutch can be used to provide support to the user.

As shown inFIG. 6, when storing the forearm crutch, the first locking assembly40is unlocked, such that the adjustable base20and the forearm support assembly30can slide along the main cane11. By sliding the adjustable base20and the forearm support assembly30downward, the forearm crutch can be shortened and occupy small room, so as to be suitable for storage.

As shown inFIG. 10, specifically, the main cane11is hollow and has a sidewall and a first through hole110. The first through hole110is formed through the sidewall of the main cane11and is disposed adjacent to the upper end of the main cane11.

The adjustable base20has a sidewall and a first locking hole23. The first locking hole23is formed through the sidewall of the adjustable base20and communicates with the main mounting channel21.

The first locking mechanism40is mounted in the main cane11, is disposed adjacent to the upper end of the main cane11, and includes a first mounting seat41, a first locking button42, and a first resilient element43. The first mounting seat41is securely mounted in the main cane11and corresponds in position to the first through hole110. The first locking button42is mounted on the first mounting seat41, is mounted through the first through hole110, and has an outer end. The first resilient element43is mounted in the first mounting seat41and has two ends respectively abutting against the first mounting seat41and the first locking button42, such that the first locking button42is resiliently mounted through the first through hole110on the sidewall of the main cane11.

When the outer end of the first locking button42engages in the first locking hole23of the adjustable base20, the adjustable base20is locked in place on the main cane11. When the outer end of the first locking button42is pressed to disengage from the first locking hole23, the adjustable base20is slidable on the main cane11.

With reference toFIGS. 2 to 4, in the preferred embodiment, the forearm support cane31includes a first forearm support tube311, a second forearm support tube313, and a second locking mechanism50. The second forearm support tube313is telescopically connected to the first forearm support tube311and is securely mounted in the additional mounting channel22of the adjustable base20. The second locking mechanism50selectively locks the first forearm support tube311in position on the second forearm support tube313. Since the first and second forearm support tubes311,313are telescopically connected to each other, a length of the forearm support cane31can be adjusted, so as to allow the forearm crutch to fit for different users with different heights.

Specifically, the first forearm support tube311has a sidewall and a second through hole312. The second through hole312is formed through the sidewall of the first forearm support tube311.

The second forearm support tube313is mounted around the first forearm support tube311, and has two opposite ends and multiple first positioning holes314. The first positioning holes314are arranged linearly between the opposite ends of the second forearm support tube313.

The second locking mechanism50is mounted in the first forearm support tube311and includes a second mounting seat51, a second locking button52, and a first resilient element53. The second mounting seat51is securely mounted in the first forearm support tube311and corresponds in position to the second through hole312. The second locking button52is mounted on the second mounting seat51, is mounted through the second through hole312, and has an outer end. The first resilient element53is mounted in the second mounting seat51and has two ends respectively abutting against the second mounting seat51and the second locking button52, such that the second locking button52is resiliently mounted through the second through hole312on the sidewall of the first forearm support tube311.

When the outer end of the second locking button52engages in one of the first positioning holes314of the second forearm support tube313, the first forearm support tube311is locked in place on the second forearm support tube313. When the outer end of the second locking button52is pressed to disengage from the first positioning hole314, the first forearm support tube311is slidable on the second forearm support tube313.

With reference toFIGS. 6 and 7, in the preferred embodiment, the main cane11includes a first mounting tube111, a second mounting tube113, and a third locking mechanism60. The first mounting tube111is mounted through the main mounting channel21of the adjustable base20. The second mounting tube113is telescopically connected to the first mounting tube111. The second locking mechanism60selectively locks the first mounting tube111in position on the second mounting tube113.

As shown inFIG. 6, since the first and second mounting tubes111,113are telescopically connected to each other, the first and second mounting tube111,113can slide relative to each other when the third locking assembly60is unlocked. Thus, a length of the main cane11can be shortened to allow the forearm crutch to occupy small room and be suitable for storage.

Specifically, the first mounting tube111is mounted around the second mounting tube113, and has a sidewall and a second locking hole112. The second locking hole112is formed through the sidewall of the first mounting tube111. The second mounting tube113has a sidewall and a third through hole114. The third through hole114is formed through the sidewall of the second mounting tube113.

The third locking mechanism60is mounted in the second mounting tube113and includes a third mounting seat61, a third locking button62, and a third resilient element63. The third mounting seat61is securely mounted in the second mounting tube113and corresponds in position to the third through hole114. The third locking button62is mounted on the third mounting seat61, is mounted through the third through hole114, and has an outer end. The third resilient element63is mounted in the third mounting seat61and has two ends respectively abutting against the third mounting seat61and the third locking button62, such that the third locking button62is resiliently, mounted through the third through hole114on the sidewall of the second mounting tube113.

When the outer end of the third locking button62engages in the second locking hole112of the first mounting tube111, the second mounting tube113is locked in place on the first mounting tube111. When the outer end of the third locking button62is pressed to disengage from the second locking hole112, the second mounting tube113is slidable on the first mounting tube111, so as to shorten the length of the main cane11.

Preferably, as shown inFIG. 7, the adjustable base20has a hole edge and an inclined surface24. The hole edge is formed on the lower end surface of the adjustable base20and is defined around the main mounting channel21. The inclined surface24is formed on the hole edge of the adjustable base20.

When the first locking mechanism40is unlocked, the adjustable base20is able to slide along the first mounting tube111. As the adjustable base20toward an end of the first mounting tube111, the inclined surface24of the adjustable base20abuts and presses the third locking button63to cause the third locking button62to disengage from the second locking hole112of the first mounting tube111. Thus, the second mounting tube113is slidable on the first mounting tube111, so as to shorten the length of the main cane11.

Since the user unlocks the first locking mechanism40and then the third locking mechanism60is unlocked accordingly, it is convenient for the user to fold the forearm crutch.

Furthermore, with further reference toFIGS. 3, 5, 8, and 9, in the preferred embodiment, the main cane11further includes a third mounting tube116and a fourth locking mechanism70. The third mounting tube116is telescopically connected to the second mounting tube113. The fourth locking mechanism70selectively locks the third mounting tube116in position on the second mounting tube113. Since the second and third mounting tubes113,116are telescopically connected to each other, the length of the main cane11can be further adjusted, so as to allow the forearm crutch to fit for the different users with the different heights.

Specifically, the third mounting tube116has a sidewall and a fourth through hole117. The fourth through hole117is formed through the sidewall of the third mounting tube116. The second mounting tube113is mounted around the third mounting tube116, and has two opposite ends and multiple second positioning holes115. The second positioning holes115are arranged linearly between the opposite ends of the second mounting tube113.

The fourth locking mechanism70is mounted in the third mounting tube116and includes a fourth mounting seat71, a fourth locking button72, and a fourth resilient element73. The fourth mounting seat71is securely mounted in the third mounting tube116and corresponds in position to the fourth through hole117. The fourth locking button72is mounted on the fourth mounting seat71, is mounted through the fourth through hole117, and has an outer end. The fourth resilient element73is mounted in the fourth mounting seat71and has two ends respectively abutting against the fourth mounting seat71and the fourth locking button72, such that the fourth locking button72is resiliently mounted through the fourth through hole117on the sidewall of the third mounting tube116.

When the outer end of the fourth locking button72engages in one of the second positioning holes115of the second mounting tube113, the third mounting tube116is locked in place on the second mounting tube113. When the outer end of the fourth locking button72is pressed to disengage from the second positioning hole115, the third mounting tube116is slidable on the second mounting tube113. By engaging the fourth locking button72in the other second positioning holes115of the second mounting tube113, the length of the main cane11can be adjusted, so as to allow the forearm crutch to fit for the different users with the different heights.

The forearm crutch as described has the following advantages. The main cane11that is telescopic can be retracted to a compact length and the forearm support assembly30can slide downward to allow the forearm support assembly30to be disposed beside the cane assembly10. Thus, the forearm crutch that is shortened occupies small room and is suitable for storage. Moreover, since the lengths of the main cane11and the forearm support cane31can be adjusted, a length of the forearm crutch can adjusted to fit for the different users with the different heights.