Crutch container

A crutch container includes a container housing having a rear wall opposite a front wall and a pair of lateral sidewalls extending therebetween. The container housing includes an open upper end opposite a closed lower end defining an interior volume. A height of the rear wall is greater than a height of the front wall and the pair of lateral sidewalls defining an upper panel. A strap is affixed to a rear surface of the rear wall along the upper panel, wherein each of a first end and a second end of the strap are removably securable to a front surface of the rear wall along the upper panel. A wedge extends from the rear surface of the rear wall adjacent to the closed lower end, wherein the wedge frictionally engages between a pair of inwardly tapering posts of a crutch.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to item containers and caddies. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a container configured to removably secure to a crutch between the posts of the crutch to provide access to assorted items stored therein while utilizing the pair of crutches.

Walking with crutches can be a difficult process requiring coordination and utilizing both of the user's hands. Typically, as the user must grip both crutches to support their body weight in an elevated position above a ground surface, individuals are unable to carry or otherwise transport items from location to location while crutch bound. Attempting to carry items while using crutches risks improperly supporting the user's body weight, leading to imbalances that can increase the potential for slips and falls, thereby increasing the risk of injury. Furthermore, falling from crutches can exacerbate any injuries or conditions that required the use of crutches in the first place. In order to safely carry items, an individual may require the assistance of another individual. However, assistance may not always be available. Alternatively, the individual may utilize a supplemental bag or backpack, however, such bags may produce an unbalanced load, adding additional weight that may make crutch usage cumbersome and dangerous. Additionally, as the bag is secured directly to the user, the amount of weight the user must support on their arms is increased, leading to strain and discomfort. Therefore, a device that can store several items on one or more crutches while not unbalancing or otherwise impeding the user is desired.

In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing containers. In this regard, the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of portable containers now present in the known art, the present invention provides a crutch container wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when carrying assorted items while operating a pair of crutches.

The present system comprises a container housing having a rear wall opposite a front wall and a pair of lateral sidewalls extending therebetween. The container housing includes an open upper end opposite a closed lower end defining an interior volume. A height of the rear wall is greater than a height of the front wall and the pair of lateral sidewalls defining an upper panel. A strap is affixed to a rear surface of the rear wall along the upper panel, wherein each of a first end and a second end of the strap are removably securable to a front surface of the rear wall along the upper panel. A wedge extends from the rear surface of the rear wall adjacent to the closed lower end, wherein the wedge is configured to frictionally engage between a pair of inwardly tapering posts of a crutch.

In some embodiments, the strap is disposed parallel to an upper edge of the rear wall. In another embodiment, a fastener is disposed on each of the first end and the second end of the strap, wherein each fastener is removably securable to a complementary fastener disposed on the front surface of the rear wall. In other embodiments, the container housing comprises a waterproof material. In yet another embodiment, the container housing comprises rubber. In some embodiments, the pair of lateral sidewalls taper inwardly towards the closed lower end, such that a distance between the pair of lateral sidewalls at the closed lower end is less than a distance between the pair of lateral sidewalls at the open upper end. In another embodiment, the wedge comprises an upper border opposite a lower border and a pair of lateral edges extending therebetween. In other embodiments, the wedge comprises a compressible material configured to frictionally engage between the pair of inwardly tapering posts of the crutch. In yet another embodiment, the upper border is disposed parallel to the lower border. In some embodiments, the pair of lateral edges taper inwardly towards the lower border, such that a length of the lower border is less than a length of the upper border. In another embodiment, the container housing and the wedge comprise a unitary construction. In other embodiments, wherein the strap is affixed to the rear wall via a pair of securement fasteners. In yet another embodiment, a spacer is disposed between each of the pair of securement fasteners and the rear surface of the rear wall. In some embodiments, the rear wall comprises a planar structure. In another embodiment, an exterior surface of the front wall and the pair of lateral sidewalls comprise a plurality of textured elements thereon. In other embodiments, the upper edge of the rear wall rests flush with an upper side of the strap. In yet another embodiment, the strap comprises a pair of arcuate portions extending substantially perpendicularly from the rear surface of the rear wall, wherein each of the pair of arcuate portions are configured to contour about a post of the pair of inwardly tapering posts of the crutch. In some embodiments, the pair of arcuate portions comprise preformed unitary structures defined within the strap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now toFIG.1, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the crutch container. The crutch container11includes a container housing having a rear wall13disposed opposite a front wall14and a pair of lateral sidewalls15extending therebetween. The container housing further includes an open upper end16opposite a closed lower end17to define an interior volume therebetween. A height of the rear wall13is greater than a height of the front wall14and the pair of lateral sidewalls15, thereby defining an upper panel extending beyond the open upper end16. The upper panel comprises the portion of the rear wall13disposed between the open upper end16and an upper edge25of the rear wall13. In alternate embodiments, the crutch container11comprises a closure flap affixed to a front surface23of the rear wall13along the upper panel proximal to the open upper end16, wherein the closure flap is configured to fold over the open upper end16to encapsulate the interior volume. In this manner, the closure flap prevents objects stored within the interior volume from exiting the interior volume during use. In some such embodiments, the closure flap is unitary with the rear wall13. In such embodiments, the closure flap can further include a closure fastener on an interior surface thereof, the closure fasteners configured to engage a complementary fastener disposed on the exterior surface of the front wall14. Similarly, in alternate embodiments, the front wall14is configured to selectively close the open upper end16via a closure fastener disposed on an interior surface of the front wall14and a complementary closure fastener disposed on the front surface23of the rear wall13. In the illustrated embodiment, the pair of lateral sidewalls15taper radially inwardly towards the closed lower end17, such that a linear distance between the pair of lateral sidewalls15at the closed lower end17is less than a linear distance between the pair of lateral sidewalls15at the open upper end16. In this manner, the container housing defines a rounded lower end to reduce projecting sharp edges that could contact obstacles in the surrounding area during use. In some embodiments, the crutch container11is contemplated to comprise a material having an increased coefficient of friction, such as rubber, neoprene, or the like, such that the crutch container11frictionally engages crutches of differing shapes and sizes. Additionally, in other embodiments, the crutch container11is contemplated to comprise waterproof materials to ensure the contents of the crutch container may remain dry in inclement weather. In the shown embodiment, an exterior surface of the front wall14and the pair of lateral sidewalls comprises a plurality of textured elements33thereacross, wherein the plurality of textured elements33are configured to increase surface area to facilitate frictional engagement with the user and existing crutch systems.

A strap19is affixed to a rear surface (as shown inFIG.2,20) of the rear wall13, wherein the strap19further comprises a first end21disposed opposite a second end22. In the shown embodiment, the strap19is disposed parallel to the upper edge25of the rear wall13. A fastener26is disposed on each of the first and second ends21,22of the strap19, wherein the fastener26is configured to engage a complementary fastener27disposed on the front surface23of the rear wall13on the upper panel. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener26and the complementary fastener27comprise a snap fastener system, however, in other embodiments, alternate fastening means are contemplated, such as magnetic fasteners, mechanical fasteners, threaded fasteners configured to secure to a bolt or other fastener, or the like. The strap19is configured to secure about the posts of an existing crutch to removably secure the crutch container11thereto. In the shown embodiment, the strap19comprises a pair of preformed arcuate portions (as shown inFIG.2,36) configured to contour about a substantially cylindrical substrate, such as the posts of a traditional crutch system. Such preformed structures may be necessary in embodiments where the strap19comprises increased thickness or materials having reduced flexibility, however, the strap19is also contemplated to comprise a substantially planar structure configured to flex about the posts of existing crutch systems. In the illustrated embodiment, an upper side of the strap19is flush with the upper edge25of the rear wall13. The strap19is further contemplated to comprise the same material as the container housing.

Referring now toFIG.2, there is shown an exploded view of an embodiment of the crutch container. A wedge24extends from the rear surface20of the rear wall13adjacent to the closed lower end, wherein the wedge24is configured to frictionally engage a crutch between the pair of inwardly projecting posts (as shown inFIG.3,38). In the shown embodiment, the rear wall13comprises a planar structure defining a planar rear surface20. The wedge24removably secures the lower end of the crutch container to the crutch, preventing lateral movement and acting as a stopper to prevent the crutch container from sliding along a height of the crutch. The wedge24comprises a compressible material configured to compress between a narrowing between the pair of inwardly projecting posts of the crutch, such that the wedge24expands to frictionally engage the crutch. In the illustrated embodiment, the wedge24comprises an upper border28disposed opposite a lower border29and a pair of lateral edges30extending therebetween. In some embodiments, the lower border29of the wedge24is flush with the closed lower end. The upper border28is disposed parallel to the lower border29, and the pair of lateral edges30taper inwardly towards the lower border29, such that a length of the lower border29is less than a length of the upper border28. In this manner, the wedge24is dimensioned to secure within the narrowing defined between the pair of inwardly projecting posts to removably secure the container housing to the crutch system. In the shown embodiment, the wedge24and the container housing comprise a unitary construction, such that wedge24does not separate from the container housing under external stresses.

In the illustrated embodiment, the strap19is removably securable to the rear wall13via one or more securement fasteners31. In the shown embodiment, the securement fasteners31comprise mechanical fasteners, such as bolts, however, alternate means of securing the strap19to the rear wall13are contemplated, including snap fasteners, adhesives, magnetic fasteners, and the like. In the shown embodiment, the securement fasteners31are secured through apertures disposed through the strap19and complementary apertures disposed through the rear wall13, whereupon fasteners can be affixed to the securement fasteners31opposite the rear wall13to retain the strap in position. Furthermore, in the shown embodiment, spacers32are disposed between the securement fasteners31and the strap19to disperse the forces placed upon the strap by the securement fasteners31and thereby minimize wear and tear on the strap19. A pair of arcuate portions36are preformed within the strap19and unitary therewith, such that the pair of arcuate portions36are configured to contour about the posts of a crutch system. In the shown embodiment, the pair of arcuate portions36extend substantially perpendicularly from the rear surface20of the rear wall13when the strap19is secured thereto.

Referring now toFIG.3, there is shown a rear view of an embodiment of the crutch container affixed to a crutch. In the illustrated embodiment, the crutch container is affixed to a crutch37, wherein the pair of arcuate portions36of the strap19are disposed about and frictionally engaging the pair of inwardly projecting posts38of the crutch37. The wedge24is further frictionally engaged within a neck39disposed between the pair of inwardly projecting posts38, wherein the neck39is defined at a narrowest point between the pair of inwardly projecting posts38. In the shown embodiment, the inwardly tapering lateral edges of the wedge24contour to the neck39increasing the surface area in contact therewith, and thereby increasing frictional engagement with the crutch37. In this manner, the wedge24retains the lower end of the crutch container to the crutch37while the strap19removably secures the upper end of the crutch container to the crutch37. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the construction of the crutch container positions the device below a handle of the crutch37, such that the objects disposed within the interior volume of the crutch container are retained in close proximity to the user's hand during use.

Referring now toFIG.4, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the crutch container in use. In one use, the crutch container11is removably secured to an existing crutch37via the strap19and frictional engagement of the wedge between the inwardly projecting posts of the crutch as previously described herein. The strap19can be flexed to contour about the pair of inwardly projecting posts38, or alternatively, the preformed arcuate portions36of the strap19may be positioned to contour about the pair of inwardly projecting posts38. The first and second ends of the strap19can then be wrapped about the rear wall to secure to the front surface thereof via the pair of fasteners26engaging complementary fasteners disposed on the front surface of the rear wall. Once the strap19is disposed about the pair of inwardly projecting posts38, the wedge can be placed within the neck between the pair of inwardly projecting posts38to frictionally engage the crutch37. Once secured to the crutch37, assorted items can be stored within the interior volume via insertion through the open upper end16. In the shown embodiment, the objects may further engage the front wall14to more securely retain the objects therein. As the user travels using the crutches37, the objects are retained therein without unnecessarily impeding the user's ability to safely travel. In this manner, the crutch container11provides a safe and efficient means for transporting various objects without increasing the effort required by the user or the risk of falling due to an unbalanced load.