Patent Publication Number: US-10314760-B1

Title: Inflatable crutch air cushion

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     N/A 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention broadly relates to an inflatable crutch air cushion device, more specifically to an inflatable crutch air cushion device where the user can regulate the pressure inside the inflatable crutch air cushion, and even more particularly to a method of pressuring a crutch air cushion device sliding an inflatable housing on a crutch, inserting air into the inflatable housing through a valve located on an inner surface of the inflatable housing, and filling an upper chamber and at least one side chamber of the inflatable housing with the air. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A crutch is a mobility aid that transfers weight from the legs to the upper body of a person using the crutches. Crutches are commonly used by people who cannot support their weight using their legs, often due to short-term or long-term injuries or disabilities. 
     One of the most common models of crutch is an underarm or axillary crutch. Axillary crutches had a pad at the top that is placed against the ribcage beneath the armpit. The user then holds the grip on the crutch that runs parallel to the pad. The crutch enables the user to place more, if not all, of their weight on the crutch to decrease the load on their injured or disabled legs. 
     By placing weight on the crutch pad, the user often experiences discomfort and/or injuries from the crutch. The user&#39;s weight is on the crutch while the user is moving, which creates significant friction and pressure between the crutch and the user&#39;s armpit. The pressure between the armpit and the crutch increases the frictional force on the armpit while the user moves using the crutch for support. A user&#39;s skin and nerves are often harmed due to the contact between the crutch and the armpit area of the body. 
     Some people using crutches place a towel or other soft material on top of the crutch pad to help prevent or reduce injuries to the armpit or body. Over time, the cushion of the towel degrades because the weight of the user repeatedly pressing on the towel during use compresses and compacts the towel. In addition, the towel material wears down and loses it springiness. Another drawback of the use of a towel is that a towel is bulky when positioned on the crutch, which negatively impacts the fit between the user&#39;s armpit and the top of the crutch. 
     The use of towels and other soft materials reduces the chances of injury while using crutches, but it is not secure. Towels can move, which can result in the crutch slipping from the user&#39;s armpit and causing further injury. In some cases, people duct tape a towel to the top of the crutch pad. These are rudimentary fixes that can cause further injury and do little to solve the actual problem of injury to the user&#39;s armpits when using crutches. 
     As can be derived from the variety of devices and methods directed at protecting the user&#39;s armpit while using crutches, many means have been contemplated to accomplish the desired end, i.e., towels and soft materials. Heretofore, tradeoffs between reliability and comfort were required. Thus, there is a long-felt need for a device that protects the user&#39;s armpits while using crutches. There is a further long-felt need for a device that allows each user to customize the padding between the armpit and the crutch. There is also a long-felt need for a method to place a device on a crutch that offers customizable padding support between the armpit and the crutch. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention broadly comprises a unitary inflatable housing that slides on top of a crutch, where the inflatable housing includes an upper chamber and at least one side chamber, and a valve for air inlet and outlet. 
     In a further embodiment, the unitary inflatable housing includes a plurality of air chambers, and a valve positioned on the inner surface of the inflatable housing that contact the upper surface of a crutch. 
     It is a general object of the present invention to provide a process of using an inflatable housing that includes inserting air into an inflatable housing through a valve located on an inner surface of the inflatable housing, filling an upper chamber and at least one side chamber of the inflatable housing with the air, and sliding the inflatable housing on the top portion of a crutch. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to reduce the pressure between the user and the crutch. 
     It is a general objection of the present invention to reduce the rehabilitation time and healing time of the user that needs a crutch for support after an injury. Users are more inclined to use a crutch, as recommended by medical staff, when it is comfortable to use. The present invention reduces additional injury or rehabilitation time that results from the injury not healing properly when the user does not use the crutch due to discomfort. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciable from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a back view of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a left side view of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a right side view of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is top view of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of the invention shown in  FIG. 1  positioned above a standard crutch. 
         FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of the invention shown in  FIG. 1  positioned on a standard crutch. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the invention shown in  FIG. 1  positioned on a standard crutch. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred aspects, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects. 
     Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It should be appreciated that the term “crutch” is synonymous with terms such as “walking stick”, “cane”, “brace”, “staff”, “stick”, etc., and such terms may be used interchangeably as appearing in the specification and claims. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described. 
     Adverting now to the figures,  FIGS. 1-7  shows the inflatable housing  100 . The inflatable housing  100  slides on top of a crutch  110 , e.g. an axillary crutch shown in  FIG. 8 . In  FIG. 9  shows that the inflatable housing  100 , once inflated, is slid over the top of the crutch pad that is positioned underneath the user&#39;s armpit. The inflatable housing  100  is made from a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). 
     Inflatable housing  100  includes multiple air chambers that are shown in  FIG. 1-7 . Upper chamber  102  is at the top of the inflatable housing  100 , while side chamber  104  is located on the sides of the inflatable housing. Upper chamber  102  is positioned to contact directly under the user&#39;s arm pit. Side chambers  104  are positioned next to the upper chamber  102  to provide a cushion for the user&#39;s inner arm and chest when the user is using the inflatable housing  100  on a crutch  110 . The chambers are filled with air to provide a soft cushion between the crutch  110  and the user&#39;s armpit during use of the crutch. 
     The chambers are filled with air through valve  106 . While air is a preferred medium, other gases and/or fluids can be used to fill upper chamber  102  and side chambers  104 . The term medium is synonymous with air for the instant application to designate the gas or fluid that is within upper chamber  102  and side chambers  104 . A manual compressor is used to fill the chambers through valve  106  by the user because the volume of air needed to fill the chambers is relatively low. A manual compressor is the preferred tool to fill the chambers to a user defined comfort level and to avoid overfilling the inflatable housing  100 , which could cause the inflatable housing  100  to breach or burst from over pressure. Overfilling the inflatable housing  100  can terminally damage the device. However, other variations of compressors can be used with care not to exceed a maximum pressure threshold. 
     Valve  106  allows for the air to flow in and out of the upper chamber  102  and side chambers  104  of the inflatable housing  100 . The inflatable housing  100  needs to be inflated prior to installation on top of the crutch pad. The valve  106  is set up in an open position, i.e. extended outward from the upper chamber  102  and is open to the environment. The user causes air to flow into the valve  106  and into the chambers (upper chamber  102  and side chamber  104 ). The pressure is increased inside the upper chamber  102  and side chambers  104  until the user stops the flow of air into valve  106 . 
     Once the inflatable housing  100  is pressurized with air, valve  106  is pressed inward by the user to the closed position within upper chamber  102  to prevent air from exiting from the inflatable housing  100 . Then, the user inserts the inflatable housing  100  over the top of the crutch  110  where the crutch pad  112  makes contact with the user&#39;s armpit. When the user attempts to walk with the assistance of the crutch  110  and inflatable housing  100 , the pressure inside the inflatable housing may need adjustment based on the user&#39;s comfort preference. The pressure may be too low, not giving the user enough support between the inflatable housing  100  and the crutch pad  112 . Alternatively, the pressure may be too high, giving the user enough too much support, i.e. a hard buffer, between the inflatable housing  100  and the crutch pad  112 . 
     If the pressure inside the inflatable housing  100  needs to be modified, the user removes the inflatable housing  100  from the crutch  110 , opens the nozzle  106 , and increases or decreases the air pressure within the inflatable housing  100 . This allows the user to find the best comfort level for the pressure within the inflatable housing  100 . Each user will have a different preference based on comfort, fit, and support. The ability of the user to adjust the pressure of the inflatable housing  100  allows each user to create an optimal fit between their armpit and the crutch  110 . Additional factors that may impact a user&#39;s preference for the amount of pressure within the inflatable housing  100  are, but not limited to: height, weight, muscular build, skin sensitively, and walking style. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , nozzle  106  is located on the inside of the inflatable housing  100 . Upper chamber  102  has an outer surface on the outside of the inflatable housing  100 . The outer surface is the portion of the inflatable housing  100  that contacts the user&#39;s armpit (or the clothing that covers the user&#39;s armpit). Upper chamber  102  also includes an inner surface on the inside of the inflatable housing  100 . Best depicted in  FIG. 7 , nozzle  106  is positioned towards the center of the inner surface of the upper chamber  102 . While the nozzle  106  is positioned in the center in  FIG. 7 , nozzle  106  can be located anywhere on the inside surface of upper chamber  102 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the inner surface of the upper chamber  102  contacts the top of the crutch pad  112  when the inflatable housing  100  is secured to the crutch  110 . 
     The position of the nozzle  106  on the inner surface of the upper chamber  102  has several advantages. First, placing the nozzle  106  on the inner surface of the upper chamber  102  prevents the nozzle  106  from interacting, i.e. hitting, the user&#39;s arm while using the inflatable housing  100  is positioned on the crutch  110 . If the nozzle  106  was located on the outside of the inflatable housing  100 , it would come into contact with the user&#39;s armpit, chest, arm, or other part of his/her body. This would be uncomfortable for the user and cause irritation injury after prolonged use. 
     Second, the outward pressure on the nozzle  106  when the user is using the inflatable housing  100  on the crutch  110  needs to be considered. If the nozzle  106  was located on the outside of the inflatable housing  100 , there is a greater chance of the nozzle  106  inadvertently opening during use. When the user places his/her weight on the inflatable housing  100  on the crutch  110 , the weight of the user increases the outward force on the nozzle  106 . However, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the top of the crutch pad  112  contacts nozzle  106  and the inner surface of upper chamber  102 . When the user places his/her weight on the inflatable housing  100 , the outward force exerted on nozzle  106  is balanced with the opposing force exerted by the top of the crutch pad  112  onto the inner surface of the upper chamber  102 , which includes nozzle  106 . By positioning the nozzle  106  on the inner surface of upper chamber  102 , the top of the crutch pad  112  secures nozzle  106  in the closed, inward position on inflatable housing  100  during use on the crutch  110 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , side chambers  104  are located on the sides of inflatable housing  100 . Side chambers  104  extend downward from upper chamber  102 . Upper chamber  102  and side chamber  104  are located are unitary features of the inflatable housing  100 . The unitary nature of the device means that the various chambers are created on the same platform, with stitching or other seem joining mechanism to create the desired chamber configurations. The inflatable housing  100  is a unitary device, plus the addition of valve  106  and straps  108 . 
     Side chambers  104  include a series of channels  105  where air resides, thereby creating cushioned support for the user. As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 7 , the channels  105  are routed in a snake pattern on side chambers  104 . When air is inserted into valve  106 , air fills the upper chamber  102  and the channels  105  of side chambers  104 . Air passes into upper chamber  102  and the channels  105  of side chambers  104  through pockets  103 . Pockets  103  are gaps in the seams between upper chamber  102  and the channels  105  of side chambers  104 . The use of pockets  103  provides for a continuous path for the air to travel through upper chamber  102  and the channels  105  of side chambers  104 . 
     Channels  105  of side chambers  104  are formed by heat sealing portions of the inflatable housing  100  to create the channels  105 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 7 , the channels  105  form a snake pattern. In an exemplary embodiment, the channels  105  are formed using radio frequency (RF). The use of heat sealing or RF technology allows for a myriad of patterns and shapes for the channels  105  in the side chambers  104 , not only a snake pattern. 
     While the inflatable housing  100  uses channels  105  designed as a snake pattern on side chambers  104 , numerous configurations can be used to provide support for the user. In an exemplary embodiment, multiple channels are in a vertical, horizontal, and/or diagonal pattern with pockets  105  to connect the channels to all the other air chambers within the inflatable housing  100 . In yet another exemplary embodiment, round or semi-spherical chambers are located on side chambers  104  with pockets  105  to provide the cushion for the user&#39;s chest and arms. 
     When the inflatable housing  100  is inserted over the crutch pad  112 , the bottom of the inflatable housing  100  is secured about crutch  110 . As shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , straps  108  are connected to ensure the inflatable housing  100  is secure on crutch  110  and will not slide off the crutch  110  during operation by the user. The straps  108  on inflatable housing  100  uses a hook and loop type fastener to secure the inflatable housing  100  on the crutch. While a hook and loop type fastener is a common mechanism to secure the inflatable housing to the crutch, numerous other connection mechanisms can be used, such as but not limited to: snaps, a zipper, magnets, and safety pins. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the inflatable housing  100  is pressurized by inserting air into an inflatable housing  100  through valve  106  located on an inner surface of the inflatable housing  100 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , valve  106  is located on the inner surface of upper chamber  102 . First, the valve  106  is open to allow air to pass through it. Next, air is inserted through valve  106  to fill upper chamber  102  and at least one side chamber  104  of the inflatable housing  100 . Once filled, the valve  106  is closed and retracted into upper chamber  102 . Next, the inflatable housing  100  is slid on top of crutch  110  and flush with crutch pad  112 . 
     In yet another exemplary embodiment, shown in  FIG. 10 , valve  106  is located on each chamber in the inflatable housing  100 . For example, valve  106  creates an air port in upper chamber  102  and a second valve  106  creates a separate air port in side chamber  104 . In some configurations, the air chambers are not connected using pockets  103  and require independent air ports. When pockets  103  are not needed, the channels  105  are fully sealed using heat seal technology or RF. A valve  106  is used to inflate and deflate the fully sealed channel  105 . 
     Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. It also is understood that the foregoing description is illustrative of the present invention and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other embodiments of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.