Patent Publication Number: US-9889061-B1

Title: Multi-function crutch and method of use

Description:
RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS &amp; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     This continuation-in-part utility application claims the benefit under 35 USC § 120 of U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 13/830,429, filed Mar. 14, 2013, entitled Medical Equipment, and the benefit under 35 USC § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/085,073, filed Nov. 26, 2014, entitled Medical Equipment, Covers, Systems, Functions and Methods of Use, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/796,004, entitled “Insulation, Heating, Cooling, Lighting of Durable Medical Equipment, Strollers and Outside Furniture and Methods of Use,” filed Oct. 31, 2012. These related applications are incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this application. If any conflict arises between the disclosure of the invention in this utility application and that in the related applications, the disclosure in this utility application shall govern. Moreover, any and all U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and other documents, hard copy or electronic, cited or referred to in this application are incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional crutches typically use metal poles connected together in a manner that exposes the metal surfaces of the poles. When current metal crutches are exposed to the elements, such as the sun, the crutch&#39;s become hot to extremely hot, it becomes very uncomfortable and may burn and injure the user or others. When a conventional, uninsulated crutch becomes cold to extremely cold, contact with the body of a user is very uncomfortable and may affect the user&#39;s health, such as, causing or exacerbating arthritis, fibromyalgia, aching associated within broken bones or other conditions a user may have. Many conventional crutches have a lock nut that secures a handle between a pair of metal poles of the crutch. The lock nut often accidently becomes ensnared in clothing or other articles. When the crutch bumps a user or someone else, or falls, the lock nut frequently injures the user, others, or both. 
     Definitions 
     The words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. 
     SUMMARY 
     My is multi-functional and not only provides support in the conventional manner but prides several additional features. For example, my multi-functional crutch employs three conventional hollow metallic poles in an assembly that avoids using conventional lock nuts. Moreover, my crutch may be covered by an insulating material. Conventional crutches usually cover their handles with a pad that is very uncomfortable. Such pads tend to fall apart with use. Consequently, the user is left using an exposed, hard plastic handle until the less than optimal pad is replaced. This is a dangerous condition risking injury to the user&#39;s hands and wrist that my crutch avoids or minimizes. My multi-functional crutch has several other features depicted in the embodiments discussed in the section entitled “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS.” The claims that follow define my multi-functional crutch and method of use, distinguishing them from the prior art; however, without limiting the scope of my crutch and method of use as expressed by these claims, in general terms, some, but not necessarily all, of their features are: 
     One, my crutch includes a pair of elongated, tubular metal side poles and an elongated, tubular metal center pole. The pair of side poles are of the same length and shape, and each pole has an upper portion terminating in a tip and a lower portion terminating in a tip. The center pole is positioned between the lower portions of the side poles and has an upper end portion and a lower end portion. Spaced apart connector elements attach together the side poles and center pole into an assembly where the center pole extends along a longitudinal central reference line and the side poles straddle said reference line. All the poles lie in the same plane and are parallel to each other. The assembly has opposed external side edges from which mounting elements project outwardly at a right angle to the longitudinal central reference line. A plurality of cap members are connected to the mounting elements. 
     Two, in one embodiment the cap members are designed to replace the lock-nut and secure the handle to in position. They are configured to reduce the likelihood of ensnaring an item that may contact the crutch. In a second embodiment the cap members may include one or more bumper structure comprising a resilient material. This bumper structure avoids injury if the crutch accidently falls against a user or another. In a third embodiment the cap members may one or more ornamental structure. In a fifth embodiment the cap members may include one or more battery-powered light. In a sixth embodiment the cap members may include one or more battery-powered audio device. The cap members may be detachable and configured to be interchangeably mounted along an edge of my crutch. The cap members may be detachable and configured to be interchangeably mounted along an edge of my crutch, and within the insulation material. 
     Three, my crutch may include a built-in or detachable enclosure holding a netting used to attach a package to the crutch. The package is placed against a distal side of the crutch and the withdrawn netting is wrapped around the package, pulling the package snug against the distal side. A free end of the netting is configured to detachably connect to a portion of the crutch to hold the package in place firmly against the distal side of the crutch. 
     Four, the crutch may include an enclosure holding a stretchable netting having one end fixed and another end free and adapted to be detachably connected to a portion of the crutch. The enclosure has an opening that allows a user to withdraw the free end of the netting through the opening. 
     Five, the lower end portion of the central pole terminates in a tip that is inserted into a tip cover. The tip cover has a body forming a receptacle with a floor and open mouth that receives the tip of the center pole. The floor has a hard surface that engages the terminal tip of the center pole upon insertion and prevents the terminal tip from cutting into the body, beneath the surface a honeycomb matrix of spaced apart open spaces in the body. 
     Six, the topmost connector element crutch may be shaped into an upper underarm support member having a predetermined external configuration. Specifically, an upper edge that terminates at opposed ends in outwardly projecting finger elements that are at an acute angle with respect to the reference line. The finger elements form between them an indentation in the upper edge, and the individual fingers meet the indentation at opposed ends of the indentation, forming individual junction grooves configured to assist in mounting a package on the crutch, proving a site to attach a free end of the netting. 
     Seven, a resilient pad member is between the topmost connector element and a top cover. The resilient pad member is positioned between the topmost connector element and a top cover and it cushions the crutch against the user&#39;s armpit. 
     Eight, the various components are configured with hole for mounting, connecting, locking, and securing. 
     Nine, the various components are configured to be interchanged and replaced. 
     These features are not listed in any rank order nor is this list intended to be exhaustive. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       Some embodiments of my crutch and method of use are discussed in detail in connection with the accompanying drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only. This drawing includes the following figures (Figs.), with like numerals and letters indicating like parts: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of one embodiment of my crutch that is partially assembled without insulating material. 
         FIG. 2  is an side view of an insulating sheath to be attached to the assembled crutch components shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an outer side view of the one embodiment of my crutch fully assembled as depicted in  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view showing an outer side of the one embodiment of my crutch shown in  FIG. 3  as fully assembled with a package having a hanging loop detachably mounting the package to my crutch. 
         FIG. 3B  is a perspective view showing a pair of my crutches positioned next to each other with straps holding the pair together. 
         FIG. 3C  is a perspective view showing a pair of my crutches positioned next to each other with straps holding the pair together. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the topmost connector element used with my crutch having integral mounting members. 
         FIG. 4A  is an end view of the topmost connector element shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 4B  is a side view of the topmost connector element shown in  FIG. 4 , with internal structure shown in dotted lines. 
         FIG. 4C  is a side view of the topmost connector element shown in  FIG. 4 , without internal structure shown in dotted lines. 
         FIG. 4D  is a bottom end view of the topmost connector element shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 4E  is an top end view of the topmost connector element shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 4F  is an side view of an alternate embodiment of a topmost connector element without integral mounting members. 
         FIG. 4G  is a fragmentary perspective view of the topmost connector element shown in  FIG. 4F . 
         FIG. 4H  is are side and end views of a disassembled fastener used with my crutch. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a lower connector support member. 
         FIG. 6A  is a top plan view of the lower connector support member shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 6B  is an end view of the lower connector support member shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 6C  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 C- 6 C of  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 6D  is a side view of the lower connector support member shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a portion of the lower connector support member encircled by the line  7  in  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of a first embodiment of an insulating sheath used with the embodiment of my crutch depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 9  is a rear view of a first embodiment of an insulating sheath used with the embodiment of my crutch depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIGS. 10 and 10A  shows disassembled components of the insulating sheath shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
         FIG. 10B  shows fasteners typically used to connect the components of my crutch. 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of an resilient pad member without integral mounting members. 
         FIG. 11 ′ is a top end view of the resilient pad member shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 11 ″ is a bottom end view of the resilient pad member shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 11 ′″ is a side end view of the resilient pad member shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 11A  is a front view of an resilient pad member with integral mounting members. 
         FIG. 11A ′ is a top end view of the resilient pad member shown in  FIG. 11A . 
         FIG. 11A ″ is a bottom end view of the resilient pad member shown in  FIG. 11A . 
         FIG. 11A ′″ is a side end view of the resilient pad member shown in  FIG. 11A . 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of an resilient pad member sized used with a small simplified topmost connector element. 
         FIG. 12A  is a top end view of the resilient pad member in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 12B  is a bottom end view of the resilient pad member in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 12C  is a side end view of the resilient pad member shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 13A  is side view of a second embodiment of an insulating sheath used with my crutch. 
         FIG. 13B  is side view of a third embodiment of an insulating sheath used with my crutch. 
         FIG. 13C  is side view of a forth embodiment of an insulating sheath used with my crutch. 
         FIGS. 14, 15, 16A and 16B  are different sized insulating, resilient detachable handle member covers. 
         FIG. 17A  is a front view of an ornamental, rubber bumper cap member for my crutch. 
         FIG. 17B  is a side view of the bumper cap member for my crutch shown in  FIG. 17A . 
         FIG. 17C  is a rear view of the bumper cap member for my crutch shown in  FIG. 17A . 
         FIG. 18A  is a front view of a non-ornamental cap member for my crutch. 
         FIG. 18B  is a side view of the non-ornamental cap member for my crutch shown in  FIG. 18A . 
         FIG. 18C  is a rear view of the non-ornamental cap member for my crutch shown in  FIG. 18A . 
         FIG. 19A  is a front view of a cap member for my crutch using a light. 
         FIG. 19B  is a side view of a cap member for my crutch using a light shown in  FIG. 19A . 
         FIG. 19C  is a rear view of a cap member for my crutch using a light shown in  FIG. 19A . 
         FIG. 20A  is a front view of a cap member for my crutch using an audio device. 
         FIG. 20B  is a side view of a cap member for my crutch using audio device shown in  FIG. 20A . 
         FIG. 21A  is a front view of a bottom most connector element for my crutch having a built-in light. 
         FIG. 21B  is a side view of the bottom most connector element using a light shown in  FIG. 21A . 
         FIG. 22  is non-assembled screws and lock for attaching the handle member between the side poles. 
         FIG. 23  is an assembly of the screws and lock shown in  FIG. 22 . 
         FIG. 24  is a perspective view of a non-ornamental cap member mounted to a pole of my crutch. 
         FIG. 24A  is an inside elevation view of the cap member shown in  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 24B  is an exploded elevation view of the cap member shown in  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 24C  is a front view of the cap member shown in  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 24D  is a cross-sectional view of the cap member taken along line  24 D- 24 D in  FIG. 24C . 
         FIG. 24E  is a perspective view of one connector member. 
         FIGS. 25A, 25B and 25C  depict three different views of one embodiment of a mounting element that is configured to be attached directly to a pole of my crutch. 
         FIGS. 25-1, 25-1A, 25-1B, 25-1C  depict four different views of an alternate embodiment of a mounting element that is configured to be attached directly to a pole of my crutch. 
         FIG. 26  is a perspective view of an intermediate connector element, a handle member that is mounted between side poles of my crutch. 
         FIG. 26-1  is a side view of the handle member shown in  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 26-2  is a top view of the handle member shown in  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 26-3  is a cross-sectional view of the cap member taken along line  26 - 3 - 26 - 3  in  FIG. 26-2 . 
         FIG. 26-4  is an end view of the cap member shown in  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 26A  is a perspective view of another embodiment of an intermediate connector element, a handle member that is mounted between side poles of my crutch. 
         FIG. 26A-1  is a side view of the handle member shown in  FIG. 26A . 
         FIG. 26A-2  is a top view of the handle member shown in  FIG. 26A . 
         FIG. 26A-3  is a cross-sectional view of the cap member taken along line  26 - 3 - 26 - 3  in  FIG. 26-2 . 
         FIG. 26A-4  is an end view of the cap member shown in  FIG. 26A . 
         FIG. 26B  is a perspective view of another embodiment of an intermediate connector element, a handle member that is mounted between side poles of my crutch. 
         FIG. 26B-1  is a side view of the handle member shown in  FIG. 26B . 
         FIG. 26B-2  is a top view of the handle member shown in  FIG. 26B . 
         FIG. 26B-3  is a cross-sectional view of the cap member taken along line  26 - 3 - 26 - 3  in  FIG. 26-2 . 
         FIG. 26B-4  is an end view of the cap member shown in  FIG. 26B . 
         FIG. 27  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a mounting element used with my crutch. 
         FIG. 27A  is a rear view of mounting element shown in  FIG. 27 . 
         FIG. 27B  is a front view of mounting element shown in  FIG. 27 . 
         FIG. 27C  is a side view of mounting element shown in  FIG. 27 . 
         FIG. 27D  is a cross-sectional view of taken along line  27 D- 27 D. 
         FIG. 27E  is a top view of mounting element shown in  FIG. 27 . 
         FIG. 28  is a rear view of another embodiment of a cap member for my crutch. 
         FIG. 28A  shows assembled and disassembled components of the cap member employed with the topmost connector element shown in  FIG. 28 . 
         FIG. 29  is a front view of another embodiment of the topmost connector element that functions as an underarm support. 
         FIG. 29A  shows assembled and disassembled components of the cap member employed with the topmost connector element shown in  FIG. 29 . 
         FIG. 30  is a perspective view of a tip cover mounted to an end of my crutch. 
         FIG. 30A  is a cross-sectional view of the tip cover taken along line  30 C- 30 C of  FIG. 30 . 
         FIG. 30B  is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a tip cover for my crutch. 
         FIG. 30C  is a bottom view of the tip cover shown in  FIG. 30 . 
         FIG. 30D  is a bottom view of an alternate embodiment of a tip cover for my crutch. 
         FIG. 30E  is a side view component of an insert in the tip cover shown in  FIG. 30 . 
         FIG. 30F  is a perspective view of another component of the insert shown in  FIG. 30E . 
         FIG. 30G  is a side view. 
         FIG. 30H  is a side view. 
         FIG. 30I  is a side view 
         FIG. 31  is a view of the distal side of my crutch shown in  FIG. 3A  illustrating a stretchable netting wrapped around a package to secure the package to the distal side of my crutch. 
         FIG. 31A  is a side view showing a detachable enclosure for the netting employed in the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 32  is an exploded perspective view of showing a detachable enclosure illustrated in  FIG. 31A  showing the netting being wrapped around an enmeshed package and a portion of the crutch with a free end of the netting attached to finger at a topmost end of the crutch. 
         FIG. 33A  is a proximal side view of the alternate embodiment shown in  FIG. 32  with the netting withdrawn from the enclosure and wrapped around a lower portion of my crutch. 
         FIG. 33B  is a distal side view of the alternate embodiment shown in  FIG. 32  showing a package retained by the netting, holding the package firm against the distal side of the crutch. 
         FIG. 34  is a fragmentary perspective view of an assembled rubber bumper structure attached to the handle member and an insulating sheath used with my crutch. 
         FIG. 34A  depicts the components of attached to the insulating sheath shown in  FIG. 34 . 
         FIG. 35  is a assembled view of an alternate embodiment of a partially assembled rubber bumper structure attached along the insulating sheath but not the handle member. 
         FIG. 35A  is a fragmentary perspective view of the alternate embodiment shown in  FIG. 35  without the rubber bumper structure attached. 
         FIG. 35B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  35 B- 35 B of  FIG. 35A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     My crutch, generally designated by the numeral  10 , is best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 3A-3C . An alternate embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 32, 33A and 33B , and is generally designated by the numeral  10   a . Both embodiments  10  and  10   a  includes a pair of elongated, tubular metal side poles  12  and  14  ( FIG. 1 ) of the same length and shape, and an elongated, tubular metal center pole  16  ( FIG. 1 ). The center pole  16  is of the telescoping type comprising an inner tube T 1  within an outer tube T 2  and moveable lengthwise. One spring loaded push button B of a series of buttons in the inner tube T 1  engages an aligned hole H in a series of holes in the outer tube T 2  to lock to tubes in a selected adjustable position. Both embodiments  10  and  10   a  facilitate my method of using my crutch to carry packages. For example, a user may detachably mount a package P having a hanging loop  9  to the crutch  10  shown in  FIG. 3A  by draping the hanging loop on an outwardly extending finger element  50   d  along an upper edge  50  on a top of the crutch. Alternately as depicted in  FIGS. 31 and 32 , a stretchable netting  91  may be used to retain a package on my crutch. 
     Spaced apart connector elements  20 ,  22 , and  24  attach together the side poles  12  and  14  and the center pole  16  into an assembly A ( FIG. 1 ) where the center pole  16  extends along a longitudinal central reference line RF and the side poles  12  and  14  straddle the reference line. As best depicted in  FIG. 1 , all the poles  12 ,  14 , and  16  generally lie in the same plane and are parallel to each other. As shown in  FIG. 3 , each side pole  12  and  14  has an upper portion UP terminating in upper tips  12   a  and  14   a , respectively, and a lower portion LP terminating in tips  12   b  and  14   b , respectively. The center pole  16  is sandwiched between the lower portions LP of the side poles  12  and  14  and extends through the connector element  24 , which functions as a lower support member and may be made of a resilient material such, as, for example, rigid plastic or hard rubber. To maintain in a selected position, the center pole  16  uses conventional depressible buttons B ( FIG. 1 ) that interlock with a selected hole H as discussed above. The connector element  20  depicted in  FIG. 4  includes opposed mounting elements. 
     With the crutch  10  more or less vertically oriented, an upper end portion UEP ( FIG. 1 ) of the center pole  16  is above the connector element  24  and below the connector handle element  22 . The upper end portion UEP of the center pole  16  terminates at a junction J ( FIG. 1 ) where an upper tip  16   a  of the center pole  16  meets the lower portions LP of the side poles  12  and  14 . A lower terminal tip  16   b  of the center pole  16  is covered by a unique tip cover  30 . The lower end portion LEP of the central pole  16  terminates in a tip  16   b  that is inserted into the tip cover  30  illustrated in  FIGS. 30 and 30A through 30I . This tip cover  30  has a generally cylindrical body  30   a  forming at an end a receptacle  30   b  with a floor  30   c  and open mouth  30   d  that receives the terminal tip  16   b  ( FIG. 1 ) of the center pole  16 . The opposed bottom end  30   e  of the tip cover  30  is closed. The floor  30   c  may be part of a metal cup  30   h  that fits snug in the receptacle  30   b  has a hard, flat surface  30   f  that engages the terminal tip  16   b  of the center pole  16  upon insertion and prevents the terminal tip from cutting into the body  30   a . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 30A , beneath the surface  30   f  is a honey comb matrix M of spaced apart open spaces  30   g  the said body  30   a.    
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the connector element  20  is an underarm support member comprising a body B 1  having a bottom edge  20   b  including a pair of open receptacles  20   c  (only one shown) at outer ends of the bottom edge into which the tips  12   a  and  14   a  of the upper end portions of side poles are individually inserted. The body B 1  may be made of a rigid plastic or a hard rubber molded into a unique configuration as discussed subsequently in greater detail. The side poles  12  and  14  at lower portions LP are bent inward towards each other and the upper end portion UEP of the center pole  16  is sandwiched between the inwardly bending lower portions of the side poles. The underarm support member body B 1  has a predetermined external configuration including opposed flat parallel faces  21  (only one shown) between inwardly tapering side edges  21   a  and  21   b , an upper edge  25  terminating at opposed ends in outwardly projecting finger elements  29   a  and  29   b  that are at an acute angle with respect to the reference line RL. The finger elements  23   a  and  23   b  form between them an indentation  25   a  in the upper edge  25 . 
     The connector element  22  functions as a handle member, also identified by the numeral  22  since they are the same component. It may be adjustably positioned intermediate the underarm support member  20  and the lower connector element  24 , and it extends across the reference line RF and connects the poles  12  and  14 . The handle member  22  typically is at a right angle with respect to the reference line RF. As best shown in  FIGS. 26, 26A, and 26B , three embodiments of the handle member, identified respectively by the numerals  22 ,  22   a , and  22   b , are each a molded rubber or silicone structure having a body B 2  of predetermined shape configured to conform to the palm of a user gripping the handle member. The body B 2  is a rigid, tough material, and it may be covered by an outer layer of softer foam material. The handle members  22  and  22   a  have mounting elements ME formed at opposed ends. They may be molded or otherwise configured to connect to cap members as discussed subsequently. The handle member  22  and center pole  16  may be mounted to be manually repositioned to accommodate users of different heights. In other words, center pole  16  may be moved along the reference line RL into different selected vertically positions and then connected by opposed screws s 1  and s 2  passing through aligned holes in the poles  12  and  14  and a passageway  19  extending through the handle member  22 . As depicted in  FIGS. 22 and 23 , opposed fasteners s 1  and s 2  are locked in position. A wire s 3  attached to ends of the fasteners s 1  and s 2  serves as a point of attachment for a free end  91   a  of a netting  91  as shown in  FIGS. 33A and 33B . 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , a detachable handle cover  23  may be used to cover the handle member  22  as shown in  FIGS. 3, 3A, 31, 32, 33A and 33B . This handle cover  23  may comprise a resilient fabric that fits snugly over and at least partially covers the handle member. Opposed ends of the handle cover  23  may have outward projecting straps  25  with end connectors  25   a  and  25   b  such as, for example, buttons, snaps, Velcro® two-part connectors. The handle cover  23  wraps around the handle member  22  and the ends of the straps are connected. Different sized handle covers  23   a  through  23  are shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16A and 16B . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6A through 6D , the connector element  24  has a body B 3  molded from rubber. The body B 3  has three parallel cylindrical opening  80 ,  81 , and  82  in a top edge  80   a  of the body B 3 . The central opening  81  extends through the body B 2  to the bottom edge  80   b  of the body to allow the center pole  16  to pass through the element  24 . The opening  80  and  82  each have closed flat floors  80   d  that act as stops to prevent the side poles  12  and  14  from passing through the body B 3 . At opposed outer sides Along the bottom edge  80   b  are opposed pairs of feet that each have aligned orifices  80   d  that receive fasteners such as, for example, bolts (not shown) that pass through these orifices when connecting the poles  12 ,  14 , and  16  together during assembly of the crutch&#39;s components.  FIG. 7  shows a cap member. 
     One or more of the connector elements  20 ,  22 , and  24  have external cap members  40  along the side poles  12  and  14 .  FIGS. 28A through 30A  show two different shaped external cap members  41   a  and  41   b  that are attached by conventional fasteners  41  ( FIG. 3 ) that pass through openings  42  in the insulting material IM and openings  42   a  ( FIG. 1 ) in the connector elements  20 ,  22 , and  24  to hold the assembly A together. A variety of different conventional fasteners  41  are illustrated in  FIG. 10B  may be used with my crutch. The insulting material IM may comprise of polyurethane foam and may be in the form of a sheet  35  ( FIG. 4 ) having the general shape of the assembly A and it may include a series of slits  44 . Openings along  45  along edge portions of the sheet of insulating material IM allow edge portions to be laced up with a string  45   a  ( FIG. 35A ) when wrapped around a portion of my crutch. As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 10A , a sheath SH ( FIG. 2 ) has, as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 10A , two parts SH 1  and SH 2  that are laced together as depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
     One or more accessory cap members  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   c ,  40   d , and  40   e , respectively, shown in  FIGS. 17A and 17B, 18A and 18B, 19A and 19B, 20A and 20B, and 21A and 21B , may be attached to any edge of either embodiment  10  or  10   a  of my crutch. Any cap member  40 ,  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   c ,  40   d , and  40   e  may be attached to any edge of my crutch either to the edge directly as shown in  FIG. 24 , or a middle member shown in  FIG. 34 , or indirectly using a mounting member shown in  FIGS. 25A through 25C ,  FIGS. 25-1 through 25-1C , and  FIGS. 27 through 27E . For example, an accessory cap member  40  is attached to the mounting element ME shown in  FIG. 27  by a conventional fastener as best shown in  FIG. 3A . As shown in  FIGS. 24 through 24D , a cap member  40  may be attached directly to a pole. This cap member  40  has a threaded hole TH in its body B 4  that does not go completely through this treaded hole. A screw element (not shown) passes through an aligned hole (not shown) in the pole. 
     One or more cap member, for example, the dog head cap member  40  ( FIG. 34A ) is connected to a mounting element ME extending from an edge of the assembly A. This dog head cap member  40  cap member has a flange FG and the mounting element ME has a slot SL which facilitate attaching the cap member to the mounting element ME so a user can detach the cap member by sliding it along the slot and pulling it away from the crutch. The flange FG and slot SL are configured to enable the flange to slide into and from the slot. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 17A and 17B , one accessory is a detachable rubber bumper structure  40   a , which may provide an ornamental edifice, such as for example, a military insignia, a cartoon character, a corporate logo, etc. More importantly, the rubber structure avoids injury to the user if the crutch accidently falls on the user.  FIGS. 18A and 18B  depict a detachable planar end cap structure  40   b , which may be made of rubber.  FIGS. 19A and 19B  depict another accessory that is a detachable battery powered audio alarm  40   c .  FIGS. 20A and 20B  depict another accessory that is a detachable battery powered light.  FIGS. 21A and 21B  depict still depict another accessory that is a detachable member designed to be attached to the connector member  24 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 34 and 35 , next to a slit  44  is a tab  43  sewn to an interior surface of the insulating material IM. The tabs are pulled through an adjacent slit to extend outward at a right angle to a pole. Adjacent tabs  43  include aligned openings  43   a  through which the fasteners  41  ( FIG. 3 ) pass upon assembling the components of my crutch  10 . As depicted in  FIG. 3C , a cap member  41   a  is configured to be attached to the connector elements  22  and  24 , and the cap member  41   b  is configured to be attached to the connector element  20 .  FIGS. 28, 29, 28A and 29A . 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 3, 4, 8 through 11, and 13A through 13C , the predetermined shaped sheet of insulating material IM is wrapped around to the assembly A and configured to at least partially cover the poles  20 ,  22 , and  24 , the underarm support member  20   a , and the connector element  24 . For example, the insulating material IM may be in two-parts: a top cover member TCM configured like glove that slips over the underarm support member  20   a  and a lower cover member in the form of a sheet LCM. A tail  51  made of insulating extends from the lower end of the sheet of insulating material IM. This tail  51  is wrapped around the lower end portion LEP of the center pole  16  between the tip cover  30  and the connector element  24 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 8 , a pocket  60  (shown in dotted lines in  FIG. 8 ) in the top cover member TCM may be employed for storing small items. This pocket  60  is above the connector element  22  connecting the side poles  12  and  16  and between the side poles  12  and  14 . This pocket  60  has an open mouth  60   a  with a flap  2  that may be closed shut using Velcro® or other two-part connector. The open mouth  60   a  faces downward when the crutch  10  is in use. As depicted in  FIG. 3A , another pocket  70  shown in dotted lines used to hold small items is between the side poles  12  and  14  beneath the connector handle element  22 . It is formed in a lower portion of the sheet of insulating material IM covering the lower connector element  24 , and it has an open mouth  70   a  ( FIG. 3A ). A closure flap  70   b  over an open mouth  70   a  is closed shut using Velcro® or other two-part connector. The open mouth  70   a  faces upward towards the connector handle element  22  when the crutch  10  is in use. 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 11 through 12C , a resilient pad member RPM is used to cushion the crutch. The pad member is positioned under the user&#39;s arm within the armpit. This pad member RPM fits snugly over the connector element  22  and under the outer top portion of the insulating material. Three embodiments of the pad member RPM are illustrated in  FIGS. 11, 11A , and  FIG. 12 , respectively, that have been covered by the insulating material IM. As best depicted in  FIGS. 10 and 12A  through C, the resilient pad member RPM includes a cavity  50   a  in a lower edge LE of the cover member. The cavity  50   a  has a configuration that conforms in shape to the external configuration the underarm support member body B. The resilient pad member RPM also has a predetermined external configuration like the configuration of the predetermined external configuration of the underarm support member body B. Thus the pad member RPM includes an upper edge  50   b  terminating at opposed ends in outwardly projecting finger elements  50   c  and  50   d  that are at an acute angle with respect to the reference line RL. The finger elements  50   c  and  50   d  form between them an indentation  50   e  in the upper edge  50   b , with the individual elements  50   c  meeting the indentation at opposed ends of the indentation, forming individual junction grooves G. 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 31 through 33B , an enclosure  90  holding a stretchable netting  91  may also be used with my crutch  10 . The enclosure  90  may be built into an insulting sheath wrapped around the crutch  10 , or is a detachable unit connected to the crutch  10   a  by cords  93  as depicted in  FIGS. 31A and 32 . In either case, the netting  91  has one end  91   a  fixed within the enclosure  90  and another end free  91   b . As depicted in  FIGS. 31A and 32 , the detachably detachable unit is mounted to a lower portion of the crutch  10   a . The enclosure  90  has a fin  95  extending lengthwise along a back wall of the enclosure  90  that fits snug with a slot  96  in the sheet of insulating material IM wrapped around the crutch  10   a . Cords  97  enable the enclosure to be tied to my crutch. 
     A package held by the wrapped around netting  91  is positioned on an outer side OS ( FIG. 31 ) of the crutch  10  or  10   a  when the user employs the crutch to aid in standing and walking. The user withdraws the free end  91   b  from the enclosure  90  through an opening such as a slit  94  in a sidewall  90   a  of the enclosure  90 . The free end  91   b  is stretched into a configuration to be detachably connected to a portion of the crutch. For example, this free end  91   b  is pulled over the finger elements  50   c  and  50   d.    
     The components of my crutch are assembled in a conventional manner, except for the upper portion of my crutch. Note, the connector  20 , resilient pad member RPM, and the sheath part SH 2  each have four holes H that are aligned and in registration with each upon assembly. The conventional fastener  41   d  shown in  FIG. 4H  is used to connect these assembled components together by inserting tube a into tube b of the fastener  41   d.    
     The mounting elements ME and cap members  40  have predetermined dimensions enabling the cap members to be replaced or interchanged. The cap members  40  may be pain or marked with insignias, trademarks, corporate logos etc. as shown in  FIG. 28A , or have unique ornamental shapes. 
     SCOPE OF THE INVENTION 
     The above presents a description of the best mode I contemplate of carrying out my crutch and method of use and of the manner and process of making and using my crutch and method of use, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use. My crutch and method of use, however, are susceptible to modifications and alternate constructions from the illustrative embodiments discussed above which are fully equivalent. Consequently, it is not the intention to limit my crutch and method of use to the particular embodiments disclosed. On the contrary, my intention is to cover all modifications and alternate constructions coming within the spirit and scope of my crutch and method of use as generally expressed by the following claims, which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of my invention: