Patent Publication Number: US-2004051020-A1

Title: Support device for crutch or cane

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention is directed to a support device for a crutch or a cane. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a support device for a crutch or cane which keeps the crutch or cane from toppling over when the crutch or cane is leaned against an edge or a curved surface, or even an inclined flat surface, while the bottom end thereof is resting on the ground.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Around the world, hundreds of millions of people at one time or another during their lives injure a leg, and while ambulatory still must rely on at least one crutch or cane for support. People do not use crutches or canes continuously and at times lean them against walls, tables, counter tops, banisters, automobiles or other conveyances, etc. while they attend to activities requiring the use of their hands and arms for purposes other than holding a crutch or cane for support. Not infrequently the crutch or cane topples over and the person must retrieve it. This is no mean feat for a person having only one fully functional leg, and as the person bends over to retrieve the crutch or cane, it is not unusual for them to also topple. Upon toppling, this already injured person may be injured again, perhaps seriously.  
       [0003] Kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms present a considerable challenge to crutch and cane users because vertical walls in these rooms are frequently behind cabinets, counter tops or sinks so that the top of the crutch or cane can not reach a wall to rest thereagainst. Moreover, these rooms have work areas requiring the use of hands. Since it is preferable to have a crutch or cane nearby so that the person does not have to hop or hobble to retrieve it, the crutch or cane is usually leaned against a counter top or sink with the hard surface of a vertical crutch strut or cane shaft engaging the hard edge of a counter top or sink. A slight nudge can cause the crutch or cane to slide with respect to the counter top or sink, pivot on the floor and fall over.  
       [0004] Older individuals can be drastically injured by a fall if they break a hip. The hip which is broken may be the hip of their sound leg, leaving them in the unfortunate condition of having two dysfunctional legs, neither of which will support them. This problem is enormous, yet it has not been addressed in a manner which provides a wide spread, inexpensive solution that does not require redesign of the millions of crutches and canes currently in use, as well as redesign of those currently in inventory or under manufacture.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] In view of the aforementioned considerations, the present invention is directed to a support for 1) a crutch having at least one longitudinally extending crutch strut with a bottom end for engaging a walking surface and a top end with at least one under arm support extending laterally from the crutch strut, or for 2) a cane having a bottom end for engaging a walking surface and a top end with a handle extending laterally from the cane shaft. The support comprises a flexible pad having a first surface and a second surface in opposed relation to the first surface. An adhesive area is on at least one of the surfaces of the pad for adhering to the other surface of the pad upon engaging the other surface. The pad forms a tube when folded around the strut or shaft of the crutch or cane, the tube having an interior surface formed by the first side for engaging the crutch strut or cane shaft to mount the tube thereon and an outside surface for frictionally engaging an inclined flat surface, an edge, or a curved surface to keep the crutch or cane supported with the bottom end resting on a horizontal surface such as a floor or the ground. The tube has a length substantially less than that of the strut or shaft.  
       [0006] In one aspect of the invention the adhesive area on one surface comprises VELCRO® hooks which adhere to VELCRO® loops on the other surface.  
       [0007] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the pad is in combination with a crutch or cane and is positioned to extend at least above the center of gravity of the crutch or cane.  
       [0008] In accordance with other aspects of the invention, the tube is preformed and provided installed on the crutch or cane, or in still another aspect of the invention, a strip of high friction material is applied to the crutch or cane. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009] Various other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:  
     [0010] FIGS.  1 - 6  are perspective views showing a support according to the present invention mounted on either one strut of a crutch or on the shaft of a cane, wherein crutches or canes are shown leaning against various supporting structures such as a table edge (FIG. 1), a window sill (FIG. 2), a window ledge (FIG. 3), a chair (FIG. 4), a banister (FIG. 5) or a kitchen counter top (FIG. 6).  
     [0011]FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views showing a crutch and a cane with the support of the present invention wherein the crutch and cane rely on frictional surfaces of an underarm support and a handle sleeve, respectively to support the crutch or cane against a flat vertical wall with the tubular support of the present invention not engaging the wall;  
     [0012]FIG. 9 is a planar view of a first side of a pad which is folded around a crutch strut or cane shaft to form the support device of the present invention;  
     [0013]FIG. 10 is a planar view of a second side of the pad of FIG. 9;  
     [0014]FIG. 11 is a planar view of a variation of the pad of FIGS. 10 and 11;  
     [0015]FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the pad of FIGS.  9 - 11  being rolled about a crutch strut or cane shaft for positioning thereon, and FIG. 13 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention showing a support device configured as a strip of material having a frictional surface and attached to a crutch or cane. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0016] As is seen in FIGS.  1 - 6 , a support device  20  for a crutch  22  or cane  24  is mounted on a strut  26  of the crutch or shaft  28  of the cane, respectively. In accordance with the present invention, the support device  20  is in the form of a tube  29  which is attached to the strut  26  of the crutch  22  or to the shaft  28  of the cane  24 .  
     [0017] Considering first the crutch  22 , the crutch is preferably a conventional, widely used crutch having an underarm support  30 , one or two crutch struts  26 , a hand grip  32  and a bottom end  36  which in most instances has a rubber foot  38  for engaging a walking surface  40 . As is seen in FIGS. 1, 4,  5  and  6  showing the crutch  22 , the support device  20  is disposed between the underarm support  30  at the top of the crutch and the hand grip  32 . The support device  20  is positioned above the center of gravity of the crutch  22 . Consequently, when the bottom end  36  of the crutch  22  is resting on a surface such as the walking surface  40 , and the crutch is leaning against an edge  42  of, for example a table  44  (FIG. 1) or a counter top (FIG. 6), the weight of the crutch is applied against the support  20 , generally in the form of a horizontal or lateral force component. This force component is sufficient to provide a frictional engagement between the support  20  and the edge  42  of the table  44 . Preferably, the support  20  is made of a deformable material such as rubber so that there is increased area to provide sufficient frictional force to keep the crutch partially upright and available to a person when the person needs to resume use of the crutch  22 .  
     [0018] While a table  44  is shown in FIG. 1 providing the edge  42 , the edge  42  can of course occur on numerous surfaces such as a stool or other furniture piece (FIG. 4), banister (FIG. 5), as well as the counter top (FIG. 6). In accordance with the present invention, the support device  20  is axially movable with respect to the crutch strut  26  so as to be closer to the handle  32  as is seen in FIG. 4 or closer to the underarm support  30  as is seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. The support device may be slid while configured as a tube  29  or may be partially or fully unrolled, moved and rerolled around the crutch strut or cane shaft.  
     [0019] As is seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the support device  20  is mounted on the shaft  28  of the cane  24  to also engage an edge  42  which may occur, for example, on a window shelf  56  (FIG. 2) or a window seat  58  (FIG. 3). The support  20  is closer to the handle  29  in FIG. 2 than in FIG. 3 to accommodate the specific needs of the person using the cane  24 .  
     [0020] While FIGS.  1 - 6  discloses edges  42  on various structures within a house to support a crutch  22  or cane  24 , there are many other situations where the support  20  is useful. For example, it is frequently necessary to lean a crutch or cane against a side panel of an automotive vehicle, a deck railing or a table which is spaced from a wall. Clearly, the many situations in which the support device  20  is useful are too numerous to specifically identify in this application, however the examples provided are clearly indicative of such situations and of the support device&#39;s extensive utility.  
     [0021] Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, there are of course numerous situations where a vertical wall  60  is present so that the crutch  22  or cane  24  may lean against the wall. In this situation, the crutch  22  may have a soft or resilient pad  62  for the underarm support  30  which frictionally engages the wall  60  and many canes  24  have, or can be provided with, a tubular grip  64  which slides over the end  29  of the cane. Since the pad  62  and grip  64  generally have high friction surfaces, the crutch  22  or cane  24  will rest against a wall  60  with the reasonable expectation that the crutch or cane will not fall over. However, there are frequently numerous situations in which a convenient vertical wall surface  60  is not present. For example, vertical walls in kitchens, bathrooms or laundry rooms are frequently disposed behind cabinets, counter tops or sinks so that the only convenient location in which to lean a crutch is against an edge of a counter top or sink. Since the strut  26  of a crutch  22  is conventionally a smooth surface, there is a tendency for a crutch to slide and fall over. When the crutch slides or falls over, the patient must then somehow with one good leg lean over (perhaps from a chair) and pick up the crutch. This can result in a fall which may reinjure the already injured leg or perhaps injure the patients one good leg. It is very important for the patient to have the crutch  22  or cane  24  nearby when the patient has to use his or her hands to perform some other task, such as cooking. The patient may still be able to stand while not using the crutch, but moving about from one place to another without a crutch is of course risky. Accordingly, in a kitchen or other workplace, having a crutch close by when one needs to use ones hands for meal preparation or some other task is in many cases a medical necessity.  
     [0022] Since canes are shorter than crutches and are usually no more than hip high, the problem is not as great, however the problem still exists where one might prefer for example to lean a cane against a window shelf or window seal as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 instead of against a table. There are of course other situations in which the support device  20  can be used with a cane  24 .  
     [0023] Since manufacturers of crutches and canes almost universally produce crutches and canes with smooth struts and shafts, applicant&#39;s support  20  is configured as a retrofit for existing crutch and cane configurations. As is seen in FIGS.  9 - 12 , the support  20  is initially configured as a rectangular or substantially square pad  70  made of rubber, or a rubber like material. The pad  70  has a first surface  72  providing the interior surface of the tube  29  (FIG. 12). The first surface  72  is a frictional surface with an adhesive free or VELCRO® free area  73  on which are exposed a series of small indentations  74 , each of which indentations provides an edge  75  for frictionally engaging the strut  26  of the crutch  22  or the shaft  28  of the cane  24 . The first surface  72  has adhered thereto one or more VELCRO® fastener strips  76 , which may be configured as, for example, VELCRO® hooks  77 . Typically, the VELCRO® strips  76  have adhesive backings so as to adhere permanently to the first surface  72  of the pad  70 . The hooks  77  of the VELCRO® strips  76  also provide friction to help hold the support device  20  in place when rolled as the tube  29  (see FIG. 12) against the surface of the crutch strut  26  or the cane shaft  28 . The VELCRO® strips  76  are positioned adjacent to a first edge  79  of the pad  70  which is coextensive with the clutch strut  26  or cane shaft  24 .  
     [0024] As is seen in FIG. 10, the pad  70  has a second or exterior surface  80  which is the surface that frictionally engages the edge  42  of a counter or the like (see FIGS.  1 - 6 ) or other supporting surface (such as a panel of an automobile). The second surface  80  also has a series of indentations  82  defining edges  84  which enhance frictional engagement with an edge  42  or other surface. Disposed adjacent a second edge  88  of the pad  70  are one or more second VELCRO® fastener strips  90  in the form of loops  92 . As is seen in FIG. 10, the second surface  80  has an adhesive free or VELCRO® free area  96  which is substantially wider than the adhesive or VELCRO® free area  73  of the first side  72  (see FIG. 9). Since the VELCRO® strips  76  face inwardly toward the strut  24  or shaft  26  when the pad  70  is wrapped around the crutch strut or cane shaft to form the tube  29  as is seen in FIG. 12, only the first surface  80  is exposed to rest against an edge  42  of a counter top or other structure. This is because the second VELCRO® fasteners  90  are covered by the first VELCRO® fasteners  76 .  
     [0025] Instead of VELCRO® fasteners configured as strips  76  and  90 , single relatively large VELCRO® patches may be used with one patch having loops  77  and the other having hooks  92 .  
     [0026] Since the pad  70  is relatively flexible, it conforms readily to the crutch strut  26  or cane shaft  28  and may be tensioned slightly before adhering the VELCRO® fasteners  76  and  90  to one another. The thus formed tube  29  is then conformed to a greater or lesser extent to the crutch strut  26  or cane shaft  28  so as to be held in a fixed position thereon. It is also possible to adjust the frictional engagement between the crutch strut  26  and cane shaft  28  so that the tube  29  formed by the support  20  is slidable thereon with various degrees of effort by the patient to provide the adjustable positioning illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 6 .  
     [0027]FIG. 11 illustrates a second embodiment of the pad  70  wherein an adhesive patch  102  having one side  103  adhered to either the first surface  72  of the pad or the second surface  80  of the pad is used to form the tube  29 . The adhesive patch has a second area  104  which adheres to the opposite surface of the pad  70  when the pad is rolled into the tube  29  (FIG. 12). For example, if the adhesive patch  102  is on the first surface  72  of the patch  70 , the second area  104  of the adhesive patch adheres to the second surface  80  of the pad when the pad is rolled into the tube  29 , and if the adhesive patch  102  is on the second surface  80  of the patch  70 , then the adhesive area  104  adheres to the first surface  72  of the pad when the pad is rolled. Preferably, the adhesive area  104  is covered by a protective patch  106  which is stripped off to expose the adhesive area. The adhesive patch  102  is placed at an edge  88  of the pad  70  so that is covered by the pad when the pad is rolled. Preferably, the adhesive patch  102  is placed on the first surface  72  of the pad  70  so that it readily accommodates variations in the diameters of crutch struts or cane shafts.  
     [0028] The aforedescribed support device  20  provides a very inexpensive, easy to apply, retrofit structure which substantially enhances the convenience and safety of crutches and canes by allowing one to support a crutch or cane adjacent to locations such as, but not limited to, work stations. This is because the support allows a patient to use his or her hands with a crutch  22  or cane  24  close thereby while minimizing the risk of the crutch or cane falling over.  
     [0029] In another embodiment of the invention the support device  20  is configured as a sleeve  20 ′(see FIGS.  1 - 6 ) which is mounted on a crutch strut  26  or cane shaft  28  by the manufacturer prior to sale rather than after sale. In this embodiment, the sleeve  20 ′ is formed, for example, by extrusion and slid over the crutch strut  26  or cane shaft  28  prior to attaching the under arm support  30  to the crutch  22  or the foot  38  to the cane  24 . The sleeve  20 ′ can engage the crutch strut  26  either tightly or loosely, but it is preferable that there is sufficient friction to hold the sleeve  20 ′ in a selected location on the crutch strut or cane shaft. While an extrusion is a preferable fabrication method for the sleeve  20 ′, it is within the scope of the invention to have the sleeve  20 ′ formed by joining abutting edges of a pad; by shrink fitting a tube, or by any other arrangement for providing a sleeve  20 ′ around a strut or shaft.  
     [0030] While a tube  20  or sleeve  20 ′ is preferred, this invention also encompasses using friction strips  120  attached to the crutch strut  26  or the cane shaft  28  along one side or opposite sides of the strut or shaft for engaging a corner  46  or edge of a counter top or sink  49 . As is seen in FIG. 13, the strip  120  can be attached in any manner, with adhesive  122  being preferred. The strip  120  can be attached to the crutch or cane by the manufacture, supplier or user of the crutch or cane.  
     [0031] From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.