Patent Publication Number: US-2009229643-A1

Title: Leg supporting crutch system and method

Description:
FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to assisted mobility, and more specifically, to systems and methods for providing a leg supporting crutch. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Leg injuries are not a new issue for humans, and ancient artwork suggests that crutches may have provided a solution even as early as 5000 years ago. Since then, crutches have progressed from primitive structures such as T-shaped sticks to sophisticated lightweight ergonomic tools. 
     Several major classes of crutches exist today, which include, underarm, forearm, platform, and knee support crutches. Underarm or axillary crutches are most common in the United States and are typically used by persons having a temporary disability or injury. These crutches have a pad that rests in the armpits and against the rib cage, and a grip along the length of the crutch that allows a user to grasp the crutch for stabilization. Underarm crutches are used temporarily because they tend to be uncomfortable and cumbersome for users. The discomfort caused by the pad under a user&#39;s arm, the strength required to hold the handles, and lack of hands-free operation makes this type of crutch less than ideal. 
     Forearm crutches are more popular in Europe and for users with long term injury or disability. These crutches typically include a cuff that surrounds the forearm of a user and a handle that is perpendicular to an elongated portion of the crutch. Here, users grasp the handle of the crutch place their forearm in the cuff, which serves to support the user&#39;s weight. While forearm crutches are a marked improvement over underarm crutches, they are nonetheless cumbersome and may not be operated without the use of hands. 
     Similarly, platform crutches have a support for the forearm of a user and a handle, but these crutches allow users to hold their arms in a position perpendicular to their body while using the crutch. As with forearm crutches, platform crutches are cumbersome and require a user to grasp a handle, which does not provide hands-free operation of these crutches. 
     Knee support crutches are similar to forearm and underarm crutches, but provide a support for the bent knee of a user. Although this type of crutch allows a user to use both legs while walking and removes weight from an injured or disabled leg, knee support crutches typically require one or both hands for proper operation and control. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view of a leg supporting crutch being used by a user, in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of a leg supporting crutch in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a leg supporting crutch in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of a leg supporting crutch in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a leg supporting crutch in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  is a close-up perspective view of a leg supporting crutch in accordance with various embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a leg supporting crutch in accordance with various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Illustrative embodiments presented herein include, but are not limited to, systems and methods for providing a leg supporting crutch. 
     Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments. 
     Further, various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the embodiments described herein; however, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation. 
     The phrase “in one embodiment” is used repeatedly. The phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment; however, it may. The terms “comprising,” “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise. 
     The following Figures depict exemplary systems and methods for providing a leg supporting crutch. In various embodiments described and shown, there may be a leg supporting crutch that includes a supporting member configured to support a user&#39;s bent knee and a stabilizing member coupled to the supporting member. In some embodiments the stabilizing member comprises a bent stabilizing bar and a handle. In other embodiments, the stabilizing member and supporting member are adjustable. 
       FIG. 1  is an environmental view of a leg supporting crutch  100  being used by a user  105 , in accordance with various embodiments. The leg supporting crutch  100  comprises a supporting member  115  and a stabilizing member  110 . 
     In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the supporting member  115  comprises an elongated first supporting body  130 , and an elongated second supporting body  135 , which are coupled via a clamp  160 B The first supporting body  130  comprises a tip  145  and the second supporting body  135  further comprises a leg support  140 . 
     In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the stabilizing member  110  comprises a first stabilizing body  120  and a second stabilizing body  125 , which are coupled via a clamp  160 A. The first stabilizing body  120  is coupled to the supporting member  115 . The second stabilizing body  125  further comprises a handle  150  and a stabilizing bar  155 . 
     As depicted here, a user  105  may support the user&#39;s  105  bent knee on the leg support  140  and wrap the user&#39;s arm  105  around the stabilizing member  110  such that the user&#39;s  105  arm is under the handle  150  and the stabilizing bar  155  is positioned about the user&#39;s  105  torso. In such an embodiment, the user  105  may stabilize the leg supporting crutch  100  without the use of the user&#39;s  105  hands, which is illustrated here by the user  105  freely holding a coffee cup and a file folder. As a user  105  walks with the leg supporting crutch  100 , the leg supporting crutch  100  may be held in position by the user&#39;s  105  elbow and arm along with friction between the user&#39;s  105  torso and the stabilizing bar  155 . 
     In another embodiment, a the leg supporting crutch  100  can be configured such that the stabilizing bar  155  can be held along various lengths of a user&#39;s  105  body, which can include the upper and lower torso, waist, leg, or the like. In a further embodiment, a user  105  can grasp the handle  150  with the user&#39;s  105  hand. In a further embodiment, a user  105  can grasp the stabilizing member  110 . 
     The leg supporting crutch  100  may be configured to a user  105  of various shapes and sizes. For example, the first and second stabilizing body  120 ,  125  may be slidably and/or rotationally configurable such that the stabilizing member  110  may be adjusted by length and rotation. Similarly, the first and second supporting body  135 ,  130  may be slidably and/or rotationally configurable such that the supporting member  115  may be adjusted by length and rotation. Desired configurations of the leg supporting crutch  100  may be achieved by tightening one or more clamp  160 A,  160 B, such that configurable members are locked in a given configuration. 
     In one embodiment, the leg supporting crutch  100  may be configured to support an amputee user  105  or a user  105  having leg deformation. For example, the leg support  140  and associated structures may be configured to support a user  105  having a leg amputation or deformation of or about the tibia, fibula, femur, knee, or the like. In another embodiment, the leg supporting crutch  100  may be configured to allow a user  105  with other deformations or amputations to use the leg supporting crutch  100 , which may include modification of the stabilizing bar  155 , handle  150 , and the like. 
     In various embodiments, a user  105  may support a bent knee in the leg support  140  while walking with the leg supporting crutch  100 . This may be desirable in some embodiments because force that would normally be applied to the leg of a user  105  while walking would instead be directed to the bent knee of a user  105  while walking with the assistance of the leg supporting crutch  100 . Accordingly, in one example, a user  105  having an injury below the knee would be able to walk with a relatively normal gait without applying pressure or strain to the below-knee injury. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear view of a leg supporting crutch  100  in accordance with various embodiments, and  FIG. 3  is a front view of a leg supporting crutch  100  in accordance with various embodiments. As shown in the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the leg supporting crutch  100  comprises a stabilizing member  110  and a supporting member  115 . 
     The supporting member  115  further comprises a first supporting body  130  and a second supporting body  135 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the first supporting body  130  is an elongated body that comprises a tip  145  at a terminal end of the supporting body  130 . The tip  145 , in some embodiments, may be an elastic structure that frictionally engages a surface that a user  105  is walking on. For example, the tip  145  may comprise materials such as rubber, plastic, latex, or the like. In various embodiments, the tip  145  may be absent. 
     The second supporting body  135  is an elongated body comprising a leg support  140  at an upper end, and leg support wings  220 , which may provide support for the leg support  140  in relation to the second supporting body  135 . In one embodiment, the leg support wings  220  may be absent. 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the stabilizing member  110  comprises a first stabilizing body  120 , a second stabilizing body  125 , and a third stabilizing body  210 . The first stabilizing body  120  is coupled to the supporting member  115  and is coupled to the second stabilizing body  125 . 
     The second stabilizing body  125  comprises a stabilizing bar  155 , which is covered by a bar pad  230 A,  230 B on each end of the stabilizing bar  155 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the stabilizing bar  155  may be a bent or curved, which may correspond to the torso of a user  105 . In another embodiment, the stabilizing bar  155  may be roughly linear, or may be various irregular shapes. As depicted here, the stabilizing bar  155  is an elongated bar that is roughly perpendicular to the first stabilizing body  120 ; however, in a further embodiment, the stabilizing bar  155  may be at various angles, and need not comprise a first and second end that are both roughly perpendicular to the first stabilizing body  120 . For example, in one embodiment, the stabilizing bar  155  may be coupled to the first stabilizing body  120  at a first end and extend to a second end. In a still further embodiment the one or more bar pad  230 A,  203 B may be absent or the stabilizing bar  155  may be absent. 
     The third stabilizing body  210  comprises a handle  150 , which is covered by a handle pad  240 . As depicted in the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the third stabilizing body  210  may be a member that resides around the first stabilizing body  120  and is slidably and rotatably configurable about the first stabilizing body  120 . Additionally, the third stabilizing body  210  may be held or fixed in various configurations via a clamp  160 C. For example, in various embodiments, changing the configuration of the third stabilizing body  210  may allow a user  105  to change the height of the handle  150  in relation to the body of the user  105 . In one embodiment, the handle pad  240  may be absent. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 3 , the handle  150  is positioned roughly perpendicular to the stabilizing bar  155  and positioned roughly perpendicular to the stabilizing member  110 . In another embodiment, the handle  150  can be roughly parallel to the stabilizing bar  155  and/or positioned roughly parallel to the stabilizing member  110 . In a still further embodiment, the handle  150  can be positioned at various angles in relation to the stabilizing bar  155  and stabilizing member  110 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a leg supporting crutch  100  in accordance with various embodiments. The leg supporting crutch  100  comprises a stabilizing member  110 , and a supporting member  115 . 
     The supporting member  115  comprises a first supporting body  130  and a second supporting body  135  and the second supporting body  135  resides within the first supporting body  130 . For example, in one embodiment, the first and second supporting body  130 ,  135  comprise elongated hollow tubes and the radius of the second supporting body  135  is such that the second supporting body  135  may reside within the diameter of the first supporting body  130 . Additionally, the length of the supporting member  115  may be changed by slidably configuring the first and second support body  130 ,  135 , and various length configurations of the supporting member  115  may be fixed or held via a clamp  160 B. 
     The clamp  160 B may be positioned at a top end of the first support body  130  and may be configurable to constrict the diameter of first support body  130  such that friction generated between the first and second support body  130 ,  135  allows the first and second support body  130 ,  135  to be held or fixed in a desired configuration. Although a clamp  160 A,  160 B,  160 C is illustrated and described as being part of various embodiments, one of ordinary skill in the art would immediately appreciate that various structures may be employed to allow elongated members to be slidably configurable. For example, various clamps, slots and pins, springs, adhesives, bolts, and a multitude of other structures may be employed that are within the scope of various embodiments. 
     Returning to  FIG. 4 , the second supporting body  135  comprises a leg support  140  that includes a support pad  410 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the leg support  140  may be a curved structure that houses the support pad  410 , which may be configured to support the leg, knee, or other part of a lower limb of a user  105 . One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the various configurations of the leg support  140  and leg pad  410  that are within the scope of various embodiments. 
     The stabilizing member  110  comprises a first stabilizing body  120 , a second stabilizing body  125 , and a third stabilizing body  210 . The first stabilizing body  120  may be coupled to the first supporting body  130  along the length of the first supporting body  130 . Coupling the first supporting body  130  and the first stabilizing body  120  may be achieved via various methods including welding, an adhesive, a clamp, slot and pin, and the like. In one embodiment the first supporting body  130  may be coupled to the first stabilizing body  120  along a length of the first stabilizing body  120 . In a further embodiment, the first stabilizing body  120  may include a tip  145 . 
     In various embodiments depicted herein, the stabilizing member  110  is an elongated structure that curved at a bottom end and is coupled to the support member  115  along a length of the support member  115 . Both the stabilizing member  110  and support member  115  may be tube structures, and the end of the stabilizing member  110  may be coupled to the support member  115  such that the stabilizing member  110  and support member  115  are roughly perpendicular where the stabilizing member  110  and support member  115  are coupled. The stabilizing member  110  can curve or bend such that a length of the stabilizing member  110  is roughly parallel to the support member  115 . 
     However, it should be clear to one of ordinary skill in the art, that stabilizing member  110  and support member  115  can be coupled in various ways and be configured in various orientations in relation to each other. For example, the stabilizing member  110  and support member  115  may be parallel to each other along a length where the stabilizing member  110  and support member  115  are coupled. Additionally, the angle between the stabilizing member  110  and support member  115  may be variable, configurable, or different in various embodiments. 
     As shown here in  FIG. 4 , the second stabilizing body  125  resides within the first stabilizing body  120 . For example, the first and second stabilizing body  120 ,  125  may be elongated hollow tube structures with radius and diameter such that the second stabilizing body  125  may reside within the first stabilizing body  120 . The first and second stabilizing body  120 ,  125  may be slidably configurable such that the length of the stabilizing member  110  may be changed. Various configurations of the first and second stabilizing body  120 ,  125  may be fixed or secured via a clamp  160 A that may be positioned at a top end of the first stabilizing body  120 , and the clamp  160 A may be configured so that the diameter of the first stabilizing body  120  is constructed such that friction created between the first and second stabilizing body  120 ,  125  fixes or secures a desired configuration of the first and second stabilizing body  120 ,  125 . 
     Similarly the third stabilizing body  210  may have a diameter that roughly corresponds to the first stabilizing body  120  or that is configured such that the third stabilizing body  210  may surround the second stabilizing body  125 . For example, the third stabilizing body  210  may be slidably configurable along a length of the second stabilizing body  125  and may be secured in a given configuration by a clamp  160 C that constricts the third stabilizing body  210  such that the third stabilizing body  210  is held, fixed or coupled about the second stabilizing body  125 . 
     The third stabilizing body  210 , as depicted in  FIG. 4 , may comprise a handle  150 , and the handle  150  may be covered by handle pad  240 . Additionally, where the handle  150  is a hollow elongated structure, a distal end of the handle  150  may comprise and be covered and/or filled by a plug  420 A. 
     Although various embodiments depicted herein include a leg supporting crutch  100  comprising hollow tubular members and bodies, it should be clear to one of ordinary skill in the art that architecture and structures of a leg supporting crutch  100  may comprise various shapes and materials that are within the scope of various embodiments. For example a leg supporting crutch  100  may comprise solid extended members, wires, and the like. Additionally, a supporting leg crutch  100  may comprise various materials, including aluminum, iron, steel, plastic, composite material, fiberglass, wood, combinations thereof, and the like. 
     Additionally, in various embodiments, a leg supporting crutch  100  may have various supporting member  115  and stabilizing member  110  configurations. For example, in one embodiment, the supporting member  115  and/or the stabilizing member  110  may be a single structure that may not change in length. Additionally, in a further embodiment, there may be one or more supporting member  115  and/or the stabilizing member  110 . In a further embodiment, there may be one or more stabilizing body  120 ,  125 ,  210  and/or one or more supporting body  130 ,  135 . 
     In other embodiments, a stabilizing body  120 ,  125 ,  210  and/or one or more supporting body  130 ,  135  may be in various configurations. For example, in one embodiment, the diameter of the first supporting body  130  may be such that the first supporting body  130  resides within the second supporting body  135 . In another embodiment, the first stabilizing body  120  may be configured such that the first stabilizing body  120  resides within the second stabilizing body  125 . In a further embodiment, the first and/or second stabilizing body  120 ,  125  may comprise a handle  150  and/or a stabilizing bar  155 . In a further embodiment, the second stabilizing body  125  may be configured such that the second stabilizing body  125  resides within the third stabilizing body  210 , and the third stabilizing body  210  may be configured such that the third stabilizing body  210  resides within the first stabilizing body  120 . 
     In a still further embodiment, the third stabilizing body  210  may reside within one or both of the first and second stabilizing body  120 ,  125 . Also, in another embodiment, the handle  150  and or the stabilizing bar  155  may extend through an orifice defined by one or both of the first and second stabilizing body  120 ,  125 . 
     In one embodiment, the supporting member  115  can be absent, and a leg support  140  and/or support pad  410  can be coupled to the stabilizing member  110 . For example, there can be rods, bars, or other supports that extend from the stabilizing member  110  that couple a leg support  140  and/or support pad  410  to the stabilizing member. Additionally, a leg support  140  and/or support pad  410  can be directly coupled to the stabilizing member, e.g., with a lateral tube (as shown) movably affixed to the stabilizing member. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of a leg supporting crutch  100  in accordance with various embodiments, which comprises a supporting member  115  and a stabilization member  110 . The supporting member  115  comprises a first supporting body  130  and a second supporting body  135  and the second supporting body  135  resides within the first supporting body  130 . As depicted in  FIG. 5 , the first and second supporting body  130 ,  135  comprise elongated hollow tubes and the radius of the second supporting body  135  is such that the second supporting body  135  may reside within the diameter of the first supporting body  130 . Additionally, the length of the supporting member  115  may be changed by slidably configuring the first and second support body  130 ,  135 , and various length configurations of the supporting member  115  may be fixed or held via a clamp  160 B. 
     The clamp  160 B may be positioned at a top end of the first support body  130  and may be configurable to constrict the diameter of first support body  130  such that friction generated between the first and second support body  130 ,  135  allows the first and second support body  130 ,  135  to be held or fixed in a desired configuration. Although a clamp  160 A,  160 B,  160 C is illustrated and described as being part of various embodiments, one of ordinary skill in the art would immediately appreciate that various structures may be employed to allow elongated members to be slidably configurable. For example, various clamps, slots and pins, springs, adhesives, bolts, and a multitude of other structures may be employed that are within the scope of various embodiments. 
     In one embodiment, a supporting body  130 ,  135  or stabilizing body  120 ,  125 ,  210  may comprise a notch around which the supporting body  130 ,  135  or stabilizing body  120 ,  125 ,  210  is coupled via a clamp  160 A,  160 B,  160 C. In various embodiments, it may be desirable to for a supporting body  130 ,  135  or stabilizing body  120 ,  125 ,  210  to comprise a notch because the notch may allow more efficient constriction of a supporting body  130 ,  135  or stabilizing body  120 ,  125 ,  210  such that various configurations and or lengths can be secured by a clamp  160 A,  160 B,  160 C or other securing or coupling structure. 
       FIG. 6  is a close-up perspective view of a leg supporting crutch  100  in accordance with various embodiments. Depicted in  FIG. 6  is a stabilizing member  110  that comprises a second stabilizing body  125  and a third stabilizing body  210 . The second stabilizing body  125  comprises a stabilizing bar  155  that is an elongated curved bar that includes plugs  420 A,  420 B at the distal ends of the stabilizing bar  155 . The third stabilizing body  210  comprises a handle  150  that is an elongated curved tube with a plug  420 C at a distal end of the handle  150 . The third stabilizing body  210  encompasses a length of the second stabilizing body  125  and may be held in place or in a given configuration via a clamp  160 C that is located at a top end of the third stabilizing body  210 . In one embodiment, the clamp  160 C may be located in various positions along the length of the third stabilizing body  210 . 
     As discussed herein,  FIG. 6  depicts an exemplary embodiment of a leg supporting crutch  100  comprising a second and third stabilizing body  125 ,  210 ; however, in some embodiments, the handle  150  may be coupled to the second supporting body  135  or the second and third supporting body  125 ,  210  may be coupled within each other in various configurations. 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of a leg supporting crutch  100  in accordance with various embodiments, which comprises a supporting member  115  and a stabilization member  110 . The supporting member  115  comprises a first supporting body  130  and a second supporting body  135  and the second supporting body  135  resides within the first supporting body  130 . As depicted in  FIG. 7 , the first and second supporting body  130 ,  135  comprise elongated hollow tubes and the radius of the second supporting body  135  is such that the second supporting body  135  may reside within the diameter of the first supporting body  130 . Additionally, the length of the supporting member  115  may be changed by slidably configuring the first and second support body  130 ,  135 , and various length configurations of the supporting member  115  may be fixed or held via a clamp  160 B. 
     Returning to  FIG. 7 , the second supporting body  135  comprises a leg support  140  that includes a support pad  410 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the leg support  140  may be a curved structure that houses the support pad  410 , which may be configured to support the leg, knee, or other part of a lower limb of a user  105 . One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the various configurations of the leg support  140  and leg pad  410  that are within the scope of various embodiments. 
     The stabilizing member  110  comprises a first stabilizing body  120 , a second stabilizing body  125 , a third stabilizing body  210  and a fourth stabilizing body  710 . The first stabilizing body  120  may be coupled to the first supporting body  130  along the length of the first supporting body  130 . 
     As shown here in  FIG. 7 , the second stabilizing body  125  resides within the first stabilizing body  120 . For example, the first and second stabilizing body  120 ,  125  may be elongated hollow tube structures with radius and diameter such that the second stabilizing body  125  may reside within the first stabilizing body  120 . The first and second stabilizing body  120 ,  125  may be slidably configurable such that the length of the stabilizing member  110  may be changed. Various configurations of the first and second stabilizing body  120 ,  125  may be fixed or secured via a clamp  160 A that may be positioned at a top end of the first stabilizing body  120 , and the clamp  160 A may be configured so that the diameter of the first stabilizing body  120  is constructed such that friction created between the first and second stabilizing body  120 ,  125  fixes or secures a desired configuration of the first and second stabilizing body  120 ,  125 . 
     Similarly the third stabilizing body  210  may have a diameter that roughly corresponds to the first stabilizing body  120  or that is configured such that the third stabilizing body  210  may surround the second stabilizing body  125 . For example, the third stabilizing body  210  may be slidably configurable along a length of the second stabilizing body  125  and may be secured in a given configuration by a clamp  160 C that constricts the third stabilizing body  210  such that the third stabilizing body  210  is held, fixed or coupled about the second stabilizing body  125 . 
     The third stabilizing body  210 , as depicted in  FIG. 7 , may comprise a handle  150 , and the handle  150  may be covered by handle pad  240 . Additionally, where the handle  150  is a hollow elongated structure, a distal end of the handle  150  may comprise and be covered and/or filled by a plug  420 A. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 7 , the fourth stabilizing body  710  may comprise a grip  715  (e.g. a hollow tubular body, or the like). The fourth stabilizing body  710  may surround the first stabilizing body  120  and may be slidably configurable along the length of the first stabilizing body  120 . In one embodiment, the fourth stabilizing body  710  can be held or fixed in a given configuration in various ways, which can include various clamps, slots and pins, springs, adhesives, bolts, and a multitude of other structures may be employed. 
     Additionally, in various embodiments, a leg supporting crutch  100  may have various supporting member  115  and stabilizing member  110  configurations. For example, in one embodiment, the supporting member  115  and/or the stabilizing member  110  may be a single structure that may not change in length. Additionally, in a further embodiment, there can be one or more handle  150  or grip  715  on any of the first, second, third or fourth stabilizing body  120 ,  125 ,  210 ,  710 . In a further embodiment, any of the first, second, third or fourth stabilizing body  120 ,  125 ,  210 ,  710  can be absent, and there can be one or more handle  150  or grip  715  located on various structures. 
     In other embodiments, a stabilizing body  120 ,  125 ,  210 ,  710  and/or one or more supporting body  130 ,  135  may be in various configurations. In another embodiment, the first stabilizing body  120  may be configured such that the first stabilizing body  120  resides within the second stabilizing body  125 . In a further embodiment, the first and/or second stabilizing body  120 ,  125  may comprise a handle  150  and/or a stabilizing bar  155 . In a further embodiment, the second stabilizing body  125  may be configured such that the second stabilizing body  125  resides within the third stabilizing body  210 , and the third stabilizing body  210  may be configured such that the third stabilizing body  210  resides within the first stabilizing body  120 . In yet another embodiment, any of the first, second, or third stabilizing body  120 ,  125 ,  210 , can be configured to reside within the fourth stabilizing body  710 . 
     Additionally, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art and others, that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown in the described without departing from the scope of the embodiments described herein. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiment discussed herein. While various embodiments have been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments described herein.