Improvements in Crutches.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1890-Accepted, 6th Dec., 1850
Improvements in Crutches.
A communication from JOHN DOBNEY, of 140, Lisgar Street, in the City of Toronto.
in the Province of Ontario, Canada, Machinist.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E., do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of the invention is to devise a simple contrivance by which a crutch
provided with a rubber end for use on carpets may be instantly converted into a crutch
suitable for outside use where something more is necessary to secure a firm grip on
the ground than an ordinary rubber end; and it consists essentially of a rod inserted
in a hole made in the end of the crutch the said rod being sharpened at one end which
end projects through a hole in the rubber end of the crutch. Means are provided for
imparting longitudinal movement to the rod, and also to hold it in any desired
position substantially as hereinafter explained so that the pointed end of the rod may
be forced out and held to act as a spike or withdrawn and held concealed within the
crutch as may be desired.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved crutch.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the end of the crutch showing the rubber
and adjustable rod.
Fig. 3 is a sectional detail of the metal block and adjustable rod with its
spring.
Fig. 4 is a plan of the metal block showing the recesses which form the lock for
holding the adjustable rod.
In the drawing A is the crutch and B is a rod inserted in the centre of the crutch
and having a pointed end a. (is a rubber block securely held on the end of the
crutch by the tapered ferrule D which is screwed onto the metal end of the crutch A
E is a metal block inserted in the ferrule D immediately below the rubber block C. A
flange e formed on the block E rests upon the metal end 6 of the crutch. F is a
spiral spring placed between the bottom of the metal block E and the collar G fixed
to the rod B. The tension of the spring pushes upwardly and holds the pointed
end a of the rod B within the rubber block, C so that when the crutch is used the
pointed end of the rod B will not come in contact with the floor. When the pointed
end a is required for use the rod B is pressed down until its end a projects through
the rubber block C. By this time the lugs have reached the recess made in the
top of the metal block E. The rod B is then turned so as to bring the said lugs f
immediately over the seats formed in the recess into which they drop. When in
this position the weight on the pointed end a of the rod B is supported directly by
the metal block E which as shown and described is securely held against the metal
end of the crutch. When the party using the crutch wishes to dispense with the
pointed end a he has merely to push the rod B until the lugs are clear of their
seats and then turn it until the lugs come opposite to the elongated hole in the metal
block E when by the action of the spring F the rod B is forced up so as to carry its
pointed end a within the rubber block C
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
:-
1. The combination with a crutch of an adjustable rod B provided with locking
mechanism to lock it in position substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. The rod B inserted in the crutch A having a rubber block Cheld in its end in

page_text: combination with a spring F lugs f and recessed block E substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
3. The rod B inserted in the crutch A and projecting through a hole made in the
rubber block C which is held in position by the tapered ferrule D in combination
with the lugs fitting into the recessed metal block E a spring F located between the
end of the metal block E and the collar G fixed to the rod B substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
Dated this Third day of November 1890.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.