Improvements in or applicable to Wooden Legs, Crutches, and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left. 17th Dec. 1894-Accented. 9th Mar. 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
(
Improvements in or applicable to Wooden Legs, Crutches, and
the like.
I WILLIAM ROBERT SMITH, of 17 Smallgate Street, Beccles, in the County
of Suffolk, Hairdresser, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention for improvements in or applicable to wooden legs, crutches and
the like has for its principal object to provide a resilient tip or base for such
articles and thereby prevent or greatly reduce the communication of shocks or
jars to the users.
In one form of tip or base constructed according to this invention, and more
especially applicable for wooden legs, the base of the leg is bored out for a short
distance and into the cylindrical cavity so formed is fixed a helical metal spring
whose outer end preferably projects beyond the wooden base and has secured to it
a disc bored and screw threaded for the reception of a screw hereinafter
referred to.
On the base of the leg is next placed a cylindrical india rubber block formed
with a cavity for the reception of the beforementioned spring to which it is
Becured by
screw whose head fits into a recess or cavity on the underside of the
rubber block while its tail screws into the threaded hole in the beforementioned
spring head or disc and thus secures the spring and rubber together.
In a modified arrangement 1 dispense with the attaching screw and secure the
rubber block to the base of the leg by means of a threaded ring which engages
with a corresponding threaded socket ring secured to the leg, the rubber block
being formed with a projecting lip or bead for this purpose.
I sometimes add a tip or sole of leather, the head of the attaching screw being
then secured to the back of such tip or sole.
In a further modified arrangement I dispense with the solid rubber block and
metal spring and substitute therefor a rubber ball or cylinder inflated with air
and secured in position in a suitable socket. This inflated ball or cylinder may be
thickened on its base or may be provided with a leather sole or base to resist wear
and tear.
Dated this 15th day of March 1894.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chaucery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in or applicable to Wooden Legs, Crutches, and
the like.
1, WILLIAM ROBERT SMITH, of 17 Smallgate Street, Beccles, in the County
of Suffolk, Hairdresser, 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:-
This invention for improvements in or applicable to wooden legs, crutches and

page_text: the like has for its principal object to provide a resilient tip or base for such
articles and thereby prevent or greatly reduce the communication of shocks or jars
to the users.
In the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings :-
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the lower part or base of a wooden leg or crutch
constructed according to this invention, and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the
same at A-B Fig. 1.
g
A plunger comprising a tube a filled with a plug b and having an enlarged end
or head c working in the casing d slides freely in the neck e and is securely
connected to the upper part of the leg or crutch by the ferrule and rivet or
screw h. A coiled spring i secured to the plug 6 by a screw is forced into the
casing d and maintained in a strained condition therem by means of a screwed
closing cap m, a set screw n being passed through the cap and casing to prevent
them from becoming unscrewed. The casing d is lined with rubber leather, textile,
or other fabric o to prevent the rattling of the parts therein.
The base is tipped with two rubber packing discs t and a leather sole disc p
secured to the cap m by screws q bolt r and locking nuts s as shown.
It will be obvious that an attachment constructed as above described will form a
resilient base or shoe and prevent, or greatly reduce, the communication of shocks
to the leg of the wearer.
Instead of making the plunger of two parts a bit may obviously be formed of one
solid piece of wood or other suitable material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is :
1. An attachment applicable to wooden legs, crutches and the like comprising a
plunger connected to a coiled spring contained in a casing closed by a screwed cap
tipped with a sole secured to the said screwed cap substantially as described.
2. The combination of parts constituting my improvements in or applicable to
wooden legs, crutches and the like, the whole arranged, constructed and operating
substantially as described in the foregoing Specification and illustrated in the
drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 15th day of December 1894.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.