GB2601421A

GB2601421A - A walking aid

Info

Publication number: GB2601421A
Application number: GB2115796.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kohn Sandra
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-11-25
Filing date: 2021-11-03
Publication date: 2022-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 2041-11-03
Also published as: GB202018520D0; GB202115796D0; GB2601421B; GB2601317A

Abstract

A walking aid 100 comprising a telescopic pole 4, preferably two poles 4A, 4B, with a plurality of legs 11 at the ground-engaging end 10 configured to move from a first position proximate the pole axis, to a second position in which distal ends of the legs are splayed, preferably forming a tripod, by a deployment mechanism (60, fig.4) activated by an actuator 3 on a handle 2. The length of the telescopic pole is adjustable by a trigger 40 which when actuated, disengages the deployment mechanism to permit adjustment, and when released, reengages the deployment mechanism after adjustment. The deployment mechanism is preferably within the telescopic pole(s) and includes an arm (61, fig.5) connected to a bar (47, fig.5) by a sprung finger (44, fig.5) with a node (45, fig.5) that is removed from one of a plurality of recess on the bar upon trigger actuation. The legs, each of which may include a foot 12, may be associated with a weighted collar 14 around the telescopic pole(s) that slides up and down.

Description

A WALKING AID

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a walking aid, in particular a walking aid arranged to be capable of resting upright.

Background

Increasing use of walking aids and crutches is a factor in many societies as populations age. Walking aids and crutches are also commonly used when recovering from injury.

Users of crutches or walking aids often have restricted mobility and may have difficulty bending over to pick crutches or a walking aid up from the floor or will search for a place to securely lean the crutch or walking aid while performing other activities. If a crutch or walking aid falls to the floor a user may not be able to recover it themselves and must rely on another person so assist.

The present invention provides a modified walking aid that addresses this problem.

Prior Art

US 8 371 320 (MCKENNA) discloses an improved forearm crutch includes an adjustable shaft, a forearm cuff affixed to an upper end of the shaft, a manifold affixed 25 in proximity to the lower end of the shaft, and three legs affixed to said manifold.

ES 1 072 933 (NUALART et al) discloses a device has telescopic tubular sections comprising two three rods pivotally mounted to a movable core.

US 4 091 828 (JORGENSEN) discloses a walking cane with a collapsible stand adjacent its tip shiftable from an extended position wherein the stand supports the cane in an upright attitude, to a collapsed position wherein the stand nests neatly along the body of the cane above the tip.

EP 3 676 885 (THIES) discloses a crutch for supporting a leg of a user with a handle, a base portion having a footprint when contracting the ground and a main rod.

EP 3 763 346 (WILKENS) discloses a walking aid for supporting a person when walking.

DE102016011593 (GOBBERS et al) discloses a crutch.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided walking aid comprising a handle, connected to a telescopic pole with an end that is arranged to engage the ground in use, the end comprises a plurality of legs that are configured to move from a first position, proximate to an axis of the pole, to a second position, in which distal ends of the legs are permitted to splay apart from the axis of the pole by means of a deployment mechanism that is activated by an actuator on the handle; whereby the length of the telescopic pole is adjustable by means of a trigger apparatus which when actuated, disengages the deployment mechanism thereby permitting the length of the telescopic pole to be adjusted and reengages the deployment mechanism when the trigger is apparatus is released, after the length of the telescopic pole has been adjusted.

In this way a user can easily deploy the legs by pressing/pulling the actuator so that the crutch can be left in a standing position rather than having to lie the crutch down 25 or rest it against a surface. This ensures that a user can always easily reach their crutches Furthermore as the deployment mechanism is arranged to engage with the trigger apparatus, the deployment mechanism is operable when the walking aid is at any of a number of selected lengths. Advantageously this means that the crutch is suitable for multiple different users and that a user does not need to change orientation of the crutch to deploy the legs to the splayed configuration.

The deployment mechanism and trigger apparatus are substantially enclosed within 35 the telescopic poles to protect the components. Only the actuator for the deployment mechanism and a trigger lever for the trigger apparatus are visible on the external surface of the walking aid.

Preferably the telescopic pole is formed from two poles, one concentrically arranged 5 within the other. This configuration keeps the crutch strong but lightweight.

Preferably the pole at the distal end of the walking aid fits concentrically within the pole at the proximal end of the walking aid.

Preferably the walking aid has three legs that splay when deployed to form a tripod. This is the minimum number of legs required to enable the walking aid to stand upright unattended. It is appreciated that more legs may be provided in some embodiments.

In some embodiments each leg has a foot The foot may be a resiliently deformable 15 cap, such as a rubber cap that covers a distal end of the leg to enhance grip with a surface and to the protect the end from damage.

The feet may include non-slip raised and lowered portions underneath each rubber foot to increase stability in all weather conditions and different types of flooring.

The feet may be removable, so that they can be replaced when damaged or excessively worn.

The deployment mechanism is activated by an actuator arranged on, or adjacent to, 25 the handle of the walking aid. This enables the actuator to be easily reached during normal use of the walking aid The actuator is connected to an arm that passes through the telescopic poles and displaceably engages with a bar that is connected to means for deploying the legs.

The arm displaceable connects to the bar by means of a sprung finger. The sprung finger is connected to a distal end of the arm at a hinge and a proximal end of the finger has a node that engages with the bar. The bar has a plurality of recesses for engaging with the node.

The sprung finger is associated with the trigger apparatus so that node on the sprung finger is forced to engage in a recess on the bar when the nub of the trigger mechanism pushes against the spring finger.

When the lever is pressed to adjust length of the walking aid, the nub is released from the sprung finger so the node springs away from the recess on the bar and the lower pole and bar are free to move with respect to the upper pole in order to adjust length. When the desired length is reached the nub is received in the newly selected aperture which thereby pushes the sprung finger and nub into a recess on the bar so that the bar is again engaged with the deployment mechanism and thereby the deployment mechanism can remain active at all different lengths.

Preferably the means for deploying the legs is a cam arranged in a collar. The cam enables the linear motion generated by pulling the actuator that raises the arm and bar 15 upwards within the telescopic pole to bring about rotation of the legs at their proximal ends by means of the cam.

In preferred embodiments each leg is connected at a distal end to a pivot so that the legs can pivot between splayed and non-splayed configurations. Ideally the pivots are 20 arranged on a core that sits within the collar.

Preferably the collar is arranged to move on the pole. For example the collar may be envisaged to move vertically on the pole so as to enable splaying of the legs into the second position when the collar moves upwards and or bunching of the legs into the 25 first position when the collar moves downwards over proximal ends of the legs.

In some embodiments the collar may comprise a moveable collar portion and a static collar portion, and in some embodiments the moveable collar portion may be internal the static collar portion, wherein the outer face of the device is not substantially altered 30 in movement between positions, reducing danger of snagging.

In some embodiments the legs comprise braces. The braces may brace the splayed legs to the collar and/or to the pole. In this way the legs may be prevented from overextension and enabled to support a greater weight without buckling.

In some embodiments the handle may comprise a handgrip. Such handgrip may be envisaged to extend horizontally or laterally from the walking aid, in part or whole. In some embodiments the handle or handgrip includes padding, or resiliently deformable material.

In some embodiments the handle may comprise a shoulder support instead of an arm cuff, which shoulder support may extend above the handle, for example at an angle substantially vertically.

In some embodiments the deployment mechanism may be sprung. For example movement into the second splayed position may be spring-biased. In this way it may be envisaged that the user may be enabled to push the legs against the ground to move the legs into the first position, pushing against the spring, such that the movement into the second position is a release mechanism.

Preferably the poles are able to be adjusted to provide a walking aid from at least 680mm to 800mm (handle to ground height).

Preferably, with a force of 0.5N, equivalent to clicking a pen, the legs can be deployed 20 and retracted. Ideally through a vertical movement of lOmm, the legs can be deployed to the second position securely.

In a preferred embodiment the legs may be formed from steel and dimensioned to support 160kg in tension with a 300% safety factor.

The legs are held at 20° from the vertical in the second position to allow the embodiment to withstand a 2N collision at the cuff, with a 300% safety factor, without falling over.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric front view of a first embodiment of a walking aid; Figure 2 shows an isometric rear view of the first embodiment of the walking aid; Figure 3 shows a front exploded view of the walking aid; Figure 4 shows a rear exploded view of the walking aid; Figure 5 shows the trigger apparatus when the actuator is not activated; Figure 6 shows the trigger apparatus when the actuator is depressed; Figure 7 shows trigger apparatus when the pin is removed to adjust length; Figures 8A show the legs in the closed position Figure 8B shows the legs in the splayed position; Figures 9A shows a cross section of the lower end of the walking aid with the legs in the first position; Figure 9B shows a cross section on the lower end of the walking aid with the legs in the second position; Figure 10 shows a side view of the means for rotating the legs; Figure 11 shows a top view of the means for rotating the legs; and Figure 12 shows a side view of the means for rotating the legs.

Detailed Description of Fiqures

The Figures disclose a walking aid 100 comprising a handle 2, a telescopic pole 4 formed from two concentric parts 4A, 4B, and an end 10 arranged to engage the ground in use.

The end 10 comprises a plurality of legs 11, that are configured to move from a first position proximate the pole axis (see Figure 8A) to a second position in which distal ends of the legs 11 splay apart from the pole axis to form a tripod (see Figure 8B). The legs 11 move between a first and second configuration by means of a deployment mechanism 60 that is activated by an actuator 3 arranged below the handle 2.

The telescopic pole 4 is connected to a deviated upper section 9. An end of the upper section 9 has a cuff 510 support a user's upper arm.

A handle 2 is located on the deviated section 9, close to the intersection of the deviated section 9 and the telescopic pole 4A.

The handle 2 extends substantially orthogonally from the deviated section 9 so as to provide support for the user's hand.

An actuator 3 is arranged below the handle 2 so that a user can reach and pull the 15 actuator 3 without having to remove their hand from the handle 2.

The actuator 3 is connected to an arm 61 that is arranged within the telescopic pole or poles 4. The arm 61 is connected to the actuator 3 at a proximal end, and is displaceably engageable with the bar 47 at a distal end, by means of a sprung finger 20 44.

The arm 61 is connected to the bar 47 by a spring finger 44. The sprung finger 44 is suspended from a hinge 46 on a distal end of the arm 61. The sprung finger 44 has a node 45 that engages with the bar 47 so that the arm 61 and the bar 47 move in unison 25 when the actuator 3 is activated.

The bar 47 is connected to the legs 11 by means of a cam system that is arranged within the collar 14. The linear movement of the bar 47 upwards when the actuator 3 is activated drives rotation of the legs 11 about a series of pivots 31 associated with 30 core 13.

The proximal ends of the legs 11 are shaped and dimensioned to fit within and engage with the collar 14.

Rotation of the legs 11about the proximal ends via the pivots 31 enables the distal ends of the legs 11 to be splayed The length of the telescopic poles 4 is adjusted by means of a trigger apparatus 40.

The trigger apparatus has a lever 41 that is connected to a nub 42. Movement of the 5 lever 41 displaces and replaces the nub 42 through apertures 43 in the walls of the poles 4.

The trigger apparatus 40 is fixed on one of the two telescopic poles 4. The nub 42 is received through apertures 43 in the telescopic poles when apertures on both 10 telescopic poles are aligned. The act of the nub 42 passing through both apertures 43 locks the length of the poles 4A, 4B.

The nub 42 also engages with a sprung finger 44 that is suspended from a hinge 46 on a distal end of the arm 61. The finger has a node 45 that is received in a recess 47A or the bar 47. When the nub 42 engages with the sprung finger 44, the nub 42 pushes against the finger 44 so that the node 45 is pushed into a recess. This locks the bar 47 into place so that the bar 47 and arm 61 move in unison.

When the nub 42 is released to adjust length of the poles 4A, 4B the sprung finger 44 20 is released so that the node 45 is removed from the recess 47A and the bar 47 and arm 61 are disconnected. This enables the poles 4A, 4B to be moveable with respect to each other.

When adjusting length of the walking aid 100, by changing position of the poles 4A, 4B 25 relative to each other, the pole 4B that is not fixed to the trigger apparatus 40 is moved up and down within the other pole 4A to adjust length.

The trigger apparatus 40 has a housing 48 in which the arm 61 moves through. The housing 48 acts to prevent wear caused by repeated movement of the arm 61.

The trigger apparatus 40 also has a body 49 which is in communication with the sprung finger 44. The body 49 acts to constrain movement of the sprung finger 44 and ensures lateral motion within the poles 4A, 4B.

A spring 50 is provided to pull up the sprung finger 44 and node 45 when the trigger lever 41 is pushed down which results in the unlatching of the node 45 from the recess 47A so that length of the poles 4A, 4B can be adjusted The deployment mechanism 60 engages with the trigger apparatus 40 in such a way that when length of the telescopic poles 4A, 4B are adjusted the deployment mechanism 60 is temporarily disengaged from the trigger apparatus 40 as the bar 47 and arm 61 are temporarily not locked together. This enables the pole positions to be adjusted, the nub to be received in the selected aligned apertures 43 in the pole walls, and the node 45 to be engaged with a different recess 47A on the bar 47.

In Figure 5 the length of the poles 4A, 4B is locked in position by the nub 42 passing through corresponding apertures 43 of the pole walls.

The trigger lever 41 is in the relaxed state and the actuator is activated so that the bar 47 and arm 61 are pulled upwards. In this state the legs would be deployed to the second splayed position (not shown in Figure 5).

The nub 42 is in contact with the sprung finger 44 pushing it in against the bar 47, so 20 that the node 45 is engaged in a recess 47A of the bar 47.

In Figure 6 the length of the poles 4A, 4B is locked in position by the nub 42 passing through corresponding apertures 43 of the pole walls.

The trigger lever 41 is in the relaxed state and the actuator is not activated so that the bar 47 and arm 61 are not pulled upwards. In this state the legs are stowed in the first position (not shown in Figure 6).

In Figure 7 the length of the poles 4A, 4B is adjustable, the nub 42 is removed from 30 the corresponding apertures 43 of the pole walls as the trigger lever 41 is depressed. The telescopic poles 4A and 4B are free to move with respect to each other.

As the nub 42 is displaced, less force is applied to the sprung finger 44 and the sprung finger 44 is therefore released away from the bar 47 against the new position of the 35 nub 42. This removes the node 45 from the recess 47A. In this configuration the bar 47 is not in communication with the arm 61 and therefore the deployment mechanism 40 is not operative.

Each distal end of each leg 11 has a foot 12. The feet 12 are formed from a resiliently 5 deformable material such as rubber to improve grip and reduce damage to the legs.

The legs 11 are held in positions by pivots 31 on the collar 14. The collar 14 is slidable on bolts that pass through the pole 46.

The collar 14 is moved upwards when the actuator 3 is pulled. Each proximal end 51 of the legs 11 is shaped to include a stud 15 (see in particular Figures 9A, 9B). The stud 15 sits in a slot 14A in the collar 14 (see Figure 8B).

As the collar 14 moves upwards when the actuator 3 is pulled the collar 14 moves 15 upwards over the proximal ends 51of the legs 11 which pushes the studs 15 from their slots to within the collar 14, thereby rotating the legs 11 about the pivots 31 so that they splay (See Figures 9 to 12).

After the legs 11 are extended into the second splayed position, they are held in a 20 splayed position on the floor by weight of the walking aid which prevents the collar 14 from returning downwards.

The legs 11 are separated at all times by triangular block spacers 52 that are screwed to a collar core 13 by bolts 33 (see Figure 11).

In order for the collar 14 to return to its first position, and the legs 11 to return to the first position, the user simply lifts the walking aid up sufficiently to allow the collar's weight to displace downward over the legs which causes the legs to rotate about the pivots 31 so that the studs 15 return to projecting outwards through the slots 14A in the collar 14. Advantageously the weight of the collar provides a stable base to the embodiment in both positions.

The handle 2 is covered with a soft spongey material such as neoprene foam that can be removed for washing.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

Claims 1 A walking aid comprising a handle, connected to a telescopic pole with an end that is arranged to engage the ground in use, the end comprises a plurality of legs that are configured to move from a first position, proximate to an axis of the pole, to a second position, in which distal ends of the legs are permitted to splay apart from the axis of the pole by means of a deployment mechanism that is activated by an actuator on the handle; whereby the length of the telescopic pole is adjustable by means of a trigger apparatus which when actuated, disengages the deployment mechanism thereby permitting the length of the telescopic pole to be adjusted and reengages the deployment mechanism when the trigger is apparatus is released, after the length of the telescopic pole has been adjusted.
2. A walking aid according to claim 1 wherein the telescopic pole is formed from two poles, one concentrically arranged within the other.
3. A walking aid according to claim 1 or claim 2 including three legs that splay when deployed to form a tripod.
4. A walking aid according to any preceding claim wherein each leg has a foot.
5. A walking aid according to any preceding claim wherein the deployment mechanism is arranged within the telescopic poles.
6. A walking aid according to any preceding claim wherein the deployment mechanism is within the telescopic poles and includes an arm connected to a bar by a sprung finger with a node.
7. A walking aid according to claim 6 wherein the bar has a plurality of recesses for engaging with the node on the sprung finger and the node is removed from a recess by activation of the trigger apparatus.
8. A walking aid according to any preceding claim including a collar arranged around the telescopic pole and associated with the legs.
9. A walking aid according to claim, 8 wherein the collar arranged to slide up and down relative to the legs.
10. A walking aid according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the collar is weighted.