Device for a walking aid

Abstract

Device for a walking aid, wherein the device has at least three leg elements (5) which are pivotably arranged on an element (4) which is vertically displaceable along the walking aid, wherein in the raised state of the displaceable element (4) they are arranged substantially parallel to the walking aid so that they do not interfere when using the walking aid, wherein in the lowered state of the displaceable element (4) they are spread apart laterally to prevent the walking aid from tipping over when set down, and wherein the device comprises a spreader body (1) which can be fixedly mounted on the walking aid and which has a downwardly widening spreader area (11) which, in conjunction with the leg elements (5), causes the leg elements (5) to spread apart when the displaceable element (4) is lowered, characterized in that the spreader body (1) tapers below the spreader area (11);that the spreader body (1) interacts with a nose (8) on the shaft of the leg elements (5); that above the nose (8) the distance of the shaft to the axis of the spreader body (1) increases; and that the length of the leg elements (5) is dimensioned such that when the movable element (4) is lowered, the leg elements (5) only touch the ground (9) when the nose (8) passes under the spreader area (11).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for a walking aid, wherein the device has at least three leg elements which are pivotally arranged on an element which can be displaced vertically along the walking aid, wherein in the raised state of the displaceable element they are arranged substantially parallel to the walking aid so that they do not interfere with the use of the walking aid, wherein in the lowered state of the displaceable element they are spread out laterally in order to prevent the walking aid from falling over when it is put down, and wherein the device comprises a spreader body which can be firmly mounted on the walking aid and which has a downwardly widening spread region which, in cooperation with the leg elements, causes the leg elements to spread out when the displaceable element is lowered.

[0002] Anyone who has ever relied on a walking aid such as a crutch will undoubtedly have experienced the discomfort of the lack of self-stability when putting it down. Crutches are almost impossible to stand on their own and therefore usually have to be leaned against something, which is impractical. Numerous suggestions have therefore been made for making it easier to put it down.

[0003] DE 102010051115 A1 discloses a device for a walking aid that prevents it from tipping over, even when the walking aid is not being held. This device can be attached to commercially available walking aids. In the exemplary embodiments, it comprises five leg elements attached to a plate (referred to as a piston in the document). The plate is height-adjustable so that the leg elements can be moved downwards where they protrude beyond the lower end of the walking aid, and upwards where the lower end of the walking aid protrudes beyond the leg elements, thus allowing the walking aid to be used normally.A disadvantage is that the circumference around the leg elements is the same in the raised and lowered positions, which means that either (with a small circumference) the stability of the parked walking aid is poor against tipping over, or (with a large circumference) that the leg elements interfere with use. Another disadvantage is that the leg elements can only be lowered when the walking aid is raised or is raised during the transfer.

[0004] DE 20204475 U1 describes an improved solution, in which the leg elements are pivotally attached to the plate. Below the vertically movable plate, there is another, fixed plate with angled, downwardly widening through-holes. The leg elements are inserted through these through-holes. Since the distance between the through-holes and the center axis of the walking aid is greater than the distance between the points at which the leg elements are pivotally mounted on the movable plate, the leg elements spread outward when the movable plate is pushed down. However, the disadvantage here is that the leg elements can only be lowered when the walking aid is raised or is raised during movement.

[0005] A modified solution is known from EP 3673885 A1. Here, the three leg elements are not attached to a vertically movable plate, but to a vertically movable ring. Instead of the fixed plate, rollers are provided at the ends of the leg elements, and the rubber foot of the walking aid extends downwards. When the sliding ring is lowered, the leg elements initially slide outward with their rollers on the downwardly extending rubber foot, then come into contact with the floor and slide further outward. The disadvantage here is that the walking aid is not very stable due to the rollers. The preamble of claim 1 refers to this document.

[0006] Finally, DE 102009039931 A1 discloses a device for a walking aid having only two leg elements that are not arranged opposite each other (relative to the tube of the walking aid), so that together with the lower end of the walking aid, they form three support points that are not in a straight line, allowing the walking aid to stand at an angle on these three support points. The leg elements are pivotally attached to the walking aid, meaning they can be folded in and out. Their lower ends never protrude beyond the lower end of the walking aid. The disadvantage of this solution is that the walking aid stands at an angle, so that on the one hand it requires more space and on the other hand it can easily tip over.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to improve a device of the type mentioned above so that it ensures a more secure stand for the walking aid while still being easier to activate and deactivate, i.e., requiring less effort. The device should be simple in design and not impair the orthopedic function of the walking aid. Furthermore, it should be retrofittable to commercially available walking aids or crutches.

[0008] These objects are achieved according to the invention by a device of the type mentioned at the outset in that the spreading body tapers below the spreading area; that the spreading body interacts with a nose on the shaft of the leg elements; that above the nose the distance of the shaft to the axis of the spreading body increases; and that the length of the leg elements is dimensioned such that when the displaceable element is lowered, the leg elements only touch the ground when the nose reaches below the spreading area.

[0009] The inventive idea can be briefly summarized as follows: the leg elements initially pivot above the ground so that no frictional resistance occurs with the ground. This enables the feet to be fully unfolded with little force. Only when the nose has completely passed the spreading area do the leg elements fold back in slightly so that they touch the ground and thus ensure that the walking aid stands stable. In contrast to the generic EP 3673885 A1, no rollers are required at the end of the leg elements, so that when the leg elements are lowered, there is a lot of friction with the ground. Thus, further spreading is only possible, if at all, with the application of very great force and on very smooth floors.A further difference is that according to EP 3673885 A1, the lower end of the leg elements interacts with the expansion body, whereas according to the invention, a lug on the shaft of the leg elements (i.e., approximately the middle area of ​​the leg elements) interacts with the expansion body. This implies that, according to the invention, the expansion body is attached above the rubber stopper of the walking aid to the tubular rod of the walking aid (e.g., with a clamping screw or an adhesive connection), whereas according to EP 3673885 A1, the expansion body is formed by the rubber stopper itself.

[0010] In the simplest case, the shape of the expansion area is truncated cone. The opening angle of the truncated cone must be small enough to prevent self-locking. The maximum possible angle depends on the coefficient of friction, which in turn depends on the surface quality and the material of the expansion body and the nose.

[0011] It is preferred that the vertically displaceable element and the leg elements are formed as a single piece and are made of an elastically deformable material, such that the leg elements are elastically prestressed in the spread-out position towards the position parallel to the walking aid. The integral design enables cost-effective production, and the elastic prestress ensures that the leg elements reliably remain in their position parallel to the walking aid when the walking aid is in use (i.e., not parked). However, the prestress can of course also be achieved in other ways, for example by springs. The pivotable arrangement of the leg elements can also be achieved by conventional axles or in other ways (e.g., bearings).

[0012] The present invention is explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a device according to the invention, mounted on a walking aid, in longitudinal section and in the initial state; Fig. 2 the same, but during the movement to the end position; Fig. 3 the same in the final position; and Fig. 4 the device according to the invention according to Fig. 1 in perspective view. The device according to the invention is shown in the figures mounted on a walking aid. Of the walking aid, e.g. a crutch, only the lower region of the tubular rod 3 and the rubber stopper 2 fastened to the bottom of the tubular rod 3 can be seen. In the illustrated embodiment, the device according to the invention consists of only two parts: an expansion body 1, which is firmly fastened above the rubber stopper 2 to the tubular rod 3 of the walking aid (e.g. with a clamping screw or an adhesive connection), and a movable element 4. The movable element 4 has a pressure plate 10 on top and an essentially sleeve-shaped guide 6 below it, so that the movable element 4 can be moved along the tubular rod 3. Four leg elements 5 extend from this sleeve-shaped guide 6.The connection between the leg elements 5 and the sleeve-shaped guide 6 consists of a relatively thin band-shaped element, so that the leg elements 5 can be elastically bent outwards.

[0013] The expansion body 1 has a frustoconical expansion area 11 that widens towards the bottom. Below the expansion area 11 is a tapered area 12. The shaft of the leg elements 5 has a region 13 that complements the expansion area 11, i.e., in this area 13, the distance to the tubular rod 3 decreases from bottom to top. Above this area 13, there is a region 14 where the distance to the tubular rod 3 increases again (viewed from bottom to top), so that a nose 8 is formed between them.

[0014] By applying a force from above to the pressure plate 10 (e.g. with a foot), the movable element 4 is moved downwards along the tubular rod 3. As a result, the complementary area 13 or, later, the nose 8 slides onto the spreading area 11 of the spreading body 1, and the leg elements 5 are bent outwards without touching the floor 9 (see Fig. 2). The movement path of the lower end of the leg elements 5 is shown by a dotted line 7. Only when the upper end of the complementary area 13, i.e. the nose 8, passes under the spreading area 11 of the spreading element 1, i.e. into the tapered area 12 (see Fig. 3), the leg elements 5 fold slightly inwards so that they touch the floor 9 in this end position. This ensures that no frictional resistance occurs due to contact with the floor before the end position. Ideally (walking aid is exactly perpendicular to the floor 9), the leg elements 5 only reach the floor 9 in the end position without any friction. The standing area of ​​the walking aid is thus increased to such an extent that tipping over is prevented. It is particularly noteworthy that one can step onto the pressure plate 10 with one's foot while the walking aid is on the floor, and the leg elements 5 still swing out unhindered. The walking aid does not have to be lifted for this to happen, as is the case with some known devices.

[0015] By applying a force from below to the pressure plate 10, the locking mechanism is released again and the leg elements 5 return to their starting position ( Fig.1) as soon as the nose 8 enters the spreading area 11. In the starting position, the orthopedic function of the walking aid is not impaired. The spreading body 1 and the movable element 4 can also be subsequently threaded onto the tubular rod 3 of an existing walking aid; or they are designed as half-shell elements so that they can be folded around the tubular rod and mounted. It is advisable that the number of feet is greater than or equal to three. The figures show a possible design with four feet. The complementary geometric shapes of the spreading body and the shaft of the leg elements form a spreading and locking mechanism. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 102010051115 A1

[0003] DE 20204475 U1

[0004] EP 3673885 A1 [0005, 0009] DE 102009039931 A1

[0006]

Claims

[1] Device for a walking aid, wherein the device has at least three leg elements (5) which are pivotably arranged on an element (4) which can be displaced vertically along the walking aid, wherein in the raised state of the displaceable element (4) they are arranged substantially parallel to the walking aid so that they do not interfere with the use of the walking aid, wherein in the lowered state of the displaceable element (4) they are spread out laterally in order to prevent the walking aid from falling over when it is put down, and wherein the device comprises a spreading body (1) which can be firmly mounted on the walking aid and which has a downwardly widening spreading region (11) which, in cooperation with the leg elements (5), causes the leg elements (5) to spread out when the displaceable element (4) is lowered, characterized bythat the expansion body (1) tapers below the expansion area (11); that the expansion body (1) interacts with a nose (8) on the shaft of the leg elements (5); that above the nose (8) the distance of the shaft to the axis of the expansion body (1) increases; and that the length of the leg elements (5) is dimensioned such that when the displaceable element (4) is lowered, the leg elements (5) only touch the ground (9) when the nose (8) reaches below the expansion area (11). [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by that the expansion area (11) is frustoconical. [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the vertically displaceable element (4) and the leg elements (5) are formed in one piece and consist of an elastically deformable material, so that the leg elements (5) are elastically prestressed in the spread-out position towards the position parallel to the walking aid.

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