Improvements to crutch mounts

Abstract

An attachment 3 for a crutch 1 comprises: a first crutch attachment means 6; a first magnetic coupling means 7, having a first magnetic coupling interface 11, 12 and a first permanent magnet, the firs

Description

Improvements to crutch mounts Field of the invention

[001] The invention relates to a mount for a crutch or other walking aid. In particular, the invention relates to a mount for a crutch or other walking aid comprising a distal magnetic interface. Background of the invention

[002] Crutches aid users whose ability to walk is impaired. They typically comprise an elongate shaft or tube with a handle projecting laterally from a proximal portion of the shaft. In use, a user holds the crutch by its handle and pushes against the ground with the distal end of the shaft, similar to the use of a walking stick. The handle is typically directed forwards in relation to the direction in which the use is facing,

[003] Thete is often a pattial sleeve at the proximal end of the crutch, extending in the same lateral direction as the handle, for at least partially encircling a part of a user’s arm in use.

[004] It is common for the portion of the shaft which is proximal of the handle is angled with respect to the portion of the shaft which is distal of the handle. For example, a common crutch design has proximal and distal portions angled with respect to each other by approximately 12 degrees. This angling improves the comfort of using the crutch because it allows the proximal portion of the shaft to align with and support the user’s forearm, while the distal portion of the shaft is substantially vertical in order to maximise the force applied to the ground.

[005] The shaft of a crutch is often extendable and retractable, most commonly by comprising a pair of slidable engaged shafts which are lockable into a variety of relative positions, for example using a spring-loaded locking pin system. This means that a single crutch design can usefully support users having a variety of different heights.

[006] The distal end of a conventional crutch typically comprises a ground engaging pad, often having a ground engaging surface which is greater than the radial cross- section of the shaft, and commonly formed of a material such as rubber, to improve grip and reduce damage inflicted on floor surfaces by use of the crutch.

[007] Users typically walk with either one crutch or two crutches (one for each arm), depending on the nature of their impairment. For example, a user having a broken leg may require two crutches, since the broken leg cannot provide any support at all duting walking. A user having only a weakened leg may be able to use only a single crutch, to reduce the weight placed on the weakened leg during walking.

[008] The advantages of crutches are many and well-known. For users of crutches, however, the disadvantages of crutches are also painfully apparent. Among them, safely and conveniently stowing them when not using them is prominent. Having used a crutch to walk to a destination, and sat down, a user typically either tries to balance the crutch against a wall or piece of furniture, or lays it on the floor. When the first option is selected, the crutch almost inevitably falls to the floor anyway. When the second option is selected, the crutch is more difficult to retrieve when required again, and poses a tripping hazard.

[009] Similar disadvantage also apply to conventional walking sticks, which typically comprise shafts with a handle at a proximal end, and to other walking aids comprising shafts or tubes.

[010] A solution is needed to allow for easier and mote reliable stowage of one or mote crutch or other walking aid when a user wishes to temporarily lay it / them down.

[011] Progress has already been made towards this goal. For example, DE20214634U1 (ACHNITZ) discloses attachments for crutches which allow a pair of crutches, each one having a respective attachment, to be temporarily connected together so as to form a more stable, two-legged structure which can be more reliably be propped up against a wall or item of furniture. The connection interfaces 6 of the attachments are flat and parallel to the shaft axis of the crutches to which they are attached. The mode of connection is not defined in the document and connection is apparently only possible between pairs of attachments. The crutches, when connected together in this way, can only have a single orientation with respect to each other. The attachments are attached to the shafts of the crutches by split ting clamps, and thus are formed of multiple pieces, adding to the complexity and expense of their manufacture, and making their attachment to the shafts a multi-step process.

[012] EP1882466 (SCHUBERT) discloses attachments for crutches with magnetic interfaces, allowing pairs of crutches with respective attachments to connect together magnetically. The attachments do not extend laterally from the shafts of the crutches, meaning the shafts of the crutches must be very close together to be connected, and making it difficult to connect a crutch to a metallic surface using the attachment. The ‘attachments’ in this case are, in fact, preferably formed integrally with the crutches, for example with the handles of the crutches, and where a retrofittable attachment is considered, a suitable mode of attachment is not taught. The magnetic interfaces are not flat; the magnetic interfaces of tespective pairs of attachments are shaped complimentarily (e.g. one is convex and the other is concave), and in order to allow for stronger coupling between the interfaces, the document clearly teaches away from anything other than complementarity. This arrangement makes it more difficult, if not impossible, to affix a single crutch to, for example, a metallic wall or surface, using its attachment.

[013] The present invention seeks to make further progress towards the goal stated above, providing an attachment for a crutch which is more versatile, cheaper to manufacture, and easier to attach, than the prior art. Summary of the invention

[014] A first aspect of the invention provides an attachment for a crutch comprising: a first crutch attachment means; a first magnetic coupling means, having a first magnetic coupling interface and a first permanent magnet, the first permanent magnet being secured to the attachment so as to present a first magnetic pole at the first magnetic coupling interface; and a first spacer portion between the first crutch attachment means and the first magnetic coupling means.

[015] The attachment of the invention is suitable for attachment to a crutch, but the invention is not limited to use with a crutch. There are various kinds of walking aid, including walking sticks, comprising a tubular or shaft-like structure. The ‘crutch attachment means’ of the invention enables the attachment to be connected to any tubular walking aid structure.

[016] Providing a crutch attachment means (to be understood as an attachment means for any kind of walking aid comprising a tubular or shaft-like structure) allows embodiments of the invention to be sold separately to walking aids, and make it retrofittable. There are embodiments of the invention, however, in which the crutch attachment means is integral to a crutch or other walking aid, and the attachment of the invention in such cases is provided integrally with the crutch or other walking aid.

[017] Providing a magnetic interface provides excellent versatility to the invention. As will be seen, the magnetic interface allows the attachment to magnetically engage with another attachment of a pair of attachments, so as to connect a pair of crutches or other walking aids together. It also allows a single attachment to magnetically engage with any magnetic surface, such as a metal furniture leg or appliance.

[018] Preferably, the magnetic interface comprises at least one permanent magnet so as to avoid the need for a power source (such as in the case of using an electromagnet). Itis particularly preferable to use a neodymium magnet.

[019] The spacer portion is particularly advantageous for use with crutches having a proximal portion of the tube or shaft which is angled with respect to the distal portion. As can be seen in Figure 1, the spacer portion allows the attachment to protrude rearwardly (with respect to the usual ‘in use’ orientation of a crutch) and still engage with another attachment or a surface without the angled portion of the crutch interfering with the other crutch or surface.

[020] Some embodiments further comprise a second permanent magnet, wherein: the first magnetic coupling interface comprises first and second adjacent faces; the first permanent magnet is secured to the first face so as to present its first magnetic pole at the first face; and the second permanent magnet is secured to the second face 50 as to present its first magnetic pole at the second face.

[021] Having two faces with two tespective permanent magnets increases the strength of the magnetic coupling while increasing the versatility of the magnetic interface. For instance, having two faces which are angled with respect to one another provides two possible orientations for magnetic engagement of the attachment.

[022] In some such embodiments, the two adjacent faces are angled by 102 degrees with respect to one another.

[023] An angle between the faces of 102 degrees cottesponds to the typical angling between the proximal and distal portions of the shaft of a typical crutch, which is 12 degrees. When a pair of crutches ate engaged together by means of a cooperating pair of attachments according to the invention, as in Figure 1, the angled faces allow for the crutches to engage with one another with either the proximal portion or the distal portion being parallel. It will be clear to the skilled person that other angles between the faces may be suitable in other embodiments, for example for use with differently configured crutches.

[024] Some embodiments are formed of plastics.

[025] The attachments of the invention are very inexpensive to make compared with priot art attachments, and can be 3D printed.

[026] In some embodiments, the first crutch attachment means is a first snap fit connector for snap fit connection to the shaft of a crutch.

[027] In some embodiments, the snap fit connector is configured to attach to a shaft having a diameter of approximately 25.5 mm.

[028] Typical crutches in general use have shafts which are approximately 25.5 mm. It will be clear to the skilled person that attachments according to the invention can be manufactured in a variety of sizes in order to accommodate a variety of sizes of walking aid.

[029] Some such embodiments comprise a first notch on an edge of the first snap fit connector for receiving, in use, a bolt of an indexing plunger of an extendable crutch.

[030] Itis convenient to stabilize the attachment on the shaft of a crutch or similar walking aid by using the already-present bolts of indexing plungers. These typically protrude latetally from crutch shafts in order to allow length adjustments. Slotting the crutch attachment means notch over one of these bolts keeps the attachment from sliding farther down the shaft, or from rotating about the shaft.

[031] In some embodiments, the first magnetic coupling means and the first spacer pottion are configured so as to form a hook.

[032] Forming a hook with the spacer portion and the magnetic coupling means increases the versatility of the attachment by providing the option of hooking the crutch or other walking aid to which the attachment is attached onto a suitable object, whether or not said object is magnetic.

[033] A second aspect of the invention provides a first attachment for a crutch according to the first aspect, and a second attachment for a ctutch, comprising: a second crutch attachment means; a second magnetic coupling means, having a second magnetic coupling interface and a third permanent magnet, the third permanent magnet being secured to the second attachment so as to present a second magnetic pole at the second magnetic coupling interface; and a second spacer pottion between the second crutch attachment means and the second magnetic coupling means.

[034] One of the particular strengths of the invention is the facilitation of coupling two crutches or other walking aids together. Users often use walking aids in pairs, and stowing them when they are not in use is difficult, as discussed above. By coupling the pair together, a more stable structure with two legs is produced, which can more securely be balanced against an object when not in use.

[035] It is envisioned that, in some embodiments, the attachments will be sold in pairs with opposite magnetic poles presented at the respective interfaces of each attachmen so that they can magnetically engage with one another.

[036] In some embodiments of the second aspect, the first and second magnetic coupling interfaces are not shaped in a complimentary way so as to fit snugly together.

[037] It is not always easy to detach two magnetically engaged objects from one another, particularly not if their engagement is enhanced by the complementarity of their interfaces. By avoiding complementary interfaces, it is easier to pull two magnetically engaged items apart.

[038] In some embodiments of the second aspect, the second crutch further comprises a fourth permanent magnet, wherein: the second magnetic coupling interface comprises third and fourth adjacent faces; the third permanent magnet is secured to the third face so as to present its second magnetic pole at the third face; and the fourth permanent magnet is secured to the fourth face so as to present its second magnetic pole at the fourth face. Optionally, the third and fourth adjacent faces are angled by 102 degrees with respect to one another.

[039] Brief description of the drawings

[040] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings:

[041] Figure 1 depicts a first and second crutch with respective first and second attachments according to the invention.

[042] Figure 2 depicts an attachment according to the invention, in more detail than Figure 1.

[043] Detailed description of the drawings

[044] Figure 1 depicts a first crutch 1 and a second crutch 2. A first attachment 3 according to the invention is connected to the first crutch 1, and a second attachment 4 according to the invention is connected to the second crutch 2.

[045] The first attachment 3 and the second attachment 4 are magnetically engaged with one another at their interface 5. Thus, the first and second crutches 1, 2 combine to form a two-legged structure which can mote stably be propped up against a wall or object.

[046] Figure 2 depicts an attachment 3 in more detail. It comprises: a crutch attachment means 6, for snap-fit connection to the shaft of a crutch 1 or other walking aid; a magnetic coupling means 7; and a spacer portion 8. The magnetic coupling means 7 and the spacer portion 8 are configured to form a hook 9.

[047] A notch 10 is formed in the attachment means 6. The notch 10 is configured to receive the bolt of an indexing plunger.

[048] The spacer portion 8 is, in the depicted embodiment, 50 mm long. This allows for a pair of crutches 1, 2 to engage with one another by means of respective attachments 3, 4 without their respective proximal portions, which are angled towards one another, abutting. The skilled reader will appreciate that the length can and should be varied depending on the particular use to which a given embodiment will be put.

[049] The magnetic coupling means 7 comprises a first magnetic coupling interface 11 and a second magnetic coupling interface 12. Each of these interfaces 11, 12 is equipped with a respective permanent neodymium magnet (not shown). The magnets present the same magnetic poles to their respective interfaces 11, 12. The first 11 and second 12 magnetic intetfaces are angled with respect to one another by 102 degrees. The second interface 12 is substantially parallel with the axis of the shaft of the crutch 1.

[050] Although the invention has been described with reference to one or more preferred embodiments, these embodiments are not limiting. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims.

Claims

Claims 1. An attachment for a crutch comprising: a first crutch attachment means; a first magnetic coupling means, having a first magnetic coupling interface and a first permanent magnet, the first permanent magnet being secured to the attachment so as to present a first magnetic pole at the first magnetic coupling interface; and a first spacer portion between the first crutch attachment means and the first magnetic coupling means.

2. An attachment for a crutch according to claim 1 further comprising a second permanent magnet, wherein: the first magnetic coupling interface comprises first and second adjacent faces; the first permanent magnet is secured to the first face so as to present its first magnetic pole at the first face; and the second permanent magnet is secured to the second face so as to present its first magnetic pole at the second face.

3. An attachment for a crutch according to claim 2, wherein the two adjacent faces are angled by 102 degrees with respect to one anothet.

4. An attachment for a crutch according to any preceding claim, formed of plastics.

5. An attachment for a crutch according to any preceding claim, whetein the first crutch attachment means is a first snap fit connector for snap fit connection to the shaft of a crutch.

6. An attachment for a crutch according to claim 5, wherein the snap fit connectot is configured to attach to a shaft having a diameter of approximately 25.5 mm. Te An attachment for a crutch according to claim 5 or claim 6, comprising a first notch on an edge of the first snap fit connector for receiving, in use, a bolt of an indexing plunger of an extendable crutch.

8. An attachment for a crutch according to any preceding claim, whetein the first magnetic coupling means and the first spacer portion are configured so as to form a hook.

9. Afirstattachment for a crutch according to any preceding claim, and a second attachment for a crutch, comprising: a second crutch atrachment means; a second magnetic coupling means, having a second magnetic coupling interface and a third permanent magnet, the third permanent magnet being secured to the second attachment so as to present a second magnetic pole at the second magnetic coupling interface; and a second spacer portion between the second crutch attachment means and the second magnetic coupling means.

10. A first attachment for a crutch according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and a second attachment for a crutch according to claim 8, wherein the first and second magnetic coupling interfaces are not shaped in a complimentary way so as to fit snugly together.

11. A first attachment for a crutch according to claim 2 and a second attachment for a crutch according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the second crutch further comprises a fourth permanent magnet, and wherein: the second magnetic coupling interface comprises third and fourth adjacent faces; the third permanent magnet is secuted to the third face so as to present its second magnetic pole at the third face; and the fourth permanent magnet is secured to the fourth face so as to present its second magnetic pole at the fourth face.

12. A first attachment for a crutch according to claim 3 and a second attachment for a crutch according to claim 111, wherein the third and fourth adjacent faces are angled by 102 degrees with respect to one another. Claims 1. An attachment for a crutch comprising: a first crutch attachment means; a first magnetic coupling means, having a first magnetic coupling interface and a first permanent magnet, the first permanent magnet being secured to the attachment so as to present a first magnetic pole at the first magnetic coupling interface; a first spacer portion between the first crutch attachment means and the first magnetic coupling means; and a second permanent magnet; wherein: the first magnetic coupling interface comprises first and second adjacent faces; the first permanent magnet is secured to the first face so as to present its first magnetic pole at the first face; and the second permanent magnet is secured to the second face so as to present its first magnetic pole at the second face.

2. An attachment for a crutch according to claim 1, wherein the two adjacent faces are angled by 102 degrees with respect to one another.

3. An attachment for a crutch according to any preceding claim, formed of plastics.

4. An attachment for a crutch according to any preceding claim, wherein the first crutch attachment means is a first snap fit connector for snap fit connection to the shaft of a crutch.

5. An attachment for a crutch according to claim 4, wherein the snap fit connector is configured to attach to a shaft having a diameter of approximately 25.5 mm.

6. An attachment for a crutch according to claim 4 or claim 5, comprising a first notch on an edge of the first snap fit connector for receiving, in use, a bolt of an indexing plunger of an extendable crutch. 3 An attachment for a crutch according to any preceding claim, wherein the first magnetic coupling means and the first spacer portion are configured so as to form a hook.

8. A first attachment for a crutch according to any preceding claim, and a second attachment for a crutch, comprising: a second crutch attachment means; a second magnetic coupling means, having a second magnetic coupling interface and a third permanent magnet, the third permanent magnet being secured to the second attachment so as to present a second magnetic pole at the second magnetic coupling interface; and a second spacer portion between the second crutch attachment means and the second magnetic coupling means.

9. A first attachment for a crutch according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and a second attachment for a crutch according to claim 8, wherein the first and second magnetic coupling interfaces are not shaped in a complimentary way so as to fit snugly together.

10. A first attachment for a crutch according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and a second attachment for a crutch according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the second crutch further comprises a fourth permanent magnet, and wherein: the second magnetic coupling interface comprises third and fourth adjacent faces; the third permanent magnet is secured to the third face so as to present its second magnetic pole at the third face; and the fourth permanent magnet is secured to the fourth face so as to present its second magnetic pole at the fourth face.

11. A first attachment for a crutch according to claim 2 and a second attachment for a crutch according to claim 10, wherein the third and fourth adjacent faces are angled by 102 degrees with respect to one another.

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