US 2009/0242008 A1 · FLEXIBLE CANE FOOT

Abstract

An ambulatory support and traction device used as a flexible foot (1) added to a walking aid, such as a cane or crutch (6), is provided. The flexible foot (1) includes a bendable coil or spring (3) that allows angulation of a walking aid shaft (4) relative to the foot (1) without the loss of adherence of the foot to a ground surface (19). The allowance of angulation of the walking aid shaft (4) improves ambulatory support and balance when leaning on the walking aid or when traversing an inclined surface and can assist the user in rising from a sitting position to a standing position without repositioning of the foot. The flexible foot (1) has a rigid base (2) for structural support and a traction sole (17) to adhere to surfaces both indoors and outdoors and on different surfaces and environments.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A flexible support (1) for a walking aid comprising:

a base (2) having a top surface (9) and a bottom surface (11);
a coil (3) having a first end (5) and a second end (7) defining a bore (8) for receiving a shaft (4) of the walking aid within the bore (8), and
wherein the first end (5) of the coil (3) is attached directly to a top surface of the base (2) and the second end (7) of the coil (3) is spaced from the base (2) and defines an opening (13) where the shaft (4) of the walking aid is inserted in the bore (8) and the coil (3) with the shaft (4) is free to move angularly relative to the base (2).

A walking aid for facilitating movement of a human user comprising:

a handle for manual articulation and operation of the walking aid by the user;
a shaft (4) extending along a longitudinal axis (A) between the handle and a free end of the shaft (4) generally positioned adjacent a supporting ground surface (12);
a flexible foot (1) attached to the free end of the shaft (4), the flexible foot (1) comprising;
a spring (3) having a first end (5) and a second end (7) defining a bore (8) therebetween for receiving a portion of the shaft (4) of the walking aid within the bore (8);
a substantially planar base (2) having a top surface (9) attached to the first end (5) of the spring (3) and a bottom surface (11) having a traction sole (17) affixed thereto, and
wherein the shaft (4) is retained in attachment to the flexible foot (1) solely by torsional force exerted by the spring (3) on the received portion of the shaft (4) and the entire spring (3) with the shaft (4) is angularly moveable relative to the surface of the planar base (2).

3 more elements

A method for facilitating movement of a human user comprising the steps of:

providing a handle for manual articulation and operation of the walking aid by the user;
forming a shaft (4) extending along a longitudinal axis (A) between the handle and a free end of the shaft (4) generally positioned adjacent a supporting ground surface (12);
attaching a flexible foot (1) to the free end of the shaft (4) according to the following steps;
providing a flexible cylinder (3) having a first end (5) and a second end (7) defining a bore (8) therebetween for receiving a portion of the shaft (4) of the walking aid within the bore (8);
attaching a top surface (9) of a substantially planar base (2) to the first end (5) of the flexible cylinder (3) and affixing a traction sole (17) to a bottom surface (11) of the planar base (2);
and
inserting a portion of the free end of the shaft (4) into the bore (8) of the flexible cylinder (3) and retaining the shaft (4) in attachment to the flexible foot (1) by torsional force exerted by the flexible cylinder (3) on the inserted portion of the shaft (4) and permitting angular adjustment of the longitudinal axis (A) of the shaft (4) relative to the entire planar base (2).

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Flexible cane foot

Life of this patent

Flexible cane foot

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15