Anti-slip Crutch Tip Apparatus and Method

A crutch support tip apparatus for preventing sideways slipping of a crutch support, the crutch support tip apparatus comprising:

• a tip body, having a crutch leg receiving end, an opposing base support end, and a sidewall that extends between the crutch receiving end and the base support end, the crutch leg receiving end having a top axial opening configured to receive the leg of a crutch support, and the base support end having a bottom diameter that is larger than the diameter of the crutch leg receiving end;
• a circumferential contact surface, located at the extent of the outermost diameter of the bottom of the base support end, the circumferential contact surface being concaved so that the outer-most edge of the concaved circumferential contact surface forms the perimeter of a suction-cup-like recess of the bottom of the base support end of the tip body;
• and
• a relief tunnel situated to extend through the structure of the tip body between the sidewall of the tip body, above the circumferential contact surface, and a portion of a groove formed on the bottom of the base support end, wherein the groove is located radially within the diameter of the circumferential contact surface of the base support end, wherein the relief tunnel is structured to maintain an unbroken fissure in the tip body such that the relief tunnel prevents suction from occurring between the crutch tip and a crutch support surface upon which the crutch tip resides when the crutch tip is firmly pressed against the crutch support surface.

A method of preventing slipping of a crutch support device tip, the method comprising:

• providing an anti-slip crutch tip apparatus including:
• a tip body, having a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the first end of the tip body includes a crutch leg opening extending axially within a generally frustoconical section of the tip body, the crutch leg opening configured to receive a portion of a crutch leg, and wherein the second end of the tip body includes a surface contact portion located at the extent of a generally cylindrical section of the tip body, the surface contact portion having a circumferential contact surface being concaved so that the outer-most edge of the concaved circumferential contact surface forms the perimeter of a suction-cup-like recess of the extent of the generally cylindrical section of the second end of the tip body;
• and
• a relief tunnel situated to extend through the structure of the tip body between the sidewall of the generally cylindrical section of the tip body, above the circumferential contact surface, and a portion of a groove formed on the surface contact portion, wherein the groove is located radially within the diameter of the circumferential contact surface of the second end of the tip body, wherein the relief tunnel is structured to maintain an unbroken fissure in the tip body such that the relief tunnel prevents suction from occurring between the crutch tip and a crutch support surface upon which the crutch tip resides when the crutch tip is firmly pressed against the crutch support surface;
• compressing the circumferential contact surface of the tip body against the crutch support surface;
• and
• relieving pressure built-up under the suction-cup-like recess of the extent of the generally cylindrical section of the second end of the tip body by allowing the built-up pressure to escape through the relief tunnel extending between the groove formed on the surface contact portion and the sidewall of the generally cylindrical section of the tip body, to prevent any significant change in pressure within the suction- cup-like recess and prevent suction between the crutch tip and the crutch support surface when the crutch tip is compressed against the crutch support surface, thereby preventing hydroplaning and sideways slippage of the crutch tip.

An anti-slip tip for a support device comprising:

• a tip body having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, wherein the first end is dimensioned to receive a cylindrical leg, wherein the second end has a substantially circular perimeter and a concaved contact surface located within the substantially circular perimeter, the contact surface including a circular channel substantially concentric about a center point of the contact surface;
• a pressure relief tunnel extending through the sidewall;
• and
• an opening connecting the pressure relief tunnel to the circular channel, the opening and pressure relief tunnel configured to prevent any significant suction between the contact surface and a crutch support surface when the circular perimeter of the tip body is pressed against the crutch support surface.