Hands-Free Crutch
AssigneeiWALKFree, Inc.
InventorBradly Hunter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A crutch for assisting a user to walk includes a leg platform configured to support a portion of a leg of the user, and a ground contact having a weight supporting medial contact region that is disposed higher than a weight supporting lateral contact region. An optional strap on the leg platform can be used to maintain the leg in a forward position. An optional thigh saddle can be used to help prevent lateral movement of the user's upper thigh with respect to the crutch. An optional front facing handle can assist new users in learning to use the crutch.
Claims42
A crutch for assisting a user to walk, comprising:
- a leg platform configured to support a portion of a leg of the user;
- a ground contact having a weight supporting medial contact region and a weight supporting lateral contact region, and
- configured such that when the crutch is being operated by the user on a horizontal surface, with weight through the crutch being transmitted vertically to the horizontal surface, with the medial contact region positioned higher by at least 2 mm than the lateral contact region;
- and
- there is an angle at least 2° off vertical such that when weight is being transmitted through the crutch at the angle, both the medial contact region and the lateral contact region are touching the surface.
A crutch for assisting a user to walk, comprising:
- an adjustable height frame;
- a leg platform coupled to the frame and configured to support a portion of a leg of the user;
- and
- a foot coupled to the frame, and having a medial pad and a lateral pad, wherein the medial pad is disposed higher than the lateral pad by at least 2 mm when the crutch is being operated by the user on a horizontal surface, with weight through the crutch being transmitted vertically to the horizontal surface.
A crutch comprising:
- a frame;
- an upper leg restraint coupled to the frame, and having a flexible restraining mechanism;
- a laterally adjustable, at least semi-rigid, thigh member coupled to the frame, and configured to facilitate alignment of the crutch with respect to a user's leg;
- and
- a lower leg platform coupled to the frame.
A crutch comprising:
- a frame;
- a lower leg platform, at least a portion of which is positioned posteriorly to the frame;
- and
- a handle coupled to the frame, and positioned such that a medial sagittal plane of the crutch passes through at least a portion of the handle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.