Crutch Assembly

A method for retrofitting a walking aid, the walking aid comprising a walking aid shaft which is non-rotatable relative to a walking aid tip, with a walking aid assembly, the walking aid assembly including a replacement walking aid tip, wherein the walking aid assembly permits free rotation of the walking aid shaft relative to the replacement walking aid tip, the method comprising:

• providing the walking aid comprising the walking aid shaft and walking tip, wherein the walking tip is attached to the walking aid shaft at a first end;
• removing the walking aid tip;
• securing a spring housing on the first end of the walking aid shaft;
• sliding a spring onto the first end of the walking aid shaft so as to be operably associated with the spring housing;
• connecting a head mechanism to the first end of the walking aid shaft such that the spring is disposed between the spring housing and the head mechanism and operably associated with the head mechanism;
• providing a replacement walking aid tip comprising a recess for receiving the head mechanism;
• and
• receiving the head mechanism into the recess of the replacement walking aid tip.

A method for retrofitting a walking aid, the walking aid comprising a walking aid shaft which is non-rotatable relative to a walking aid tip, with a walking aid assembly, the walking aid assembly including a replacement walking aid tip, wherein the walking aid assembly permits free rotation of the walking aid shaft relative to the replacement walking aid tip, the method comprising:

• providing the walking aid comprising the walking aid shaft and walking tip, wherein the walking tip is attached to the walking aid shaft at a first end;
• removing the walking aid tip;
• providing a walking aid assembly comprising a spring housing, a spring, a head mechanism and a replacement walking tip;
• securing the spring housing on the first end of the walking aid shaft;
• sliding the spring onto the first end of the walking aid shaft so as to be operably associated with the spring housing;
• connecting the head mechanism to the first end of the walking aid shaft such that the spring is disposed between the spring housing and the head mechanism and operably associated with the head mechanism;
• providing the replacement walking aid tip comprising a recess for receiving the head mechanism;
• and
• receiving the head mechanism into the recess of the replacement walking aid tip.

A walking aid assembly in combination with a with a walking aid having shaft with a first end and a second end, and a grip connectable to the first end of the walking aid shaft using the walking aid assembly, the walking aid assembly comprising:

• a ball-in-socket joint;
• a spring housing configured for releasable attachment to the walking aid shaft at a location away from the first end of the walking aid shaft;
• a spring mechanism configured to receive and extend around a portion of the first end of the walking aid shaft and including a first end coupled with the spring housing and a second end opposite the first end;
• a head mechanism connected with the second end of the spring mechanism and forming the ball of the ball-in-socket joint;
• and
• a mount forming the socket of the ball-in-socket joint and configured to receive and contact the head mechanism in a freely rotatable manner such that (i) a portion of the head mechanism extends outwardly from the mount, and (ii) the second end of the spring mechanism is exterior of the mount;
• wherein the walking aid shaft is freely rotatable relative to the grip, and
• wherein the grip is secured to an exterior surface of the mount.