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US 5,458,143 AGranted
Crutch with elbow and shank springs
OwnerHugh M. Herrinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A crutch system comprising an elbow spring and a shank spring stores and releases energy during crutch locomotion. The elbow spring compresses during elbow flexion and then expands, extending the elbow and lifting the body upwards during uphill crutch locomotion. The shank spring compresses during impact of the crutch bottom with the ground and then expands, thrusting the user upwards and forwards. The crutch of this invention maximizes stability, cushioning, and efficiency.
Claims7
A crutch comprising:
- an upper arm engaging portion adapted to engage the user's upper arm;
- a hand engaging portion adapted to engage the user's hand;
- a ground engaging portion being secured to said hand engaging portion;
- an elbow spring formed by at least one spring element coupling said upper arm engaging portion to said hand engaging portion;
- and
- wherein said elbow spring compresses and stores energy as said upper arm engaging portion is being moved toward said hand engaging portion when the user flexes his elbow.
3 more elements
A crutch comprising:
- an upper arm engaging portion adapted to engage the user's upper arm;
- a hand engaging portion adapted to engage the user's hand;
- a ground engaging portion;
- a shank spring formed by at least two opposing leaf springs coupling said hand engaging portion to said ground engaging portion;
- an elbow spring formed by at least one spring element coupling said upper arm engaging portion to said hand engaging portion;
- and
- wherein said elbow spring compresses and stores energy as said upper arm engaging portion is being moved toward said hand engaging portion when the user flexes his elbow.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.