Abstract: An adjustable crutch has two vertical supports with an upper arm rest and a third, vertically adjustable lower support. The lower supports fixes the overall height of the crutch. The independently moved hand grip is easily adjustable to provide proper spacing between the crutch's hand grip and arm rest based on the user's arm length. This contruction requires only a two-step adjustment process which may be accomplished individually by the user.

Abstract: A person-raising device, designed for lifting a person in bed, rests atop a bed and is activated by a linear actuator comprising a dual-threaded lead screw and a small electric motor and gear reduction unit. The small electric motor and gear reduction unit drives the dual-threaded lead screw to raise a pair of support arms, which raises a person resting on the device. The lead screw is enclosed in a slotted tube; this decreases the chance of the lead screw coming into contact with a person using the device.

Abstract: A hinge element consists of a tube connector attached to the end of a tube, the end of the tube connector having a notched head portion. Pivotably attached to the notched head of the connector is a bracket element having a spherically shaped, notched end which engages the ends of a spring and a limiting wire. The limiting wire and spring are attached at their other ends to a cross bar and a second tube in which the hinge element and the first tube may slide coaxially. A hand grip is also disclosed which consists of a central grip portion with two cylindrical parallel holes having slits on the outside thereof. At the outer edges of the slits are ribs which, when the outer portions of the grip are tightened, focus the compressive forces generated by the tightening toward the tube portions, thereby creating a strong frictional hold. The hinge and grip configurations are found in a bitubular orthopedic crutch having three sections.

Abstract: A reducible walking aid is disclosed that incorporates three bitubular sections in slidable engagement with one another in the preferred embodiment. The first and third sections are connected via a pair of elastic cables attached to slidable, bidirectional hinge elements anchored to the near ends of the first and third sections, with the cables running through the tubular sections of the second section. To reduce the size of the walking aid, one pulls in opposite directions on the first and second bitubular sections. Once the hinges are generally clear of the second section, the first section is folded over the second section in one direction. The third section is folded in the opposite direction in a similar fashion to accomplish the complete folding of the crutch.