Adjustable stilt

Abstract

The invention is of an improved stilt assembly, which provides a height adjustable stilt that is less expensive than the costly adjust on-the-fly stilt, has no safety risk of sudden catastrophic height drops, and provides variable shock absorption. Applicant's stilt uses one or more telescoping member assembly that is locked into a set height by means of interlocking spacer blocks. The rubber-like interlocking spacer blocks vertically hold the stilt assembly together and provide shock absorption for the user. Varying the number and size of the spacer blocks varies the height and level of shock absorption for the stilt. Additionally, the use of spacer blocks creates a solid stilt assembly, which eliminates the safety hazard of sudden catastrophic drops in height from failure of on-the-fly height adjustment mechanisms.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to height adjustable stilts in workplace and recreation contexts.

[0003] 2. Background Information

[0004] Many construction activities, such as painting, wallpapering, ceiling texturing, etc., require work performance at heights not reachable by typical workers. Additionally, many professional and recreational activities, such as circus clowns, etc., require performance at elevated heights. In both contexts, professionals and amateurs have struggled with achieving performance at heights unreachable by the person alone. Several methods have been devised to elevate persons from the floor or ground. The problem has been to develop equipment that allows for easy horizontal movement (i.e. walking), is height adjustable, is completely secure in its height adjustment so as to not be vulnerable to catastrophic failures resulting in sudden drop of height, leaves the hands and body free to work, provides stability on flat to moderately rough surfaces, provides shock absorption during movement, is light weight, is portable, fastens securely to the user, is reasonably convenient to mount and dismount, and is cost effective.

[0005] Achieving all of the desired aspects in one set of stilts is a difficult task at best. Thus, current solutions typically tradeoff some requirements in favor of others. However, the need for a design that addresses the safety issue of sudden catastrophic drops in height, shock absorption, and the relation of these requirements to cost has gone unfulfilled.

[0006] The present invention, as will be described below, incorporates the fact that many amateurs and professionals will not spend large sums of money for the currently available adjust-on-the-fly stilts commonly used by professionals. This is especially true since many users may only need one height setting to be used for extended periods and thus, have no need for the costly option of immediate on-the-fly height adjustment. Additionally, the present invention provides a level of shock absorption for the user, which is an important comfort aspect for users who spend large amounts of time on stilts. Furthermore, the present invention solves the safety problem of failures of elevation mechanisms resulting in sudden catastrophic drops in height and potential injury to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method for mobile height elevation by way of stilts.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel means of stilt height adjustment for the user without the use of costly on-the-fly height adjustment mechanisms.

[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved method of shock absorption on mobile stilts.

[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel means for eliminating the risk of sudden catastrophic drops in height from height adjustable stilts.

[0011] In satisfaction of these and other related objectives, Applicant's present invention provides for improved height adjustable stilts. Applicant's stilt, in its preferred embodiment, exhibits a base-plate (footpad) with a traction surface on the underside of the plate. The topside of the plate is attached to a lightweight I-beam. The I-beam is positioned vertically from the center of the topside of the base-plate. A mid-plate is positioned parallel to the base-plate and attached to the I-beam on the opposite end of the base-plate. For version (A), the mid-plate has two female end hollow rods attached to the topside of the mid-plate, which extend vertically for attachment to male telescoping rods. For version (B), the mid-plate has two holes, which are aligned to allow two rods to pass through the mid-plate and run alongside the I-beam. Additionally, version (B) has sleeves attached to the I-beam, which house the rods in a telescoping manner and provide support and stability for the rods. Both versions (A) and (B) have solid male telescoping rods with one end of each rod attached to the underside of the top-plate. The topside of the top-plate has a foot binding attached, which possess straps and ankle moldings that securely bind the feet and ankles to the top-plate. For version (A), the free ends of the dual rods attached to the top-plate assembly fit into the female hollow telescoping rods. For version (B), the free ends of the dual rods attached to the top-plate assembly fit into the bottom I-beam assembly through the mid-plate and telescope through the sleeves alongside the I-beam. To set height adjustment and provide shock absorption for the stilt assembly, dense, foam rubber-like interlocking blocks that have substantially the same length and width dimensions of the mid-plate and top-plate are attached to the top-side of the mid-plate and the under side of the top-plate. The telescoping rods feed through holes in the rubber-like blocks. The top-plate and mid-plate have slide-on protrusions for connection to the blocks. The resulting stilt assembly is a solid structure and eliminates the potential for failures of height adjustment mechanisms, which result in catastrophic height drops and potential injury to the user. The rubber-like blocks are interlocking and by varying the number and size of the blocks, the height of the stilt is adjusted. Additionally, the blocks provide stability and shock absorption for the stilts. Furthermore, by varying the material used for the rubber-like blocks different levels of shock absorption can be set by the user.

[0012] Applicant's approach to the problem described above is certainly simple, but it is equally unobvious. Applicant's informal surveys of professional and amateur stilt users reveal a long but unsatisfied need for height adjustable stilts that are less expensive than the costly adjust on-the-fly stilts, have no safety risk of sudden catastrophic height drops, and provide variable shock absorption. Despite this well-known and long existing problem, no one has presented a viable, cost effective solution such as applicant here provides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of Applicant's improved stilts.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a side view of the alternate version of the preferred embodiment of Applicant's improved stilts.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a side view of the top-plate and mid-plate slide-on connecting blocks and a side view of an interlocking spacer block.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a top view of a top-plate or mid-plate slide-on connecting block.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a top view of an interlocking spacer block.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a side view of the top-plate, male telescoping rod, female telescoping rod, and mid-plate assembly of FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 7 is a side view of the top-plate, telescoping rod, and mid-plate assembly of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] FIG. 1 refers to version (A) of Applicant's improved height adjustable stilts 10. The base-plate 12, mid-plate 14, top-plate 16, I-beam 18, solid rods 20, and hollow rods 22 are constructed of lightweight yet rigid materials such as aluminum, steel, plastic, etc. The top-plate 16 and mid-plate 14 have similar dimensions and are of sufficient size to provide stability and accommodate different foot sizes. Typical plate dimensions may be 12 inches×8 in.×1 in. The base-plate 12 is similar in size and shape to the mid-plate 14 and top-plate 16, and is of sufficient size and shape to provide stability. The top-plate 16 and mid-plate 14 are parallel to the base-plate 12. The underside of base-plate 12 has an interchangeable traction pad 24 to provide secure grip on various surfaces. The I-beam 18 will be capable of supporting the weight of the user and be 3 inches wide and 8 to 16 inches tall (depending on model size chosen) in the preferred embodiment. The I-beam 18 is attached perpendicular and centered to the topside of the base-plate 12 and the underside of the mid-plate 14.

[0021] Version (B)'s rod sleeves 30 attach to the I-beam 18 on opposite sides of the beam 18 and align with the male telescoping rods 20 and mid-plate 34 holes. (FIGS. 2 & 7) Rod sleeves (female) 30 are positioned to mate with the telescoping rods (male) 20, which are attached vertically from the underside of the top-plate 16. (FIGS. 2 & 7) Version (A) does not have rod sleeves 30 attached to the I-beam, but instead has female hollow rods 22 vertically attached to the topside of the mid-plate 14. (FIGS. 1 & 6) These female hollow rods 22 are positioned to mate with the male telescoping rods 20, which are attached vertically from the underside of the top-plate. (FIGS. 1 & 6) The male rods 20 will have a ¾ inch diameter and telescope into the female hollow rods 22 (version A) or hollow rod sleeves 30 (version B).

[0022] The overall length of the telescoping rods will vary depending on the height capabilities needed for the particular stilt. In the claims, the rod assembly, examples of which have just been provided, are referenced as variable distance mating means.

[0023] Both versions (A) and (B) have an adjustable foot binding 40 with a plastic or similar material calf and ankle wraparound support. (FIGS. 1 & 2) The foot is secured to the binding by straps that lock with buckles or hook and loop type fastener.

[0024] To complete the stilt assembly and to set the height and shock absorption requires the use of the rubber-like spacer blocks 50 and the connecting blocks 52 (preferably made from a highly dense foam material). First, the rubber-like spacer blocks 50 (FIG. 3) are connected by sliding various numbers of blocks together to create a spacer block assembly. By varying the number and material of the rubber-like spacer blocks 50, the height and shock absorption level is set. Once the spacer blocks 50 are assembled, they slide onto the top-plate's rods (or mid-plate for version A) by way of the aligned holes in the spacer blocks. (FIG. 5) Both versions (A) and (B) have male connectors 54 on the topside of the mid-plate and underside of the top-plate for securely connecting the aforementioned plates to the connecting blocks 52 (FIGS. 3, 6 & 7). The connecting blocks 52 are similar to the spacer blocks 50, except that they are cut out to allow the connecting blocks to slide around the rods while connecting the top-plate 16 or mid-plate 14 to the spacer blocks 50. (FIGS. 3, 4, & 5)

[0025] After threading the rods (those of Version A or B as described above) through the rubber-like spacer blocks 50, and connecting the spacer blocks 50 to the top-plate 16 and mid-plate 14 with the slide-on connecting blocks 52, a complete stilt assembly 10 is achieved.

[0026] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A stilt assembly comprising:

A top plate member with foot engagement means;

a base plate member;

variable distance mating means for mating said top plate member and said base plate member over distances varying between a minimal distance and a maximum distance;

a plurality of resilient spacer block members sized and shaped for insertion between said top plate member and said base plate member, said spacer block members having means for securing said spacer block members to said variable distance mating means.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said base plate member has extending from it a substantially rigid support member attached to said base plate member at a support member proximal end, with a mid-plate member being attached to a support member distal end, and wherein said variable distance mating means attaches to mid-plate member.