FLEXIBLE FOOT APPARATUSES AND METHODS USING THE SAME

Abstract

Flexible foot apparatuses and methods of using the same are disclosed. In one aspect a flexible foot apparatus is disclosed which can attach to and/or frictionally engage a standard crutch tip. The apparatus can include upper, lower, and intermediate body portions. The intermediate body portion can pivot during crutch assisted walking and can have a diameter smaller than diameters of the upper and lower body portions. The pivoting motion of crutch assisted walking can increase the amount of surface area available to engage a floor by pressing a bottom surface of the apparatus against the floor. Thus, stability at the crutch to floor interface can be improved.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/329,310 filed on Apr. 29, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The presently disclosed subject matter relates generally to flexible foot apparatuses and methods of using the same. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to flexible foot apparatuses and methods of installing the same to provide greater stability for users of a standard crutch design.

BACKGROUND

In general, when recovering from a leg or foot injury, many patients require crutches to assist them in walking. Currently, the standard design of traditional crutches includes a crutch shaft covered by a small rubber tip that engages with the floor during crutch assisted walking. The small rubber tip utilizes a small portion of its surface area at any one point during the pivot motion associated with crutch assisted walking. As such, the standard crutch design offers very little stability and can lead to further injuries sustained to patients during crutch assisted walking.

Accordingly, there is a need for apparatuses and methods for improving the stability of crutch tips during crutch assisted walking. One object of the present subject matter is to provide a flexible foot apparatus that can attach to currently available standard crutch tips and can utilize a large slip-resistant flexible surface. The amount of surface area which grips the floor during crutch assisted walking can be increased, thereby providing greater stability to the user. This and other objects of the present disclosure as can become apparent from the present disclosure are achieved, at least in whole or in part, by the subject matter described herein.

SUMMARY

In accordance with this disclosure, novel flexible foot apparatuses for attachment to a standard crutch tip and methods of using the same are provided. It is, therefore, an object of the present disclosure to provide flexible foot apparatuses for attachment to a standard crutch tip which provide greater stability to users of conventional crutches.

This and other objects of the present disclosure as can become apparent from the present disclosure are achieved, at least in whole or in part, by the subject matter described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present subject matter including the best mode thereof to one of ordinary skill in the art is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view illustrating one embodiment of a flexible foot apparatus as described herein;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a flexible foot apparatus as described herein;

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the flexible foot apparatus as described herein;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view illustrating the flexible foot apparatus as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the description of the present subject matter, one or more examples of which are shown in the figures. Each example is provided to explain the subject matter and not as a limitation. In fact, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used in another embodiment to yield still a further embodiment. It is intended that the present subject matter cover such modifications and variations.

As illustrated in the figures, some sizes of structures or portions are exaggerated relative to other structures or portions for illustrative purposes and, thus, are provided to illustrate the general structures of the present subject matter. Furthermore, relative terms such as “upper,” “lower,” “top,” “bottom,” “on” or “above” are used herein to describe one structure's or portion's relationship to another structure or portion as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that relative terms such as “upper,” “lower,” “top,” “bottom,” “on” or “above” are intended to encompass different orientations of the apparatus in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the apparatus in the figures is turned over, structure or portion described as “above” other structures or portions would now be oriented “below” the other structures or portions. Likewise, if the apparatus in the figures is rotated along an axis, stricture or portion described as “above”, other structures or portions would now be oriented “next to” or “left of” the other structures or portions. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Referring to FIG. 1, a top view of a flexible foot apparatus, generally designated 10 is illustrated. Flexible foot apparatus 10 can comprise an upper body portion 12 and a lower body portion 14. Flexible foot apparatus 10 can be manufactured using any suitable technique and can comprise any suitable flexible, resilient, and/or pliable material known in the art including, for example, but not limited to polymer materials, elastomer materials, rubber materials, plastic materials, and/or any combination thereof. Upper body portion 12 can comprise a first diameter D1 and a bored center 16. Bored center 16 can comprise an inner wall 18 configured to engage with a standard crutch tip T as illustrated by FIG. 2. Bored center 16 can elastically deform inwardly and outwardly as indicated by the arrows to accommodate and/or frictionally engage an object having a larger diameter than that of inner wall 18, and such an object can include, for example and without limitation, crutch tip T illustrated by FIG. 2. Lower body portion 14 can comprise a second diameter D2 corresponding to an outer wall 36 of a lip portion 34 (FIG. 2). Lower body portion 14 can comprise one or more openings 20 disposed through a top surface 22 of lower body portion 14. Openings 20 can extend through lower body portion 14 as described further below. Each of first and second openings 20 can comprise an inner wall 24 and is configured to taper inwardly at least generally toward a center of flexible foot apparatus 10 and inwardly towards each other as illustrated by the phantom lines in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along second diameter D2 and line 2-2 of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 illustrates an intermediate body portion 26 disposed between upper and lower body portions, 12 and 14 respectively. Intermediate body portion 26 can comprise a third diameter D3. In one aspect, third diameter D3 can be less than each of first and second diameters, D1 and D2 respectively. Bored center 16 of upper body portion 12 can extend downwardly from a top surface 28 of upper body portion 12 and can terminate at a bottom floor 30 that extends into intermediate body portion 26. Bored center 20 can be adapted to receive a standard sized crutch tip T which can be positioned therein as illustrated. Inner wall 18 of bored center 16 can be adapted to extend about crutch tip T and frictionally engage tip T thereby securely holding tip T. Flexible foot apparatus can be installed over an existing crutch tip, for example, by moving the crutch tip into the bored center of the upper body portion, wherein the crutch tip engages with an inner wall of the bored center.

Openings 20 formed in top surface 22 of second body portion 14 can extend and be disposed entirely through second body portion 14 as shown in FIG. 2 for example and have an opening at top surface 22 and bottom surface 32. Openings 20 allow air to be collected into and pushed out from a space, generally designated S, disposed between flexible foot apparatus 10 and floor F when in use against floor F. Bottom surface 32 can be biased in a concave orientation. In one aspect, bottom surface 23 can include two portions: a first portion 33 disposed along a center of bottom surface located between openings 20, and a second portion 35. Second portion 35 can include area outside of openings 20 adjacent lip portion 34. Openings 20 can taper inwardly such that inner walls 24 taper at least generally inwardly towards each other and the center of foot apparatus 10. That is, openings 20 can taper inwardly from top surface 22 to the concave biased bottom surface 32. Second body portion 14 can further comprise lip portion 34 configured for engaging with a walking surface or floor F. As a user moves along floor F by pivoting about the crutch tip T, lip portion 34 can fully engage floor F and bottom surface 32 can flex downwardly and upwardly as indicated by the arrow in space S to move between a first substantially concave position and a second, less concave and more flat position with respect to floor F as shown for example by one of the two broken lines just above floor F in FIG. 2. It can extend even to an at least substantially flat position where at least a portion of bottom surface 32 can be at least substantially flat against floor F. For example, either first or second portions 33, 35 respectively may be flat or entire bottom surface 32 consisting of both first and second portions 33 and 35 may be substantially flat against floor F. As a user pushes his or her weight onto crutch top T during the pivoting motion of crutch assisted walking, bottom surface 32 can upwardly and downwardly move or press against floor F such that a portion of bottom surface 32 engages floor F.

As noted above, during the pivoting motion associated with crutch assisted walking, first and/or second portions 33 and 35 of bottom surface 32 can engage floor F. In one aspect, the entire bottom surface 32 including first and second portions 33 and 35, respectively can contact floor F thereby assuming a substantially flat position against floor F. For example, first and second portions 33 and 35 of bottom surface 32 can assume a substantially flat position P1 indicated by the dotted line along floor F. Thus, entire bottom surface 32 can engage floor F. In other aspects, pivoting motion can cause second portion 35 to assume a substantially flat position thereby engaging floor F and first portion 33 can maintain a position above the floor with a curved orientation with respect to floor F. That is, second portion 35 can comprise a substantially flat position P1 and first portion 33 can comprise a substantially concave or curved position P2 curved above floor F. In further aspects, pivoting motion can cause first portion 33 to engage floor, thus, first portion 33 can assume a substantially flat position P1 against floor F and second portion 35 may maintain a concave or curved position P3 above the floor F with a curved orientation. When bottom surface 32 presses against floor F, the amount of surface area available to grip floor F can be increased thereby the apparatus-to-floor interface can be stabilized and/or strengthened. This can be advantageous as the amount of surface area of flexible foot apparatus 10 available to engage floor F can be maximized. In one aspect, flexible foot apparatus 10 can comprise a material such that bottom surface 32 is adapted to be both flexible and slip-proof thereby providing stable and slip-resistant crutch assisted walking. Injuries associated with crutch tip T sliding or slipping along floor F can therefore be minimized or eliminated. This, in turn, provides greater stability to persons using crutches to assist them in walking. As the user lifts the crutch tip T to position to a further position along floor F during crutch assisted walking, bottom surface 32 can move upwardly assuming the substantially concave position until the user pivots about tip T thereby pushing bottom surface 32 against floor F. Bottom surface 32 can flex between the substantially flat and substantially concave position during the pivoting motion associated with crutch assisted walking.

Still referring to FIG. 2, lip portion 34 can comprise an outer wall 36 having a diameter D2 of a greater length L than a diameter of the top surface 22. Lip portion 34 can substantially surround bottom surface 32, for example, forming a rim or ring about bottom surface 32. Lip portion 34 can comprise a lower surface 38 extending along diameter D2 and can further comprise a thickness T and width W. The entire width W can remain substantially engaged with floor F when the bottom surface 32 is in either the substantially concave or essentially flat position. That is, width W can remain engaged with the floor F during the entire pivoting movement of crutch assisted walking. Lower body portion 14 can further comprise an outer wall 40 disposed between top surface 22 and lower surface 38. The outer wall can curve inwardly to form a concave or U-shape from top surface 22 to lower surface 38 of lip portion 34. When bottom surface 32 is in the concave position, first and second openings 20 can assume the inwardly tapered orientation along concave bottom surface 32 and face inwardly towards each other and bored center 16. When bottom surface 32 is in the substantially flat position, first and second openings 20 can assume a substantially vertically longitudinally aligned vertically aligned between top surface 22 and bottom surface 32. That is, bottom surface 32 can flex to stretch and align over floor F when pressed during the pivoting motion, and openings 20 can move from the tapered orientation to a longitudinal orientation. Openings 20 can allow air to be collected into and pushed out space S disposed between flexible foot apparatus 10 and floor F. The pivoting motion can create a suction force using air collected in space S which can further contribute to stable, slip-resistant crutch assisted walking.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of flexible foot apparatus 10. Flexible foot apparatus 10 can be attached and installed to a standard crutch tip T and can pivot in a pivoting motion as indicated by the arrow A. Pivoting can also cause intermediate body portion 26 to pivot as indicated by the arrow A. Pivoting can cause bottom surface 32 to move between substantially flat and curved positions with respect to the floor. During pivoting, air can be collected and expelled from space S via openings 20 as earlier described. Crutch tip T can be positioned within bored center 2 and can frictionally engage bored center 16 of upper body portion 12 such that it can be firmly held by inner wall 18. Inner wall 18 can substantially surround and engage at least a portion or all of crutch tip T. During the pivoting movement A associated with crutch assisted walking, lower surface 38 of lip portion 34 can remain fully engaged with the floor. The pivoting movement A can induce a portion of bottom surface 32 to substantially engage the floor, thereby maximizing the amount of surface area available to grasp and/or contact the floor.

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom view of flexible foot apparatus 10. Flexible foot apparatus can comprise a substantially circular shaped bottom surface or footprint. However, any shape is contemplated and flexible foot is not limited to a circular shaped bottom surface. Bottom surface 32 can be biased in a substantially concave shape and can be substantially surrounded by lip portion 34. FIG. 4 also illustrates first portion 33 of bottom surface 32 which is disposed between openings 20. Second portion 35 of bottom surface can be disposed outside openings 20 adjacent lip portion 34. The pivoting motion associated with crutch assisted walking can increase an amount of surface area contacting a floor by pressing first and/or second portions 33, 35 of bottom surface against the floor. Air can be collected in space S and pushed out from space S via openings 20 during crutch assisted walking.

Embodiments of the present disclosure shown in the drawings and described above are exemplary of numerous embodiments that can be made within the scope of the present subject matter. It is contemplated that the configurations of a flexible foot apparatus can comprise numerous configurations other than those specifically disclosed.

Claims

1. A flexible foot apparatus for engaging with a crutch tip, the apparatus comprising:

an upper body portion comprising a first diameter and a bored center;

a lower body portion having a second diameter; and

an intermediate body portion disposed between the upper and lower body portions, and the intermediate body portion having a third diameter, wherein the third diameter is less than both the first and the second diameters.

2. The flexible foot apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower body portion further comprises a bottom surface configured to move between a first position where it is substantially concave and a second position where it is substantially flat with respect to a walking surface.

3. The flexible foot apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible foot comprises an elastomeric material.

4. The flexible foot apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower body portion further comprises a curved outer wall.

5. The flexible foot apparatus of claim 4, wherein the outer wall curves inwardly.

6. The flexible foot apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower body portion further comprises one or more openings extending there through connecting a top surface of the lower body portion to the bottom surface.

7. The flexible foot of claim 1, wherein the bored center of the upper body portion comprises a bottom floor which extends into the intermediate body portion.

8. A flexible foot apparatus comprising:

an upper body portion comprising a bored center configured for engaging with a crutch tip;

a lower body portion having a second diameter and a lip portion disposed about a concave bottom surface; and

an intermediate body portion disposed between the upper and lower body portions, and the intermediate body portion having a third diameter less than the second diameter.

9. The flexible foot apparatus of claim 8, wherein the upper body comprises a first diameter that is greater than the third diameter.

10. The flexible foot apparatus of claim 8, wherein the intermediate body is flexible and pivots during crutch assisted walking.

11. The flexible foot apparatus of claim 8, wherein the bored center of the upper body portion comprises a bottom floor which extends into the intermediate body portion.

12. The flexible foot apparatus of claim 8, wherein the flexible foot comprises an elastomeric material.

13. The flexible foot apparatus of claim 8, wherein the bottom surface is configured to move between a first position where it is substantially concave and a second position where it is substantially flat with respect to a walking surface.

14. The flexible foot apparatus of claim 8, wherein the bottom surface is biased in a concave orientation.

15. The flexible foot apparatus of claim 14, wherein the lower body portion further comprises one or more openings extending there through connecting a top surface of the lower body portion to the bottom surface.

16. The flexible foot apparatus of claim 8, wherein the lip portion comprises a lower surface configured to remain in contact with a floor during crutch assisted walking.

17. The flexible foot apparatus of claim 8, wherein the lip portion comprises a larger diameter than an upper surface of the lower body portion.

18. A method of using a flexible foot apparatus, comprising:

providing a flexible foot apparatus comprising: an upper body portion having a first diameter and a bored center; a lower body portion having a second diameter and a bottom surface; and an intermediate body portion disposed between the upper and lower body portions, and the intermediate body portion having a third diameter, wherein the third diameter is less than both the first and the second diameters;

installing the flexible foot apparatus to a crutch tip; and

pivoting the crutch tip with flexible foot apparatus thereon along a floor, wherein the bottom surface is configured to move between a first position where it is substantially concave and a second position where it is substantially flat with respect to a walking surface.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein installing the flexible foot apparatus over the crutch tip comprises moving the crutch tip into the bored center of the upper body portion, wherein the crutch tip engages with an inner wall of the bored center.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein moving the crutch tip with flexible foot apparatus comprises pressing the bottom surface with a lip against the floor.