Exchangeable (e.g., Conventional To Spiked) Patents (Class 135/78)
  • Patent number: 10064464
    Abstract: A shoe for canes and crutches composing a cylindrical tubular member having an end mounted to the end of a shaft or crutch, and the other end having a central bore axially extending inwardly a defining a first bottom and coaxially disposed second bore having a smaller diameter than said first bore and extending a second predetermined distance defining a second bottom. A circular plate with a central through opening biased by a coil spring member coaxially disposed around a post. A cap member is sandwiched between a knob connected to the plate for rotating the latter and causing it to move along the post to engage the irregular through opening to a cutout in the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Inventor: Bernardo Birnbaum
  • Patent number: 8800580
    Abstract: A pole, in particular a Nordic walking pole, is described, having a pole body (1) at the lower end of which a buffer (2) with a tip (19) is provided, wherein the tip (19) and/or a lowermost portion (28, 36) of an inner sleeve (3) secured to the pole body (1) are arranged passing through a central opening (18) of the buffer (2), wherein the buffer (2) is mounted such that it can be moved and secured in an axial direction in this central opening (18), and wherein the buffer (2) can be secured in at least two axially different positions in relation to the pole body (1) via a form-fit connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Lekisport AG
    Inventor: Eberhard Heim
  • Patent number: 8684019
    Abstract: A cordlock of a mobility cane is provided including a body having a length greater than the inner diameter, a width less than the inner diameter, a depth less than the inner diameter, and a body opening extending through the depth and sized to accommodate the cord but to prevent passage of the widened portion. The depth of the body sized to accommodate the cord between the body and the inner wall when the cordlock is inserted in the cane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ambutech Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Hudek, Christopher Schwill
  • Patent number: 8607809
    Abstract: The invention is a multi-legged walking cane where each leg operates independently of each other by employing compressible legs, enhancing stability thru the complete gait cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ranjam, LLC
    Inventors: James D. Jordan, Randy G. Misenheimer, Shyh Min Chen
  • Publication number: 20130068268
    Abstract: A pole, in particular a Nordic walking pole, is described, having a pole body (1) at the lower end of which a buffer (2) with a tip (19) is provided, wherein the tip (19) and/or a lowermost portion (28, 36) of an inner sleeve (3) secured to the pole body (1) are arranged passing through a central opening (18) of the buffer (2), wherein the buffer (2) is mounted such that it can be moved and secured in an axial direction in this central opening (18), and wherein the buffer (2) can be secured in at least two axially different positions in relation to the pole body (1) via a form-fit connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: LEKISPORT AG
    Inventor: Eberhard Heim
  • Patent number: 8166989
    Abstract: A pole, in particular a Nordic walking pole, comprises a pole body (1), with a tip body (2) and a buffer (3) provided at its bottom end. The buffer (3) is displaceably mounted such that it can be arrested in an axial direction in relation to the pole body (1). The buffer (3) can be secured in at least two axially different positions in relation to the pole body (1) via a form-fitting connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Lekisport AG
    Inventor: Eberhard Heim
  • Publication number: 20110232710
    Abstract: The present invention provides a replaceable cap designed to fit into the rear leg of walker. The cap has a non-scratch pad on the bottom surface which provides skidding action and removes the chirping noise caused by normal walkers. The cap is also designed to be inserted into a protective cover for use on rough surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Chinaedu Okwumabua, Troy V. Varner
  • Patent number: 7882848
    Abstract: A walker glide having a hollow body with a substantially semi-spherical shape, a top opening and a removable bottom element that are arranged along a common axis. A sleeve is arranged in the hollow body so as to extend from the top opening toward the bottom element. A mounting element is attached to an upper side of the bottom element and is releasably attachable to a lower end of the sleeve whereby the bottom element is replaceable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Drive Medical Design and Manufacturing
    Inventor: Harvey Diamond
  • Publication number: 20080196753
    Abstract: The invention describes a buffer (2) for a stick (1), in particular for a walking stick or a trekking or Nordic-Walking pole. The buffer (2) has means (10) for being attached to a stick tube (Ia), in particular in the form of a recess, at its upper end (4) and a rolling surface (5) at its lower end. In this case, the rolling surface (5) is of substantially flat or only slightly convex design in a transverse direction (22) in relation to the rolling motion but in a longitudinal direction (21) which is perpendicular thereto is convexly curved in such a way that it forms a rolling surface on a base surface (3) during the pushing-off movement with the stick when the user of the stick (1) moves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventor: Eberhard Heim
  • Patent number: 7252105
    Abstract: A lightweight metal or plastic framework which has a handle (11) at the top of a vertical shaft (12) with built in arms (13,14) below the handle and a bottom shaft (15) attached to the end of the vertical shaft (12). The said bottom shaft (15) is bent down at both ends on which are attached rubber bumper-pivots (16,17) that act as bumpers for the ends of shaft (15) and lift said wheels from said surface when said framework is leaned toward the user. Two bearing fitted wheels (18,19) are attached on the same side of said framework to said bottom shaft (15) by axles (20,21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Inventor: John Francis Otis
  • Patent number: 7219679
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dual-purpose cane, which includes a shaft unit, a handgrip unit, which is provided at the top side of the shaft unit and alternatively set between a first mode for use as a handgrip and a second mode for use as a seat, and a footpiece unit, which is provided at the bottom side of the shaft unit and alternatively set between a received position for enabling the cane to be used as a walking stick and an extended position for enabling the cane to be used as a chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Inventors: Meng-Hui Hsu, Hsueh-Yu Chen, Bing-Hung Lin, Cheng-De Hong, Sheng-Wei Lin, Danver Wang
  • Patent number: 6651684
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a cane including a handle, a hollow shaft, and a stand mechanism for standing the cane in an upright position upon its shaft. The stand mechanism is releasably retractable from within the hollow shaft through a hand grip mechanism manually operable by the user of the cane. Additionally, the present invention provides for an actuating mechanism extending from the handle, through the shaft and to stand mechanism for actuating the stand mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: A. Robert Spitzer
  • Publication number: 20030010369
    Abstract: An improved wading staff of the type having a shaft, a tip, and a hand grip, the shaft having a longitudinal axis, the hand grip having a top end and a bottom end, the hand grip having a longitudinal axis, the tip being connected to the bottom end of the shaft, the bottom end of the hand grip being connected to the top end of the shaft. The improvement is to arrange the hand grip so that the longitudinal axis of the hand grip is spaced apart from the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the angle between the longitudinal axis of the hand grip and the longitudinal axis of the shaft being less than about twenty degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventor: Daniel L. Almond
  • Patent number: 6390109
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a pole provided with a quick-releasing interchangeable lateral support extension, especially a walking, skiing, alpine skiing or other sports pole. Around the lower end of the pole (1) is injection molded a sleeve socket (2) from which a guide projection (3) and a locking projection (4) protrude. The lateral support extension sleeve (6, 8) includes a resilient tongue (12), below which there is a receiving aperture (14) for the locking projection (4). The sleeve also includes a guide groove (11) for receiving the guide projection (3). The lateral support extension (5) is easy to detach by turning the resilient tongue (12) outwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Exel Oyj
    Inventor: Taisto Manninen
  • Patent number: 6328048
    Abstract: An aid for movement impaired individuals that converts to function as a cane, a shoe horn and a clothing retrieval hook. The multi-use patient aid includes an adjustable length cane body assembly, a cane foot assembly, an accessory adapter, a shoe horn accessory, and a dressing hook accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Inventor: Andre B. Rivera, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6216713
    Abstract: A traction assembly that may be coupled to the distal of the leg of a mobility assisting device such as a cane, crutch, or walker. The distal end of the leg is provided with a threaded rod which extends axially from the end thereof. Interchangeable foot or spike/sleeve assemblies are alternately threaded onto the axially, outwardly extending rod. The threaded rod is designed to be of a precision length such that when it is completely assembled, the distal end of the rod comes into direct force contact with the head of the spike protruding from the end of the threaded sleeve, directing all of the force to the absolute center or axis of the tubular material of the cane, crutch, or walker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventor: Sean A. Kennan
  • Patent number: 6085766
    Abstract: A compacting, adjustable walking aid comprising a shaft (20) made up of three rigid tubular members (22, 23, 24) arranged in telescopic fashion adjustably connected to one another by spring-loaded push button release pins (25) in cooperation with apertures in the tubes. A readily removable underarm support (30) secured by a release pin (25A) caps the upper shaft tube (22). A readily removable crutch handle (32), secured by a hand operated release assembly (32C), extends perpendicularly from a designated portion of the upper tubular member (22). This invention may be readily compacted telescopically to approximately one third of its extended length. By removing the upper shaft tube (22), and capping the middle shaft tube (23) with the appropriate attachment, this invention may be readily converted from a full-sized crutch to a forearm crutch (46), or a cane (48). Shock absorbing end tip (34) may be replaced with a quad tip attachment (50) transforming the cane to a quad cane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Inventor: John A. Geary
  • Patent number: 5810038
    Abstract: A medical walker foot includes a shell having a base portion for engaging a floor or the ground when weight is applied to the walker and a sleeve portion for receiving the lower end of the medical walker leg. A biasing member is disposed within the shell for biasing a tip member into an extended position, disengaging the base portion from the ground, and allowing the tip member to glide along the ground when weight is removed from the walker. The biasing member provides a substantially uniform pressure throughout its full stroke and may comprise a cup-like urethane cushion or a coil spring. The base portion of the shell includes a wiper seal which extends radially into the opening in the base portion to form a watertight seal with the stem of the tip member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Carpin Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph Carpinella
  • Patent number: 5787913
    Abstract: A walker to assist physically impaired persons in ascending and descending stairs, has two rear legs pivotally attached to two front legs. When the walker is in use, the rear legs are locked against any pivotal movement; when stairs are to be negotiated, a locking member is released to permit relative pivotal movement of the rear legs in respect to the front legs. Thus, the front and rear legs can be placed on the staircase. After this has been done, the legs again are locked into position. The walker maintains this relative position so that the person using it may negotiate the stairs. The locking member is in the form of a toothed substantially circular gear and spring biased bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Inventor: Tianfu Li
  • Patent number: 5778605
    Abstract: A glide cap for a walker of the type has four legs that extend into contact with the ground and support an upper handgrip portion. The glide cap encompasses at least a portion of the bottom of an elastomeric tip placed on the end of at least one of the legs of the walker. The glide cap has a hardness greater than the hardness of the elastomeric tip such that any vibration or noise caused by skidding the glide cap across a surface is dampened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical HHG, Inc.
    Inventors: Nate Ellena, Rolf Orchard
  • Patent number: 5482071
    Abstract: A crutch includes a tube having a handle fixed on top. The handle includes a knife engaged in the tube. An extension is slidably engaged in the tube and includes an upper end adjustable relative to the tube and secured to the tube by a projection. A tool head includes a stud for engaging with the extension. The tool head may be a tip member, an axhammer or a shovel. A coupler is secured to the extension, and a quick coupler may further be engaged with the tool head so as to secure the tool head to the coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Inventor: Ching-Yuan Liu
  • Patent number: 5377710
    Abstract: Disclosed is a temporary crutch tip cleat assembly for preventing lateral slippage of a ground engaging tip of a crutch during use on icy and/or snowy supporting surfaces. The temporary crutch cleat assembly has a stud plate attachable to a ground engagement surface of a crutch tip for piercing engagement with ice and/or snow covered ground surfaces. The stud plate has a discoid plate having a plurality of sharp teeth projecting downwardly therefrom. The plate further has an essentially tubular wall extending oppositely the teeth, around the circumference thereof, to define a cup-shaped receptacle wherein the crutch tip may be inserted for keeping the plate in alignment with the crutch tip. The stud plate may be removably attached to the crutch with a pair of resilient flexible bands. The first end of each band is looped through a lateral hole of the stud plate wall while the second end has an enlarged knot for jamming within the v-shaped juncture of a convergent pair of crutch arm support members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Inventor: Jay M. Laser
  • Patent number: 5353825
    Abstract: A crutch tip assembly (12) comprises a crutch tip base (14) with a laterally protruding lip (28) adjacent a base bottom surface (26) and a resilient boot (16) having the shape of a rocker. The boot defines a mounting cavity (36) for snugly receiving the base bottom surface and the lip for holding the boot on the base. The boot has a sole with a bottom surface (39) for contacting the ground and a top surface (46) in the cavity directed towards the base bottom surface. Protruding portions are positioned between the base bottom surface and the sole top surface for providing resilient cushioning between the sole top surface and the base bottom surface. Sidewall cavities (84) are located around the perimeter of the boot allowing for lateral compression and reexpansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: TREK Medical Corporation
    Inventor: Richard C. Davis
  • Patent number: 5307828
    Abstract: A support foot assembly (10) for use with a elongated load bearing device such as a cane (16) or crutch. The support foot assembly includes a mounting structure (12) having a generally planar bottom surface (12.1) and an upper surface (12.2) which, in the preferred form of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, is provided with a large, deep generally cylindrical cavity (12.3). Securing means (14) are provided to secure the elongated load bearing device to the mounting structure, and to this end a rubber-like crutch or cane tip (18) is mounted within the cavity (12.3), the tip (18) being retained within the cavity by a rubber-like cord (22) which passes through a small aperture (12.5) below the cavity (12.3), the cord having an enlarged portion (22.1) which engages the bottom surface (12.1) of the mounting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Inventors: Donald J. Gardner, Sue A. Gardner
  • Patent number: 5301704
    Abstract: A walking cane has an enlarged foot piece, formed with a convex arcuate lower surface, that functions as a small rocker. One, or two, rows of spikes extend downwardly from the arcuate surface, for penetration and gripping of icy surfaces. An elastomeric, resilient pad may be attached to the arcuate lower surface of the foot piece, to adapt the cane for use on normal walking surfaces, such as carpets, hard floors, and outdoor sidewalks. The pad has a series of sockets that fit onto the spikes for retention of the pad on the foot piece. The arcuate surface contour on the foot piece is advantageous in that it enables the spikes or resilient pad to maintain a non-slip, rocking engagement with the walking surface during the entire walking stride, i.e., while the person is using the cane to partially support his or her own weight during forward motion of the person's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Inventor: E. Evangeline Brown
  • Patent number: 5163710
    Abstract: A pole useful when skating on in line roller skates. A rigid pole with a specially designed tip which is useful when skating on in-line roller skates and which assists a skater to control his speed of forward motion and may be used as a training aid for beginners learning to skate on in-line roller skates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Inventors: Stuart J. Chirtel, Imants Brolis
  • Patent number: 5103849
    Abstract: A hiker's staff having a special hiker's point of rugged dimensions, telescoped over the lower end. The hiker's point has a vertically mounted plate with a truncated tapered notch at the lower end to define two square support areas on each side thereof, with the notch permitting the anchoring of snakes and the like to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Inventor: Lewis N. Hamner
  • Patent number: 5031827
    Abstract: A knock down spring whip assembly including a hollow housing which serves as a handgrip, and also stores a spring subassembly formed of lengths of helically wound springs of sequentially increasingly larger diameter size to move between a telescoped position within the housing and an extended whipping position projecting from one end of the housing with the springs wedgingly engaging each other in an end to end arrangement. A removable closure unit is provided for plugging the other end of the housing to define a storage compartment. The closure unit includes an integral magnet for retaining the spring subassembly in the telescoped position, where the closure unit can be replaced with other types of closure units. The housing includes a tapered end and an annular constriction for providing both a wedging engagement of the projecting springs as well as a positive locking action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Inventor: Harold von Braunhut
  • Patent number: 4964430
    Abstract: A walking aid is provided with an ice-gripper foot attachable to either the shaft of a walking aid or to an existing foot on a walking aid. The ice gripper is a toothed tubular member. One embodiment is a walking cane with the tubular ice-gripper member attached in back-to-back and end-to-end relationship to a separate walking cane for convenient use of either end of the walking cane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Inventor: William F. Janis
  • Patent number: 4601302
    Abstract: An ambulatory aid in the form of a cane is manufactured from plastics material including a handle and a stick portion. The stick portion is formed in two sections, one having a male screw thread and the other having a female screw thread so that the axial length can be adjusted by screwing one into the other and then locking with a lock nut. The screw threads are formed of moulded plastic material in tubular form with a tubular metal insert. The handle is shaped with an inclined upper surface leading downwardly to an upward stop. The upper surface is positioned directly above the vertical axis of the stick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1986
    Inventors: Jonathon Breen, Drew Petursson
  • Patent number: 4562851
    Abstract: What is described is a holding fixture for an exchangeable sole piece in walking aids, for example crutches or the like, having a support pod and a bottom mounting rim to which a sole piece is releasably attached. The sole piece (4) is affixed secure against being pulled off by means of a push-on sleeve (12) that can be slid fittingly over the mounting rim (8) and the push-on sleeve is attached to the support pod (3) and secured against being pulled off by a snap lock mechanism (14). The fixture has the special advantage that the exchange of the sole piece can be carried out extremely quickly and comfortably and that a maximum of operational reliability of the holding fixture is guaranteed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: S & F Orthopadietechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Xaver Frank
  • Patent number: 4450850
    Abstract: A conventional crutch having a ground engaging blunted tip member adapted to frictionally engage a finished ground surface. A second ground engaging member having a sharp tip adapted to be stuck into an icy surface is fixedly attached to and spaced from the crutch member. In one position, with the crutch assembly slanting downwardly and outwardly from the person, the point of the second member is above the ground surface. However, by rotating the crutch assembly 180 degrees from the first position, the point of the second member comes into ground engagement to firmly engage an icy surface. The blunted tip is compressible and the sharp tip is disposed slightly above the bottom of the compressible blunted tip when the crutch is disposed vertically with no weight applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1984
    Inventor: William A. McKenna
  • Patent number: 4196742
    Abstract: A ski-pole or crutch is provided with a forearm yoke at its upper end and a pistol grip spaced below it. Both the yoke and pistol grip face rearward so that when the pistol grip is held in one hand the yoke can be swung into and out of locking engagement with the upper side of the forearm simply by bending the wrist, thereby providing greater maneuverability of the pole and support of the arm when needed for balance, support of the body and steering by planting the pole or dragging it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1980
    Inventor: Clure H. Owen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4141375
    Abstract: An upright is provided including upper and lower ends and the lower end of the upright includes a foot for frictionally gripping an upwardly facing support surface. The upper end of the upright defines a pair of horizontally spaced apart opposite side portions between which a horizontal upwardly opening cradle is supported for angular adjustment about an axis extending transversely of the cradle and between the opposite side portions. One of the opposite side portions includes a cane handle supported therefrom for angular displacement about its longitudinal axis and projecting above the cradle and one end of the cradle includes an outwardly convex end wall while the other end of the cradle is open and includes an endwise outwardly projecting support arm from whose outer end a second upwardly opening cradle is supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1979
    Inventor: Leonard M. Tykwinski
  • Patent number: 4135536
    Abstract: A resilient tip member, preferably molded as a unit from rubber, having a gripper pad, a crutch holder and an interposed sleeve portion. A pivot pin preferably has a disc-like upper portion disposed within the crutch holder, and a depending pin portion extending through the sleeve portion and into the gripper pad. An instep plate is disposed within the gripper pad and has an upwardly concave portion of generally complementary configuration with respect to the lower end of the depending pin portion with the two being in contact.Means for introducing lubricant into the contacting portions of the pivot pin and instep plate may be provided. Traction means may be removably or permanently secured to the ground engaging portion of the resilient tip member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1979
    Inventor: Wilburn C. Willis