Crutch equipped with restraining safety means
A crutch ( 10 ) for orthopaedic or similar purposes which can be used with the arms to support the body and/or the legs, the crutch ( 10 ) being equipped with a semicircular element ( 13 ) which in turn presents two wings ( 14, 15 ) facing the front part of the crutch according to the usual forms currently in use, the crutch being fitted, at the ends of the two wings ( 14, 15 ) of the semicircular element ( 13 ), with a strap ( 16 ) of appropriate length and shape to allow the forearm to be restrained in the semicircular support element ( 13 ).
1. A crutch ( 10 ) for orthopaedic or similar purposes adapted to be used with an arm of the user to support the user's body and/or legs, said crutch ( 10 ) comprising:
an elongated rod ( 11 ) adapted to extend to the ground;
a grip ( 12 ) extending substantially at a right angle from said rod ( 11 ) adapted to be gripped by a hand of the user;
a semicircular element ( 13 ) arranged at an upper end of said crutch adapted to accommodate a forearm of the user, said semicircular element including two wings ( 14 , 15 ) extending fowardly from said semicircular element ( 13 ); and
a strap ( 16 ) having first and second ends extending between said two wings ( 14 , 15 ) and adapted to restrain the user's forearm in said semicircular element ( 13 ), each of said first and second ends of said strap ( 16 ) being pivotally attached to said two wings ( 14 , 15 ), respectively, whereby to permit angular movement of said strap ( 16 ) about said two wings so that upon release of said grip ( 12 ) the user retains possession of the crutch ( 10 ) while also allowing movement of the user's forearm.
2. The crutch ( 10 ) for orthopaedic or similar purposes as defined in claim 1 , wherein one of said first and second ends of said strap ( 16 ) terminates in a toothed tailpiece ( 18 ) engaging with a buckle ( 19 ) pivotally attached to the respective one of said two wings ( 14 , 15 ) to which the other one of said first and second ends of said strap ( 16 ) is not attached.
3. The crutch ( 10 ) for orthopaedic or similar purposes as defined in claim 2 , wherein said buckle ( 19 ) includes a spring biased elastic tab for restraining the toothed tailpiece ( 18 ) of said strap ( 16 ) in a most appropriate position.
4. The crutch ( 10 ) for orthopaedic or similar purposes as defined in claim 2 , which further includes protruding notches ( 20 ) arranged on the one of said two wings ( 14 , 15 ) of said semicircular element ( 13 ) to which said buckle ( 19 ) is attached which limit the rotation of said strap ( 16 ) when said toothed tailpiece ( 18 ) is engaged with said buckle ( 19 ).
5. The crutch ( 10 ) for orthopaedic or similar purposes as defined in claim 4 , wherein the rotational limit of strap ( 16 ) is established by the positioning of said protruding notches ( 20 ) acting as limit stops.
6. The crutch ( 10 ) for orthopaedic or similar purposes as defined in claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second ends of said strap ( 16 ) terminates in a toothed tailpiece ( 21 ) each engaging with a buckle ( 22 ) each pivotally attached to one of said two wings ( 14 , 15 ) of said semicircular element ( 13 ).
7. The crutch ( 10 ) for orthopaedic or similar purposes as defined in claim 1 , which further includes a rapid-release safety system ( 23 ) for said strap ( 16 ) whereby said strap ( 16 ) is released in the event of a fall.
8. The crutch ( 10 ) for orthopaedic or similar purposes as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first and second ends of said strap ( 16 ) are fitted with hook and loop closures and are adapted to be inserted in slotted hooks ( 25 , 26 ) pivotally attached to said two wings ( 14 , 15 ) of said semicircular element ( 13 ).