Non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device
View Patent ↗A non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device includes: an upper disk slidably engaged with the rod and externally provided with a hinge; a lower disk, connected with the orthopedic device allowing the elastomeric foot to project downward, and externally provided with a hinge; and arms with upper element, lower element and spring adapted to hold the arm in folded configuration. The movable mechanism can take an enlarged configuration, in which the upper disk contacts the lower disk and the arms are folded. In an elongated configuration, the arms are in axial configuration following the pressing of a button connected to a kinematic mechanism causing the arms to take the axial configuration. The reversible connection system allows the reversible disconnection of the lower elements of the arms preselected by the hinge, determining the lifting of the entire arm in a vertical position by rotation around the hinge.
1. A non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device that is a crutch or a walking stick, the orthopedic device comprising:
a rod having a lower end provided with an elastomeric foot and an upper end provided with a handle configured to be grasped by a user; and
a movable mechanism provided in proximity to said lower end of said rod, the movable mechanism comprising:
an upper disk including a circular crown provided with a plurality of spokes firmly connected to a central disk provided with a central hole that is concentric with the circular crown of said upper disk, the upper disk configured to be slidingly engaged with said rod of said orthopedic device, said upper disk being externally provided with at least a first hinge,
a lower disk including a circular crown provided with a plurality of spokes firmly connected in proximity to said lower end of said rod of said orthopedic device such that said elastomeric foot projects downwards, said lower disk being externally provided with at least a second hinge
a plurality of arms, each of the arms including an upper element, a lower element, and a central spring configured to rotatably connect said upper element to the corresponding lower element, said central spring including a mechanical element configured to be elastically deformed when subjected to a load and configured to return to its initial configuration when released;
said upper element of each of the arms being provided with an upper end firmly and rotatably connected to said first hinge of said upper disk, said lower element of each of the arms being provided with a lower end configured to be rotatably engaged, by a non-permanent connection system, with said second hinge, said central spring, when released, being configured to hold said upper element and said lower element of each arm in a folded configuration, wherein, due to the rotation of the upper element around said first hinge and said central spring and of the lower element around said second hinge and said central spring, an external surface of each lower element contacts a floor, and said upper disk and said lower disk contact each other,
said movable mechanism being configured to take an enlarged configuration in which said upper disk contacts said lower disk ( 20 ) and each of said arms is in said folded configuration, said movable mechanism being configured to take an elongated configuration in which the upper element and the lower element of each arm are vertically aligned and coaxial with each other in an axial configuration, and said upper disk is located at a distance from said lower disk corresponding to the length of said arms in said axial configuration, said elongated configuration occurring following the user pressing a button located at said handle of said orthopedic device, said button being connected to a kinematic mechanism configured to act on said upper disk by determining its upward movement and spacing from said lower disk, thus causing said arms to take said axial configuration, said connection system, located at the lower end of the lower element of each arm being configured to allow disconnection of the lower elements of the arms that are preselected from said second hinge, to cause the entire arm to lift in a vertical position by rotation around said first hinge.
2. The non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device according to claim 1 , wherein said kinematic mechanism is located inside said rod.
3. The non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device according to claim 1 , wherein said kinematic mechanism is located outside said rod.
4. The non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device according to claim 3 , wherein both of said upper disk and said lower disk of said movable mechanism are connected to said rod, in proximity to the lower end of the rod, allowing said movable mechanism to slide along said rod and allowing said movable mechanism to be disconnected from said rod.
5. The non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device according to claim 1 , wherein said button is provided with a blocking mechanism configured to hold said button down even when the user releases said handle.
6. The non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device according to claim 1 , wherein, by applying a tangential force, said arms are configured to pivot outward relative to said first hinge and relative to said second hinge.
7. The non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device according to claim 1 , wherein said external surface of said lower element of each of said arms is provided with a non-slip coating configured to improve adherence of said external surface when contacting the floor in said enlarged configuration.
8. The non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device of claim 7 , wherein the non-slip coating comprises an elastomeric plastic polymer.
9. The non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device according to claim 1 , wherein said upper disk and said lower disk are between 5 cm and 50 cm in diameter, and
wherein, when said device is in said elongated configuration, the device is between 10 cm and 50 cm in height.
10. The non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device of claim 9 , wherein said upper disk and said lower disk are 20 cm in diameter, and
wherein, when said device is in said elongated configuration, the device is 25 cm in height.
11. The non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device according to claim 1 , wherein said upper element and said lower element of each of said arms are made of any elastic-plastic polymer.
12. The non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device of claim 11 , wherein the elastic-plastic polymer is elasticized PVC.
13. The non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device of claim 11 , wherein the button is located at said handle.
14. The non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device according to claim 1 , further comprising a light emitting diode (LED) light, located in proximity to said lower end of said that is reversibly activated by a button.
15. The non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spokes of the upper disk comprise three spokes, the plurality of spokes of the lower disk comprise three spokes, and the plurality of arms of the device comprise three arms.
16. A non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device that is a crutch or a walking stick, the orthopedic device comprising:
a rod having a lower end provided with an elastomeric foot and an upper provided with a handle configured to be grasped a user,
a movable mechanism provided in proximity to said lower end of said rod, the movable mechanism comprising:
an upper disk including a circular crown provided with a plurality of spokes firmly connected to a central disk provided with a central hole that is concentric with the circular crown of said upper disk, the upper disk configured to be slidingly engaged with said rod of said orthopedic device, said upper disk being externally provided with at least a first hinge,
a lower disk including a circular crown provided with a plurality of spokes firmly connected in proximity to said lower end of said rod of said orthopedic device such that said elastomeric foot projects downwards, said lower disk being externally provided with at least a second hinge,
a plurality of arms, each of the arms including an upper element, a lower element, and a central spring configured to rotatably connect said upper element to the corresponding lower element,
said central spring including a mechanical element configured to be elastically deformed when subjected to a load and configured to return to its initial configuration when released, said upper element of each arm being provided with an upper end firmly and rotatably connected to said first hinge of said upper disk, said lower element of each arm being provided with a lower end configured to rotatably engage, by a connection system, said second hinge, said central spring, when released, being configured to hold said upper element and said lower element of each of the arms in an axial configuration, the upper element and the lower element of each arm being vertically aligned and coaxial with each other,
said movable mechanism being configured to take an elongated configuration in which the upper element and the lower element of each of the arms are vertically aligned and coaxial with each other in said axial configuration, and said upper disk is located at a distance from said lower disk corresponding to the length of said arms in said axial configuration, said movable mechanism being configured to take an enlarged configuration in which said upper disk contacts said lower disk and each of said arms is in a folded configuration, wherein, due to the rotation of the upper element around said first hinge and said central spring, and rotation of the lower element around said second hinge and said central spring, an external surface of each of the lower elements contacts a floor, said enlarged configuration occurring following the user pressing a button located at said handle of said orthopedic device, said button being connected to a kinematic mechanism configured to act on said upper disk by determining its downward movement and approaching said lower disk, thus causing said arms to take said folded configuration, said connection system, located at the lower end of the lower element of each of the arms, being configured to allow disconnection of the lower elements of the arms that are preselected from said second hinge, to cause the entire arm to lift in a vertical position by rotation around said first hinge.
17. The non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of spokes of the upper disk comprise three spokes, the plurality of spokes of the lower disk comprise three spokes, and the plurality of arms of the device comprise three arms.
18. The non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device according to claim 16 , wherein said kinematic mechanism is located inside said rod.
19. The non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device according to claim 16 , wherein said kinematic mechanism is located outside said rod.
20. The non-slip self-supporting orthopedic device according to claim 16 , wherein said button is provided with a blocking mechanism configured to hold said button down even when the user releases said handle.