US3635233A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Collapsible cane and crutch construction
Assignee: CHARLES H ROBERTSON
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Filing: 1970-03-19
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Granted: 1972-01-18
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Expires: 1990-03-19
Abstract
Abstract Segmented supporting aids of collapsible construction held in locking engagement by a tension cord disposed within the tubular segments of the aid. In addition to a collapsible cane construction, a forearm engaging crutch with an improved adjustable forearm engaging band and an underarm-engaging crutch having an adjustable handgrip.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles H Robertson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61H; A61H3/00; A61H3/02; A61H2201/00; A61H2201/01; A61H2201/0161
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
A collapsible supporting aid comprising: a tubular, lower segment; bottom anchor means connected to said lower segment; a tubular, upper segment; top anchor means connected to said upper segment; a tubular, intermediate segment disposed between said upper segment and said lower segment; a plurality of joint connections integral with said segments to provide removable interlocking engagement therebetween; and tension means disposed within said segments and connected to said top anchor means and said bottom anchor means, said tension means operable to retain said segments in interlocking engagement; wherein each said joint connection includes: a male-fitting integral with one said segment and which has a circumferential shoulder with an inwardly tapered portion therefrom and a truncated hemispherical ball seat at the outer end of said tapered portion; a female socket integral with the adjacent said segment and which has an abutment lip with an inwardly tapered receiver therefrom and a truncated hemispherical ball seat at the inner end of said tapered receiver; and a ball member having a central bore therein which receives said tension means; wherein said abutment lip is operable to engage said circumferential shoulder, said tapered receiver is operable to matingly engage said tapered portion, and said ball member is operable to engage said ball seat of said male fitting and said ball seat of said female socket when said segments are interlockingly engaged.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
A collapsible supporting aid comprising: a tubular, lower segment; bottom anchor means connected to said lower segment; a tubular, upper segment; top anchor means connected to said upper segment; a tubular, intermediate segment disposed between said upper segment and said lower segment; a plurality of joint connections integral with said segments to provide removable interlocking engagement therebetween; and tension means disposed within said segments and connected to said top anchor means and said bottom anchor means, said tension means operable to retain said segments in interlocking engagement; wherein each said joint connection includes: a male-fitting integral with one said segment and which has a circumferential shoulder with an inwardly tapered portion therefrom and a truncated hemispherical ball seat at the outer end of said tapered portion; a female socket integral with the adjacent said segment and which has an abutment lip with an inwardly tapered receiver therefrom and a truncated hemispherical ball seat at the inner end of said tapered receiver; and a ball member having a central bore therein which receives said tension means; wherein said abutment lip is operable to engage said circumferential shoulder, said tapered receiver is operable to matingly engage said tapered portion, and said ball member is operable to engage said ball seat of said male fitting and said ball seat of said female socket when said segments are interlockingly engaged.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
144 words
A collapsible supporting aid comprising: a tubular, lower segment; bottom anchor means connected to said lower segment; a tubular, upper segment; top anchor means connected to said upper segment; a tubular, intermediate segment disposed between said upper segment and said lower segment; a plurality of joint connections integral with said segments to provide removable interlocking engagement therebetween; and tension means disposed within said segments and connected to said top anchor means and said bottom anchor means, said tension means operable to retain said segments in interlocking engagement; wherein said top anchor means comprises a post member laterally disposed in said upper segment of said joint connection between said upper segment and said intermediate segment, and said intermediate segment having recess means at said joint connection to receive said post member and thereby provide fixed axial alignment between said upper segment and said intermediate segment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
144 words
A collapsible supporting aid comprising: a tubular, lower segment; bottom anchor means connected to said lower segment; a tubular, upper segment; top anchor means connected to said upper segment; a tubular, intermediate segment disposed between said upper segment and said lower segment; a plurality of joint connections integral with said segments to provide removable interlocking engagement therebetween; and tension means disposed within said segments and connected to said top anchor means and said bottom anchor means, said tension means operable to retain said segments in interlocking engagement; wherein said top anchor means comprises a post member laterally disposed in said upper segment of said joint connection between said upper segment and said intermediate segment, and said intermediate segment having recess means at said joint connection to receive said post member and thereby provide fixed axial alignment between said upper segment and said intermediate segment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
156 words
A joint construction for interconnecting a pair of tubular segments held in interlocking engagement by tension means disposed within said segments, said joint construction comprising: a male-fitting integral with one said segment and having a circumferential shoulder with an inwardly tapered portion therefrom and a truncated hemispherical ball seat at the outer end of said tapered portion; a female socket integral with the other said segment and having an abutment lip with an inwardly tapered receiver therefrom and a truncated hemispherical ball seat at the inner end of said tapered receiver; and a ball member having a central bore therein which receives said tension means; wherein said abutment lip is operable to engage said circumferential shoulder, said tapered receiver is operable to matingly engage said tapered portion, and said ball member is operable to engage said ball seat of said male fitting and said ball sat of said female socket when said segments are interlockingly engaged.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
156 words
A joint construction for interconnecting a pair of tubular segments held in interlocking engagement by tension means disposed within said segments, said joint construction comprising: a male-fitting integral with one said segment and having a circumferential shoulder with an inwardly tapered portion therefrom and a truncated hemispherical ball seat at the outer end of said tapered portion; a female socket integral with the other said segment and having an abutment lip with an inwardly tapered receiver therefrom and a truncated hemispherical ball seat at the inner end of said tapered receiver; and a ball member having a central bore therein which receives said tension means; wherein said abutment lip is operable to engage said circumferential shoulder, said tapered receiver is operable to matingly engage said tapered portion, and said ball member is operable to engage said ball seat of said male fitting and said ball sat of said female socket when said segments are interlockingly engaged.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
154 words
A joint construction for interconnecting a pair of tubular segments held in interlocking engagement by tension means disposed within said segments, said joint construction comprising: a male-fitting integral with one said segment and having an inwardly tapered portion and a recessed surface at the outer end of said tapered portion; a female socket integral with the other said segment and having an inwardly tapered receiver and a recessed surface at the inner end of said tapered receiver; and an intersegment member with first and second mating surfaces and having a central bore therethrough which receives said tension means; wherein when said segments are interlockingly engaged, said tapered portion of the male fitting matingly engages said tapered receiver of the female socket, said first mating surface of the intersegment member engages said recessed surface of the male fitting, and said second mating surface of the intersegment member engages said recessed surface of the female socket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
154 words
A joint construction for interconnecting a pair of tubular segments held in interlocking engagement by tension means disposed within said segments, said joint construction comprising: a male-fitting integral with one said segment and having an inwardly tapered portion and a recessed surface at the outer end of said tapered portion; a female socket integral with the other said segment and having an inwardly tapered receiver and a recessed surface at the inner end of said tapered receiver; and an intersegment member with first and second mating surfaces and having a central bore therethrough which receives said tension means; wherein when said segments are interlockingly engaged, said tapered portion of the male fitting matingly engages said tapered receiver of the female socket, said first mating surface of the intersegment member engages said recessed surface of the male fitting, and said second mating surface of the intersegment member engages said recessed surface of the female socket.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-17 | 1975-07-19 | 1976-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-17 | 1979-07-19 | 1980-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-17 | 1983-07-19 | 1984-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |