Orthopedic device

Claim 2

An orthopedic walking aid comprising a vertically disposed column including a lower column portion and an upper column portion, handle means connected to the column at the juncture between the lower column portion and the upper column portion, means at the upper end of the upper column portion for engagement with the forearm or wrist, and a tip mounted at the lower end of the lower column portion for engaging a supporting surface, said lower column portion and upper column portion being detachably interconnected and the forearm or wrist engaging means being detachable from the upper column portion to enable components of selected dimensions to be used thereby enabling the device to be custom fitted to a person employing the device, said tip including a support surface engaging member, and torsion spring means interconnecting the lower column portion and said member to provide relative twisting therebetween.

Claim 3

The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said tip is in the form of a frusto-conical rubber body screw-threadedly attached to the lower end of the lower column portion to enable compensation for wear of the tip and minor adjustment for comfort.

Claim 4

The structure as defined in claim 2 together with a pointed rod adjustably mounted in the lower end portion of the lower column portion and extending through the tip for extension and retraction for providing an ice pick so that the device may be used on icy surfaces.

Claim 5

The structure as defiNed in claim 1 wherein said column portions are each constructed of an open channel-shaped structural member, the web of the channel-shaped structural member forming the lower column portion including elongated slots therein for reducing the weight.

Claim 6

The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said upper and lower column portions are constructed of rigid material colored for protection and attractive appearance.

Claim 7

An orthopedic walking aid comprising a vertically disposed column including a lower column portion and an upper column portion, handle means at the juncture between the lower column portion and the upper column portion, a wrist engaging cuff at the upper end portion of the upper column portion and being disposed in alignment with the handle means and a tip mounted at the lower end of the lower column portion for engaging a supporting surface, said tip including a pointed extendible and retractable rod and means to manually extend and retract the pointed rod for providing an ice pick to enable the device to be used in icy surfaces, said column being longitudinally adjustable to enable variation in the effective length of the device, said device being constructed to enable the cuff member and handle means to torsionally twist in relation to the surface of the tip which engages a supporting surface to enable torsional movement of the wrist without causing rotational movement of the lower end of the tip in relation to a supporting surface.

Claim 8

An orthopedic walking aid comprising a vertically disposed column including a lower column portion and an upper column portion, handle means at the juncture between the lower column portion and the upper column portion, a wrist engaging cuff at the upper end portion of the upper column portion and being disposed in alignment with the handle means and a tip mounted at the lower end of the lower column portion for engaging a supporting surface, said tip including a pointed extendible and retractable rod and means to manually extend and retract the pointed rod for providing an ice pick to enable the device to be used in icy surfaces, said column being longitudinally adjustable to enable variation in the effective length of the device, said device being constructed to enable the cuff member and handle means to torsionally twist in relation to the surface of the tip which engages a supporting surface to enable torsional movement of the wrist without causing rotational movement of the lower end of the tip in relation to a supporting surface.

Claim 9

The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said means enabling torsional twist of the wrist of a person using the device including a channel-shaped lower column portion capable of torsionally twisting between the upper and lower end thereof, said cuff member including a substantially cylindrical member having an opening therein defining a segment of a circle with the free ends thereof converging towards each other and being reversely curved to form curved edges for the entrance area therebetween, and a vertically centrally disposed circumferentially extending rib reinforcing said cuff member with the rib extending radially outwardly thereof with the depth of the rib decreasing toward the curved edges of the cuff member to reinforce the cuff member but enable lateral flexibility of the curved edges thereof.

Claim 10

The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said handle means is formed by an offset portion of the upper end of the lower column portion, said cuff member defining a wrist support and engaging the wrist of a person using the device as a cane from any angle.