U.S. patent application number 12/249492 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-15 for walking stilts with separate heel and toe sections.
Invention is credited to Robert P. Singleton.
Application Number | 20100093501 12/249492 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40835297 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100093501 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Singleton; Robert P. |
April 15, 2010 |
Walking Stilts with Separate Heel and Toe Sections
Abstract
A walking stilt includes a shoe platform and a floor platform
connected by a support. The floor platform includes a heel section
pivotally attached to the support and a separate and independently
pivotable toe section pivotally attached to the support. The
construction mimics an ankle joint and toe joints to provide a
smooth rolling action while walking.
Inventors: |
Singleton; Robert P.;
(Helena, AL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIXON & VANDERHYE, PC
901 NORTH GLEBE ROAD, 11TH FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22203
US
|
Family ID: |
40835297 |
Appl. No.: |
12/249492 |
Filed: |
October 10, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/75 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 25/02 20130101;
A63B 25/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/75 |
International
Class: |
A63B 25/00 20060101
A63B025/00 |
Claims
1. A walking stilt comprising: a shoe platform; a support attached
at one end to the shoe platform; and a floor platform connected to
an opposite end of the support, wherein the floor platform includes
a heel section pivotally attached to the support and a toe section
pivotally attached the support, wherein the toe section is separate
from the heel section, and wherein the heel section and the toe
section are independently pivotable.
2. A walking stilt according to claim 1, comprising a pair of
supports attached at the one end to the shoe platform wherein the
heel section is pivotally attached to one of the pair of supports,
and wherein the toe section is pivotally attached to the other of
the pair of supports.
3. A walking stilt according to claim 2, wherein the pair of
supports are pivotally attached to the shoe platform.
4. A walking stilt according to claim 2, further comprising a
support bracket secured between the pair of supports.
5. A walking stilt according to claim 4, wherein the support
bracket is pivotable relative to the pair of supports.
6. A walking stilt according to claim 4, wherein the support
bracket comprises a first plate member secured to the one of the
pair of the supports, a second plate member secured to the other of
the pair of the supports, and a pivot member pivotally connected
between the first and second plate members.
7. A walking stilt according to claim 2, further comprising a leg
support bracket assembly mounted to one of the pair of supports for
securing a leg support to the walking stilt, the leg support
bracket assembly including: a leg support bracket attached to the
one of the pair of supports, a first bolt extendable through the
leg support bracket, and a failsafe member cooperable with the leg
support bracket and the leg support, the failsafe member securing
the leg support upon failure of the bolt.
8. A walking stilt according to claim 7, wherein the failsafe
member comprises a second bolt extendable through an opening in the
leg support bracket, the opening being oversized relative to the
second bolt.
9-10. (canceled)
11. A walking stilt according to claim 2, wherein the heel section
is pivotally attached to the one of the pair of supports at an
interim position of the heel section between ends thereof, and
wherein the toe section is pivotally attached to the other of the
pair of supports at an interim position of the toe section between
ends thereof.
12. A walking stilt according to claim 1, wherein the floor
platform is constructed and assembled such that with the walking
stilt pitched toward the heel section, the entire heel section
maintains ground contact, and with the walking stilt pitched toward
the toe section, the entire toe section maintains ground
contact.
13. A walking stilt according to claim 1, wherein the floor
platform is constructed and assembled such that with the walking
stilt pitched toward the heel section, substantially none of the
walking stilt load is supported by the toe section, and with the
walking stilt pitched toward the toe section, substantially none of
the walking stilt load is supported by the heel section.
14. A walking stilt comprising: a shoe platform; a support attached
at one end to the shoe platform; a floor platform connected to an
opposite end of the support, wherein the floor platform includes a
heel section pivotally attached to the support and a toe section
pivotally attached to the support, wherein the toe section is
separate from the heel section, and wherein the heel section and
the toe section are independently pivotable; and a support bracket
secured between the pair of supports, the support bracket being
pivotable relative to the pair of supports.
15. A walking stilt according to claim 14, comprising a pair of
supports attached at the one end to the shoe platform, wherein the
heel section is pivotally attached to one of the pair of supports,
and wherein the toe section is pivotally attached to the other of
the pair of supports.
16. A walking stilt according to claim 15, wherein the support
bracket comprises a first plate member secured to the one of the
pair of the supports, a second plate member secured to the other of
the pair of the supports, and a pivot member pivotally connected
between the first and second plate members.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] (NOT APPLICABLE)
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] (NOT APPLICABLE)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention relates to stilt systems, particularly stilt
systems used in the construction industry for accessing raised
working surfaces such as ceiling structures and the like.
[0004] In order to access raised working surfaces, construction
workers and other skilled craftsmen frequently use stilt systems.
Such systems permit them freedom of movement by walking, while
raising the workers to a desired elevated height. Such stilts are
known in the art and are sold under various trade names. One
well-known stilt system is sold under the trade name DURA-STILT and
is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,102,272 and 3,902,199, the
disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The
DURA-STILT is an adjustable stilt to be worn on each leg. It has a
floor platform and a shoe platform that are connected by two
parallel spring-loaded pivotally mounted vertical members. A hollow
tubular leg support is attached to the rearward vertical member.
Straps are provided for attaching the leg support to the user's leg
and for attaching the ankle area and the toe area of the shoe to
the shoe platform. Because the vertical members are pivotally
attached to the upper shoe platform and the lower floor platform
and are spring-loaded, the vertical members are maintained in a
substantially parallelogram configuration. This configuration
permits the user to walk readily on the stilts and maintain
balance.
[0005] Existing stilt systems utilize a one-piece or rigid floor
platform. Although the spring system purports to provide a "give
and release" action when walking, the product in reality is very
cumbersome, and the walking action is more of a lumbering two-stage
landing. Most significantly, only the rear or lead edge of the
floor pad is in contact with the ground during the vast majority of
the walking process.
[0006] It would thus be desirable to modify the floor platform to
provide a more accurate reflection of a human foot, providing a
smooth rolling action while walking.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] With the design according to preferred embodiments described
herein, the floor platform is divided into two separate and
independently pivotable sections, e.g., a heel section and a toe
section. In this manner, at least one pad maintains full contact
with the ground at all times. Both the heel and toe sections rotate
freely and independently, thereby providing a reflection of the
ankle joint and toe joints to provide a smooth rolling action while
walking.
[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, a walking stilt includes a shoe
platform, a support attached at one end to the shoe platform, and a
floor platform connected to an opposite end of the support. The
floor platform includes a heel section pivotally attached to the
support and a separate and independently pivotable toe section
pivotally attached to the support. The walking stilt may include a
pair of supports attached at the one end to the shoe platform,
where the heel section is pivotally attached to one of the pair of
supports, and the toe section is pivotally attached to the other of
the pair of supports. In one embodiment, the pair of supports are
pivotally attached to the shoe platform. A support bracket may be
secured between the pair of supports, which is preferably pivotable
relative to the pair of supports. In one arrangement, the support
bracket includes a first plate member secured to the one of the
pair of the supports, a second plate member secured to the other of
the pair of the supports, and a pivot member pivotally connected
between the first and second plate members.
[0009] A leg support bracket assembly may be mounted to one of the
pair of supports for securing a leg support to the walking stilt.
In this context, the leg support bracket assembly includes a leg
support bracket attached to the one of the pair of supports, a bolt
extendable through the leg support bracket, and a failsafe member
cooperable with the leg support bracket and the leg support. The
failsafe member secures the leg support upon failure of the bolt.
The failsafe member may be a second bolt extendable through an
opening in the leg support bracket, which opening is oversized
relative to the second bolt.
[0010] In another exemplary embodiment, the heel section may be
pivotally attached to the support at an interim position of the
heel section between ends thereof, and the toe section may be
pivotally attached to the support at an interim position of the toe
section between ends thereof
[0011] In one arrangement, the floor platform is constructed and
assembled such that with the walking stilt pitched toward the heel
section, the entire heel section maintains ground contact, and with
the walking stilt pitched toward the toe section, the entire toe
section maintains ground contact. The floor platform may
additionally or alternatively be constructed and assembled such
that with the walking stilt pitched toward the heel section,
substantially none of the walking stilt load is supported by the
toe section, and with the walking stilt pitched toward the toe
section, substantially none of the walking stilt load is supported
by the heel section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] These and other aspects and advantages will be described in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary walking
stilt;
[0014] FIG. 2 shows the walking stilt of FIG. 1 pitched toward the
toe section of the floor platform;
[0015] FIG. 3 shows the walking stilt of FIG. 1 pitched toward the
heel section of the floor platform;
[0016] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary support bracket secured between
the stilt supports;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the leg support bracket
assembly; and
[0018] FIG. 6 shows an alternative design for the vertical support
member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an exemplary
stilt, generally designated by the numeral 10. The stilt 10 is
similar in design to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,515, the
contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The stilt
10 in a preferred construction is of an adjustable parallelogram
type known in the art and sold under the trade name DURA-STILT. The
stilt is comprised of a floor platform 12, a shoe platform 14,
forward vertical support member 16 and rearward vertical support
member 18. Forward vertical support member 16 is pivotally attached
to floor platform 12 by a pin or bolt 20 fastened through bracket
22 and brushing 24. A similar arrangement of pin or bolt 26,
bracket 28 and bushing 30 is provided to attach forward vertical
support member 16 to shoe platform 14. Corresponding attachments
are provided to attach rearward vertical support member 18 to floor
platform 12 and shoe platform 14. Spring supports 32, 34 and 36 and
centering rod 37 capture springs 38, 40, which provide spring
biasing of the two vertical support members 16, 18. Hollow tubular
leg support 42 having calf brace 44 is attached at its lower end 46
to rearward vertical support 18 by leg support bracket assembly 48
(described in more detail below). Leg support 42 is attached to
shoe platform 14 by yoke 50. Calf strap 100 is attached to calf
brace 44. Ankle strap 102 is attached to the rear of shoe platform
14. Toe strap 104 is attached at the front of shoe platform 14. The
straps are attached by suitable fasteners such as rivets or nuts
and bolts.
[0020] Vertical support members 16, 18 are each telescoping and
have adjustment holes 57 which are engaged by wing nut bolts 59,
thereby permitting the vertical support members 16, 18 to be
vertically adjusted.
[0021] FIGS. 2 and 3 show a close-up view of the floor platform 12
according to the described embodiments The floor platform 12 is
divided into a heel section 202 and a toe section 204. Each section
202, 204 of the floor platform 12 is separately and independently
pivotable on respective supports 16, 18 via pin or bolt 20. With
this construction, as shown in FIGS. 2, with the walking stilt
pitched toward the toe section 204, the entire toe section 204
maintains ground contact. Similarly, with reference to FIG. 3, with
the walking stilt pitched toward the heel section 202, the entire
heel section 202 maintains ground contact. With the walking stilt
pitched toward the toe section as shown in FIG. 2, substantially
none of the walking stilt load is supported by the heel section
202, and vice versa. As noted above, by splitting the floor
platform 12 into separate and independent heel and toe sections
202, 204, at least one pad maintains full contact with the ground
at all times. Additionally, because the heel and toe sections 202,
204 rotate freely and independently, the construction provides a
reflection of the ankle joint and toe joints providing a smooth
rolling action while walking. This, coupled with the ability of the
independent heel and toe sections 202, 204 to maintain full contact
with the ground enables the wearer to better resist instability
caused by momentum while walking. The heel and toe sections 202,
204 are preferably also provided with a pivot stop member such as
an integrally molded lug or the like that serves to prevent the
sections 202, 204 from over-rotating or flipping over during
use.
[0022] It is preferable to form the heel and toe sections 202, 204
using a soft elastic material such as rubber, soft plastic, or the
like. The softer material serves to provided a level of suspension
while walking, thereby making the stilts more comfortable while
walking. Alternatively or additionally, the heel and toe sections
202, 204 may be provided with suspension structure utilizing
springs or the like to better absorb impact while walking.
[0023] With the floor platform 12 separated into two independently
pivotable sections 202, 204, it is desirable to include a support
bracket 206 secured between the supports 16, 18. The support
bracket 206 is preferably placed above the floor platform 12 to
prevent movement between (to, from, or side-to-side) the supports
16, 18. To accommodate such movement, the bracket 206 is preferably
pivotally secured to the supports 16, 18. A simple construction of
the bracket 206 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. It may be desirable,
however, to more securely affix the support bracket 206 to the
supports 16, 18, while maintaining the ability to accommodate
relative movement between the supports 16, 18. FIG. 4 shows an
exemplary support bracket design 206 that enables the support
bracket 206 to be more securely affixed to the supports 16, 18,
e.g., via rivets or the like. As shown in FIG. 4, a support bracket
206 includes first and second plate members 208 secured to
respective ones of the supports 16, 18. A pivot member 210 is
pivotally connected between the first and second plate members 208.
In this manner, the bracket 206 can accommodate relative movement
between the supports 16, 18 while being securely affixed to the
supports 16, 18.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the leg support bracket
assembly 48. The leg support bracket assembly 48 includes a leg
support bracket 212 attached to one of the pair of supports 16, 18,
and a bolt opening 214 extending through the leg support bracket
212. A fail safe member such as a bolt cooperable with an oversized
opening 216 is cooperable with the leg support bracket 212 and the
leg support 42 (FIG. 1) to secure the leg support upon failure of a
bolt in the bolt opening 214. That is, the leg support bracket
assembly 48 utilizes two bolts, including one extendible through
the opening 214 in the leg support bracket and a second extendible
through the oversized opening 216 in the leg support bracket 212.
In use, the smaller hole 214 and bolt supports the leg support 42,
and the oversized opening 216 and bolt only comes in contact with
the leg support in the event that the first bolt fails.
[0025] An alternative embodiment is shown in FIG. 6 including a
single support member 302 fixed to the shoe platform 14. By virtue
of the independently pivotable heel and toe sections 202, 204, it
is not necessary that the support member 302 (or support members
16, 18 for that mater) is pivotable relative to the shoe platform
14. The support member 302 in FIG. 6 includes a heel/toe bracket
304 at an end thereof that splits into two support arms on which
the heel and toe sections 202, 204 are pivotally attached via pin
or bolt 20.
[0026] With the walking stilt assembly according to the preferred
embodiments, by splitting the floor platform into a heel section
and a toe section, at least one pad maintains fill contact with the
ground at all times. Moreover, the separate and independently
pivotable heel and toe sections mimic ankle and toe joints of a
human foot, thereby providing a smooth rolling action while
walking. Although the invention has been described and illustrated
with the heel and toe sections completely independent of each
other, it is contemplated that some connecting structure may be
provided between the heel and toe sections while still enabling the
heel and toe sections to be separate and independently
pivotable.
[0027] While the invention has been described in connection with
what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be
limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *