US2311049A - Article carrying attachment for crutches - Google Patents

Description

Fb. 16. 1943; H. G; s qu- ARTICLE CARRYING ATTACHMENT FOR CRUTCHES Filed Feb. 19. 1943 HENRY a. #5005 Patented Feb. 16, 1943 ARTICLE CARRYING ATTACHMENT FOR CRUTCHES Henry G. Hedden, Bay Pines, Fla.

Application February 19, 1942, Serial No. 431,574

3 Claims.

This invention relates to crutches and more particularly to an article carrying device for attachment thereto.

The object of the invention is to provide an article carrying device of simple and inexpensive construction that may be either permanently attached to the staff of a crutch or detachabl y mounted thereon and which will provide a pocket or receptacle for persons handicapped by the need of using crutches in which to conveniently carry different kinds of articles.

A further object of the invention is to provide an article carrying attachment comprising a box or receptacle having an open top and provided on one side thereof with a tapered attaching cleat adapted to fit between the converging rods of the staff of a crutch for wedging engagement therewith.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing:

Figure l is a front elevation, partly in section, showing the article carrying device in position on the staff of a crutch,

Figure 2 is a side elevation,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure l, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device detached.

The improved article carrying device forming the subject-matter of the invention is principally designed for attachment to crutches and the like, and in Figure l of the drawing is shown in connection with a crutch of standard construction, in which 5 indicates the spaced converging rods constituting the staff, 6 the cross piece at the upper end of the staff, 1 the ferrule and 8 the intermediate hand grip.

The device comprises a box or receptacle 9.

of any suitable size and shape and formed of Wood, metal, plastic material or the like, said receptacle being preferably rectangular in cross section and having its bottom [0 closed and its upper end open, as indicated at H. If desired, however, the top of the receptacle may be provided with either a hinged or removable cover to protect the contents of the receptacle. The rear wall l2 of the receptacle is fiat and projecting laterally therefrom in spaced relation to the sides or upper and lower ends of said receptacle is a tapered cleat l3, the downwardly converging walls I4 of which are adapted to fit between and frictionally engage the converging rods 5 constituting the staff of the crutch, as best shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. The cleat I3 is provided with overhanging retaining flanges l5 which bear against the rods 5 and serve to prevent accidental lateral movement of the receptacle with respect to the staff of the crutch.

It will thus be seen that by positioning the wedge-shaped cleat I3 between the rods of the 7 staff immediately below the intermediate handle 8 and exerting a slight downward pressure thereon, the tapered edges 14 of the cleat will be forced into wedging engagement with the converging portions of the rods 5 and thus hold the receptacle in position on the crutch. In order to remove the receptacle, it is merely necessary to exert a slight upward push on said receptacle until the wedge-shaped cleat reaches a position approximately beneath the intermediate handle 8 when the cleat may be Withdrawn laterally from between the rods 5 thereby permitting convenient removal of the receptacle.

It will here be noted that, inasmuch as the cleat is wedge-shaped and has sliding engagement with the converging rods of the clutch, the

weight of the articles carried in the box or receptacle 9 will assist in holding the cleat in wedging engagement with said rods.

It will, of course, be understood that the carrying device may be either permanently secured to the crutch or detachably mounted thereon, the main purpose of the invention being to provide a convenient means for carrying various kinds of articles by persons handicapped by the need of using crutches.

It will further be understood that said carrying devices may be made in different sizes and shapes and constructed of any suitable material without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An article carrying attachment for crutches comprising a box-like receptacle having a closed bottom and open top, and means carried by the receptacle for detachably securing said receptacle in position on a crutch staff.

2. An article carrying attachment for crutches comprising a box-like receptacle having a closed bottom and open top, and a downwardly tapered attaching member secured to one of the Walls of said receptacle and adapted to fit between the converging rods of a crutch staff for wedging engagement therewith.

3. An article carrying attachment for crutches comprising a box-like receptacle open at its top and including a rear wall, a wedge-shaped attaching member secured to said rear wall and provided with downwardly converging side edges adapted to fit between and frictionally engage the spaced rods of a crutch staff, and downwardly tapered retaining flanges formed on said attaching member and overhanging the converging edges thereof for preventing lateral displacement of the receptacle with respect to the 5 crutch.

HENRY G. HEDDEN.

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