Folding crutch

Claim 2

In a crutch, first and second arm portions, means connecting said arm portions in fixed parallel relationship, first and second leg portions, means connecting said leg portions in fixed parallel relationship, first telescoping joint means connecting said first arm portion to said first leg portion for movement between a first position and a second position, second telescoping joint means connecting said second arm portion to said second leg portion for movement between a first position and a second position, said joint means comprising means for fixing said leg portions in parallel coplanar relationship to said arm portions in said first position, and allowing said leg portions to be swung into overlapping and non-coplanar relationships to said arm portions in said second position, first latch means operably connected to said first telescoping joint means, second latch means operably connected to said second telescoping joint means, said latch means each being operable to a first stable position in which its associated joint means is locked in said first position, said latch means each being operable to a second stable position in which said telescoping joint means may be moved to their second positions when and only when both of said latch means is in said second position, each of said latch means comprising manually operable means movable between first and second positions, locking means movable between locking and unlocking positions, and resilient means for urging said locking means toward said locking position, said resilient means comprising detent means engaged by said manually operable means in said second position of said manually operable means for moving said locking means to said unlocking position.

Claim 3

In a crutch, first and second arm portions, means connecting said arm portions in fixed parallel relationship, first and second leg portions, means connecting said leg portions in fixed parallel relationship, first telescoping joint means connecting said first arm portion to said first leg portion for movement between a first position and a second position, second telescoping joint means connecting said second arm portion to said second leg portion for movement between a first position and a second position, said joint means comprising means for fixing said leg portions in parallel coplanar relationship to said arm portions in said first position, and allowing said leg portions to be swung into overlapping and non-coplanar relationships to said arm portions in said second position, first latch means operably connected to said first telescoping joint means, second latch means operably connected to said second telescoping joint means, said latch means each being operable to a first stable position in which its associated joint means is locked in said first position, said latch means each being operable to a second stable position in which said telescoping joint means may be moved to their second positions when and only when both of said latch means is in said second position, each of said latch means comprising manually operable means movable between first and second positions, locking means movable between locking and unlocking positions, and resilient means for urging said locking means toward said locking position, said resilient means comprising detent means engaged by said manually operable means in said second position of said manually operable means for moving said locking means to said unlocking position.

Claim 4

In a crutch, first and second arm portions, means connecting said arm portions in fixed parallel relationship, first and second leg portions, means connecting said leg portions in fixed parallel relationship, first telescoping joint means connecting said first arm portion to said first leg portion for movement between a first position and a second position, second telescoping joint means connecting said second arm portion to said second leg portion for movement between a first position and a second position, said joint means comprising means for fixing said leg portions in parallel coplanar relationship to said arm portions in said first position, and allowing said leg portions to be swung into overlapping and non-coplanar relationships to said arm portions in said second position, first latch means operably connected to said first telescoping joint means, second latch means operably connected to said second telescoping joint means, said latch means each being operable to a first stable position in which its associated joint means is locked in said first position, said latch means each being operable to a second stable position in which said telescoping joint means may be moved to their second positions when and only when both of said latch means is in said second position, each of said latch means comprising manually operable means movable between first and second positions, locking means movable between locking and unlocking positions, and resilient means for urging said locking means toward said locking position, said resilient means comprising detent means engaged by said manually operable means in said second position of said manually operable means for moving said locking means to said unlocking position.

Claim 5

In a crutch, first and second arm portions, means connecting said arm portions in fixed parallel relationship, first and second leg portions, means connecting said leg portions in fixed parallel relationship, first telescoping joint means connecting said first arm portion to said first leg portion for movement between a first position and a second position, second telescoping joint means connecting said second arm portion to said second leg portion for movement between a first position and a second position, said joint means comprising means for fixing said leg portions in parallel coplanar relationship to said arm portions in said first position, and allowing said leg portions to be swung into overlapping and non-coplanar relationships to said arm portions in said second positioN, first latch means operably connected to said first telescoping joint means, second latch means operably connected to said second telescoping joint means, said latch means each being operable to a first stable position in which its associated joint means is locked in said first position, said latch means each being operable to a second stable position in which said telescoping joint means may be moved to their second positions when and only when both of said latch means is in said second position, in which each of said telescoping joint means comprises a first shaft fixed in one of said leg portions and partly extendable into the connected one of said arm portions, a second shaft, means pivotally connecting said first shaft to said second shaft, said second shaft being slidably mounted in the connected one of said arm portions for movement between a first position in which said second shaft is entirely within said arm portion and said first shaft is partly extended into said arm portion and a second position in which said first shaft is out of said arm portion and said second shaft is partly extended out of said arm portion, and in which said latch means each comprise release means slidably mounted on said arm portion for movement between first and second positions, and detent means comprising a recess in said arm portion, an element resiliently mounted on said second shaft and adapted to enter said recess in the first position of said second shaft with said release means in its first position, and means engaged by said release means in its second position for dislodging said element from said recess.

Claim 6

In a crutch, first and second arm portions, means connecting said arm portions in fixed parallel relationship, first and second leg portions, means connecting said leg portions in fixed parallel relationship, first telescoping joint means connecting said first arm portion to said first leg portion for movement between a first position and a second position, second telescoping joint means connecting said second arm portion to said second leg portion for movement between a first position and a second position, said joint means comprising means for fixing said leg portions in parallel coplanar relationship to said arm portions in said first position, and allowing said leg portions to be swung into overlapping and non-coplanar relationships to said arm portions in said second positioN, first latch means operably connected to said first telescoping joint means, second latch means operably connected to said second telescoping joint means, said latch means each being operable to a first stable position in which its associated joint means is locked in said first position, said latch means each being operable to a second stable position in which said telescoping joint means may be moved to their second positions when and only when both of said latch means is in said second position, in which each of said telescoping joint means comprises a first shaft fixed in one of said leg portions and partly extendable into the connected one of said arm portions, a second shaft, means pivotally connecting said first shaft to said second shaft, said second shaft being slidably mounted in the connected one of said arm portions for movement between a first position in which said second shaft is entirely within said arm portion and said first shaft is partly extended into said arm portion and a second position in which said first shaft is out of said arm portion and said second shaft is partly extended out of said arm portion, and in which said latch means each comprise release means slidably mounted on said arm portion for movement between first and second positions, and detent means comprising a recess in said arm portion, an element resiliently mounted on said second shaft and adapted to enter said recess in the first position of said second shaft with said release means in its first position, and means engaged by said release means in its second position for dislodging said element from said recess.