Abstract A resilient rubber-like crutch tip is provided with a crutch socket having therewith a generally cup-shaped insert of rigid material. The insert provides a recess for receiving the end of a crutch or the like, with the recess having a non-convex central portion and an outwardly tapering upwardly extending rim portion. As the crutch is tilted during normal use, the crutch end will apply pressures to the insert rim portion which in turn spreads the downward and sideways force components through a large area of the flexible tip socket side walls. In addition, in the embodiment shown, a generally V-shaped annular channel or groove is disposed in the outer wall of the insert to reduce the tendency of the insert to tilt. The neck portion of the tip socket is provided with undulations forming lands and grooves, with the lowermost undulation being a land.
A crutch tip comprising, in combination: a. a unitary flexible tip body having an elongated upper neck which merges downwardly into a base, b. said base having a bottom surface for engaging the floor, c. a socket formed in said tip body for receiving the end portion of a crutch, d. the upper wall of said socket being provided with undulations forming alternating lands and grooves, e. a cup-shaped rigid insert disposed in the bottom of said socket within said base and with its side and bottom walls generally encapsulated by said tip body, f. said insert including an imperforate upwardly facing crutch end receiving surface having a generally smooth concave central portion which merges into an outwardly tapering upwardly extending annular portion terminating in a flat edge, g. a generally V-shaped annular peripheral groove in the side wall of said insert and receiving a complimentary portion of said tip body to resist tilting of said insert when a crutch end disposed in said insert is tilted, h. and an undercut at the lower end of said undulations and engaging said flat edge to hold said insert in position within the tip body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
A crutch tip comprising, in combination: a. a unitary flexible tip body having an elongated upper neck which merges downwardly into a base, b. said base having a bottom surface for engaging the floor, c. a socket formed in said tip body for receiving the end portion of a crutch, d. the upper wall of said socket being provided with undulations forming alternating lands and grooves, e. a cup-shaped rigid insert disposed in the bottom of said socket within said base and with its side and bottom walls generally encapsulated by said tip body, f. said insert including an imperforate upwardly facing crutch end receiving surface having a generally smooth concave central portion which merges into an outwardly tapering upwardly extending annular portion terminating in a flat edge, g. a generally V-shaped annular peripheral groove in the side wall of said insert and receiving a complimentary portion of said tip body to resist tilting of said insert when a crutch end disposed in said insert is tilted, h. and an undercut at the lower end of said undulations and engaging said flat edge to hold said insert in position within the tip body.