US3756596A

US3756596A - Stilt

Info

Publication number: US3756596A
Application number: US00249138A
Authority: US
Inventors: T Black
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-05-01
Filing date: 1972-05-01
Publication date: 1973-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-04

Abstract

A stilt formed integrally in one piece from a single length of tubing (e.g. aluminum tubing such as used for manufacturing furniture) with a stirrup in the form of a loop in the tubing. The ground engaging or leg portion of the stilt extends underneath the integral stirrup and is preferably directly underneath the center of the stirrup or loop while the upper shaft portion which fits behind the armpit of the user is approximately tangential to one side of the stirrup or loop. The bottom end of the stilt is provided with a cane or crutch tip while the upper end is closed by a plug formed of plastic or other material.

Description

United States Patent 1 Black, Jr.

[ 11 3,756,596 [451 Sept. 4, 1973 OTHER PUBLICATIONS The Propellum, August, 1887, upper left-hand figure.

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-R. T. Stouffcr Attorney-Fred S. Lockwood [57] ABSTRACT A stilt formed integrally in one piece from a single length of tubing (e.g. aluminum tubing such as used for manufacturing furniture) with a stirrup in the form of a loop in the tubing. The ground engaging or leg portion of the stilt extends underneath the integral stirrup and is preferably directly underneath the center of the stirrup or loop while the upper shaft portion which fits behind the armpit of the user is approximately tangential to one side of the stirrup or loop. The bottom end of the stilt is provided with a cane or crutch tip while the upper end is closed by a plug formed of plastic or other material.

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STILT This invention relates to an improved stilt which is formed in one piece from a single length of tubing. At least one complete loop is formed in the tubing to serve as a stirrup for the users foot. Preferably the leg or ground engaging portion of the stilt extends directly beneath the center of the stirrup or loop while the upper shaft portion extends tangentially from one side of the loop.

The object of the invention, generally stated, is the provision of improved stilts which are structurally strong, economical and inexpensive from the standpoints of costs of material and ease of manufacture and which are easy and comfortable to use, durable and lightweight.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved stilt of the type described which is adapted to have the stirrup in the form of a loop formed at any desired position intermediate the opposite ends of the stilt, whereby the same tooling can be used to form stilts of different lengths as desired.

Certain other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, appear hereinafter. For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of the invention, reference may now be had to the following detailed description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a stilt forming one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view on enlarged scale taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view on enlarged scale taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and,

F IG. 4 is a sectional view on enlarged scale taken on line 4 -4 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a stilt is indicated generally at 5 in FIG. 1 which is formed of a single piece of tubing so as to have a lower ground engagingleg portion 6, an intermediate foot-receiving stirrup portion 7 and an upper shaft portion 8. A preferred material from which the stilt 5 may be formed is structural aluminum tubing such as is used for making furniture and the like. However, the tubing can be formed from other materials including steel and plastics.

Although tubing of circular cross section will normally be used in forming the stilts 5, it will be understood that the tubing can be of eliptical, square or polygonal cross section. However, tubing of cylindrical cross section is preferred from the standpoint of economy and ease of working. The loop or stirrup 7 is formed in the tubing using bending equipment of known commercial type. The stirrup or loop 7 will comprise at least one complete turn of the tubing. While additional turns could be used to provide a wider surface for the user's instep, ordinarily this will not be required and the cost in material and manufacturing can be minimized by using only one complete turn.

It will be noted that the lower leg or ground engaging portion 6 of the stilt extends approximately directly under the center of the stirrup or loop 7 so that the axis of the leg portion 6 is approximately o-axial with a vertical diameter through the stirrup or loop 7. The upper shaft portion 8 is generally tangential to the loop or stirrup portion 7.

The above relationship between the leg 6, stirrup 7 and shaft 8 is highly desirable from the standpoint of security, balance and ease of use of the stilt 5. Thus, the leg portion 6 will be directly under the users foot while the shaft portion 8 is appropriately offset to one side of the stirrup or loop 7 so that the upper portion thereof readily fits behind the user's armpit.

It will be understood that the stilts 5 will be used in pairs and that they can be of any desired length and proportions. It has been found that two sizes will be adequate for most children and young adults who will be using the stilts. Thus, for smaller children the leg portion 6 may be 7 inches long and the shaft portion 46 inches long while for larger children with more experi-' ence the leg portion 6 can be 12 inches long and the shaft portion 53 inches long. The stirrup or loop portion 7 can be the same dimension for both sizes within inside diameter of approximately 4% inches. Aluminum tubing having seven-eighths inch outside diameter and a wall thickness of from 0.047 to 0.063 inch is satisfactory. The thinner wall thickness may be used for the smaller stilts while the thicker thickness may be used for the longer stilts. It will be understood that the foregoing dimensions are by way of illustration and are not intended to be critical or limiting.

If desired, the stilts can be color anodized or otherwise finished.

The bottom end of each stilt 5 is desirably provided with a conventional cane or crutch tip 10 while the upper end of the shaft portion 8 is closed by a plastic plug cap 11 which covers the upper edges of the tubular material.

I claim:

1. A stilt formed in one piece from a single lengthof tubing and having a lower ground-engaging leg portion,

. a stirrup portion in the form of a completely closed tubing.

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Claims

1. A stilt formed in one piece from a single length of tubing and having a lower ground-engaging leg portion, a stirrup portion in the form of a completely closed loop in said tubing, and an upper shaft portion, said lower ground-engaging leg portion being approximately co-axial with the vertical diameter of said stirrup portion, and said upper shaft portion being approximately coaxial with a vertical tangent to said stirrup portion.

2. The stilt of claim 1 formed of lightweight metallic tubing.