The present invention relates to a crutch, and more specifically to a crutch as disclosed in the preamble of independent claim 1.

A crutch with a shoulder support and a spring-mounted hand support is previously known from US-A1 5901724. Apart from the spring-mounted hand support, this crutch differs little from crutches of the type that have been known from way back and which are, inter alia, known from old war films.

Furthermore, a crutch for simultaneous support of the user's hand and forearm is previously known from DE 195 47 484 A1, the said publication describing a crutch where the hand grip at one end is rigidly connected to the forearm support and at its other end is rigidly connected to the rod-shaped part of the crutch by means of a continuous tube.

Still further, US-A 5 725 005, US-A 5 458 143 and JP 07 124 209 A each discloses a crutch according to the introducing part of independent claim 1 of the present disclosure.

The crutch according to the present invention endeavours to provide an improvement of the previously known crutches for a more natural gait and better support of the user's body when using the crutch.

The crutch according to the invention is characterised by the features disclosed in the characterising clause of independent claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

The invention is described in more detail below, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein

• Figure 1 is a perspective partial view of the crutch according to the invention; and
• Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the crutch shown in Figure 1 in different positions while in use.

In the following description, expressions of direction such as "upper", "lower", "forward", "backward" etc. are related to the orientation of the crutch while in use unless otherwise specified.

Figure 1 is a partial view of a crutch 50 according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, which crutch includes a rod 1, a handgrip 3 connected to the upper end of the rod 1, and a forearm support 5, and wherein an armpit support 7 is pivotally mounted to the forearm support 5.

The pivot point 9 of the armpit support 7 is advantageously adjustable essentially in the vertical direction by means of a first adjustment device 11 arranged between the pivot point 9 of the armpit support 7 and the forearm support 5.

A second adjustment device 13 is advantageously arranged between the pivot point 9 and the armpit support 7 for essentially vertical adjustment of the distance between the armpit support 5 and the pivot point 9.

The first and the second adjustment devices 11, 13 make it possible to adjust the pivot point 9 to lie level with the elbow joint of a user.

The first adjustment device 11 is advantageously an adjustment bracket attached to the back of the forearm support 5.

The second adjustment device 13 is advantageously an adjustable rod or telescopic connection.

The pivoting of the armpit support 7 about the pivot point 9 in the form of an armpit support link takes place advantageously against the action of a spring 15, the crutch 50 being essentially extended when the spring 15 is not loaded.

The pivoting of the armpit support link 9 is advantageously limited by a stop 17 to an essentially extended state of the crutch 50, essentially only forward swinging of the rod 1 relative to the armpit support 7 being allowed, as shown in Figure 2. In the position marked 1. in Figure 2 the load on handgrip 3, forearm support 5 and armpit support 7 is further indicated by respective arrows.

Although it cannot be seen from the figures, the armpit support 7 and/or forearm support 5 are advantageously padded.