Two-legged stilt

Abstract

A two-legged stilt includes a support frame, a foot platform, and a base. The support frame includes first and second parallel leg supports, each having upper and lower sections that are coupled and slide relative to one another whereby a length of each leg support may be varied. The leg supports are pivotably mounted to foot platform and the base for canting of the stilt. A calf support extends from the first upper leg support section and is disposed to extend adjacent the back of a leg of a person using the stilt. Compression springs also are disposed to bias apart the leg support sections of respective leg supports. The calf support may extend coaxially from an upper leg support and include one of the compression springs. One or more torsion springs are disposed to bias the leg supports, the foot platform, and the base into a generally rectangular configuration.

1 . A stilt, comprising: 
 (a) a support frame, comprising, 
 (i) a first leg support having a first upper leg support section and a first elongate lower leg support section, the first upper leg support section being coupled with the first lower leg support section for movement relative there between, whereby a length of the first leg support may be varied, and  
 (ii) a second leg support positioned in parallel relation to the first leg support and having a second upper leg support section and a second lower leg support section, the second upper leg support section being coupled with the second lower leg support section for movement relative there between, whereby a length of the second leg support may be varied;  
   (b) a foot platform for receiving and supporting a foot of a person for use of the stilt, the first upper leg support section being connected to the foot platform for rotational movement about a first upper pivot axis, the second upper leg support section being connected to the foot platform for rotational movement about a second upper pivot axis, the second upper pivot axis being disposed in parallel relation to the first upper pivot axis;    (c) a base for engaging and supporting the stilt upon a floor, the first lower leg support section being connected to the base for rotational movement about a first lower pivot axis, the second lower leg support section being connected to the base for rotational movement about a second lower pivot axis, the second lower pivot axis being disposed in parallel relation to the first lower pivot axis, the first upper pivot axis, and the second upper pivot axis; and    (d) a calf support extending from the first upper leg support section in a direction away from the base, the calf support for providing stability to a person using the stilt;    (e) wherein the foot platform includes opposed ends and opposed sides each side having an extent greater than the opposed ends, and wherein the calf support is disposed adjacent one of the ends of the foot platform so as to extend adjacent the back of a leg of a person using the stilt.    
   
   
       2 . The stilt of  claim 1 , wherein the calf support extends coaxially with respect to the first leg support.  
   
   
       3 . The stilt of  claim 1 , wherein the calf support comprises an extension of the first leg support.  
   
   
       4 . The stilt of  claim 1 , wherein the calf support is secured in fixed disposition relative to the first upper leg support section.  
   
   
       5 . A stilt, comprising: 
 (a) a support frame, comprising, 
 (i) a first leg support having a first upper leg support section and a first elongate lower leg support section, the first upper leg support section being coupled with the first lower leg support section for movement relative there between, whereby a length of the first leg support may be varied, and  
 (ii) a second leg support positioned in parallel relation to the first leg support and having a second upper leg support section and a second lower leg support section, the second upper leg support section being coupled with the second lower leg support section for movement relative there between, whereby a length of the second leg support may be varied;  
   (b) a foot platform for receiving and supporting a foot of a person for use of the stilt, the first upper leg support section being connected to the foot platform for rotational movement about a first upper pivot axis, the second upper leg support section being connected to the foot platform for rotational movement about a second upper pivot axis, the second upper pivot axis being disposed in parallel relation to the first upper pivot axis;    (c) a base for engaging and supporting the stilt upon a floor, the first lower leg support section being connected to the base for rotational movement about a first lower pivot axis, the second lower leg support section being connected to the base for rotational movement about a second lower pivot axis, the second lower pivot axis being disposed in parallel relation to the first lower pivot axis, the first upper pivot axis, and the second upper pivot axis; and    (d) an elastic member for biasing apart the first lower leg support section and the first upper leg support section.    
   
   
       6 . The stilt of  claim 5 , wherein the elastic member comprises a compression spring.  
   
   
       7 . The stilt of  claim 5 , wherein the stilt further comprises a calf support extending from the first upper leg support section in a direction away from the base, the calf support for providing stability to a person using the stilt; wherein the foot platform includes opposed ends and opposed sides each side having an extent greater than the opposed ends, and wherein the calf support is disposed adjacent one of the ends of the foot platform so as to extend adjacent the back of a leg of a person using the stilt; and wherein the compression spring is internally disposed within the calf support member.  
   
   
       8 . The stilt of  claim 7 , wherein the calf support extends coaxially with respect to the first leg support.  
   
   
       9 . The stilt of  claim 7 , wherein the calf support comprises an extension of the first leg support and is secured in fixed position relative to the first upper leg support section.  
   
   
       10 . The stilt of  claim 7 , wherein the stilt further comprises a resiliently-biased catch securing the first upper leg support section against movement relative to the first lower leg support section, whereby the length of the first leg support is fixed.  
   
   
       11 . The stilt of  claim 7 , wherein the stilt further comprises a second elastic member for biasing apart the second lower leg support section and the second upper leg support section, the second elastic member being internally disposed within the second leg support.  
   
   
       12 . The stilt of  claim 11 , wherein the stilt further comprises a first resiliently-biased catch securing the first upper leg support section against movement relative to the first lower leg support section, whereby the length of the first leg support is fixed; and wherein the stilt further comprises a second resiliently-biased catch securing the second upper leg support section against movement relative to the second lower leg support section, whereby the length of the second leg support is fixed.  
   
   
       13 . The stilt of  claim 12 , wherein the calf support extends coaxially with respect to the first leg support, and wherein the calf support comprises an extension of the first leg support and is secured in fixed position relative to the first upper leg support section.  
   
   
       14 . The stilt of  claim 12 , wherein the stilt further comprises a resiliently-biased catch securing the first upper leg support section against movement relative to the first lower leg support section, whereby the length of the first leg support is fixed.  
   
   
       15 . A stilt, comprising: 
 (a) a support frame, comprising, 
 (i) a first leg support having a first upper leg support section and a first elongate lower leg support section, the first upper leg support section being coupled with the first lower leg support section for movement relative there between, whereby a length of the first leg support may be varied, and  
 (ii) a second leg support positioned in parallel relation to the first leg support and having a second upper leg support section and a second lower leg support section, the second upper leg support section being coupled with the second lower leg support section for movement relative there between, whereby a length of the second leg support may be varied;  
   (b) a foot platform for receiving and supporting a foot of a person for use of the stilt, the first upper leg support section being connected to the foot platform for rotational movement about a first upper pivot axis, the second upper leg support section being connected to the foot platform for rotational movement about a second upper pivot axis, the second upper pivot axis being disposed in parallel relation to the first upper pivot axis;    (c) a base for engaging and supporting the stilt upon a floor, the first lower leg support section being connected to the base for rotational movement about a first lower pivot axis, the second lower leg support section being connected to the base for rotational movement about a second lower pivot axis, the second lower pivot axis being disposed in parallel relation to the first lower pivot axis, the first upper pivot axis, and the second upper pivot axis; and    (d) a plurality of spring members remotely located to each other that, collectively, bias the leg supports, the foot platform, and the base into a generally rectangular configuration in which the leg supports extend generally orthogonally to the foot platform and the base.    
   
   
       16 . The stilt of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of spring members are internally disposed within a leg support section, the foot platform, or the base.  
   
   
       17 . The stilt of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of spring members comprise torsion springs.  
   
   
       18 . The stilt of  claim 15 , wherein each torsion spring of the plurality of torsion springs is disposed at a coupling of one of the first and second leg support sections to either of the foot platform or the base.  
   
   
       19 . A stilt, comprising: 
 (a) a support frame, comprising, 
 (i) a first leg support having a first upper leg support section and a first elongate lower leg support section, the first upper leg support section being coupled with the first lower leg support section for movement relative there between, whereby a length of the first leg support may be varied, and  
 (ii) a second leg support positioned in parallel relation to the first leg support and having a second upper leg support section and a second lower leg support section, the second upper leg support section being coupled with the second lower leg support section for movement relative there between, whereby a length of the second leg support may be varied;  
   (b) a foot platform for receiving and supporting a foot of a person for use of the stilt, the first upper leg support section being connected to the foot platform for rotational movement about a first upper pivot axis, the second upper leg support section being connected to the foot platform for rotational movement about a second upper pivot axis, the second upper pivot axis being disposed in parallel relation to the first upper pivot axis;    (c) a base for engaging and supporting the stilt upon a floor, the first lower leg support section being connected to the base for rotational movement about a first lower pivot axis, the second lower leg support section being connected to the base for rotational movement about a second lower pivot axis, the second lower pivot axis being disposed in parallel relation to the first lower pivot axis, the first upper pivot axis, and the second upper pivot axis; and    (d) a torsion spring that biases the leg supports, the foot platform, and the base into a generally rectangular configuration in which the leg supports extend generally orthogonally to the foot platform and the base.    
   
   
       20 . The stilt of  claim 19 , wherein the torsion spring is located at a coupling of a leg support with the foot platform.