Adjustable two-legged stilt with catch mechanism

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. Each leg support includes a spring-biased catch that secures the respective leg support sections against relative movement, whereby the length of the leg support may be fixed. A release member is operatively connected to each catch for controlling adjustment of the lengths of the two leg supports while the stilt is worn.

1 . A stilt, comprising: 
 (a) a support frame, comprising, 
 (i) a first leg support having a first upper leg support section and a first 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 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.    
   
   
       2 . The stilt of  claim 1 , wherein the catch comprises a rod and wherein the first upper leg support section and the first lower leg support section include corresponding openings through which the rod extends in securing the first upper leg support section against movement relative to the first lower leg support section.  
   
   
       3 . The stilt of  claim 2 , wherein the first upper leg support section and the first lower leg support section include a plurality of corresponding openings through which the rod may extend in securing the first upper leg support section against movement relative to the first lower leg support section, whereby the first leg support may be fixed in different respective lengths.  
   
   
       4 . The stilt of  claim 1 , wherein each of the leg support sections is tubular.  
   
   
       5 . The stilt of  claim 1 , wherein the first lower leg support section is received within the first upper leg support section.  
   
   
       6 . The stilt of  claim 5 , wherein the second lower leg support section is received within the second upper leg support section.  
   
   
       7 . The stilt of  claim 6 , wherein the movement between the lower leg support sections and the upper leg support sections is sliding movement.  
   
   
       8 . The stilt of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second upper leg support sections are coupled with the first and second lower leg support sections for sliding movement relative there between.  
   
   
       9 . The stilt of  claim 1 , further comprising a pre-tensioned cable connected to the resiliently-biased catch for controlling movement of the resiliently-biased catch.  
   
   
       10 . The stilt of  claim 9 , further comprising a flexible jacket in concentric surrounding relation to the cable, wherein the cable is capable of independent movement relative to the flexible jacket.  
   
   
       11 . The stilt of  claim 1 , further comprising a release member movable between first and second positions, the release member being operatively connected to the resiliently-biased catch for controlling movement of the resiliently-biased catch with movement of the release member between the first and second positions.  
   
   
       12 . The stilt of  claim 11 , further comprising a pre-tensioned cable having a first end connected to the resiliently-biased catch and having a second end connected to the release member, wherein the pre-tensioned cable facilitates operative communication between the resiliently-biased catch and the release member.  
   
   
       13 . The stilt of  claim 1 , further comprising 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.  
   
   
       14 . The stilt of  claim 13 , 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.  
   
   
       15 . The stilt of  claim 13 , 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 sides of the foot platform so as to extend adjacent the side of a leg of a person using the stilt.  
   
   
       16 . The stilt of  claim 15 , further comprising a release member movable between first and second positions, the release member being operatively connected to the resiliently-biased catch for controlling movement of the resiliently-biased catch with movement of the release member between the first and second positions, the release member being mounted proximate a terminal end of the calf support distal the foot platform so as to permit convenient operation of the release member by a person using the stilt.  
   
   
       17 . The stilt of  claim 16 , further comprising a pre-tensioned cable having a first end connected to the resiliently-biased catch and having a second end connected to the release member, wherein the pre-tensioned cable facilitates operative communication between the resiliently-biased catch and the release member.  
   
   
       18 . The stilt of  claim 17 , wherein a portion of the pre-tensioned cable extends within and is sheathed by the calf support.  
   
   
       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;    (d) a first catch movable between, 
 (i) an engaged position in which the first catch secures 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  
 (ii) a disengaged position in which the first catch does not secure the first upper leg support section against movement relative to the first lower leg support section;  
   (e) a second catch movable between, 
 (i) an engaged position in which the second catch secures 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, and  
 (ii) a disengaged position in which the second catch does not secure the second upper leg support section against movement relative to the second lower leg support section; and  
   (f) a release member movable between first and second positions, the release member being operatively connected to the first catch for moving the first catch between the engaged and disengaged positions with movement of the release member between the first and second positions, and the release member further being operatively connected to the second catch for moving the second catch between the engaged and disengaged positions with movement of the release member between the first and second positions.    
   
   
       20 . The stilt of  claim 19 , wherein the release member is operatively connected to the first catch by a first pre-tensioned cable and wherein the release member is operatively connected to the second catch by a second pre-tensioned cable, and wherein the first pre-tensioned cable is concentrically disposed within a first flexible jacket and the second pre-tensioned cable is concentrically disposed within a second flexible jacket.