Stilts with non-circular support pole and method of improving safety

Abstract

Stilts for supporting a worker for doing elevated work, such as drywall installation, and methods of improving the safety of stilts, reducing the weight of stilts, and obtaining and providing stilts. Stilts each include a base member, a shoe plate, at least one (e.g., two) column(s), a leg-attachment mechanism, a support pole having a non-circular feature, and a guide that engages the non-circular feature to better resist twisting. In some embodiments, the non-circular feature is that the support pole has a non-circular cross section, such as an oval cross section. Inner and outer portions may telescopically engage to provide for height adjustment.

1 . A stilt, comprising:
 a base member;   a shoe plate;   a first column which, when the stilt is assembled, extends from the base member to the shoe plate;   a leg-attachment mechanism for attaching to a leg of a worker above a shoe;   a support pole which, when the stilt is assembled, extends from a lower attachment point at the first column to an upper attachment point at the leg-attachment mechanism, the support pole further comprising an intermediate attachment point near the shoe plate, wherein the support pole has a centerline and comprises at least one non-circular feature extending parallel to the centerline along the support pole at least over an adjustment range, and   a guide for the support pole, the guide having an interior surface having at least one non-circular aspect;   wherein, when the stilt is assembled, the non-circular feature of the support pole engages with the non-circular aspect of the interior surface of the guide to provide for height adjustment of the leg attachment mechanism over the adjustment range to allow the leg attachment mechanism to be raised and lowered to fit the leg of the worker while preventing the leg attachment mechanism from rotating relative to the shoe plate.   
     
     
         2 . The stilt of  claim 1 , wherein the non-circular feature of the support pole comprises the support pole having an exterior surface with a substantially oval cross section. 
     
     
         3 . The stilt of  claim 1 , wherein the non-circular aspect of the guide comprises the interior surface of the guide having a substantially oval cross section. 
     
     
         4 . The stilt of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the support pole comprises a non-circular outer tube and a mating non-circular inner pole having a non-circular exterior surface;   when the stilt is assembled, the non-circular outer tube telescopically and substantially non-rotatably engages the mating non-circular inner pole to provide for height adjustment of the leg attachment mechanism over the adjustment range to allow the leg attachment mechanism to be raised or lowered to fit the leg of the worker while preventing the leg attachment mechanism from rotating relative to the shoe plate;   the guide is the non-circular outer tube of the support pole; and   the at least one non-circular feature of the support pole is the non-circular exterior surface of the mating non-circular inner pole.   
     
     
         5 . The stilt of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the stilt further comprises a second column which, when the stilt is assembled, extends from the base member to the shoe plate substantially parallel to the first column;   the support pole comprises a non-circular outer tube; and   the first column, the second column, and the non-circular outer tube each have a substantially equivalent cross section.   
     
     
         6 . The stilt of  claim 1 , further comprising a lateral adjustment feature, such that when the stilt is assembled:
 the lateral adjustment feature is located at the lower attachment point;   the lateral adjustment feature adjustably attaches the support pole to the first column; and   adjustment of the lateral adjustment feature causes the support pole to pivot at the intermediate attachment point relative to the first column.   
     
     
         7 . The stilt of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the stilt further comprises a second column which, when the stilt is assembled, extends from the base member to the shoe plate substantially parallel to the first column;   the stilt has a toe and a heel such that when the stilt is being worn by the worker, the worker's toes are at the toe of the stilt and the worker's heel is at the heel of the stilt;   the first column is at the heel of the stilt and the second column is at the toe of the stilt; and   when the stilt is assembled, the first column and the second column are hingedly attached to the base member and the first column and the second column are hingedly attached to the shoe plate.   
     
     
         8 . The stilt of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second column which, when the stilt is assembled, extends from the base member to the shoe plate substantially parallel to the first column;   a first draw spring having a first draw bar, a second draw bar, and a first helix, wherein, when the stilt is assembled, the first draw bar passes through the first helix and is connected to the first column, and the second draw bar passes through the first helix and is connected to the second column; and   a second draw spring having a third draw bar, a fourth draw bar, and a second helix, wherein, when the stilt is assembled, the third draw bar passes through the second helix and is connected to the first column and the fourth draw bar passes through the second helix and is connected to the second column.   
     
     
         9 . The stilt of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the base member comprises a first ear projecting upward and a second ear projecting upward, wherein the first ear has a first hole therethrough, the second ear has a second hole therethrough, and the first hole is in line with the second hole;   wherein the stilt further comprises a first fastener such that when the stilt is assembled, the first column is located between the first ear and the second ear, and the first fastener extends through the first hole, through the first column, and through the second hole;   the shoe plate comprises a third ear projecting downward and a fourth ear projecting downward, wherein the third ear has a third hole therethrough, the fourth ear has a fourth hole therethrough, and the third hole is in line with the fourth hole;   wherein the stilt further comprises a second fastener such that when the stilt is assembled, the first column is located between the third ear and the fourth ear, and the second fastener extends through the third hole, through the first column, and through the fourth hole.   
     
     
         10 . A stilt, comprising:
 a base member;   a shoe plate;   a first column which, when the stilt is assembled, extends from the base member to the shoe plate;   a leg-attachment mechanism for attaching to a leg of a worker above a shoe of the worker; and   a support pole which, when the stilt is assembled, extends from a lower attachment point at the first column or near the shoe plate to an upper attachment point at the leg-attachment mechanism, wherein the support pole comprises a non-circular inner pole and a mating non-circular outer tube, wherein, when the stilt is assembled, the non-circular inner pole telescopically and substantially non-rotatably engages the mating non-circular outer tube to provide for height adjustment of the leg attachment mechanism over an adjustment range to allow the leg attachment mechanism to be raised or lowered to fit the leg of the worker while preventing the leg attachment mechanism from rotating relative to the shoe plate.   
     
     
         11 . The stilt of  claim 10 , wherein the mating non-circular outer tube has an oval cross section. 
     
     
         12 . The stilt of  claim 10 , wherein the non-circular inner pole has an outer surface having an oval cross section. 
     
     
         13 . The stilt of  claim 10 , further comprising a lateral adjustment feature wherein, when the stilt is assembled, the lateral adjustment feature is located at the lower attachment point, and wherein the lateral adjustment feature adjustably attaches the support pole to the first column. 
     
     
         14 . The stilt of  claim 10 , further comprising an intermediate attachment point near the shoe plate for the support pole, wherein the intermediate attachment point comprises a pivot bracket comprising a first pivot hole and a second pivot hole, and wherein the first pivot hole is substantially in line with the second pivot hole. 
     
     
         15 . A method of improving the safety of a stilt for supporting a worker for doing elevated work, the method comprising:
 obtaining or providing a base member;   obtaining or providing a shoe plate;   obtaining or providing a first column which, when the stilt is assembled, extends from the base member to the shoe plate;   obtaining or providing a leg-attachment mechanism for attaching to a leg of the worker above a shoe of the worker; and   obtaining or providing a support pole which, when the stilt is assembled, extends from a lower attachment point at the first column or near the shoe plate to an upper attachment point at the leg-attachment mechanism;   wherein the support pole has at least one external non-circular feature that extends parallel to a centerline of the support pole at least over an adjustment range to resist twisting of the support pole relative to the shoe plate.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the support pole has an oval cross section. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the support pole has a non-circular inner pole and a mating non-circular outer tube, wherein, when the stilt is assembled, the non-circular inner pole telescopically and substantially non-rotatably engages the mating non-circular outer tube to provide for height adjustment of the leg attachment mechanism over the adjustment range to allow the leg attachment mechanism to be raised or lowered to fit the leg of the worker while preventing the leg attachment mechanism from rotating relative to the shoe plate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising obtaining or providing a lateral adjustment feature wherein, when the stilt is assembled, the lateral adjustment feature is located at the lower attachment point, and wherein the lateral adjustment feature adjustably attaches the support pole to the first column.