Leg brace for stilts

Abstract

A plastic leg brace element for construction stilts is disclosed. The leg brace element comprises a plastic body. The plastic body defines a generally semi-cylindrical concave inside surface for supporting a stilt user's leg, and a passage spaced apart from the generally semi-cylindrical concave inside surface for receiving a leg support of the stilt.

1 . A non-metallic unitary leg brace element for a stilt, said leg brace element comprising 
 a plastic body defining a generally semi-cylindrical concave inside surface for supporting a stilt user's leg, and    a passage spaced apart from the generally semi-cylindrical concave inside surface for receiving a leg support of the stilt,    wherein    the generally semi-cylindrical concave inside surface is positioned around a longitudinal axis,    and the passage is generally parallel to said longitudinal axis,    wherein    the leg brace element comprises a first portion and a second portion,    the first portion being a generally saddle-shaped structure having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining the generally cylindrical inside surface,    the second portion protruding from the outer surface of the first portion and being longitudinally elongated and defining the passage    wherein    the second portion is positioned between a first half of the outer surface of the first portion and a second half of the outer surface of the first portion    wherein    the outer surface of the first portion has an upper end and a lower end,    and the second portion comprises    an upper ear element protruding from the upper end of the outer surface of the first portion,    a lower ear element protruding from the lower end of the outer surface of the first portion, and    a tubular element extending between the upper ear element and the lower ear element and defining a portion of the passage.    
   
   
       2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . A non-metallic unitary leg brace element for a stilt as in  claim 1  wherein 
 an upper end of the passage is closed by a portion of the upper ear element.    
   
   
       7 . A non-metallic unitary leg brace element for a stilt as in  claim 6  wherein the second portion further defines 
 at least one transverse borehole in communication with the passage suitable for receiving a fastener to fasten the non-metallic unitary leg brace element to a stilt leg support received by the passage.    
   
   
       8 . A non-metallic unitary leg brace element for a stilt as in  claim 7  wherein the upper ear defines a first transverse borehole and the lower ear defines a second transverse borehole, each borehole being in communication with the passage and suitable for receiving a pin to fasten the non-metallic unitary leg brace element to a stilt leg support received by the passage.  
   
   
       9 . A non-metallic unitary leg brace element for a stilt as in  claim 8  wherein the first portion further defines outwardly protruding reinforcing bands extending circumferentially from the upper ear and the lower ear.  
   
   
       10 . A non-metallic unitary leg brace element for a stilt as in  claim 9  wherein the first portion defines 
 an upper band is positioned adjacent to the upper end of the outer surface of the first portion, and    a lower band is positioned adjacent to the lower end of the outer surface of the first portion.    
   
   
       11 . A non-metallic unitary leg brace element for a stilt as in  claim 10  wherein the first portion has a first lateral end and a second lateral end and further defines a first bridge structure connecting the upper band to the lower band near the first lateral end and a second bridge structure connecting the upper band to the lower band near the second lateral end.  
   
   
       12 . A non-metallic unitary leg brace element for a stilt as in  claim 11  wherein 
 the tubular element is spaced apart from the outer surface of the first portion to define a location for receipt of a user safety strap between the tubular element and the outer surface of the first portion.    
   
   
       13 . A non-metallic unitary leg brace element for a stilt as in  claim 7  further comprising, in combination, a layer of cushioning positioned on the generally cylindrical inside surface.  
   
   
       14 . A non-metallic unitary leg brace element for a stilt as in  claim 7  further comprising, in combination, 
 a floor platform,    a shoe platform,    a pair of substantially vertically mounted supports pivotally connecting said floor platform and said shoe platform, said vertical supports spring-biased so as to maintain said vertical supports and said platforms in a parallelogram configuration, and    a leg support mounted to one of said vertically mounted supports and extending upwardly above said shoe platform, said leg support having an upper end section,    wherein the upper end section of said leg support is retained in the passage of the unitary leg brace element in superposition with respect to the shoe platform.    
   
   
       15 . A non-metallic unitary leg brace element for a stilt as in  claim 12  further comprising, in combination, 
 a floor platform,    a shoe platform,    a pair of substantially vertically mounted supports pivotally connecting said floor platform and said shoe platform, said vertical supports spring-biased so as to maintain said vertical supports and said platforms in a parallelogram configuration,    a leg support mounted to one of said vertically mounted supports and extending upwardly above said shoe platform, said leg support having an upper end section,    wherein the upper end section of said leg support is retained in the passage of the unitary leg brace element in superposition with respect to the shoe platform, and    a user safety strap received in the location defined for receipt of a user safety strap.