Stilt system

Abstract

An industrial stilt generally includes a floor-engaging member having a heel portion and a toe portion, a load-bearing riser pivotally coupled with the heel portion of the floor-engaging member, a biasing assembly pivotally coupled with and between the toe portion of the floor-engaging member and the load-bearing riser, a foot-engaging member, a leg support assembly, and a leg cuff assembly. The biasing assembly assists in preventing excessive forward or backward leans and maintains the load-bearing riser and the user in a substantially vertical, upright position. The position of the leg cuff assembly on the user's leg and the user's elevation may be easily and safely adjusted using bracket and load-bearing riser adjustment and locking assemblies. Foot-engaging member is provided with multiple securing straps and ratchet buckle assemblies to permit secure and adjustable attachment of the stilt to the user's foot, and leg cuff assembly is provided with a strap, ratchet assembly, and cuff pad to enhance adjustment and user comfort.

1 . A stilt used in pairs for elevating a user thereof comprising:
 a floor-engaging member having a heel portion and a toe portion, said toe portion having an upward-angled portion;   a foot-engaging member;   a load-bearing riser connected to said foot-engaging member;   a biasing assembly having a first biasing end and a second biasing end;   a leg support member coupled with said foot-engaging member; and   a leg cuff assembly coupled with said leg support member.   
     
     
         2 . The stilt of  claim 1  wherein said load-bearing riser is pivotally coupled with said heel portion of said floor-engaging member at a position posterior to said load-bearing riser. 
     
     
         3 . The stilt of  claim 1  wherein said load-bearing riser is fixably connected to said foot-engaging member and pivotally coupled with said heel portion of said floor-engaging member. 
     
     
         4 . The stilt of  claim 1  wherein said load-bearing riser comprises an upper riser portion in telescoping relation with a lower riser portion. 
     
     
         5 . The biasing assembly of  claim 1 , said first biasing end pivotally coupled with said load-bearing riser and said second biasing end pivotally coupled with said toe portion of said floor-engaging member. 
     
     
         6 . The biasing assembly of  claim 5 , further extending at an angle from said load-bearing riser to said toe portion of said floor-engaging member; 
     
     
         7 . The stilt of  claim 1  wherein said biasing assembly comprises a piston and rod assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The stilt of  claim 7  wherein said biasing assembly further comprises a spring assembly, said spring assembly and said piston and rod assembly in substantially coaxial relation. 
     
     
         9 . The stilt of  claim 1  wherein said lower end of said load-bearing riser comprises an angle member extending at an angle from said single load-bearing riser to said pivoting axle. 
     
     
         10 . The stilt of  claim 1  further comprising a leg support bracket comprising an aperture slidably receiving said leg support member, whereby said user can adjust the position of said leg cuff assembly on said user's leg. 
     
     
         11 . A stilt used in pairs for elevating a user thereof comprising:
 a floor-engaging member comprising a heel portion and a toe portion;   a foot-engaging member;   a load-bearing riser connected to said foot-engaging member;   a biasing assembly having a first biasing end and a second biasing end;   a leg support member coupled with said foot-engaging member; and   a leg cuff assembly coupled with said leg support member, said leg cuff assembly comprising a cuff body having a joiner tube configured to receive said leg support member.   
     
     
         12 . The stilt of  claim 11  wherein said load-bearing riser is fixably connected to said foot-engaging member. 
     
     
         13 . The stilt of  claim 11 , further comprising a locking assembly configured to move from an engaged position maintaining said load-bearing riser in a fixed position to a disengaged position telescoping movement of a riser position, wherein said locking assembly comprises:
 a safety lever;   a locking member coupled to said safety lever, said locking member having a locking member tab; and,   a notch engagement member spring-biased to a release tab.   
     
     
         14 . The stilt of  claim 11  wherein said lower end of said load-bearing riser comprises an angle member extending at an angle from said single load-bearing riser to said pivoting axle. 
     
     
         15 . The biasing assembly of  claim 11 , said first biasing end pivotally coupled with said load-bearing riser and said second biasing end pivotally coupled with said toe portion of said floor-engaging member. 
     
     
         16 . The biasing assembly of  claim 15 , further extending at an angle from said load-bearing riser to said toe portion of said floor-engaging member; 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for elevating a user comprising:
 a floor-engaging member having a heel portion and a toe portion;   a foot-engaging member having a foot base and a leg support bracket assembly, said leg support bracket assembly having a first bracket and a second bracket formed integrally with said foot base, said first bracket and said second bracket coupled together defining an aperture;   a load-bearing riser fixably connected to said foot-engaging member;   a leg support member slidably received in said aperture of said leg support bracket assembly and extending generally parallel to said load-bearing riser, and having a leg cuff assembly coupled thereto; and   a biasing assembly having a first biasing end and a second biasing end, said first biasing end.   
     
     
         18 . The stilt of  claim 17  wherein said load-bearing riser is pivotally coupled with said heel portion of said floor-engaging member at a position posterior to said load-bearing riser. 
     
     
         19 . The stilt of  claim 17  wherein said load-bearing riser is fixably connected to said foot-engaging member and pivotally coupled with said heel portion of said floor-engaging member. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further comprising a locking assembly configured to allow adjustment of said length of said load-bearing riser, said locking assembly comprising:
 a safety lever; 
 a locking member coupled to said safety lever, said locking member having a locking member tab; and, 
 a notch engagement member spring-biased to a release tab.