University of Wisconsin - Extension

To the United States Patent Office, it's Patent Number 5,954,074. To Evert Mattson, it's the most significant invention he has done in more than 50 years as a mechanical designer.

The patent document calls it a Universal Adjustable Walking Crutch and/or Cane. One physician who evaluated Mattson's invention calls it a "Crane." Mattson just wants somebody to get it into production, so more people who need a walking aid can take advantage of his new, improved design.

"We're looking for a manufacturer who would be interested in making and marketing the product," said Loren Erickson, Small Business Development Center counselor at UW-Superior. Erickson is working with Mattson, who has been retired since 1990, on his quest to get the Crane into the hands of people in need of better mobility.

Mattson, 75, poured three years of painstaking research and prototype development into his invention. "It would give me a great thrill to see these used. From my experience, they provide more comfort and safety than your regular bow-type crutches."

Cranes provide an ergonomic design that assures controlled weight distribution and support for the user, according to Mattson's 14-page patent description, complete with detailed illustrations. They are simpler and lighter weight than many of the walking crutch designs on today's market.

One of the most noticeable features of the Crane is that the user's hands do a better job of supporting weight because they are not bent at the elbow. Mattson's design achieves this by placing the handle directly below the center of the user's shoulder, rather than angled in toward the waist. Another advantage is better balance, as the arms are closer to their normal positions when striding.

The Crane has a main single support shaft made of lightweight, ridged square tubing with a handle that clamps on. Its underarm support cradle has a stem that telescopes inside the support shaft and can be adjusted up or down. Mattson used mountain-bike style grips for the handles in his prototypes.

Erickson and Mattson see at least two markets for the Crane - the high end user (especially as baby-boomers age), and the person with a garden-variety sprained ankle. The inventor muses, "To start out with, they're going to be more expensive than others, but if you look at the overall market, you could trim them down price-wise."

Inventing, 101

What's it like to get something patented? Mattson says the act of inventing is not a logical process. "It's only logical after-the-fact. Three years later it doesn't look the same.

"Start out with the subconscious. You know there's a need to fill. You're familiar with the problem and you know what's needed."

Mattson offers three suggestions for people who think they have an idea for a patent:

• Do a patent search on the Internet, and don't spend any time or money on something until you do this. Mattson did his search back to 1976.

• If you feel you have something, do a disclosure "Record of Invention" which the Patent Office will hold for two years.

• Another way to go is to apply for a "provisional patent" which is a complete patent application, except for claims. This is good for one year.

"When you file your patent, you will have to deal with arguments from the patent examiner. But if you have a good idea and stick to your guns, you will prevail."