Title of the Patent: Stilt device with improved leg attachment assembly
Patent Number: 12697530
Company: Emmert Second Limited Partnership
Company Website: https://durastilt.com/
Swanson Reed has named patent 12697530 as the Oklahoma Patent of the Month for September 2026. This patent, awarded to Emmert Second Limited Partnership, details a stilt device featuring a newly engineered leg attachment assembly designed to safely support a user above a base surface. The assembly includes a curved support plate that securely receives a strap to attach the user’s leg to the stilt’s leg band. The support plate features a convex outer surface with retention walls that form an open strap retention channel, along with a channel body that creates an aligned closed strap retention channel. This provides a clear threading path for the securement strap while allowing the support plate to be slidingly positioned along the strap relative to the leg band.
This invention is particularly innovative because it addresses a functional challenge in construction equipment ergonomics and safety. Traditional stilt attachments can cause discomfort or lack optimal securement during extended use. By utilizing a combination of open and closed retention channels on a curved support plate, this new design allows for sliding adjustments that conform closely to the user’s leg. The addition of a pivotable leg band and cushioning pads further reduces physical fatigue and improves the wearer’s balance. This focus on user safety, comfort, and operational efficiency is exactly why Swanson Reed recognized this invention for September 2026, highlighting the continued engineering advancements emerging from Oklahoma’s manufacturing sector.
The practical applications of developing this patented technology would likely be eligible for the Research and Development Tax Credit in the United States. To qualify for the R&D tax credit, a company must demonstrate that its development activities meet a strict four-part test involving technical uncertainty and a process of experimentation. Designing this improved leg attachment assembly required applying principles of mechanical engineering to eliminate uncertainties regarding load distribution, strap friction, and structural integrity. The iterative process of building prototypes, testing different curvatures for the support plate, and evaluating the performance of the strap retention channels under physical stress constitutes qualified research activities. Manufacturers investing in this type of systematic testing and design refinement for construction safety equipment can leverage these R&D tax credits to offset development costs and reinvest in future product improvements.
