U.S. patent application number 11/645490 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-26 for handy hand walking cane.
Invention is credited to Joe R. Martin.
Application Number | 20080149155 11/645490 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39541141 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080149155 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Martin; Joe R. |
June 26, 2008 |
Handy hand walking cane
Abstract
A walking instrument is provided consisting of a shaft, a
clamping mechanism and a gripping mechanism. The shaft consists of
a top portion and a bottom portion. The clamping mechanism is
connected to the top portion of the shaft and allows the user to
attach said walking instrument to a fixed object. The gripping
mechanism is connected to bottom portion of the shaft and allows
the user to grasp an object.
Inventors: |
Martin; Joe R.; (Pocahontas,
AR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Charles J.Engelberger lll
275 Washington Ave
Marietta
GA
30060
US
|
Family ID: |
39541141 |
Appl. No.: |
11/645490 |
Filed: |
December 26, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/66 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 3/00 20130101; A45B
1/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/66 |
International
Class: |
A45B 3/00 20060101
A45B003/00 |
Claims
1. A walking instrument, comprising: a shaft having a top end
portion and a bottom end portion; a clamping mechanism connected to
said top end portion of said shaft and adapted to attach said
walking instrument to a fixed object; and a gripping mechanism
connected to said bottom end of said shaft and adapted to grasp an
object.
2. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
clamping mechanism includes a top member having a first and second
opening defining a hand hold and being slidably movable relative to
said shaft, and a stationary bottom member.
3. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said
shaft has a vertical slot and said top member slides in said
slot.
4. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said
first handhold opening protrudes from a first side of said shaft
and said second handhold protrudes from a second side of said
shaft.
5. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 2, including a coil
spring in said shaft above said top member biasing said top member
toward said bottom member.
6. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 2 including a handle
on said top end of said shaft above said handhold so that a user
can grasp said handle and said handhold with one hand.
7. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
gripping mechanism includes a hook adapted to grasp an object and a
rod coupled to said hook.
8. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 7 wherein said rod
moves up and down in said shaft and said hook moves between a
closed position and an open position.
9. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 7 wherein said rod
is inside said shaft.
10. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 7 wherein said rod
is connected to said clamping mechanism.
11. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said
rod couples said clamping mechanism with said gripping
mechanism.
12. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 7 wherein said hook
includes a series of notched ends.
13. A walking instrument comprising: a shaft having a top end
portion and a bottom end portion; and a clamping mechanism
connected to said top end portion of said shaft and adapted to
attach said walking instrument to a fixed object.
14. A walking instrument as set forth in claim 13 wherein said
clamping mechanism includes a top member having a first and second
opening defining a handhold and being slidably movable relative to
said shaft, and a stationary bottom member.
15. A walking instrument as set forth in claim 13 wherein said
shaft has a vertical slot and said top member slides in said slot
and wherein said first handhold opening protrudes from a first side
of said shaft and said second handhold protrudes from a second side
of said shaft.
16. A walking instrument as set forth in claim 13 including a coil
spring in said shaft above said top member biasing said top member
toward said bottom member and including a handle on said top end of
said shaft above said handhold so that a user can grasp said handle
and said handhold with one hand.
17. A walking instrument comprising: a shaft having a top end
portion and a bottom end portion; and a gripping mechanism
connected to said bottom end of said shaft and adapted to grasp a
movable object.
18. A walking instrument as set forth in claim 17, wherein said
gripping mechanism includes a hook adapted to grasp an object and a
rod coupled to said hook and wherein said rod moves up and down
inside said shaft and said hook moves between an open and closed
position.
19. A walking instrument as set forth in claim 17 wherein said rod
is inside said shaft and said rod is connected to said clamping
mechanism.
20. A walking instrument as set forth in claim 17 wherein said rod
couples said clamping mechanism with said gripping mechanism.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention generally relates to walking instruments, and
more particularly to a walking instrument that enables the user to
pick up items that may be in his or her way, and that also allows
the user to attach the walking instrument to a fixed object so that
is easy to reach when the time comes to use it again.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Unfortunately, many people need the use of walking
instruments to get around. Typically, those that need the use of
said instruments are elderly, or suffer from some other physical
ailment that inhibits their ability to walk, much less bend
over.
[0003] Imagine for instance, walking into a store or restaurant and
dropping something on the floor. Or imagine getting to your desired
destination with the help of your walking instrument, and as you
are sitting down, the instrument crashes to the floor and the user
is unable to pick it up.
[0004] Accordingly, it would appreciated that it would be highly
desirable to have a device that allows the user to pick up items
without having to bend over, a device that attaches to a fixed
object so that it is easy to retrieve, and that can still function
as a walking instrument.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more
of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to
one aspect of the invention, a walking instrument having a shaft, a
clamping means connected to the top end of the shaft, and a
gripping means connected to the bottom end of said shaft.
[0006] These and other aspects, objects, features, and advantages
of the present invention will be more clearly understood from a
review of the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments and appended claims, as well as by reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a view of a preferred embodiment of a walking
instrument according to the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the similar to
FIG. 1, but with portions cut away illustrating the mechanism by
which the preferred embodiments are constructed.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, but
illustrating another preferred embodiment of a walking instrument
construed in accordance with the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3
illustrating another preferred embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] Referring now to the drawings, in which like elements
throughout the several figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a walking
instrument 10 that has a shaft 12 that is connected to a handle 14
on one end, and a stopper 16 at the other end. The walking
instrument 10 includes a clamping apparatus 18 attached to the
shaft 12. The clamping apparatus 18, consists of a top member 20
and a bottom member 22. The top member 20 is attached to the shaft
12 and is able to slide up and down relative to the shaft 12. The
top member 20 also consists of first and second openings 24a-b,
defining a handhold 23 of sufficient size so as to enable the
user's fingers to pass through them. The bottom member 22 is also
connected to said shaft 12, and is stationary. The shaft 12 has a
vertical slot 21 wherein the top member 20 is able to slide. The
walking instrument 10 also includes a gripping apparatus 26
connected to the shaft 12. The gripping apparatus includes a hook
28 also connected to shaft 12.
[0012] Referring to FIG. 2, the handle 14 is connected to the upper
end of the shaft 12. The handle 14 is located above the top member
20 of the clamping apparatus 18, and more particularly, above the
handhold 23 so as to enable the user to use the walking instrument
with one hand. A coil spring 15 is housed inside the shaft 12 and
is connected to the bottom portion of the handle 14 and the upper
portion of the top member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18. The
location of the coil spring 15 allows the top member 20 of the
clamping apparatus 18 to move towards or away from the bottom
member 22 of the clamping apparatus. Inside the shaft 12, there
exists a rod 30, which connects the clamping apparatus 18 to the
gripping apparatus 26. The upper end of the rod 30 is connected to
the top member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18. The lower end of
the rod 30 is connected to the gripping apparatus 26. The lower end
of the hook 28, shown here in the resting position, of the
grappling apparatus 26, contains several notched ends at its
terminus 32a-c which coincide with complimentary notched ends 34a-c
located inside the shaft 12. The complimentary notched ends 34a-c
are also connected to the rod 30.
[0013] Referring to FIG. 3 a preferred embodiment of the invention
is illustrated wherein the user places his or her hand on the
handle 14 and places two fingers into the first and second openings
24a-b, of the handhold 23 located on the top member 20 of the
clamping apparatus 18. As the user pulls up with his or her two
fingers, the top member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18, separates
from the bottom member 22 of the clamping apparatus and slides
upward along the vertical slot 21. The upward pulling motion also
causes the spring 15 to coil. The continued upward motion also
causes the rod 30, contained inside the shaft 12 to pull upwards as
well. As the rod 30 pulls upward, the notched ends 34a-c, connected
to the lower end of the rod 30, latch into the complimentary
notched ends of the terminus ends 32a-h of the hook 28, causing the
hook 28 to be pulled down towards the stopper 16.
[0014] Referring to FIG. 4, another preferred embodiment of the
invention is illustrated wherein the user places his or her two
fingers in the first and second openings 24a-b of the handhold 23,
located on the top member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18, and has
pulled in an upward position as illustrated in FIG. 3. The top
member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18 is pulled away from the
stationary bottom member 22 of the clamping apparatus 18, allowing
the walking instrument 10 to attach to a fixed object 38 such as a
table as illustrated. The walking instrument 10 is held in place by
the top member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18 affixing to the
upper side 44 of the fixed object 38, and the stationary bottom
member 22 of the clamping apparatus 18 affixing to the lower side
46 of the fixed object 38. To retrieve the walking instrument 10
away from the fixed object 38, the user places his her fingers in
the first and second openings 24a-b of the handhold 23 located on
the top member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18 and pulls upward and
away from the fixed object 38.
* * * * *