U.S. patent application number 13/066357 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-18 for assistive walking cane.
Invention is credited to Gregory J. Foster, Zachariah Reitano, Robert W. Sheldon.
Application Number | 20120260958 13/066357 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47005478 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120260958 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Reitano; Zachariah ; et
al. |
October 18, 2012 |
Assistive walking cane
Abstract
An assistive cane and a tip assembly therefore are provided. The
assistive walking cane includes a handle used to hold the walking
aid, a shaft connected to the handle that transmits a load from the
handle, and a ferrule connected to the shaft that receives the load
from the shaft. The ferrule includes an inner core, an outer
support, and a lower base. The inner core is contained within a
space defined by the outer support and the lower base. The outer
support includes a plurality of downwardly extending sidewalls to
define the inner core receiving space. The inner core is made of a
relatively softer material than the outer support and the lower
base, the lower base made of a relatively softer material than the
outer support. Thus, when a load is applied to the assistive cane
the inner core provides for a gradual resistance to the user
applying the load, thus cushioning the impact, and the sidewalls
deflect or bend outwardly, thus increasing the surface area of the
lower base.
Inventors: |
Reitano; Zachariah;
(Ridgefield, CT) ; Foster; Gregory J.; (Chicago,
IL) ; Sheldon; Robert W.; (Winnelka, IL) |
Family ID: |
47005478 |
Appl. No.: |
13/066357 |
Filed: |
April 13, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/83 ;
135/82 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 9/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/83 ;
135/82 |
International
Class: |
A45B 9/04 20060101
A45B009/04 |
Claims
1. A walking aid comprising: a handle used to hold the walking aid;
a shaft connected to the handle that transmits a load from the
handle; a ferrule connected to the shaft that receives the load
from the shaft, the ferrule comprising an inner core, an outer
support, and a lower base; the inner core contained within a space
defined by the outer support and the lower base, the outer support
comprising plurality of downwardly extending sidewalls to define
the inner core receiving space; the inner core comprised of a
relatively softer material than the outer support and the lower
base, the lower base comprised of a relatively softer material than
the outer support; wherefore when a load is applied to the walking
aid the inner core provides for a gradual resistance to the user
applying the load, thus cushioning the impact, and the sidewalls
deflect or bend outwardly, thus increasing the surface area of the
lower base.
2. The walking aid of claim 1 further comprising a hardened insert
contained at the lower periphery of a cavity defined in the ferrule
to received the shaft.
3. The walking aid of claim 1 further wherein the inner core
comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an
elastomeric, gel, foam, and air.
4. The walking aid of claim 1 further wherein an inner periphery of
the downwardly extending sidewall defines a tongue adapted to be
received within a groove defined on the inner core.
5. The walking aid of claim 1 further wherein the lower base
comprises a flexible, variable thickness, rounded bottom, an outer
periphery of the lower base being thicker relative to an inner core
of the lower base.
6. The walking aid of claim 1 further wherein the lower base
defines a plurality of a tread lugs and voids.
7. The walking aid of claim 1 further wherein the handle and the
shaft are connected by a collar.
8. A walking aid ferrule comprising: a shaft receiving cavity; an
inner core; an outer support comprising a plurality of downwardly
extending sidewalls to help define an inner core receiving space; a
lower base connected to the plurality of downwardly extending
sidewalls to define the inner core receiving space; the inner core
comprised of a relatively softer material than the outer support
and the lower base, the lower base comprised of a relatively softer
material than the outer support; wherefore when a load is applied
to the ferrule the inner core provides for a gradual resistance to
the user applying the load, thus cushioning the impact, and the
sidewalls deflect or bend outwardly, thus increasing the surface
area of the lower base.
9. The walking aid ferrule of claim 8 further comprising a hardened
insert contained at the lower periphery of a cavity defined in the
ferrule to received the shaft.
10. The walking aid ferrule of claim 8 further wherein the inner
core comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an
electrometric, gel, foam, and air.
11. The walking aid ferrule of claim 8 further wherein an inner
periphery of the downwardly extending sidewall defines a tongue
adapted to be received within a groove defined on the inner
core.
12. The walking aid ferrule of claim 8 further wherein the lower
base comprises a flexible, variable thickness, rounded bottom, an
outer periphery of the lower base being thicker relative to an
inner core of the lower base.
13. The walking aid ferrule of claim 8 further wherein the lower
base defines a plurality of a tread lugs and voids.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to walking aids, including
assistive walking canes and a tip assembly therefore.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Whether known as a walking stick, a walking pole or simply a
cane, assistive walking canes are used as mobility aids by injured
or disabled user. Assistive walking canes can serve several
different functions as appropriate to the needs of the user,
including aiding in balance and supporting a weakened or painful
limb or joint.
[0003] In contrast to crutches, assistive walking canes are
generally lighter, but because assistive walking canes transfer the
load through the user's unsupported wrist, are unable to offload
equal loads from the legs. Another type of crutch is the walker, a
frame held in front of the user on which the user leans on during
movement. Walkers are more stable due to their greater area of
support surface contact, but are larger and less wieldy and, like
assistive walking canes, pass the full load through the user's
wrists.
[0004] While the origin of assistive walking canes no doubt extends
back to the dawn of civilization, around the 17th or 18th century,
a stout rigid stick took over from the sword as an essential part
of the European gentleman's wardrobe, used primarily as a walking
aid. The standard cane was rattan with a rounded metal grip. The
clouded cane was made of malacca (rattan stems). Some canes had
specially weighted metalwork. Other types of wood, such as hickory,
are equally suitable. In North America, a walking cane is a walking
stick with a curved top much like a shepherd's staff, but shorter.
Thus, although called "canes", assistive walking canes are usually
made of material heavier than cane, such as wood or metal.
[0005] Today, most assistive walking canes are provided with a
rubber or polymeric tip in an effort to provide stable engagement
between the assistive walking cane and an underlying support
surface. The conventional tip has an upwardly extending axial
recess adapted to receive the lower extremity of shaft, or the
like, and has its end engagable with the adjacent support surface.
In practice, however, conventional rubber tips possess limitations
that can result in injury to the user. For example, most rubber
tips contain a flat or concave bottom surface. In theory, when a
load is applied to the crutch, the concave lower surface will
deflect to bring the entire lower surface into contact with the
support surface to obtain a maximum area of surface contact;
however, in practice very rarely does the lower end of the tip lay
flat against the support surface when the load is applied. Indeed,
the tip is usually at an angle to the vertical, with the result
that only a small portion of the periphery of the tip actually
engages the support surface. Thus, the shaft of the assistive
walking cane needs to be held in substantially vertical alignment,
so that contact on the bottom of the tip will flatly engage the
support surface. Quad canes having a base attached to the shaft
that provides four tips compound this drawback as all four tips
must engage the support surface for the quad cane to be
stabile.
[0006] Unfortunately, in an effort to steady themselves people
frequently hold assistive walking canes at an outward angle from
their bodies, so that the shaft extends at an angle to the support
surface rather than straight up and down. This causes the rubber
tip to contact the support surface at an angle, with only an edge
of the tip engaging the support surface. Consequently, when the
user's weight bears on the assistive walking cane at this angle,
the tip tends to slide out, often causing the person to fall.
[0007] One attempt to address this problem is to form the tip with
a rounded extremity; however, because only a small portion of this
rounded extremity comes into contact with the support surface, the
risk of slippage, particularly under conditions such as slippery or
wet surfaces, is increased.
[0008] Thus, what would be beneficial is to provide an assistive
walking cane tip that achieves increased traction with support
surfaces when the assistive walking cane is angled outwardly in
front of or behind a user as well as slightly laterally as is
typical of users. It would also be what would be beneficial to
provide an assistive walking cane tip that improves the level of
comfort of use to the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] An assistive walking cane and a tip therefore in accordance
with the principles of the present invention achieves increased
traction with support surfaces when the assistive walking cane is
angled outwardly in front of or behind a user as well as slightly
laterally as is typical of users. An assistive walking cane and a
tip therefore in accordance with the principles of the present
invention achieves improves the level of comfort of use to the
user. An assistive walking cane in accordance with the principles
of the present invention includes a handle used to hold the walking
aid, a shaft connected to the handle that transmits a load from the
handle, and a ferrule connected to the shaft that receives the load
from the shaft. The ferrule includes an inner core, an outer
support, and a lower base. The inner core is contained within a
space defined by the outer support and the lower base. The outer
support includes a plurality of downwardly extending sidewalls to
define the inner core receiving space. The inner core is made of a
relatively softer material than the outer support and the lower
base, the lower base made of a relatively softer material than the
outer support. Thus, when a load is applied to the assistive cane
the inner core provides for a gradual resistance to the user
applying the load, thus cushioning the impact, and the sidewalls
deflect or bend outwardly, thus increasing the surface area of the
lower base.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a user with an assistive
walking cane taking a step with the user's "good" leg.
[0011] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the user of the assistive
walking cane of FIG. 1 taking a step with the user's "bad" leg and
thus relying on the cane.
[0012] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of an assistive walking cane
tip in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 shows a cut-away, side-elevation view of the
assistive walking cane tip of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] In accordance with the principles of the present invention,
an assistive walking cane, a walking stick, a walking pole or the
like and a tip assembly therefore are provided. Referring first to
FIG. 1, a perspective view of a user 9 is seen with an assistive
walking cane 10. The assistive walking cane 10 includes a handle
12, which is used to hold the assistive walking cane 10.
Ergonomically shaped handles have become increasingly common for
assistive walking canes intended for medical use, both increasing
the comfort of the grip for the user (particularly important for
those users with disabilities which also affect their hands or
wrists), and better transmitting the load from the user's hand and
arm. All different styles of handles are contemplated for use with
an assistive walking cane 10 of the present invention.
[0015] A shaft 14 of the assistive walking cane 10 transmits the
load from the handle 12 to a tip or ferrule 16. The shaft 14 may be
constructed from carbon fiber polymer, metal, composites or
traditional wood. A collar 16 of an assistive walking cane 10 can
form the structural interface between shaft 14 and the handle 12.
The tip or ferrule 16 of the assistive walking cane 10, described
in detail below, provides traction and added support.
[0016] When used as a mobility or stability aide, assistive walking
canes 10 are generally used in the hand 17 opposite the injury or
weakness. This may appear counter-intuitive, but this allows the
assistive walking cane 10 to be used for stability in a way that
lets the user 9 shift much of their weight onto the assistive
walking cane 10 and away from their weaker leg 15 as they walk.
Thus, in FIG. 1 the user is talking a step with "good" leg 13,
while moving the assistive walking cane 10 forward into position
for use on the subsequent step.
[0017] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a user with the assistive
walking cane 10 of FIG. 1 taking a step with the user's injured or
disabled leg 15. The user 9 shifts much of their weight onto the
assistive walking cane 10 and away from their weaker leg 15 as they
take the step.
[0018] Referring now to FIG. 3, an exploded view of an assistive
walking cane ferrule 16 in accordance with the principles of the
present invention is seen. The ferrule 16 comprises an inner core
23, an outer support 25, a lower base 27, and a hardened insert 29.
Visible ribs or bellows are provided on the outer periphery of the
lower base 27 to improve the frictional contact of the ferrule 16
with the support surface and to help prevent hydroplaning. Thus,
the ferrule 16 tread pattern is made up of tread lugs 36 and voids
38. The lugs 36 are the sections of the tread that make contact
with the support surface; voids 38 are the spaces that are located
between the lugs 36. These features are designed to extract liquid
and solids to the outside periphery when pressure is applied,
allowing for improved contact to the support surface. In one
embodiment, a base insert 32 can be provided to be secured within a
recess 34 defined in the lower base 27. This base insert 32 is made
of a material harder than the material of the lower base 27 in
order to provide better wear and tear resistance.
[0019] FIG. 4 shows a cut-away, side-elevation view of the
assistive walking cane ferrule 16 of FIG. 3. The inner core 23 is
seen contained within a space defined by the outer support 25 and
the lower base 27. The hardened insert 29 is seen contained at the
lower periphery of a cavity defined in the outer support 25 to
received the shaft 14 of the assistive walking cane 10. The
hardened insert 29 helps prevent the shaft 14 from penetrating the
soft inner core 23 and adds to the overall strength of ferrule 16.
In one embodiment, the hardened insert 29 can comprise a steel
washer. The base insert 32 is secured within the recess 34 defined
in the lower base 27.
[0020] The inner core 23 is comprised of a relatively softer
material than the outer support 25 and the lower base 27, while the
lower base 27 is comprised of a relatively softer material than the
outer support 25. The inner core 23 can comprise any material that
provides for good deflection. The material could be an elastomeric
or a pocket containing gel, foam, air or some other material that
provides adequate shock resistance.
[0021] The outer support 25 comprises the shaft 14 receiving
cavity, which as previously detailed includes at the lower
periphery thereof the hardened insert 29, and defines a space 41 to
receive the inner core 23. The space 41 is defined by a plurality
of downwardly extending sidewalls 43, in the embodiment described
herein four. The downwardly extending sidewalls 43 provide a
"spring action" to the sidewalls 43 so sidewalls 43 compress when
weight is placed on the bottom. The space 41 allow the the inner
core 23 outward "movement" (escape), giving more functional
flexibility. Defined on the inner periphery of each of the
downwardly extending sidewalls 43 is a tongue 45. The tongue 45 is
adapted to be received within a groove 47 defined on the inner core
23.
[0022] The lower base 27 comprises a flexible, variable-thickness,
rounded bottom designed to provide good support surface contact.
The varying wall thickness of the lower base 27 selectively
enhances the flexibility of the lower base. As seen in FIG. 4, the
outer periphery of the lower base 27 is thicker relative to the
inner core of the lower base 27. Thus, the inner core flexes less
readily than the outer periphery. As previously explained, the
inner core 23 is comprised of a relatively softer material than the
outer support 25 and the lower base 27, while the lower base 27 is
comprised of a relatively softer material than the outer support
25. It will be understood by one of skill in the art that the
relative thickness of the outer periphery and the inner core of the
lower base 27 will depend on the resiliency of the material chosen
for the lower base 27 and the degree of desired flexibility.
[0023] The design of the different parts and different resiliencies
employed enables the bottom wall flex while still providing
sufficient support of the applied load. As seen in FIG. 4, when a
load is placed downwardly on the ferrule 16 via the shaft 14, the
compression of the relatively pliable inner core 23 acts as a
"shock absorber" or provides for a gradual resistance to the user
applying the load, thus cushioning the impact with the support
surface. In addition, the sidewalls 43 deflect or bend outwardly
under load, thus affecting the ferrule 16 footprint by increasing
the surface area in contact with the support surface. This
deflection provides more traction and contact with the support
surface. Still further, the deflection coupled with the rounded
tread design allows for the assistive cane of the present invention
to be used within an approximately 45 degree angle, thereby
alleviating the requirement that the shaft of the assistive walking
cane be held in substantially vertical alignment and reducing
slippage.
[0024] In one embodiment, a vibration dampening assistive walking
cane 10 of the present invention can be offered. In an additional
embodiment, the ferrule 16 can be offered alone as a cost effective
way of converting ordinary canes into a vibration dampening
assistive walking cane 10 of the present invention.
[0025] While the invention has been described with specific
embodiments, other alternatives, modifications and variations will
be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, while in the
presently described example of the invention an assistive cane was
describe, the principals of the present invention can be applied to
any such to walking aids, be it a walking stick, a walking pole,
crutches, walkers, and the like. Accordingly, it will be intended
to include such alternatives, modifications and variations within
the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *