AU2005225115A1

AU2005225115A1 - Walking stick aid

Info

Publication number: AU2005225115A1
Application number: AU2005225115A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Frank Hadley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-10-24
Filing date: 2005-10-24
Publication date: 2007-05-10

Description

56319 DIA:JO P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: FRANK HADLEY Actual Inventor: FRANK HADLEY Address for Service: COLLISON CO.,117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 Invention Title: WALKING STICK AID The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: C FIELD OF THE INVENTION 0 The present invention relates to an attachment clamp that attaches to a walking aid Sso to assist attaching the walking aid to a section of furniture.

In particular, the invention relates to a device that attaches to a walking aid that allows the walking aid to be held in a releasable manner to a horizontal or vertical structure so as to prevent the walking aid from being knocked to the ground.

N DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART SIn an ever increasing aging population, the use of walking aids such as walking sticks are becoming more prevalent than ever before. Walking aids such as walking sticks, are used to help support and assist the user in moving from place to place.

In the absence of such walking aids such movement is not possible without perhaps the assistance of others and therefore their quality of life and so forth is severely degraded.

Traditional walking aids such as walking sticks are well known and feature a handle that is either horizontal relative to the main body of the stick or a curved handle.

Generally with such walking aids, problems are encountered when the user no longer requires the use of the walking aid in certain situations such as when they are sitting at a table. In such instances it is therefore necessary to put the walking aid to one side so that it does not interfere with the user. This may mean that the walking aid is left to balance against a wall or other structure, or alternatively if the handle of walking aid is curved then it may be hooked over an armrest of a chair or the end of the handle is balanced on a table surface.

Where the walking aid is left to balance against another structure inevitably the walking aid ends up lying on the ground so that it is out of reach to the user as a result of it being knocked over thus providing a possible tripping hazard to others.

Furthermore, when the walking aid is lying on the ground it can be quite difficult for the user to retrieve the walking aid and so this becomes a problematic situation for the user.

In many places there are provided coat hooks and such where it is possible to hang the walking aid from so that they do not generally become a hazard for others, nor are they easily knocked to the ground. However, as such hooks are generally located in a different area to that which the user may end up, it is possible that other O people may remove the walking aid from the hook which can then severely restrict the movement of the user should they be greatly dependent on the walking aid.

O Additionally, some users who are perhaps not totally reliant on the walking aid may simply forget to retrieve their walking aid from the hook and therefore at a later stage when the walking aid is required become disadvantaged.

Many people simply attempt to balance the handle of their walking aid on the horizontal table surface or arm of a chair so that the walking aid is within convenient reach. Unfortunately, many walking aids are simply not intended to be placed in isuch positions and it is inevitable that, due to slight movements of the user or others in the vicinity, the walking aid overbalances and falls to the ground. Again N this situation disadvantages users.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to overcome or at least substantially overcome the disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device that allows a walking aid to be securely fastened in a releasable manner, to a structure so that the walking aid is prevented from accidental dislodgement.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least substantially ameliorate, the disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, although this should not be seen as limiting the invention in any way, there is provided an attachment clamp for attaching to a walking aid, the device having a substantially elongated body having a fixed first clamp jaw member extending substantially perpendicular to the body, a separate second clamp jaw member extending at least substantially parallel to the first clamp jaw member and slidable with respect to the first clamp jaw member in an operative manner, such that when in use the second clamp jaw member is moved along the body by a user to create an opening, a section of furniture is then inserted into the opening the user then releasing the second clamp jaw member to allow it to clamp to the furniture.

In preference, the body is shaped so as to nest with the outer shape of a section of the walking aid.

In preference, the body is removably secured to the walking aid.

In preference, the body is further characterised in that there is removably attached to a rear surface of the body, a holding means adapted to removably secure the body to a walking stick.

In preference, the holding means is a section of elasticized material.

In preference, the holding means is a hook and loop strap.

In preference, the first jaw clamp member has a front section that protrudes further than a front section of the second jaw clamp member.

In preference, the second clamp jaw member has an opening shaped to receive at least a finger of a user there trough so as to facilitate the movement of the second clamp jaw member by the user.

This then allows the user to insert at least a finger through the opening and apply a pressure to the second clamp jaw member to move the second clamp jaw member to an open position.

In preference, there is a biasing means adapted to provide at least some resistance to movement of the second clamp jaw member from a closed position in which clamping surfaces of the first and second clamp jaw members are in a clamping position In preference, the biasing means is a spring.

In preference, the first jaw clamp member is integral with the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS By way of example only, an embodiment of the invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

O

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the attachment clamp according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; 0 Figure 2 is a perspective view of the attachment clamp attached to a walking stick; Figure 3 is a side view of the attachment clamp, in a closed position next to a 5 horizontal surface; n Figure 4 is a side view of the attachment clamp attached to a horizontal surface.

SFigure 5 is a perspective view of the attachment clamp in a closed position.

0Figure 6 is a perspective view of the attachment clamp of Figure 5 in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The attachment clamp 10 has a body 12 with a first clamp jaw member 15 that is positioned at a first end 17 of the body 12. The first clamp jaw member extends substantially perpendicular to the body 12 to form an "L"-shape.

The second jaw clamping member 20 is positioned beneath the first jaw clamping member 15 is substantial vertical alignment such that when in a closed position the two clamping faces 19 and 22 of the clamping members 15 and 20 are brought into close proximity. It is not a functional requirement that tow surface 19 and 20 be touching when in the closed position, however, for reasons of visual aesthetics it is considered desired.

The first jaw clamping member 15 extends further than the second jaw clamping member 20 such that there is a step The rear section 26 of the body 12 is shaped to fit to the outer contours of the walking aid to which it is attached. In the case of a standard tubular shaped walking stick 28 the inside section 26 is of a concave profile section and it would be immediately apparent to a person skilled in this particular art that other profiles could be readily made in order to adapt to different shapes of walking aids.

The body 12 is removably secured to the walking aid 26 by way of an elasticized section of material 30 secured to sides 13 and 14 of the body. The use of the elasticized material 30 allows for the easy insertion of the shaft 28 of the standard walking stick and creates a snug fitting of the body 12 to the walking stick 26. The O0 o use of other forms of attachment such as hook and loop fasteners of clips are also possible without departing form the scope of the invention.

C0 Figure 2 shows the attachment clamp 10 attached to the walking stick 28 with the cfront section 28 facing away from the handle hook 34.

The elasticized material section 30 can be readily removed from the body 12 as it is held in place by rods 36 and 37 that pass longitudinally through passageways 38 and 39 which are formed by doubling a portion of the elasticized section c over on it self, then fastened by stitching or gluing. In order to attach the section back onto the body 12, a section of the passageways 38 and 39 is inserted into 0lO the grooves40 and 42 and the rods 36 and 37 shaped slightly smaller than the grooves 40 and 42, are then force fitted into the passageways 38 and 39 to create a friction fit to provide a secure yet releasable hold of the material section 30. In this way it is then possible to replace the section 30 with ease should the user wish to replace the section 30 due to wear. Alternatively, a user may wish to replace section 30 with a new section 30 of differing size to create a better fit with an alternative walking aid that has a different diameter to a standard wailing aid 26.

The body 12 further has a slot 44 running longitudinally. The slot 44 is shaped to accommodate fasteners 46 and 48, which are inserted into the rear face 49 of the second clamp jaw member 20. This then allows the second clamp jaw member 20 to feely slide along the slot 44 without being able to be removed from the body 12 with out the fasteners 46 and 48 first being removed.

Fastener 46 further has a one end of a biasing means attached thereto. In this embodiment, the biasing means is a spring 50having a first end 51 that passes through aperture 54. The second end (not shown) of the spring 50 is attached within the cavity 56. The spring 50 provides some resistance to the movement of the second clamp jaw member 20 away from its closed position as shown in figure 1.

The second clamp jaw member 20 has an opening 24 sized to accommodate at least a single finger of a human hand so that in use the attachment clamp 10 is positioned as shown in Figure 2. The first clamp jaw member 15 is placed relative to the furniture it is to be attached to, in this case a tabletop 60, and the first clamping surface 22 is placed on the top surface 61 of tabletop 60. The user then applies a downward pressure to the guard 64 forcing the second clamp jaw member 20 away from the first clamp jaw member 15, in direction 66, to provide S7 o an opening within which the tabletop 60 can fit. By placing the first clamping surface onto the top 61 this then provides the user with a resilient force with which to push O the guard 66 against, allowing less dexterous control to effectively use the clamping attachment Although the invention has been hearing shown and described in one is conceived Sto be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures can be made within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details described herein but it is to be accorded the full scope of the appended claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Claims

2. The attachment clamp of claim 1, wherein the body is shaped so as to nest with the outer shape of a section of the walking aid.
3. The attachment clamp of claim 2,wherein the body is removably secured to the walking aid.
4. The attachment clamp of claim 3,wherein the body is further characterised in that there is, removably attached to a rear surface of the body, a holding means adapted to removably secure the body to a walking stick. The attachment clamp of claim 4, wherein the holding means is a section of elasticized material.
6. The attachment clamp of claim 5, wherein the holding means is a hook and loop strap.
7. The attachment clamp of claim 6, wherein the first jaw clamp member has a front section that protrudes further than a front section of the second jaw clamp member.
8. The attachment clamp of claim 7, wherein the second clamp jaw member has an opening shaped to receive at least a finger of a user there trough so as to facilitate the movement of the second clamp jaw member by the user.
9. The attachment clamp of claim 8, wherein there is a biasing means adapted to provide at least some resistance to movement of the second clamp jaw member from a closed position in which clamping surfaces of the first and second clamp jaw members are in a clamping position S9 O 10. The attachment clamp of claim 9, wherein the biasing means is a spring. O 11. The attachment clamp of claim 10, wherein the first jaw clamp member is integral with the body.
12. The attachment clamp, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. (N Dated this 24 th day of October 2005 FRANK HADLEY By his Patent Attorneys cN COLLISON CO