GB1135930A - Improvements relating to walking sticks - Google Patents

Abstract

1,135,930. Umbrellas and walking sticks emiting a flashing light. P. A. McGUFFIE. 15 Dec., 1967 [20 Sept., 1966; 18 Oct., 1966; 7 Nov., 1966], Nos. 41879/66, 46579/66 and 49742/66. Heading A4P. A walking stick, umbrella or baton, for use by pedestrians in conditions of bad visibility, comprises a section of tubular translucent or transparent plastics material containing one or more electric filaments, the article also containing electric batteries and a flasher unit connected so as to cause the filaments to emit an intermittent flashing light. The plastic tube 12 is attached by screw-threaded extensions to sections of vulcanised fibre tube 11 and 13, the latter section carrying a force-fitted wooden ferrule 14. An electric light bulb 15 is supported within the plastic tube by the lower end of a flasher unit 17 of conventional type, which is a force fit in the plastic tube. Two brass strips 20 and 21, of arcuate cross-section are brazed to the flasher contacts 18 and 19 and extend to the top of the fibre tube 11, where they are secured to the handle 10, the strip 20 being connected through a switch 27 to a spring- urged contact 24 which bears upon one end of the batteries 32 accommodated between the brass strips. The strip 21 has a contact tongue 31 extending between the other end of the batteries and a wooden dowel 33. Closure of the switch 27 completes the circuit and causes the bulb to emit a flashing light. The handle 10 is a push fit in the upper end of the fibre tube 11, and may be withdrawn, together with the brass strips and the batteries, to renew the latter. In an alternative construction the batteries are contained within an inner vulcanised fibre tube, the connections being made with wires in place of the brass strips. The translucent plastic tube may be incorporated in the ferrule of an umbrella or in a hand-held baton (e.g. for used by children), or alternatively the tube, flasher unit and batteries may comprise a separate unit attached to a stick or umbrella.