GB2184651A - Walking aids - Google Patents

Abstract

A walking aid 30 comprises a stick 32 having a glove 36 about its handle and a light source within a detachable curtain extension 50 of the glove. Light reflectors 48 are provided in the glove. Also included is an alarm 39. In an alternative embodiment the light source is provided in the stick. The invention is also applicable to skiing poles. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Walking aids This invention concerns walking aids such as walking sticks and crutches but may also be applicabletoskiing poles.

Users of walking aids are normally the old, the disabled and generally the infirm who despite their disabilities have to venture into the world outside theirhomesforone reason ortheother.

Unfortunately, in doing so they have no choice but to use roads which were primarily designed for use by the more able bodied members of society.

Consequently every passing day brings news of elderly or handicapped people being knocked down and seriously injured or killed by fast moving traffic on our roads. Another dangerthatthe old, most of whom are walking aid users tend to be increasingly exposed to is robbery with violence, many a time at their front doors. The reason behind this is that the hand which holds the walking aid is usually permanently exposed and in coldweatheroften becomes numb through loss of heat. Consequently many walking aid users are often unableto gain access quickly enough into their homes because theyspenda longtimefumblingforthe rightdoor keys with partially frozen fingers. This is when they are often preyed upon by opportunist muggers.

The object of this invention is to provide a walking aid that has features which will act to reduce the chances of its users falling victim to the above dangers.

According to the invention there is provided a walking aid comprising a stickorcrutch having associated therewith a light source and a glove or pocketabouta grippable partofthestick.

In time it is hoped thatthe walking aid ofthe invention will come to be identified with the old and infirm and consequently viewed as an invitation for help and care whenever deemed necessary bythe more able bodied members ofthe public including motor vehicle drivers when this time comes.

Thegloveorpocketwhich mainly intended toform a permanent attachment to the walking aid to allow the handle ofthe walking aid to be enclosed within the glove. Thus it enables the user to be able to grip the handle of the walking aid directly with the palm of his hand. This makesfora bettergrip and also makes it possibleforthethickness ofthe gloveto be increased without the disadvantage of impairing the users grip as would be the case if a conventional glove were so thickened. It is forthis reason thatthe glove is better at being able to keep the hands of its users warm and fingers nimble than the conventional glove.

The glove can be very flexible despite its thickness and can be designed to be capable of being moved up ordown the shaftofthewalking stick. This means that the user has the ability to either expose or enclose his hand in response to outside weather conditions.

The open end of the glove may be elasticatedto form a snug fit around the arm when in use, thereby sealing the interior of the glove from the weather. The tension of the elastic may be adjustable to cater for different arm sizes. It may have two preferably heavily padded straps for use in securing it to an elbow crutch. The padding on the straps may serve to cushion the back ofthe arm from the hard circular orsemi-circuiarelbow rest.

The glove preferably has a hole in its sidethrough which the handle of the walking aid may be put. This hole may be made relatively air tight when the glove is in use by providing a ring offoam rubberto form a tight seal around the handle of the walking aid.The position ofthis hole may be chosen to enhance the versatility of the glove because it enables itto fit perfectly onto a walking stick, elbow crutch, or even ski propeller.

The entire glove may be made ofwashable material. The outer skin of the glove may be reflective of light and may be quilted on the inside.

Further insulation may be provided byafurlined layer which forms the interior of the glove. The glove also allows the hand to breathe. Two safety reflectors may be positioned on each side of the glove. These may be similarto the ones which are used on bikes, and can serve to warn oncoming traffic with headlights that someone disabled is in the process of crossing the road ahead.

The source of illumination may be located underneath the glove possibly arranged to direct the lightforwards or downwards. This enables the light to illuminate the walking surface. The light source may be enclosed by a curtain made ofthesame reflective material as the outer skin of the glove. It may be attached to the bottom part of the glove by means of buttons or fasteners. The light source is secured within the curtain ring which when fastened to the bottom part ofthe glove also assume the shape of the glove, hanging underneath itand surrounding the light source which is consequently hidden from view.When the torch is switched on, it preferably shines white light on the ground below it whilst at the same time illuminating the curtain which hangs around itandwhich givesoffa coloured glow as it imparts its own colourto the light radiating out often lightsource.Thisglowwould therefore be red if the colour of the curtain is red, or yellow if the colour of the curtain isyellow,etc.This coloured glow which is practicallyvisiblefrom all angles, serves to warn other road users that a disabled person is on the road. The white light serves to illuminatethewalking surface, in this way helping to prevent trips and falls. The curtain and light source unit is designed to be detachableso that it can be separated from the glove when the latter needs to be washed. The power source ofthetorch is a battery which is housed insidethe pouch glove.

An alarm is preferably housed in a pocket on the side ofthe glove. it is connected to a power source within the pouch glove. It is incorporated into the glove for use in emergencies.

Both the alarm and the torch may be operated by means of switches which are located close to the users hand within the glove.

The invention also contemplates a walking aid of reflective material such as of plastics material having internal prism-like formations.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I shows a first walking aid according to the invention; Figures2 and 3showcomponents of the first walking aid; Figure 4 shows a second walking aid according to the invention; Figure 5shows a third walking aid according to the invention; Figures6and 7showdetail applicabletothe walking aids of Figure 4 and 5.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of accompanying drawings a walking aid 10 comprises a tubular walking stick 12 having a handle 14. Within thetube are batteries 16 for powering a fluorescenttube light source 18 oftoughened glass incorporated in the stick 12. The tube has its lower part shaped and formed to cause total internal reflection in orderto direct light downwards onto the ground.

The bottom end ofthestick 12 has a rubbercap20 to improve grip on the ground. The handle 14the stick is enclosed within a pouch 22 that protects the hand from the effects of could temperatures. The handle also has a switch 25 to activate the light source 1 8via the batteries 16.

Turning to Figure 4, a walking aid 30 is shown that comprises a conventional elbow switch 32, the handle 34 of which is enclosed in a glove 36 of quilted reflective material. The handle 34 actuallyfits through an opening 38 in the side of the glove. The top 27 ofthe glove 36 is elasticated and has two padded straps 40 to secure it to the elbow support 42 ofthe crutch 32.

The arm of the elbowsupport 42 also passes through loops 44 on the sides of the glove 36.

In Figure 5 a walking stick 62 is used in place ofthe crutch but the glove 36 is identical and thefollowing description concerning also Figures 6 and 7 applies to both embodiments.

The glove 36 has a detachable curtain 50 that contains a lam p 60 to di rect light downwards, although the material of the curtain will probably be such that some light will escape through the sides thereof. Thus, the curtain material is preferably red.

The curtain is shown attached by press-stud type fasteners 54.

On both main faces ofthe glove 36 are light reflectors 48 and the glove 36 incorporates an audio alarm 39. Battery power is used for the lamp and the alarm and activating switches are incorporated in the glove 36.

Claims (18)

1. Awalking aid comprising a stick or crutch having associated therewith a light source and a glove or pocket about a grippable part of the stick.

2. Awalking aid as claimed in claim 1,wherein the lamp arranged to castits lightgenerallyalong the direction of the stick.

3. Awalking aid as claimed in claim 1 or2, wherein the glove or pocket is padded forwarmth.

4. Awalking aid as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the glove or pocket is movable along the stick or crutch.

5. Awalking aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the open end of the glove or pocket is adjustably elasticated.

6. Awalking aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the glove or pocket is made at least partly of reflective material.

7. Awalking aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the glove or pocket is made of waterproof material.

8. Awalking aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, having side entry means for a handle of the stick or crutch.

9. Awalkingaidasclaimedin claim 8,wherein the side entry means includes seal means, such as a ring offoam rubber.

10. Awalking aid as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 9, wherein the glove or pocket has one or more light reflectors on its outer surface.

11. Awalking aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the stick is made of reflective material.

12. Awalking aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the light source is located below the glove or pocket.

13. Awalking aid as claimed in claim 12,wherein the light source is a battery operated lamp.

14. Awalking aid as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the light source is located within a curtain.

15. Awalking aid as claimed in claim 14,wherein the curtain is formed as a continuation of the glove or pocket material or is detachable therefrom.

16. Awalking aid as claimed in claim 15,wherein the curtain allows lightto passtherethrough.

17. Awalking aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16 having a battery powered audio alarm.

18. Awalking aid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.