GB2375292A

GB2375292A - Walking stick tips

Info

Publication number: GB2375292A
Application number: GB0111095A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bethea Janet Malcolm; Florence Muriel Knowles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-05-05
Filing date: 2001-05-05
Publication date: 2002-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 2021-05-05
Also published as: GB2375292B; GB0111095D0

Abstract

A walking stick tip, of the flexible push-on type, which can be rotated periodically, thus preventing uneven wear of the ground engaging portion. The ferrule has an internal collar 8 which grips the stick and creates an airtight seal around the stick. The lower end of the inside of the ferrule wall 11 is moulded to form a diagonal slope 12 which serves to self-align the end of the walking stick with the centre 13 of the bottom of the ferrule.

Description

WALKING STICK TIPS The present invention relates to walking stick tips; more especially to those of the rubber ferrule fitting type, which are pushed into place on the end of the stick.

Over the ages walking staffs and sticks have been used to help and support travellers and as a consequence many types of tips for these have evolved. The most common in use at the present time are those of the rubber ferrule push-on type incorporating a variety of patterns upon their surface-contact-bearing ends to afford better grip. To a limited degree, most, when new, achieve this purpose. It is when they start to wear below this pattern and the surface becomes smooth, that trouble occurs.

Most sticks in common use today have a form of grip handle for the hand. Usually it is in line with this handle that the most wear of the tip occurs, because it always contacts the walking surface at the same angle. It is very noticeable that when the rarely used walking cane without a fixed position handle grip is fitted with the previously described rubber ferrule tip, its expectation of reliable surface grip is extended by up to ten times.

The answer to this problem, at first sight appears simple-why not just turn the tip around on the stick? In practice unfortunately this is not always feasible due to the fact that the fitting on to the stick end has for security to be very tight and firm. As time goes by the rubber tends to perish and bonds to the stick, making turning difficult, especially for the old or infirm who after all make up the majority of those using sticks.

The present invention provides answers to the descnbed problems and is herewith described and illustrated with the aid of the enclosed drawings.

Figure 1 shows a typical walking stick with a hand grip. The rubber ferrule-type tip, shown with the ground-contact surface worn away in line with the handle, as previously described. (No 7) Figure 2 shows a new typical type of stick tip in common use.

Figure 3 shows the new typical type of stick tip, with a cut-away section taken out of the front of the ferrule to illustrate the smooth round inside fitting, which contacts the edges of the stick along its whole length Figure 4 with a front cut-away section shows the object of the present invention where a built out flexible collar which extends completely around the inside circumference of the ferrule (No 8), thus gripping the stick firmly along the width of its surface, while at the same time, keeping the lower wall of the ferrule from contacting the 3tick until it makes bearing contact at the bottom. (No 9) Figure 5 shows the spacing between the stick end, represented by the dotted line (No 10) and the ferrule wall casing (No 11) Also at Figure 5 is shown how the bottom end of the ferrule wall is moulded to form a diagonal slope (No 12), as opposed to the entirely straight down wall of the conventional ferrule shown In Fig. 3. This slope self-aligns the end of the stick with the centre of the bottom of the ferrule (No 13), where it forms a firm secure seating and prevents any loose wobbling effect.

The internal collar as has been shown allows the area of contact bey zen the stick end and that of the wall of the tip to be reduced, together with the conseqL" 1t fnction. It also provides a suction, because it creates an airtight fit around the stick This greatly helps to prevent the tip coming off the end of the stick stick, unless the trapped air is allowed to escape, but it in no way hampers the actual turning of the tip.

Although one particular type of tip which self aligns to the floor base is shown in the drawings for the purpose of illustration, it IS possible to use the described tip of the invention with all push-on types of tips.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 Walking stick tip of the push-on flexible ferrule type which has a flexible collar entirely round the upper inside edge giving grip to the pushed in stick and allowing it to be seated into the sloped Inside end of the ferrule without the stick touching the ferrule thereby creating a suction between the collar and the bottom of the ferrule but enabling it to be turned readily by hand pressure without coming off the stick

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Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1 Walking stick tip of the push-on flexible ferrule type which has a flexible inwardly directed collar entirely round the upper inside edge giving grip to the pushed in stick and allowing it to be seated into the sloped inside end of the ferrule without touching the sides of the ferrule other than at the collar portion thereby creating a suction between the collar and the bottom of the ferrule but enabling it to be turned readily by hand pressure without coming off the stick