GB2442199A

GB2442199A - Walking stick with shoulder strap

Info

Publication number: GB2442199A
Application number: GB0620531A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pauline Hencher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-09-26
Filing date: 2006-10-17
Publication date: 2008-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 2026-10-17
Also published as: GB0620531D0; GB2442199B; GB0618866D0

Abstract

A walking stick 1 has a strap 3 attached to it via a connector 2 such that the stick can be carried from a user's shoulder. The strap may have a section of elastic material 4. Alternatively the strap may be fastenable by means of hook and loop fasteners, a standard buckle or a sliding buckle (figs 2-4). The strap may be formed as a chain with a hook at one end or be formed partially using a chain (figs 5 and 6). The strap may have clips (fig 7) to attach to the connector. The connector may have split rings to fasten the strap. A pocket for a mobile phone, purse, wallet, cash, credit cards or keys may be incorporated into the strap (figs 11 and 12). The shoulder strap allows the user to carry a walking stick while keeping both hands free by allowing the stick to hang down parallel to a user's leg.

Description

STRAPS FOR WALKING STICKS

Page 1 This invention relates to shoulder straps for use with walking sticks.

A walking stick is easily dropped, lost or forgotten as it has to be put against a surface, or on the floor, when both hands are needed at the same time. A wrist strap is already available, but it is awkward to use because the stick dangles in front of the person and bangs against objects.

To overcome this, the present invention proposes a shoulder strap, which would be attached to the walking stick by Velcro or elastic.

The shoulder strap would be worn all of the time and so the walking stick would not be dropped or lost.

Preferably it would be adjustable so that it could be worn by anyone, regardless of height, and could also be worn over the same shoulder as the walking stick or across the body over the opposite shoulder.

An elastic connector or insert would,if adjusted correctly, I.e. 5-1 Ocms from the ground when worn hands free, enable the stick to rest parallel to the leg.

When the person needs to use the stick all they would have to do would be to put their nonnal pressure onto the handle of the stick and it would connect with the ground and could therefore be used normally.

The strap could incorporate a pocket to hold,for example: a mobile phone, cash or keys.

Examples of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: FIGURE 1 -shows a fixed length of slrap3 (attached to a walking stick 1) made of leather, man made fabric, plastic, metal chain or any other durable material which is either attached to a connector 2 (see figures 9 or 10) by clips made from metal, plastic or any other rigid material, (see figure 7 for an example of a clip that could be used.) or is an extension of the strap it's self. An insert of elastic 4 could be included, either instead of elastic in the connector or as an extra to increase flexibility.

FIGURE 2 -shows an alternative to figure 1,m that, the strap is longer but is split and the 2 strips of Velcro 4 are attached to the ends as a means of adjusting the length of the strap.

FIGURE 3-shows an alternative to figure 1,gi that, the strap is split but one end is attached to a belt buckle and the other end has holes in the strap for the buckle to be connected to, this would be a means of altering the length of the strap.

Page 2 FIGURE 4-shows an alternative to figure 1,in that, one end of the strap would be secured around a bar in the middle of a slider 4 (figure 8.1) with the other end of the strap folded back onto itself in a loop which would then be passed through the slider under the top bar ( figure 8.2) over the middle bar and then under the bottom bar (figure83) the end free end of the strap could be attached by stitching, glue, or a clip to the connector 2 through the split ring or a clip.

FIGURE 5-shows an alternative to figure 1,in that, the strap is a metal, plastic or any other rigid material, chain3. The length of the strap could be altered by using the hook 4 at one end of the chain to hook into any of the links hanging from another length of chainS.

FIGURE6-showsanalternativetongure l,inthat,ahook4would beattachedtoa strap 3 and then connected as in figureS to a length of chain 5.

FIGURE 7-shows an example of a clip that could be used to connect the strap to the connectors (figures 9 andl 0). The strap would be attached over the bar I by stitching, glue or studs.

FIGURE 8-shows the slider, examples of which are already used extensively on the straps of bags,for example.

FIGURE 9-shows one type of connector which could be used.! is a split ring made of metal or any other rigid material. The straps would be attached to the connector either as a loop of the strap itself or by clips. 2 is a loop of elastic tape as is 4. They are separated by stitching 3 or studs (figure 10.3). 4 would go over the walking stick whereas 2 would give the stretch needed to use the walking stick when pressure is applied.

FIGURE 10 -shows a variation to figure 9 by using 2 strips of Velcro 4 which would be long enough to over lap around the walking stick and therefore secure the connector to the walking stick.

FIGURE 11 -shows a pocket on the strap 3 using a flap with a fastener 4 or Velcro strip.

FIGURE 12 -shows a variation to figure 11 using a zip and Velcro instead of a flap.

The Velcro strips could be on the inside of the pocket, and would therefore form a seal, so that if the wearer was to lean forwards the contents of the pocket would not fall out.

Claims

Page 3 CLAIMS

1. The wrist straps already in production are impractical if you need to use both hands in a restricted space.

2. The shoulder strap is more practical as it does not cause the walking stick to intrude into the space in front of the person using it.

3. The shoulder strap would hold the walking stick parallel to the leg of the person when the stick is not being used.

4. The shoulder strap is safer for other people, in close proximity, as it does not intrude into their space.

5. The walking stick shoulder strap as in claims 1,2,3, and 4 will be adjustable to enable it to be worn by people of different heights.

5. The shoulder strap can be worn all of the time, even when sitting down, so there is less chance of losing the walldng stick, or of it falling to the ground.

6. The length would be adjustable so it could be worn by anyone or over either shoulder.

7.A pocket for a mobile phone, cash, credit cards, keys or similar objects could be included on the strap, which would enable the wearer to have easier access, than if the items were in a bag or pocket on the persons clothing.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows: (P CLATh l.A walking stick shoulder strap comprising of a fixed length of durable material, which contains an elastic component.

2.The walking stick shoulder strap as in cLaim 1 will be able to be used when both hands are required by the user.

3.The walking stick shoulder strap as in claims I and 2 will hold the walking stick parallel to the user when the stick is not being used.

4. The walking stick shoulder strap as in claims 1,2 and 3 Will be worn continuously, even when sitting down, to prevent the stick dropping to the floor or being lost.