GB2506504A

GB2506504A - Walking stick handle with pivotable member

Info

Publication number: GB2506504A
Application number: GB201314069A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Josa Maldonado Pa Rez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-10-01
Filing date: 2013-08-06
Publication date: 2014-04-02
Also published as: ES1077997U; ES1077997Y; GB201314069D0

Abstract

Â A walking stick handle with a foldable member designed for walking sticks of any kind which includes an member that in a folded position, allows the walking stick to be used normally and in a unfolded position allows the walking stick to be safely hung preferably from the wrist, wherein the walking stick comprises a handle 1 with a cavity 5, at the bottom, where an member 2 is housed with a spring 4, hinge (2.1, figure 3) for rotating on the axis 3 and flange with flexible area (2.2, figure 3). The member having two stable positions, one in which it lies in the cavity concealed in the handle and the second where it lies substantially parallel to the walking stick cane.

Description

WALKING STICK HANDLE WITH REMOVABLE APPENDIX

TECHNICAL AIM OF THE INVENTION

This invention corresponds to a handle designed particularly for walking sticks of all kind, which includes an appendix that, in its withdrawn position, allows the walking stick to be used normally and in its extracted position allows the walking stick to hang from the arm of the user, leaving their hands free to be moved freely in specific circumstances when it might be necessary, such as when handling a wallet, looking something up in a book, holding a mobile telephone, moving in a bus, or other similar occasions.

The invention is applicable to all kinds of handles and even walking stick canes and it is therefore a very useful complement. at a low price, and therefore it hardly increases the price of these auxiliary tools that may be needed or essential, in many periods of people's lives.

RELEVANT TECHNICAL SECTOR

This invention rdates to the Ordinary Requirements for Life Sector, and particuar1y to the chapter on Health, Protection and Entertainment with respect to Medical Science, relafing directly to the manufacture of complements and accessories for people who are incapacitated either temporarily or permanently.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Walking sticks and crutches are very common auxiliary elements that compensate to a certain degree temporary or permanent physical deficiencies that affect anybody.

They have been known since the beginning of time and therefore there are several background elements for each of these tools. An infinite number of different designs can be found on the market where sometimes importance has been given strictly to functionality, other times to appearance or aesthetics, other times to handling, other times to versatility, with the possibility of increasing or reducing the total length so that they can be used by people of different height. The designs can relate to the actual cane, walking stick or additional elements, and be made in all kinds of material such as wood, plastic. aluminium, titanium, or any other including noble metal decorations.

There are also walking stick collectors who do not hesitate in investing in expensive ones or in commissioning a personalised handle that adjusts economically to one of their hands and/or bears symbols of the family coat of arms or any other unique feature.

The invention included herein implies an interesting novelty that facilitates the user's freedom of movement in certain circumstances of daily life, there being no models that incorporate this significant advantage.

The increase in the manufacturing price with respect to the price of the walking sticks or crutches that do not include this feature, places this invention in a very attractive position in the market for these elements.

In short, we can say that the advantages that it provides are as follows:

I

-Hands are always free -The user's comfort is increased at certain times as they can forget about the walking stick -The external appearance, with the appendix folded, is identical to that of any other walking stick that does -not include it -It is quick and easy to extract.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention, as indicated above, relates to a handle for walking sticks or crutches which includes an appendix which, in its folded position, allows the walking stick to be used normally, and in its extracted position allows the walking stick to be hung from the user's arms leaving their hands available to be moved completely freely.

The characteristic of the invention is that the handle of the walking stick or crutch is provided with a removable appendix which in normal conditions is concealed in the handle and when the user needs to use it, for any reason, it is triggered with gentle pressure or movement from one finger.

The handle has a shallow groove at the bottom where a sheet, preferably metallic or hard plastic. is housed in a special way. This sheet has a rotation axis at one end thereof where there is also a small spring that is tight when the sheet is folded.

At the other end of the sheet there is an elastically deformable section with a tooth or latch that is inserted into a hollow in the handle so that, when the user acts upon the deformable section, the tooth loses contact with the latching area and the sheet shoots out rotating on its axis as a consequence of the spring's tension.

Under these conditions, the walking stick or, where applicable, the crutch can be hung from the user's wrist safely, which makes movement very easily to handle a wallet, to move around a bus, to read a book, to look at a diary. to use a niobile telephone or any other usual daily function.

Otherwise the user would have to leave the walking stick/crutch resting against a wall, against a chair, on street furnishings or anywhere else.

When it is no longer necessary to hang the walking stick, the person carrying said walking stick or crutches, folds the appendix over the handle by applying the necessary pressure to overcome the strength of the spring and manage to activate the latch to immobilise the appendix.

The figures in the following section will help to provide a better explanation of the arrangement of this device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Four figures are included that graphically describe the structure and operation of the device.

Figure 1 This figure is a diagrammatic representation of three orthogonal views of the handle in the plan, elevation and profile views, with the appendix in the folded position.

The following elements are indicated: 1. Handle 2. Appendix 3. Axis Figure 2 This figure shows the same views as in the previous figure, but with the appendix in the unf&ded position. The following elements are indicated, in addition to those already mentioned: 4. Spnng 5. Cavity 6. Hanging point Figure 3 This figure represents a sectioned enbrged view of the appendix to show certain details more clearly. At the top it is folded over the handle and at the bottom it is in the unfolded position, The same elements as before are indicated, as well as the foflowing: 2.1 Hinge 2.2 Flexible area Figure 4 This is a diagrammatic figure clanfying the application of the invention in the handle of an English walking stick. The appendix is shown in the unfolded position.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Walking stick handle with removaHe appendix (Figs. I to 4) designed for walking sticks of any kind, which includes an appendix that, in its withdrawn position, allows the walking stick to be used normally and in its unfolded position allows the walking stick to be hung preferably from the wrist in a safe manner. According to an embodiment preferred by the inventor, the handle (I) has a cavity (5) (Fig. 2) at the bottom where an appendix (2) can be concealed at one end of which it has a hinge (2.1) (Fig. 3) which allows it to rotate on the axis (3) and at the other end it has a flange with a flexible area (2.2) (Fig. 3) designed so that it remains immobilised in the cavity (5) when gentle pressure is applied.

At the hinge (2.1) end there is a spring (4) that remains tight when the appendix (2) is in the folded position. When the user acts upon the end provided with the flexible area (2.1), the appendix (2) shoots outwards releasing the energy stored in the spring (4) and lies noticeable parallel to the walking stick cane.

In this situation, which is reached by the express desire of the walking stick user, it is possible to hang the walking stick from the wrist at the hanging point (6) in a safe and stable manner so that the user can peiform various activities like use a mobile telephone, take out a wallet, read a diary or book, walk along the bus or any other activity that arises in our daily lives. With normal walking sticks, when these circumstances arise, the user is obliged to leave the stick resting against the wall, against a chair, on street furnishings or on anywhere else so that they can have their hands free.

When it is no longer necessary to hang the walking stick, the appendix (2) is pressed overcoming the strength of the spring (4) so that said appendix (2) with its hinge (2.1) rotates on the axis (3) and is retained by the latch at its other end where it has the flange with the flexible area (2.2).

The hollow space that remains between the appendix (2), in its unfolded position. and the walking stick cane is sufficient for the user's wrist to fit which is near the hanging point (6). This way the walking stick has two unsurpassable end stops. namely: the walking stick cane and the appendix (2) of the invention.

This solution is applicable to several types of handles (1). As an example the case of the handle of an English walking stick has been illustrated (Fig. 4).

It is not considcrcd ncccssary to cxtcnd the contents of this description so that a person skilled in the art can understand its scope and the advantages derived from the invention, or how to develop or put into practice the object of this invention.

However, it must be understood that the invention has been described according to a preferred embodiment thereof, and therefore it is susceptible to modifications without this in any way altering the basis of said invention, with said modifications possibly affecting the shape, size and/or the manufacturing materials; in other words, the terms used to express this preferred description of the invention must always be understood in their broadest, non-limiting meaning.

Claims

Claims 1. Walking stick handle with removable appendix designed for walking sticks of any kind which includes an appendix that, in its withdrawn position, allows the walking stick to be used noimally and, in its unfolded position, allows the walking stick to be safely hung preferaHy from the wrist, characterised in that it is a handle (I) with a cavity (5), at the bottom, where an appendix (2) is housed with a spring (4), hinge (2.1) for rotating on the axis (3) and flange with flexible area (2.2).
2. Walking stick handle with removable appendix, according to the first claim, characterised in that the appendix (2) has two stable positions: one concealed in the actual handle and the other where it lies noticeably parallel to the walking stick cane.
3. Walking stick handle with removable appendix as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.