GB2541653A

GB2541653A - Improvements in or relating to walking sticks

Info

Publication number: GB2541653A
Application number: GB1514967.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lionel Elias Hilary
Original assignee: Lectrica Ltd
Current assignee: Lectrica Ltd
Priority date: 2015-08-23
Filing date: 2015-08-23
Publication date: 2017-03-01
Also published as: GB201514967D0

Abstract

An elongate walking staff comprises a handle section 120 and a wheel section 130. Handle section 120 is hinged to wheel section 130 by lockable hinge 128. Hinge 128 allows the walking staff to be locked in either a walking staff or scooter configuration. Wheel section 130 comprises one or more wheel housings (132, figure 6) wherein each wheel housing comprises at least one wheel 161 that is movable between a first concealed position for the walking configuration and a second extended position for the scooter configuration. The wheel housings may be hinged to the wheel section such that the wheel housings may be rotated between first and second positions and may include connectors such as clips to lock the wheel housings in said first position. The staff body may contain upper and lower accessory housings and integral accessories stored therein may include an umbrella, light or Pogo (RTM) stick. The staff may include one or more extendable handles 122,124. Two wheel housings may be supplied such that there is a steering wheel section 130 and a rear wheel section 140 connected by a lockable steering hinge 170. The staff may include extendable foot supports 141,143.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO WALKING STICKS

[001] The present invention provides a multifunction walking staff which incorporates a scooter and optionally an umbrella and a pogo stick.

[002] Foot powered ride on scooters have enjoyed a renaissance in recent years and are a popular form of travel for all ages. Whilst being a convenient way to travel quickly on smooth surfaces, whether they are flat or inclined, they need to be carried up and down steps or across rough surfaces. Conventional scooters are bulky and are not easy to carry when they are not being used.

[003] A way of ameliorating these problems has been sought.

[004] According to the invention there is provided a multifunction walking staff having an elongate body which comprises a handle section, a lockable hinge and a wheel section wherein: a. the handle section is hinged to the wheel section by the lockable hinge such that the walking staff may be locked in a walking staff configuration or in a scooter configuration; b. the wheel section comprises a wheel housing comprising at least one wheel which wheel housing is movable from a first position for the walking configuration where the wheel is concealed within the wheel section and a second position for the scooter configuration where the wheel extends from the wheel section.

[005] Advantages of the invention include that the function of the walking staff as an aid to support a user when walking is not compromised by the presence of wheels extending from the staff when it is not being used as a scooter.

[006] In some embodiments, the handle section may be a steering handle section and the wheel section may comprise a steering wheel section and a rear wheel section wherein the steering wheel section and the rear wheel section are connected by a lockable steering hinge.

[007] In some embodiments, the multifunction walking staff may comprise an upper accessory housing for storage and/or protection of an accessory such as an umbrella, a mobile phone holder and/or a light. In some embodiments, the umbrella may be extended such that the multifunction walking staff has an umbrella configuration. In some embodiments, the light may be switched on such that the multifunction walking staff has an illuminating configuration.

[008] In some embodiments, the wheel housing may be hinged to the wheel section such that the wheel housing may be rotated from its first position to its second position. In some embodiments, the wheel housing and wheel section comprise corresponding connectors such that the wheel housing may be locked in the first or second positions. In some embodiments, the wheel section may comprise a retaining clip for connection to the wheel housing to lock the wheel housing in the first position.

[009] In some embodiments, the multifunction walking staff may comprise a lower accessory housing for storage and/or protection of an accessory such as a pogo stick attachment such that the multifunction walking staff has a pogo stick configuration.

[0010] In some embodiments, the handle section comprises one or more handles. In some embodiments, the handles may be extendable such that they are arranged to fold out from the handle section in use to support a user when the multifunction walking staff is in its scooter or pogo stick configuration and fold back in when they are not in use.

[0011] In some embodiments, the wheel section may comprise one wheel housing having two wheels. In some embodiments, the wheel section may comprise two wheel housings. In some embodiments, the walking staff may comprise two wheel sections wherein each wheel section comprises a single wheel housing having one wheel. In some embodiments, the two wheel sections may comprise a two-part wheel section which comprises a steering wheel section and a rear wheel section wherein the steering wheel section is movable relative to the rear wheel section such that the scooter is steerable. In some embodiments, the two-part wheel section comprises a lockable steering hinge.

[0012] In some embodiments, the wheel section may comprise one or more foot supports. In some embodiments, the one or more foot supports may be extendable such that they are arranged to fold out from the wheel section in use to support a user when the multifunction walking staff is in its scooter or pogo stick configuration and fold back in when they are not in use.

[0013] The invention will now be illustrated with reference to the following Figures of the accompanying drawings which are not intended to limit the scope of the invention claimed:

Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a first embodiment of the multifunction walking staff according to the invention in a first configuration as a walking staff;

Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of a first embodiment of the multifunction walking staff according to the invention in a second configuration as a scooter;

Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of the multifunction walking staff according to the invention in use in its second configuration as a scooter;

Figures 4 shows a schematic partial plan view of a steering hinge for use in the invention;

Figure 5 shows a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the steering hinge;

Figure 6 shows a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the wheel chassis for use in the invention;

Figure 7 shows a schematic partial plan view of the wheel chassis;

Figure 8 shows a schematic side elevation of a multifunction walking staff according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 9 shows a schematic plan view of the multifunction walking staff according to the second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 10 shows a schematic partial elevation of the upper accessory section of the multifunction walking staff according to the first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 11 shows a schematic perspective view of a multifunction walking staff according to a third embodiment of the invention in use in a third configuration as an extended umbrella; and

Figure 12 shows a schematic perspective view of the multifunction walking staff according to the second embodiment of the invention in use in a fourth configuration as a pogo stick.

[0014] A first embodiment of the multifunction walking staff according to the invention is indicated generally at 100 on Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings. Multifunction walking staff 100 comprises a body having a plurality of sections including an optional upper accessory housing 110, a steering handle section 120, a steering wheel section 130, a rear wheel section 140 and a lower accessory housing 150. Foldable multifunction walking staff 100 has four configurations. In Figure 1, the multifunction walking staff 100 is shown in its walking staff configuration. In Figures 2 and 3, the multifunction walking staff 100 is shown in its scooter configuration. In Figure 11, the multifunction walking staff 300 is shown in its umbrella configuration. In Figure 12, the multifunction walking staff 200 is shown in its pogo stick configuration.

[0015] As shown in Figure 10, upper accessory housing 110 is in the form of a hollow elongate tubular compartment for receiving and/or protecting an accessory such as an umbrella 112, a light (not shown) or a holder for a mobile phone (not shown). Upper accessory housing 110 is attached to an upper end of steering handle section 120 by a screw fitting 114,116. In an alternative embodiment, an alternate fitting may be used to attach the upper accessory housing 110 to the upper end of steering handle section 120 such as a bayonet fitting. The umbrella 112 may be mounted on upper end of steering handle section 120 such that the multifunction walking staff 300 supports umbrella 312 as shown in Figure 11.

[0016] Steering handle section 120 is in the form of a hollow elongate tube and has fold out handles 122,124 at its upper end and a lockable hinge 128 at its lower end which connects it to steering wheel section 130. Steering handle section 120 provides a tubular storage space 125. Fold out handles 122,124 are hinged at their inner ends and are housed when not in use in fold out handle recesses 126. In use, fold out handles 122,124 fold upwards out of handle recesses 126 and resiliently lock in position such that they can be used as hand holds for a user 10 of the multifunction walking staff 100 in its scooter configuration.

[0017] Steering wheel section 130 has a wheel housing 132 for receiving rotatable wheel chassis indicated generally at 160 on Figures 6 and 7, a female connector 134, a retaining male clip 135, a male connector 136, a wheel support housing 137 for receiving wheel support 163 of the wheel chassis 160, a chassis axle 138. Steering wheel section 130 is linked to steering handle section 120 by lockable hinge 128 and to rear wheel section 140 by lockable steering hinge 170 shown in Figures 4 and 5.

[0018] Wheel chassis 160 comprises a wheel 161, a wheel axle 162, a T-shaped rotatable wheel support 163, a male chassis connector 164, a clip recess 165, a female chassis connector 166. Wheel chassis 160 is shown in two positions: a first position where wheel 161 is recessed inside wheel housing 132 such that no part of wheel 161 extends out of steering wheel section 130; and a second position where the wheel 161 extends from steering wheel section 130. Rotation of the wheel support 163 about chassis axle 138 moves the wheel chassis 160 from the first position to the second position, as illustrated by arrows 167. When in the first position, the wheel chassis 160 is fixed in position by male chassis connector 164 engaging female connector 134 which is arranged on the wheel housing 132 and by retaining male clip 135 which engages clip recess 165 on the wheel support 163. Retaining male clip 135 rotates on clip pin 139. When in the second position, the wheel chassis 160 is fixed in position by female chassis connector 166 engaging male connector 136 which is arranged on wheel support housing 137.

[0019] Lockable steering hinge 170 shown in Figures 4 and 5 comprises a steering axle 172, a locking pin 173, locking pin handle 174, locking handle recess 175 and a biasing member 176, an arcuate female hinge member 177 formed by steering wheel section 130 and an arcuate male hinge member 178 formed by rear wheel section 140. Male hinge member 178 forms a locking recess 179 for receiving the locking pin 173. The steering axle 172 is arranged such that male hinge member 179 engages female hinge member 177 such that the hinge members 177,179 can rotate relative to each other about a vertical axis. When the lockable steering hinge 170 is in a locked position, locking pin 173 engages locking recess 179 and locking pin handle 174 is biased to engage locking handle recess 175 by biasing member 176. Lifting locking pin handle 174 out of locking handle recess 175 withdraws the locking pin 173 from locking recess 179 such that the lockable steering hinge 170 is free to rotate. Locking pin handle 174 may be rotated such that it does not re-engage locking handle recess 175 such that the lockable steering hinge 170 stays unlocked until the locking pin handle 174 is rotated back to engage with the locking handle recess 175.

[0020] As shown in Figures 3 and 8, rear wheel section 140 has a wheel chassis 160 as described above for steering wheel housing 130, pogo stick foot supports 142,144, scooter foot supports 141.143 and a screw fitting 149 for connecting lower accessory housing 150. Wheel chassis 160 is provided on a lower surface of rear wheel section 140. Pogo stick foot supports 142,144 are suitable for use in the pogo stick configuration. Pogo stick foot supports 142,144 are provided in each side of rear wheel section 140 and have a hinge (not shown) at their lower ends such that they fold outwards as shown in Figures 8 and 9 of the second embodiment and resiliently lock in position. Scooter foot supports 141,143 are suitable for use in the scooter configuration. Scooter foot supports 141,143 are provided on an upper surface of rear wheel section 140. The upper surface of rear wheel section 140 is flattened so as to provide a support for a foot. Scooter foot supports 141.143 are mounted on a bolt (not shown) at their respective centres such that they can be rotated about the bolt such that the ends of each scooter foot support 141,143 extends beyond the sides of the rear wheel section 140.

[0021] Lower accessory housing 150 provides a protective shield for pogo stick attachment 152 as shown in use with a user 10 on Figure 12.

[0022] A second embodiment of a multifunction walking staff is indicated generally at 200 on Figures 8, 9 and 12. Multifunction walking staff 200 has a handle section 220, a steering wheel section 230, a rear wheel section 240 and a lower accessory section 250. Like features to the first embodiment are identified by like reference numerals.

[0023] Handle section 220 is in the form of a hollow elongate tube and has fold out handles 122,124 at its upper end, a storage compartment 225 for an umbrella 226 and a lockable hinge 226 at its lower end which connects it to steering wheel section 230.

[0024] A third embodiment of a multifunction walking staff is indicated generally at 300 on Figure 11. Multifunction walking staff 300 has an upper accessory housing (not shown), a handle section 320 and a wheel section 330. Like features to the first embodiment are identified by like reference numerals.

[0025] Upper accessory housing (not shown) connects to an upper end of handle section 320 and houses umbrella 312. Handle section 320 is in the form of a hollow elongate tube and has fold out handles 322,324 at its upper end and a lockable hinge 326 at its lower end which connects it to wheel section 330. Handle section 320 is therefore similar to steering handle section 120 in most aspects apart from it is not capable of steering the walking staff 300 in scooter configuration. This is because wheel section 330 does not comprise a steering wheel section nor a rear wheel section connected by a lockable hinge.

[0026] Wheel section 330 has two wheel housings 132 each for receiving a rotatable wheel chassis 160 shown in Figure 6 and 7, a female connector 134, a retaining male clip 135, a male connector 136, a wheel support housing 137 for receiving wheel support 163 of the wheel chassis 160, a chassis axle 138 and is linked to handle section 320 by lockable hinge 326. In an alternative embodiment, wheel section 330 may comprise a single wheel housing 132 for receiving a rotatable wheel chassis 160 which comprises two wheels 161.

Claims

1. A multifunction walking staff having an elongate body which comprises a handle section, a lockable hinge and a wheel section wherein: a. the handle section is hinged to the wheel section by the lockable hinge such that the walking staff may be locked in a walking staff configuration or a scooter configuration; b. the wheel section comprises a wheel housing comprising at least one wheel which wheel housing is movable from a first position for the walking configuration where the wheel is concealed within the wheel section and a second position for the scooter configuration where the wheel extends from the wheel section.

2. A walking staff as defined in Claim 1 which comprises an upper accessory housing for storage and/or protection of an accessory.

3. A walking staff as defined in Claim 2 wherein the accessory is an umbrella such that the multifunction walking staff has an umbrella configuration.

4. A walking staff as defined in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the accessary is a light such that the multifunction walking staff has an illuminating configuration.

5. A walking staff as defined in any one of the preceding Claims which comprises a lower accessory housing for storage and/or protection of an accessory

6. A walking staff as defined in Claim 5 wherein the accessary is a pogo stick attachment such that the multifunction walking staff has a pogo stick configuration.

7. A walking staff as defined in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the handle section comprises one or more handles.

8. A walking staff as defined in Claim 7 wherein the one or more handles are extendable.

9. A walking staff as defined in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the wheel section comprises a single wheel housing having two wheels.

10. A walking staff as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein the wheel section comprises two wheel housings.

11. A walking staff as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 8 which comprise two wheel sections.

12. A walking staff as defined in Claim 11 wherein each wheel section comprises a single wheel housing having one wheel.

13. A walking staff as defined in Claim 11 or Claim 12 wherein the handle section is a steering handle section and the two wheel sections comprise a steering wheel section and a rear wheel section wherein the steering wheel section is movable relative to the rear wheel section such that the scooter is steerable.

14. A walking staff as defined in Claim 13 wherein the two wheel sections comprise a lockable steering hinge.

15. A walking staff as defined in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the wheel section comprises one or more foot supports.

16. A walking staff as defined in Claim 15 wherein the one or more foot supports are extendable.

17. A walking staff as defined in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the wheel housing is hinged to the wheel section such that the wheel housing may be rotated from its first position to its second position.

18. A walking staff as defined in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the wheel housing and wheel section comprise corresponding connectors such that the wheel housing may be locked in the first or second positions.

19. A walking staff as defined in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the wheel section comprises a retaining clip for connection to the wheel housing to lock the wheel housing in the first position.

20. A walking staff substantially as hereinbefore described and/or illustrated with reference to the Figures of the accompanying drawings.