GB2565607A

GB2565607A - Support Arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2565607A
Application number: GB1719776.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Berenger Gautby Charles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-07-05
Filing date: 2017-11-28
Publication date: 2019-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 2037-11-28
Also published as: GB201710823D0; GB2565607B; GB201719776D0

Abstract

A support arrangement 10 for an elongate member such as a walking stick 12, the arrangement being selectively movable between an in use condition in which the walking stick is supported so as to be standing upright, and a retracted condition. The arrangement includes a plurality of leg members 30 which support the elongate member in the in use condition, and in a retracted condition are retracted away from the ground engaging position. The legs are preferably pivotally mounted to a collar 20 which may slide along the elongate member. An upper fixed collar 14 and a lower fixed collar 38 may be included, preferably with magnetic means (18, 42, fig. 5) to retain the movable collar in position. The magnets are preferably neodymium magnets.

Description

Support Arrangement

This invention concerns a retractable support arrangement for an elongate member, an elongate member including a support arrangement, and a walking stick including a retractable support arrangement.

Walking sticks are widely used to aid walking, and are available in a very wide range of types, styles and sizes. A problem often encountered with walking sticks is that when they are not being used they generally require to be lent against something or hooked over somewhere to ensure they remain essentially upright, and are readily available for a user when required. If walking sticks are laid on the ground or another surface, or have for instance fallen over, a user of the walking stick may have difficulties in picking up the walking stick.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a support arrangement for an elongate member, the arrangement being mountable on the elongate member, the arrangement being selectively movable when on an elongate member between an in use condition in which the elongate member is supported so as to be upstanding from the ground or another surface, and a retracted condition, the arrangement including a plurality of leg members which in the in use condition can be ground engaging to support the elongate member, but in a retracted condition are retracted away from a ground engaging position.

The arrangement may include first retaining means for retaining the arrangement in the relaxed condition. The arrangement may include second retaining means for retaining the arrangement in the in use condition.

The first and/or second retaining means may be magnetic, so as to selectively retain the arrangement in either an in use condition or a retracted condition, by magnetic attraction.

The arrangement may be configured such that in a usual alignment of the elongate member in use, the arrangement will be urged by gravity to the in use condition, if not retained in the retracted condition by the first retaining means.

The arrangement may be configured such that if the elongate member is impacted the first retaining means may be overcome such that the arrangement will move to the in use condition by gravity.

The leg members may be mounted to a movable member which is slidably movable along the elongate member between a retracted position and an in use condition.

The leg members may be pivotally mounted to the movable member, and the arrangement may be configured such that the leg members will pivot outwardly away from the elongate member as the moving member is moved from the retracted position to the in use condition.

The movable member may be in the form of a movable collar slidably movable on the elongate member.

The arrangement may include a fixed collar locatable in use on the elongate member above the movable collar.

One or more magnets may be provided in or on the fixed collar or movable collar to provide magnetic attraction therebetween.

A plurality of magnets may be provided in or on the fixed collar or movable collar, with a corresponding arrangement of metal members in or on the other of the fixed collar or movable collar which are attracted to the magnets. The magnets may be provided in or on the fixed collar.

The arrangement may also include a lower member locatable on the elongate member in use spaced below the fixed member.

One or more magnets may be provided in or on the movable member or the lower member to provide magnetic attraction therebetween. A plurality of magnets may be provided in or on one of the movable member or lower member, with a corresponding arrangement of metal members in or on the other of the movable member or lower member which are attracted to the magnets. The magnets may be provided in or on the lower member.

Respective openings may be provided on the lower member each for a respective one of the leg members to extend therethrough. The openings may be configured such that in the retracted condition the leg members are inclined gently outwardly from the elongate member, and as the moving member is moved towards the lower member the leg members are urged to a greater inclination away from the elongate member.

In an alternative configuration, magnets are provided on the leg members part way therealong, which magnets are attracted to metal members on the lower member to retain the arrangement in the retracted condition.

The magnets may be neodymium. The magnets may be in the form of inserts located in the fixed member or the lower member. The metal members may be in the form of inserts located in the movable member.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an elongate member including a support arrangement according to any of the preceding sixteen paragraphs.

A yet further aspect of the invention provides a walking stick including a support arrangement according to any of said preceding sixteen paragraphs.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a first support arrangement according to the invention mounted on an elongate member, and in an in-use condition;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the arrangement as shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2 but with the arrangement in a retracted condition;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a walking stick with a support arrangement according to claim 1 mounted thereon in an in use condition;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic exploded view of the support arrangement of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig. 1 of a second support arrangement according to the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a similar view to Fig. 3 but of the second support arrangement.

Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings show a first retractable support arrangement 10 mountable for instance at the lower end of a walking stick 12 as is shown in Figs. 1 to 4. The arrangement 10 can be selectively moved between an in-use condition as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, and a retracted condition as shown in Fig 3. In Fig. 4 the arrangement 10 is shown mounted on a walking stick with a telescopic height adjustment.

The arrangement 10 includes a fixed member in the form of an upper collar 14 which can be mounted onto the walking stick at a required position, and held in place by a nut and bolt 16 clamping the upper collar 14 onto the walking stick 12. Three neodymium magnets 18 are provided extending through the upper collar 14 in an axial direction, equispaced from each other.

Located on the walking stick 12 below the upper collar 14 and so as to be slidingly movable along the walking stick 12, is a movable collar 20. The movable collar 20 includes an upper part 22 with three upper mild steel inserts 24 in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of magnets 18. A profiled part 26 is provided below the upper part 22. Three further lower mild steel inserts 28 are provided in the profiled part 26 in a similar pattern to those in the upper part 22. The profiled part 26 pivotally mounts upper ends of three circumferentially equispaced legs 30 as shown. The profiled part 26 includes three equispaced pairs of webs 32 between which narrower upper ends 34 of the legs 30 are pivotally mounted by pins 36.

A lower collar 38 is provided, which is mounted on the walking stick at a required position by a screw and nut 40 tightening the lower collar onto the walking stick 12. Three further neodymium magnets 42 in the form of inserts are provided in an upper part of the lower collar 38 in a similar pattern to the magnets 18 in the upper fixed collar 14. The magnets 42 are selectively engageable with further similarly spaced lower steel inserts 28 in the profiled part 26 of the movable collar 20.

Three equispaced projections 46 extending from the lower collar 38 define three equispaced openings 48 through each of which a respective one of the legs 30 extends. A pair of spaced guide pins 50 extends across each of the openings 48 to guide the legs 30 as the movable collar 20 moves up and down the walking stick 12.

The arrangement can be supplied on a walking stick 12, or can be retrofitted. In the latter instance, after temporary removal of a ferrule 52, the upper collar 14 will be mounted in a required position on the walking stick 12. The movable collar 20 together with the legs 30 and the lower collar 38 as a combined unit, will then be located on the walking stick 12 at a required spacing below the upper collar 14.

In use in a retracted condition as shown in Fig 3 the movable collar 20 is held against the upper collar 14 by virtue of the magnetic attraction between the magnets 18 and upper inserts 24. The legs 30 will be inclined gently outwardly relative to the walking stick 12, and will be clear from the ground.

If it is required to use the arrangement 10 to support a walking stick 12, for instance when the walking stick 12 is not being held by a user, the movable collar 20 is moved away from the upper collar 14. This can often be achieved by tapping the walking stick 12 for instance against the ground to provide a sufficient force to dislodge the upper inserts 24 from the magnets 18 in the upper collar 14. The movable collar 20 will then move downwardly along the walking stick 12 by gravity, until the lower inserts 28 are magnetically attracted by the further magnets 42 so as to hold the movable collar 20 against the lower collar 38 as shown for instance in Fig. 1. In this condition the legs 30 can be ground engaging to support the walking stick 12 in an upright position.

To move the arrangement 10 to a retracted condition, the ends of the legs 30 can for instance be moved inwardly, for instance by engagement with the ground, which will urge the movable collar 20 off the lower collar 38, and this can continue until the movable collar 20 comes into contact with the fixed collar, at which point the magnets will hold the movable collar against the upper fixed collar 14 by virtue of the magnetic attraction between the magnets 18 and inserts 24.

There is thus described a retractable support arrangement which can permit a walking stick to be freestanding, for instance when not required by a user, if perhaps they are sitting down or otherwise. As indicated the arrangement can readily move to an in use condition by tapping on the ground to overcome the magnetic attraction. The arrangement can though readily be returned to a retracted condition when it is required to use the walking stick in a conventional manner. As indicated the arrangement can be fitted onto a walking stick when supplied, or readily can be retrofitted onto a walking stick of many different types and sizes. The arrangement is of relatively straightforward construction and can thus be inexpensively manufactured for long term use.

Figs. 6 and 7 show a secondary retractable support arrangement 60 which is similar to the arrangement 10 except as indicated below. The same reference numerals shall be used for equivalent components.

With the second support arrangement 60 no upper collar is required. Instead magnets 62 are provided on each leg 30 part way therealong. When the arrangement 60 is in a retracted position as shown in Fig. 7, the magnets 62 are attracted to corresponding steel inserts 64 provided on each of the equispaced projections 46, to retain the arrangement 60 in a retracted condition. Again if the arrangement 60 is tapped sufficiently on the ground this would cause the upper part 22 with the legs 30 attached to drop to the open position as shown in Fig. 6.

Also with the second arrangement 60, rather than the lower collar 38 being mounted by the screw and nut, one or more grub screws 66 are provided to retain the collar 38 on the walking stick 12.

It is to be realised that various other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Whilst the arrangement has been referred to in relation to walking sticks, such an arrangement could be used with a range of similar elongate members.

A different magnetic arrangement could be used, perhaps with different types of magnets. A different leg arrangement could be used, and potentially a different number of legs may be provided. Different guides may be provided for the legs, or different mounting arrangement used. A tab 54 may be provided on the movable collar 22 to assist movement thereof upwards, and hence movement of the arrangement 10 to a retracted condition.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A support arrangement for an elongate member, the arrangement being mountable on the elongate member, the arrangement being selectively

5 movable when on an elongate member between an in use condition in which the elongate member is supported so as to be upstanding from the ground or another surface, and a retracted condition, the arrangement including a plurality of leg members which in the in use condition can be ground engaging to support the elongate member, but in a retracted condition are retracted 10 away from a ground engaging position.

2. A support arrangement according to claim 1, in which the arrangement includes first retaining means for retaining the arrangement in the relaxed condition.

3. A support arrangement according to claims 1 or 2, in which the arrangement includes second retaining means for retaining the arrangement in the in use condition.

20

4. A support arrangement according to claims 2 or 3, in which the first and/or second retaining means are magnetic, so as to selectively retain the arrangement in either an in use condition or a retracted condition, by magnetic attraction.

25 5. A support arrangement according to claim 2 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the arrangement is configured such that in a usual alignment of the elongate member in use, the arrangement will be urged by gravity to the in use condition, if not retained in the retracted condition by the first retaining means.

6. A support arrangement according to claim 2 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the arrangement is configured such that if the elongate

26 06 18 member is impacted the first retaining means may be overcome such that the arrangement will move to the in use condition by gravity.

7. A support arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, in

5 which the leg members are mounted to a movable member which is slidably movable along the elongate member between a retracted position and an in use condition.

8. A support arrangement according to claim 7, in which the leg members 10 are pivotally mounted to the movable member.

9. A support arrangement according to claim 8, in which the arrangement is configured such that the leg members will pivot outwardly away from the elongate member as the moving member is moved from the retracted position

15 to the in use condition.

10. A support arrangement according to any of claims 7 to 9, in which the movable member is in the form of a movable collar slidably movable on the elongate member.

11. A support arrangement according to claim 10, in which the arrangement includes a fixed collar locatable in use on the elongate member above the movable collar.

25

12. A support arrangement according to claims 10 or 11, in which one or more magnets is provided in or on the fixed collar or movable collar to provide magnetic attraction therebetween.

13. A support arrangement according to claim 12, in which a plurality of 30 magnets are provided in or on the fixed collar or movable collar, with a corresponding arrangement of metal members in or on the other of the fixed collar or movable collar which are attracted to the magnets.

26 06 18

14. A support arrangement according to claim 13, in which the arrangement also includes a lower member locatable on the elongate member in use spaced below the fixed collar.

15. A support arrangement according to any of claims 12 to 14, in which one or more magnets are provided in or on the movable member or the lower member to provide magnetic attraction therebetween.

10

16. A support arrangement according to claim 15, in which a plurality of magnets are provided in or on one of the movable member or lower member, with a corresponding arrangement of metal members in or on the other of the movable member or lower member which are attracted to the magnets.

15

17. A support arrangement according to any of claims 14 to 16, in which respective openings may be provided on the lower member each for a respective one of the leg members to extend therethrough.

18. A support arrangement according to claim 17, in which the openings 20 are configured such that in the retracted condition the leg members are inclined gently outwardly from the elongate member, and as the moving member is moved towards the lower member the leg members are urged to a greater inclination away from the elongate member.

25

19. A support arrangement according to claim 12, in which magnets are provided on the leg members part way therealong, which magnets are attracted to metal members on the lower member to retain the arrangement in the retracted condition.

30

20. A support arrangement according to any of claims 12 to 19, in which the magnets are neodymium.

21. A support arrangement according to any of claims 12 to 20, in which the magnets are in the form of inserts located in the leg members, fixed member or the lower member.

5

22. A support arrangement according to any of claims 12 to 21, in which the metal members are in the form of inserts located in the movable member.

23. An elongate member including a support arrangement according to any of the preceding claims.

24. A walking stick including a support arrangement according to any of the preceding claims.