GB2585934A

GB2585934A - A walking aid device

Info

Publication number: GB2585934A
Application number: GB1910642.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stella Moreen Herring Rennie Tamara
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-07-25
Filing date: 2019-07-25
Publication date: 2021-01-27
Also published as: GB202011508D0; GB2589176A; GB2589176B; GB201910642D0

Abstract

A walking aid device 99 comprising a body 1, defining a first end 61 and a second end 63, the first end arranged for receipt of a walking stick and the second end arranged with a surface contact 3 for contacting ground. Twisting or rotating the body creates a vacuum between the surface contact and the ground, holding the walking aid upright and in place. The aid may further comprise a suction cup, which may have a hole 4 for equalising inside and outside pressure; it may also comprise a plug to close the hole. The portion of the aid for receiving a walking stick may be tapered.

Description

A WALKING AID DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a walking aid device, in particular a device for replacement of a standard walking aid's end; more particularly but not exclusively a replacement crutch tip.

Background

Increasing numbers of people across many societies are in need of walking aids, such as crutches or walking sticks.

It can be problematic to use such walking aids however. For example when the user 15 has finished with the walking aid or wishes to set it to one side for use of their hands or sitting, the walking aid needs to be held in place or will fall to the ground, and will be difficult to pick up.

Prior Art

GB 782 714 (HIGGINBOTHAM) discloses a ground gripping ferrule for use on walking sticks and crutches comprising a body of resilient material and provided with a bore open to one end of the ferrule for receiving the lower end of a walking stick or crutch, a suction cup formed at the opposed end of the ferrule capable of gripping a ground surface when the ferrule is forced on to the ground surface to expel air from the area bounded by the said suction cup. A bendable neck formed in the exterior wall of the ferrule between the inner end of the bore and the suction cup allowing universal movement of the walking stick and the bore of the ferrule without disturbing the grip of the suction cup on the ground surface. A passage leads from the suction cup to a point outside the ferrule whereby the duration of the grip is determined by the time required for air to re-enter by way of the passage and re-fill the area bounded by the suction cup.

US 2 910 995 (CANDIDO) discloses a crutch tip comprising a crutch socket 35 component, a suction pad component having a suction recess bounded by a ground engaging rim to create a suction therein. upon application of pressure thereto, means flexibly connecting said suction pad to said crutch socket, said means including a ball and socket connection, said suction pad having an air passage exposed at one end to the atmosphere and terminating at its other end at said recess, and means responsive to pressure on said crutch socket for blocking said passage during application of such pressure only, whereby upon release of such pressure, air will enter said recess and break said suction.

US 1 429 428 (HIPWOOD) discloses a tip element for a crutch comprising a body portion of hard rubber having a shape to fit over the end of a crutch body, said body portion having a concave under face and having a bead of soft resilient rubber permanently secured thereto surrounding the concavity and projecting below the hard rubber body a sufficient distance so that when the tip is supporting a load the bead may give or yield to a considerable extent before the hard rubber meets the surface on which the tip is supported, whereby the cavity operates as a suction chamber.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a walking aid device comprising a body, defining a first end and a second end, the first end arranged for receipt of a walking aid and the second end arranged with a surface contact for contacting ground; wherein the body comprises a mechanism arranged to transmit rotation of the walking aid into linear motion, and wherein the linear motion is arranged to operate a vacuum with reference to the surface contact.

In this way a user may be enabled to turn the walking aid, for example a walking stick, and as a consequence create a vacuum at the ground contacting end.

This in turn enables the device to create a vacuum with reference to the ground, and thereby enables the device to adhere the walking aid to the ground.

In some embodiments it may be envisaged that return rotation of the walking aid may 35 release the vacuum, and as a consequence release the device and walking aid from the ground.

This may mean that the user is able to leave a walking aid in a single place without needing to lean the aid against a structure, with subsequent dangers of the aid falling over or slipping off the structure.

The aid is liable therefore to remain in a largely upright position, and the user may then simply remove the aid as and when required and continue as before.

In some embodiments the contact surface comprises a suction cup. Such suction cup 10 may comprise a resiliently deformable or flexible material, such as a silicone. This cup is thereby arranged to deform and grip the ground when subjected to a vacuum.

In some embodiments the cup comprises a perforation. The surface contact thereby comprises the perforation, whereby the device and ground in use define a perforation 15 for passage of air.

In some embodiments therefore the mechanism is arranged to close this perforation, so as to permit creation of a vacuum between the device and the ground.

In some embodiments the mechanism further displaces the surface contact so as to reduce the air within the vacuum.

The ground contact surface may be provided in part or whole by the suction cup which is made of elastic, flexible material and has a curved surface. It may also be envisaged that the ground surface contact comprises a first ground surface contact which is comprised for example by an annular relatively robust surface, and an inner ground surface contact which is provided by the suction cup when the device is arranged into a second position. The first position may thereby comprise a default contact surface, which is different to and minimises damage to the suction cup.

In some embodiments the displacement of the mechanism, in this second position, means the centre of the suction cup is pressed down, and for example when against a flat, non-porous ground, the volume of the space between the suction cup and the flat surface is reduced, which causes the air or water between the cup and the ground to be expelled past the rim of the circular cup.

A cavity develops between the cup and the ground which has little to no air or water in it because most of the fluid has already been forced out of the inside of the cup, causing a lack of pressure. The pressure difference between the atmosphere on the outside of the cup and the low-pressure cavity on the inside of the cup keeps the cup adhered to the ground.

For example where the mechanism comprises a flexible suction cup, the cup may be pushed against the ground and the mechanism may furthermore push the cup against the ground or in some embodiments pull air from the suction cup so as to alter the pressure differential.

In some embodiments the first end comprises a socket for the walking aid, which socket enables the walking aid to be inserted and simply secured in place. For example the socket may comprise a securement means, which securement means may comprise a tolerance fit, friction or interference fit.

In some embodiments the means may comprise a resiliently deformable means, for example comprising a spring or clip. In some embodiments the means may comprise a locking means, for example comprising a secondary means, for example a grub screw, which screw is inserted into the side of the socket so as to secure the friction fit.

In some embodiments the rotation of the walking aid may be arranged to interact with a ramp or similar mechanism pushing linearly towards the ground as the walking aid 25 rotates.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 in a second position; Figure 6 shows a sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 in a first position; 10 and Figure 7 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 in a second position.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the embodiment shown in the Figures there is shown an embodiment of the device 99 generally comprising a body 62, defining a first end 61 and a second end 63, the first end arranged for receipt of a walking aid (not shown) and the second end 63 arranged with a surface contact 64 for contacting ground; wherein the body 62 comprises a mechanism arranged to transmit rotation of the walking aid into linear motion, and wherein the linear motion is arranged to create a vacuum with reference to the surface contact 63.

With particular reference to the pictured embodiment the embodiment comprises a largely cylindrical body 1, extending between a tapered neck 6 at the first end and a substantially flat circular second end 63.

The device provides an improved crutch ferrule which has suction technology that 30 when activated will allow the crutch to be free-standing, alleviating the problem of balancing the crutch or walking aid against walls etc. The device 99 will fit onto standard crutch poles (25mm 0).

A suction cup 3 covers almost all of the second end or base 63 to allow for a surface contact 64 when activated.

A twisting motion activates the suction cup 3 on the device whereby it may be envisaged that the user simply twists the walking aid 60° whilst pushing the device down onto the floor. The twisting action will cause notches inside the neck to bump 5 over and slide along tracks on the interior of the body 1.

When the notch reaches the end of its path it bumps over and engages and will subsequently keep the suction pad pressed down, thereby creating a vacuum on the underside of the device.

The suction cup 3 comprises a hole 4 for enabling air to enter or leave the cup in order to equalise its internal pressure with an outside pressure.

A silicone plug is also pressed into the suction cup hole, sealing it to create a vacuum.

This internal rubber plug 10 pushes into the hole 4 at the centre of the suction cup 3 to activate the suction whereby the body twists up and down with reference to the walking aid and the neck, allowing the plug to press into the suction cup hole.

The neck comprises an inner sleeve 8 which tapers inwards and contains space for the crutch pole to slide into. This has internal resilient rings 18.

A silicone suction cup 3 will deform and thereby clamp the device to the floor when the hole 4 is plugged and a vacuum is created.

A plastic disc 11 holds the silicone cup in place, and an annular hard plastic or metal or alloy ring 2 provides an outer ground contacting surface in use.

The body 1 is connected to the top neck 6 via screws and is therefore secured to the 30 crutch pole. It has three studs 13 on the outside which slide along the tracks on the inner face of the body 1 when the device is twisted.

The neck has a lower face 19 that matches the profile of the rubber plug 10 so it can slot over it and be held in place by capping 12.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims

Claims 1. A walking aid device comprising a body, defining a first end and a second end, the first end arranged for receipt of a walking aid and the second end arranged with a surface contact for contacting ground; wherein the body comprises a mechanism arranged to transmit rotation of the walking aid into linear motion, and wherein the linear motion is arranged to operate a vacuum with reference to the surface contact.
2. A device according to claim 1 comprising a contact surface that comprises a suction cup.
3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the suction cup includes a hole for enabling air to enter or leave the cup in order to equalise its internal pressure with an outside pressure..
4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the mechanism comprises a plug arranged to close the hole.
5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the mechanism pushes a suction cup away from the first end.
6. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the first end comprises a neck with an inner sleeve which tapers inwards and contains space for receiving a walking aid.
7. A device according to any of the preceding claims includes a walking aid.