NL1035988C - WALKING STICK HOLDER. - Google Patents

Description

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Title: Walking stick holder

The present invention relates to a device for reliably securing or suspending stick-like objects, such as, for example, walking sticks or crutches.

5 Many people use walking sticks, crutches and the like - hereinafter generally referred to as walking sticks, among other things to support themselves when standing up, standing and walking, while maintaining balance. The different types of walking sticks have in common that they comprise an elongated leg that is adapted to carry at least a part of the body weight of a user, and a handle that makes it possible for the user to handle the walking stick.

It is usually not possible to have a walking stick stand up independently, so without additional support. This is a consequence of the typically small foot of the stick, and the relatively large length thereof. Also, the weight distribution of a walking stick is generally such that it easily topples over when a user has parked the stick against, for example, a wall or a piece of furniture. This is a problem for many users because they use a walking stick precisely because of their reduced physical abilities. Picking up a fallen walking stick from the ground can therefore be a difficult to impossible task.

Various technical solutions have already been suggested for temporarily parking walking sticks without them falling over. They can essentially be divided into two groups.

A first group relates to site-specific walking stick holders, the holder being fixedly connected to an object, such as a table or a cupboard, 1035988 ~ 2. The walking stick can then, when it is temporarily not used, be pushed or clamped into the walking stick holder. The disadvantage of these holders, which are therefore not attached to the walking stick but to a mostly stationary object, is that the walking stick cannot always be parked at the place where the user needs it, but only at those places where a walking stick holder is installed.

A second group concerns mobile walking stick holders, which are preferably attached to a walking stick itself. A mobile walking stick holder can for instance comprise a bearing surface or a clamp with which the user can rest the walking stick on, or can clamp onto, for example, a tabletop. Typically, a clamp offers a more reliable mounting option than a simple bearing surface. However, operating the clamp can be difficult because the clamping surfaces thereof must be moved apart before the clamp can engage an object. Some skill and strength may be required for this. Optionally, the clamping surfaces can be moved apart with the aid of the object on which the clamp is to engage, for example by pushing the object between the clamping surfaces. However, this can easily lead to damage to the object, certainly in the case of repeated clamping, for example in the form of scratches or dents.

The present invention has for its object to provide a mobile walking stick holder which can be easily attached to an object, such as for instance a tabletop, without damaging it.

To this end, the invention provides a walking stick holder comprising: a body; a first clamping surface slidably connected to the body and movable between a first position and a second position; a second clamping surface hingedly connected to the body and movable between a third position and a fourth position; and a biasing element adapted to drive the first clamping surface towards the second position, the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface located in the third position being substantially opposite each other, in which state the two clamping surfaces are at least caused by the action of the bias element are driven towards each other.

Starting from a situation in which a walking stick is provided with a walking stick holder according to the invention, the first clamping surface, viewed in the normal (at least approximately vertical) use orientation of the walking stick, can be the upper clamping surface. The first clamping surface can extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the walking stick, and be movable along that longitudinal direction between a first higher position and a second lower position. The biasing element ensures that the clamping surface is always driven towards the second, lower position. Furthermore, the second clamping surface is hingedly connected to the body of the walking stick holder, and it is movable between a third position and a fourth position, for example a folded-out and a folded-in position. In the fourth, collapsed position, the clamping surface can be at least partially in the body of the walking stick holder, while in a third folded-out position it can be positioned below and substantially opposite the first clamping surface.

When the walking cane provided with the walking cane holder is used for walking, for example, the second clamping surface can be in the fourth, collapsed position. The first clamping surface is then, due to the action of the biasing element, in the second, lower position. In order to attach the walking stick to, for example, a tabletop after use, the user can bring the first clamping surface into contact with an upper side of the tabletop. This is possible without regard to the second clamping surface, which is currently still in its fourth, collapsed position and therefore cannot yet come into contact with the tabletop, neither with the top nor with a bottom thereof. This implies that bringing the first clamping surface into contact with an upper side of δ the tabletop can be effected by a smooth, downward movement of the walking stick. The first clamping surface as a whole can make contact with the table surface in one moment, and then no longer needs to be moved over the top of the table top, as will become clear below. This prevents scratches and dents from the table surface. After the first clamping surface has been brought into contact with the top of the tabletop, the first clamping surface can be moved from its second (relative to the substantially vertically oriented walking stick) lower position towards its first higher position. In essence, this happens naturally when the aforementioned downward movement of the walking stick is continued.

Although during the downward movement of the walking stick and when the first clamping surface, now hooked behind the tabletop, upwards relative to the walking stick, a force must be exerted in the direction of its first position which is opposite to that of the biasing element, this force so small that it can easily be generated, also by disabled users. When the walking stick has been moved far enough downwards, the second clamping surface can be pivoted from the fourth, collapsed position into the third, collapsed position. What is sufficiently far may depend on the thickness of the table top. The second clamping surface now faces the underside of the tabletop and, when the tabletop is removed, is also substantially opposite the first clamping surface. If the walking stick is then carefully released, the first clamping surface will be moved back by the biasing element towards its second, lower position, and thus towards the second clamping surface. The table top will thereby be clamped between the first and the second clamping surface. The walking stick can thus be reliably attached to the tabletop without the risk of the stick falling over due to its own instability. It will be clear that by walking the steps described above in reverse order, the walking stick can be removed from the tabletop again.

According to a further elaboration of the invention, the walking stick holder comprises means for moving the second clamping surface towards the third position when the first clamping surface is moved from the second position towards the first position.

Although the second clamping surface can be moved manually from the fourth folded-in position to the third, folded-out position when parking the walking stick, this is preferably done automatically for the sake of ease of use. Moving the second clamping surface toward the third position is desirable when the first clamping surface is moved from the second position toward the first position. The means controlling the movement of the second clamping surface can be diverse, and may comprise, for example, springs, spring hinges and / or passive coupling elements, wherein the coupling elements can directly transfer the movement of the first clamping surface to the second clamping surface.

According to a further elaboration of the invention, the walking stick holder comprises means for moving the second clamping surface towards the fourth position when the first clamping surface is moved towards the second position.

Although the second clamping surface can be moved manually from the third, folded-out position to the fourth, folded-in position when the parked walking stick is detached, this is preferably done automatically in view of the ease of use. Moving the second clamping surface toward the fourth position is desirable when the first clamping surface is moved toward the second position. The means controlling the movement of the second clamping surface can be diverse, and may comprise, for example, springs, spring hinges and / or passive coupling elements, wherein the coupling elements can directly transfer the movement of the first clamping surface to the second clamping surface.

According to a further elaboration of the invention, the first clamping surface and / or the second clamping surface is provided with a deformable material.

The deformable material can cause a clamping surface to make optimum contact with a surface of an object to which the walking stick holder is attached. More contact with means a better grip on the object, and therefore a more reliable attachment.

This is particularly important when the surface of the object is not flat but curved or irregularly shaped.

According to a further elaboration of the invention, the first and / or the second clamping surface is provided with an anti-slip material.

The anti-slip material prevents a clamping surface from being easily shifted relative to a surface of an object on which it engages, and thus increases the reliability of the attachment.

According to a further elaboration of the invention, the walking stick holder is also provided with a hook.

Clampingly fixing the walking stick holder to, for example, a table top will not always be the most desirable option for temporarily parking a walking stick. Therefore, the walking cane holder can also be equipped with a hook on which the walking cane holder can alternatively be suspended. This gives the user the choice of how he wants to park the walking stick in a given situation. It is to be noted that in many cases the hook forms an actual supplement which is not superfluous in addition to a handle of the walking stick. A handle 7 generally protrudes substantially radially with respect to the leg of the walking stick, and is therefore insufficiently curved to form a stable suspension provision.

The aforementioned and other features and advantages of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a few figures.

Brief description of the figures

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a walking cane holder according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates how one of the items shown in FIG. Walking stick provided with walking stick shown in 1 can be attached to a tabletop; and

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 schematically show the operation of a mechanism 15 which provides for the automatic folding in and out of the second clamping surface.

Extensive figure description

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a walking cane holder 1 according to the present invention. The walking stick holder 1 is mounted on a walking stick 2. On the right in Fig. 1, the walking stick 2 and the walking stick holder 1 are shown in a total view; left in fig. 1, the walking stick holder 1 is shown enlarged.

The walking stick holder 1 comprises a body 4 which is attached to the walking stick 2 by means of two rings 6. The rings 6 have an inner diameter corresponding to the thickness of the walking stick 2. By using rings 6 with different diameters, the walking stick holder 1 can be mounted on walking sticks 2 with correspondingly different thicknesses. As a result, the walking cane holder 1 can be used universally, and after manufacture of a walking cane 2 it can be applied thereon, if desired by a user himself. Alternatively, it is possible to integrate the walking stick holder into the walking stick 1, so that the body 4 is received in the leg of the walking stick 2.

The walking stick holder 1 further comprises a carriage 8, which carriage 8 extends from inside the body 4, via a slot 10 provided in the body, to outside the body (see also Fig. 3 and Fig. 4). The carriage 8 is slidably movable in the body 4 by means of a cylindrical body 22 (shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4). The part of the carriage 8, which is located on the outside of the body 4, comprises a hook 12 at the top, with the aid of which the walking stick 2 can be suspended, for example from a door handle, a chair or another piece of furniture. On a lower side, the part of the carriage 8 situated outside the body 4 is provided with an arcuate shape 16 which ends in a forked part 14. An underside of this forked part 14 forms the first clamping surface 15 of the walking stick holder 1.

With reference to FIG. 2, the operation and use of the walking stick holder 1 will be schematically explained in more detail. FIG. 2 shows, from left to right, four stages in the process of attaching a walking stick 2 provided with a walking stick holder 1 to a tabletop 20. The four stages are successively indicated by the letters A, B, C and D.

Stage A shows how the first clamping surface 15, provided on the underside of part 14, is brought into contact with an upper side 20a of a tabletop 20. This can be done without regard to the second clamping surface 17, which is still in its current position. fourth, collapsed position and thus cannot yet come into contact with the tabletop 20. Bringing the first clamping surface 15 into contact with the top side 20a of the tabletop 20 can hereby become in a smooth, downward movement of the walking stick 2. accomplished. The first clamping surface 15 as a whole can make contact with the table 20 in one moment, and then no longer needs to be moved over the top side 20a of the table top, as will become clear below. This prevents scratches and dents on / in the table 20.

Stage B shows how the said downward movement of the walking stick 2 is continued. The carriage 8, thereby guided by the body 4, is hereby pushed upwards relative to the walking stick 2. With the carriage 8, the first clamping surface 15 provided on the underside thereof moves from the second position towards the first position.

Stage C shows the moment when the walking stick 2 has moved down so far that the plate 18 can be tilted out of the body 4 without hindrance. By folding out the plate 18, the top side thereof, corresponding to the second clamping surface 17 of the walking stick holder 1, comes to lie opposite the bottom side 20b of the tabletop 20. How far the walking stick 2 has to be moved downwards in order to allow the plate 18 to unfold freely will depend on the thickness of the tabletop 20. If the walking stick 2 is quietly released from the position shown in stage C, the carriage will 8, and therefore the first clamping surface 15, are moved back by a biasing element (not shown) towards its second, lower position, and thus towards the second clamping surface 17 which is provided on an upper side of the now unfolded plate 18. The table top will thereby 20 are clamped between the first 15 and the second clamping surface 17, such that the first clamping surface 15 makes contact with the top side 20a of the tabletop 20, and the second clamping surface 17 makes contact with the bottom side 20b of the tabletop 20. Stage D shows this situation. The walking stick 2 can thus be reliably attached to the tabletop 20, without the risk of the stick falling over due to its own instability. It will be clear that the walking stick 2 can be removed from the tabletop 20 again by reversing the steps described above in reverse order.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 schematically show the operation of a mechanism that provides for the automatic folding in and out of the second clamping surface 17. FIG. 3 shows the walking cane holder 1 in a state corresponding to that of stage A of FIG. 2, while FIG. 4 shows the walking cane holder 1 in a state corresponding to that of stage D of FIG. 2. In FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the body 4 of the walking stick holder 1 is shown in a transparent manner in order to make the mechanism to be discussed visible.

In FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 it is visible that the carriage 8 comprises a cylindrical part 22 which is located within the body 4. The cylindrical part 22 is movable up and down within the body 4, the body 4 serving as a guide relative to the cylindrical part 22. A biasing element, for example a mechanical spring, engages on the cylindrical part 22, which is connected on the one hand to the cylindrical part 22 and on the other hand to the body 4. The biasing element is arranged to always drive the cylindrical part 22, and thus the entire carriage 8, downwards, i.e. to the position that the carriage occupies in FIG. 3. In this position of the carriage 8, the first clamping surface 15 provided on the underside of part 14 is in the second position. A butt element 24 is furthermore provided on a bottom side of the cylindrical part 22, the function of which will be explained below. It will be clear that the cylindrical part 22 is connected via the slot 10 in body 4 to the ones shown in FIG. 1 visible parts of the carriage 8, such as the hook 12, the arc shape 16, and the part 14. Also visible in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 is how the plate 18 is connected to the body 4 by means of a spring hinge 26. The spring hinge 26 is integrated in the plate 18, and is biased in such a way that the plate 18 is always in the direction of the folded-out position 11 shown in FIG. 4 - is driven. On a side opposite the side that takes plate 18 relative to the spring hinge 26 is a plate part 19, which is rigidly connected to plate 18.

The mechanism works as follows. When the first clamping surface 15 is placed on, for example, an upper side 20a of a tabletop 20 (stage A in Fig. 2), and the body 4 connected to a walking stick 2 is moved downwards (stage B in Fig. 2), the move carriage 8 upwards relative to walking stick 2. In FIG. 3 this means that the cylindrical body 22 within the body 4 moves upwards. As a result of this mutual movement of the carriage 8 and the body 4, the buffer body 24 also moves upwards. The plate part 19 urged by the spring hinge 26 against the abutment body 24 - which is rigidly connected to plate 18 - will hereby tilt. Thus, as the abutment body 24 moves further upwards relative to the body 4, the plate 18 also tilts outwards, toward the unfolded position shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the second clamping surface 17 provided on one side of plate 18 is moved toward the third position.

Of course, the plate 18 only tilts when it is not impeded by the tabletop located below the first clamping surface 15. In a practical situation, the plate 18 can therefore be tilted suddenly, whereby the second clamping surface 17 is not driven gradually, but suddenly from the fourth into the third position. The clicking noise that is released here can be the signal for the user that the walking stick holder 1 is ready to engage the tabletop 20.

When the walking stick holder 1 is detached from the tabletop 20, the biasing element will drive the carriage 8 back to the position shown in FIG. 3 shown in the starting position. Thereby, the abutment body 24 will make contact with the plate part 19, and tilt this plate part, together with the plate 18 connected thereto, back against the bias of the spring hinge 26, in the starting position. The forked part 14 and the arc shape 16 make an unobstructed return of the plate 18 to the starting position of FIG. 3 possible.

Although the present invention has been explained in the foregoing on the basis of a few exemplary embodiments, it should be noted that the invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments. Various modifications and changes can be made by a person skilled in the art to the exemplary embodiments discussed, without thereby departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. In particular, various exemplary embodiments of the invention described above can thereby be combined into new embodiments.

1035988

Claims (9)

A walking cane holder (1), comprising: - a body (4); - a first clamping surface (15) slidably connected to the body and movable between a first position and a second position; - a second clamping surface (17) pivotally connected to the body and movable between a third position and a fourth position; and - a biasing element adapted to drive the first clamping surface towards the second position, the first clamping surface and the second clamping surface located in the third position being substantially opposite each other, in which state the two clamping surfaces are at least caused by the action of the biasing element are driven towards each other. 15 A walking stick holder according to claim 1, comprising means (26) for moving the second clamping surface (17) towards the third position when the first clamping surface (15) is moved from the second position towards the first position. 20 The walking stick holder according to claim 1 or 2, comprising means (24, 19) for moving the second clamping surface (17) towards the fourth position when the first clamping surface (15) is moved towards the second position. 25 1 03 59 88 A walking stick holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second clamping surface (17) is received at least partially in the body (4) in the fourth position. Walking stick holder according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first clamping surface (15) and / or the second clamping surface (17) is provided with a deformable material. 6. Walking stick holder according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first clamping surface (15) and / or the second clamping surface (17) is provided with an anti-slip material. A walking cane holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the walking cane holder is provided with a hook (12). 15 A walking stick holder according to any one of the preceding claims, provided with at least one ring (6) for receiving a walking stick (2) therein. Walking stick provided with a walking stick holder (1) according to one of the preceding claims. 1035988