US20100043853A1

US20100043853A1 - Walking Stick Having Generating and Illuminating Functions

Info

Publication number: US20100043853A1
Application number: US12/396,578
Authority: US
Inventors: Shih-Piao Wu
Original assignee: Jiin Haur Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Jiin Haur Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date: 2008-08-22
Filing date: 2009-03-03
Publication date: 2010-02-25
Also published as: TWM347181U; DE202009003702U1; JP3153102U

Abstract

A walking stick includes a stick body, a circuit board, a control switch, a storage battery, a generating unit, a control handle, a plurality of light emitting members, two lamp shades, a lighting unit, a buzzer, and a level detector. The light emitting members and the lighting unit can emit light beams outwardly so that the walking stick can provide a lighting function at the night or on a darker place. The control handle is pivoted relative to the stick body to drive the generating unit to generate an electric power so that the walking stick has a manually generating function without needing an external power supply. When the walking stick falls down (or the user falls down onto the ground), the buzzer is operated to emit a sound so as to provide a warning and notifying function.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stick and, more particularly, to a walking stick for use with older people.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional walking stick comprises an upright stick body having an upper end provided with a bent grip portion to facilitate an older person to hold and grip the stick body and a pad mounted on the lower end of the stick body so as to provide a cushioning effect to the stick body. However, the conventional walking stick does not have a lighting function, thereby causing danger when using at the night or on a darker place.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a walking stick, comprising a stick body, a circuit board mounted in the stick body, a control switch mounted on the stick body and electrically connected with the circuit board to control operation of the circuit board, a storage battery mounted in the stick body and electrically connected with the circuit board to supply an electric power to the circuit board, a generating unit mounted in the stick body, a control handle pivotally mounted on the stick body and connected with the generating unit to drive the generating unit to generate the electric power which is stored by the storage battery, a plurality of light emitting members mounted on the stick body and each electrically connected with the circuit board to emit light beams outwardly from the stick body, two lamp shades mounted on the stick body to receive and cover the light emitting members respectively, a lighting unit mounted on the stick body and electrically connected with the circuit board to emit light beams outwardly from the stick body, a buzzer mounted in the stick body and electrically connected with the circuit board to emit sound signals outwardly from the stick body, and a level detector mounted in the stick body and electrically connected with the circuit board to detect a level of the stick body.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a walking stick having generating and illuminating functions.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a walking stick, wherein the light emitting members and the lighting unit can emit light beams outwardly so that the walking stick can provide a lighting and illuminating function at the night or on a darker place.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a walking stick, wherein the control handle is pivoted relative to the stick body to drive the generating unit to generate an electric power so that the walking stick has a manually generating function without needing an external power supply.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a walking stick, wherein the USB socket is electrically connected with a charging unit to supply the electric power to the storage battery so that the walking stick can also be electrically connected with an external power supply to enhance the versatility of the walking stick.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a walking stick, wherein when the walking stick falls down (or the user falls down onto the ground), the buzzer is operated to emit a sound so as to provide a warning and notifying function.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a walking stick in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the walking stick as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partially perspective view of the walking stick as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic operational view of the walking stick as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic operational view of the walking stick as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic operational view of the walking stick as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a schematic operational view of the walking stick as shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a walking stick in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a stick body 10, a circuit board 20 mounted in the stick body 10, a control switch 21 mounted on the stick body 10 and electrically connected with the circuit board 20 to control operation of the circuit board 20, a storage battery 26 mounted in the stick body 10 and electrically connected with the circuit board 20 to supply an electric power to the circuit board 20, a generating unit 29 mounted in the stick body 10, a control handle 15 pivotally mounted on the stick body 10 and connected with the generating unit 29 to drive the generating unit 29 to generate the electric power which is stored by the storage battery 26, a plurality of light emitting members 27 and 16 mounted on the stick body 10 and each electrically connected with the circuit board 20 to emit light beams outwardly from the stick body 10, two lamp shades 13 and 14 mounted on the stick body 10 to receive and cover the light emitting members 27 and 16 respectively, a lighting unit 24 mounted on the stick body 10 and electrically connected with the circuit board 20 to emit light beams outwardly from the stick body 10, a buzzer 25 mounted in the stick body 10 and electrically connected with the circuit board 20 to emit sound signals outwardly from the stick body 10, a level detector 28 mounted in the stick body 10 and electrically connected with the circuit board 20 to detect a level of the stick body 10, a USB (universal serial bus) socket 23 mounted on the stick body 10 and electrically connected with the circuit board 20, and a transformer socket 22 mounted on the stick body 10 and electrically connected with the circuit board 20.
The control switch 21 and the transformer socket 22 are mounted on the circuit board 20. The transformer socket 22 is electrically connected with an electric transformer (not shown). The generating unit 29 is electrically connected with the circuit board 20 and the storage battery 26 and is provided with a rotatable driven portion 290. The storage battery 26 is located above the generating unit 29. The control handle 15 has a first end provided with a drive portion 150 pivotally mounted on the stick body 10 and combined with the driven portion 290 of the generating unit 29 to drive and rotate the driven portion 290 of the generating unit 29 to generate the electric power and a second end provided with a holding portion 151. The drive portion 150 of the control handle 15 is provided with a fixing hole 152 secured on the driven portion 290 of the generating unit 29.
The stick body 10 consists of two casings 113 and 114 which are combined together. Each of the two casings 113 and 114 of the stick body 10 has a periphery provided with a protruding fixing portion 107 to combine the two casings 113 and 114 of the stick body 10 together. The stick body 10 has a substantially T-shaped profile.
The stick body 10 has an upper portion provided with a receiving recess 109 to receive the buzzer 25, two receiving chambers 100 and 101 to receive the two lamp shades 13 and 14 respectively, and an elongate receiving slot 111 to receive the level detector 28. The lamp shade 13 has a side provided with a plurality of receiving holes 130 to receive the light emitting members 27 respectively. The two receiving chambers 100 and 101 of the stick body 10 are located opposite to each other and are directed toward two opposite directions. Each of the two receiving chambers 100 and 101 of the stick body 10 protrudes outwardly from the upper portion of the stick body 10. The receiving slot 111 of the stick body 10 is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the stick body 10. The receiving recess 109 of the stick body 10 has an outer side provided with a plurality of apertures 110 that are arranged to form a circular shape.
The stick body 10 has an inner portion provided with an elongate receiving space 103 to receive the generating unit 29 and the storage battery 26. The receiving space 103 of the stick body 10 has a peripheral wall provided with a locking groove 102 to fix the circuit board 20.
The stick body 10 has a periphery provided with a mounting hole 104 connected to the receiving space 103 of the stick body 10 for mounting the USB socket 23, a mounting bore 105 connected to the receiving space 103 of the stick body 10 for mounting the control switch 21, a mounting aperture 106 connected to the receiving space 103 of the stick body 10 for mounting the transformer socket 22 and a mounting groove 108 connected to the receiving space 103 of the stick body 10 for mounting the lighting unit 24. The USB socket 23 protrudes outwardly from the mounting hole 104 of the stick body 10, the control switch 21 protrudes outwardly from the mounting bore 105 of the stick body 10, the transformer socket 22 protrudes outwardly from the mounting aperture 106 of the stick body 10, and the lighting unit 24 protrudes outwardly from the mounting groove 108 of the stick body 10. The USB socket 23, the control switch 21 and the transformer socket 22 are in line with each other and are located opposite to the lighting unit 24.
The stick body 10 has a side provided with a receiving channel 17 to receive the control handle 15. The receiving channel 17 of the stick body 10 has a wall provided with a passage 112 connected to the receiving space 103 of the stick body 10 to allow passage of the drive portion 150 of the control handle 15.
In operation, referring to FIGS. 4-6 with reference to FIGS. 1-3, after the control handle 15 is pulled outwardly from the receiving channel 17 of the stick body 10 as shown in FIG. 4, the control handle 15 is pivoted relative to the stick body 10 as shown in FIG. 5 to drive the generating unit 29 to generate the electric power which is stored by the storage battery 26. Alternatively, the USB socket 23 is electrically connected with an external power supply, such as a charging unit (not shown) to supply the electric power to the storage battery 26. Then, the control switch 21 is pressed to operate the circuit board 20 which turns on the light emitting members 27 and 16 and the lighting unit 24, so that the light emitting members 27 and 16 and the lighting unit 24 can emit light beams outwardly from the stick body 10 as shown in FIG. 6 to provide a lighting and illuminating function.
On the other hand, referring to FIG. 7 with reference to FIGS. 1-3, when the walking stick falls down (or the user falls down onto the ground), the level detector 28 is operated to send a signal to the circuit board 20 which operates the buzzer 25 to emit a warning sound as shown in FIG. 7 so as to provide a warning and notifying function.
Accordingly, the light emitting members 27 and 16 and the lighting unit 24 can emit light beams outwardly so that the walking stick can provide a lighting and illuminating function at the night or on a darker place. In addition, the control handle 15 is pivoted relative to the stick body 10 to drive the generating unit 29 to generate an electric power so that the walking stick has a manually generating function without needing an external power supply. Further, the USB socket 23 is electrically connected with a charging unit to supply the electric power to the storage battery 26 so that the walking stick can also be electrically connected with an external power supply to enhance the versatility of the walking stick. Further, when the walking stick falls down (or the user falls down onto the ground), the buzzer 25 is operated to emit a sound so as to provide a warning and notifying function.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A walking stick, comprising:

a stick body;

a circuit board mounted in the stick body;

a control switch mounted on the stick body and electrically connected with the circuit board to control operation of the circuit board;

a storage battery mounted in the stick body and electrically connected with the circuit board to supply an electric power to the circuit board;

a generating unit mounted in the stick body;

a control handle pivotally mounted on the stick body and connected with the generating unit to drive the generating unit to generate the electric power which is stored by the storage battery;

a plurality of light emitting members mounted on the stick body and each electrically connected with the circuit board to emit light beams outwardly from the stick body;

two lamp shades mounted on the stick body to receive and cover the light emitting members respectively;

a lighting unit mounted on the stick body and electrically connected with the circuit board to emit light beams outwardly from the stick body;

a buzzer mounted in the stick body and electrically connected with the circuit board to emit sound signals outwardly from the stick body;

a level detector mounted in the stick body and electrically connected with the circuit board to detect a level of the stick body.

2. The walking stick of claim 1, wherein

the generating unit is provided with a rotatable driven portion;

the control handle has a first end provided with a drive portion pivotally mounted on the stick body and combined with the driven portion of the generating unit to drive and rotate the driven portion of the generating unit to generate the electric power.

3. The walking stick of claim 2, wherein the control handle has a second end provided with a holding portion.

4. The walking stick of claim 1, further comprising:

a USB (universal serial bus) socket mounted on the stick body and electrically connected with the circuit board.

5. The walking stick of claim 1, further comprising:

a transformer socket mounted on the stick body and electrically connected with the circuit board.

6. The walking stick of claim 2, wherein the drive portion of the control handle is provided with a fixing hole secured on the driven portion of the generating unit.

7. The walking stick of claim 1, wherein the stick body has an upper portion provided with a receiving recess to receive the buzzer, two receiving chambers to receive the two lamp shades respectively, and an elongate receiving slot to receive the level detector.

8. The walking stick of claim 7, wherein the receiving slot of the stick body is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the stick body.

9. The walking stick of claim 7, wherein the receiving recess of the stick body has an outer side provided with a plurality of apertures that are arranged to form a circular shape.

10. The walking stick of claim 1, wherein the stick body has an inner portion provided with an elongate receiving space to receive the generating unit and the storage battery.

11. The walking stick of claim 10, wherein the receiving space of the stick body has a peripheral wall provided with a locking groove to fix the circuit board.

12. The walking stick of claim 10, wherein

the stick body has a periphery provided with a mounting bore connected to the receiving space of the stick body for mounting the control switch and a mounting groove connected to the receiving space of the stick body for mounting the lighting unit;

the control switch protrudes outwardly from the mounting bore of the stick body;

the lighting unit protrudes outwardly from the mounting groove of the stick body.

13. The walking stick of claim 4, wherein

the stick body has a periphery provided with a mounting hole for mounting the USB socket;

the USB socket protrudes outwardly from the mounting hole of the stick body.

14. The walking stick of claim 5, wherein

the stick body has a periphery provided with a mounting aperture connected to the receiving space of the stick body for mounting the transformer socket;

the transformer socket protrudes outwardly from the mounting aperture of the stick body.

15. The walking stick of claim 2, wherein

the stick body has a side provided with a receiving channel to receive the control handle;

the receiving channel of the stick body has a wall provided with a passage connected to the receiving space of the stick body to allow passage of the drive portion of the control handle.

16. The walking stick of claim 1, wherein

the control switch and the transformer socket are mounted on the circuit board;

the generating unit is electrically connected with the circuit board and the storage battery;

the storage battery is located above the generating unit.

17. The walking stick of claim 1, wherein

the stick body consists of two casings which are combined together;

each of the two casings of the stick body has a periphery provided with a protruding fixing portion to combine the two casings of the stick body together.

18. The walking stick of claim 1, wherein one of the two lamp shades has a side provided with a plurality of receiving holes to receive the light emitting members respectively.

19. The walking stick of claim 7, wherein

the stick body has a substantially T-shaped profile;

the two receiving chambers of the stick body are located opposite to each other and are directed toward two opposite directions;

each of the two receiving chambers of the stick body protrudes outwardly from the upper portion of the stick body.

20. The walking stick of claim 1, wherein the control switch is located opposite to the lighting unit.