US20130306809A1

US20130306809A1 - Strap Attachment to More Easily Right Walking Cane

Info

Publication number: US20130306809A1
Application number: US13/472,477
Authority: US
Inventors: Neil S. Bakehouse
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-05-16
Filing date: 2012-05-16
Publication date: 2013-11-21

Abstract

A strap that can retrofitted to a walking cane that will prevent the cane from falling flat on the floor. The strap uses two cane elevating towers to that are securely attached to the strap that will prevent the cane from resting flat on the floor. These towers will create a fulcrum on the opposite end of the cane that allows a user to step on the fulcrum and right the cane. The strap is attached to the cane by using a double sided tape on the back side of the strap along with a set of self engaging members on the two halves of the strap. A standard snap fastener can serve as this set of self engaging members.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to walking canes, and more particularly, to a strap that can be retrofitted to an existing walking cane that does not allow a walking cane to lay flat on the ground. As the strap will create a space between the walking cane and the floor, it will allow a person to step on the walking cane and right it so it will be easy to pick up and use.
2. Description of Related Art
It is well known that someone using a walking cane may rest the cane against a wall or other stationary surface when they are sitting down. It is very common for a walking cane to then slide down the stationary surface and eventually end up flat on the floor.
There are a few existing patents that try to address this issue. U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,800 to Sergi discloses a walking cane that incorporates an extending rod that makes the cane easier to right. U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,801 to Hannoosh et al. discloses a walking cane with a weighted bottom that makes it more unlikely for the cane to fall flat to begin with. U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,204 to Bracy discloses a walking cane with a tip that can be tilted. This allows a person to step on the tip to right the cane. As seen by these cited patents, the prior art relies on a structural difference built into the walking cane itself to make it easier to right. This will make the cane more expensive and may force someone to buy an entirely new cane.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the problem of a cane that falls flat on the floor by using a strap that can be retrofitted to a previously existing cane. This is beneficial because it provides a cheap alternative to replacing a walking cane that does not have a righting feature. If someone needs a walking cane, they are likely to be less limber than a “normal” person. Therefore, by definition, someone who needs a walking cane will likely find this feature to be most beneficial.
The invention works by retrofitting a strap to a walking cane that will prevent the cane from falling flat on the floor. As there will be a bit of space between the floor and the cane created by the attached strap, this space creates a fulcrum on the other end of the cane. A person can then step on that fulcrum to right the cane. The degree to which the cane can be raised is based on where the strap is placed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the strap

FIG. 2 is a side view of the strap.

FIG. 3 is a bottom up view of the strap.

FIG. 4 shows how the strap will look when wrapped around a cane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-3 show the design of the strap 100 from different angles. The strap 100 has two cane elevating towers 101, one on the right half of the strap 100 and one on the left half of the strap 100. These cane elevating towers 101 will prevent a cane from falling flat onto the floor, which leaves a fulcrum on the other end of the cane to allow a person to step on the cane and right it. In the preferred embodiment, the shape of these cane elevating towers 101 is a tapered cone. This shape works best to raise the cane off the floor, without being catch at an angle against the floor. A tapered cube could also potentially be used for this shape. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, the strap 100 and towers 101 are made of a rubber. This is because of the beneficial properties of rubber in cold temperature conditions. P20 is the rubber of choice, but other types of rubber would work as well. Plastic would also work in more tropical environments where temperatures do not get into the freezing range very often.
The preferred way for connecting the towers 101 to the strap 100 is by injection molding so that the towers 101 are embedded within the strap 100 itself. It is also possible to connect the towers 101 to the strap 100 by using glue or a nail for each tower 101. These methods are more likely to allow the towers 101 to disengage, or possibly alter the structure of the strap 100. Still, they are alternatives that can work for a shorter duration than injection molding.
A pair of engaging members 102 are embedded into the strap 100 that allows the strap 100 to attach to itself once it has been wrapped around a walking cane. In the preferred embodiment, the engaging members 102 are a set of snap fasteners that will provide for secure engagement for a prolonged period of time. Velcro could be used for the engaging members 102, as Velcro can also attach to itself, but Velcro is more likely to lose its engaging capability over time.
An extra engaging member 103 is attached to the backside of the strap 100 that provides extra security and prevents the strap 100 from sliding up and down the cane once it has been attached. In the preferred embodiment, a double sided tape is used for this extra engaging member 103 as it allows a person to test exactly where they want the elevating towers 101 before permanently adhering the strap 100 to the cane.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment to a walking cane to make the cane easily righted comprising:

a strap of a flexible material of a sufficient width;

wherein said strap is of a length that is sufficient to wrap entirely around a walking cane;

wherein said strap comprises a front side, a back side, a left half and a right half;

wherein said left half of said strap includes a first engaging member wherein said first engaging member is centered with respect to said sufficient width of said strap;

wherein said right half of said strap includes a second engaging member that can securely engage said first engaging member wherein said second engaging member is centered with respect to said sufficient width of said strap;

wherein said left half of said front side of said strap includes a first cane elevating tower of a particular shape with said first cane elevating tower securely connected to said strap;

wherein said right half of said front side of said strap includes a second cane elevating tower of a particular shape with said second cane elevating tower securely connected to said strap;

wherein said back side of said strap includes a stabilizing member to provide extra support and keep the strap from sliding up and down said walking cane.

2. The attachment to a walking cane of claim 1, wherein said flexible material of said strap and said first cane elevating tower and said second cane elevating tower are comprised of a rubber.

3. The attachment to a walking cane of claim 2, wherein said rubber is P20 rubber.

4. The attachment to a walking cane of claim 2, wherein said particular shape of said first cane elevating tower is a tapered cone and said particular shape of said second cane elevating tower is a tapered cone.

5. The attachment to a walking cane of claim 2, wherein said particular shape of said first cane elevating tower is a tapered cube and said particular shape of said second cane elevating tower is a tapered cube.

6. The attachment to a walking cane of claim 4, wherein said first cane elevating tower and said second cane elevating tower are securely connected to said strap by using an injection mold that embeds said first cane elevating tower and said second cane elevating tower into the strap itself.

7. The attachment to a walking cane of claim 6, wherein said stabilizing member is comprised of a double sided tape.

8. The attachment to a walking cane of claim 7, wherein said first engaging member on said left side of said strap is comprised of a male end snap fastener on said front side of said strap and said second engaging member on said right side of said strap is comprised of a female end snap fastener on said back side of said strap.

9. The attachment to a walking cane of claim 5, wherein said first cane elevating tower and said second cane elevating tower are securely connected to said strap by using an injection mold that embeds said first cane elevating tower and said second cane elevating tower into the strap itself.

10. The attachment to a walking cane of claim 9, wherein said stabilizing member is comprised of a double sided tape.

11. The attachment to a walking cane of claim 10, wherein said first engaging member on said left side of said strap is comprised of a male end snap fastener on said front side of said strap and said second engaging member on said right side of said strap is comprised of a female end snap fastener on said back side of said strap.

12. An attachment to a walking cane to make the cane easily righted comprising:

a strap of a flexible material of a sufficient width;

wherein said left half of said front side includes a first cane elevating tower of a particular shape with said first cane elevating tower securely connected to said strap;

wherein said right half of said front side includes a second cane elevating tower of a particular shape with said first cane elevating tower securely connected to said strap;

wherein said back side of said strap includes a double sided tape to provide extra support and keep the strap from sliding up and down said walking cane;

wherein said strap, first cane elevating tower and second cane elevating tower is comprised of P20 rubber.

13. The attachment to a walking cane of claim 12, wherein said particular shape of said first cane elevating tower is a tapered cone and said particular shape of said second cane elevating tower is a tapered cone.

14. The attachment to a walking cane of claim 12, wherein said particular shape of said first cane elevating tower is a tapered cube and said particular shape of said second cane elevating tower is a tapered cube.

15. The attachment to a walking cane of claim 13, wherein said first cane elevating tower and said second cane elevating tower are securely connected to said strap by using an injection mold that embeds said first cane elevating tower and said second cane elevating tower into the strap itself.

16. The attachment to a walking cane of claim 15, wherein said first engaging member on said left side of said strap is comprised of a male end snap fastener on said front side of said strap and said second engaging member on said right side of said strap is comprised of a female end snap fastener on said back side of said strap.

17. The attachment to a walking cane of claim 14, wherein said first cane elevating tower and said second cane elevating tower are securely connected to said strap by using an injection mold that embeds said first cane elevating tower and said second cane elevating tower into the strap itself.

18. The attachment to a walking cane of claim 17, wherein said first engaging member on said left side of said strap is comprised of a male end snap fastener on said front side of said strap and said second engaging member on said right side of said strap is comprised of a female end snap fastener on said back side of said strap.

19. A method for making a walking cane more easily righted comprising:

a strap of a flexible material of a sufficient width;

wherein said strap, first cane elevating tower and second cane elevating tower is comprised of P20 rubber;

wherein said double sided tape is first adhered to a preexisting walking cane before said first engaging member and said engaging member are engaged to permanently secure said strap around said preexisting cane.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said first engaging member and said second engaging member are a set of male and female snap fasteners.