US2379426A - Blind guide - Google Patents

Description

July 3,1945. Q E, EDSTRQM 2,379,426-

BLIND GUIDE Filed June 27, 1944 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 July 3, 1945.

BLIND GUIDE Filed June 27, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVEA/Tb/L.

o. E. EDSTROM' 2,379,426

Patented July 3, 1945 'tittoiE Edstrom, sasraieaoge t.f, .1

Application June 27, 1944, SerialNah 12,381 4 .6Claims. (oust-"47f I My invention relates to improvements in a guide for a blind person wherein the usually forwardly inclined and exploring cane is provided with'a freely swivelled caster on the lower end thereof which operates in conjunction with a horizontally disposed wheel rotatably mounted,

immediately above said caster, to facilitate exploration of a contemplated course and to harmlessly contact and locate objects thereon or adjacent thereto, or corners, curbs or other impedimenta with which a path of the sightless may be beset.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved guide for the sightless, by means of which all impedimenta upon or adjacent a contemplated path may easily be located.

Another object is to provide a new and improved device of the character set forth, having improved means for relieving the hand of an operator of the strain incident-to exploration with a forwardly projected exploring cane.

A further object is to provide anew and im proved device of the type described which easily may be constructed and operated witha minimum effort and having a maximum efficiency.

' A still further object is to provide a new and improved guide for the peripatetic blind which may harmlessly contact objects within a projected course.

A still further object is to provide a, new and improved cane or guide for the sightless whose projected or exploring end may easily and silently roll along a vertical as well as a horizontal surface without damage to either surface.

I accomplish these and other objects by means of the improved device disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present application'and in which-- Fig. l is a side elevation of my device as in use; I

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken plan .view'of the lower or supported end of the guide; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged broken side. elevation, partly in vertical section, of the lower portion of the guide.

cane I is mounted a freely swivelled caster 6,

preferably provided with a cushioned tire I of rubber or other suitable resilient material. The spindle or pivot 8 of the caster 6 is rotatably mounted Within a bore 9 within the bottom end of the vertical portion 2 of the cane I andis provided with an annular groove engaged by a cross pin I 2, inserted transversely through the" cane I toretain said spindle in assembled position. A horizontally disposed wheel I4, having a cushion tire I6, is rotatably mounted immediately above the caster 6, and preferably upon the pivot or spindle 8 thereof.

In operation:

A blind person grasps the flattened horizontal portion 3 at the upper end of the cane I, the

flat sides and shoulders 4 readily indicating by touch to an operator that the device is in a, vertical or operative position, as disclosed in Fig. 1 of the drawings. That is to say that the lower end 2 of the cane I is substantially vertical so that the forwardly projected or exploring end of the cane. I easily may be pushed forwardly ahead of the operator, as indicated by the straight arrows in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, or freely swung laterally in both directions, as indicated by the'curved double arrow in Fig. 2 of the drawings, in order more easilyto'explore a contemplated path and locate adjacent objects or 0bstructions' which might impede progress along a by the caster 6 is moving forwardly or laterally,

It should be particularly noted that the caster 6 also operates as a substantial supporting means for the forwardly projecting and exploring-end 2 of the cane I, thereby relieving the hand and wrist of an operator of'the weight'of said projected cane and any strain incident thereto.

It should also. be noted that the caster 6, being freely swivelled, may be moved forwardly as well as laterally with a minimum effort so that objects or obstructions directly within a contemplated path easily may be located.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. A blind guide comprising a cane; a rolling support upon the lower end of said Canefand a horizontally disposed wheel mounted upon the lower end of said cane and above said rolling support.

2. A blind guide comprising a cane; a rolling support freely swivelled upon the lower end of said cane; a horizontally disposed wheel rotatable upon said cane and positioned directly above said rolling support thereon, and cushioning means mounted upon said horizontally disposed wheel.

3. A blind guide comprising a cane; a cushioned tired caster swivelled upon the lower end of said cane; and a horizontal wheel rotatably mounted upon said lower end of said cane.

4. A blind guide comprising a cane; a. cushioned tired caster freely swivelled upon the lower end of said cane; a horizontal wheel rotatably' mounted on said cane above said caster; and a cushioned rim mounted upon said horizontal wheel.

5. A blind guide comprising a cane having a vertical lower portion and a substantially horizontal upper portion; a caster freely swivelled upon the lower end of said cane; a horizontally disposed wheel rotatably mounted upon the swivel pivot of said caster; and means upon the upper end of said cane to indicate operative position thereof.

6. A blind guide comprising a substantially inclined cane having a vertical lower end and a substantially horizontal upper end; a cushion tired caster freely swivelledupon the lower end of said cane; a horizontally disposed wheel rotat-

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