US2642884A - Cane - Google Patents

Description

June 23, 1953 a A. HENDERSON Er Ax.

CANE

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 20. 1949 INVENToRs G/en ,4. /ren def-son M//fa'fm 'H- hir/w owne .Imc 23, `l,1953

G. A. HENDERsN Er AL v f INVENToR. Venn ,4. Han i l-/f//mm ff. M

2 Smets-Shut 2y ders on 'n or e mu ug'. 20.*#1949- x12/array Patented June 23,1953

CANE

Glenn A. Henderson and William H. Winborne, Los yAngeles, Calif.

Application august 2o, 194s, serial 10.111.355 'n (ci. 13s- 45) 1i claims. l

This invention has` todo with a cane or walking stick and it is a general object of the invention to provide a cane. of improved, practical,

construction and which possesses characteristics making it convenient, practical and desirable forV USB.

Canes or walking sticksfare used'fo various purposes, as for` example, by persons who are crippled, who are convalescing, as dress accessories, etc. Canes are commonly constructed of wood and to have thedesiredstrength and rigidity the woods employed are usually heavy," and` by their very nature `are notalways'dependable,

are subject to splitting, and they are subject ,to general deterioration. Further, in practice considerable difliculty is ordinarily 'experienced securing a handle to or on a cane-body, andthe ferrule at the lower end of 'the cane 'body comthat it can be set in engagement with' the body to dependably remain thereon or therein until deliberately released..` L f i A further object ofv this invention is to provide a cane wherein the handle isjsecured to a tubular metal body so that it isjdependably rand permanently joined thereto. With the construction provided by the present invention the handle vis secured to the vvbody against working loose,

shifting or becoming detached and' thus the cane Scan ybe relied'upon for service'over a long period of time. v l

Another object ofr thisv invention is to'provide y a cane with a tubular'metal'body with sound dea dening means serving to take the ring or resonance out of the body so that it is withoutfdis- 7 agreeable tone of metal.

monly gives considerable trouble byv working leose, or breaking off etc. -Further,;inpractice the usual cane, vfor instance; a cane of `\vood, to be shortened requires aV complicatedy operation `The various objects and features of our inventionwill be fully understood from the following` detailed descriptionof typical preferred forms and applications'of the invention, throughoutA ywhich description reference isr made lto the acremoving the ierrule and retting or reapplying the ferrule to the body followingshortening of the body. In most cases the shortening .of a cane requiresV` thev installationof a new ferrule and the ferrule of the' cane is usually marred. These operations are rather .cumbersome and time consuming and arenot always satisfactory.

The present invention provides a caneconstruction involving an elongateV tubular body of metal. The handle isxed to the upper end of the body by being provided with an extension vor shank fitting into the knurlecfl'upper` end of the body and having fixed engagement therewith. The tip at the lower end ofthe body is preferably metal and is detachably secured to thebody, preferably by meansy ofa screw, and in the preferred construction a detachable cushionv of rubber, or the like, isV provided at the lower open end of the tip and when removed ailords access to the screw by which the tip is secur'edto the body. Further, sound deadening means are provided and may involve a plug'of deadening material such as wood, or the like, located in the body intermediate its ends, or' lling or packing of granular material such as expanded vermiculite or both. u

A general object of this invention is to provide a practical, simple, easily operated lmeans for securing a tip to a cane body.-`In the preferred form of the invention the body ofthe cane is tubular and the tip is a simple elongate part with a shank'e'ntering the end of the body; the shank being expansibleV under theaction of a screw'so ybe used between ythe body and handle.

yan enlarged detailedsection takenfas indicated vcompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. r1 is a view-of a cane 'embodying the-present invention with certain parts broken .away to show the features of construction. Fig- 2 is van enlarged` detailed view cfa portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1 being a view taken as indicated by line `2-'2 on'Fig. `l.l Fig.3 is la transverse sectional view taken as indicated by Vline 3--3 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed section -of a `part of the structure shown onFig. l, being` a view taken as indicated 'by line 4-4 on Fig. l. Fig. A5 is a transverse sectional view, being a view taken as `indicated. by line 5,.-5 on Fig.x4, and Fig. 6 isA a View illustrating a Acane vembodying the present` invention in yan initiall 'form and illustrating the manner in which it may be shortened. Fig. 7 'is a view similar to the ,upper portion of-Fig. 6 showinga construction to Fig.` 8 is Y by line 8--8 on Fig. 7.` Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a constructionthat can be used to connect the body and tip, Fig. 10 is a view similar Ato Fig. 9 showing a modification ofthe structure shown in Fig.' 9.1 Fig. l1 is a transversesection taken'as indicated by line I I-QII onfFig. l0, andFig. 12 is. a transverse section taken as indicated by line |2-l2`on Fig. 10.

the l.body, a tip D preferably formed of metal,

rmounting:meansE.releasablyv` securing the tip to l be formed of a light metal or a light alloy, the" Weight of the tubing, its size and the material being balanced so that the tube is as light as possible consistant with the desired strength and rigidity and durability.

The handle B may, in practice, be of ,any de sired size, form or design, it being preferred that it be a unitary element shaped to provide an effective comfortable grip. It will be understood, of course, that the handle may be :formed of a material or may be provided with a fnish `such as to gain the desired appearance .or to be suitable -with the bodyA whichrnay, Of course, 4be surfaced or "nished inanyidesired manner f y The mounting means C vprovided for securing vthe handle to theuppex end efthebodyn .rigidly .and permanently Vsccllresitlle fhandle yto the body.

In accordance with the invention the means C. involves a shank -or projection I0 on thehandle .engaged in theupper-end of Ybody A; A'1l-he shank I is preferably an integral extensioner fcon'- tinuation of the handle and ln `the Icase illustrated it isround in .crosspecton and of suchsize -as 4to fit 'tightly in the body. `shown in, the

drawings theshank I0 fmay be reduced somewhat relative to lthe stem portion I.- I of the handle so Ythat a shoulder vI2 is formed 'lio abut the end I3 .of 'the handle and so that the exterior of the stem portion II ofthe handle is -flus'h with the exterior of body A. In accordance with the present in, vention knurling is provided on .the ,inner surface of the body wallat the :upper `endportion of the body. The knurling may be formed or provided by applying a suitable tool O r implement to the material of vthe Ibody A to ,establish thedesired vprojections or knurlingithereon. 'The ,inner Sur- `face of the body wall `at the Aupper .end portion ,of Vthe body is roughened or knurled for a distance `sufficient to have krlurling engage the Shank I0 Athroughout its length. In accordance with the invention the shank IIlprojectirlglfirom thelldndle meshes with the knurling ,on :the inner surface .of the `body wall so that the shank is :anchored in the body against rotation therein or removal therefrom. In practice the desired meshing of the shank I0 with the 'knurling may b e `gained as the handle is applied vto vthe Abody by temporarily softening the material of the shank :I0 either by 'heat or by a suitable softening agent or solvent.

`In practice it is desirable to form the handle B and the shank I0 which Projects therefrom -as a unitary body of 4material ypopularly known as plastic, employing a so-.called plastic whichnis subject to being softenedby a suitable solvent such as an acetate, or the'like. This-type of plasrA tic is preferred in that itmay 'be obtained Yhaving the desired strength,is generally pleasing in appearance, and is generally practical for the for mation of the handle.

The tip `D is preferably a metal part that projects from the lower end of the body and, `in practice, it may vary widely in form, DIODOI- tioning or design. In the case illustrated 'the tip is cf substantial length and is Ytapered 'down- 1It is-prefened that the cushion be a body or button of rubber or rubber-like material, and it may have a concave or round ground engaging surface 20. The construction or means provided for securing the button-like cushion to the tip D preferably involves a lug or projection 2| which is anintegral par-t of the cushion, which lug fits snugly or tightly into a socket 22 entering the tip .-D fromits lower end. The upper end of the lug 2I seats on or against the bottom 23 of the socket and the parts are preferably proportioned so that when the lug 2I is seated on the bottom 23 of Vthe socket and A.the parts are Ypreferably propQrtQnedsotha-t when theglug V2I is seated on the .bottom 23 of -the socket, face `25 `of the cushion 'is at or Vclose to the Aend ,2,6 of the tip D but does not `necessarily bear ,thereon with pressure such as might result in cutting of the cushion where the lug joins the cushion..

The Ymounting means ,E releasably secures the tipwto the body and in the preferred form of the invention it involves a shank 30 on the tip D 'dit-ting into the llower end Vof the body and an .expander `3'I Vacting onor with the Ashank 30 to ,expand lit into Vgripping -engagement with the -rbody A. The shank 30 is preferably an integral extension or continuation of the tip D and where vthe body A vis round tubing, as hereinabove described, the shank is round or turned and is of such size as to fitzsnugly into the lower end portion of the ltubing forming the body and is preferably long enough to provide ample bearing in -the body so that the gtip is effectively supported Ain alignment with the body. The shank may have a slidingt inthe body I0 so that it can be `easily arranged in or removed from the body.

The shank -30 of ,means E is expansibie so that :it `can be operated into gripping engagement with 4the body A. In the preferred form of the invention 'the .shank 30 is split longitudinally and in the drawings lit is vshown as having a single lcentralor diametrically disposed cut or slit at 33, which slit AVextends a substantial distance length- .wise or into the shank '30 from its upper end. .The expander 3,I is preferably -a screw suitably engaged with lthe shank 30,

- In the form .of the invention illustrated the -unit `formed by .the tip D and the shank 30 of .means Eis provided with Ia central longitudinal opening 40 that extends from the lower 4end portion of the tip D to .the upper end kof the shank 30. The opening 40 kin the `case illustrated extends from the bottom of socket 22 to the split upper end portion of the shank and the portion 4I of the .opening within the slit portion of the shank is reduced in diameter and is threaded. At the lower end of the reduced portion 4I there i a Acicwnwardly y.facing tapered or inclined shouler z The expanding member or screw 3I has a threaded body 44 that threads into the reduced opening 4I andithas ahead l5 which is-provided with a tapered rface .4.6 abutting the shoulder 42. -A screw driver slot MiI or the like, provided on the head ,44, :faces downwardly or is accessible through :the opening .40 so the screw can be conveniently operated by a tool such as vascrew driver introduced throughl the opening-'lu-'vwhenxthe rubber, or rubber-like, cushion is removed fromv the tip. With the construction just described tightening of the screw in the opening 4| causes the head of the screw to wedge in the expansible portion of the shank spreading the shank into gripping or pressure engagement with vthe body A. In the preferred forrnof' the invention the shank 30 is reduced in diameter at 55 for a 'suitable distance intermediate its ends, forming a neck portion 5i which is thin walled and therefore somewhat flexible, leaving the shank with a lower bearing part 52 that engages in the body A and an upper bearing part 53 that engages in the body A. Through this construction, which is illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings,y the. split portion of the shank is readily expansible under the action of the screw, and whenthe screw is tightenedthe upper bearingV part 53 is effectively forced into pressure engagement with the body.

rEhe sound dampening or deadeningmeansG lemployed in the construction acts toprevent the other parts of the cane,` and particularly fthe body A, from ringing or vibrating so that it has a metallic sound. The means Calas shown in the drawings, may involve two mediums or elements in the body A, for example it may involve a plug 6d of deadening material inthebody intermediate its ends and a ller or packing oi granular material 6|. In` the caseillustrateda filler or plug 6! of material such as Wood is made tight in the body A intermediate the ends of the body and may 'alone Vbe employed as the sound deadening means. Thel packing or lling of granular material el' may beemployed with or without a plug Si! and in practice it may be any suitable soft or sound deadening material.l For example, expanded vermiculite may beemployed to advantage and may be iilled into the body A to completely occupy the. bodyr between the faecaeu terminates v'at an edge H 'which may be slightly round to fit the fillet I0". This construction can y be advantageously employed when the handle is formed of a plastic material, or the like,` that may rbe weak where the handlev y:Ioinstheshank- I0 if be knurled 'as illustrated in the drawings.

In Fig. 9 of the drawings the mounting means E for securing the tip D toV the bodyA yhas a plain straight shank vportion 30. the exterior of which is finished to have slidable engagement in lthe body. vThisv form of constructionis suitable for use where the tip D and the shank are.'

formed of a so-called plastic, orvthe like, which :material is softer than metal. Y In such case the expander or screw 3|' has its head in wedging or l expanding engagement with the tapered shoulder 42 and isthreadediinto a met-al insert or nut 80 seated in -a polygonal socket 8| provided in the'v inner end of -shank 30. With this construction the expander4 3| can be tightened into the nut 80 to cause the portion of the shank between the head of the expanderand the nut 80 to expand yand thusbe tight in the lbody A.

advantageously expand and gripthe body, in the manner justdescribed, the shank may be split .longitudinally asat 33in kthe manner illustrated A in Figs. l0, 11 and l2`of the drawings.

shanksV iii and or to occupy thespaces `left between the Shanks and ,the plug-"69. When vermiculite or the like is employed it may be loose or with a binder, in 'whichfcaseit vis de.- sirable that a stopper G5 of cotton, paper, or like material is applied after the granular sound deadening material has been insertedin thebody from its lower end.l A stopper tisuch as is shown in Fig. l will serve to retain the granular sound deadening material until the tip has been applied or while the tip is removed orbeing repaired or replaced.

With the construction provided by the present invention a person possessing a cane, or a merchant togfit ay cane to la particularuser, may

readily take a long cane, such as is illustrated at X in Fig. 6, remove the tip D and then sever a portion iii oi the body, as shown at Y in Fig. 6, and he may then reapply the tip D to the cane, as shown at `Z in Fig. 6, to provide a shortened cane. f

The mounting means C shown in Figs. 7 and 8 connecting the handle B with the body A differs from that above described to the extent that ythe shank E d' on the handle, instead of y being of uniform size or cross section from one end tothe other leaving a shoulder I 2 normal to the axis -01 the shank Where the shank'joins the handle, has a tapered portion Ida which extends between the straight round portion and which fairs into the handle where the end of the body-joins the handle. A small or limited fillet-like curved part lilb may be provided where the part 10e joins the handle and when this is the case the end portion of the body A which receives the shank is reamed In Icarrying out'the invention as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the opening 40 provided through the tip may be a straight. uniform opening from the shoulder 42a to theouter end 26, ofthe tip. In such case the cushion F may be Iof the type above described and may have a lug or projection 2l engaged in the opening 40. In the case illustrated, and in order to provide a rest orsupport for the `cushion and also to reinforce the tip, `a plug which may be formed of wood, or the like, is arranged in opening 40' so its end 23'k forms `a support v for cushion.y

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of our invention, we do not wish to be limited or restricted to the--specific-de` tails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves any variations or modifications that may the projection 2l of the appear to those skilled in the art and fall within vopening yand projecting up from the top and eni gaged in the body, and a screw carried in said openingiexpandingl kthe shank into gripping engagement with the body, and accessible through the opening in the tip, and a detachable cushion at the lower end of the tip normally closing said opening. 1 .f

,- 2. A cane including,` an elongate tubular body,

4a handle secured to the upper end .of` the body, a tip with a' hole` through it, means` releasably securing the tip to the lower end of the body `including an elongate expansible shank with a o central longitudinal opening 'projecting 11p-trom the top and engaged inthebody, and a screw carried in said opening expanding the shank into gripping engagement with the body and accessible through the hole in the tip, and a detachable cushion at the lower end of the tip normallyclosing said opening. the cushion having a rubber lug frictionally engaged in the hole in the tip.

3. A cane including, an elongate tubular body, a handle secured to the upper end of the body, a tip with a. passage through it, and means releasably securing the tip `to the lower end of the body including an elongate shank engageable in the body. the shank being split longitudinally trom its upper end and having a. central longitudinal opening through it from one end tothe other and connecting vwith the passage in vthe tip, the opening having a reduced threaded portion where the shank is split.'.and a screw threaded in the reduced portion of said opening and operable to expand the shank and accessiblel through the passage in the tip. l

4. A cane including, .an elongate tubular body, a handle secured to the upper end of the body, a tip with a passage throughtit, and means releasably securing the tip to the lower end of the body including an elongate shank projecting up from the tip and engageable in the body, the shank being split longitudinally from its upper end and having a central longitudinal openl ing through it from one end to the other communicating with said passage, vthe opening having a reduced threaded portion where the shank is split establishing a, downwardly facing inclined shoulder, and a screw threaded in the reduced portion of the said opening with a tapered head engaging said shoulder `to expand the shank, the screw having a head at its lower end accessible for operation Athrough the passage and the opening below the reduced portion. 1

5. A cane including, an elongate tubular body, a handle secured to the upper end of the body, a tip with a passage through it, and means re.- leasably securing the tip to the lower end of the body including an elongate shank projecting up from the tip and engageable in the body, the shank being split longitudinally from its upper end and having a central longitudinal opening through it from one end to the other 'and cornmunicating `with the passage, the opening having a reduced threaded portion where the tip is split, and a screw threaded in the reduced portion of said opening and operable to expand the shank, the shank having a reduced portion where it is split forming a neck and ahead at the upper end of the shank engageable with the body, the screw having ahead 'at its lower end accessible through the passage and the opening below the screw.

6. A cane including, an elongate tubular metal body, two elements one secured to each end of the body and one detachable from the body, one element being a handle and the other a tip, and a sound deadener in the body including a packving o! loose granular material in the body, substantially filling the body.

7. A cane including, an elongate tubular metal body, two elements one secured tov each end of the body and one detachable from the body, one element being a handle and the other a ground engaging tip, and a sound deadener in the body including a wooden plug tight in the body intermediate its ends and loose granular sound deadening material in the body lwhere it is not occupied bythe plug.

f .A cane including, an elongate 'tubular metal body, two elements one secured to each end of the body and one .detachable from the body, one element being a, handle and the other a tip. and a sound deadener in the body including a packing of expanded vermiculite in the body.

9. A cane including, an elongate tubular metal body, two elements one secured to each end of the body and one detachable from the body, one element being a handle and the other a ground engaging tip, and a. sound deadener in the body including a wooden plug tight in the body and expanded vermiculite in the body intermediate its ends and in sound deadening engagement with it.

10. A cane including, an elongate tubular body, a handle secured to the upper end of the body, a tip vwith a passage through it, and means releasably securing the tip to the lower end of the body including an elongate shank projecting up from the -tip and engageable in the body, the shank being split longitudinally from its upper end and having a central elongate opening threaded Where the shank is split, and a screw threaded in the opening and operating to expand the shank, the shank having a reduced portion where it is split forming a. neck and a head at the upper end of the shank engageable with the body, the screw having a head at its lower end accessible through the passage and the opening below the screw.

11.. A cane including, an elongate tubular body, a handle secured to the vupper end of the body, a tip with a hole through it, means releasably securing the tip to the lower end of the body including an elongate shank projecting up from the tip and engageable in the body, the shank being split longitudinally from its upper end and having a central `longitudinal opening through it from one end to the other and communicating with the hole, the opening having a reduced threaded portion where the shank is split, and a screw threaded in the reduced portion of said opening and having 4a head at its lower end operable to expand the shank, the shank having a reduced portion where it is split forming a neck and a head at the upper end of the shank engageable with the body, and a detachable cushion at the lower end of the tip normally closing said opening and having a part frictionally held in the hole in the tip.

GLENN A. HENDERSON. 'WILLIAM H. WINB ORNE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number .Name Date 253,011 Crowley Jan. 81, 1882 v280,485 Knapp July 3, 1883 435,215 Evans Aug. 26, 1890 876,734 Scott et al Jan. 14, 1908 1,077,836 Keresztfalvg Nov. 4, 1913 1,552,890 Soss Sept. 8, 1925 1,809,746 Decabert June 9, 1931 1,843,261 Bales Feb. 2, 1932 1,927,271 Noelting et al. e- Sept. 19, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS `Number Country Date 9,524 Norway May 28, 1901

Images