US2836188A - Utility cane for handicapped persons - Google Patents

Description

May 27, 1958 L. JORDAN UTILITY CANE FOR HANDICAPPED PERSONS Filed Feb. 14, 1955 United States Patent G UTILITY CANE FOR HANDICAPPED PERSONS Lee Jordan, Dayton, Ohio Application February 14, 1955, Serial No. 487,885

Claims. (Cl. 135-47) This invention relates to a new and novel highly improved utility cane for handicapped persons who either are not able to bend over for themselves or who have limited movement capacity or who are confined to a wheel chair so that they require full time attendance to their needs. The utility cane which constitutes the subject invention, moreover, incorporates a highly simplified and easily and quickly operable grasping mechanism of an improved nature. The grasping or pickup mechanism provided has a such a high degree of efiiciency and such a wide capacity as to range of operation as to promote a distinct advance in the art of aids to handicapped persons. And it definitely is an aid to their morale since it helps them to help themselves.

Many efforts have been made previously in the prior art to fabricate canes of a similar nature which would enable people who are incapacitated by paralysis or arthritic conditions or the like and who still have the use of their fingers to assist themselves by the use thereof in the picking up and handling of objects necessary for their immediate needs. But while these canes of the prior art are using and have employed pickup mechanisms utilizing complex gearing or linkage arrangements of a varied nature for control of a pickup finger associated therewith, each such arrangement has been inadequate and has been subject to mechanical deficiencies of a nature that no one of them has been truly successful or even sufficiently operative through a wide enough range of application to warrant its general adoption.

The present subject invention presents a lightweight utility cane which is practical in that the novelly improved pickup mechanism incorporated therein is positive acting and easily operable by a minimum finger control. Moreover, this pickup mechanism provided is the first to be truly successful. The improved cane is the first to have a positive capacity to tightly grasp and support objects with equal case even when they are of substantial Weight or minimum substance. This enables the handicapped person using the cane to no longer require the constant attention usually necessary to meet his immediate needs, such as picking up articles dropped or reaching for a pencil, paper, telephone book or the like. The positive grasping action eifected by the smooth, easy working, simplified grasping or pickup mechanism provided in the improved cane constituting the subject invention results in a practical advance in the art meriting wide recognition.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved, highly simplified utility cane for handicapped persons which incorporates a positively acting and easily operable pickup mechanism therein that enables a positive grasp and support of objects so grasped whether they have the most minimum of substance or the most substantial weight.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel utility cane for handicapped persons with a simplified and improved directly operable pickup finger incorporated therein which is so formed and so located and so directly 2,836,188 Patented May 27, 1958 controlled that an object may be grasped thereby with complete confidence and ease of control, regardless of the size, shape or form of the object so grasped.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those versed in the art from the following detailed description of a practical embodiment thereof, particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal view of the novel hollow utility cane shown partially in section to reveal the details of the operating components thereof.

Fig. 2 is an upper view of the bearing unit employed in the novel cane which aids in the sure positive action of the pickup control mechanism incorporated therein.

Fig. 3 shows a side view of the bearing unit shown in Fig. 2.

The invention can best be described with reference to the practical embodiment thereof illustrated in the drawings. Noting Fig. 1 thereof, the body 1 of the cane is shown to be of a hollow tubular nature and is preferably fabricated of aluminum or plastic material with the upper or handle end thereof bent into crook form. The extremity of the crook portion is closed by a plug 2. In the inner surface of the body 1 adjacent the crock portion thereof is an elongated slot 3 through which extends the operating end of a trigger arm 4 housed within the hollow tubular body 1. This arm 4 is preferably made of steel rod. The outer extending end of the rod or trigger arm 4 is at substantially right angles thereto and has an operating member 5 fixed thereto which has a trigger shape to easily accommodate the end of a finger of the person using the cane. The member 5 is fixed to the arm 4 by a pin. A substantially cylindrical bearing member 6 is fixed in the body 1 spaced from the lower end thereof. The bearing 6 has a longitudinally extending keyway or groove 7 in the outer surface thereof in which the lower extremity of the trigger arm 4 bears for movement longitudinally thereof between the bearing surface and the surface of the inner wall of the housing provided by body 1, as seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings. A pin 8 is threadedly and adjustably secured in one end of the bearing 6 adjacent the upwardly extending portion of the arm 4. A hook member 9 is welded to the arm 4 on the same side thereof as its outwardly extending portion and in a direction generally in the plane of and towards the pin 8 in the bearing 6, but substantially spaced therefrom. A spring 10 connects the hook member 9 and the pin 8 to normally bias the arm 4 downwardly and the operating member 5 thereof into engagement with the lower end of the slot 3 adjacent the crook portion of the body 1. The lower end of the trigger arm 4 has secured thereto by a pin 11 a rack member 12 arranged in longitudinally extending axial alignment therewith. The rack 12 thus normally bears in part in the groove 7 longitudinally of the bearing 6 along with the lower end of the trigger arm 4 and extends beyond the lower end of the bearing 6 to a point normally adjacent the lower end of the cane body 1. A graduated sloped groove 13 is provided in the body of the bearing 6 on the side thereof directly opposite the way or groove 7 therein. A pin 14 is provided transversely of the bearing 6 adjacent the lower end thereof and arranged to be located closely adjacent the central longitudinal axis of the bearing and the body 1. The pin 14 pivotally mounts a gear 15 thereon in meshing engagement with the rack 12 at all times. The gear 15 has a substantially rectangular portion thereof removed therefrom at its periphery in place of which is secured the inner end of a gently sloping finger member 16. The finger member 16 extends in the plane of the gear 15 and normally rests in its inoperative position in the sloped groove 13 in the bearing 6. A slot V ticularly with reference to the drawings.

i7 is provided a the win of the body i in' Hana the sloped groove 13 and extending to a'point adjacent the lower end of the body l past the finger 16 and clear of'the gear 15. This slot 17 is preferably aligned with 'the slot 3 in the body 1. An aluminum plug member 18 is inserted the lower end of the tubular body 1 and fixed therein; The rack 12 normally is inimrnediately adjacent relation to the plug 18 when in its normal unoperated condition. A rubber cup '19 frictionally mounts "on the plug member 18 to alford a protective cane tip finger .is engaged comfortably and easily in the trigger shaped operating member 5. An easy pressure of the finger against the member draws the trigger arm 4 upwardly of the cane body]. against the bias of the spring connecting it to the bearing 6. Since the lower end of the arm 4 bears snugly between the bearing 6 and the inner wall of the body 1 and since the integrally connected end of the rack 12 is also in the same ideal bearing condition, the operation of the trigger arm 4 and rack 12 is as a single securely bearing unit to give full mechanical efiiciency of movement and operation thereto.

Also, since there is a direct continuous positive mesh between the rack and the gear which is formed to be an integral part of the finger 16, the smooth positive operation of the rod and rack is efiected as one engagement with the cooperating cup member 18in a grasping action. The fact that the pivot pin 14 for the gear 15 is adjacent the central axis of the hollow body 1 shortens the travel of the finger and gives a more positive and snappier grasping action thereto. Moreover, in accordance with the invention embodiment, the pickup finger 16 is provided with an approximately 45 degree slope'at its outer extremity, which slope it has been discovered provides an additional pick up efficiency to the cane which assists in efliecting the substantial capabilities provided by the invention apparatus. Andthis benefit results particularly as employed in conjunction with the highly simplified and improved operating mechanism for and positioning of the finger element 16. Accordingly, as constructed in accordance with the invention, the cane provided herein may be used to pickup as little substance as a sheet of paper by placing the tip of the cane on the paper adjacent one edge thereof and by easily operating the finger member 5, due to the angle on the pickup finger 16 and the smooth positive action effected thereto, the pickup finger 16 easily clips the-sheet of paper to the cup element 19 and the cane may be drawn to'the'user to easily remove the paper by release of the trigger element. can be and has been employed to lift a telephone book or a pencil andthis, as all versed in the art willreco'gnize, gives a flexibility and range of applicationto the cane which provides a distinct advance in the art of as- 7' continuous motion and translated thusly through the gear said opening and provide trigger means thereon, theother end of said rod having a rack'member pinned Just as efiiciently the novel. cane I costs generally incidental to the use of the inefiicient dew'ces of the prior art which are directed tothe same application. 7 V

While a single embodiment and application of the V invention has been presented herein, many other modi fications and applications ofthe invention will be readily apparent therefor to those versed in the art and such are considered to'be within the forth herein.

I claim: r

a l. A utility cane for handicapped persons comprising,

ing spaced from the lower end thereof, a trigger arm extending longitudinally within the housing and having means at the upper end thereof extending outwardly of the housing through said slot, a' groove in the surface of said bearing, said arm bearing in saidv groove between said bearing and the inner surface of said housing wall,

a spring member connecting said arm and said bearing and normally biasing said arm towards the lower end of said housing means, a rack member integrally connected to said trigger arm forming an extension thereof,

a gear pivotally connected to said bearing in a bifurcation adjacent the lower end thereof and having the pivot axisythereof in closely'adjacent relation to the central longitudinal axis of said housing means, a pickup finger extending from said gear in the plane thereof, a groove meansof a sloped nature in the surface of said bearing at a position opposite the first mentioned groove, said finger normally nesting in said sloped groove, said gear being in continuous mesh with said rack, and slip resistant means on the lower end of said housing means for cooperation with said fingerwhereby on actuation of said trigger arm by a smooth easy engagement of its outwardly extending means, the motion applied thereto against the spring bias thereonis directly translated through said gearto rotate said finger throughan arc of approximately degrees to elfect a sure quickcfiicient grasping means thereby in conjunction with said slip resistant means to grasp and effect a positive supportof objects whether of minimum substance or of substantial V substance.

2. A utility cane for handicapped person s comprising a hollow cylindrical housing including a handle portion angularly related thereto at the up er end thereof, said within said housing having one end bent to. project through thereto formingan axial extension thereof and normally engaging to the lower extremity of said housing, an opening in the wall of said housing adjacent the lower extremity thereof, a bearing for said rod and connected rack containing them to the inner wall of said housing, a pick-up arm pivoted to' the lower extremity of said hearing within said lower opening in said housing and geared to said rack, a spring connecting said rod and said bearing and normally biasing said rod. and rack to the lower extremity of said housing to normally dispose said arm in a vertically open position whereby on direct line movement of said rod said pick-up arm will be snapped to 2. depending closing position.

3. A utility cane for handicapped persons comprising a hollow cylindrical housing including a handleportion angularly related thereto at the upper end thereof, said housing having an opening adjacent to and spaced from said handle portion, a unitary rod extending longitudinally within said housing'having one end bent to project through said opening and provide trigger means thereon/the other normally biasing said rod and rack to the lower extremity scope ofthe invention asset of said housing to normally dispose said arm in a vertically open position whereby on direct line movement or" said rod said pick-up arm will be snapped to a depending closing position, and a rubber cover means on the lower extremity of said housing for a frictional co-operation with said pick-up arm, said arm being mounted for pivotal movement relative said bearing through an arc of ap proximately 150.

4. A utility cane for handicapped persons comprising a hollow cylindrical housing including a handle portion at the upper end thereof, said housing having an opening therein adjacent to and spaced from said handle portion, a unitary rod extending longitudinally within said housing having means at one end projecting through said opening to provide trigger means thereby, the other end of said rod having a rack member fixed thereto forming an axial extension thereof and normally engaging to the lower extremity of said housing, an opening in the wall of said housing adjacent the lower extremity thereof, a bearing for said rod and connected rack nesting said rod in one face thereof and containing it to the inner wall of said housing thereby, a pick-up arm pivoted to the lower extremity of said bearing within a bifurcation thereof and operatively connected to said rack, a spring respectively connected to said bearing at the end thereof opposite said arm and to said rod to normally bias said rod to the lower extremity of said housing, a channel in the opposite face of said bearing relative the rod nesting face, and said arm being normally disposed vertically within said channel, whereby on actuation of said rod in direct line movement said arm will snap to its extending closing or engaging position.

5. A utility cane for handicapped persons comprising a hollow cylindrical housing including a handle at the upper end thereof, said housing having an opening adjacent to and spaced from said handle, a unitary rod structure extending longitudinally within said housing to have one end projecting through said opening and the other end have a driving means pinned thereto forming an axial extension thereof, normally reaching to the lower extremity of said housing, an opening in the wall of said housing adjacent the lower extremity thereof, a bearing for said rod and connected driving means nesting and containing them to the inner wall of said housing, a pick-up arm pivoted to the lower extremity of said bearing within a bifurcation for guided pivoting relative thereto, gear means connecting said arm to said driving means, said arm being disposed thereby in a vertical open position whereby on direct line movement of said rod said arm will be moved to a closing and engaging position relative the lower extremity of said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,050,124 Greeno Jan. 14, 1913 1,905,076 Van Sciver Apr. 25, 1933 2,346,038 Mason Apr. 4, 1944

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