US578471A

US578471A - Electrical cane

Info

Publication number: US578471A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1897-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 1914-03-09

Description

(No Model.)

W. -N. SHERMAN.

ELECTRICAL CANE.

N0. 578,471. Patented Mar. 9,1897.

' paratus.

to get out of working order.

the coils can be varied according to the current eifect or the tension desired. provement may be applied to canes with or UNITE STATES PATENT FFICE.

WALTER N. SHERMAN, OF MEROED, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRICAL CAN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,471, dated March 9, 1897. Application filed April 2, 1896. Serial No. 585,875. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER N. SHERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Merced, in the county of Merced and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Canes; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in walking-canes.

It has for its objects, among others, to provide a walking cane or stick combining therewith a novel, practical, and portable faradic battery. It is intended primarily for the use of physicians. Of course it will be understood that it can be used and applied by any one, being made on well-known electrical and scientific principles. The contents of the cane or walking-stick comprise small galvanic cells, known as dry cells, in which is generated the electric current for actuating or setting up the action in the primary and secondary faradic coils or induction ap- The latter is made in accordance with well-known physical laws governing the construction of all similar apparatus, as are also the electrical connections from the battery or the cells. The induction apparatus is supported within the cane by a skeleton cylinder adapted to slide therein or otherwise arranged so as to be readily removed when desired. The cells are also so arranged that any desired number, from one to six, may be used, and they also can be readily removed and replaced when occasion requires. It is always ready for instant use and is not liable The length of The imwithont crooked handles.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the let ters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates a cane of any desired material and form, being shown as provided at its end with a ferrule a,of metal,held thereon in any suitable manner,as by screw-threading. The cane in this instance is shown as provided with a handle at right angles to the length thereof, but it is evident that this is not necessary, as the improvement may be applied to canes in which this handle portion is not present. The metal electrodes B and B are nested and fit on a skeleton frame B terminating at the shoulders 1) within the handle portion of the cane and locked in position by any suitable means, as, for instance, a slot and set-screw b. These metal electrodes and cylinder are a part of the handle of the cane when in position, as shown, and when detached form the electrodes for the battery. On the inside thereof are the battery-cords b and two small sponges b for use with the same and for applying current to the human body in the ordinarymanner. b is an opening in the end for the attachment of the battery-cords.

The body portion of the cane and a part of the handle also contain complete faradic induction-coils constructed on well-known principles of electromagnets and induction-coils.

O is the central core of soft iron.

0 is the primary coil of coarse wire, and C the secondary coil of fine wire.

0 is a metallic tube arranged between the primary and secondary coils and adapted to slide within the space therebetween, and

when drawn out, as illustrated in Fig. 2, it increases the current or the inductive action of the coils.

D is the interrupter, and D the arm which supports the adjusting or regulating screw D adapted to cooperate with said interrupter in the usual way.

E, E, and E are the poles or connections for the battery-cords, E and E being connected with the primary current and E and E with the secondary current.

Within the body of the cane are arranged two small dry cells F and F, ordinary capsule-cells, one or both of which are connected with and actuate the coils.

G is a space near the lower end of the cane for the reception of additional cells, extra electrodes, or other paraphernalia which it may be desired to carry.

In Fig. 2 the handle-electrodes are shown as removed from the handle and applied ready for action in the hands of the patient.

H is a switch, of well-known construction and operation, arranged for closing or opening the circuit of the battery, starting and stopping the action of the same when desired. The coils may be supported by skeleton arms I, of thin steel or other suitable material and fitting snugly in the upper part of the cylinder or body portion of the cane.

The convenience and advantages of a combined cane and electric battery constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore specified will be readily appreciated. The handles can be removed in a moment and connections made and the battery set up for use. The connections of the cells to the coils are made in the usual way, and the cells can be renewed at small cost when exhausted. The cylinders may be straight or tapered and of various sizes suited to the coils and cells, and the tube, the cylinder, or cane may be made of metal or any other desired substance, such as wood, hard rubber, or paper. The size and length of the wire and winding of the coil may be varied according to the strength of the current and the purpose for which it is to be used.

Modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What I claim as new is- 1. A walkingstick having a chamber therein and a hollow handle,combined with an electric battery, the parts of which are arranged within said chamber and nested metallic electrodes attached to the handle of the cane, and forming a part thereof, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination with a walking-stick, of a cylinder forming a part of the handle thereof, carrying the electrodes and the cords and the sponges, and the cells and coils and connections arranged within the body portion of the cane, substantially as specified.

3. The combination with a walking-stick, of a cylinder forming part of the handle thereof, carrying the electrodes, and the cords and the sponges, and the cells and coils and connections arranged within the body portion of the cane, and detachably and removably supported therein, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a cane having a chamber therein, of the primary and secondary coils and their supports, and the cells within said cane, the interrupter and adjusting-screw, and the removable cylinder carry- WALTER N. SHERMAN.

"Witnesses:

N. M. A. CODY, O. W. LEFFLER.