WO2003047381A1

WO2003047381A1 - Device for a walking aid

Info

Publication number: WO2003047381A1
Application number: PCT/EP2002/013516
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jörg PIEGZA
Original assignee: Piegza Joerg
Priority date: 2001-12-01
Filing date: 2002-11-29
Publication date: 2003-06-12
Also published as: DE20119621U1; AU2002358568A1; DE10295563D2

Abstract

Displayed is a device for a walking aid, comprising an arbor and an electric motor interacting with said arbor to move the latter.

Description

DEVICE FOR A HELPER

DESCRIPTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for walking aids with an electrically retractable and extendable mandrel.

Background of the Invention

Walking aids such as Walking sticks, medical supports, crutches, walking frames and the like with at least one end provided for support on the ground are used in order to offer people a secure hold and to support them or enable them to walk. In addition to walking aids that are used in the leisure sector, such as Hunting, mountain, and hiking poles, it is essential, especially with walking aids for people with limited mobility and walking difficulties, that the support that can be achieved with a walking aid on the ground is safe and stable. The support on the ground that can be achieved with a walking aid essentially depends on whether an area (“walking stick tip”) of a walking aid provided for contact with or for support on the ground is adapted to the respective surface. For example, walking aids used in the leisure sector usually have a metallic tip, which provides good support on rocky or soft ground, but can easily slip away when used on a smooth, hard surface. On the other hand, walking aids for people with restricted movement or walking difficulties are usually provided with ends provided with plastic or rubber, which enable safe support in floor conditions as they occur in everyday life (e.g. asphalt on sidewalks, carpets, wood and tile floors).

A problem with conventional walking aids is that their areas intended to be supported with the ground are usually optimized for certain ground conditions, but do not offer a secure hold for different ground conditions.

In order to solve this problem, it is possible to provide different walking aids or different walking aid ends for different ground conditions. this has the disadvantage that a user has to use different walking aids or different walking aid ends depending on the ground conditions, ie in principle he would have to carry them with him, since statements about the expected ground conditions are often not possible in advance.

In order to solve this problem, walking aids are known which have domes, tips or the like that can be mechanically extended and retracted at their lower end (“pole tip”).

From CH 6032 a stick with a movable tip is known, which is formed at the lower end of a steel rod that can be moved inside the stick. When the tip is retracted, the steel rod is pretensioned within the stick by means of a spring. In order to extend the tip, the handle of the stick has to be turned, which releases a locking of the steel rod and moves it downwards by the spring force. The tip is extended from the stick. To lock the steel rod or tip in this state, the handle is turned back to its original position. To retract the tip or steel rod, the handle must be turned again to release the steel rod again. In order to move the steel rod and thus the tip against the spring force into the stick, it must be loaded by a user. By turning the handle to its original position, the steel rod can then be locked in the inserted position. The disadvantage here is that an unintentional rotation of the stick handle can lead to an undesired release of the steel rod and thus to an undesired extension or retraction of the tip. Another disadvantage of this stick is that a pin used to lock the steel rod must absorb all the forces that act on the steel rod in its longitudinal direction when the tip is extended.

US-3,901,258 discloses an adapter attachable to the end of a walking stick with a tip held in a retracted position by spring force. To extend the tip, the tip is moved out of the adapter against the spring force. A pin protruding laterally from the adapter is used for this, which can be moved in an L-shaped guide. The disadvantage here is that the pin to be actuated for moving the tip is arranged at the end of the walking stick, ie close to the floor, which can make it more difficult to operate, particularly for people with restricted mobility. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that the tip will be securely held in its extended position, as torsi acting on the tip forces can cause the actuating pin to shift in the L-shaped guide so that the spring pulls the tip back again.

AT-393 216B and DE 39 05 319 C2 disclose a crutch with a retractable and retractable ice spike, which is arranged at the lower end of a rod guided inside the crutch. To move the rod or to retract and extend the ice mandrel arranged thereon, a locking device formed by a pin loaded by a radially inwardly acting leaf spring must be released. A disadvantage is that the rod and thus the ice thorn can be pushed into the crutch when it is loaded, since the forces generated by the leaf spring holding the pin in its locking position can be overcome.

A disadvantage of known walking aids, which are equipped with retractable and extendable tips and the like, is the operation, which is complex for users, for moving the tips. Furthermore, known walking aids do not offer the possibility of steplessly controlling the extendable length of tips.

Object of the invention

In general, the object of the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantages described above of known walking aids with retractable and extendable tips. In particular, the present invention is intended to provide solutions which enable the tips of walking aids to be retracted and extended in a user-friendly manner. Furthermore, the present invention is intended to prevent forces acting on tips of walking aids from changing their positioning.

Brief description of the invention

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a device for a walking aid which has a mandrel and an electric motor which is operatively connected to the mandrel for moving it. Movements are understood here in particular to be the retraction and extension of the mandrel on the walking aid.

In particular, the mandrel can have a thread on which the electric motor acts to move the mandrel. The device according to the invention preferably comprises a guide sleeve in order to arrange the mandrel and the electric motor and possibly further components described below in the lower part of a walking aid. The guide sleeve for connection to the walking aid can have an external thread. To support the free end of the lower part of the walking aid (end of the walking aid), the guide sleeve can have a shoulder running in the circumferential direction.

For energy supply and / or control of the device according to the invention and in particular of the electric motor, provision is made to arrange a controllable energy supply in the grip part of the walking aid, preferably by means of a switch which is also to be arranged there. If accumulators and the like are to be used as the energy supply, it is advantageous if a connection socket for the external energy supply is arranged in the grip part of the walking aid.

In order to indicate to a user of the walking aid whether the spike is extended or retracted, an optical and / or acoustic display device can be used. In the case of an optical display device, it is preferred to arrange it in the grip part of the walking aid.

For example, in order to recognize the extended state of the mandrel and to control a display device accordingly, it is provided to use contacts arranged on the operative connection between the electric motor and the mandrel or the electric motor on the one hand and on the lower part or on the guide sleeve on the other hand. A fixed contact is preferably used on the lower part or on the guide sleeve, while the contact provided on the operative connection or on the electric motor is movable relative to the latter.

To control and / or supply power to the electric motor, electrical lines can be arranged in the walking aid.

In a preferred embodiment, the mandrel has an internal thread which interacts in operative connection with an external thread of a connection between the electric motor and the mandrel.

In a further preferred embodiment, the operative connection is a connection which is variable in length and is fastened between the electric motor and the mandrel. This can be done, for example, with a direct connection of the mandrel to the output side of the electric motor or one of the shafts arranged between them.

In the case of the last-mentioned embodiment, the mandrel is preferably arranged in the guide sleeve or the lower part of the walking aid in a rotationally secured manner, but can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the guide sleeve or the lower part of the walking aid.

To secure the mandrel against rotation relative to the walking aid, at least one device, such as e.g. a pin, and / or a suitable cross-sectional shape of the mandrel can be used.

To absorb forces that act on the mandrel, the connection between the latter and the electric motor can be designed such that it is supported on the lower part of the walking aid or on the guide sleeve. For this purpose, the connection can have an area of larger cross-section, collar, flange or the like, which on the one hand takes up forces acting on the mandrel, preferably in all directions, and on the other hand allows the connection to rotate relative to the lower part or the guide sleeve.

In another preferred embodiment, the mandrel has an external thread which is operatively connected to an internal thread of the guide sleeve.

Here, the operative connection between the electric motor and the mandrel can be a variable-length connection, e.g. comprises at least two sleeves which are longitudinally displaceable relative to one another and have cross-sectional shapes which prevent the same from rotating relative to one another. Here, the electric motor is fastened in the guide sleeve or the lower part of the walking aid.

Alternatively, a connection that is variable in length can be used as the operative connection between the electric motor and the mandrel. This can be done for example with a direct connection of the mandrel to the output side of the electric motor or one of the shafts arranged between them. Here, the electric motor is rotatably arranged in the guide sleeve or the lower part of the walking aid, but is movable in the longitudinal direction of the guide sleeve or the lower part of the walking aid.

Brief description of the figures In the following description of preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying figures, in which:

1 is a schematic representation of a walking aid in the form of a sick support,

2 shows a schematic illustration of a mandrel according to the invention,

3 shows schematic representations of exemplary alternative designs of the tip of the mandrel according to the invention from FIG. 2,

4 shows a schematic cross-sectional illustration of a guide sleeve according to the invention with the mandrel from FIG. 2 arranged therein,

5 shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of an embodiment of the device according to the invention for a walking aid,

6 shows a schematic cross-sectional illustration of a rubber capsule provided for arrangement at the lower end of the device according to the invention from FIG. 5,

7 shows a schematic cross-sectional illustration of the grip part of the walking aid from FIG. 1 with a power supply for the device according to the invention from FIG. 5,

8 shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of a further embodiment of the device according to the invention for a walking aid,

9 shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of the grip part of the walking aid from FIG. 1 with a power supply and a display device for the device according to the invention from FIG. 8,

10 and 11 are schematic cross-sectional representations of further embodiments of the device according to the invention for a walking aid,

12 is a schematic representation of a rotation lock for the embodiments of FIGS. 10 and 11,

13 shows a schematic cross-sectional illustration of a further embodiment of the device according to the invention for a walking aid, and 14 and 15 are schematic cross-sectional representations of further embodiments of the device according to the invention for a walking aid.

Description of preferred embodiments

Fig. 1 shows schematically a walking aid 1 in the form of a sick support or crutch, which has a handle part 2, a middle part 4 and a lower part 6. The middle part 4 is connected to the handle part 2, whereas the lower part 6 is slidably guided in the middle part 4 in order to adjust the length of the walking aid 1. The middle part 4 and the lower part 6 can be secured to one another in a known manner after adjusting the length of the walking aid 1. At the lower end of the lower part 6, a rubber capsule 8 is arranged, which ensures a secure support by means of the walking aid 1 in normal ground conditions.

In order to deal with poor soil conditions, e.g. The rubber capsule 8 is normally not sufficient to provide ice, snow, soft ground, gravel and the like for secure support. In such cases, a mandrel 10, shown schematically in FIG. 2, is used, which in the extended state serves as the tip of the walking aid 1. The mandrel 10 has a tip 12 at its lower end, which differs from FIG. 2 as schematically in FIG. 3 can be shaped.

The mandrel 10 is provided with an external thread 14, the upper end of which is delimited by a head 16. The mandrel 10 is arranged by means of the operative connection of its external thread 14 with an internal thread 18 of a guide sleeve 20 at the lower end thereof. By relative rotation of the mandrel 10 and the guide sleeve 20, the mandrel 10 can be moved relative to the guide sleeve 20 in the longitudinal direction thereof. The head 16 prevents the mandrel 10 from being able to be screwed out of the guide sleeve 20 in the direction of the lower end thereof.

The guide sleeve 20 has an external thread 22 with which it can be screwed into the lower part 6. Alternatively, it is provided that the guide sleeve 20 is glued, soldered, welded to the lower part 6 and the like. A shoulder 24 extending in the circumferential direction of the guide sleeve 20 serves for support at the free end of the lower part 6. Advantageously, the outer diameter of the shoulder 24 corresponds to that Outside diameter of the lower end of the lower part 6. As in 5, the guide sleeve 20 with the mandrel 10 arranged therein is arranged in the lower part 6 of the walking aid 1.

It is further shown in FIG. 5 that an electric motor 26 is arranged at the upper end of the guide sleeve 20. The electric motor 26 can be pressed into the guide sleeve 20, welded in, soldered in, glued in, screwed in and the like. The electric motor 26 is supplied or controlled with energy via electrical lines 28. On the output side, electric motor 26 is connected to mandrel 10 by means of a connection 30, 32. The electric motor 26 advantageously has an integrated transmission (not shown). Alternatively or in addition, an external gear, also not shown, can also be used.

The connection 30, 32 between the electric motor 26 and the mandrel 10 is such that, depending on the operation of the electric motor 26, the mandrel 10 due to the operative connection of the threads 14 and 18 from the lower end of the guide sleeve 20 and thus from the lower end of the Bottom part 6 or unscrewed from the rubber capsule 8 or screwed in in the opposite direction.

In the embodiment shown, the connection between the electric motor 26 and the mandrel 10 consists of two tubes 30 and 32 which can be pushed into one another and which have different cross sections in the longitudinal direction. The different cross sections enable the tubes 30 and 32 to be displaced relative to one another when the mandrel 10 is screwed in or out due to an operation of the electric motor 26. In order to transmit rotations of the electric motor 26 to the mandrel 10, the tubes 30 and 32 can have, for example, a triangular, square, pentagonal, etc. cross section.

The use of the threads 14 and 18 ensures on the one hand a continuous adjustability of the extent to which the mandrel 10 is extended. This makes it possible, depending on the prevailing ground conditions, to continuously adjust the support on the ground that can be reached with the walking aid 1. On the other hand, forces acting on the dome 10 are absorbed by the thread pairing 14 and 18 and thus by the guide sleeve 20 or by the lower part 6 surrounding it. This increases the mechanical stability and reliability, since components used to move the mandrel 10 are kept force-free with regard to forces acting on the extended end of the mandrel 10. Furthermore, for example by ne corresponding selected thread pairing of the threads 14 and 18 prevents the mandrel 10 from being moved upward when the walking aid 1 is loaded.

In contrast to a conventional walking aid, the rubber capsule 8 used here is provided with an opening 30 through which the mandrel 10 can be extended. In order to give the rubber capsule 8 improved mechanical stability, it is provided, as shown in FIG. 6, to arrange a stiffening 36 in the rubber capsule 8. The stiffening 36 can be a metal disk, for example.

To control and supply power to the electric motor 26, an energy supply 38 is arranged in the handle part 2 of the walking aid 1, as shown in FIG. 7. The energy supply 38, for example in the form of batteries or accumulators, is connected to the electric motor 26 via the electrical lines 28. In the case of a rechargeable energy supply 38, a connection socket 40 is provided in order to supply the energy required for charging to the energy supply 38.

The electric motor 26 is controlled by means of a switch 42. The switch 42, for example in the form of a three-stage rocker, pushbutton or rotary switch, makes it possible to supply the electric motor 26 with energy in such a way that the electric motor 26 rotates in one direction, does not rotate or rotates in the opposite direction. For example, a two-pole button with center zero position can be used, the rocker of which is advantageously aligned in the longitudinal direction of the walking aid 1. When the button is in its zero position, i.e. is not actuated, the electric motor 26 supplied no energy. If the upper half of the button is actuated, the mandrel 10 is retracted, the power supply to the electric motor 26 being interrupted when the button is released and the movement of the mandrel 10 thus being ended. If the lower half of the button is actuated, the mandrel 10 is extended, the energy supply to the electric motor 26 being interrupted when the button is released and the movement of the mandrel 10 thus being ended.

The arrangement of the power supply and control for the electric motor 26 in the handle part 2 has several advantages. On the one hand, a user of the walking aid 1 can move the mandrel 10 in a simple manner. Furthermore, conventional walking aids can be equipped with the mandrel 10 and the components used with it. For example, in the case of an existing walking aid, it is only necessary to replace its grip part by the grip part 2 with the power supply and control unit accommodated therein, by means of the existing top and bottom parts the electrical - lo ¬

to lead lines 28 and to arrange the existing sleeve, as shown in Fig. 5, the guide sleeve 20 and the components used with it. Instead of replacing the entire handle part of a walking aid, it is provided to integrate the power supply and control in a module that is accommodated in the handle 2 ^'of the handle part 2. Grips of walking aids are usually hollow and accessible when a fastener, usually in the form of a reflector or cat's eye, is removed.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 can be used to indicate to a user of the walking aid 1 whether the mandrel 10 has been extended or retracted. In addition to the components 8 to 32 shown in FIG. 5 and described there, 32 contacts 44 and 46 are arranged on the inside of the guide sleeve 20 and on the connection 30. When the mandrel 10 is extended to a certain extent, for example fully extended, the contacts 44 and 46 close a circuit with which an optical and / or acoustic display device is controlled.

In the embodiment shown, the contact 44 comprises two designated contacts, not separately shown in the figure, which are each connected to a pole of the power supply 38. These contacts, for example in the form of two semicircular disks, project inwards from the inside of the guide sleeve 20. The contact 46 here is a perforated disk, through the hole of which the connection 30, 32 is guided. The contact 46 is arranged to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the guide sleeve 20 along the connection 30, 32. When the mandrel 10 is in its retracted position, the contact 46 rests on the head 16 and is separated from the contact 44. When mandrel 10 is extended, contact 46 with mandrel 10 moves down until it rests on contact 44. This closes the circuit and activates an existing display device. If an optical display device is bright enough, in addition to its actual function, it can also serve as safety lighting or visual lighting ("integrated flashlight"). With a corresponding dimensioning, it is possible to move the mandrel 10 only slightly from its retracted position and thereby activate the optical display device. This makes it possible to use the additional function (s) of the optical display device irrespective of whether the mandrel 10 is extended so far that it can actually interact with the surface or not. In the case of an acoustic display device, it is advantageous if it only emits a signal tone or a series of signal tones when contacts 44 and 46 are closed. In contrast, when contacts 44 and 46 are closed, in the case of an optical display device, this can be operated continuously.

A lamp, lamp or light-emitting diode 48 arranged in the grip part 2 of the walking aid 1 can be used as the optical display device, for example, as in FIG. The optical display device 48 is advantageously also powered by the energy supply 38 when the contacts 44 and 46 are closed in order to enable energy to be supplied to the optical display device 48 via electrical lines (not shown).

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the mandrel 10 has an internal thread 48, which interacts with an external thread 50 of a connection 52. The connection 52 is connected on the output side to the electric motor 26 and can be rotated by the latter.

The connection 52 has a region 54 with an enlarged cross section. The area 54 serves to support the connection 52 in order to exert forces acting on the mandrel. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the mandrel 10 and components used therewith are arranged in the lower part 6 of the walking aid 1, while in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 these are arranged in a guide sleeve 60 which is fastened in the lower part 6 of the walking aid 1. Accordingly, the support in the embodiment of FIG. 10 takes place on the lower part 6 and in the embodiment of FIG. 11 on the guide sleeve 60.

In order to also provide support in the longitudinal direction of the lower part 6 or the guide sleeve 60, supports 56 and 58 extending transversely to the longitudinal direction are arranged on the inside of the lower part 6 or other inside of the guide sleeve 60. The supports 56 and 58 can be designed, for example, in the form of shoulders, collars, flanges, noses and the like. Advantageously, the areas of the support formed by the area 54 and the areas of the lower part 6 or the guide sleeve 60 and, if present, the areas of the support 56 and 58 which can engage or can engage on one another have a surface texture, the rotations of the Do not obstruct connection 52. For this purpose, for example, sliding coatings, surfaces with less roughness speed etc. can be used. In an embodiment that is not shown, these areas at least partially have bearings, for example slide, roller or roller bearings.

In order to move (retract or extend) the mandrel 10 when the electric motor 26 is actuated and due to the resulting rotation of the connection 52, the mandrel 10 is opposite the lower part 6 (FIG. 10) or relative to the guide sleeve 60 (FIG. 11 ) secured against rotation. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, at least one pin 62 is used for this, which is fastened to the outside of the mandrel 10 and into a recess, not shown, for example in the form of a groove, of the lower part 6 or the Guide sleeve 60 engages, which extends in the longitudinal direction.

To secure the mandrel 10 against rotation, as shown in FIG. 12, as an alternative or in addition to a rotation lock by means of a pin, a rotation lock can be used due to positive locking. In the form-fitting rotation lock shown in FIG. 12, it is used that the cross section of the lower part 6 or of the guide sleeve 60 arranged therein has a shape deviating from a circular shape.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, forces acting on the mandrel 10 are absorbed by the lower part 6 in the embodiment of FIG. 10 and by the guide sleeve 60 in the embodiment of FIG. 11. In the embodiment of FIG. 11, it is therefore advantageous if the guide sleeve 60, comparable to the shoulder 24 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, has a shoulder 64 for support at the lower end of the lower part 6.

In order to recognize the positions of the mandrel 10, the contacts 44 and 46 in each of these embodiments can be seen at the connection 52 and the mandrel 10 or, as seen in FIG. 11, at the connection 52 and the Be arranged inside the lower part 6 or the guide sleeve 60.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 13 has some components described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 9, for which the same reference numerals are used. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the motor 26 is connected directly to the mandrel 10 by a variable-length connection 66. The motor 26 is arranged in a running sleeve 68 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the guide sleeve 20 or the lower part 6. By means of a rotation lock, which is comparable to the rotation lock of the pin 10 of the embodiments of FIGS. 10 and 11 may be, the motor 26 is secured against rotation in the sleeve 68. When the motor 26 is activated, the mandrel 10 is screwed in or out due to the thread pairing 14 and 18, the motor 26 moving downwards or upwards in the barrel sleeve 68.

The contacts 44 and 46 are actuated by means of a contact breaker 70 arranged on the upper side of the motor 26. In particular, it is provided that the contacts 44 and 46 are designed and act as explained with reference to FIG. 8. However, it is not necessary here that the contact 46 is designed as a perforated disk. Rather, a full disk or plate can be used.

The embodiments shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 have some components described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12, for which the same reference numerals are used. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, too, the motor 26 is connected directly to the mandrel 10 by a connection 72 that is variable in length. The motor 26 is also arranged to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the guide sleeve 60 or the lower part 6, for which purpose, however, an external thread 74 arranged on the electric motor 26 and an internal thread 76 arranged on the inside of the lower part 6 or the guide sleeve 60 serve for this purpose. The mandrel 10 is secured against rotation by means of the rotation lock 62 and / or a rotation lock (not shown) on the connection 72. When the motor 26 is activated, it moves down or up due to the interaction of the threads 74 and 76 and the rotation lock 62, as a result of which the mandrel 10 is screwed in or out.

Apart from the statements made specifically with reference to FIGS. 10 to 15, the statements made above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 also apply to these embodiments.

Claims

1. Device for a walking aid (1), with a mandrel (10), and an electric motor (26) which is operatively connected to move the mandrel (10)

(30,32; 52; 66; 72) stands with this.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the mandrel (10) has a thread (14, 48) on which the electric motor (26) acts to move the mandrel (10).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, with a guide sleeve (20; 60) for arrangement in the lower part (6) of the walking aid (1),

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the guide sleeve (20; 60) has an external thread (22) for connection to the walking aid (1).

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the guide sleeve (20; 60) has a circumferentially extending shoulder (24;

62) for support at the free end of the lower part (6) of the walking aid (1).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, with a controllable energy supply for the electric motor (26) to be arranged in the handle part (2) of the walking aid (1).

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the mandrel (10) has at its lower end at least a tip, a serrated end or an end with at least one recess extending upwards.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, with a in the handle part (2) of the walking aid (1) to be arranged switch (42) for controlling the electric motor (26).

9. The device according to claim 7 or 8, with a connection socket (40) to be arranged in the grip part (2) of the walking aid (1) for the external energy supply of the energy supply (38) of the electric motor (26).

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, with an in the handle part (2) of the walking aid (1) to be arranged optical display device (48) for displaying the position of the mandrel (10).

11. The device according to claim 10, with a on the operative connection (30, 32; 52; 66; 72) between the electric motor (26) and the mandrel (10) movably arranged contact (46) for controlling the optical display device (48), or a contact (46) movable by the electric motor (76).

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, with in the walking aid to be arranged electrical lines (28) power supply and / or control of the electric motor (26).

13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the mandrel (10) has an internal thread (48), and the operative connection comprises a connection (52) with an external thread (50) which is connected to the internal thread (48) of the mandrel (10) interacts.

14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the operative connection comprises a variable-length connection (72) between the electric motor (26) and the mandrel (10).

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the electric motor (26) has an external thread (74) which cooperates with an internal thread (76) of the lower part (6) or the guide sleeve (60).

16. The device according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the mandrel (10) has at least one device (62) to prevent rotation of the mandrel (10) relative to the walking aid (1), or the mandrel (10) one Has cross-sectional shape to prevent rotation of the mandrel (10) relative to the walking aid (1) by means of a positive connection

17. The device according to one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the connection (52) has a region (54) which is supported on the lower part (6) or on the guide sleeve (60).

18. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein: the guide sleeve (20) has an internal thread (18), and the mandrel (10) has an external thread (14) which is operatively connected to the internal thread (18).

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the operative connection between the electric motor (26) and the dome (10) is formed by a variable-length connection (66).

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the electric motor (26) in a running sleeve (68) in the longitudinal direction of the walking aid (1) is movably arranged.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the operative connection between the electric motor (26) and the mandrel (10) is formed by a variable-length connection (30,32).

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the electric motor (26) in the guide sleeve (20) is fixed.

23. Device for a walking aid, with a guide sleeve (20) for arrangement in the lower part (6) of a walking aid (1), the guide sleeve (20) having an internal thread (18) at its lower end, a mandrel (10) with a External thread (14), which is operatively connected to the internal thread (18), and an electric motor (26), which is mechanically connected to the mandrel (10) for rotating it.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the mechanical connection between the electric motor (26) and the mandrel (10) is formed by two sleeves (30, 32) which are longitudinally displaceable relative to one another and have cross-sectional shapes, the rotations of the sleeves (30, 32) prevent relative to each other.

25. The device according to claim 23 or 24, with the features according to one of claims 4 to 12.

26. Walking aid with the device according to one of claims 1 to 25.