Patent ID: 6058953
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: A45B

Abstract:
An articulable walking aid for assisting a walker, the walking aid comprising:a hollow shaft having a top segment and a bottom segment respectively defining a top end and a bottom end;the top end supporting a handle configured for grasping by a hand of a walker and the bottom end having a slip resistant butt end to facilitate engagement with a desired walking surface;an actuating mechanism extending outwardly from an aperture in the hollow shaft located adjacent the top end of the shaft;an articulating arm extending outwardly from an opening in the hollow shaft located adjacent the bottom end of the shaft;an actuating rod being positioned within the hollow shaft, the actuating rod extending generally along a longitudinal axis of the walking aid and coupling the actuating mechanism to the articulating arm;the articulating arm having a curvilinear range of motion such that activation of the actuating mechanism by the walker initiates a curvilinear sweeping of the articulating arm from a retracted, biased position to an extended, object engaging position;the top and bottom segments are separate elements that telescopically engage with one another to facilitate a length adjustment of the hollow shaft;a locking mechanism for securing the top and bottom telescoping segments in a fixed relative position; andthe actuating rod has an adjustment mechanism to contemporaneously compensate for any adjustment in length of the top and bottom segments to maintain continued coupling of the actuating mechanism with the articulating arm.