Abstract:
The present invention discloses a survival tool that can be used as a spear, a crutch, a walking stick, or in pairs as a stretcher. The present invention discloses an elongated rod like device being segmented with each segment having a specific purpose or use. Segments are provided to serve as a spear, a flare, a strobe light, and, for other purposes.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of survival tools, more particularly, to a combination survival tool/walking stick that can be used as a spear, a crutch, a walking stick, or, in pairs as a stretcher. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Survival tools have been described in the prior art. Additionally, spears, crutches, stretchers, and walking sticks have been described in the prior art. However, none of the prior art discloses the unique combination of features of the present invention. Although the prior art survival devices may have been suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses a survival tool, which can be used as a spear, a crutch, a walking stick, or in pairs as a stretcher. The present invention discloses an elongated rod like device being segmented with each segment having a specific purpose or use. Segments are provided to serve as a spear, a flare, a strobe light, and, for other purposes. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a combination survival tool, which can serve as a spear, a crutch, a walking stick, or in pairs as a stretcher. An object of the present invention is to provide a combination tool, which can be used by an outdoorsman for multiple purposes. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a tool, which will make hiking and general outdoorsmanship safer. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the description to follow. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side detail view of an assembled walking stick. 
     FIG. 2 is a side detail view of the assembled crutch section. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the assembled spear tool. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective detail view of an assembled stretcher. 
     FIG. 5 is a detail cross-sectional view of the triggered spear casing section. 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the spear driver section with piston. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of a cane or crutch end section. 
     FIG. 8 is a front detail view of the cane or crutch end section. 
     FIG. 9A is a side detail view of a 30-minute flare section. 
     FIG. 9B is a side detail view of a two aerial flare section. 
     FIG. 9C is a side detail view of a 15-minute flare section. 
     FIG. 10 is a side detail view of a strobe light section. 
     FIG. 11 is a front view of a handle section. 
     FIG. 12 is a front view of the handle section. 
     FIG. 13 is a side view of one spear tip. 
     FIG. 14 is a side view of a second spear tip. 
     FIG. 15 is a side view of a safety member. 
     FIG. 16 is a side view of a walking stick tip. 
     FIG. 17 is a side view of a second walking stick tip. 
     FIG. 18 is a side view of a female adapter. 
     FIG. 19 is a side view of a male adapter. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 through 12 illustrate the present invention being a survival tool. 
     FIG. 1 shows the completely assembled walking stick embodiment of the present invention showing member  10  on its end along with casing  23 , flare section  46 , strobe light section  27  and crutch end  36 . 
     FIG. 2 shows the completely assembled crutch embodiment of the present invention  10 . Shown is the casing  23  with end member  18  in place, the handle  56 , the crutch end  36 , flared area  38  and apertures  54 . 
     FIG. 3 shows the completed spear assembly of the present invention  10 , the spearhead  12 , the spear driver  19 , the casing  23 , the flare section  46 , and the handle  56 . 
     FIG. 4 shows the completely assembled stretcher embodiment of the present invention, which uses a pair of shaft members to carry an injured person or to carry game out of the woods. The figure shows the casing  23  with end member  18 , handle  56 , crutch end  36 , canvas or like material  68  forming the bed of the stretcher having a bore or aperture  70  located on each side or edge of the bed  68  through which the shafts of the present invention pass in the standard manner by one skilled in the art. Blankets or shirts could be used as the bed  68 . 
     In FIGS. 1-4, additional sections  72 - 74  can be attached to the present invention in the standard manner to adjust the length of the present invention to the height of the user. The entire unit is designed to be dissembled and to fit in a small backpack having loops for retaining each section. 
     FIG. 5 shows an approximately 18.5 inch long section being a casing or cylinder  23  in which the spear driver  19  is inserted which allows spear driver  19  to slidingly operate in its bore  25  which houses the piston  21 , spring  22  and trigger assembly  24 . The trigger  26  is a folding trigger in order to keep the stick streamlined when in use as a walking stick. The trigger has a hole (not shown) drilled in its rear so that the user could tie a string therein and use the handle section  56  as to be able to move back three or four feet on the stick and be able to capture snakes while remaining at a safe distance from them so as to safely obtain food. Note that the cylinder  23  has external threads  40  located on its end along with a spacer  42  having an aperture  44  therein through which spear  19  driver passes. The spring assembly  22  is constructed and functions in the standard manner so as to propel the spear driver  19  forward when the trigger  26  is pulled by the finger of the user. 
     FIG. 6 shows spear driver  19  which is a cylindrical rod having a treaded male member  13  on one distal end and spring attachment or engagement means  15  that is located on the end of the piston  21 . The spear driver  19  is used as a spear-fishing device using the attachments shown in FIG. 13 and 14. The member  16  (FIG. 15) is always incorporated because it contains a safety pin  17  to prevent accidental firing and also provides means for connection for each of the tips  18  and  20 . When not in use, the spear tip is removed and stored in a convenient location. Note that member  16  is internally threaded and members  18  and  20  are externally threaded, so that a stud adapter (see FIGS. 18 and 19) can incorporated and be screwed onto the end of the spear driver to use members  18  and  20 . 
     The spear driver  19  of FIG. 6 can be made of metal. The piston  21  and spring  22  are also made of metal. The remainder of the stick can be made of extruded plastic. The threads of each section have to be coarse to prevent the stick from coming apart when being used as a walking stick. The placement of a small rubber washer at the bottom of each female end could possibly achieve the same purpose. 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 show the crutch end  36  with attachment means  52  to the present invention. FIG. 8 shows an end view of the handle showing a flared area  38  which encompasses about 25 percent of the circumference of the stick in order to make clamping easier. A pair of apertures  54  pass through the crutch and flared area  38  through which fastener means (not shown) such as nuts and bolts could pass with which to fasten the crutch ends to the shaft of the present invention. The crutch ends  36  are designed to cradle and fit underneath the shoulders of a user. A sticky substance could be placed on the surface of the flared area  38  to make attachment to the shaft easier while the fastening means was being connected. 
     FIGS. 9A-9C, show alternative devices to be used as a flare for incorporation into the present invention. FIG. 9 c  shows a 30-minute flare  46 . FIG. 9 b  shows two aerial flares  48 . FIG. 9 a  shows a single 15-minute flare  50 . These flares are used primarily for signaling but the 30 minute flare  46  can also be used to dry firewood in the event that were necessary. The aerial flares  48  are two skyblazer flares that can be shot up to 500 feet into the air. 
     FIG. 10 shows a powerful strobe light section  27  for signaling for help that incorporate the international S. O. S. signal. The switch (not shown) is the type used on a flashlight of standard type being a simple push button switch, which is also waterproof. The strobe light section has a strobe light  28 , a clip  30 , a magnet  32 , and means of attachment  34 . Clip  30  and magnet  32  are used to attach the strobe light to a proximate object to allow it to be used hands free. 
     FIG. 11 shows a pistol grip type handle section  56  that is approximately 5 to 6 inches long and it is used as part of a walking stick and also with the stretcher. Also shown are means for attachments  58  and  60  on both ends. FIG. 12 shows another attachment means  62  and clamp  63  for attaching the handles onto the shaft of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 13 and 14, show alternative designs for the spear tips  12  and  14  having a female threaded aperture  11 , which is threaded onto the male threaded member  13  of the spear driver section  19  as shown in FIG. 2, to be used on the spear driver section. FIG. 13 shows a tip  12  with a single point with two barbs. FIG. 14 shows a tip  14  with three points having one barb on each tip. In addition, FIG. 15 shows a member  16  that contains a safety pin  17  to prevent accidental firing as discussed above. FIG. 16 shows member  18  and FIG. 17 shows member  20 , which were also discussed above. 
     FIG. 18 shows a side view of the female adapter  75 , described above. This adapter has a set of internal threads  64  that mate with the appropriate fixtures, as necessary. FIG. 19 shows the male adapter  76 , which has a set of external threads  66  to mate with the appropriate fixtures as needed. 
     All of the embodiments have a section ( 72 ,  74 ) used for holding survival items such as a fires starter, a first aid kit, a finger saw, and fishing gear. 
     The present disclosure should not be construed in any limited sense other than that limited by the scope of the claims having regard to the teachings herein and the prior art being apparent with the preferred form of the invention disclosed herein and which reveals details of structure of a preferred form necessary for a better understanding of the invention and may be subject to change by skilled persons within the scope of the invention without departing from the concept thereof.