Abstract:
A combined seat and cane device comprised of a hollow tube with a handle pivotally connected at a top end, and a plurality of four seat support members with an attached fabric seat is removably inserted in a cavity at the top end in a manner to be deployed as required for forming a seat framework. At a lower end of the combined seat and cane device is a quadraped leg assembly that folds out and locks. The combined seat and cane device is easy to carry and caters to an individual&#39;s needs.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in Disclosure Document Number 451113 filed on Feb. 8, 1999. There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to improvements in portable seating devices and, more particularly, to an improvement in a combined seat and cane. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In the related art, combined canes and seats are well known. Disabled people forced to use canes to aid in walking are faced with obstacles on a daily basis that most of us take for granted. Simple travel from place to place becomes a major undertaking that requires considerable effort. Fortunately, the public is becoming increasingly aware of the difficulties that these people face and are responding in a positive manner. For example, legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act imposes responsibilities upon the public sector to make provisions to accommodate the physically disabled so that they may gain access to, and take advantage of, the various goods and services available to others. Unfortunately, however, there are many aspects in which our society has failed to respond thus far in addressing this issue. Access for the disabled doesn&#39;t just mean being able to get inside the door, it means being able to do so with a relative amount of comfort. A prime example of this situation is that many times waiting in lines is involved. These lines can be found in grocery stores, banks, license bureaus, and the like where there are no seating areas provided in lines. Additionally, the wait may be from a few minutes to thirty minutes or more, which is extremely uncomfortable, if not impossible, for many disabled people. Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which disabled people can have access to seating areas while waiting in lines with greater ease and efficiency. 
     Prior art combined canes and seats attempt to fulfill this need by providing a collapsible seat connected to the main shaft body of the cane via a collapsible attachment means. To use, one simply folds the seat down into the horizontal position and seats themselves thereon. The bottom tip of cane rests on the ground and the user supports their weight thereon in this fashion. Examples of these type of cane and seat combinations are U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,090 issued to Skarland, and U.S. Pat. No. 731,291 issued to Dulin. However, the drawback of to these inventions is that one must constantly balance themselves on the seat as the entire weight of the user is transmitted to the ground solely through the tip of the cane. Another type of cane and seat combination, found in U.S. Pat. No. D 284,429 issued to Garde, appears to try to eliminate this problem by providing a collapsible seat and cane combination with a folding tubular structure that has a pair of legs for supporting the device when in the open position. However, such an arrangement proves to be bulky when carrying and doesn&#39;t look like a conventional cane. 
     The present invention eliminates this problem by providing a conventional cane with a collapsible leg and seat assembly that allows a disabled individual to quickly deploy when stationary such as waiting in a line. At the base of the cane there are a plurality of legs that fold out and lock in a tripod-based arrangement similar to that found on a music stand. The seat assembly is a plurality of four retracting rods connected together via a pair of cross-members that stow conveniently inside the hollow stem of the cane. A fabric seat covering also unfolds from within the hollow cane stem wherein said fabric covering is connected along two edges to said cross-members and suspended therebetween in a semi-taut manner. When collapsed the Cane Seat forms a thin, streamlined, and lightweight arrangement that functions as a cane in a conventional manner. As a result of using the Cane Seat, the individual may move around with relative ease, and always be guaranteed access to a seat whenever they find themselves waiting in a line. 
     A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No. 
                 Inventor 
                 Issue Date 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 4,684,090 
                 Skarland 
                 August 4, 1987 
               
               
                   
                 731,291 
                 Dulin 
                 June 16, 1903 
               
               
                   
                 D 284,429 
                 Garde 
                 July 1, 1986 
               
               
                   
                 4,562,850 
                 Earley et al. 
                 January 7, 1986 
               
               
                   
                 4,130,294 
                 Walker 
                 December 19, 1978 
               
               
                   
                 4,062,372 
                 Slusher 
                 December 13, 1977 
               
               
                   
                 D 290,186 
                 Meunchen 
                 June 9, 1987 
               
               
                   
                 D 251,098 
                 Diedrich et al. 
                 February 20, 1979 
               
               
                   
                 5,060,967 
                 Hulterstrum 
                 October 29, 1991 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved Cane Seat. 
     It is a feature of the present invention to provide a guaranteed seat while waiting in a line. 
     It is another feature of the present invention to provide comfort during long waits. 
     It is yet another feature of the present invention to be quickly deployable and collapsible. 
     It is still yet another feature of the present invention to provide a quadrapod leg arrangement. 
     It is yet still another feature of the present invention to provide a padded seat. 
     It is another feature of the present invention to function as a conventional cane and a seat. 
     It is yet another feature of the present invention to provide a streamlined design. 
     It is still yet another feature of the present invention to be lightweight, strong and durable. 
     It is yet still another feature of the present invention to be manufactured from readily obtainable materials. 
     Briefly described according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a Cane Seat is provided comprised of a hollow tube with a handle pivotally connected at one end, a plurality of four seat support members removably inserted in the cavity of said end in a manner to be deployed as required for forming a seat framework. A sheet of fabric is suspendably supported between two cross-members linking the support members to form a surface for sitting. The opposite end of the tube has a plurality of four legs removably inserted in the hollow cavity of said end for deploying as required to provide a base structure to support the device upon a level surface. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of a Seat Cane in the fully retracted configuration according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of a Seat Cane in the fully opened position according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a Cane Seat according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 a  is a top view of the upper shaft of a Cane Seat according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 b  is a side view of the upper shaft of a Cane Seat according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 c  is a front view of the upper shaft of a Cane Seat according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 a  is a top view of a flared pin of a Cane Seat according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 b  is a front view of a flared pin of a Cane Seat according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the of a Cane Seat in a fully opened configuration showing the detail of the seat rod assembly pivotally attached to the splined section of an upper shaft according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a cut away side view of the retracting seat assembly of a Cane Seat in the opened configuration showing the detail of how the functional elements of the retractable seat assembly are deployed within the main shaft body according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a cutaway side view of the retractable seat assembly/pivoting handle of a Cane Seat in the completely closed configuration showing the detail of the manner in which the functional elements of the retractable seat assembly are stowed within the main shaft body according to the preferred embodiment of the Present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a cutaway front view of the bottom end of a Cane Seat showing the detail of the retracting leg assembly on one side of a splined section stowed within the main shaft body according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the bottom end of a Cane Seat in the completely opened configuration showing the detail of the manner in which the functional elements of the retractable quadraped leg assembly are deployed from within the main shaft body according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of the seat rod and cross member assembly of a Cane Seat according to an alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 12 is a side view a seat rod cross member with the alternate tab lock for the at rod assembly of a Cane Seat, according to an alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 10 
                 Cane Seat 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 Pivoting Handle 
               
               
                   
                 21 
                 Hinge 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 Articulating Seat Rods 
               
               
                   
                 22a 
                 Aperature 
               
               
                   
                 22c 
                 Retaining Clip 
               
               
                   
                 23 
                 Pin 
               
               
                   
                 23a 
                 Apertures 
               
               
                   
                 24 
                 Seat Rod Cross Members 
               
               
                   
                 24a 
                 Pin 
               
               
                   
                 25 
                 Channels 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 Upper Shaft 
               
               
                   
                 26a 
                 Cavity 
               
               
                   
                 26b 
                 Spline Section 
               
               
                   
                 27 
                 Upper Seat Shaft Collar 
               
               
                   
                 28 
                 Lower Seat Shaft Collar 
               
               
                   
                 29 
                 Stop 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 Seat Cover 
               
               
                   
                 30a 
                 Seat Cover Hooks 
               
               
                   
                 35 
                 Push Button Lock 
               
               
                   
                 40 
                 Shaft 
               
               
                   
                 41 
                 Telescoping Mid-Section 
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 Retractable Seat Assembly 
               
               
                   
                 44 
                 Base Assembly 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 Leg 
               
               
                   
                 50a 
                 Pin 
               
               
                   
                 50b 
                 Aperture 
               
               
                   
                 51 
                 Lower Shaft 
               
               
                   
                 51a 
                 Hollow Cavity 
               
               
                   
                 51b 
                 Aperture 
               
               
                   
                 52 
                 Upper Leg Shaft Collar 
               
               
                   
                 53 
                 Lower Leg Shaft Collar 
               
               
                   
                 54 
                 Channels 
               
               
                   
                 55 
                 Spring Loaded Push Button 
               
               
                   
                 56 
                 Tab Lock 
               
               
                   
                 57 
                 Spline Section 
               
               
                   
                 60 
                 Rubber Tip 
               
               
                   
                 70 
                 Linking Cross Member 
               
               
                   
                 75 
                 Sliding Lock 
               
               
                   
                 80 
                 Tab Lock 
               
               
                   
                 82 
                 Brace 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the following Figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, a front view of a Cane Seat  10  is shown in the fully closed configuration. In such a configuration, the Cane Seat  10  is an invaluable aid for those who have difficulties walking. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, a front view of a Cane Seat  10  is shown in the fully open configuration. In such a configuration, the Cane Seat  10  is an invaluable aid for those who may tire while walking and desire a temporary place to sit. The Cane Seat is comprised of a shaft  40  consisting of a hollow cylinder having an elongated longitudinal axis. Shaft  40  can be made out of any material that is lightweight, stiff and capable of being formed as heretofore described. Shaft  40  is approximately one inch in diameter and three feet in length along its elongated longitudinal axis. It should be noted that these dimensions are given only as suggestions and in no way should be construed to imply any limitation. Shaft  40  is divided into two equal sections at manufacture to allow a telescopic mid-section assembly  41  to be inserted into the hollow cavity on adjoining ends of the two shaft sections. It is envisioned that a simple spring loaded mechanism would allow one to unlock the telescopic mid-section assembly to allow the user to extend and retract the length of the Cane Seat  10  as desired. Shaft  40  has a top end and a bottom end. Located on the top of shaft  40  is a pivoting handle  20  attached via a hinge  21 . Located just beneath pivoting handle  20  inside the hollow cavity of shaft  40  is a retractable seat assembly  42  shown in a retracted position within the top end of the shaft  40  described further hereinbelow. On the bottom end of shaft  40  is a base assembly  44  comprising a plurality of legs  50  for supporting the Cane Seat  10  in a vertical orientation on a horizontal surface. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, shown is an exploded view of a Cane Seat  10  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the detail of a plurality of four articulating seat rods  22  extending radially from a spline  26   b  formed on upper shaft  26  which is slidably inserted into the hollow cavitie  26   a  at the top end of shaft  40 . Also shown is the detail of the insertion of lower shaft  51  into a hollow cavity  51   a  at the bottom end of shaft  40  and articulating legs  50  attached thereto. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 4 a ,  4   b  and  4   c , shown in detail is upper shaft  26  constructed from a strong, lightweight metal and having an upper end, a lower end, an elongated longitudinal axis, and generally cylindrical in shape. Upper shaft  26  is fluted on two sides so that a spline section  26   b  with a linearly elongated rectangular cross section is formed along the elongated longitudinal axis of upper shaft  26 . This spline section  26   b  of upper shaft  26  extends from the upper end of upper shaft  26  for a length just slightly longer than the length of articulating seat rods  22 . The purpose of this will become clearer further in this description. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5 a    5   b  and  6 , the plurality of four articulating seat rods  22  are pivotally attached at the upper end of upper shaft  26  via a pair of flared pins  23  interference fitted in a pair of apertures  23   a  formed near the top of the spline section  26   b  of said upper shaft  26 . Pins  23  may be ¼ roll pins or equivalent or be replaced entirely by bolts. Two of the plurality of four seat rods  22  are attached on one side of upper shaft  26  on a flat surface of the spline section  26   b . The remaining two of the plurality of four seat rods  22  are located on the opposite side of the spline section  26   b  of upper shaft  26 . Seat rods  22  are free to pivot about flared pins  23  so that when it is desired to place the seat rods  22  in the retracted configuration the seat rods  22  are free to pivot and be aligned parallel to the flat surface of the spline section  26   b . Upper shaft  26  is then slidably fitted in the interior cavity  26   a  near the upper end of shaft  40 . Located just beneath the flared pin  23 /seat rod  22  joint is upper seat collar  27  permanently fitted around an external peripheral wall of upper shaft  26 . The purpose of upper seat collar  27  is to align upper shaft  26  inside the hollow cavity  26   a  of shaft  40  as upper shaft  26  translates back and forth from the deployed and retracted configurations. Similarly, a lower seat collar  28  (shown in FIG. 2) is located at the lower end of upper shaft  26 . This serves to keep upper shaft  26  aligned as upper shaft  26  slidably translates in an up and down fashion inside shaft  40  between said retracted and deployed configurations. A stop  29  (shown in FIG. 2) fitted on the interior cavity of said shaft  40  is provided to limit the distance upper shaft  26  can travel in the vertical direction and to prevent upper shaft  26  from completely exiting from the interior cavity of shaft  40 . A spring loaded push bottom  35  locking mechanism is utilized to secure the seat rod  22 /upper shaft  26  assembly in the stowed configuration within shaft  40 . 
     A plurality of channels  25  cut into a sidewall of shaft  40  on its uppermost edge are provided to receive said seat rods  22  when in the fully deployed configuration. The channels  25  are spaced radially around the circumference of shaft  40  such that there is a forty-five degree separation between seat rods  22  that are on the same side of spline section  26   b . Located on the sidewall on the upper end of shaft  40  and positioned radially between seat rods  22  on opposing sides of spline section  26   b  is a hinge  21  for hingedly attaching the pivoting handle  20 . 
     Attached pivotally at the other end of one of the seat rods  22  in each of said pairs are seat rod cross members  24 . Again, each seat rod cross member  24  is pivotally attached at one end via flared pin  24   a  interference fitted in an aperture  22   a  in said seat rod  22  and loosely fitted to allow one to manipulate seat rod said cross member  24  in such a fashion to attach an opposite thereof end to the opposite seat rod  22  on the same side of spline section  26   b . The attachment can be one of several means but a retaining clip  22   c  utilizing a semi-interference fit arrangement is suggested. The exact same configuration with the two remaining seat rods  22  and linking cross member  24  is used on the other side of spline section  26   b . Referring now to FIG. 3, a seat cover  30  is shown is fastened around one of the pair of seat rod cross members  24  by sewing or stapling on one edge of the seat cover  30 . Sewn into an opposing edge of the seat cover  30  are small hooks  30   a  of sufficient radius that can grab and hold the opposing seat rod cross member  24 . This effectively suspends seat cover  30  between said seat rod cross members  24 . A lower surface of seat cover  30  rests upon the top edges of seat rods  22 . The upper surface provides a level surface where one may rest upon in a sitting position. In the retracted configuration, said seat cover  30  is unhooked from the opposing seat rod cross member  24  and rolled up in such a fashion that it can be inserted into cavities  26   a  located in the upper end of shaft  40  next to seat rods  22  located on that side of said spline section  26   b . Seat rods  22  are inserted into shaft  40  and stored in the cavity (marked as cavity  26   a ) between the flat surface of spline section  26   b  and the inner wall of shaft  40 . Similarly, seat rods  22  and cross member  24  on the opposite side of said spline section  26   b  are retracted and inserted into cavity  26   a  now present in shaft  40  when upper shaft  26  is placed into the retracted configuration. 
     Referring now to FIG. 7, the detail of the retractable seat assembly  42  is shown. Pivoting handle  20  is connected to the top of the sidewall of shaft  40  via a hinge  21 . When deployed, handle  20  simply pivots out of the way. Seat rods  22  are extracted from within shaft  40  by pressing push button  35  and pulling upper shaft  26  from within the cavity of shaft  40 . Upper seat collar  27  is permanently fixed around upper shaft  26  and located just beneath where seat rods  22  are pivotally fixed to upper shaft  26 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 8, the detail of seat rods  22 , cross members  24 , and seat cover  30  is shown in the retracted configuration. Handle  20  is locked in the upright position to give a user a firm surface to grip onto and rest some of their body weight upon when walking. As previously described, seat rods  22 , cross members  24 , and seat cover  30  are stored ready for deployment in the cavity  26   a  formed in shaft  40  when upper shaft  26  is in the retracted position. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, shown is a cutaway side view and bottom view respectively, of the bottom end of shaft  40  displaying the detail of a leg assembly of a Seat Cane  10  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of four legs  50  are pivotally attached at the lower end of lower shaft  51  on a spline section  51   a  specifically formed therefor. Spline section  51   a  has a pair of parallel opposing surfaces. Legs  50  are pivotally attached via a pair of flared pins  50   a  and aperture  50   b  arrangement. Each flared pin  50   a  is interference in a corresponding aperture  50   b  specially formed therefor in the splined section  51   a  of shaft  51 . One pair of legs  50  are provided on each side of said spline section  51   a . A plurality of four channels  54  are provided spaced radially around the outer circumference of the bottom sidewall of the bottom end of shaft  40 . Channels  50  are specially formed to receive legs  54  and provide support therefor. Like the channels  25  provided for seat rods  22 , channels  54  are spaced forty five degrees from the associated channel on the same side on spline section  51   a . A spring loaded push button  55  is provided to lock the entire assembly inside the hollow cavity in the bottom end of shaft  40  until such time as it is desired to deploy the legs  50 . A rubber tip  60   b  is provided on the lower end of each of said legs  50  to provide a non-slip grip for the entire assembly when placed on a surface. 
     Referring now to FIG. 11, shown is a top view of a Cane Seat  10  according to an alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention. An additional articulating linking cross member  70  has been added to each pair of seat rods  22  approximately midway between the outer cross members  24  and shaft  40 . Each of a pair of sliding locks  75  is provided to keep each linking cross member  70  in place and stiffening the seat assembly  42 . A tab lock  80  (shown in FIG. 12) which clamps articulating seat rods  22  and seat rod cross members  24  together may be used instead of retaining clip  22   c . This same tab lock  80  may also be modified to lock all seat sections together should an additional articulating brace  82  be added (shown on the left side of FIG. 11) on one or both of the outer sides to provide additional support to the seat rod structure. 
     The foregoing description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiment and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.