Abstract:
A clamp attachment for a cane, includes a slide member adapted to slide axially along a cane shaft. Stops are provided for limiting axial movement of the slide member. A clamp is secured to the slide member. The slide member adjusts the height of the clamp to accommodate attachment to objects of differing height.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a clamp attachment for a cane and, in particular, a clamp which is carried by the cane when not in use.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A person who uses a cane has a need for a clamp to hold the cane, when the cane is not required or there is a need for unfettered use of one&#39;s hands. There are several patents disclosing clamp attachments, which attach to a cane and, when not in use, are carried by the cane. U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,418 (Vogt 1991) discloses a clamp with two pivotally mounted arms, which clamp onto a table. The back of the clamp has wings which enable the Vogt clamp to clip onto the cane. The arms pivot to a stored position, against the cane, when not in use. U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,283 (Aguirre 2003) discloses a clip, which is adapted to clip to clothing. The clip can be secured at any selected position along the cane by any suitable means, such as a strap. The Vogt patent is not suitable for clamping onto a table. Conversely, the Aguirre patent is not suitable for clamping to clothing.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     What is required is an alternative configuration of clamp attachment for a cane, which is carried by the cane when not in use.  
         [0004]     According to the present invention there is provided a clamp attachment for a cane, which includes a slide member adapted to slide axially along a cane shaft. Means are for limiting axial movement of the slide member. A clamp is secured to the slide member.  
         [0005]     With the clamp attachment, as described above, the slide member moves axially along the cane shaft to position the clamp at a height appropriate for the object to which the clamp is to be attached. The means for limiting axial movement of the slide member can take different forms. In the preferred embodiment which will be hereinafter described, a first stop and a second stop are provided. The first stop is adapted for limiting axial movement of the slide member in a first axial direction. The second stop is adapted for limiting axial movement of the slide member in a second axial direction. The second stop is axially spaced from the first stop, thereby accommodating axial movement of the slide member. It will be appreciated that with some cane configurations, the design of the handle may permit the handle to serve as one of the stops.  
         [0006]     Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the clamp attachment, as described above, the orientation of the object to which the clamp is to be attached can be vertical, horizontal or angular. Even more beneficial results may, therefore, be obtained when the clamp is secured to the slide member by a linkage, which is adapted to permit omni-directional adjustment of the orientation of the clamp. It is preferred that this linkage also permit the clamp to assume a stored position clamped onto the cane shaft.  
         [0007]     The clamp used can take various forms. In the preferred embodiment, which will be hereinafter described, the clamp has a wire spring body with arms that intersect at a intersecting point. Contact members are positioned at remote ends of the intersected arms on a first side of the intersecting point. The wire spring body has a hand gripping portion positioned on a second side of the intersecting point. The contact members are biased by the wire spring body toward each other. Squeezing the hand gripping portion of the wire spring body, causes the contact members to move away from each other. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a clamp attachment constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention attached to a horizontal support in the form of a table top.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the clamp attachment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , attached to a vertical support in the form of an edge of a door.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the clamp attachment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , attached to an angular support, in the form of a stair rail.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the clamp attachment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , with the clamp in a stored position attached to the cane. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0013]     The preferred embodiment, a clamp attachment for a cane generally identified by reference numeral  10 , will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 4 .  
         [0014]     Structure and Relationship of Parts:  
         [0015]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , clamp attachment  10  has a slide member  12  adapted to slide axially along a cane shaft  14 . A first stop  16  is positioned on cane shaft  14  for limiting axial movement of slide member  12  in a first axial direction  18 . Beneficial results are obtained where first stop  16  is positioned above the centre of gravity of cane shaft  14 . A second stop  20  is positioned on cane shaft  14  for limiting axial movement of slide member  12  in a second axial direction  22 . Second stop  20  is axially spaced from first stop  16 , thereby accommodating axial movement of slide member  12  along cane shaft  14 . A clamp  24  is secured to slide member  12  by a linkage  26 . Linkage  26  is adapted to permit omni-directional adjustment of the orientation of clamp  24 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , this permits clamp  24  to assume a stored position clamped onto cane shaft  14 . Further, in the illustrated embodiment, referring to  FIG. 2 , this allows cane shaft  14  to be attached to a vertical member, such as a door  28 . In the illustrated embodiment, referring to  FIG. 3 , this also allows cane shaft  14  to be attached to an angular member, such as a stair rail  30 . It will be appreciated that clamp  24  will clamp onto any convenient object, or even the user&#39;s clothing. Referring to  FIG. 1 , clamp  24  has a wire spring body  32  with arms  34  that intersect at a intersecting point  36 . Contact members  38  are positioned at remote ends  40  of intersected arms  34  on a first side  42  of intersecting point  36 . A hand gripping portion  44  is positioned on a second side  46  of intersecting point  36 . Contact members  38  are biased by wire spring body  32  toward each other. In the illustrated embodiment, contact members  38  grip a horizontal member, in the form of a table  48 . Where hand gripping portion  44  of wire spring body  32  is squeezed, contact members  38  are caused to move away from each other, releasing grip.  
         [0016]     Operation:  
         [0017]     The use and operation of clamp attachment for a cane  10  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 4 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , first stop  16  is positioned on cane shaft  14  such that slide member  12  is limited to the upper portion  50  of cane shaft  14 . This ensures that cane shaft  14  is generally oriented vertically with handle  52  upwards as shown. Second stop  20  limits travel of slide member  12  towards handle  52 . Depending upon the type of cane and shape of handle, handle  52  may serve as second stop  20  by limiting travel. Slide member  12  with clamp  24  is attached to cane shaft  14  such that slide member  12  slides freely along cane shaft  14  between first stop  16  and second stop  20 . Linkage  26  allows clamp  24  to be both rotationally and angularly free to move in all directions. Where it is desired to keep the cane conveniently poised for use, a user may apply pressure to hand portion  44 , open arms  34  around a horizontal member, such as table  48 , release the bias force and attach the cane shaft  14  to table  48 . Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , cane shaft  14  may also be attached to a vertical member, such as door  28  or an angular member, such as stair rail  30  in a similar fashion, linkage  26  allowing cane shaft  14  to adapt to each orientation. Referring to  FIG. 4 , where a user desires to retract clamp  24  while the cane is in use, he or she may attach it to cane shaft  14 .  
         [0018]     It will be appreciated that a number of ways of construction may present themselves to accomplish the same function according to the teachings of the invention. When “retrofitting” an existing cane, one would provide stops that secure to cane shaft  14  in an appropriate spaced relation. However, a manufacturer of canes would incorporate integral stops into the cane during fabrication.  
         [0019]     In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.  
         [0020]     It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined in the Claims.