Patent Publication Number: US-2010122718-A1

Title: Walking stick

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Korean Utility Model Application No. 20-2008-0015410, filed on Nov. 19, 2008, and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. §119, the contents of which in its entirety are herein incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     This disclosure relates to a walking stick having a pole configured by connecting a plurality of connecting pipes, and more particularly, to a walking stick capable of actively managing a malfunction of a locking device and minimizing deformation of connecting pipes and the locking device by distributing impacts. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In general, a walking stick is used by many people for climbing and sports activities or by patients for walking. The walking stick includes a pole and a handle provided to an end portion of the pole. The pole is generally configured by connecting a plurality of connection pipes so as to be folded in a longitudinal direction for convenience of storage and use. 
     An example of the walking stick is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the walking stick includes a handle  2  that comes in various shapes for different purposes, a pole  4  configuring a body, and a sharp head portion  6  contacting with the ground. 
     The pole  4  is configured by connecting a plurality of connecting pipes  10 ,  20 , and  30  in a longitudinal direction so as to be folded, and locking devices  40  and  40   a  are provided for connecting portions to lock the walking stick with a maximum length or release the locking in order to fold the walking stick. 
     More specifically, into the first connecting pipe  10  the second connecting pipe  20  having a smaller diameter is inserted, into the second connecting pipe  20  the third connecting pipe  30  having a smaller diameter is inserted, and the locking devices  40  and  40   a  are provided for the connecting portion between the first and the second connecting pipes  10  and  20  and the connecting portion between the second and the third connecting pipes  20  and  30 , respectively. As needed, walking sticks having a variety of lengths may be manufactured by increasing or decreasing the number of the connecting pipes  10 ,  20 ,  30 . 
     In the connecting portions between the upper connecting pipe and the lower connecting pipe, that is, between the lower end of the first connecting pipe  10  and the upper end of the second connecting pipe  20 , and between the lower end of the second connecting pipe  20  and the upper end of the third connecting pipe  30 , vibration prevention members  51 ,  52 ,  61 , and  62  are provided to prevent vibration while using the walking stick. 
     The locking devices  40  and  40   a  includes buttons  41  and  41   a  and springs  42  and  42   a . The button  41  and the spring  42  lock the first and the second connecting pipes  10  and  20 , and the button  41   a  and the spring  42   a  lock the second and the third connecting pipes  20  and  30 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates inner and outer shapes of the locking devices. In  FIG. 1 , the connecting pipe on the upper side is referred to as the upper connecting pipe, and the connecting pipe on the lower side is referred to as the lower connecting pipe. The locking devices  40  and  40   a  technically have the same configuration although they have difference sizes according to the diameters of the connecting pipes. Thus, only one thereof will be described with reference to the figure. 
     The button  41  of the locking device is moved along with the lower connecting pipe  20  while a head portion thereof is inserted into a hole  21  formed on the lower connecting pipe  20 , and is inserted into a hole  11  of the upper connecting pipe  10  at the last point of the extension operation, thereby locking the upper and the lower connecting pipes  10  and  20 . 
     During the use of the walking stick, there may be a case where the walking stick cannot be used anymore due to various problems. 
     For example, during the use of the walking stick, the sharp head portion  6  (see  FIG. 1 ) comes in contact with the ground repeatedly, and sometimes, a user leans on the walking stick, so that irregular impacts are repeatedly applied to the connecting pipes. The impact is directly transmitted to the locking device or to the connecting pipe through the locking device, and due to the impacts, many portions between the locking devices and the connecting pipes are damaged as the walking stick is used. 
     That is, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , impacts are applied to the lower connecting pipe  20  and the button  41  in the directions shown by dashed arrows, and impacts are applied to the upper connecting pipe  10  in the direction shown by the solid arrow. Here, the impact applied to the lower connecting pipe  20  is directly applied to the hole  11  of the upper connecting pipe  10  through the button  41 . 
     Therefore, when impacts are repeatedly exerted, the holes  11  and  21  of the upper and the lower connecting pipes  10  and  20  may be damaged in the longitudinal direction of the walking stick as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , or the button  41  may be deformed. In this case, gaps between the button  41  and the holes  11  and  21  grow in size and the connecting pipes  10  and  20  clatter and move vertically, so that the walking stick cannot be used normally, or the walking stick cannot be used anymore. 
     In addition, due to unexpected situations such as a case where a foreign material penetrates into the button or a case where the hole into which the button is inserted is deformed by a sharp impact, the operations of the spring  42  and the button  41  may be problematic, and the walking stick itself may not be used anymore. 
     If such a situation occurs during mountain climbing or sports activities or when a patient walks with the help of the walking stick without a carer, the user may be confronted with a dangerous situation because he/she cannot use the walking stick. 
     It is thought that the damage of the connecting pipe and the locking device due to the impacts is caused by the concentration of all impacts onto the single button as the single button is provided for the single connecting portion. 
     In addition, a problem in that the walking stick cannot be used because the locking device malfunctions and does not operate is caused by the configuration in which only the single locking device is provided for the single connecting portion. Therefore, when a problem occurs in the locking device, there is no replacement, and the walking stick itself cannot be used. 
     SUMMARY 
     This disclosure provide a walking stick capable of preventing damage and deformation of connecting pipes and locking devices by increasing areas receiving impacts and distributing the impacts, and preparing for malfunctions and deformation of the locking device by compensating for a problem in which a single locking device does not operate for a single connecting portion. 
     In one aspect, there is provided a walking stick, including: an upper connecting pipe; and a lower connecting pipe inserted into the upper connecting pipe, wherein first and second through-holes are provided in both sides of the lower connecting pipe at opposing positions to each other, first and second button members are slidably inserted into the first and the second through-holes, respectively, a spring for elastically supporting the first and the second button members in a radial direction is provided inside the first and the second button members, and third and fourth through-holes are provided in the upper connecting pipe at positions corresponding to the first and the second through-holes of the lower connecting pipe so that the first and the second button members are moved in and out through the first to the fourth through-holes. 
     An inner sleeve may be joined to an upper portion of the lower connecting pipe, and the inner sleeve may be provided with an accommodating area for accommodating the first and the second button members. 
     In another aspect, there is provided a walking stick, including: an upper connecting pipe; and a lower connecting pipe inserted into the upper connecting pipe, wherein a first through-hole is formed to penetrate one side of the lower connecting pipe, and a second through-hole is formed to penetrate the other side of the lower connecting pipe at a position that is not opposed to the first through-hole, first and second button members are slidably inserted into the first and second through-holes in an opposite direction, first and second springs for elastically supporting the first and the second button members respectively in an outer radial direction are provided inside the lower connecting pipe, and the upper connecting pipe is provided with third and fourth through-holes at positions corresponding to the first and the second through-holes of the lower connecting pipe so that the first button member is moved in and out through the first and the third through-holes and the second button member is moved in and out through the second and the fourth through-holes. 
     An inner sleeve may be joined to an upper portion of the lower connecting pipe, and the inner sleeve may be provided with a first accommodating area for accommodating the first button member and a second accommodating area for accommodating the second button member. 
     In the walking stick according to the embodiment, since the two button members are provided in the opposite direction and are connected to the lower connecting pipe and the upper connecting pipe at the same time during locking, the impact is distributed and the surface pressures applied to each button member and each through hole are decreased so that the deformations of the button member and the through-hole (connecting pipe) can be minimized. 
     In addition, as the two locking devices (button members) complement with each other, in the case where one of them is damaged, the walking stick can be used continuously using the other one so that an emergency situation may be prevented from taking place or a user can deal with the emergency situation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the disclosed exemplary embodiments will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of an existing walking stick; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view illustrating a locking device portion of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a locking device portion according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a transverse cross-sectional view of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a view illustrating a state where locking is released by pushing a button member in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a transverse cross-sectional view of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a locking device portion according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a view illustrating a state where locking is released by pushing a button member in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C of  FIG. 10 ; and 
         FIG. 12  is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D of  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth therein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art. In the description, details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presented embodiments. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. does not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denotes the presence of at least one of the referenced item. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising”, or “includes” and/or “including” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
     In the drawings, like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements. The shape, size and regions, and the like, of the drawing may be exaggerated for clarity. 
     In the following exemplary embodiments, configurations of only connecting portions of connecting pipes composing a pole and a locking device are illustrated and described, and the illustration and description of a handle or a sharp head portion will be omitted. In addition, although there are two connecting portions and two locking devices in the configuration having three or more connecting pipes, the configurations of the connecting portions and the locking devices are the same. 
     Embodiment 1 
       FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  5 , and  6  illustrate a locking device portion according to an embodiment.  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view,  FIG. 4  is a transverse cross-sectional view,  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a state in which locking is released by pushing a button member, and  FIG. 6  is a transverse cross-sectional view of  FIG. 5 . 
     As illustrated In  FIGS. 3 and 4 , into an upper connecting pipe  100  a lower connecting pipe  200  having a smaller diameter is inserted. 
     First and second through-holes  202  and  204  are provided in both sides of the lower connecting pipe  200  in a transverse direction (radial direction), and first and second button members  510  and  520  are inserted into the first and second through-holes  202  and  204  so as to slide in the opposite directions. A single spring  600  is provided inside the first and second button members  510  and  520  so as to elastically support the first and second members  510  and  520  in the radial direction. 
     Third and fourth through-holes  102  and  104  are provided in the upper connecting pipe  100  at positions opposed to the first and the second through-holes  202  and  204  of the lower connecting pipe  200 , so that the first button member  510  is moved in and out through the first and the third trough-holes  202  and  102 , and the second button member  520  is moved in and out through the second and the fourth through-holes  204  and  104 . 
     In the case of a walking stick having an inner sleeve  400  joined to an upper portion of the lower connecting pipe  200  as in this embodiment, an accommodating area  401  is provided in the inner sleeve  400 . The accommodating area  401  slidably accommodates the first and the second button members  510  and  520  and guides the first and the second button  510  and  520  to enable a more stable sliding movement. 
     An outer sleeve  300  corresponding to the inner sleeve  400  may be provided. The outer sleeve  300  is provided on a lower end of the upper connecting pipe  100  and comes in close contact with the lower connecting pipe  200  to prevent vibration. 
     In the walking stick according to the embodiment, the two button members  510  and  520  are provided in the opposite direction, and the two button members  510  and  520  are supported by the single spring  600 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , during locking, the two button members  510  and  520  simultaneously protrude through the through-holes  202  and  204  of the lower connecting pipe  200  and the through-holes  102  and  104  of the upper connecting pipe  100 . Therefore, areas where the button members  510  and  520  and the connecting pipes  100  and  200  come in contact with become twice the area of an existing case, and the surface pressure applied to each individual button member  510  or  520  and each individual through-hole  102 ,  104 ,  202 , or  204  is reduced to half. 
     Therefore, the impact exerted on the walking stick in the longitudinal direction is distributed to the two button members  510  and  520  and the two through-holes  102  and  202  or  104  and  204 , so that loads applied on the button members  510  and  520  and the through-holes  101  and  202  and  104  and  204  and deformation of the button members  510  and  520  and the through-holes  101  and  202  and  104  and  204  may be significantly reduced. 
     In addition, even when a problem occurs in one of the button members during use, for example, even when a situation occurs where one of the through-holes  102  and  104  of the upper connecting pipe  100  is deformed during use and the corresponding button member cannot pass therethrough, the walking stick can still be used if the remaining one operates properly. 
     During the use of the walking stick according to the embodiment, a state where the locking of the connecting pipes is released is illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . When head portions of the first and the second button members  510  and  520  protruding in both directions are pushed inwards by a thumb and an index finger at the same time through the through-holes  102  and  104  of the upper connecting pipe  100 , the locking is released and the lower connecting pipe  200  can be moved to be folded. 
     Embodiment 2 
       FIGS. 7 to 9  and  FIGS. 10 to 12  are enlarged views of a locking device portion according to another embodiment.  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view,  FIG. 8  is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 9  is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 10  is a view illustrating a state where locking is released by pushing a button member in  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 11  is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C of  FIG. 10 , and  FIG. 12  is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D of  FIG. 10 . 
     As compared with the above-described embodiment, in the walking stick according to this embodiment, two button members are spaced from each other to improve convenience for use and stability for operations. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 to 9 , in a lower connecting pipe  250 , first and second through-holes  252  and  254  are provided to be opposed to each other at a predetermined interval in a longitudinal direction. That is, the first through-hole  252  penetrates one side of the lower connecting pipe  250 , and the second through-hole  254  penetrates the other side of the connecting pipe  250  at a position that is not opposed to the first connecting pipe  252 . 
     The first through-hole  252  is provided with first button member  550  and first spring  611 , and the second through-hole  254  is provided with second button member  560  and second spring  612 . 
     Third and fourth through-holes  152  and  154  are provided in an upper connecting pipe  150  at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction. The third and fourth through-holes  152  and  154  are formed at positions corresponding to the first and the second through-holes  252  and  254  of the lower connecting pipe  250 , and the first and second button members  550  and  560  are moved in and out therethrough for locking and unlocking. 
     In addition, in a case where an inner sleeve  450  is provided in an upper portion of the lower connecting pipe  250 , first and second accommodating areas  451  and  452  are formed at positions corresponding to the first and second through-holes  252  and  254  in the inner sleeve  450 . The first and second button member  550  and  560  are slidably accommodated in the first and the second accommodating areas  451  and  452 . 
     In the walking stick having the above-mentioned configuration according to this embodiment, the first button member  550  and the first spring  611  are disposed independently of the second button member  560  and the second spring  612 , so that the button members  550  and  560  are allowed to have large lengths. Therefore, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 to 9 , lengths of guide flange portions  552  and  562  of the button member  550  and  560  are allowed to be large, and accordingly the button members  550  and  560  are not inclined and may be moved stably. 
     In addition, according to this embodiment, since a single spring  611  or  612  mates with one button member  550  or  560 , the springs  611  and  612  are allowed to have large lengths and sufficient compression margin length can be guaranteed. Therefore, smaller force is needed to push the button member  550  or  560  as compared with the above-described embodiment. 
     A state where locking of the connecting pipes is released during the use of the walking stick according to this embodiment is illustrated in  FIGS. 10 to 12 . When the two button members  550  and  560  spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the walking stick are pushed inwards by a thumb and an index finger or by both hands at the same time through the through-holes  152  and  154  of the upper connecting pipe  150 , the lower connecting pipe  250  can be moved to be folded. 
     While the exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims. 
     In addition, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of this disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that this disclosure not be limited to the particular exemplary embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that this disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.