Patent Publication Number: US-10772399-B2

Title: Hinged walking cane

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure is in the field of mobility devices, and in particular embodiments, relates to a walking cane. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Innumerable varieties of walking canes have been described in the prior art. Known canes range in design from simple walking sticks to more complex collapsible or designs. Recently, a number of folding canes have been introduced. It can be challenging to prepare a folding cane that will have a reliable folding mechanism that can support the user reliably when in the unfolded position and that is easy to fold into a folded position. A folding cane must be sturdy, and, because the cane is intended for use by elderly or infirm users, a walking cane desirably should be sturdy when assembled, should not be subject to wobbling, and should not exhibit much give or “play” when assembled. Desirably, a walking cane should have an ergonomically acceptable handle, and, in particularly desirable embodiments, a cane should be self-supporting such that the cane will remain upright when rested on a level surface. In this latter regard, while a number of mechanisms are known for making a walking cane self-supporting, it is believed that some prior mechanisms can slightly impede the user&#39;s natural walking motion when in use. 
     It has now been found that a hinged cane may comprise an upper section and a lower section and a hinged mechanism connecting the upper and lower sections. The hinged mechanism may comprise a lower block disposed within an upper region of the lower section, and an upper block disposed within a lower region of the upper section, and a hinged coupler that is pivotally connected to each of the lower block and the upper block. This structure enables the lower section to be moved from a use position wherein the lower section is axially aligned relative to the upper section over a range of travel into a folded position. Either the lower block or the upper block is retractable within its respective upper or lower section, such that, when the lower and upper sections are axially aligned, the lower block may be moved relatively towards the upper block as this block retracts. The cane includes a catch mechanism that releasably secures the upper section to the lower section once the upper and lower section have been moved into the fully locked use position. Preferably, the device has several other features, as detailed hereinbelow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a walking cane in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure illustrating the cane in the use position. 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the walking cane shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the cane in the use position. 
         FIG. 3  is a first side elevational view of the cane when in the use position as depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the walking cane depicted in the previous figures, showing the cane in a folded storage position. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken in the area of the hinge mechanism of the illustrated cane, shown when the cane is in the folded storage position. 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the cane when in the position shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of taken in the area of the hinge mechanism as in  FIG. 5 , but shown when the cane is in the process of unfolding the cane. 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of a portion of the cane when in the position shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of taken in the area of the hinge mechanism as in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , but shown when the cane is in the use position. 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of a portion of the cane as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the tubular structure that makes up the lower section of the illustrated cane. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of portions of the upper and lower sections of the cane when in the folded position. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the user gripping handle of the cane. 
         FIG. 14  is a top plan view of the user gripping handle depicted in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  is an exploded view, taken in perspective, of the lower section and the foot of the illustrated cane. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the foot illustrated in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a bottom plan view of the foot illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , the cane  25  includes an upper section  26 , a lower section  27 , and, as illustrated, an optional intermediate section  28  (visible especially in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The intermediate section  28  is axially retractable within the upper section  26 . As per conventional such canes, the intermediate section  28  includes a spring-loaded button  30  for engagement with a plurality of holes  31  in the upper section  26  to enable adjustment of the height of the cane. The intermediate section is captured within the lower section by retaining collar  32 , as is conventional. In practice, the parts may be reversed such that the intermediate section is disposed instead within the lower section.  FIGS. 1-3  further illustrate the handle  35  which is disposed at the uppermost part of the upper section  26 , and a foot  36 , which is disposed at the lowermost part of the lower section  22 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the cane may be folded about a hinge mechanism  40  which is desirable for storage or retail display of the cane  25 . With reference to  FIG. 5 , the illustrated hinge mechanism  40  comprises an upper block  41  and a lower block  42 , and a hinge coupler  43  with pivot pins  44 ,  45  that allow for pivoting of the upper and lower sections  26 ,  27 , respectively. The lower block  42  is movable over an axial range of travel within the lower section  27  which is tubular at least in its upper region and which may be tubular throughout. A pin  48  coupled to the lower section  27  and slot  49  in the lower block  42  define a range of travel for the lower block  42 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , the upper block  41  includes a spring-loaded catch button  50  which is biased by a spring  51  that is secured by a retention plate  53  and screw  54 . The hinge mechanism further includes a magnet  55  disposed within or as the terminal surface of the upper block  41  and a corresponding opposing magnet  56  disposed in or as the terminal surface of the lower block  42 . In practice, the positions of these may be reversed, and one of the magnets may be replaced by a block of metal. Also shown in  FIG. 5  is a bushing  57  that assists in securing the upper section  26  to the collar  32 . 
     When it is desired to move the cane from a folded position to a use position, the lower section is pivoted relative to the upper section to bring the upper section and lower section into axial alignment, as seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . When moved into this position, the magnets or magnets and metal surface, will engage one another to cause a positive “click” to tactically or audibly alert the user that the upper and lower blocks are in alignment. At this point, the user axially moves the upper section relative to the lower section until the catch button  50  engages opening  58  in the lower section  27 , as seen in  FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 . The catch button  50  may have a beveled edge  60  to enable the user more easily to slide the lower section over the catch button  50 . As seen in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the lower block  42  has retracted into the lower section  27 , as is evident from the position of pin  48  within slot  49  in  FIG. 9 . 
     When it is desired to move the cane from back into a folded, storage position, the steps are simply reversed. By manually depressing the catch button  50 , the user is able to separate the upper and lower sections and then return the upper and lower sections to the position shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Some prior foldable canes have tubular sections with a round cross-section, which can allow the various sections of the cane to rotate relative to one another when the cane is assembled for use. This is believed to allow for some play in the interconnected parts, thus leading to a looser “feel” for the user. Although rounded configurations are possible in connection with the present invention, in the illustrated cane, the upper and lower sections and block portions are configured to inhibit rotation of the upper section relative to the lower section when the cane is in the use position. As illustrated, the lower section  22  and the intermediate section  28 , which is part of the upper section  26  in the illustrated embodiment, each have a generally square cross-section. These sections also are configured with slotted portions  61 ,  62  shown in  FIG. 11  for the lower section  27 , it being understood that the upper section is configured identically. Splined portions  63  on the blocks  64  (see  FIG. 6 ) slide within these slot portions. Although this splined and slotted arrangement allows the upper and lower sections to slide axially relative to one another, rotation of the upper section and the lower section relative to one another is firmly inhibited. In practice, the positions of the slotted and splined positions may be reversed. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 12 , the upper section  26  includes a magnet  70 , which, in the illustrated embodiment, is disposed within or forms a terminal region of the handle  35 . The magnet  70  engages a corresponding magnet or metal surface  71  that is disposed within or forms a terminal region of on the lower section  27 . Again, in practice, the position of the magnet and corresponding magnet or metal may be reversed. This mechanism creates a magnetic coupling of the upper and lower sections, such that, when the lower section is moved relative to the upper section into the folded position, the magnetic coupling thus created will cause an audible or tactile confirmation that the cane is fully folded. Additionally, the magnetic coupling cane will resist unfolding to some extent for retail display. Desirably, the lower section may include a protruding cap  74  that is retained via internal clip  75  within the lower section  27 . The collar  32  is of a slightly greater dimension than the upper and lower sections, which in the illustrated embodiment have identical length and width. The protruding cap  74  positions the corresponding magnet or metal  71  slightly away from the exterior wall of the lower section  27  and at a dimension that is similar to that of the collar  32 . Via this configuration, the lower section and upper section will be generally parallel relative to one another when in the folded position. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the handle  35  may have a textured surface  80  disposed at a top surface thereof for user traction. The upper surface may further include a thumb rest region  81  that is not textured for comfort and to assist in proper hand placement. The handle  35  may be formed integrally with the upper section  26 , but may also be provided as a separate piece, as illustrated, sized to fit within a tubular region of the upper section  26  and provided with a small shoulder  86  to enable the handle and upper section to meet at a flush joint. The handle  35  has an angled region  82  and a grip region  84  that define a crook  85 . Returning to  FIG. 4 , the crook  85  is preferably sized relative to the foot  36  such that the foot  36  nests within the crook  85  when the cane is in the folded position. This again allows the upper and lower sections  26 , 27  to rest parallel to one another when the cane is in the folded position to allow ease of storage or a cleaner retail display, 
     With reference to  FIGS. 15-17 , the foot  36  is of sufficient dimension to enable the cane to be self-supporting when placed on a level surface. The foot  36  comprises a skirt  90  and a central  91 , preferably each in the shape as illustrated. The skirt  90  is preferably of a relatively more pliable material than the nub  91 , which is preferably is composed of a relatively pliable material. The nub  91  may be affixed to the skirt  90  via welding or adhesive. Via such construction, the skirt  90  will yield somewhat more readily than the central nub  91  during the ordinary walking motion of the user, thereby enabling the cane to pivot relative to the ground or floor when the user is walking. This construction is believed to facilitate in maintaining the natural walking motion of the user. In other embodiments, a relatively less pliable nub may be co-molded with a relatively more pliable skirt in the same mold, such that the nub and skirt are interchangeable. The skirt may be provided with apertures  92 , as shown, which provide somewhat more “give” to the skirt. 
     The cane may be formed of parts that are conventional. The upper and lower sections may be formed from extruded aluminum tubing. The skirt and nub may be formed from thermoplastic rubber. The block portions may be composed of polyethylene or another suitable plastic, and the handle may be formed from plastic or a hard rubber material. 
     It is thus seen that a hinged walking cane may be provided in accordance with the above disclosure. Notably, the structure shown herein has been described with regard to a walking cane, but the disclosed construction may be used in one or more of its various aspects in connection with walkers, rollators, crutches, and other mobility devices. 
     All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or language describing an example (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended to illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention. Any statement herein as to the nature or benefits of the invention or of the preferred embodiments is not intended to be limiting. This invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited herein as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The description herein of any reference or patent, even if identified as “prior,” is not intended to constitute a concession that such reference or patent is available as prior art against the present invention. No unclaimed language should be deemed to limit the invention in scope. Any statements or suggestions herein that certain features constitute a component of the claimed invention are not intended to be limiting unless reflected in the appended claims. Neither the marking of the patent number on any product nor the identification of the patent number in connection with any service should be deemed a representation that all embodiments described herein are incorporated into such product or service.