Patent Publication Number: US-2006011229-A1

Title: Strength-conserving pneumatic walking stick

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1) Field of the Invention  
      The invention herein relates to a strength-conserving pneumatic walking stick capable of providing supportive assistance to the ambulatorily handicapped or injured during the process of standing or sitting and thereby achieving a safe and reliable means of support with strength saving adjustability.  
      2) Description of the Prior Art  
      A currently observed walking stick  10  (referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ) is comprised of a walking stick main member  11  and a retractable stick member  15 ; a soft pad  12  is situated at the upper extent of the walking stick main member  11  and a hollow stanchion member  13  having a plurality of adjustment positioning holes  14  is situated along the lower extent; the retractable stick member  15  is sleeved into the walking stick main member  11  stanchion member  13 , with an elastic retaining component  16  internally disposed at the upper extent of the retractable stick member  15  to provide for engaging the stanchion member  13  holes  14  and thereby maintaining stationary positioning, and an anti-slip cushion  17  is sleeved onto the lower extent of the retractable stick member  15 ; when the user wants to adjust the walking stick length, direct pressure against the elastic retaining component  16  disengages it from the stanchion member  13  hole  14  and then the retractable stick member  15  is pulled out of or pushed into the walking stick main member  11 , following which the elastic retaining component  16  is re-engaged into the hole  14  to maintain the position, which thereby completes the length adjustment procedure.  
      As such, the prior art structure has the following drawbacks: 1) The walking stick  10  consists of retractable stick member  15  elastic retaining component  16  that engages a walking stick main member  11  hole  14  to maintain a fixed length and when the user wants to sit down, since the walking stick  10  must be postured at an angle before the user can slowly proceed to sit, during which time the walking stick  10  loses its supportive function, the center of gravity of the user is not stabilized and falling is possible. 2) When the user wants to stand up with the aid of the walking stick  10 , since the walking stick  10  must set an angle and leaned on as the user slowly gets back up, this consumes strength and, furthermore, easily increases the possibility of a fall due to center of gravity instability.  
      In view of the said shortcomings, the applicant of the invention herein conceived of a thoughtful and original idea based on many years of design experience and extensive investigation that, following repeated sample testing and numerous refinements, culminated in the introduction of the invention herein.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The primary objective of the invention herein is to provide a strength-conserving pneumatic walking stick in which the pneumatic walking stick air pressure adjustor is situated inside the walking stick main member and mounted in the support member; when the user wants to sit down or stand up, physical strength supported on the pneumatic walking stick triggers the toggling of an air pressure adjustor actuating lever, enabling the pneumatic spindle to articulate the extension and the retraction of the support member from the inside of the walking stick main member such that the user is not required to exert a great amount of strength and is afforded a reliable and stable supportive means. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an orthographic drawing of the prior art.  
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional drawing of a section of the prior art.  
       FIG. 3  is an isometric drawing of the invention herein.  
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional drawing of a section of the invention herein.  
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional drawing of the invention herein that illustrates operation.  
       FIG. 6  is an orthographic drawing of the invention herein that illustrates utilization.  
       FIG. 7  is an orthographic drawing of the invention herein that illustrates utilization. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The brief description of the drawings are accompanied below by the detailed description of the present invention.  
      The strength-conserving pneumatic walking stick (referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 ) is comprised of a walking stick main member  20 , a spring  33 , an air pressure adjustor  30 , and a support member  40 ; a soft pad  21  is situated at the upper extent of the walking stick main member  20 , a handle  22  projects from the middle to provide for manual grasping, a recess  221  is disposed downward along the bottom surface of the handle  22 , a locating slot  222  is formed in the recess  221 , a positioning switch  223  is situated at one side of the recess  221 , a hollow tubular stanchion member  23  is situated downward from the handle  22 , and a set flange  231  protrudes from a suitable area at the upper extent of the stanchion member  23  interior section; the air pressure adjustor  30  consists of a pneumatic spindle  31  having an actuating lever  32  at its upper extremity and a locating slot  321  formed in the actuating lever  32 ; the support member  40  is a hollow tubular construct having a non-slip cushion  41  sleeved onto its lower extent; when assembled, the upper extremity of the air pressure adjustor  30  pneumatic spindle  31  is fixed by the stanchion member  23  set flange  231  and the actuating lever  32  is contained in the handle  22  recess  221 ; the locating slot  222  in the recess  221  provides for the securing of one end of the spring  33  with the other end of the spring  33  resting against the actuating lever  32  upper edge surface; and the support member  40  is then mounted at the lower extremity of the air pressure adjustor  30  pneumatic spindle  31 , thereby completing the assembly.  
      When the user utilizes the pneumatic walking stick (referring to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6 , and  FIG. 7 ); when the user wants to sit, the armpit is exerted down against the pad  21  on the walking stick main member  20 , which initially disengages the handle  22  positioning switch  223  from the actuating lever  32  locating slot  321  and next triggers the air pressure adjustor  30  actuating lever  32  such that the supported physical strength of the user is directed down towards the pneumatic spindle  31  on the walking stick main member  20  which simultaneously causes the retraction of the support member  40  into the stanchion member  23 , and when the pneumatic walking stick is adjusted to the appropriate length, the positioning switch  223  once again toggles into stationary engagement in the actuating lever  32  locating slot  321 , enabling the user to utilize the capability of pneumatic walking stick as a reliable and stable means of support while sitting down; when the user wants to stand, the armpit is exerted down against the pad  21  on the walking stick main member  20  to initially disengage the handle  22  positioning switch  223  from the actuating lever  32  locating slot  321  and next triggers the air pressure adjustor  30  actuating lever  32  such that the supported physical strength of the user is directed downward against the walking stick main member  20  and releases the air pressure adjustor  30  pneumatic spindle  31 , causing the forceful extension of the support member  40  out from the stanchion member  23  and at a slow rate of rise until the full standing length is reached, whereupon the positioning switch  223  once again toggles into stationary engagement in the actuating lever  32  locating slot  321 , enabling the user to utilize the capability of the pneumatic walking stick as a safe and stable means of support while standing up that does not require the exertion of considerable strength.  
      As such, the structure of the said general embodiments is capable of obtaining the following beneficial results: 1) When the user wants to sit, the supported physical strength of the user is directed down towards the pneumatic spindle  31  on the walking stick main member  20  which simultaneously causes the retraction of the support member  40  into the stanchion member  23 , and when the pneumatic walking stick is adjusted to the appropriate length, the positioning switch  223  once again toggles into stationary engagement in the actuating lever  32  locating slot  321 , enabling the user to utilize the capability of pneumatic walking stick as a reliable and stable means of support while sitting down. 2) When the user wants to stand, the supported physical strength of the user is directed downward against the walking stick main member  20  and releases the air pressure adjustor  30  pneumatic spindle  31 , causing the forceful extension of the support member  40  out from the stanchion member  23  and at a slow rate of rise until the full standing length is reached, whereupon the positioning switch  223  once again toggles into stationary engagement in the actuating lever  32  locating slot  321 , enabling the user to utilize the capability of the pneumatic walking stick as a safe and stable means of support while standing up that does not require the exertion of considerable strength.  
      In summation of the foregoing section, since the invention herein is already of an advanced innovative structure that possesses improved original content, while also capable of achieving industrial utility and progressiveness, and thus meets patent law regulations, the present invention is lawfully submitted for patent application to the patent bureau for review and the granting of the commensurate patent rights.  
      However, the said description only elaborates the most preferred embodiments of the invention herein and shall not be construed as limitation of the scope of the present invention; all modification and embellishments based on the patent application claims of invention herein shall remain proprietary to and protected under the claims of present invention.