Patent Publication Number: US-6341614-B1

Title: Collapsible cane

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to cane devices and more particularly pertains to a new collapsible cane for aiding a user to walk. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of cane devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, cane devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,040; U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,070; U.S. Pat. No. 3,987,807; U.S. Pat. No. 1,600,046; U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,625; and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 285,861. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new collapsible cane. The inventive device includes an elongate member. The elongate member has a plurality of tubular members. The tubular members include a plurality of intermediate tubular members extending between a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The elongate member is telescoping. A handle means for carrying the elongate member includes a housing, which is coupled to the first tubular member. An extension system selectively secures the elongate member in an extended position. The extension system comprises a plurality of locking pins. The locking pins are adapted to selectively lock a tubular member in a fixed position with relation to an adjacent tubular member. A draw line is coupled to the locking pins and is adapted to selectively remove the locking pins and unlock a tubular member from the fixed position. 
     In these respects, the collapsible cane according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of aiding a user to walk. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of cane devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new collapsible cane construction wherein the same can be utilized for aiding a user to walk. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new collapsible cane apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the cane devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new collapsible cane which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art cane devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises an elongate member. The elongate member has a plurality of tubular members. The tubular members include a plurality of intermediate tubular members extending between a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The elongate member is telescoping. A handle means for carrying the elongate member includes a housing, which is coupled to the first tubular member. An extension system selectively secures the elongate member in an extended position. The extension system comprises a plurality of locking pins. The locking pins are adapted to selectively lock a tubular member in a fixed position with relation to an adjacent tubular member. A draw line is coupled to the locking pins and is adapted to selectively remove the locking pins and unlock a tubular member from the fixed position. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new collapsible cane apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the cane devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new collapsible cane which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art cane devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new collapsible cane which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new collapsible cane which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new collapsible cane which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such collapsible cane economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new collapsible cane which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new collapsible cane for aiding a user to walk. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new collapsible cane which includes an elongate member. The elongate member has a plurality of tubular members. The tubular members include a plurality of intermediate tubular members extending between a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The elongate member is telescoping. A handle means for carrying the elongate member includes a housing, which is coupled to the first tubular member. An extension system selectively secures the elongate member in an extended position. The extension system comprises a plurality of locking pins. The locking pins are adapted to selectively lock a tubular member in a fixed position with relation to an adjacent tubular member. A draw line is coupled to the locking pins and is adapted to selectively remove the locking pins and unlock a tubular member from the fixed position. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new collapsible cane that may be adjusted to varying lengths. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new collapsible cane that may be easily stored and carried in its compact form. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a new collapsible cane in a collapsed position according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention in an extended position. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the housing of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken alone line  4 — 4  of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of area  5  in FIG. 4 of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of area  6  in FIG. 4 of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line  8 — 8  of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of the base portion of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a electronic schematic of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG.  1  through thereof, a new collapsible cane embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 11, the collapsible cane  10  generally comprises an elongate member  12  which forms the body of a telescoping cane. 
     The elongate member  12  contains a plurality of tubular members. The tubular members include a plurality of intermediate tubular members  13  extending between a first tubular member  14  and a second tubular member  15 . Each of the intermediate tubular members  13  is slidably insertable into the first tubular member  14 , and the second tubular member  15  is slidably insertable into an adjacent intermediate tubular member  13 . 
     Each of the intermediate tubular members  13  comprises a first end  16  and a second end  17  such that the first end  16  extends toward the first tubular member  14 . The first end  16  has an annular shoulder coupled thereto and extending away from the intermediate tubular member, the second end  17  has an annular shoulder coupled thereto and extending toward a central portion of the tubular elongate member. Though not needed, as will be seen, the shoulders of adjacent tubular members aid in the stability of the elongate member by limiting their movement past each other. An inner surface has a plurality of pairs of opposing notches  18  therein. Each of the notches  18  is positioned along a line between the first  16  and second  17  ends. The pairs of notches  18  are located nearer the second end  17 . The inner surface has a pair of opposed bores  19 . The bores  19  are generally adjacent to the first end  16 . 
     The second tubular member  15  has a first end, which is generally identical to the first end of the intermediate tubular members, and a second end  20 . The first end has an annular shoulder coupled thereto which extends away from the second tubular member. A pair of opposing bores  19  extends through the second tubular member and is positioned generally adjacent to the first end as in the intermediate tubular members. The second end  20  of the second tubular member  16  has an inside surface which is threaded  21 . Base portions  22  may be inserted into the second end  20  as is shown in FIG.  9 . The base portion  22  may have a rough bottom surface, an elastomeric surface, or a surface with teeth therein depending on the need of the user. The base portion  22  in FIG. 9 comprises a disc  23  having a threaded lug  24  thereon for removably inserting into the second end  20  of the second tubular member  15 . The disc  23  may be comprised of multiple layers of elastomeric material. An inner layer, not shown, positioned generally adjacent to the lug  24  would have a different color from outside layers. When the outside layers wear down, the color from the inner layer would be apparent and would signal that a the base portion  22  should be replaced. 
     The first tubular member  14  has a first end  26  and a second end  25 . The second end  25 , which is generally identical to the second ends of the intermediate tubular members, has an annular shoulder coupled thereto extends towards a central portion of the first tubular member. The first end  26  is domed. An opening  27  extends into a peripheral wall of the first tubular member  14  and is located generally adjacent to the first end  26 . 
     A handle means  30  for carrying the elongate member  12  is coupled to the elongate member  12  and can preferably be moved between a retracted position as shown in FIG. 1, or an extended position as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     The handle means  30  includes a housing  31  having a distal end  32 , a proximal end  33  and peripheral wall  34  extending therebetween. The housing  31  is generally hollow. The peripheral wall  34  has an opening  35  therein located generally adjacently to the distal end  32 . The distal end  32  has a rounded surface. An axle  36  hingedly couples the handle means  31  to the first tubular member  14 . The axle  36  is positioned generally adjacent to the opening  35  in the housing  31  and the opening  27  in the first tubular member  14  such that the distal end  32  of the housing  31  may be rotatably inserted into the opening  27  in the tubular member  14  to define the extended position. The housing  31  is selectively movable to the retracted position, which is defined by the peripheral wall  34  of the housing  31  being substantially adjacent to the peripheral wall of the first tubular member  14 . 
     A locking means selectively locks the handle in the retracted position. The locking means comprises a bore  37  in the first tubular member  14  and a button  38  in the housing  31 . The bore  37  is located generally adjacent to the opening  27 . The button  38  is slidably mounted in the distal end  32  of the housing  31 . The button  38  is biased such that a portion of the button  38  extends outwardly away from the distal end  32  of the housing  31 . The button  38  is positioned such that the button  38  extends through the bore  37  in the first tubular means  14  when the housing  31  is in the retracted position. 
     An extension system selectively secures the elongate member  12  in an extended position, as shown in FIG.  2 . When actuated, the release system allows the varying tubular members to slide into one another such that a compacted elongate member is obtained as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     The extension system has a lever  40 , which is hingedly mounted in the housing  31  such that the ends  41 ,  42  of the lever  40  selectively move away and towards the proximal end  33  of the housing  31 . 
     An actuating means comprises a button  43 , which is slidably mounted in the proximal end  33  of the housing  31 . The button  43  is biased in a direction away from the distal end  32  of the housing  31 . 
     A rod  44  is coupled to and extends between a first end  41  of the lever  40  and the button  43 . When the user presses the button  43  inward the housing  31 , the rod  44  lifts the first end  41  of the lever  40  causing the second end  42  of the lever  40  to move toward the button  43 . 
     Locking pins  45  are slidably mounted in each one of the opposing bores  19  in the tubular members such that one pair of locking pins  45  is located in each of the tubular members. Each of the locking pins  45  is biased to extend outwardly away from the tubular members and into the notches  18  in the tubular members. 
     A plurality of connecting lines  46  connects each one of a pair of locking pins  45  to the other of a pair of locking pins  45 . Each of the lines  46  has an end fixedly coupled to one locking pin, and each of the lines  46  has a middle section  47 . 
     A plurality of pulley wheels  48  is rotatably mounted between each of the pairs of locking pins  45 . Each of a pair of the pulley wheels is on an opposite side of a central point of the connecting lines  46 . Each of the pulley wheels  48  is orientated such that each of the connecting lines  46  is orientated generally parallel to a rotational axis of the pulley wheels  48 . Each pair of the pulley wheels  48  is located generally between the first end  16  of the tubular members and the locking pins  45 . 
     A draw line  50  draws, or pulls, the connecting lines  48  toward the housing  31 . The draw line  50  has a first end  51  and a second end  52 . The first end  51  is coupled to a second end  41  of the lever  40 , and the second end  52  is fixedly coupled to the second tubular member  15 . A length of the draw line  50  extending between the first  51  and second  52  ends extends through the intermediate tubular members  13 . The draw line is coupled to the middle section  47  of each of the connecting lines  46 . The draw line  50  is generally taut when the elongate member  12  is in an extended position such that the connecting lines  46  are pulled upwardly and against the pulley wheels  48  as best depicted in FIG.  7 . Pressing the button  43  in the housing causes draw line  50  to pull on the locking pins  45  and slidably move them away from the notches  18 . When the locking pins  45  are removed from the notches  18 , the tubular members may be slid together. The cane may have differing lengths by allowing the locking pins  45  access into different notches  18 . 
     A securing means  60  secures the elongate member  12  in a retracted and compact position as shown in FIG.  1 . The securing means  60  includes a rod  61 . The rod  61  slidably extends into the first tubular member  14 . The rod  61  has a first end  62  and a second end  63 . The rod  61  has a depression  64  therein generally located between the first  62  and second  63  ends. The first end  62  is located outside of the first tubular member  14 . The second end  63  is generally adjacent to a wall  65 . A biasing means  66  is generally positioned between the second end  63  and the wall  65  and biases the rod  61  away from the wall  65  such that the rod  61  extends to its position outside of the first tubular member  14 . The depression  64  is positioned such that depression  64  may receive a portion of the second tubular member  15 . The depression  64  has a roughened surface and an inner surface of the second tubular member  16  located generally adjacent to its first end is roughened. As the rod  61  is biased outward, the depression  64  presses against the second tubular member  15 . The friction caused between them secures the second tubular member  15  in the depression  64 . Exerting force on the first end  62  of the rod  61  releases the second tubular member  15  from the depression  64 . 
     Ideally, the apparatus includes a means for displaying time  70 . The means for displaying time comprises a microprocessor adapted for tracking time and a display panel for displaying information from the microprocessor. The display is mounted in the housing and is generally flush with the peripheral wall of the housing. The display panel is operationally coupled to the microprocessor, and ideally comprises a liquid crystal display. A power supply is operationally coupled to the microprocessor. The power supply is ideally a battery mounted in the housing. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.