Patent Publication Number: US-2004040588-A1

Title: Combination walking cane and pickup device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001] Not applicable  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002] 1. Field of Invention  
       [0003] This invention relates to a walking cane provided with a inner hidden device for a ambulatory user and assists to pickup items from any position.  
       [0004] 2. Description of Prior Art  
       [0005] Many attemps have been made in the prior art to deal with ambulatory assistance devices for the elderly or the handicapped. Canes and walking sticks have been provided with various accessories as are noted in the following prior art patents. The most perinent prior art patents for walking canes provided with accessories of various types may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,763,872 to Gooley;  4811750  to Mc Allistet. 5392800 to Sergi, and 5636650 to Kroeze.  
       [0006] The Gooley patent sets forth a walking cane having a pickup device for use at the lower end of the walking cane. The lower end is formed as a hollow tublar member that receives a complementary telescoping post. The lower end of the post serves as a frictional tip for the cane. The post has a outside gripper in the form of one or more fingers extending longitudinally alongside it which moves longitudinally with the post and are received within the tubular end of the cane when the post is recessed. The gripper is spring biased to permit protrude radially outward from the post when the post is extended.  
       [0007] The Mc Allister patent sets fort a walking cane with extensible fingers for retrieving and picking up objects. The cane has a hollow body and an opening at its lower end. A finger assembly is mounted within the lower portion of the cane and moveable between a retracted closed position and an extended open position, also a finger assembly including an elongated actuating rod extending within the cane.  
       [0008] The Sergi patent sets forth a walking cane having a pickup device mounted externally on the post of the cane. The remote object gripping mechanisum is comprised of a trigger gripping claw and connecting linkage of a cable. The trigger is mounted on the cane adjacent the handle and is actuated to move the cable, which is mounted inside the cane.  
       [0009] The Kroeze patent sets forth a walking cane having a handle and trigger inside a hollow body ajacent to the hand portion of the cane. The cane has a telescopically mounted portion so as to adjust the length of the cane and trigger means is actuated so as to rotatably move arm outwardly from a slotted opening within the bottom portion of the cane to pickup remote objects. The clamping device is externally mounted.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0010] In accordance with the present invention a hollow tubular cane with a inner sleeve which houses a four prong spring attached to a rod, acting as a pickup device with a safety locking feature. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0011] The accompany drawings illusrates the invention.  
     [0012]FIG. 1 is a full view showing the cane assembly embodying the invention gripping prongs in a locked position.  
     [0013]FIG. 2 is a side view illustration of the invention, showing the gripping prongs at full extension with an end view showing the configuration of the gripping prongs.  
     [0014]FIG. 3 is an exploded half section view of the invention, illustrating the inner mechanical requirements of the prefered embodiment. The embodiment illustrates the extended operational position for the pickup device.  
     [0015]FIG. 4 is a exploded half section view of the invention illustrating the inner mechanical requirements of the prefered embodiment. The embodiment illustrates the retracted locked position for the pickup device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0016] As show in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention is concerned with an improved walking cane device, generally desgnated in the accompanying drawing by the reference number  10  in FIGS.  1 - 4 .  
     [0017] With reference to FIG. 1, the walking cane pickup device  10  with a tube  30  and the pickup device a knob  40  in upper locked position. A cane handle  50  is formed from tube  30  or any attachable type handle. Tube  30  may be of any length with a rubber foot  38  on the end of the cane.  
     [0018] With reference to FIG. 2, the walking cane pickup device  10  illustrates the overall configuration with the pickup device knob  40  in the full extended position with prongs  23  and  25  in position for pickup mode.  
     [0019]FIG. 3, shows the lower half section of the walking cane device  10  with the prong assembly  27  in maxium extended position made of mold assembly  23 ,  25  and  28  extending up thru a spacer  29  into knob  40  secured by screw  31 . A sleeve  35  is retained by rubber foot  38  and yube  30 . A slotted oppening  33  in tube  30  guides rod  28  part of prong assemly  27  to the maxium extension.  
     [0020]FIG. 4, shows the lower half section of the walking cane device  10  with prong assembly  27  in its locked position with fingers  23 ,  25  and rod  28  extending up thru spacer  29  into knob  40  secured by screw  31 . The sleeve  35  is retained by the rubber foot  38  and tube  30 . The knob  40  when fully retracted is moved in a clockwise direction into a locking slot  33  to lock prong assembly  27  in position.