Patent Publication Number: US-8122900-B1

Title: Cane with grasping device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are many reasons for an individual to have some tool for extended reach. Reasons may include a reluctance or inability to use a ladder, for example. Reasons often include physical inability to reach objects due to some form of physical challenge. Anyone who must use a cane, for example, is often quite limited in reach. Various canes exist that include apparatus for enabling a user to grasp an object that might otherwise be out of hand reach. One problem that exists, for example, is that such devices do not provide for full and hidden retreat of grasping devices. The present device uniquely solves problems associated with canes that include grasping devices. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The cane with grasping device relates to walking canes and more especially to a cane with an internally retreating grasping device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the cane with grasping device, described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a cane with grasping device which has many novel features that result in an improved cane with grasping device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by prior art, either alone or in combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the cane with grasping device provides a cane that has a selectively exposed pair of spring jaws disposed downwardly within the stationary stalk of the device to selectively gasp a given object. The handle is importantly disposed off-center atop the sleeve for superior cane user friendliness. The stationary stalk of the device is disposed downwardly from the handle and is partially within the sleeve. The sliding stalk is disposed partially within the sleeve and substantially around the stationary stalk. Spring jaws are disposed downwardly on the end block that is disposed downwardly on the stationary stalk. A compression spring is disposed within the stalk and around the stationary stalk, below the handle. Elevation of the lever to a position immediately below and adjacent to the handle slides the sliding stalk upwardly and fully exposes the otherwise retreated spring jaws. Releasing the lever allows the spring jaws to automatically grasp a given object. Conversely, releasing the lever allows the jaws to release the object. 
     The device may provide more than a pair of spring jaws. A quartet of spring jaws may be provided, for example. The automatically concealed jaws are important to the device&#39;s appearance and function. 
     Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the improved cane with grasping device so 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. 
     An object of the cane with grasping device is to provide a walking cane. 
     Another object of the cane with grasping device is to provide a device for extending the reach of a user. 
     A further object of the cane with grasping device is to provide for retraction of the extended reach mechanism. 
     An added object of the cane with grasping device is to provide for selective full retreat of the reach mechanism within the cane. 
     And, an object of the cane with grasping device is to provide substantial leverage in use of the grasping mechanism. 
     These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the improved cane with grasping device will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the improved cane with grasping device when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view. 
         FIG. 2  is a lateral elevation view. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cross sectional view of  FIG. 2 , taken along the line  3 - 3 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partial cross sectional view of  FIG. 2 , taken along the line  4 - 4 . 
         FIG. 5  is a lateral elevation view with grasping mechanism fully retreated within the outer stalk. 
         FIG. 6  is a lateral elevation view with grasping mechanism fully extended from the outer stalk. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular  FIGS. 1 through 6  thereof, the principles and concepts of the cane with grasping device generally designated by the reference number  10  will be described. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , device  10  partially comprises a first end  20  spaced apart from a second end  21 . The sleeve  22  is disposed adjacent to the first end  20 . The slot  23  is disposed downwardly within the sleeve  22 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the semicircular cavity  25  is disposed upwardly within the sleeve  22 . A rounded sleeve end  24  is disposed above the semicircular cavity  25  on an each side of the sleeve  22 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the cylindrical insert  27  is disposed within the sleeve  22  below the semicircular cavity  25 . The handle  30  is disposed within the semicircular cavity  25 . The handle  30  is affixed off-center. The handle has a rounded handle insert  26  disposed within each handle  30  end. A plurality of spaced apart fasteners  28  affixes the sleeve  22  to the cylindrical insert  27 . The stationary stalk  32  is affixed to the handle  30  and to the cylindrical insert  27 . The foot  33  surrounds the sliding stalk  40  second end  21 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 3  and also to  FIG. 4 , the stationary stalk  32  is extended to the second end  21 . The end block  34  is affixed downwardly to the stationary stalk  32 . The pair of mirror image spring jaws  36  is affixed downwardly to the end block  34 . The spring jaws  36  have an outward preload. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , an inwardly disposed horizontal tip  37  is disposed on each spring jaw  36 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the guide  38  is disposed within the sliding stalk  40  at the second end  21 . The divider  39  is disposed centrally and downwardly within the guide  38  and guides the spring jaws  36  and also prevents further retreat of the horizontal tips  37  within the stationary stalk  32 . 
     Each of the spring jaws  36  is disposed on an either side of the guide  38 . The horizontal tips  37  abut the guide  38  divider  39  downwardly. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the sliding stalk  40  is disposed slideably and outwardly on the stationary stalk  32 . The sliding stalk  40  is disposed slideably and inwardly on the sleeve  22 . The opening  40 A is within the sliding stalk  40  second end  21 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the lever  42  has a vertical member  43  seamlessly connected upwardly to a horizontal member  44 . The horizontal member  44  is disposed proximal to the handle  30 . The vertical member  43  is affixed downwardly within the slot  23  to the sliding stalk  40  via the attachment block  41  with a plurality of fasteners  28 . The attachment block  41  is slideably disposed within the sleeve  22  slot  23 . The compression spring  50  is disposed within the sleeve  22  and around the stationary stalk  32 . The compression spring  50  downwardly abuts the cylindrical insert  27  and upwardly abuts the sliding stalk  40 . The compression spring  50  holds the spring jaws  36  within the sliding stalk  40  until displaced by a user. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , elevating the lever  42  horizontal member  44  toward the handle  30  slides the sliding stalk  40  upwardly and exposes the spring jaws  36  with horizontal tips  37 . Importantly, this position sees the lever  42  immediately adjacent to the handle  30 , allowing a user to easily grasp both the handle  30  and the lever  42 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , release of the lever  42  automatically retracts the spring jaws  36  at least partially within the sliding stalk  40 , thereby automatically grasping a given object until released by lever  42  elevation. 
     Directional terms such as “front”, “back”, “in”, “out”, “downward”, “upper”, “lower”, and the like may have been used in the description. These terms are applicable to the embodiments shown and described in conjunction with the drawings. These terms are merely used for the purpose of description in connection with the drawings and do not necessarily apply to the position in which the cane with grasping device may be used.