Patent Publication Number: US-11641914-B2

Title: Two-in-one walking support and methods of use

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/192,346, filed Mar. 4, 2021, which claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/984,969 filed on Mar. 4, 2020 and entitled Latching Mechanism for Two-in-One Walking Support and Methods of Use, the content of which are relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Two-in-one walking supports or canes provide the user with the ability to use the walking support as both a cane, i.e. one cane, or as a walker, i.e. two canes. See for example, commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,637,273, the subject matter of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a two-in-one walking support that comprises a first shaft portion that has proximal and distal ends, a second shaft portion that has proximal and distal ends, and a handle assembly. The handle assembly comprises a first handle that is located at the proximal end of the first shaft portion and a second handle that is located at the proximal end of the second shaft portion. A latching mechanism is incorporated into the first and second handles. The latching mechanism is configured to releasably couple the first and second handles to form the handle assembly and a single walking support configuration with the first and second shaft portions abutting one another and being configured to decouple the first and second handles and separate the first and second shaft portions to form a two-piece walking support configuration. 
     In certain examples of the present disclosure, the latching mechanism includes first and second spring biased pinch keys operatively associated with first and second levers, the first pinch key and the first lever being located in the first handle and the second pinch key and the second lever being located in the second handle; the latching mechanism includes first and second sliders operatively associated with first and second levers wherein the first slider and the first lever are located in the first handle and the second slider and the second lever are located in the second handle; the latching mechanism includes at least one latch arm configured to engage a projecting latch; the at least one latch arm is spring biased; the latching mechanism includes a rotatable collar on one of the first and second handles and a fixed half disc on the other of the first and second handles and the collar is configured to receive the fixed disc; each of the collar and the fixed half disc is located on a stem of one of the first and second handles; and/or the handle assembly includes a thumb groove sized for a user&#39;s thumb to assist with actuation of the latching mechanism and separation of the first and second handles. 
     In other examples, a bottom of each of the first and second handles has a corrugated shaped gripping surface; the gripping surface is configured for two gripping positions; and/or the first and second shaft portions have magnets for abutting the first and second shaft portions together. 
     The present disclosure may also provide a two-in-one walking support that comprises a first shaft portion, a second shaft portion, and a handle assembly. The handle assembly comprises a first handle that is located at the proximal end of the first shaft portion, and the first handle having a front portion, a rear portion, a top, and a bottom; and a second handle that is located at the proximal end of the second shaft portion, and the second handle having a front portion, a rear portion, a top, and a bottom. A tip is located at the distal ends of the first and second shaft portions, respectively. The rear portion of each handle is wider than the front portion and the bottom of each handle includes a generally corrugated gripping surface configured for a two gripping positions by a user&#39;s fingers. 
     In some examples, the front portion is narrow and a middle portion between the front and rear portions is wider than the front portion; each of the first and second handles has generally concave sides; the walking support further comprises a latching mechanism that is configured to releasably couple the first and second handles to form the handle assembly and a single walking support configuration with the first and second shaft portions abutting one another; the latching mechanism includes at least one latch arm configured to engage a projecting latch; and/or the first and second shaft portions include magnets for abutting the first and second shaft portions together; the latching mechanism includes a rotatable collar on one of the first and second handles and a fixed half disc on the other of the first and second handles and the collar is configured to receive the fixed half disc; and/or the tips include corresponding latches configured to engage one another. 
     The present disclosure may further provide a method of using a two-in-one walking support, comprising the steps of: holding a two-in-one walking support in a first gripping position by a user, the two-in-one walking support including first and second separable shaft portions, and each of the first and second shaft portions having a handle and a tip; actuating a latching mechanism of the two-in-one walking support to separate the first and second shaft portions of the two-in-one walking support; and after separating the first and second shaft portions, holding the handle of one or both of the first and second portions in a second gripping position of the user. 
     In certain examples of the method, after separating the first and second shaft portions, the user holds the handles of the first and second shaft portions in the user&#39;s left and right hands, respectively, in the second gripping position; the step of actuating the latching mechanism includes the user holding the handles of the first and second shaft portions and then actuating pinch keys or sliders of the first and second handles, respectively; after the step of actuating the pinch keys or sliders of the first and second handles, first and second levers of the latching mechanism are forced upwardly to release the latching mechanism; and/or after releasing the latching mechanism, the handles are separated by the user&#39;s thumbs; and/or the step of actuating the latching mechanism includes the user rotating a collar of one of the handles until the collar is disengaged from a fixed half disc of the other of the handles. 
     The present disclosure may yet further provide a two-in-one walking support that comprises first and second shaft portions and a handle assembly that comprises a first handle that is located at a most proximal end of the first shaft portion, a second handle that is located at a most proximal end of the second shaft portion, and a latching mechanism incorporated into the first and second handles. The latching mechanism can be configured to releasably couple the first and second handles to form the handle assembly and a single walking support configuration with the first and second shaft portions abutting one another and can be configured to decouple the first and second handles and separate the first and second shaft portions to form a two-piece walking support configuration. The latching mechanism includes a plurality of cooperating first and second latches, the first handle includes at least one of the first latches and at least one of the second latches, and the second handle includes at least one of the first latches and at least one of the second latches. 
     In certain examples, the first latches are spring biased pinch keys or sliders and the second latches are levers; the first latches are spring biased latch arms and the second latches are projecting latches; one of the first latches is a rotatable collar on one of the first and second handles and one of the second latches is a fixed half disc on the other of the first and second handles, and the rotatable collar is configured to receive the fixed disc; each of the collar and the fixed half disc is located on a stem of one of the first and second handles; each of the first and second handles includes a top, a bottom, and a side therebetween, and wherein when in the single walking support configuration, the first and second handles abut one another at their respective sides; in the single walking support configuration, the first and second shaft portions abut one another along their respective outer longitudinal sides; the handles are over-molded to cover the latching mechanism; the handle assembly includes a thumb groove sized for a user&#39;s thumb to assist with actuation of the latching mechanism and separation of the first and second handles, and the thumb groove is located in a top of the handle assembly; a bottom of each of the first and second handles has a corrugated shaped gripping surface; the gripping surface is configured to provide first and second gripping positions, the first gripping position being more forward on the first and second handles, and the second gripping position being more rearward on the first and second handles; the first and second shaft portions have magnets for abutting the first and second shaft portions together; and/or tips of the first and second shaft portions include corresponding latches configured to engage one another. 
     The present disclosure may also provide a two-in-one walking support that comprises first and second shaft portions, and a handle assembly that comprises a first handle that is located at the proximal end of the first shaft portion, and the first handle has a front portion, a rear portion, a top, and a bottom. The handle assembly also comprises a second handle that is located at the proximal end of the second shaft portion, and the second handle has a front portion, a rear portion, a top, and a bottom. The handle assembly further comprises a tip that is located at the distal ends of the first and second shaft portions, respectively. The rear portion of each handle is wider than the front portion and the bottom of each handle includes a generally corrugated gripping surface configured to provide first and second gripping positions by a user&#39;s fingers. The first gripping position is closer to the front portion of the first and second handles, and the second gripping position is closer to the rear portion of the first and second handles. 
     In one example, the walking support comprises a latching mechanism configured to releasably couple the first and second handles to form the handle assembly and a single walking support configuration wherein the first and second shaft portions abut one another along their respective longitudinal sides. 
     In other examples, the front portion is narrow and a middle portion between the front and rear portions is wider than the front portion; and/or each of the first and second handles has generally concave sides extending between the front and rear portions. 
     The present disclosure may yet further provides a method of using a two-in-one walking support that comprises the steps of holding a two-in-one walking support in a first gripping position by a user, the two-in-one walking support including first and second separable shaft portions, and each of the first and second shaft portions having a handle and a tip; actuating a latching mechanism that is incorporated into the handles of the first and second shaft portions of the two-in-one walking support to separate the handles and the first and second shaft portions of the two-in-one walking support, thereby converting a single walking support configuration of the two-in-one walking support, in which the first and second shaft portions abut one another, to a two-piece walking support configuration, in which the first and second handles are decoupled and the first and second shaft portions separated; after converting the two-in-one walking support to the two-piece walking support configuration, holding the handle of one or both of the first and second shafts portions in a second gripping position of the user, wherein the first gripping position is more forward on each handle and the second gripping position is more rearward on each handle. 
     In some examples, each handle has a bottom corrugated gripping surface that defines the first and second gripping positions; and/or each handle includes front, middle, and rear portions, and sides extending between the front and rear portions, the front portions are narrow and the middle portions between the front and rear portions are wider than the front portions, and the sides of each handle are generally concave. 
     This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and are intended to provide an overview or framework to understand the nature and character of the disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. It is to be understood that the drawings illustrate only some examples of the disclosure and other examples or combinations of various examples that are not specifically illustrated in the figures may still fall within the scope of this disclosure. Examples will now be described with additional detail through the use of the drawings, in which: 
         FIGS.  1   a  and  1   b    are perspective views of a walking support according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, showing the walking support in the single and two-piece configurations, respectively; 
         FIG.  2    is a front perspective view of a handle assembly of the walking support illustrated in  FIGS.  1   a    and  1   b;    
         FIG.  3    is a top plan view of the handle assembly illustrated in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a bottom plan view of the handle assembly illustrated in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a side elevational view of the handle assembly illustrated in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a partial side elevational view of the walking support illustrated in  FIGS.  1   a  and  1   b   , showing the handle assembly being used with a first gripping configuration according to an example of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  7    is a partial side elevational view of the walking support illustrated in  FIGS.  1   a  and  1   b   , showing the handle assembly being used with a second gripping configuration according to another example of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  8    illustrates a perspective view of exemplary steps for decoupling the handle assembly of the walking support illustrated in  FIGS.  1   a    and  1   b;    
         FIG.  9    is a sectional view of a handle of the handle assembly, showing the handle in a latched position; 
         FIG.  10    is a sectional view of the handle similar to  FIG.  9    but showing the handle in an unlatched position; 
         FIG.  11    is a sectional view of the other handle of the handle assembly, showing the other handle in a latched position; 
         FIG.  12    is a partial perspective view of a latching mechanism in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  13    is a perspective view of a handle assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  14    is an exploded perspective view of first and second handles of the handle assembly illustrated in  FIG.  13   ; 
         FIG.  15    is a partial bottom perspective view of the first and second handles illustrated in  FIG.  14   ; 
         FIG.  16    illustrates a perspective view of exemplary steps for decoupling the handle assembly illustrated in  FIG.  13   ; 
         FIG.  17    is a sectional view of a handle of the handle assembly, showing the handle in a latched position; 
         FIG.  18    is a sectional view of the handle similar to  FIG.  17    but showing the handle in an unlatched position; 
         FIG.  19    is a sectional view of the other handle of the handle assembly, showing the other handle in a latched position; 
         FIGS.  20   a ,  20   b , and  20   c    are elevational views of a walking support according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, showing the walking support being open and closed between the single and two-piece configurations, respectively; 
         FIG.  21    is a partial perspective view of handles of the walking support illustrated in  FIGS.  20   a ,  20   b , and  20   c   , showing the handles in an open or separated configuration; 
         FIG.  22    is a partial perspective view of the handles of the walking support illustrated in  FIG.  21   , showing the handles assembled with a latching mechanism in an open unlatched position; 
         FIG.  23    is a partial perspective view of the handles similar to  FIG.  22   , showing the latching mechanism in a closed latched position; 
         FIG.  24    is a partial exploded perspective view of the handles and latching mechanism of the walking support illustrated in  FIGS.  20   a ,  20   b   , and  20   c;    
         FIG.  25    is a partial sectional view of the distal end of the walking support illustrated in  FIGS.  20   a ,  20   b , and  20   c   ; and 
         FIGS.  26   a  and  26   b    are partial and enlarged sectional views of the handles of the walking support illustrated in  FIGS.  20   a ,  20   b , and  20   c   , showing engagement features of the latching mechanism. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the figures, in general, the present disclosure relates to a two-in-one walking support and methods of use. The walking support can be configured to form a two-in-one cane-like structure which separates into two components or pieces, each independently usable as a walking support. The walking support of the present disclosure incorporates a latching mechanism configured to allow the user to easily latch and unlatch the two walking components to form either a singular walking support or two walking supports, as desired. Applications of the two-in-one walking support include but are not limited to, medical applications, such as for physical therapy, and geriatric applications, such as for walking assistance, recreational, such as for walking and hiking, and the like. 
     The separable two-in-one walking support of the present disclosure may be a unified cane-like structure formed by two longitudinally abutting shaft portions. Each shaft portion has a handle which may be latched together and unlatched from the handle of the other shaft portion. In one embodiment of the separable walking support, the cane or other structure formed from the two cane portions can be manually separable via the latching mechanism of the present disclosure into two functional walking support units. The two separated portions of the walking support can be readily reassembled via the latching mechanism into a unitary or single walking support if two independent walking supports are no longer required. 
     In an example, the two-in-one walking support  100  of the present disclosure comprises a first shaft portion  102   a , a second shaft portion  102   b , and a separable handle assembly  110 . Each of the first and second shaft portions  102   a  and  102   b  has a proximal end  104  and a distal end  106 . Each distal end  106  includes a tip  108  of the walking support  100 . The handle assembly  110  is ergonomically shaped to provide maximum comfort to the user when using the walking support  100  in both configurations, i.e. as a single walking support and as a two-piece walking support. 
     Each shaft portion  102   a  and  102   b  may be an elongated, substantially straight, rectilinear structure, for example, having a substantially uniform cross section. It will be recognized that the combination of cross-sectional area and material strength of the shaft portion  102   a  and  102   b  is sufficient to support the user&#39;s weight when the walking support is being used. Each shaft portion  102   a  and  102   b  is attached at their proximal ends  104  to the bottom  126  of each handle  112   a  and  112   b , respectively. 
     The handle assembly  110  includes a first handle  112   a  and a second handle  112   b  associated with the first and second shaft portions  102   a  and  102   b , respectively. The first handle  112   a  is located at the proximal end  104  of the first shaft portion  102   a  and the second handle  112   b  is located at the proximal end  104  of the second shaft portion  102   b.    
     The handles  112   a  and  112   b  are configured to be releasably coupled to one another via a latching mechanism  200  ( FIG.  8   ) to form the handle assembly  110 . Each handle  112   a  and  112   b  has a front  122 , a back  124 , a bottom  126 , and a top  128 . A portion of the bottom  126  of each handle  112   a  and  112   b  may have a corrugated shaped gripping surface  130  for the user&#39;s fingers. The gripping surface  130  may be shaped and designed for a dual or two position gripping, as seen in  FIGS.  6  and  7    for the comfort of the user in both the single and two-piece configurations. Each tip  108  is disposed at a distal end of the shaft portions  102   a  and  102   b , respectively. The tips  108  of the shaft portions  102   a  and  102   b  can be configured to be releasably coupled when the handles  112   a  and  112   b  are coupled. 
     The latching mechanism  200  is incorporated into the handle assembly  110 . The latching mechanism  200  is configured to allow the first and second handles  112   a  and  112   b  to be releasably coupled together to form the single walking support ( FIG.  1   a   ) and configured to decouple the first and second handles  112   a  and  112   b  to form the two-piece walking support ( FIG.  1   b   ). In an example, the handles  112   a  and  112   b  can be over-molded to cover the components of the latching mechanism  200 . 
     When handles  112   a  and  112   b  are coupled to form the handle assembly  110 , a thumb groove  132  ( FIG.  2   ) is formed that is sized for a user&#39;s thumbs to assist with actuation of the latching mechanism  200 , particularly with the separation of the handles  112   a  and  112   b . The handle assembly  110  also forms a narrow front portion  134  which has generally concave sides  136  and forms and a rear portion  138  that has a wide middle section  139 , as seen in  FIGS.  2 - 4   . The wide middle section  139  is wider than the narrow front portion  134  of the handle assembly  110  to provide comfort to the user in both walking support configurations. 
       FIG.  6    shows the user gripping the handle assembly  110  in a first gripping position A with the user&#39;s hand being more forward on the handle assembly. This first gripping position A can be applied when using the walking support  100  as a single walking support.  FIG.  7    shows the user gripping one of the handles  112   a  or  112   b  of the handle assembly  110  in a second gripping position B with the user&#39;s hand being more rearward on the handle. This second gripping position can be applied when using the walking support  100  as a two-piece walking support. 
       FIGS.  8 - 12    illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the latching mechanism  200  of the present disclosure and the steps for latching and unlatching the handles  112   a  and  112   b . To convert the walking support  100  from the single cane to the two-piece cane component, the user releases the latching mechanism  200  using pinch keys  140  and  142 . More specifically, the user of the walking support  100 , while holding the handles  112   a  and  112   b  in their left and right hands, respectively, pinches or presses with the user&#39;s thumbs the first and second pinch keys  140  and  142  located at the tops  128  of the handles  112   a  and  112   b , respectively, as seen in  FIG.  8   . The pinch keys  140  and  142  are spring biased when pressed against the bias of internal flexures or springs  144  and  146 , as seen in  FIGS.  9 - 11   . The user&#39;s fingers also pull up on first and second bottom levers  150  and  152  at the bottoms  126  of the handles  112   a  and  112   b , respectively, as seen in  FIG.  8   . These steps open first and second latch arms  154  and  156  in each handle, as seen in  FIGS.  9 - 11   . When the latch arms  154  and  156  open, a corresponding latch  158  projecting of each handle is released, as seen in  FIG.  12   , thereby disengaging the latching mechanism  200 , as seen in  FIGS.  9 ,  10 , and  12   . Each handle  112   a  and  112   b  may include an inner plate  160  from which the latch  158  extends, as seen in  FIGS.  8  and  12   . Each plate  160  can have a corresponding opening  162  for receiving the latch  158  and allowing the latch  158  to pass therethrough. 
     With the user&#39;s thumbs in the  132 , the user can then apply force in opposite directions (away from one another) against the first and second pinch keys  140  and  142  in order to separate the first and second handles  112   a  and  112   b , thereby separating the walking support  100  into two pieces or canes. Once the handles  112   a  and  112   b  are separated, as seen in  FIG.  8   , the user can release the force on the first and second bottom levers  150  and  152  and on the pinch keys  140  and  142 , which allows the latching mechanism  200  to go back to its original position, due to the spring bias of flexures or springs  144  and  146  inside of the handles  112   a  and  112   b . The user can then grip each of the handles  112   a  and  112   b  in the second gripping position B for maximum comfort. In its original position, the latching mechanism  200  is then ready for reattaching or latching the handles  112   a  and  112   b  back together when using the walking support  100  as a single walking support is needed. This is done by inserting the latches  158  into their respective openings  162  in the inner plates  160  of the handles  112   a  and  112   b.    
       FIGS.  13 - 19    illustrated another exemplary embodiment of a latching mechanism  200 ′ for the handle assembly  110  of the present disclosure, which incorporates sliders instead of pinch keys. In this embodiment, to convert the walking support  100  from the single cane to the two-piece cane components, the user holds the first and second handle pieces  112   a ′ and  112   b ′ in both hands and pulls first and second sliders  140 ′ and  142 ′ of the handles  112   a ′ and  112   b ′, respectively, backwards, as seen in  FIGS.  13  and  16   . The sliders  140 ′ and  142 ′ can be spring biased be providing a spring  146 ′ behind each slider, as seen in  FIGS.  18  and  19   . 
     The sliders  140 ′ and  142 ′ are held backwards by the user&#39;s thumbs to release respective first and second bottom levers  150 ′ and  152 ′ and then the levers  150 ′ and  152 ′ can be pulled upwards with the user&#39;s fingers, as seen in  FIGS.  15  and  18   . Then, using the same individual thumb, the sliders  140 ′ and  142 ′ can be pushed apart in opposite directions (i.e. the first slider  140 ′ is pushed towards the left and the second slider  142 ′ is pushed towards the right) by pinching the two sliders apart. This enables latch arms  154 ′ inside the handles  112   a ′ and  112   b ′, respectively, to drop or rotate down about a fulcrum point  164 ′ to disengage the distal end  156 ′ of the latch arm  154 ′ from the corresponding latch  158 ′ projecting from the inner plates  160 ′ of the handles, thereby allowing the handles  112   a ′ and  112   b ′ to separate, as seen in  FIGS.  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  19   . One or more spring flexures  147 ′ can be provided above the latch arms  154 ′ to assist with the downward force and rotation of the latch arms  154 , as seen in  FIG.  18   . The sliders  140 ′ and  142 ′ are spring biased backwards to return to their original position. 
     The latching mechanism  200 ′ then returns to its original position. The user can then grip each of the handles  112   a  and  112   b  in the second gripping position B. In its original position, the latching mechanism  200 ′ is then ready for reattaching or latching the handles  112   a  and  112   b  back together when using the walking support  100  as a single walking support is needed. This is done by inserting the latches  158 ′ into their respective openings  162 ′ in the inner plates  160 ′ of the handles  112   a ′ and  112   b′.    
     A secondary engagement  300  can be added to the shaft portions  102   a  and  102   b  of the walking support  100  to assist with converting the walking support  100  between the single and two-piece configurations. In an example, the tips  108  of the walking support  100  may include magnets  302  and  304  on each shaft portion  102   a  and  102   b , respectively. As seen in  FIGS.  1   a  and  1   b   , the magnets  302  and  304  facilitate converting the walking support  100  into the single support configuration ( FIG.  1   b   ) by causing the tips  108  of the shaft portions  102   a  and  102   b  to come together or abut when latching the handles  112   a  and  112   b.    
       FIGS.  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c    and  FIGS.  21 - 25    illustrate another exemplary embodiment of the two-in-one walking support  100 ′ that uses another exemplary latching mechanism  200 ″. Like the walking support  100  of the embodiment above, the walking support  100 ′ comprises a first shaft portion  102   a ′, a second shaft portion  102   b ′, and a separable handle assembly  110 ′. Each of the first and second shaft portions  102   a ′ and  102   b ′ has a proximal end  104 ′ and a distal end  106 ′. Each distal end  106 ′ includes a tip  108 ′ of the walking support  100 ′. 
     The handle assembly  110 ′ includes a first handle  112   a ′ and a second handle  112   b ′ associated with the first and second shaft portions  102   a ′ and  102   b ′, respectively. The handles  112   a ′ and  112   b ′ are configured to be releasably coupled to one another via the latching mechanism  200 ″ to form the handle assembly  110 ′. The latching mechanism  200 ″ can be a collar mechanism incorporated into the stems  114   a ′ and  114   b  of the handles  112   a ′ and  112   b ′, respectively. In particular, the stem  114   a ′ of the first handle  112   a ′ includes a rotating collar  202 ″ and a first half disc  203 ″ of the latching mechanism  200 ″ and the stem  114   b ′ of the second handle  112   b ′ includes a fixed second half disc  204 ″ that cooperates with the collar  202 ″ and first half disc  203 ″ for latching and unlatching the handles  112   a ′ and  112   b ′. The collar  202 ″ is coupled to the first half disc  203 ″ that is on the stem  114   a ′ of the first handle  112   a ′. The collar  202 ″ is coupled to the first half disc  203 ″ via a pin member  208 ″ that is received in a curved slot  210 ″ in the first half disc  203 ″, as seen in  FIG.  24   , such that the collar  202 ″ can rotate around and over the second half disc  204 ″. The location of the pin member  208 ″ with respect to the collar  202 ″ can vary and allows for clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of collar  202 ″ with respect to the stem  114   a ′. The collar  202 ″ includes an inner channel  206 ″ sized and shaped to receive the second half disc  204 ″ when the handles  112   a ′ and  112   b ′ are latched together, as seen in  FIGS.  21  and  22   . 
       FIGS.  20   a ,  20   b , and  20   c    illustrate the walking support  100 ′ showing the walking support  100 ′ being open and closed between the single and two-piece configurations.  FIG.  21    shows the handles  112   a  and  112   b  of the handle assembly  110 ′ in an open or separated configuration.  FIG.  22    shows the handles  112   a  and  112   b  assembled and latched together. To assemble the handles  112   a ′ and  112   b ′ and close or abut the shaft portions  102   a ′ and  102   b ′ together to form the single configuration of the walking support  100 ′, the user aligns the tips or feet  108 ′ of the shaft portions  102   a ′ and  102   b ′ and draws the shaft portions  102   a ′ and  102   b ′ toward one another, as seen in  FIG.  20   a   . With the collar  202 ″ in its open position ( FIG.  21   ), the user then rotates the collar  202 ″ in a first direction (e.g. a counterclockwise direction CC), by rotating the collar  202 ″ by 90 degrees, for example, around the stems  114   a ′ and  114   b ′ until it engages the second half disc  204 ″ of the second handle  112   b′.    
     As seen in  FIGS.  26   a  and  26   b   , engagement features can be provided on the collar  202 ″ and the second half disc  204 ″ to assist with latching them together. In an example, the engagement features may form a snap engagement, such as by using a fixed ball nose spring plunger  220 ″ and corresponding detent  222 ″. The fixed ball nose plunger  220 ″ can be located in the second half disc  204 ″ and the detent  222 ″ located on the collar  202 ″, as best seen in  FIGS.  26   a  and  26   b   . The detent  222 ″ is sized to accept the ball nose spring plunger  220 ″ when the user rotates the collar  202 ″ into the fully open or fully closed positions. When the collar  202 ″ is placed in the fully open or closed position, the ball nose spring plunger  220 ″ will latch the collar  202 ″ into place so it remains stationary while the walking support  100 ′ is in use. 
     The collar  202 ″ rides over the second half disc  204 ″ of the second handle  102   b ′ such that the second half disc  204 ″ is received in the channel  206 ″ of the collar  202 ″ as the collar  202 ″ rotates to latch the handles  112   a ′ and  112   b ′ together and such that the shaft portions  102   a ′ and  102   b ′ abut one another, as seen in  FIGS.  20   b    and  22 . The channel  206 ″ of the collar  202 ″ is configured to allow for misalignment of the mating handle  112   b ′ by drawing in the second half disc  204 ′ into correct alignment when received in the channel  206 ″. Once latched, the walking support  100 ′ is in the single walking support configuration and can be used as such. 
     As seen in  FIG.  25   , the tips  108 ′ of the shaft portions  102   a ′ and  102   b ′ can include the secondary engagement  300 , include magnets  302  and  304 . The tips  108 ′ may also have corresponding latches  306  and  308  that are configured to engage one another and tighten as the shaft portions  102   a ′ and  102   b ′ come together. 
     To convert the walking support  100 ′ to the two-piece configuration and open the handles  112   a ′ and  112   b ′, the collar  202 ″ is rotated in a second opposite direction (e.g. clockwise), as seen in  FIG.  20   c   , until the collar  202 ″ is disengage and released from the fixed second half disc  204 ″. The handles  112   a ′ and  112   b ′ can then be separated along with the shaft portions  102   a ′ and  102   b . Once separated, the walking support  100 ′ is in the two-piece configuration as can be used as such. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings that modifications, combinations, sub-combinations, and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Likewise, the various examples described may be used individually or in combination with other examples. Those skilled in the art will appreciate various combinations of examples not specifically described or illustrated herein that are still within the scope of this disclosure. In this respect, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the specific examples set forth and the examples of the disclosure are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. 
     As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Similarly, the adjective “another,” when used to introduce an element, is intended to mean one or more elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having” and similar terms are intended to be inclusive such that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. 
     Additionally, where a method described above or a method claim below does not explicitly require an order to be followed by its steps or an order is otherwise not required based on the description or claim language, it is not intended that any particular order be inferred. Likewise, where a method claim below does not explicitly recite a step mentioned in the description above, it should not be assumed that the step is required by the claim. 
     It is noted that the description and claims may use geometric or relational terms, such as right, left, above, below, upper, lower, top, bottom, linear, arcuate, elongated, parallel, perpendicular, etc. These terms are not intended to limit the disclosure and, in general, are used for convenience to facilitate the description based on the examples shown in the figures. In addition, the geometric or relational terms may not be exact. For instance, walls may not be exactly perpendicular or parallel to one another because of, for example, roughness of surfaces, tolerances allowed in manufacturing, etc., but may still be considered to be perpendicular or parallel.