Patent Abstract:
A walking aid retention device for releasably maintaining a walking aid in a generally vertical position and being configured to be attached to a suitable rigid structure. The walking aid retention device further includes a base portion with a pair of fingers extending therefrom designed to receive thereinto a suitable rigid support structure. Contiguous with the base and extending opposite the finger are a pair of arms. Attached to the base is a coil spring that biases the fingers towards each other. Perpendicularly mounted to the base is a resilient clamp having two legs that is rotatable and is configured to receive a walking aid thereinto.

Full Description:
PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. §119(e) &amp; 37 C.F.R. §1.78  
       [0001]     This nonprovisional application claims priority based upon the following prior U.S. provisional patent application entitled: Cane Clip, Application No.: 60/665,247, filed Mar. 25, 2005, in the names of Terry D. Beasley and Betty Beasley, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a walking aid retention device, more specifically but not by way of limitation, a device attachable to a walking aid, such as a cane or crutch, for securing the walking aid to a suitable structure to maintain the walking aid in a generally vertical orientation when not in use.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Many individuals require the assistance of a walking aid device such as a cane or a crutch either temporarily or for long term due to illness or other medical condition. A fundamental problem that many of these individuals encounter occurs when the individual is at a destination with their walking aid. Often, the individual has no method of securing the walking aid to a suitable structure that will allow the walking aid to be secured in a vertical orientation in order to facilitate easier access when required.  
         [0004]     Currently, when not in use, the individual typically has to lay the walking aid on the floor, whereby it poses a safety hazard for not only the individual but others walking in the area. Placing the walking aid on the floor has also shown to create retrieval problems for those with more serious medical conditions.  
         [0005]     A commonly used alternative to placing the walking aid device on the floor is to temporarily lean or rest the device against a suitable structure such as a tabletop or the walls of a bathroom cubicle. As the walking aids are not secured by any method to the structure against which they are leaned, the walking aid is susceptible to being easily knocked down causing difficulty for the individual when retrieving the walking aid.  
         [0006]     Accordingly, there is a need for a device that can be either attached to a walking aid or integrally formed therewith that allows a user to readily and releasably secure the walking aid to a suitable structure in order to maintain a vertical orientation of the walking aid when not in use.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that can be attached to a walking aid, such as but not limited to a cane or crutch, that allows the user to attach the walking aid to a suitable structure when not in use to facilitate vertical storage thereof.  
         [0008]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a device that can be releasably secured to a plurality of types of walking aids.  
         [0009]     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device that can be releasably secured to a walking aid with the device being rotatable in order to facilitate attachment of the walking aid to a suitable structure and maintain the walking aid in a generally vertical position.  
         [0010]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for a walking aid that uses a mechanism with variable resistance.  
         [0011]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide device for a a walking aid that uses a mechanism that is adaptable to be secured to a plurality of objects.  
         [0012]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a clip for a walking aid that is easy to use, inexpensive and convenient.  
         [0013]     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention attached to a walking cane and a suitable rigid support structure. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]     Referring now to the drawings, wherein various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in particular  FIG. 1  and  2 , there is illustrated a walking aid retention device  100  constructed according to the principles of the present invention  
         [0018]     The walking aid retention device  100  comprises a base  105  that includes an upper portion  107  and a lower portion  109 . The upper portion  107  and lower portion  109  are hingedly mounted to each other by conventional mechanical methods such as a hinge pin. The upper portion  107  and lower portion  109  each have a first end  111  and a second end  113 . The base  105  is manufactured from a suitable rigid material such as but not limited to metal. A coil spring  110  is positioned intermediate the upper portion  107  and lower portion  109  proximate to the second end  113 . The coil spring  110  functions to bias the upper portion  107  and lower portion  109  in a first position against each other. The coil spring  110  is a conventional coil spring that is manufactured from a resilient metal. The coil spring  110  is attached intermediate the upper portion  107  and lower portion  109  by conventional mechanical methods such as but not limited to welding.  
         [0019]     Although good results have been achieved with the walking aid retention device  100  as shown with a coil spring  100 , it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the base  105  could be manufactured to have a user controlled variable resistance biasing mechanism to mount the upper portion  107  and the lower portion  109  that would facilitate the user to control the amount of resistance required to move the upper portion  107  and lower portion  109  apart.  
         [0020]     Still referring  FIG. 1 , the base  105  includes a pair of arms  115  integrally extending from the second ends  113  wherein the pair of arms  115  are generally positioned angled outward from each other. The arms  115  are manufactured from a suitable rigid material such as but not limited to metal and are contiguous with the second ends  113  of the upper portion  107  and the lower portion  109  of the base  105 . The arms  115  are generally flat and rectangular in shape. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the arms  115  could be numerous different shapes in place of and/or in conjunction with the shape described herein and achieve the desired functionality.  
         [0021]     The arms  115  function as an interface with the user and allow the user to apply a force to move the upper portion  107  and lower portion  109  hingedly in opposing directions. Applying force to the arms  115  moves the upper portion  107  and lower portion  109  into a second position whereby the arms  115  are adjacent each other. The arms  115  have substantially disposed thereon a coating  117 . The coating  117  functions to provide a user grasping the arms  115  a secure method of grasping. The coating  117  is manufactured from a durable flexible material such as but not limited to rubber and is secured by conventional methods such as chemical adhesion.  
         [0022]     Integrally extending from the first end  111  of the lower portion  109  and upper portion  107  and contiguous therewith are a pair of fingers  120 . The fingers  120  extend outward from the base  105  opposite the arms  115 . The fingers  120  are slightly arcuate in shape and function to grasp a plurality of suitable rigid support structures such as but not limited to a tabletop. Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous different shapes of the fingers  120  could be utilized in place of and/or in conjunction with the fingers  120  as illustrated in the drawings submitted herewith and achieve the functionality suggested herein.  
         [0023]     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the tips  125  of the fingers  120  are adjacent to each other when the walking aid retention device  100  is in its first position. The coil spring  110  functions to bias the opposing fingers  120  against each other. In its second position, the fingers  120  of the walking aid retention device  100  move outwardly from each other thereby allowing the introduction of a suitable rigid support structure therein.  
         [0024]     The fingers  120  have substantially disposed thereon a coating  117 . The coating  117  functions to inhibit the fingers  120  from scratching any surface upon which the walking aid retention device  100  is attached. Furthermore, the coating  117  disposed on the fingers  120  functions to prevent the walking aid retention device  100  from slipping on the surface to which it has been temporarily secured. The coating  117  is manufactured from a suitable flexible material such as rubber or plastic and is fastened to the fingers  120  by conventional chemical methods such as chemical adhesives.  
         [0025]     A resilient clamp  130  is to the base  105  intermediate the upper portion  107  and lower portion  109 . The resilient clamp  130  is positioned perpendicular with the base  105 . The resilient clamp  130  includes a base section  135  and a pair of legs  140  integrally extending therefrom, wherein the legs  140  flex outwardly for introduction of the body of a walking aid such as but not limited to a cane or crutch, and snap fits onto the exterior surface as the walking aid as it is firmly pushed therein.  
         [0026]     The base section  135  and legs  140  are manufactured from a suitable resilient metal. The legs  140  are generally flange shaped with the end  137  distal the base section  135  of each leg  140  extending outward from the opposing leg  140 . The base section  135  is rotatably mounted to the base  105  by a conventional pin  142 . The base section  135  is mounted with the pin  142  that functions to permit the base section  135  to rotate approximately 360 degrees. This allows the walking aid that has been introduced into the resilient clamp  130  to be maintained in a generally vertical orientation regardless of the orientation of the surface upon which the walking aid retention device  100  has been temporarily secured.  
         [0027]     The resilient clamp  130  has substantially disposed thereon a coating  117  that functions to prevent damage to the walking aid inserted thereinto. Secondly, the coating  117  functions to increase the adhesion of the resilient clamp  130  on the inserted walking aid. Although the resilient clamp  130  is shown as being rotatably attached to the base  105  and perpendicular thereto, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the resilient clamp  130  could also be manufactured to hinge downward to be positioned adjacent to the base  105  to facilitate easier storage of the walking aid retention device  100 . It is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the resilient clamp  130  could be manufactured in numerous different sizes to accommodate a plurality of walking aids therein.  
         [0028]     Now referring to  FIG. 2 , the walking aid retention device  200  is illustrated attached to a structure  210 , such as a bench or chair. The fingers  220  function to grip the structure  210  and maintain the walking aid  220  in a generally vertical position while the user is not engaged with the walking aid  220 . The fingers  220  are manufactured to accommodate a plurality of surfaces such as but not limited to tabletops, benches and tubular handrails adjacent to toilets. The walking aid  220  is releasably secured into the resilient clamp  230 . The resilient clamp  230  is rotatably mounted to facilitate the walking aid  220  to be positioned in a vertical orientation regardless of the orientation of the structure  210 .  
         [0029]     Still referring to  FIG. 2 , a description of the operation of the walking aid retention device  200  is as follows. A walking aid  220  such as but not limited to a cane is inserted into the resilient clamp  230  of the walking aid retention device  200 . The user employs the walking aid  220  to assist the user in walking to a desired location such as a bathroom. The user positions the walking aid  220  adjacent to a suitable structure for securing the walking aid  220 . The user grasps the arms  215  and applies the required force to move the walking aid retention device  200  from its first position to its second position wherein the fingers  240  are separated by an appropriate distance to accommodate the desired support structure thereinto. The user inserts the desired structure thereinto the fingers  240  and releases the force from the arms  215 . The coil spring  250  biases the fingers  240  against the structure and the rotatable resilient clamp  230  allows the user to position the walking aid  220  in a generally vertical orientation. To release the walking aid  220  from the structure, the user applies the required force to the arms  215  in order to move the fingers  240  away from the adjacent structure placing the walking aid retention device  200  to its second position. The walking aid  220  is moved away from the structure and the user then releases the pressure on the arms  215  thereby returning the walking aid retention device to its first position. The user then proceeds to use the walking aid  220  as needed.  
         [0030]     Although it is contemplated that the specific dimension of the walking aid retention device  200  can be adjusted base upon a user particular requirements, good results have been achieved with a walking aid retention device  200  that measures 4.5 inches in height, 6.5 inches in length and 2.25 inches in width. It is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the walking aid  200  could be integrally manufactured into the walking aid  220 . It is also contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the walking aid  200  could be manufactured in a variety of colors.  
         [0031]     In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0