Abstract:
A cane with trigger-actuated gripper is an apparatus that is used as a walking aid and an aid for grabbing or picking up objects. The apparatus includes a cane which is used to aid a user with walking and increase distance the user is able to reach. A grasping mechanism is connected to the can and used to aid users with grabbing or picking up objects. A trigger located near the handle of the cane is used to control a spring-loaded claw assembly. The spring-loaded claw assembly, located near the foot of the cane, is used to clench or pick up objects. A cable runs through the inside of the cane&#39;s hollow shaft and links the trigger to the spring-loaded claw assembly.

Description:
[0001]    The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/974,213 filed on Apr. 2, 2014. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to walking aids and grabbing devices. More specifically, the present invention is a combination of a walking cane and a clenching device. The present invention gives a user the convenience of a grabbing device hold or pick up items within reach of their cane. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Canes are commonly used as a walking aid for people with disabilities and injuries that affect their mobility. While they are generally effective in assisting users with walking, many users who experience difficulties with mobility may also have disabilities or injuries that limit their ability to grab, grasp, lift or otherwise hold objects. For such users, a cane does not help with these issues. Instead, a standard cane will likely limit the ability of a user to grab or lift an object. This is because the act of using a cane requires the use of a hand that would otherwise be free to hold an object. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, there is a present need for an apparatus that provides the walking assistance of a cane while also providing a means of grabbing or lifting objects. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a cane that acts both as a walking aid and a means of grabbing and lifting objects. The cane uses a trigger which controls the opening and closing of a claw which may be used to grasp objects. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention with the spring-loaded claw assembly in a closed position. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a left side view of the present invention with the spring-loaded claw assembly in an open position. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a section view of the present invention taken along the line A-A in  FIG. 2 , wherein the spring-loaded claw assembly is in an open position. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the present invention with the spring-loaded claw assembly in an open position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a left side view of the present invention with the spring-loaded claw assembly in a closed position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a section view of the present invention taken along the line B-B in  FIG. 5 , wherein the spring-loaded claw assembly is in a closed position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a bottom perspective view of the present invention with the spring-loaded claw assembly in an open position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a detailed view of the present invention taken from the circle C in  FIG. 7 , wherein the spring-loaded claw assembly is in a closed position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of the claw, showing the arrangement of the plurality of grip features, the grip layer, and the tip of the claw. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
         [0015]    With reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 , the present invention is a cane with trigger-actuated gripper that acts both as a walking aid and a means of grabbing and lifting objects. The present invention comprises a cane  1  and a grasping mechanism  7 . The cane  1  is a kind of walking aid that is held at one end by the user. The cane  1  comprises a hollow shaft  3 , a foot  4  and a handle  2 . The hollow shaft  3  is used to support the weight of the user. The foot  4  and the handle  2  are positioned opposite to each other along the hollow shaft  3 . The foot  4  is used to grip the ground when the present invention is used as a walking aid. When the present invention is used to pick up or grasp objects, the foot  4  may be used to help grip the object being grasped. In the preferred embodiment, the foot  4  is made from rubber; however, in alternative embodiments, any other suitable material may be used. The handle  2  is used to provide an ergonomic means of holding the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, the handle  2  is roughly T-shaped and is contoured to comfortably fit into the hand of the user. In alternative embodiments, the handle  2  may have a rounded shape or may be decorative. 
         [0016]    The grasping mechanism  7  is connected to the cane  1  and is used to clench objects such that said objects may be moved or lifted. The grasping mechanism  7  comprises a trigger  8 , a spring-loaded claw assembly  14 , and a cable  27 . The trigger  8  is hingedly and laterally connected to the hollow shaft  3  and is positioned adjacent to the handle  2 . The trigger  8  is used to actuate the spring-loaded claw assembly  14  such that objects may be grasped. The spring-loaded claw assembly  14  is hingedly and laterally connected to the hollow shaft  3  and is positioned adjacent to the foot  4 . The spring-loaded claw assembly  14  is normally in a closed position, but may be opened to grab objects. The cable  27  acts as a link between the trigger  8  and the spring-loaded claw assembly  14 . The trigger  8  is tensionably tethered to the spring-loaded claw assembly  14  by the cable  27 . The cable  27  is slidably mounted through the hollow shaft  3 . When the trigger  8  is pulled, the cable  27  causes the spring-loaded claw assembly  14  to open by pivoting in relation to the hollow shaft  3 . When the trigger  8  is released, the spring-loaded claw assembly  14  returns to the closed position. 
         [0017]    In reference to  FIGS. 2-3  and  FIGS. 5-6 , the trigger  8  comprises a free end  9 , a tensioning end  10 , and a trigger pivot portion  11 . The free end  9  is positioned adjacent and perpendicular to the tensioning end  10 . The free end  9  extends away from the hollow shaft  3  and may be pulled by the user to actuate the spring-loaded claw assembly  14 . In the preferred embodiment, the free end  9  has a slightly curved shape which is designed to comfortably fit in the user&#39;s hand. The trigger pivot portion  11  is the intersection point between the free end  9  and the tensioning end  10 , which positions the trigger pivot portion  11  in between the free end  9  and the tensioning end  10 . The trigger pivot portion  11  is hingedly mounted to the hollow shaft  3 , so that the trigger pivot portion  11  is used as a fulcrum between the free end  9  and the tensioning end  10 . In order to actuate the grasping mechanism  7  with the trigger  8 , a first cable end  28  of the cable  27  needs to be adjacently connected to the tensioning end  10 , opposite to the trigger pivot portion  11 . When the user pulls on the free end  9 , the entire trigger  8  rotates about the trigger pivot portion  11 . This causes the tensioning end  10  to pull on the first cable end  28 , thus actuating the spring-loaded claw assembly  14 . 
         [0018]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the trigger  8  is not directly connected to the hollow shaft  3 . In reference to  FIGS. 1-6 , the grasping mechanism  7  further comprises a trigger mount  12  which is laterally connected to the hollow shaft  3 . The trigger mount  12  is used because the trigger mount  12  offers a simple method of hingedly mounting the trigger  8  to the hollow shaft  3  without the need for complex parts. The trigger pivot portion  11  is hingedly connected to the trigger mount  12 . The cable  27  traverses through the trigger mount  12 , such that the cable  27  is able to still interact with the trigger  8 . In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the trigger  8  may be directly connected to the hollow shaft  3 . 
         [0019]    In reference to  FIGS. 7-8 , the spring-loaded claw assembly  14  comprises a lever  15  and a claw  18 . The lever  17  is a pivoting arm that controls the position of the claw  18 . The claw  18  is used to grasp and or pick up objects. The lever  15  comprises a pivot end  16  and an actuation end  17 . The entire spring-loaded claw assembly  14  rotates about the pivot end  16 . The rotation of the spring-loaded claw assembly  14  is caused by forces applied to the actuation end  17 . Thus, the claw  18  needs to be adjacently connected to the actuation end  17 . A second cable end  29  of the cable  27  is tethered to the actuation end  17 . The pivot end  16  is hingedly mounted to the hollow shaft  3 , such that when the trigger  8  is pulled, the second cable end  29  pulls on the actuation end  17 , causing the spring-loaded claw assembly  14  to rotate about the pivot end  16 . 
         [0020]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spring-loaded claw assembly  14  is not directly connected to the hollow shaft  3 . In reference to  FIGS. 7-8 , the grasping mechanism  7  further comprises a claw mount  13  which is laterally connected to the hollow shaft  3 . The claw mount  13  offers a simple method of hingedly mounting the spring-loaded claw assembly  14  to the hollow shaft  3  without the need for complex parts, and, therefore, the pivot end  16  is hingedly connected to the claw mount  13 . The cable  27  traverses through the claw mount  13  such that the cable  27  is still able to interact with the spring-loaded claw assembly  14 . In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the spring-loaded claw assembly  14  may be directly connected to the hollow shaft  3 . 
         [0021]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spring-loaded claw assembly  14  comprises a spring  24 . In reference to  FIGS. 6-8 , the spring  24  is used to apply a constant retractive force on the actuation end  17  such that the claw  18  naturally rests in the closed position. A first spring end  25  of the spring  24  is pivotally connected to the actuation end  17 , and a second spring end  26  of the spring  24  is pivotally mounted to the hollow shaft  3 . When pulling the trigger  8 , the user must overcome the force of the spring  24  to rotate the claw  18  into an open position. When the trigger  8  is released, the spring  24  pulls the claw  18  back into the closed position. Though the preferred embodiment of the present invention uses a tension spring, alternative embodiments may employ one or more compression springs, torsion springs, elastic bands, or any other type of spring-like devices. 
         [0022]    In reference to  FIGS. 6-9 , the claw  18  comprises a tip  19 , a grasping surface  20 , an outward surface  21 , a plurality of grip features  22 , and a grip layer  23 . The tip  19  is positioned opposite to the actuation end  17 , along the claw  18 . The tip  19  is used to grasp and lift objects and is particularly useful for manipulating small objects. The grasping surface  20  and the outward surface  21  are positioned opposite to each other through the claw  18  and traverse from the actuation end  17  to the tip  19 . The grasping surface  20  is oriented towards the hollow shaft  3  and is used to grasp objects by pressing said objects against the hollow shaft  3 . The outward surface  21  is oriented away from the hollow shaft  3 . The plurality of grip features  22  is integrated across the grasping surface  20  and is used to prevent objects from slipping out of the area between the claw  18  and the hollow shaft  3 . The grip layer  23  is superimposed onto the plurality of grip features  22  and about the tip  19 . The grip layer  23  is used to enhance the ability of the claw  18  to grip objects. This is shown in  FIG. 9 . In the preferred embodiment, the grip layer  23  is a rubber-like material; however, any other non-slip material may be used. 
         [0023]    In reference to  FIGS. 1-6 , the cane  1  comprises a first guide pin  5  and a second guide pin  6 . The first guide pin  5  and the second guide pin  6  are used to direct the cable  27  through the inside of the hollow shaft  3 , while also minimizing the amount of stress and wear that the cable  27  experiences. The first guide pin  5  is laterally mounted within the hollow shaft  3 , adjacent to the trigger  8 . As the cable  27  enters the hollow shaft  3 , near the handle  2 , the cable  27  is redirected by the first guide pin  5 . The cable  27  is slidably engaged about the first guide pin  5 , such that the cable  27  can easily slide when the trigger  8  is pulled. The second guide pin  6  is laterally mounted within the hollow shaft  3 , adjacent to the spring-loaded claw assembly  14 . As the cable  27  enters the hollow shaft  3 , near the foot  4 , the cable  27  is redirected by the second guide pin  6 . The cable  27  is slidably engaged about the second guide pin  6 , such that the cable  27  can easily slide when the trigger  8  is pulled. 
         [0024]    Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.