Abstract:
Grounded walking devices are provided. In some embodiments, the grounded walking devices comprise: a conducting rubber handle; a support shaft assembly that is conductive; and a ground contact that is conductive and coupled to the handle via the support shaft assembly. In some embodiments, the support shaft assembly is a part of a cane, an umbrella, a walking stick, a ski pole, a walker, and/or a crutch.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/952,261, filed Mar. 13, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The disclosed subject matter relates to grounded walking devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    “Grounding” is a process through which a person is connected electrically to an Earth ground, such as soil. Grounding is known to provide various health benefits. 
         [0004]    It is desirable to provide new mechanisms to facilitate grounding of people. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Grounded walking devices are provided. In some embodiments, the grounded walking devices comprise: a conducting rubber handle; a support shaft assembly that is conductive; and a ground contact that is conductive and coupled to the handle via the support shaft assembly. In some embodiments, the support shaft assembly is a part of a cane, an umbrella, a walking stick, a ski pole, a walker, and/or a crutch. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a grounded walking device in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of a grounded walking device handle and shaft in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of a grounded walking device shaft and tip in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of a grounded walking device shaft and base in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of a grounded walking device conductor in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of a grounded walking device shaft wrist strap in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of an extendable grounded walking device in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is an illustration of a grounded walking device implemented as a walker with wheels in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is an illustration of a grounded walking device implemented as a walker without wheels in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is an illustration of a grounded walking device implemented as crutches in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is another illustration of a grounded walking device implemented as crutches in accordance with some embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    In accordance with various implementations, mechanisms (which can include systems and methods) for a grounded walking device are provided. 
         [0018]    In some implementations, the mechanisms described herein can disclose a grounded walking device. For example, the walking device can include any suitable walking device such as a walking stick, a hiking pole, a cane, a walker, crutches, a walking staff, an umbrella, a wheelchair, and/or any other suitable walking device. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the walking device can allow for a complete flow of electrons between a ground (e.g., a grounded floor, a grounded carpet, a surface of the Earth, etc.) and a user&#39;s body (e.g., a user&#39;s hand and/or wrist). The mechanisms of the walking device can maintain conductive contact with the ground and the user&#39;s body using any suitable technique or techniques. For example, the walking device can incorporate electrically conductive elements throughout the walking device. In such an example, the conducive elements can connect a tip or bottom portion of the walking stick (e.g. portion of the walking stick contacted the ground) with a handle or top portion of the walking stick (e.g., portion of the walking stick being held by a user). 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  shows an example of a walking device in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. As illustrated, a walking device  100  can include a handle  102 , a shaft  104 , and a tip  106 . In some embodiments, handle  102  can be made out of any suitable electrically conductive material, such as a conductive rubber, a conductive plastic, a conductive thermoplastic, a conductive grippable sheath, a conductive grippable coating, a conductive wrap, a conductive carbon fiber, a conductive leather, a conductive polymer, a conductive resin, and/or any other suitable conductive material. The conductive material can contain any suitable conductive metal, such as carbon, aluminum, tinned cooper, stainless steel and/or any other suitable electrical conductive metal. In some embodiments, handle  102  can be any suitable handle such a walking handle, a walker handle, a grip (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 5 ), an umbrella handle, a crutch handle, and/or any other suitable handle. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, shaft  104  can be made out of any suitable electrically conductive material, such as aluminum, carbon, brass, stainless steel, silver, a silver alloy, and/or any other suitable electrically conductive material. For example, turning to  FIG. 2 , as illustrated, walking device  100  can include a conductive rubber handle  202  and a conductive aluminum shaft  204 . In some embodiments, shaft  104  can be any suitable structure, such as a solid shaft, a hollow shaft, a curved shaft, a ribbed shaft, and/or any other suitable structure. 
         [0022]    Turning back to  FIG. 1 , in some embodiments, tip  106  can be made out of any suitable electrically conductive material, such as a conductive rubber, a conductive plastic, a conductive thermoplastic, a conductive sheath, a conductive coating, a conductive carbon fiber, a conductive leather, a conductive polymer, a conductive resin, and/or any other suitable conductive material. The conductive material can contain any suitable conductive metal, such as carbon, aluminum, tinned cooper, stainless steel, and/or any other suitable electrical conductive metal. For example, turning to  FIG. 3 , as illustrated, walking device  100  can include a conductive rubber tip  302 . 
         [0023]    Turning back to  FIG. 1 , in some embodiments, walking device  100  can allow electrons to flow between the ground (e.g., a floor, a carpet, a dirt, etc.), tip  106 , shaft  104 , handle  102 , and a user holding handle  102 . For example, as long a user can hold handle  102 , electrons can continuously flow between the ground and the user&#39;s hand. In such a situation when the walking device can be a pair of crutches, the handle can be the under arm support of the pair of crutches. In such an example, electrons can flow between the ground and the user&#39;s under arm area (e.g., when a user&#39;s under arm is exposed and in contact with an under arm support). Additionally and/or alternatively, electrons can flow between the ground and the user&#39;s hand (e.g., when a user is in contact with hand grips of the pair of crutches). 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  shows an example of a quad point base of a walking device in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. As illustrated, a walking device can include a quad point base  402 . Quad point base  402  can allow for a greater weight distribution for a user. Additionally and/or alternatively, the base of the walking device can be a tripod base. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  shows an example of a conductive metal wire inside the shaft of a walking device in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. As illustrated, a walking device can be made of any suitable nonconductive material. For example, walking device can be made of any suitable wood, fiberglass, and/or Kevlar. In such an example, the electrons may not be able to flow between the walking device and a user. In some embodiments, the shaft of the walking stick can include a conductive wire  502  extending from a handle  504  of the walking device to a tip  506  of the walking device. Conductive wire  502  can be made of any suitable electrically conductive metal material, such as copper, aluminum, tinned copper, stainless steel, silver, and/or any suitable conductive metal material. Additionally, conductive wire  502  can be any suitable structure, such as a solid wire, a stranded wire, a braided wire, and/or any other suitable structure. In some embodiments, conducive wire  502  can be placed inside any suitable walking device to allow for the flow of electrons between the ground and the user. 
         [0026]      FIG. 6  shows an example of a conductive wrist strap connected to the handle of a walking device in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. As illustrated, a walking device can include a wrist strap  602 . For example, wrist strap  602  can be connected to a walking device at any suitable location. For example, wrist strap  602  can be connected to a handle of the walking device. Wrist strap  602  can be made of any suitable electrically conductive material, such as a conductive rubber. In some embodiments, wrist strap  602  can wrap around a user wrist to allow electrons to flow between the ground and the user&#39;s body. 
         [0027]      FIG. 7  shows an example of a walking device with a spring suspension in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. As illustrated, a walking device can include a spring suspension  702 . For example, spring suspension  702  can be any suitable hidden spring suspension. In some embodiments, spring suspension  702  can be adjusted at adjust points  704  to either loosen or stiffen the springs of spring suspension  702 . As also illustrated, the walking device can include a conductive grip  706 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 8  shows an example of a walker in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. 
         [0029]      FIG. 9  shows another example of a walker in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. 
         [0030]      FIG. 10  shows an example of crutches in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. 
         [0031]      FIG. 11  shows an example of a conductive metal wire inside a pair of crutches in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. 
         [0032]    Although some of the figures have been illustrated as a walking stick, it is understood that the walking device can be any suitable walking device, such as a walking stick, a hiking pole, a cane, a walker, crutches, a walking staff, an umbrella, a wheelchair, and/or any other suitable walking device. 
         [0033]    Although the invention has been described and illustrated in the foregoing illustrative embodiments, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of embodiment of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is limited only by the claims that follow. Features of the disclosed embodiments can be combined and rearranged in various ways.