Abstract:
A walking cane retainer includes a resilient clasping member, a rubber gripping pad attached to an inside surface of the clasping member and a strap. The clasping member is generally C-shaped in cross section with yieldable clasping arms partially enclosing an open receiving pocket. The clasping arms are dimensioned for an interference fit with the body of the walking cane. The walking cane snaps into the receiving pocket of the clasping member as the clasping arms yield and deflect, and is held in place by compressive engagement against the gripping pad during use. The walking cane is released for immediate service simply by pushing downwardly or outwardly on the handle of the cane, so that the body of the cane snaps out of the receiving pocket as the clasping arms yield and deflect. The retainer may also be used to hold a flashlight, a billy club, a night stick, a weapon handle, a hammer, a tool handle, or a tool, for example.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to an article retainer. In one aspect, it relates to a retainer for holding a walking cane or some other generally cylindrical-shaped item. Some persons may need to use a walking aid, such as a walking stick or a walking cane, to assist them in walking, rising to stand, exiting a vehicle, and/or stabilizing themselves while standing, for example. Such persons may be temporarily injured or disabled, recovering from surgery and undergoing physical rehabilitation, or such persons may be permanently disabled due to age, illnesses, or prior injuries, for example. Whatever the case, many people are using walking canes.  
           [0002]    Walking canes are very useful and sometimes necessary, but they can also be burdensome and cumbersome when a person needs to have both hands free. During daily activities there are often frequent occasions when a cane user will need to temporarily put aside the walking cane to perform an activity with both hands. But at the same time, the cane user will often want or need to have the walking cane close-by and easily accessible for immediate use. For example, if a cane user is in his kitchen preparing a meal or cleaning up, he will typically need the use of both hands. Sometimes the cane user may lean against a kitchen counter and use the kitchen counter for support or stabilization. But as soon as the cane user has a need to move to a different area of the kitchen or to leave the kitchen, the walking cane may be needed.  
           [0003]    The kitchen example is a typical situation where the cane user will want or need to have the walking cane readily available. In such situations, the cane user may lean the walking cane against a cabinet while not in use. But this presents the risk that the cane may fall to the floor, and thus may be difficult or impossible for the cane user to pick up due to lack of mobility. It also presents the risk that the cane user may trip or stumble on a cane leaned at an angle, which could lead to a fall and possible injury.  
           [0004]    Another common problem that walking cane users face is remembering where they left the walking cane when they set it aside temporarily to free their hands or while the cane is not in use. Hence, there is a need for a way to retain a walking cane close by when it is not being used, while also keeping the walking cane within close reach and out of the cane user&#39;s pathways.  
           [0005]    Numerous prior patents have attempted to address the problems discussed above in different ways. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,730 discloses a walking cane attached to a spring-loaded retractable chain in a reel that removably attaches to a cane user&#39;s belt. U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,758 discloses a cane leash attached to the cane at one end of the leash and attaching to a wristband at the other end of the leash. U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,808 discloses a strap that attaches to a cane by a releasable fastening member. U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,414 discloses a flexible panel having a loop-pile fastener material attached thereto and being adapted to be removably secured to a belt worn by the cane user. The cane has hook-pile fastener material attached to it so that the cane can be releasably secured to the flexible panel.  
           [0006]    Each of the inventions of these prior patents have limitations in their ability to securely retain the cane for immediate use while allowing complete freedom of movement. Hence, there is a need for a better way to retain a walking cane when it is not being used, while also keeping the walking cane within close reach and out of the cane user&#39;s pathways.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The problems and needs outlined above are addressed by embodiments of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, a walking cane retainer includes a resilient clasping member, a gripping pad attached to an inside surface of the clasping member and a strap. The clasping member is generally C-shaped in cross section with yieldable clasping arms partially enclosing an open receiving pocket. The clasping arms are dimensioned for an interference fit with the body of the walking cane. The walking cane snaps into the receiving pocket of the clasping member as the clasping arms yield and deflect, and is held in place by compressive engagement against the gripping pad during use. The walking cane is released for immediate service simply by pushing downwardly or outwardly on the handle of the cane, so that the body of the cane snaps out of the receiving pocket as the clasping arms yield and deflect.  
           [0008]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an article retainer is provided, which includes a semicylinder-shaped clasping member, a strap, and a resilient gripping pad. The semicylinder-shaped clasping member has a generally C-shaped cross section. The clasping member is made from a resilient material, such as plastic. The strap is coupled to the clasping member. The strap comprises an elongated member having a first end, a second end, and a central portion between the first and second ends. The strap is coupled to the clasping member at the first end. A first half of a snap fastener is located at the central portion. A second half of the snap fastener is located at the second end. When the first and second halves of the snap fastener are joined, the strap has a loop shape. The resilient gripping pad is attached to an inside surface of the clasping member.  
           [0009]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, an article retainer is provided, that includes a semicylinder-shaped clasping member, a strap, and a hook-pile fastener material pad. The semicylinder-shaped clasping member has a generally C-shaped cross section. The clasping member is made from a resilient material. The strap is coupled to the clasping member. The strap comprises an elongated member having a first end, a second end, and a central portion between the first and second ends. The strap is coupled to the clasping member at the first end. A first half of a snap fastener is located at the central portion. A second half of the snap fastener is located at the second end. When the first and second halves of the snap fastener are joined, the strap has a loop shape. The hook-pile fastener material pad is attached to an inside surface of the clasping member.  
           [0010]    In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, an article retainer is provided, which includes a semicylinder-shaped clasping member and a strap. The semicylinder-shaped clasping member has a generally C-shaped cross section. The clasping member is made from a resilient material. The strap is coupled to the clasping member. The strap has a cord. The cord has a first end and a second end. The strap is coupled to the clasping member at the first and second ends of the cord.  
           [0011]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an article retainer is provided, which includes a semicylindrical-shaped clasping member and a spring-biased clip member. The semicylindrical-shaped clasping member has a generally C-shaped cross section. The spring-biased clip member is coupled to the clasping member. The clip member may be two separate portions coupled together and spring-biased with a separate spring. The clip member may be one piece of spring steel, for example, with opposing portions that are spring-biased toward each other when the opposing portions are spread open away from each other. The clip member may clamp onto an object (e.g., a belt or cord) inserted into the clip member to prevent the clip member from sliding along the object during use.  
           [0012]    According to another aspect of the present invention, an article retainer is provided, which includes a semicylinder-shaped clasping member, a belt loop member, a shoulder strap member, a first resilient pad, a hook-pile fastener material pad, and a second resilient pad. The semicylinder-shaped clasping member has a generally C-shaped cross section. The clasping member is made from a resilient material. The belt loop member is coupled to the clasping member. The belt loop member has an elongated member with a first end, a second end, and a central portion between the first and second ends. The belt loop member is coupled to the clasping member at the first end. A first half of a snap fastener is located at the central portion. A second half of the snap fastener is located at the second end.  
           [0013]    When the first and second halves of the snap fastener are joined, the belt loop member has a loop shape. The shoulder strap member has a cord and a loop-pile fastener material tag. The tag is fastened about a portion of the cord such that fastening loops of the tag are exposed. The first resilient pad is attached to the belt loop member at a location inside the loop shape formed when the snap fastener is closed. The hook-pile fastener material pad is attached to the belt loop member at another location inside the loop shape formed when the snap fastener is closed. The second resilient pad is attached to an inside surface of the clasping member. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    The accompanying drawings are incorporated into and form a part of this specification to illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention. Various advantages and features of the invention will be understood from the following detailed description taken with reference to the attached drawing figures in which:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a walking cane being held by a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the first embodiment of FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of the clasping member of FIG. 4 taken along line  3 - 3 ;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a front view of the clasping member of the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a front view of a clasping member of a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of the clasping member of FIG. 5 taken along line  6 - 6 ;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is a front view of a clasping member of a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 is a cross-section view of the clasping member of FIG. 7 taken along line  8 - 8 ;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 is a walking cane adapted for use with a fifth embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the fifth embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 12 is a front view of clasping member for an eighth embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 13 is a cut-away view of the clasping member of FIG. 12;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a ninth embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a tenth embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of shoulder strap member of the tenth embodiment of FIG. 15;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the tenth embodiment of FIG. 15 with a shoulder strap member removed;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 18 is a side view of an eleventh embodiment of the present invention with a belt clip member; and  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 19 is a front view of the eleventh embodiment of FIG. 18. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0034]    Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to various examples of how the invention can best be made and used. Like reference numerals are used throughout the description and several views of the preferred embodiment to indicate like or corresponding parts.  
         [0035]    FIGS.  1 - 4  illustrate a walking cane retainer  30  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a conventional walking cane  32  in an operative retainer position including a handle H and a generally cylindrical body portion  33  releasably gripped within the retainer  30 . FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the first embodiment with the walking cane  32  removed. The walking cane retainer  30  has a semi-cylindrical clasping member  34  and a strap  38  coupled to the clasping member  34 . FIG. 4 shows a front view of just the clasping member  34  of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a cross-section view taken along line  3 - 3  in FIG. 4. As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the clasping member  34  has a generally C-shaped cross-section that partially encloses an open receiving pocket  35 . The clasping member  34  is preferably made from a resilient material so that it can flex to allow the cane  32  to be snapped into and out of the receiving pocket  35 . The resilient material of the clasping member  34  may be chosen from numerous suitable materials, including but not limited to: Lexan® polycarbonate, plastic, polyvinyl chloride, aluminum, spring steel, metal, graphite composite, fiberglass composite, Kevlar® composite, carbon fiber composite, or any combination thereof, for example. One of ordinary skill in the art will realize other materials that may be substituted.  
         [0036]    As shown in FIG. 3, the size or diameter of the cross-section for the clasping member  34  expands to a size slightly larger than the size or diameter of the walking cane  32  that a given retainer  30  is designed to hold. As shown in FIGS.  2 - 4 , the first embodiment has a resilient gripping pad  40  attached to an inside surface  37  of the clasping member  34 . The gripping pad  40  of the first embodiment is made from foam rubber (or neoprene) and has a ribbed surface with horizontal ribs  41  extending partially around the inner surface  35 . The gripping pad  40  may be made from a variety of compressible materials, including but not limited to: foam rubber, neoprene, silicon, vinyl, or any combination thereof, for example. The resilient gripping pad  40  opposes movement of the cane  32  within the clasping member  34 . The gripping pad  40  also may help prevent the cane  32  from rattling within the clasping member  34  and reduce vibrations. The gripping pad  40  also maintains high frictional pressure engagement with the cane  32  to aid the clasping member  34  in holding the cane  32 . Preferably, the inner diameter of the clasping member  34  when in a relaxed position (i.e., when a cane is not in the clasping member  34 ) is slightly less than the diameter of the smallest commonly sold walking cane. Such sizing would thus allow the clasping member  34  to effectively grasp and resist linear slippage on the smallest commonly sold walking canes, while also being able to flex enough to retain the largest diameter size of commonly sold walking canes. Hence, the clasping member  34  may accommodate a wide range of cane sizes.  
         [0037]    FIGS.  5 - 8  illustrate just the clasping member  34  of the retainer  30  to illustrate some alternative embodiments of the gripping pad  40 . In a second embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, three gripping pads  40  are attached inside the clasping member  34  and adjacent gripping pads are circumferentially spaced from each other. FIG. 6 shows a cross-section view of FIG. 5 along line  6 - 6 . Also, each gripping pad  40  of the second embodiment is not ribbed. In a third embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a single gripping pad  40  is attached to the inside of the clasping member  34 , as in the first embodiment, but the gripping pad  40  is not ribbed in the third embodiment. FIG. 8 shows a cross-section view of FIG. 7 along line  8 - 8 . In yet another embodiment, the retainer  30  may be made and used without the resilient pad  40  being attached to the inside surface of the clasping member  34 .  
         [0038]    Referring again to FIGS.  1 - 4 , the strap  38  of the first embodiment has a belt loop member  44  adapted for attachment around a belt of a cane user. The belt loop member  44  is an elongated member having a first end  46 , a second end  48 , and a central portion  50  between the first and second ends  46  and  48 . The belt loop member  44  is permanently coupled to the clasping member  34  at the first end  46  with a rivet  52 . The rivet may allow the clasping member  34  to pivot relative to the belt loop member  44 . However in other embodiments, the belt loop member  44  may be permanently coupled to the clasping member  34  by other means, such as being sewn or using adhesive, for example.  
         [0039]    Moreover, the belt loop member  44  may be releasably coupled to the clasping member  34 , by a snap fastener  56  or a button, for example. A first half  54  of a snap fastener  56  is located at the central portion  50 . A second half  58  of the snap fastener  56  is located at the second end  48 . When the first and second halves  54  and  58  of the snap fastener  56  are joined (i.e., when the snap fastener  56  is closed), the belt loop member  44  has a loop shape. The belt loop member  44  may be made from a variety of suitable materials, including but not limited to: leather, faux leather, plastic, cotton, hemp, wool, nylon, polyester, or any combination thereof, for example.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIGS. 9 and 10 show a walking cane  32  and a cane retainer  30  in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The clasping member  34  and belt loop member  44  of the fifth embodiment (FIG. 10) are the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 2), except that the fifth embodiment does not have the resilient gripping pad  40  attached to the inside surface of the clasping member  34 . Instead, the fifth embodiment has a hook-pile fastener material pad  60  (e.g., Velcro® fastener material) attached to the inside surface of the clasping member  34 . The walking cane  32  has an interlockable loop-pile fastener material pad  62  attached around it (either partially or all the way around the cane  32 ), as shown in FIG. 9. Thus when the cane  32  of FIG. 9 is snapped into the clasping member  34  of FIG. 10, the hook-and-loop fasteners  60  and  62  help to hold the cane  32  in place relative to the clasping member  34 , and it helps prevent the cane  32  from sliding or moving within the clasping member  34  during use of the retainer  30 .  
         [0041]    The opening  64  formed between the facing edges of the clasping arms in the relaxed position (see FIGS. 7, 8 and  10 ) into the receiving pocket  35  of the clasping member  34  is slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the cane  32 , thereby providing an interference fit with the body of the cane as it is inserted into and out of the receiving pocket  35 . The upper edges  34 E,  34 F of the clasping arms are rounded or tapered so that the cane  32  snaps into and out of the pocket  35  and are held in place by the gripping and interlocking engagement of the gripping pad  40  or with the hook-and-loop fasteners  60  and  62 . Note that loop-pile fastener material may be substituted for the hook-pile fastener material of the pad  60  on the inside surface of the clasping member  34  when hook-pile fastener material is substituted for the loop-pile fastener material of the pad  62  on the cane  32 . Switching the position of the hook (or loop) material with that of the loop (or hook) material provides an equivalent structure that performs the same function, the same way, to achieve the same results, as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a walking cane retainer  30  in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In the sixth embodiment, the clasping member  34  is similar to that of the third embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8. But in the sixth embodiment, the strap  38  coupled to the clasping member  34  has a cord  68 . The cord  68  has a first end  71  and a second end  72 . The first and second ends  71  and  72  of the cord  68  are coupled to the clasping member  34  with metal rings  74  (although the rings  74  may be made from another material, e.g., plastic) to form a loop shape. Also in another embodiment (not shown), the rings  74  may not be needed if the cord  68  is simply threaded through the holes  76  formed in the clasping member  34 . The effective length of the loop shape for the strap  38  is adjustable with a buckle device  78 , which is coupled to the cord  68 .  
         [0043]    With this type of strap  38  (FIG. 11), the cane retainer  30  may be strapped over a person&#39;s shoulder or strapped (or tied or hung) onto a chair, knob, door handle, or hanger, for example, when the cane  32  is not being used. The strap  38  of the sixth embodiment may be substituted for a shoulder strap  38  with a generally flat cross-section shape, such as the straps often used for women&#39;s purses, on duffle bags, or on back packs, for example. The material of the strap  38  of these embodiments may be made from a variety of suitable materials, including but not limited to: leather, faux leather, plastic, cotton, hemp, wool, nylon, polyester, or any combination thereof, for example.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a clasping member  34  for an eighth embodiment of the present invention to illustrate yet another variation on the resilient pad  40  located inside the clasping member  34 . The resilient gripping pad  40  of FIGS. 12 and 13 has a ribbed surface with ribs  43  extending in a generally helical pitched path along the inside surface  37  of the clasping member.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 14 illustrates a ninth embodiment of the present invention. In the ninth embodiment, a spring-biased clip member  80  is releasably coupled to the clasping member  34  with a snap fastener  82 . Preferably, the clasping member  34  pivots about the snap fastener  82  relative to the clip member  80 , which provides more mobility when the cane  32  is installed in the retainer  30  (e.g., for a person sitting in a chair).  
         [0046]    FIGS.  15 - 17  illustrate a tenth embodiment of the present invention. In the tenth embodiment, the resilient gripping pad  40  located on the inside surface  37  of the clasping member  34  has a ribbed surface with vertically extending ribs  45  (see FIG. 15). The strap  38  of the tenth embodiment has two major parts for providing multiple uses: a belt loop member  44  and a shoulder strap member  84 . The belt loop member  44  is permanently coupled to the clasping member  34  with a rivet (not shown) and adhesive. The belt loop member  44  of the tenth embodiment is similar to that of the first and fourth embodiments (see FIGS. 2 and 10), but with the addition of a resilient pad  88  and a hook-pile fastener material pad  90  located inside the loop shape (see FIG. 17) formed when the snap fastener  56  is closed (see FIG. 15). The resilient pad  88  located on the belt loop member  44  is made from foam rubber, for example, with a ribbed surface. When the shoulder strap member  84  of FIG. 16 is not used and the cane retainer  30  is attached to a belt on the user (not shown), the resilient pad  88  within the belt loop member  44  helps prevent the retainer  30  from moving relative to the user&#39;s belt.  
         [0047]    The shoulder strap member  84  shown in FIG. 16 has a cord  68  and a loop-pile fastener material tag  92 . The tag  92  is fastened about a portion of the cord  68  so that the fastening loops of the tag  92  are exposed. The tag  92  may be glued and/or sewn to the cord  68 , for example. The cord  68  has an adjustment buckle device  78  attached thereto for allowing the effective length of the shoulder strap member  84  to be adjusted. Hence, the length of the shoulder strap member  84  may be sized for different applications. For example, the shoulder strap member  84  may be sized to be used around a person&#39;s waist, such as when a heavy coat or rain coat is worn. As another example, the shoulder strap member  84  may be sized to fit over a person&#39;s shoulder so that the belt loop member hangs at or below the person&#39;s waist when standing. When the shoulder strap member  84  is installed within the belt loop member  44 , as shown in FIG. 15, the hook-pile fastener material pad  90  engages the loop-pile fastener material tag  92 , which helps keep the cord  68  from sliding within the belt loop member  44  during use. Also, the resilient pad  88  located within the belt loop member  44  helps keep the tag  92  pressed against the hook-pile pad  90 . Thus, the retainer  30  of the tenth embodiment may be worn on a user&#39;s belt (without the shoulder strap member  84 ) or worn over the user&#39;s shoulder, for example, using the combination of the shoulder strap member  84  and the belt loop member  44 , as shown in FIG. 15. The shoulder strap member  84  may be strapped around, hung, or tied to an object as well, such as a door knob, a cabinet handle, or a hanger, for example.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIGS. 18 and 19 show a side view and a front view, respectively, of an eleventh embodiment of the present invention, which incorporates a spring steel belt clip member  100 . The belt clip member  100  may be formed from a single piece of spring steel having a first clip portion  101  opposing a second clip portion  102 . The belt clip member  100  is shown in a relaxed position in FIG. 18. A belt  104  is shown in phantom lines in FIG. 19 to illustrate one use of the eleventh embodiment. Preferably, the spacing between the first and second clip portions is such that when a belt  104  is inserted into or through the belt clip member  100 , the first clip portion  101  is slightly spread apart away from the second clip portion  102  and the belt clip member  100  clamps onto the belt therein due to the spring bias created by the spring steel material. In such a configuration where the belt clip member  100  clamps onto a belt  104 , the clamping action of the spring bias may prevent the retainer  30  from sliding or moving along the belt  104  during most uses. The belt clip member  100  is preferably sized to receive a wide range of common belt widths and thicknesses.  
         [0049]    The eleventh embodiment of FIGS. 18 and 19 may also be combined with and clamped onto the tab  92  of the strap member  84  shown in FIG. 16 to provide yet another use of the eleventh embodiment. Thus, instead of clamping onto a belt  104 , the belt clip member  100  may be clamped onto the tab  92  of the strap member  84 , which may be worn over a shoulder or around a person&#39;s waist, for example.  
         [0050]    Although the C-shaped cross sections for the clasping members  34  shown herein are generally circular in profile, the generally C-shaped cross section of the clasping member for other embodiments (not shown) may vary. For example, the C-shaped cross section may have corners and flat portions so that the cross section resembles part of a polygon shape (e.g., square, hexagon, octagon). The C-shaped cross section may also have round shaped portions combined with straight or flat shaped portions, such as a curved C-shape with a flat back, for example. With the benefit of this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize many possible variations for the generally C-shaped cross section of the clasping member  34  that may be used to perform the same functions, the same way, and with the same results.  
         [0051]    In yet another embodiment, the belt loop member  44  may be a permanently closed loop (i.e., no snap fastener  56 ), which requires a belt to be threaded through the belt loop member  44  or which requires the cord  68  for an additional shoulder strap member  84  to be threaded through the belt loop member  44 , for example.  
         [0052]    With the benefit of this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the components and features of the embodiments described above maybe mixed and combined in numerous different ways to form other embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0053]    Embodiments of the present invention may also be used to retain an article other than a walking cane, including but not limited to: a flashlight, a billy club, a baton, a night stick, nunchucks, a kama, a sai, an escrima stick, a tonfa, a mace canister, a billiards cue stick, a hammer, a tool handle, or a tool, for example.  
         [0054]    Although the invention has been described with reference to certain exemplary arrangements, it is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described are to be treated as preferred embodiments. In light of the description herein, various changes, substitutions and modifications may be realized without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.