Improvements in Canes or Walking Sticks.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1896
Improvements in Canes or Walking Sticks.
I, LUDWIG. GOLDSMITH, Manufacturer, residing at 2656 Park Avenue, in the
City of St. Louis,. State of Missouri, U.S.A., do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
.
My invention relates to improvements in canes or walking-sticks; and it consists
in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter
described, shown and claimed.
Figure 1 is a side elevation-of my improved billy cane, portions thereof being
broken away to more clearly illustrate the same.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the upper end of my improved billy.cane.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a screw-threaded shank made use of in carrying out
my invention.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a shank carrying a metallic bullet or weight that is
lorated in the end of the billy of my improved device.
Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the lower end of the billy and showing the
bullet or weight attached thereto by means of a ferrule.
Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates the body of
the cane, the same being of suitable size and form, the upper end of said cane being
tubular, as indicated by 2, and formed in the extreme upper end of said tubular portion
is an annular bead 3. Leading to this bead 3. from the top edge of the cane is a
vertical slot 4.
5 indicates the handle of the cane which may be of any form and size desired, one
end of said handle being reduced in diameter, as indicated by 6, in order to fit
snugly within the tubular portion of the cane.
7 indicates a pin that extends laterally from this reduced portion 6, said pin
being intended to pass downwardly through the slot 4 when said handle is fixed
to the top of the cane, and after said pin has been thus located a slight move-
ment of the handle in either direction will carry said pin 7 into the annular bead 3
and thus prevent the body of the cane from becoming detached from the handle.
If desired, an ordinary bayonet-joint may be used in place of the slot and bead
hereinbefore described.
8 indicates a screw-threaded shank pointed at each end and constructed in its
center with a washer 9. The upper end of said shank 8 is seated in the end of the
handle 5 which engages in the upper end of the cane 1 until said washer 9 engages
against the end of said handle.
The billy made use of in my improved device is in the form of a rod 10, the
same being constructed of rubber or analogous material, said rod being preferably
of uniform diameter throughout its length, it being fixed at its upper end to the
portion of the screw-threaded shank 8 that extends from the handle 5. Firmly
seated in the lower end of the billy 10 is a screw-threaded shank 11, the lower
end of which carries an integral bullet or weight 12, which, when said shank 11 is
properly fixed in the end of the billy, lies directly against said end.
In some instances the shank 11 is done away with and a ferrule, such as 13,
carrying the bullet or weight is located upon the lower end of the billy by means
of transversely arranged rivets or pins 14.
The use of my improved billy cane is obvious, it being only necessary to detach the

page_text: handle, carrying the billy, from the cane, thus giving to the carrier of the billy
cane a very effective weapon in a close encounter.
The billy while not in use is completely concealed and the cane and handle
when properly constructed present a neat and finished appearance, the entire
device being light in weight, simple in construction and readily brought into use
when required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
A billy cane constructed with a main body, the upper end of which is tubular, a
detachable handle designed to engage the upper end of said body, the annular
bead 3 formed near the upper end of said-body, the vertical slot 4 leading from
the extreme top edge of the cane to said bead 3, the pin 7 extending laterally from
the lower end of said handle and designed to pass downwardly through the slot 4
when said handle is fixed to the top of the cane and thence into the bead 3 as
required to hold said handle in position, the screw-threaded shank 8 inserted in said
handle, the washer 9 upon the center of said screw-threaded shank and against the
lower end of said handle, the billy 10 having the lower end of said shank 8 inserted
in its upper end, the screw-threaded shank 11 seated in the lower end of said billy 10
and the weight 12 upon the lower end of said screw-threaded shank, substantially
as specified.
Dated the First day of July 1896