Improvements in Walking-sticks.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st July, 1891-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1891
COMPITE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Walking-sticks.
I, KARL ALBERT EGON ULBRICHT of Taubenheim near Meissen, Germany,
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN WALKING-STICKS to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a mechanism for conveniently grasping objects laying
at some distance away, which mechanism being attached to a walking-stick or an
umbrella or the like. By aid of any stick being furnished with the said mechanism,
one is enabled to pick up anything laying or growing on the floor without having
to stoop down, which particularly will be found of great value on mountains, where
stooping down frequently is dangerous.
In order to make my invention perfectly clear, I refer to the accompanying
drawing, which illustrates a walking-stick provided with the mechanism forming the
object of the present invention.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the stick, wherein the grasping mechanism is opened,
ready to grasp.
Fig. 2 is a section showing the mechanism when closed.
The complete mechanism is conccaled within the interior of the stick, with
the exception of the grasping tongs a and b. The jaw a is integral with the stick
and the other jaw bis hinged to the same by the pin c.
When making use of the
g
stick for walking, these tongs are closed upon another, like in Fig. 2. This closing
is secured by the lever d, which has its fulcrum at e and is linked onto a connecting
rod by the pin f. The connecting rod g is on its rear end attached to the hinge-
stock ¹, being hinged to the bars land m, which are linked to the tongs a and b in
the manner of a toggle-joint. Of these bars m connects the stock / to the fixed
jaw a and connects the same to the loose jaw b. A small stay p is integral
with the shell of the stick; a spiral-spring bears at one end against the
stay p and at the other against the hinge-block and thus tends continuously
to open
the tongs. It however being necessary to keep the tongs generally
closed and only allow them to open out at times, the implement provided
with a locking device, which firmly holds the jaws together.
This locking
device consists of a disk r, which inside of the handle is pivoted to the sides
of the same by a pin, and is adapted to engage with the hook 2, which may be
rivetted on or otherwise attached to the lever d. The bar vis guided at tt' and t
and is loosely pinned to the end of the click r.
By these means and by aid of a spiral-spring u the click r is continuously drawn
towards the hook z. It is now required to make use of the implement a slight
pressure with the thumb on the knob »', sitting on the end of the bar v, will suffice
to release the hook z from the grasp of the click r and giving way to the tension of
the spring the connecting rod g moves towards the point of the stick. The legs
of the toggle-joint l m thereby stretch out and open the jaw b, in the manner
illustrated by Fig. 1. While holding the stick by the handle w the lever d will lay
also within the grasp of the fingers, which thus without difficulty may apply a
slight pressure to the same (d). This pressure is transmitted by the rod g and toggle-
joint m to the tong a b, which firmly holds fast any object coming within its reach.
Having then taken the object away the tongs may again be closed by pressing the
lever d so much, that the hook be caught by the click r.
l
=
I particularly point out, that all movable members are placed within the hollow
of the stick and therefor are not liable to be clogged by dirt, care also has been
taken to avoid friction as much as possible. In order to release the locking-
device, arranged within the handle of the stick, one only need apply a very

page_text: slight pressure on the knob by the thumb, which generally is held close by,
when using the stick for walking. By this slight pressure the tong at once
opens out.
Another advantage may be mentioned. The implement is always ready for
use, no protecting shell need be removed, nor screw, nor any other part has to be
disjointed beforehand. The appearance of the stick does not differ from other
walking-sticks, nobody in fact will take any notice of the parts, which are not
common with other sticks unless especially having drawn their attention thereto.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
In a stick being made hollow the lever d arranged within the handle, the toggle-
joint linked to the fixed jaw a and the loose jaw b, the connecting rod g
connecting the hinge-block h¹ and the lever d, a spiral spring surrounding a portion
of the rod y and bearing on one end against the hinge-block h¹ and at the other
against the stay p in combination with the locking-device consisting of the bar v
adapted to slide within the handle w and the click linked to the bar and adapted
to engage with the hook attached to the lever as for the purpose set forth.
3
Dated this 30th day of June 1891.
7"
KARL ALBERT EGON ULBRICHT.
By Rayner & Cassell,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.