Improvements in Walking Sticks, Umbrellas, and Crutches.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 14th July, 1886.
Complete Left, 22nd Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1887.
Improvements in Walking Sticks, Umbrellas, and Crutches.
ANTHONY CHARLES FARRINGTON Shelfanger, Diss, Norfolk, Surgeon &c. do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements, in Walking Sticks, Umbrellas and Crutches,
which are designed to increase their utility, by further assisting the act or efforts of
walking; and it may be made and applied in various ways, whilst the ordinary,
general appearance of the articles to which it is applied, is maintained.
The Invention consists briefly of a spring concealed, or air confined, in the handle,
or upper part of the Stick, Crutch, or Umbrella, being made to act upon the lower
part or stem. The handle is disconnected from the stem, to a certain limit, and the
stem is made to slide from the handle by means of the hidden spring, or by air
confined in the same concealed cavity. Pressure from the hand or arms when using
the improved articles, compresses the spring, or air confined.
To further describe the Invention; a portion of the handle itself, or upper part of
Walking Sticks, Umbrellas, and Crutches, is drilled out for the reception of a tube of
metal, fitting accurately & fixed within the part so drilled. This metal tube is to
receive a coil or other suitable spring of required length and strength, and to have
two longitudinal slots or grooves, opposite each other, and extending nearly to its
lower end. In these slots or grooves a pin or small metal bar fixed transversely
through the upper end of the stem of the Stick, Umbrella or Crutch, is to glide or
travel, up and down-the hand or arms forcing it up and the spring, down. A portion
of the upper ends of the stems referred to is reduced in size to pass easily through
the lower coils, or part of the spring which would rest on the shoulder of wood left
by so reducing the stem. A tubular band of metal of suitable width and thickness,
exactly fitting into the metal tube referred to above as containing the spring, is bound
and fixed to the upper part of the stems to serve as a piston which the spring or
confined air will operate.
A strong band of silver or other suitable material, is fixed round the lower part of
the handle, or in such position as to serve the purposes of strength and ornamentation.
-A hole should be made into the side of the handle, through the metal tube occupied
by the spring. This hole is to allow the passage of air, the amount of which may be
regulated by suitable means-and it will likewise serve to conduct drops of oil or
spirit if required by the spring and other parts subjected to friction.

page_text: On removing the pin, screw or whatever is used to retain, in a fixed position, the
first mentioned tube, the working parts of the contrivance may be easily separated,
and a new, stronger or weaker spring may be substituted, and any little repairs or
alterations effected.
Besides that which I have here described there are other ways in which the principle
of my invention may be carried out-I may dispense with the drilled hole in the
handle, and the metal tube or cylinder may be so modified and made as to form part
or the whole of the handle and in a variety of suitable materials. The action of
confined air may be more or less adopted to work the invention, and it (the invention)
may be placed in any suitable position on crutches which take different forms, but it
should not be placed near the ferrule in order to avoid contact with mud, water &c.
When the parts of this Invention are in place, and in use; and the Stick, Umbrella
or Crutch is brought into a perpendicular position, the spring will be compressed
and the air more or less expelled from the metal tube.
The action and effect of the contrivance will be as follows-
1st. When pressure is being applied-it will serve as a buffer, preventing the
jerking and jarring of aged persons and invalids, and will spare some strain upon
the articles used.
2ndly. When the pressure is being relaxed-it will serve as a propellant, helping
forward the Pedestrian, the Stick, Crutch or Umbrella becoming elongated, as it
finally inclines backwards & downwards whilst the pedestrian moves forward.
The assistance in walking, afforded by the natural pliability of canes will be
superseded by this invention, because the shortening of the Stick or Umbrella is
limited by the mechanism, to any required extent, and they are not liable to become
bent, crooked, and disfigured.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Walking Sticks, Umbrellas, and Crutches.
ANTHONY CHARLES FARRINGTON, Shelfanger, Diss, Norfolk, M.R.C.S. England
L.R.C.P. Edinburgh 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 :-
This Invention relates to improvements in Walking Sticks, Umbrellas, and Crutches
which are designed to increase their Utility by further assisting the act, or efforts
of walking; and it may be made and applied in various ways, whilst the ordinary
general appearance of the articles to which it is applied will be maintained. The
invention consists briefly of a spring concealed in the handle or upper part of the
Stick, Crutch, or Umbrella being made to act upon the lower part or stem. I disclaim
the use of air in the making or working of my invention, and mentioned in my

page_text: provisional specification, limiting the motor power to the said concealed spring. The
handle is to a certain extent disconnected from the stem, which must be of less diameter
than, and made to slide from, the former by means of the coiled spring referred to.
Pressure from the hand or arms, when using the improved articles, compresses the
spring; and on removing this pressure by walking forward the spring extends,
lengthens the Stick Crutch, or Umbrella, and so in proportion to the strength of the
spring, propels, or pushes forward, the Pedestrian. To further describe the invention
-A portion of the handle, near to its junction with the stem, or upper part of Sticks,
Umbrellas, and Crutches, is drilled out for the reception of a tube of metal, fitting
accurately, and fixed within the part so drilled out. This metal tube is to receive
a coil spring of required length and strength, and must have two long slots,
opposite each other, and of sufficient length to admit of the spring movement
required. In these slots, a pin or small metal bar, fixed firmly, and transversely
through the upper end of the stem referred to, is to glide or travel up and down.
This pin must not project beyond the outer surface of the slotted tube, and its ends
must be smooth, and made to move freely in the slots. A portion of the upper end of
the stem may be reduced in size, to pass easily through the lower coils, or part of the
spring which would rest on the shoulder of wood left by so reducing the stem.
A tubular band of thin metal, exactly fitting into the tube, containing the spring is
bound and fixed to the upper part of the stem, to serve as a piston which the spring
operates; and the diameter of that part of the stem which follows this piston into
the larger tube, or cylinder must be such that the stem does not come into contact
with the said cylinder. A strong band of silver or other suitable material, is fixed
round the lower part of the handle, or in such position as to serve the double purpose
of ornamentation and strength, and the handle may be bevelled, or tapered off, to
receive the band, and improve the appearance of the Stick, Umbrella or Crutch.
A hole should be made through the side of the handle, and through the upper end of
the tube occupied by the spring, and a pin or screw fixed into it, for the purpose of
retaining the parts in position, and to conduct drops of oil or spirit, if required by the
spring and other parts subjected to friction and wear. On removing this pin, screw,
or whatever is thus used, the working parts of the invention may be easily separated,
altered, and repaired. To prevent the spring from bearing on this pin, a piece of cork
or other suitable substance may be fitted into the end of the tube through which the
pin hole is made, or a metal bottom may be fixed into the end of the tube, leaving
room, or space sufficient for the pin to pass across the tube, on that side of the said
bottom, which does not come into contact with the spring. The principle of my
invention may be carried out in other ways-For instance, I may dispense with the
drilled hole, and the metal tube first mentioned may form part, or the whole of the
handle of the Stick, Umbrella, or upper part of the Crutch; and may be of any suitable
material. Another plan-(more suitable to walking sticks) is to drill the hole in the
handle for the direct reception of the spring, and so dispensing with the tube-the
slots for the sliding pin being cut in the handle itself, and concealed by two metal, or
other plates, which might bear the name, and address of the owner, or maker.
In the latter case, the tube fixed to the upper end of the stem might also be
dispensed with, the stem fitting directly into the drilled hole. The invention may be
attached in any suitable place, to crutches, but must not be too close to the ferrule,
so as to avoid dirt, water &c. It is an improvement on the springs arrangement at
present in use with Crutches, in that the mechanism, is more concealed, and excludes
dust and wet from the interior, which are liable to collect and impede the working of
the mechanism of the old arrangement. In applying the invention to Umbrellas, the
sticks, or stems thereof must be rather longer than those now in use-first to allow for
the shortening which takes place when fitted into the drilled handle, and when the
spring is depressed-secondly to avoid contact with other parts of the Umbrella
proper, when the spring is acting. The same extra length of the stem of Walking
Sticks will be necessary, to admit in like manner, of the shortening thereof, when
fitted into the drilled hole, and to allow for depression of the spring. When the various
parts of this invention, are in place, and in use, the article to which it is fitted, being

page_text: brought into contact with the ground in the ordinary way, whilst walking, the spring
will be compressed, and the movement, and effects of the contrivance will be as follows.
First When pressure, is being applied it will serve as a buffer, preventing the
shaking and jarring of aged persons, or invalids, and it will spare some strain upon
the articles used. Secondly when the pressure is being relaxed, by the act of
walking forward, and leaving the ferrule pressing on the ground until the spring has
extended itself, it will serve as a propellant, helping forward the Pedestrian, with a
pressure up the arm, in proportion to the strength of the spring power-the arm being
kept somewhat firm and rigid whilst walking forward with a Stick, or Umbrella. The
natural pliability of walking canes is surpassed by this invention, as the canes are
liable to yield or bend under weight or pressure, beyond the limit of their required
assistance in walking, and sometimes remain bent and disfigured. The accompanying
Drawings shew the invention in section, and the relative position of its parts, the size
being for an adults walking Stick or Umbrella, the handle of which is one inch in
diameter. Fig. 1 is a vertical section shewing the parts in position. A. A. A. is a
wooden handle drilled out. B a piece of thin brass tube. C a piece of brass tube
pinned on to Da Walking Stick or stem thereof, with top J made smaller to pass
through E spring. F a pin through C D ends of which work in slots provided in B.
G, a pin through A and B. H, a band to strengthen and adorn handle.
DESCRIPTION.
First, C is put on to D-Second, D & C are then passed through B-Third, B is
pushed up A and pin G secures it. To replace, or alter spring, remove G and take
out B. The distance of the slots made in B from the lower end of the tube must be
equal to that of the pin F from the lower end of C. The spring E may be in various
sizes of good steel, stiff brass, or other suitable wire-No. 15 brass spring wire being
a very suitable size, for a man's Walking Stick, or Umbrella. Fig. 2 is a vertical
central section of the tube C (Figs. 1 & 3) mounted on a Stick D shewing the pin F,
and J the reduced part of the Stick, D. Fig. 3 shews the slotted tube B B, through
which, the small tube C (Figs. 1. 2 & 4) with its pin F slides up and down, when the
Stick, Umbrella or Crutch is in use. L is a hole for the pin G (Fig. 1.) which retains
the tube here shown, in its place. I is a slot for pin F (Figs. 1 & 2). Fig. 4 is a
horizontal section on r .r Fig. 1, and shews J, the reduced portion of Stick; B, the
slotted tube; and C the tube fixed to stick or stem; A, the handle drilled out, and
E, the coil spring.
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-
First. The application of coil spring motor power, to Walking Sticks, and
Umbrellas.
Second. The arrangement of the various parts of this invention, with Walking
Sticks & Umbrellas, substantially, as shewn, and described.
Third. An improved coil spring arrangement for Crutches, as described herein.
Dated this 17th day of March 1887.