Patent ID: 7823599

Claim:
A flexible support ( 1 ) for a walking aid comprising: a base ( 2 ) having a top surface ( 9 ) and a bottom surface ( 11 ); a coil ( 3 ) having a first end ( 5 ) and a second end ( 7 ) defining a bore ( 8 ) for receiving a shaft ( 4 ) of the walking aid within the bore ( 8 ), the first end ( 5 ) of the coil ( 3 ) is attached directly to a top surface of the base ( 2 ) and the second end ( 7 ) of the coil ( 3 ) is spaced from the base ( 2 ) and defines an opening ( 13 ) where the shaft ( 4 ) of the walking aid is inserted in the bore ( 8 ) and the coil ( 3 ) with the shaft ( 4 ) is free to move angularly relative to the base ( 2 ); a neutral position where a longitudinal axis A of the coil ( 3 ) is aligned perpendicular with the bottom surface ( 11 ) of the base ( 2 ), and a spring ( 3 ) biased position wherein the longitudinal axis A of the coil ( 3 ) is inclined at an angle relative to the bottom surface ( 11 ) of the base ( 2 ); and wherein the shaft of the walking aid is retained in attachment to the flexible support solely by torsion force exerted by the coil and a traction sole ( 17 ) made from a different material than the base ( 2 ) is attached to the bottom surface ( 11 ) of the base ( 2 ) to provide for enhanced frictional contact of the flexible support with a ground surface ( 19 ).