Patent ID: 7784479

Claim:
An adjustable lighted walking aid, comprising: an offset cane including a handle portion, an intermediate portion integrally connected to the handle portion, and a lower portion terminating in a tip and being telescopically connected at its upper end to the intermediate portion to allow adjustment of the height of the cane; the handle portion including a handle being disposed substantially perpendicular to the intermediate portion, an angled portion integrally connected to the top of the intermediate portion, and a curved portion integrally connecting the handle to the angled portion; a front light emitting diode being disposed in the angled portion at a lower section thereof and having its principal axis of illumination inclined downwardly forwardly at about a 55° angle with respect to the intermediate portion to direct light downwardly and in front of the cane; a back light emitting diode being disposed in the curved portion at a central section thereof and having its principal axis of illumination inclined downwardly rearwardly at about a 35° angle with respect to the intermediate portion to direct light downwardly and in back of the cane; wherein the principal axis of illumination of the front light emitting diode is substantially perpendicular to the principal axis of illumination of the back light emitting diode; a plurality of warning light emitting diodes disposed on at least one side of the angled portion to direct light to at least one side of the cane; an electronic controller disposed within the handle for controlling the light emitting diodes; a battery disposed within the handle for providing power to the light emitting diodes and the electronic controller; a switch disposed on an end of the handle and electrically connected to the electronic controller to allow operation of the light emitting diodes; wherein when the cane is held in a substantially upright position during use, the principal axis of illumination of the light from the front light emitting diode is projected onto the ground a substantial distance in front of the tip of the cane to illuminate the ground in front of the user so that the user can see obstacles in his or her path of travel; and wherein when the cane is held in a substantially upright position during use, the principal axis of illumination of the light from the back light emitting diode is projected onto the ground a substantial distance in back of the tip of the cane to illuminate the ground in the proximity of the feet of the user so that the user can avoid obstacles at his or her feet, whereby the user may simultaneously view his or her forward path of travel and the ground at his or her feet while using the cane in its intended manner.