Patent ID: 7344320

Claim:
A walking staff apparatus, comprising: a shaft; a handle region provided at one end of the shaft; and a leg assembly including multiple movable legs provided at a bottom of the shaft substantially opposite the handle region, the leg assembly configured such that the legs move pivotally between a closed position and an open position, the location from which the pivotal leg movement occurs being substantially fixed relative to the shaft; and wherein the leg assembly is configured such that the legs move between the closed position and the open position in a manner substantially free of supplemental lateral support; wherein the leg assembly includes at least three legs and each of the legs is coupled, within the leg assembly, by a separate, non-coaxial pivot member; wherein the walking staff apparatus is configured such that in use the distal end of each leg contacts the ground in the closed position and in the open position; and wherein the shaft includes an upper section and a lower section that are located above the leg assembly and configured for longitudinally telescoping movement.