BAYONET WALKING STICK

Abstract

A walking stick or cane can become an effective personal defense deterrent by providing a means of attaching a standard bayonet, such as a M7-M9 bayonet. The use of a bayonet lug as an integral part of the walking stick/cane, when combined with a precision machined steel handle, allows a bayonet to be firmly and securely attached. By allowing the bayonet to be detached, the cane becomes useful for walking assistance, is non-threatening to the surrounding public, and can be transported in any jurisdiction, including those that may not allow an assembled device of this nature.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to personal safety devices and, more particularly, to a walking stick/cane that allows a bayonet to be attached for personal defense.

When walking or hiking, people often need and use a walking stick or cane. If a need for personal defense arises, a walking stick or cane is often not an effective deterrent. People that want to have a personal defense weapon with them many times do not want the fact they are in possession of a weapon to be obvious.

A conventional device that is made from a pole with a temporarily attachable knife is almost certainly going to be weak at the point of attachment and not reliable as a defensive weapon. If a knife is securely mounted permanently, the device is not likely able to be used as a walking assistance tool, may not legally be allowed to be possessed or transported through some jurisdictions, and may be threatening at inappropriate times.

As can be seen, there is a need for a walking stick or cane that allows a bayonet to be securely attached for personal defense.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a walking stick/cane comprises a grip/bayonet mount component having a first end, a central portion and a second end; a tubular shaft attached to the first end of the grip/bayonet mount component; and a lug for removably attaching a bayonet thereto, the lug attached to the grip/bayonet mount component, wherein the second end of the grip/bayonet mount component fitting into a hole in a hand guard of the bayonet.

In another aspect of the present invention, a walking stick/cane comprises a grip/bayonet mount component having a first end having a first diameter, a central portion having a second diameter, and a second end having a third diameter wherein the first diameter is less than the second diameter and the second diameter is less than the third diameter; a tubular shaft attached to the first end of the grip/bayonet mount component; a lug for removably attaching a bayonet thereto, the lug attached to the grip/bayonet mount component; and a tip disposed on an end of the tubular shaft, the end being opposite an attachment end of the tubular shaft to the grip/bayonet mount component, wherein the second end of the grip/bayonet mount component fitting into a hole in a hand guard of the bayonet.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a bayonet walking stick, having a bayonet attached, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The bayonet walking stick includes a machined piece of steel, placement of a bayonet lug used to quickly secure the attachment of a standard M7-M9 bayonet, and an aluminum tube to which the machined piece of steel is attached. When combined, these elements make the bayonet walking stick a functional walking cane, while providing defensive length and capability to hold a bayonet when used as a deterrent;

FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of the bayonet walking stick, having the bayonet attached, of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a walking stick or cane to become an effective personal defense deterrent by providing a means of attaching a standard bayonet, such as a M7-M9 bayonet. The use of a bayonet lug as an integral part of the walking stick/cane, when combined with a precision machined steel handle, allows a bayonet to be firmly and securely attached. By allowing the bayonet to be detached, the cane becomes useful for walking assistance, is non-threatening to the surrounding public, and can be transported in any jurisdiction, including those that may not allow an assembled device of this nature.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3, a bayonet walking stick 10 can include a grip/bayonet mount component 16, such as a piece of steel, and a tubular shaft 12 attached to the grip/bayonet mount component 16. A mounting cylinder 18 of the grip/bayonet mount component 16 can be machined to precisely fit a receiver loop 26 formed in a bayonet hand guard 26 (disposed between the blade 22 and the handle 24 of the bayonet 20) of an M7, M8 or M9 bayonet 20. A standard steel bayonet lug 19 is precisely placed and welded to the grip/bayonet mount component 16 to firmly and securely lock the handle 24 of the bayonet 20 in place.

The grip/bayonet mount component 16 can be press fit into a tubular shaft 12, such as a thick aluminum tube, that can be used as the walking stick/cane portion of the device. These strong component pieces, combined with the method of temporarily attaching a bayonet while providing the strength of a permanently attached knife, make the device of the present invention uniquely suitable as a combined walking stick or cane and personal defense device.

The grip/bayonet mount component 16 may be machined to three different cylindrical diameters. For example, the largest diameter (the mounting cylinder 18) can be about 0.855 inch in diameter and about 4.75 inches long, the central component, to which the bayonet lug 19 is attached, can be about 0.750 inch in diameter and about 1.5 inch long, and the shaft mount end can be about 0.500 inch in diameter and about 1.5 inch long. The bayonet lug 19 for a M7-M9 bayonet may be securely affixed by, for example, welding, to the grip/bayonet mount component 16 at the appropriate location. The grip/bayonet mount component 16, at the 0.500 inch outside diameter (O.D.) end can be press fitted, or adhered, into the cylindrical piece of tubular shaft 12 as shown.

Optionally, a cylindrical rubber tip 14, or similar material (for example, about 0.75 inch inside diameter (I.D.), 1.25 inch O.D by 4 inches long) may be utilized on the end of the tubular shaft 12 opposite the grip/bayonet mount component 16. The rubber tip 14 can be used as an optional anti-slip enhancement when the bayonet walking stick/cane is used as a walking assistance device.

When the bayonet walking stick/cane 10 is used as a walking assistance device, no bayonet would be attached. When the bayonet walking stick/cane 10 is to be used as a defensive deterrent, the user would attach an M7-M9 bayonet to the steel piece of the device by sliding the open loop of the bayonet over the end of the steel piece until the end of the bayonet locks onto the bayonet lug as shown in FIG. 1. The M7-M9 bayonets have a receiver hole at the end of their handle that the lug slides into and then locks in place. The length of the tubular shaft 12 (typically from about 33 to about 45 inches) provides a defensive distance from a threat.

While certain materials and manufacturing methods have been described above, other materials and manufacturing methods may be contemplated within the scope of the present invention. For example, materials, such as alternate metals, composites, carbon-reinforced plastics, carbon fiber, and other such materials, may be used to replace one or all of the components. Such alternate materials may provide a lighter version of the bayonet walking stick/cane of the present invention.

As described above, the bayonet walking stick/cane of the present invention can be quickly converted for use from a standard walking assistance device to a defensive deterrent. The advantages of the bayonet walking stick/cane of the present invention, versus carrying a strictly defensive weapon, such as a permanently mounted knife on a pole, are multi-fold: For example, the device of the present invention is non-threatening when not assembled for defensive use: the device serves as a walking assistance tool: and the device can be transported un-assembled through jurisdictions that may not allow a defensive deterrent of the type described herewithin.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A walking stick/cane comprising: a grip/bayonet mount component having a first end, a central portion and a second end;a tubular shaft attached to the first end of the grip/bayonet mount component; anda lug for removably attaching a bayonet thereto, the lug attached to the grip/bayonet mount component, whereinthe second end of the grip/bayonet mount component fitting into a hole in a hand guard of the bayonet.

2. The walking stick/cane of claim 1, further comprising a tip disposed on an end of the tubular shaft, the end being opposite an attachment end of the tubular shaft to the grip/bayonet mount component.

3. The walking stick/cane of claim 1, wherein the lug is attached to a central portion of the grip/bayonet mount component.

4. The walking stick/cane of claim 1, wherein the grip/bayonet mount component is made of steel.

5. The walking stick/cane of claim 1, wherein the tubular shaft is made from aluminum.

6. The walking stick/cane of claim 1, wherein the tubular shaft is press fitted onto the first end of the grip/bayonet mount component.

7. The walking stick/cane of claim 1, wherein the first end has a first diameter, the central portion has a second diameter, and the second end has a third diameter, wherein the first diameter is less than the second diameter and the second diameter is less than the third diameter.

8. A walking stick/cane comprising: a grip/bayonet mount component having a first end having a first diameter, a central portion having a second diameter, and a second end having a third diameter wherein the first diameter is less than the second diameter and the second diameter is less than the third diameter;a tubular shaft attached to the first end of the grip/bayonet mount component;a lug for removably attaching a bayonet thereto, the lug attached to the grip/bayonet mount component; anda tip disposed on an end of the tubular shaft, the end being opposite an attachment end of the tubular shaft to the grip/bayonet mount component, whereinthe second end of the grip/bayonet mount component fitting into a hole in a hand guard of the bayonet.

9. The walking stick/cane of claim 8, wherein the lug is attached to a central portion of the grip/bayonet mount component.

10. The walking stick/cane of claim 8, wherein the grip/bayonet mount component is made of steel and the tubular shaft is made from aluminum.