CANE FOR WALKING

Abstract

Provided is a cane for walking comprising: a handle;_a pole having a curve configured for contact with a ground, the pole attached to the handle wherein the handle has at least a portion (as viewed from a top of the cane) with an orientation that is above the horizontal in such configuration that minimizes a person bending a wrist to hold the handle; wherein at least a portion of a length of the handle, as defined as direction of walking, points upwardly in an angle of greater than five degrees.

Description

BACKGROUND SECTION OF THE INVENTION

Canes assist a person in walking, particularly at an older age. A problem with canes is that they are difficult to walk with and often slow the person, and only provide support in limited situations. There is a need in the art for a cane that allows a user to walk at a more rapid pace and support in different situations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the cane in an upright position.

FIG. 2 illustrates the cane in a backwards position where contact mis made in a portion before the bottom tip of the cane.

FIG. 3 illustrates back and forth movement with the cane, and flexibility of the cane in a vertical direction.

FIG. 4 illustrates an arm resting on the handle portion of the cane in a sitting position.

SUMMARY SECTION OF THE INVENTION

Provided is a cane for walking comprising: a handle; a pole having a curve configured for contact with a ground, the pole attached to the handle wherein the handle has at least a portion (as viewed from a top of the cane) with an orientation that is above the horizontal in such configuration that minimizes a person bending a wrist to hold the handle; at least a portion of a length of the handle, as defined as direction of walking, points upwardly in an angle of greater than five degrees. The top of the handle can be straight. Tt least 50% of a length of the handle can point upwardly. The handle can be straight for at least three inches, and configured to allow an arm to rest on the handle in a sitting position. The handle can be configured to allow an arm to rest on the handle in a sitting position. The entire length of the handle can point upwardly. The pole can be S-shaped. The pole can have an upper and a lower portion, and the pole curves backwardly in the upper portion. The pole can have a contactor on a bottom of the pole configured for contacting a ground. The contactor can be part of a pole or a separate part attached to the pole. The pole can have a semi-contactor configured to contact the ground during walking. The semi-contactor can be positioned on a bottom of a curved portion behind the contactor. The pole can curve on top, bottom, or both portions. The handle can point upwardly at an angle of 5 degrees to 45 degrees or 15 to 45 degrees. The cane can exhibit flexibility in a vertical direction.

Provided is a cane for walking comprising: a handle; a pole; a contactor attached to a bottom of the pole configured to make contact with the ground; and a semi-contactor configured to make contact with the ground when the cane is a backward position. The handle can be straight for at least a length of four inches. The pole can have at least a curved portion. The pole can be S-shaped.

Provided is a cane for walking comprising: a handle with a straight portion configured to allow an arm to rest on the handle in a sitting position; an S-shaped pole; and a contactor attached to a bottom of the pole configured to make contact with the ground. The entire length of the handle (as viewed from top of the cane) can point upwardly. The handle can point upwardly at an angle of 5 degrees to 45 degrees or 15 to 45 degrees.

Provided in one embodiment is a cane that has a straight circular handle at an angle of five degrees to 45 degrees, the handle pointing upward from the back to the front (front of the cane handle points upwardly in the direction of walking). Provided in one embodiment is a cane with a pole that curves backward. Provided in one embodiment is a cane with a contactor that is shaped like a paw. Provided in one embodiment is a cane with a semi-contactor that is configured to touch the ground during walking.

Provided is a cane comprising: a handle; a curved pole attached to the handle, wherein the pole curves backwards in relation to the direction of walking.

Provided is a cane comprising: a handle; a curved pole attached to the handle, wherein the pole curves backwards in relation to the direction of walking.

Provided is a cane comprising: a handle pointing upwards; a curved pole attached to the handle, wherein the pole curves backwards in relation to the direction of walking.

Provided is a cane comprising: a circular straight handle pointing upwards; a curved pole attached to the handle, wherein the pole curves backwards in relation to the direction of walking; a contactor placed on the bottom of the pole configured to contact the ground; a semi-contactor configured to contact the ground during walking.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a cane. The cane is ergonomic and is configured to allow a user to hold and grab the cane in the natural hand position when walking, without the need to substantially bend the wrist. The cane is also configured to provide stability to the user, particularly in downhill and uphill situations.

The cane can have a handle 1. Handle 1 as illustrated in FIG. 1 is round and straight and is configured to point upwardly slightly, rising from behind to the front. The handle 1 of the cane can have an angle of 5 degrees to 30 degrees compared to the horizontal ground or 15 to 45 degrees, or 15 to 30 degrees. The angle is measured at an upright position, where the cane is at its tallest. The straight handle 1 allows a user to grasp the handle 1 at a natural wrist position.

Handle 1 can be circular or have other shapes, such as be straight or curved. As illustrated, handle 1 is straight. Handle 1 can have a straight portion that is at least 50% of the length of handle 1. Handle 1 can have one inch to six inches of straight portion, such as at least two inches, such as at least three inches, such as two inches to four inches, or two inches to five inches. Any of the abovementioned portions of the handle 1, including at least 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% of the length of the handle, either in the front, middle, or back, can be straight. The entire handle 1 cross-section or only the top portion of the cross-section of handle 1 can be straight.

The angle of handle 1 is configured in such way so that a user does not bend his wrist to hold the handle 1. The handle 1 allows a user to maintain the natural position.

The handle 1 is attached to pole 3. The attachment of the handle 1 to pole 3 can be a fixed or an adjustable attachment. FIG. 1 illustrates an adjustable attachment. The adjustable attachment can have a member 2 that allows handle 1 to be secured and slide relative to member 2. Member 2 can also allow for adjustment of the angle of handle 1 from anywhere from zero degrees to 45 degrees, such as 5 degrees to 30 degrees.

The cane has a pole 3 that is attached to handle 1. Pole 3 extends to the ground and makes contact with the ground. In one embodiment, pole 3 has a curvature. The pole 3 curves backwards. The curve allows the bottom of the pole 3 to remain in front of the user’s ankle when the user walks.

Bottom of pole 3 can have a contactor 4 for making contact with the ground. The contactor 4 is placed at the bottom of the pole 3. The contactor 4 can be circular or shaped like a paw or square. It can be made from a material that provides a good grip, such as rubber. The contactor 4 can have a top and a bottom portion. The top portion can allow the contactor 4 to snap into the bottom of the pole 3. The bottom portion can be paw shaped for substantial contact with the ground.

A separate semi-contactor 5 can be placed behind the contactor 4. The semi-contactor 5 is configured to make contact with the ground some of the time, particularly when the cane is not held in an upright position. The semi-contactor 5 can cushion the blow from the pole 3 touching the ground. The semi-contactor 5 can be circular and attached to the pole 3 with a snap mechanism. The semi-contactor 5 is placed at a higher level compared to the contactor 4, so when the cane is held upright, only the contactor 4 makes contact with the ground. The semi-contactor 5 can also limit the amount of contraction of the cane when a large force is applied, by bringing stability to the cane when contact is made.

The cane can be made from metal, plastic, or wood. An example of a metal is aluminum. In one embodiment, the cane is made from a material that allows for some flexibility to cushion the blow. The material may not be completely rigid, but have the capability of moving 0.1 mm to 2 cm.

The cane can be made in such a way that the bottom 3 inches of the pole 3 are below a 45 degrees line drawn from the further point of the contactor 4 touching the ground.

FIG. 2 illustrates the cane in a backwards position where contact mis made in a portion before the bottom tip of the cane. The cane has a semi-contactor that provides additional stability during walking. The semi-contactor 5 touches the ground when the pole is in a backward direction. The semi-contactor 5 is positioned on a curved portion of the pole behind the contactor. The semi-contactor 5 can be 1 to 6 inches above the ground when the cane is in an upright position.

FIG. 3 illustrates the vertical flexibility of the cane. The vertical flexibility of the cane is minimal, and less than an inch, such as less than half an inch. The S-shaped cane slightly moves as a result of vertical force applied by the weights of the user.

FIG. 4 illustrates an arm resting on the handle 1 portion of the cane in a sitting position. The long and straight handle allows a user to rest his arm on the handle 1 of the cane during sitting, and use the handle to go for a sitting position to an upright position.

REFERENCES

• 1. Handle
• 2. Adjuster
• 3. Pole
• 4. Contactor
• 5. Semi-contactor

Claims

1. A cane for walking comprising: a. a handle;b. a pole having a curve configured for contact with a ground, the pole attached to the handle wherein the handle has at least a portion (as viewed from a top of the cane) with an orientation that is above the horizontal in direction of walking in such configuration that minimizes a person bending a wrist to hold the handle.

2. The cane of claim 1, wherein the top of the handle is straight.

3. The cane of claim 1, wherein at least 50% of a length of the handle points upwardly.

4. The cane of claim 3, wherein the handle is straight for at least three inches, and configured to allow an arm to rest on the handle in a sitting position.

5. The cane of claim 1, wherein the handle is configured to allow an arm to rest on the handle in a sitting position.

6. The cane of claim 1, wherein the entire length of the handle points upwardly.

7. The cane of claim 1, wherein the pole is S-shaped.

8. The cane of claim 1, wherein the pole has an upper and a lower portion, and the pole curves backwardly in the upper portion.

9. The cane of claim 1, further comprising a contactor on a bottom of the pole configured for contacting a ground.

10. The cane of claim 8, further comprising a semi-contactor configured to contact the ground during walking.

11. The cane of claim 1, wherein the pole curves at a point of attachment to the handle, with front of the curve pointing forward.

12. The cane of claim 1, wherein the handle points upwardly at an angle of 5 degrees to 45 degrees.

13. The cane of claim 1, wherein the cane exhibits flexibility in a vertical direction.

14. A cane for walking comprising: a. a handle;b. a pole;c. a contactor on a bottom of the pole configured to make contact with the ground; andd. a semi-contactor configured to make contact with the ground when the cane is a backward position.

15. The cane of claim 14, wherein the handle is straight for at least a length of three inches.

16. The cane of claim 14, wherein the pole has at least a curved portion.

17. The cane of claim 14, wherein the pole is S-shaped.

18. A cane for walking comprising: a. a handle with a straight portion configured to allow an arm to rest on the handle in a sitting position;b. an S-shaped pole;c. a contactor on a bottom of the pole configured to make contact with the ground.

19. The cane of claim 18, wherein the entire length of the handle (as viewed from top of the cane) points upwardly.

20. The cane of claim 19, wherein the handle points upwardly at an angle of 5 degrees to 45 degrees.