Patent Application
20220142311
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
This disclosure relates generally to a walking cane to assist in mobility, and more particularly to a walking cane having a light activated by motion and low light conditions.
Assistive mobility devices, including walking canes, are well known as a useful means to assist mobility impaired individuals. As life expectancy increases over the decades the mobility-impaired population increases much faster than the general population, creating greater demand for walking aids. Also, in many instances, older individuals may have reduced visual acuity, including reduced night vision capacity. Also, older individuals in low light or dark areas attempting to walk with or without a walking aid, can become disoriented, walk into objects or lose balance as a result of poor low-light vision. In each of these instances, the chances are increased that an individual may be involved in a fall or other event resulting in injury. As such, there is a growing demand for improved walking aid devices such as walking canes and also for devices that provide improved pathway lighting for individuals in dark or poorly lighted areas in their homes or elsewhere.
Walking canes having lights are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 10,258,119 issued Apr. 16, 2019 to Cox entitled Cane With LED Lights discloses a walking cane with strands of LED lights coiled around a cane, wherein the lights are activated by a switch, the substance of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Likewise, walking assistive devices having lights are disclosed in: U.S. Pat. No. 9,877,553 issued Jan. 30, 2018 to Zimmerman entitled Auto Illuminating Walking assistant; and U.S. Pat. No. 10,186,129 issued Jan. 22, 2019 to Hood entitled Locomotion Safety and Health Assistant, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
All patents and publications referenced herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
The inventive subject matter described herein demonstrates a walking cane having an onboard lighting system that automatically activates upon movement of the walking cane when an on-board sensor detects low light conditions.
The disclosed embodiments of the walking cane may assist persons that use walking aid devices and the device uses an on-board night light that activates automatically when the cane is moved provided an on-board sensor determines a low light condition. The embodiments of the disclosed cane will aid seniors or other mobility impaired individuals who need to move about at night with a cane. The on-board light is attached to the ergonomically formed cane head having a front face directed forward to light a walking path. The on-board light such as an LED light or other illumination source is powered by an on-board battery and attaches to the front face of the cane where the front face may have a steel surface, and the light is releasably connected to the face via a magnet, an adhesive pad or other attachment mechanism such as a hook and loop type attachment.
The cane also has an on-board ambient light sensor to determine the existence of low light conditions in the immediate environment. In addition, the cane has a touch sensor or movement sensor. As such, the light automatically activates upon both sensor conditions being met. For example, if the cane is touched or moved and the environment is sensed as a low light condition, the illumination source is activated.
The disclosed device demonstrates a walking cane having an elongate support shaft with a proximal end with a handle attached for the user to grip and a distal end having a rubber foot. The handle member is ergonomically shaped and includes a front face projecting forward and at a downward angle. The front face includes a steel surface to engage a magnet attached to the rear of an LED light illumination source. Due to the magnet attached to the LED light and the steel surface of the front face of the handle, the LED light is removably attachable to the front face of the handle. Removal and attachment of the LED light to the cane is advantageous as the LED light may be charged via a power port such as a USB or USB-C port, and the light can be removed to recharge an internal rechargeable battery. Also, the LED light may be easily removed and replaced. In one embodiment, the steel surface includes raised edges to prevent slippage of the LED light from becoming detached from the cane handle during normal usage. In other embodiments, the LED light may be attached to the cane handle via adhesive or hook and loop fasteners.
The LED light includes both a motion sensor and ambient light sensor. The LED light is activated upon the motion sensor detecting movement of the cane and upon the ambient light sensor detecting low light conditions. For example, in normal lighting conditions, the LED light would remain inactivated when there is movement of the cane. Also, in low light conditions, when the ambient light sensor detects low light conditions, the LED light would remain inactivated without movement of the cane. The LED light is activated upon both the motion and ambient light sensors detecting movement and low light conditions respectively. In this way the LED light remains inactive to conserve battery and to avoid being lighted in a dark room when the cane is not in use, or when there is ample ambient light. Upon cessation of motion, or light levels reaching normal lighting conditions the light deactivates. For example in operation, a user can leave the cane near their bedside and upon waking to use the bathroom, upon grasping and moving the cane, if the room is dark, the LED light would activate, directing light toward the walking surface to aid the user to navigate a dark room. Upon returning to bed, the user can park the cane near the bedside again, and upon cessation of movement, the LED light would deactivate so as to not keep the user awake by unwanted light.
Further benefits and advantages of the disclosed device will become apparent after careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of certain embodiments of a walking cane having a light with sensors and/or related method and is not intended to represent the only forms that may be developed or utilized. The description sets forth the various structure and/or functions in connection with the illustrated embodiments, but it is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent structure and/or functions may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure. It is further understood that the use of relational terms such as first and second, and the like are used solely to distinguish one entity from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities.
The background, summary and the description herein includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed inventive subject matter, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
In some embodiments, the numbers expressing dimensions, quantities, quantiles of ingredients, properties of materials, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the disclosure are to be understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the disclosure are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the disclose may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.
As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term “coupled to” is intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are used synonymously.
Unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their endpoints, and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to include commercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of values should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the context indicates the contrary.
The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the claimed inventive subject matter. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the inventive subject matter.
Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.
The following discussion provides many example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed. Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.
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A cane head 18 is attached to the shaft 4. The cane head 18 is formed from strong rigid plastic or composite plastic, although it is contemplated by this disclosure the cane head may be formed of any suitable strong rigid material such as PVC, wood or metal. The cane head 18 comprises a vertical grip 20 and a horizontal grip 22. Although the terms horizontal and vertical are used to describe grips 20 and 22, the grips may not be completely horizontal or vertical as can be seen and disclosed in the drawings. A user may grasp the vertical grip 20 to use the cane 2 more like a walking stick, or the user may grasp the horizontal grip 22 to place more weight on the cane 2 to use the cane 2 more as a traditionally fashioned cane. The vertical grip 20 may include a lip 24 at the base of the cane head 18 to prevent slippage of a hand from the grip 20 during use. The cane head 18 horizontal grip 22 includes a forward protrusion 26 angled downwardly. The protrusion 26 includes a circular forward face 28 (shown in
The LED light 30 or illumination source light includes both a motion sensor and ambient light sensor. The LED light 30 is activated upon the motion sensor detecting movement of the cane and upon the ambient light sensor detecting low light conditions. For example, in normal lighting conditions, the LED light 30 remains inactivated when there is movement of the cane. Also, in low light conditions, when the ambient light sensor detects low light conditions, the LED light would remain inactivated without movement of the cane. The LED light is activated upon both the motion and ambient light sensors detecting movement and low light conditions respectively. In this way the LED light 30 remains inactive to conserve battery when the cane is not in use, or when there is ample ambient light. Chart 1 shown below shows the different states of the LED light 30 in correspondence with the two sensors.
An advantage of the use of an automatically activated light is important to avoid having to find and activate a switch in the dark, for example. Upon cessation of motion, or light levels reaching normal lighting conditions the light 30 deactivates. For example, in operation, at night a user can leave the cane 2 near their bedside and upon rising from bed to use the restroom, upon grasping and moving the cane 2, if the room is dark, the LED light 30 would active directing light toward the walking surface to aid the user to navigate a dark room. Upon returning to bed, the user can park the cane 2 near the bedside again, and upon cessation of movement, the LED light 30 would deactivate so as to not keep the user awake with unwanted light. The timing of the deactivation of light after cessation of movement is approximately thirty (30) seconds, however, any suitable time delay may be used, or the immediate deactivation of the light upon non-movement is contemplated by the disclosure.
The LED light 30 or illumination source may comprise the rechargeable Portable LED Night Light model No. BT-PK-25 manufactured by Shenzhen Bestto Technology, Co. Ltd. of Shiyan Town, China. The LED light 30 may be a circular shape formed by a circular housing 31 having dimensions of approximately 52 mm in Diameter. An LED 33 is positioned in the center of the housing to direct light outwardly through a diffuser 35 positioned around the LED 33. The DC input voltage of the LED light 30 is provided by an internal rechargeable battery is 5V DC. The illumination source LED light 30 may be rechargeable via a power port 32 such as USB or USB-C port. Although the LED light 30 is shown using a power port 32 for charging a battery (not shown) it is contemplated that the internal battery could be charged by induction coil. Also, a replaceable battery such as coin cell batter may be used. The motion sensor of the LED light is an infrared induction light that senses movement of the cane 2 via infrared signal. It is also contemplated that an accelerometer or other like sensors may be used for detecting motion. The ambient light sensor may be a light dependent resistor (LDR) or photo resistor or any other applicable sensor that is capable of sending a signal to indicate low light conditions. The LED light 30 may also have an onboard controller (not shown) that receives signals from both the motion sensor and ambient light sensor to determine whether to activate the LED of the light 30 and to send a signal to active and provide power from the battery (not shown). The disclosure contemplates use of white LED light illuminated from the light 30, however, any color LED light may be used.
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The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the disclosure herein, including structures, assemblies and way of fabricating the disclosed embodiments of the walking cane. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.
