Handy hand walking cane

Abstract

A walking instrument is provided consisting of a shaft, a clamping mechanism and a gripping mechanism. The shaft consists of a top portion and a bottom portion. The clamping mechanism is connected to the top portion of the shaft and allows the user to attach said walking instrument to a fixed object. The gripping mechanism is connected to bottom portion of the shaft and allows the user to grasp an object.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention generally relates to walking instruments, and more particularly to a walking instrument that enables the user to pick up items that may be in his or her way, and that also allows the user to attach the walking instrument to a fixed object so that is easy to reach when the time comes to use it again.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Unfortunately, many people need the use of walking instruments to get around. Typically, those that need the use of said instruments are elderly, or suffer from some other physical ailment that inhibits their ability to walk, much less bend over.

Imagine for instance, walking into a store or restaurant and dropping something on the floor. Or imagine getting to your desired destination with the help of your walking instrument, and as you are sitting down, the instrument crashes to the floor and the user is unable to pick it up.

Accordingly, it would appreciated that it would be highly desirable to have a device that allows the user to pick up items without having to bend over, a device that attaches to a fixed object so that it is easy to retrieve, and that can still function as a walking instrument.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to one aspect of the invention, a walking instrument having a shaft, a clamping means connected to the top end of the shaft, and a gripping means connected to the bottom end of said shaft.

These and other aspects, objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, as well as by reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of a preferred embodiment of a walking instrument according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the similar to FIG. 1, but with portions cut away illustrating the mechanism by which the preferred embodiments are constructed.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, but illustrating another preferred embodiment of a walking instrument construed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrating another preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, in which like elements throughout the several figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a walking instrument 10 that has a shaft 12 that is connected to a handle 14 on one end, and a stopper 16 at the other end. The walking instrument 10 includes a clamping apparatus 18 attached to the shaft 12. The clamping apparatus 18, consists of a top member 20 and a bottom member 22. The top member 20 is attached to the shaft 12 and is able to slide up and down relative to the shaft 12. The top member 20 also consists of first and second openings 24a-b, defining a handhold 23 of sufficient size so as to enable the user's fingers to pass through them. The bottom member 22 is also connected to said shaft 12, and is stationary. The shaft 12 has a vertical slot 21 wherein the top member 20 is able to slide. The walking instrument 10 also includes a gripping apparatus 26 connected to the shaft 12. The gripping apparatus includes a hook 28 also connected to shaft 12.

Referring to FIG. 2, the handle 14 is connected to the upper end of the shaft 12. The handle 14 is located above the top member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18, and more particularly, above the handhold 23 so as to enable the user to use the walking instrument with one hand. A coil spring 15 is housed inside the shaft 12 and is connected to the bottom portion of the handle 14 and the upper portion of the top member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18. The location of the coil spring 15 allows the top member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18 to move towards or away from the bottom member 22 of the clamping apparatus. Inside the shaft 12, there exists a rod 30, which connects the clamping apparatus 18 to the gripping apparatus 26. The upper end of the rod 30 is connected to the top member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18. The lower end of the rod 30 is connected to the gripping apparatus 26. The lower end of the hook 28, shown here in the resting position, of the grappling apparatus 26, contains several notched ends at its terminus 32a-c which coincide with complimentary notched ends 34a-c located inside the shaft 12. The complimentary notched ends 34a-c are also connected to the rod 30.

Referring to FIG. 3 a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated wherein the user places his or her hand on the handle 14 and places two fingers into the first and second openings 24a-b, of the handhold 23 located on the top member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18. As the user pulls up with his or her two fingers, the top member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18, separates from the bottom member 22 of the clamping apparatus and slides upward along the vertical slot 21. The upward pulling motion also causes the spring 15 to coil. The continued upward motion also causes the rod 30, contained inside the shaft 12 to pull upwards as well. As the rod 30 pulls upward, the notched ends 34a-c, connected to the lower end of the rod 30, latch into the complimentary notched ends of the terminus ends 32a-h of the hook 28, causing the hook 28 to be pulled down towards the stopper 16.

Referring to FIG. 4, another preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated wherein the user places his or her two fingers in the first and second openings 24a-b of the handhold 23, located on the top member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18, and has pulled in an upward position as illustrated in FIG. 3. The top member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18 is pulled away from the stationary bottom member 22 of the clamping apparatus 18, allowing the walking instrument 10 to attach to a fixed object 38 such as a table as illustrated. The walking instrument 10 is held in place by the top member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18 affixing to the upper side 44 of the fixed object 38, and the stationary bottom member 22 of the clamping apparatus 18 affixing to the lower side 46 of the fixed object 38. To retrieve the walking instrument 10 away from the fixed object 38, the user places his her fingers in the first and second openings 24a-b of the handhold 23 located on the top member 20 of the clamping apparatus 18 and pulls upward and away from the fixed object 38.

Claims

1. A walking instrument, comprising: a shaft having a top end portion and a bottom end portion;a clamping mechanism connected to said top end portion of said shaft and adapted to attach said walking instrument to a fixed object; anda gripping mechanism connected to said bottom end of said shaft and adapted to grasp an object.

2. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said clamping mechanism includes a top member having a first and second opening defining a hand hold and being slidably movable relative to said shaft, and a stationary bottom member.

3. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said shaft has a vertical slot and said top member slides in said slot.

4. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first handhold opening protrudes from a first side of said shaft and said second handhold protrudes from a second side of said shaft.

5. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 2, including a coil spring in said shaft above said top member biasing said top member toward said bottom member.

6. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 2 including a handle on said top end of said shaft above said handhold so that a user can grasp said handle and said handhold with one hand.

7. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 1 wherein said gripping mechanism includes a hook adapted to grasp an object and a rod coupled to said hook.

8. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 7 wherein said rod moves up and down in said shaft and said hook moves between a closed position and an open position.

9. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 7 wherein said rod is inside said shaft.

10. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 7 wherein said rod is connected to said clamping mechanism.

11. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said rod couples said clamping mechanism with said gripping mechanism.

12. A walking instrument, as set forth in claim 7 wherein said hook includes a series of notched ends.

13. A walking instrument comprising: a shaft having a top end portion and a bottom end portion; anda clamping mechanism connected to said top end portion of said shaft and adapted to attach said walking instrument to a fixed object.

14. A walking instrument as set forth in claim 13 wherein said clamping mechanism includes a top member having a first and second opening defining a handhold and being slidably movable relative to said shaft, and a stationary bottom member.

15. A walking instrument as set forth in claim 13 wherein said shaft has a vertical slot and said top member slides in said slot and wherein said first handhold opening protrudes from a first side of said shaft and said second handhold protrudes from a second side of said shaft.

16. A walking instrument as set forth in claim 13 including a coil spring in said shaft above said top member biasing said top member toward said bottom member and including a handle on said top end of said shaft above said handhold so that a user can grasp said handle and said handhold with one hand.

17. A walking instrument comprising: a shaft having a top end portion and a bottom end portion; anda gripping mechanism connected to said bottom end of said shaft and adapted to grasp a movable object.

18. A walking instrument as set forth in claim 17, wherein said gripping mechanism includes a hook adapted to grasp an object and a rod coupled to said hook and wherein said rod moves up and down inside said shaft and said hook moves between an open and closed position.

19. A walking instrument as set forth in claim 17 wherein said rod is inside said shaft and said rod is connected to said clamping mechanism.

20. A walking instrument as set forth in claim 17 wherein said rod couples said clamping mechanism with said gripping mechanism.