HANGING CANE APPARATUS

Abstract

A cane-hanging apparatus is provided. The cane-hanging apparatus enables hanging a cane from an elevated supporting or hanging surface so as to keep the cane off the ground when not being held. The cane-hanging apparatus is a V-shaped apparatus partially covered by gripping material. The cane-hanging apparatus extends radially from a predetermined protrusion point along the cane at a downwardly angle so as to facilitate the frictional engagement and securement between the cane-hanging apparatus and the hanging surface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to canes and, more particularly, a hanging cane apparatus for supporting an unused cane off the ground.

Those who utilize a cane must confront the problem of what to do with their cane when they need to use their hands, like at a checkout, for example. Currently, apparatus for standing canes upright add substantial weight to the cane and are much more obtrusive in their appearance, which draw's unwanted attention. Typically, these devices achieve their goal by balancing the cane on the floor which still can be tripped over or knocked down by the owner or anybody in the area.

As can be seen, there is a need for an inconspicuous, light-weight cane-hanging apparatus enabling the cane to hang from a supporting surface, such as a counter shelve or table, out of the way without becoming a tripping hazard, and freeing up the user's hands without having to lean the cane against something, where it would more often than not slide and fall to the floor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a cane-hanging apparatus includes two prongs defining a planar V-shape, wherein each prong has a diameter of approximately 0.1 inch and extends for approximately two to three inches; a gripping material encasing a distal portion of each prong; and a connector for attaching the two prongs to a cane so that the two prongs extend generally radially therefrom.

In another aspect of the present invention, a cane hanging system includes a cane extending from a bottom end to a handle, wherein the handle extends radially from the cane in a predetermined direction; a cane-hanging apparatus having two prongs defining a planar V-shape, wherein each prong has a diameter of approximately 0.1 inch and extends for approximately two to three inches; and a gripping material encasing a distal portion of each prong; and a connector attaching the two prongs to the cane along a length of the cane at a predetermined protrusion point seven-ninths from the bottom end so that the two prongs extend generally radially therefrom in the predetermined direction, and wherein the two prongs extend at a downwardly angle of approximately eighty to eighty-five degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the cane.

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 perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use; and

FIG. 4 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 4-4 in 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.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the use of directional terms such as upper, lower, upward, downwardly, top and the like are used in relation to the illustrative embodiments as they are depicted in the figures, the upward direction (or upper) being toward the top of the corresponding figures and a downward direction being toward the bottom of the corresponding figure.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a cane-hanging apparatus for hanging a cane from an elevated supporting or hanging surface so as to keep the cane off the ground when not being held. The cane-hanging apparatus is a V-shaped apparatus partially covered by gripping materiel. The cane-hanging apparatus extends radially from a predetermined protrusion point along the cane at a downwardly angle so as to facilitate the frictional engagement and securement between the cane-hanging apparatus and the hanging surface.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the present invention is a cane-hanging apparatus 30 for hanging a cane 10 from an elevated supporting or hanging surface 26. The cane 10 may be a variety of materials and generally be an elongated member extending from a handle 22 at one end to an anti-slip tip 24 on an opposing end. The handle 22 extends radially from an end of the cane 10 in a predetermined direction.

The cane-hanging apparatus 30 may be a V-shape prong or two prongs 12 and 16 defining a V-shape. The prong(s) may be any suitable material for supporting the weight of the cane 10. In certain embodiments, each prong may be 0.10″ cold rolled steel wire bent to form a V-shape, wherein each prong 12 and 16 extends from approximately two inches from the cane 10. Each prong prongs 12 and 16 may be at least partially enveloped by a gripping material 14 and 18, respectively. The gripping material 14 and 18 may be rubber or any other suitable material providing non-slip engagement with the hanging surface 26, as well as prevent scratching thereto. For example, the gripping material 14 and 18 may be a coating of a rubberized compound, a sleeve of material having a suitably high friction coefficient, or other configurations to envelope the distal portions of the prongs 12 and 16.

The cane-hanging apparatus 30 may be attached to the cane 10 by a connector 20 so as to generally radially extend from a perimeter of the cane 10. The cane-hanging apparatus 30 may protrude from the cane 10 at a protrusion point 50 approximately 8″ below the handle 22 for an approximately 36″ cane 10. In other embodiments, the cane-hanging apparatus 30 is disposed at the protrusion point 50 approximately two-ninths of the length of the cane 10 from the handle 22. The cane-hanging apparatus 30 may be oriented to extend in the same predetermined direction as the handle 22. The cane-hanging apparatus 30 may be oriented at a downwardly angle 40 of approximately eighty-five to eighty degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the cane 10.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The cane-hanging apparatus 30 disclosed above may be provided and connected to a cane 10. A cane user 10, when temporarily no longer in need of the use of the cane 10 may turn it 180 degrees from the normal walking position and hang the cane-hanging apparatus 30 on the hanging surface 26. The prong covers 14 and 18 provide two spaced-apart engagement points between the apparatus 30 and the surface 26, whereat the non-slip, friction coefficient of the prong covers/gripping material 14 and 18 prevent the apparatus from slipping from the surface 26. This is critical because of the protrusion point 50 and the downwardly angle 40 enable the cane 10 to be supported in an angle of repose, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The angle of repose may be approximately the same as or complementary to the downwardly angle 40 but relative to the direction of gravity. The gravity-urged overturning of the angle of repose may be partially counterbalanced by the mass and the predetermined direction of the handle 22. Thereby the inconspicuous two-inch V-shaped cane-hanging apparatus 30 enables the user to hang the cane 10 from the hanging surface 26 so as to free up their hands as well has the floor space so that the cane 10 is out of the way without the fear for the cane 10 falling to the floor, which could be difficult for the user to retrieve.

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 present invention.

Claims

1. A cane-hanging apparatus, comprising: two prongs defining a planar V-shape, wherein each prong has a diameter of approximately 0.1 inch and extends for approximately two to three inches;a gripping material encasing a distal portion of each prong; anda connector for attaching the two prongs to a cane so that the two prongs extend generally radially therefrom.

2. The cane-hanging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two prongs extend at a downwardly angle of approximately eighty to eighty-five degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the cane.

3. A cane-hanging system, comprising: a cane extending from a bottom end to a handle, wherein the handle extends radially from the cane in a predetermined direction;a cane-hanging apparatus, comprising: two prongs defining a planar V-shape, wherein each prong has a diameter of approximately 0.1 inch and extends for approximately two to three inches; anda gripping material encasing a distal portion of each prong; anda connector attaching the two prongs to the cane so that the two prongs extend generally radially therefrom in the predetermined direction.

4. The cane-hanging system of claim 3, wherein the two prongs extend at a downwardly angle of approximately eighty to eighty-five degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the cane.

5. The cane-hanging system of claim 3, wherein the cane-hanging apparatus is disposed along the cane at a predetermined protrusion point between the bottom end and the handle.

6. The cane-hanging system of claim 5, wherein the predetermined protrusion point is disposed approximately seven-ninths of a length of the cane from the bottom end.

7. A cane-hanging system, comprising: a cane extending from a bottom end to a handle, wherein the handle extends radially from the cane in a predetermined direction;a cane-hanging apparatus, comprising: two prongs defining a planar V-shape, wherein each prong has a diameter of approximately 0.1 inch and extends for approximately two to three inches; anda gripping material encasing a distal portion of each prong; anda connector attaching the two prongs to the cane along a length of the cane at a predetermined protrusion point seven-ninths from the bottom end so that the two prongs extend generally radially therefrom in the predetermined direction, and wherein the two prongs extend at a downwardly angle of approximately eighty to eighty-five degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the cane.