Patent Application
20140240963
Not Applicable.
This invention relates to improvements in internally housed grasping assemblies and/or assisted walking apparatuses for individuals with disabilities or as a tool for those in need of physical assistance during the rehabilitation process.
Individuals needing physical assistance often rely on walking canes or other tools to help them accomplish movement from one place to another and the grasping of objects and items that are out of a comfortable reach. Canes are necessary to avoid extensive flexing of the legs, hip, torso, or other areas during gait. Reaching devices are necessary to prevent strain on areas of the body where a user is experiencing pain or physical discomfort. Moreover, grasping and reaching devices are useful to also avoid extensive flexing of certain muscles including the legs, hip, torso, arms, or other areas of the body. When an individual is recovering from an intensive surgery such as hip surgery or knee surgery they often require both a walking cane and reaching device to assist them. Use of multiple bulky devices during the recovery process that are difficult to transport can be highly inconvenient and can reduce mobility.
In order to resolve the problems associated with requiring physical assistance, mechanical devices have been developed to assist those who need help reaching and/or grasping items while minimally stressing certain muscle groups. In most cases, these items comprise a shaft, a handle with a actuator to extend or retract an externally placed grasping device with fingers located at the distal end of the cane shaft, and a plurality of fingers or clamps, used to grasp items when the user applies pressure to the actuator mechanism. Because the actuator and clamp components are interconnected, the clamps open or close based on the pressure applied to the actuator by the user when reaching for objects. However, these mechanical devices are not useful for tasks such as walking because they are intended for grabbing items. For those in need, carrying multiple devices to assist them with the daily functions of life is inconvenient and burdensome.
Some devices have attempted to combine a walking aid device and grasping device with unsatisfactory results. These combinations are not only complex to manufacture, but are also challenging for users to operate efficiently, and they are prone to breakage. In Elmore, U.S. Pat. No. 3,591,226, a gripping device is disclosed with a shoehorn placed at the distal end of the device to assist with fitting into a shoe. The gripping device is activated through a trigger or actuator and a cable housed internally that attaches to an externally placed grasping arm. The shoehorn component also assists with the effectiveness of the grasping components by acting as a base. This device however is not intended to provide assistance while walking, but rather it is a device used to assist with grasping items that are out of reach.
Placement of the mechanical functionality and grasping components external to the shaft increases the likelihood that one of those components could be damaged during regular use. It would be an improvement to find a way to internally house the grasping components and any cabling between the grasping components and actuator within the shaft of the cane without reducing the ability to support an individual during gait.
Multi-functional grabbing devices frequently place the grasping mechanics on the periphery of the device, increasing the likelihood that some components will break, reducing the overall functionality of the device. See Snyder, U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,985, Lapere, U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,234, Morton et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,490, and Blake, U.S. Pat. No. 7,624,746.
Moreover, external placement of the grasping components can undermine the structural integrity of a cane device, making it more likely that an individual will have an accident because there are more areas for an object to become attached and stuck to the cane or grabber components during use as a walking aid. Placement of grasping components around the periphery of the walking aid can result in an increased risk of falling or tearing of an object caught up in the grasping components.
Unlike devices in the prior art, placement of the grasping components internal to the shaft reduces the likelihood that the grasping assembly will become damaged during regular use. Partially internal grasping components on walking assistance devices in the prior art are intended for specific tasks such as picking up golf balls and are not perfected for more general use. Berkowitz, U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,303. The present invention increases the ability of a user to pick up out of reach objects generally using the internally placed grasping members. The present invention also allows a user to conceal and lock or activate the internally placed grasping members at their convenience.
Thus, there is a need for a multifunctional safe and convenient retractable concealed grasping apparatus that can also be used to assist with walking, and other added functions that overcomes the present limitations of devices in the prior art. The present invention accomplishes this and several other goals.
The goal and object of the present invention is to provide an improved internally housed grasping assembly that can be accessed via an actuator on the handle of the device.
In the primary embodiment of the present invention, the shaft is hollowed out with a bore throughout. A flexible elongated connecting component with ends, such as a cable, is secured to an actuator component near the proximal end of the shaft and one or more grasping members at the distal end. When in an “open” configuration, applying grasping pressure to the actuator pulls the grasping members toward one another and creates a “grip” that can be used to reach objects that may be difficult for the user.
The present device is intended to be simple as well as inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. Based on the design by the inventor for the present device, the invention is also intended to provide a simplified device for accomplishing the tasks of assistance with gait and improved reaching and grasping capabilities for out of reach objects.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-functional grasping assistance device that can also support the body weight of an individual to improve safety.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that reduces physical stress on the hips and knees of a user when having to bend over or reach to pick up objects.
Finally, it is an object of the present invention to disclose a reaching device that is symmetrical along a longitudinal axis passing through a shaft component.
Embodiments will include one, more, or any combination of all of the features listed above.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and illustrations, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below in the accompanying Figures. The following detailed description provides detailed schematics for a thorough understanding of and an enabling description for these embodiments. One having ordinary skill in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without certain details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.
In
The cane handle 30 is contemplated to be one or more surfaces arranged perpendicular to the shaft 20 curved into an inverted J shape that may be curved or straight that also includes a base that connects the handle to the proximal end of the shaft 20. In one embodiment the handle 30 is separated longitudinally into two symmetrical handle components 38a and 38b wherein the actuator 31 is placed between the two handle components 38a and 38b.
The handle 30 is designed so that it can be held or grasped by an individual hand for use as a cane or a grabbing device. One or more center components 37 are used to provide continuity across the surface of the handle 30 based on the additional elements that contribute to the improved functionality. The center component 37 is placed between the symmetrically arranged handle components 38a and 38b and fastened together via one or more fastening means such as one or more screws, bolts, pins, or other articles used to fasten items together at multiple points. When placed together with the center component 37, the symmetrically arranged handle components 38a and 38b also form a base section that includes a port to receive the shaft 20 that attaches via internal threading 36 placed on the ventral side of the handle 30. The proximal end 20a of the shaft 20 features external threading 21 designed to interface with the internal threading 36 of the handle 30 and secure the handle 30 to the shaft 20.
The actuator 31 is designed so that in the open configuration, when upward force is applied it moves from a released resting point furthest away from the handle 30 to an actuating point closest to the handle 30. The actuator 31 is located along the dorsal side of the grabbing area 32 near the base of the handle 30 so that a user can grip the actuator 31 and pull it inwards to activate the grabbing functionality.
When the device is in use and the shaft 20 is further away from the user's limbs, the hanging tip 39 is located at the posterior end of the grabbing area 32 of the handle 30. The hanging tip 39 allows a user to hang the device from one or more planar surface edges, such as a counter-top or a desk. Once the device is suspended from a surface via the hanging tip 39, the resting of the hanging tip 39 prevents the invention from dislodgment from a surface.
The device handle 30 also includes the locking pin 35 that restricts or permits movement of the actuator 31 by securing or unsecuring the locking pin 35. The locking pin 35 is in the closed configuration when pressed fully toward the handle 30. The locking pin 35 prevents the user from applying pressure to the actuator 31 when moved toward the handle 30. When the locking pin 35 is in the closed configuration, the actuator 31 cannot be activated and the grasping functionality of the cane is not available because the locking pin prevents upward movement of the actuator when upward pressure is applied.
When placing the locking pin 35 in the open configuration, the full grasping functionality is available to a user via the actuator 31 because the unlocking of the locking pin 35 frees up the the actuator 31 so it can move upward or downward. A user can place the walking device into the open configuration by pressing the locking pin 35 away from the handle 30. If the locking pin 35 is placed into the open configuration, the user can grasp one or more items via the grasping members 51 located at the distal end 20b of the shaft 20 by applying upward force on the actuator 31 toward the handle 30. The internally placed cable 41 has additional flexibility when the locking pin 35 is in the open configuration, which allows a user to pull the grasping members 51 inward toward the shaft 20 to create the grasping functionality. To maintain an object within the grasping members 51 a user should apply a continuous amount of pressure to the actuator 31. If a user disengages pressure from the actuator 31, the grasping members 51 will automatically move outward and away from one another, reducing the grip on an object.
The internal portion of the actuator 31 also includes an opening 31a that secures the proximal end 41a of the cable to the actuator 31. Once a user applies force to the actuator 31 with the cable 41 attached to the actuator opening 31a, the actuator 31 lifts the linkage assembly 40 upward via the cable 41. The resulting convergence of the connected grasping members 51 creates a “grip” around an object and the object as the grasping members 51 are pulled upward into the shaft 20.
To secure the walking device into the closed configuration from the open configuration, a user must fully engage the actuator 31 and then push the locking pin 35 toward the handle 30. Once in the closed configuration, the grasping members 51 will not mechanically protrude outward from the shaft 20 and will remain internal to the hollowed portion 28. The device will resemble a traditional walking aid in the closed configuration. The locking pin 35 will not move into the closed configuration unless the actuator 31 is fully engaged. When in the closed configuration, the actuator 31 will not engage at all until the locking pin 35 has been unsecured.
The linkage assembly 40 of the present invention facilitates and transmits the motion of the actuator component to the grasping member housing 50. The linkage assembly 40 includes one or more couplings 45 attached near the proximal end 41a of the cable 41 that connects to a port 31a in the actuator 31 and is attached at the opposite distal end 41b via the that fastens to the grasping member housing 50. The cable 41 is placed within the internal hollow portion 28 of the cane shaft 20 from the proximal 20a to the distal end 20b. The opening 31a on the actuator 31 attaches to the proximal end 41a of the cable 41, while the distal end 41b attaches to a holder 42 that is part of the grasping member housing 50.
The inventor contemplates any number of materials to construct the cable 41. Various materials contemplated by the inventor include coated or uncoated metals that provide durability and resistance such as stainless steel or aluminum. Advantageously, a non-elastic material would be exemplary as a cable 41 so that stretching and compression is minimized. By reducing or eliminating stretching and compression, the force applied by the user to the actuator 31 directly relates to the grasping force that is transferred to the grasping members 51.
It is conceived that the handle 30 can be interchangeable via the internal threading 36 located at the bottom of the handle 30 so that the internal grasping assembly can be used with a completely different handle 30. Different handles contemplated by the inventor include a D-shaped handle wherein the locking pin 35 and actuator 31 are placed along the even portion of the handle 30. Alternate handle 30 designs contemplated by the inventor include those shaped like various animals and other objects that may serve to be appealing for an improved walking device.
Shown in
In both
Immediately between the equatorial center of the shaft 20 to the distal end 20b is a stopping component 25 affixed internally and a tension spring 29 placed along the inner shaft 28 that prevents the linkage assembly 40 from being pulled upward beyond the stopping component 25. The stopping component 25 includes a center port 27 to thread a cable 41 toward the proximal end of the shaft 20a and the handle 30. Numerous materials are contemplated by the inventor for the shaft 20, including acrylic plastic, metals, wood, and other materials that can be hollowed and that can also support the weight of a human.
The grasping member housing 50 comprises the holder 42, a bolt 44, and the grasping members 51. The grasping members 51 comprise one or more conical components 52 with semi-circular ferrules 56 divided equally along a longitudinal axis designed to fit into the distal end of the shaft 20b when in the closed configuration and protrude outward when in the open configuration. In the ideal embodiment, the internal conical components 52 of the grasping members 51 are serrated 55 to improve grabbing functionality.
The holder 42 is shaped to fit into the inner shaft 28 below the stopping component 25 and tension spring 29, and includes an opening 43 at the distal end to receive the proximal ends of the grasping members 51. The holder 42 secures the grasping members 51 at the apex of the conical components 52 via a bolt 44 or other locking mechanism and a port 43 in the holder 42. The holder 42 also includes a means to couple the distal end of the cable 41 to the grasping members 51. Once the proximal end 41a of the cable is attached via the coupling and the distal end 41b of the cable is attached to the holder 42, a user can activate the improved grasping functionality of the present invention by placing the locking pin 35 in the open configuration and application of grasping force to the actuator 31. Between the grasping members 51 is an inner spring 54 that compresses when grasping objects.
When the device is in the closed configuration, the grasping members 51 are concealed and rest against one another inside the shaft 20 until placed into the open configuration. Once the device is placed into the open configuration, the grasping members 51 mechanically extend outward as far as allowed by the cable 41 and the bolt 44 from the distal end 20b of the shaft and away from one another so that they can be used to grasp one or more objects. As explained previously, once force is applied to the actuator 31, the grasping members 51 move inward toward the proximal end 20a of the shaft 20 and toward one another, creating the ability to grip one or more objects away from grabbing distance of the user.
In the open configuration, the grasping members 51 protrude outward from the distal end 20b of the shaft 20 as shown in
In
The inventor also contemplates using a D-shaped handle in place of the handle in the embodiment disclosed herein. While the mechanical assembly throughout the shaft 20 remains the same, as does the connecting functionality of the shaft to the handle 30, the actuator 31 and locking pin 35 are placed along the even surface of the D-shaped handle. The cable 41 can separate into two and connect to opposite ends of the actuator 31 via the coupling 31a at the ends of the proximal end of the cable 41a throughout the hollowed portion of the D-shaped handle assembly. When the locking pin 35 is in the open configuration and the user applies grasping force to the actuator 31, the actuator 31 pulls the cable 41 upward and activates the grasping functionality of the grasping members 51.
To relock the walking device into the closed configuration from the open configuration using the D-shaped handle, a user must initially engage the actuator 31 by applying upward pressure to fully retract the grasping members 51 and then move the locking pin 35 laterally toward the handle 30. Once into the closed configuration, the grasping members 51 will not mechanically protrude outward from the shaft 20 and will remain internal to the hollowed portion 28. The locking pin 35 will not move into the closed configuration unless the actuator 31 is fully engaged and the grasping members 51 are placed fully inside the shaft 20.
The inventor also contemplates adding additional functionality to the handle component to increase functionality along with improved grasping. The inventor contemplates addition of a magnetometer or compass component to top or front of the handle for increased user awareness during navigation. If a user is in an unfamiliar location with a limited amount of time and a substantial distance to traverse, a magnetometer could assist the user with knowledge of cardinal directions and accuracy without carrying a separate component. Addition of a magnetometer to the handle of the invention disclosed herein would be useful improvement to a multi-functional walking device for individuals having walking difficulties.
The inventor also contemplates adding one or more lighting means to the handle for improved user visual awareness during low-light activities. The lighting means would comprise a light source such as a diode, a battery, an activator, and a circuit in a housing inside the front of the handle. The light source would shine outward and external from the handle and be placed on the front of the handle behind the housing. It is contemplated that the lighting be ideally located on the top or on the laterals of the handle and a user would activate or deactivate the lighting circuit via the activator. Activators contemplated by the inventor used to activate the lighting functionality include buttons, switches, or sliding switches.
For quick attachment of the device to a portable holder on a belt or a backpack when not in use, the inventor also contemplates a recessed holder along the surface and magnetic disc component housed in the recessed holder to magnetically receive another magnetic component along a holder such as a lanyard, loop, or carabiner that can be easily attached and detached from one another. The type of magnets contemplated by the inventor for use on the handle include strong rare earth magnets or weaker iron-based magnet discs that allow a user to quickly attach or detach the handle from the portable holder attached to a belt or a backpack.
While a particular embodiment of the invention has been described and disclosed in the present application, it is clear that any number of permutations, modifications, or embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of this invention. Accordingly, it is not the inventor's intention to limit this invention in this application, except as by the appended claims.
Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention.
The above detailed description of the embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise embodiment or form disclosed herein or to the particular field of usage mentioned in this disclosure. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Also, the teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments.
All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.
In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under the claims.
In light of the above “Detailed Description,” Inventor may make changes to the invention. While the detailed description outlines possible embodiments of the invention and discloses the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention may be practiced in a myriad of ways. Thus, implementation details may vary considerably while still being encompassed by the spirit of the invention as disclosed by the inventor. As discussed herein, specific terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated.
