Multi-use patient aid

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6328048
  • Patent Number
    6,328,048
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, June 27, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, December 11, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
An aid for movement impaired individuals that converts to function as a cane, a shoe horn and a clothing retrieval hook. The multi-use patient aid includes an adjustable length cane body assembly, a cane foot assembly, an accessory adapter, a shoe horn accessory, and a dressing hook accessory.
Description




TECHNICAL FIELD




The present invention relates to products for assisting movement impaired individuals and more particularly to a multi-use patient aid that includes an adjustable length cane body assembly, a cane foot assembly, an accessory adapter, a shoe horn accessory, and a dressing hook accessory; the adjustable length cane body assembly including a handle member and a cane shaft assembly; the handle member including a handle portion and a tubular shaft connecting portion provided with a number of spaced locking pin receiving apertures provided therethrough; the cane shaft assembly including an elongated shaft portion having a first end provided with a first spring loaded lock pin assembly and a second end provided with a second spring loaded lock pin assembly; the first end being slidably positionable into the tubular shaft connecting portion of the handle member; the cane foot assembly including a tubular foot support and a resilient cane foot attached to a bottom end of the tubular foot support; the tubular foot support having a tubular foot support top end sized to receive therein the second end of the shaft portion and a locking pin receiving aperture provided therethrough for connecting with the second spring loaded lock pin assembly; the accessory adapter including a tubular accessory support having an internally threaded accessory connecting aperture at a bottom end of thereof and a tubular accessory adapter top end sized to receive therein the second end of the shaft portion and a locking pin receiving aperture provided therethrough for connecting with the second end of the shaft portion; the shoe horn accessory including a shoe horn portion having a threaded horn connecting rod extending from a top end thereof, the threaded horn connecting rod being companionately threaded to screw into the internally threaded accessory connecting aperture of the accessory adapter; the dressing hook accessory including a hook portion having a threaded hook connecting rod extending from a top end thereof, the threaded hook connecting rod being companionately threaded to screw into the internally threaded accessory connecting aperture of the accessory adapter.




BACKGROUND ART




Many movement impaired individuals find it difficult to walk without assistance from a cane or the like as well as simple tasks such as putting on shoes and picking up clothing and the like from the floor. It would be a benefit to these individuals to have an aid that could be converted to function as a cane, a shoe horn and a clothing retrieval hook.




GENERAL SUMMARY DISCUSSION OF INVENTION




It is thus an object of the invention to provide a multi-use patient aid that includes an adjustable length cane body assembly, a cane foot assembly, an accessory adapter, a shoe horn accessory, and a dressing hook accessory; the adjustable length cane body assembly including a handle member and a cane shaft assembly; the handle member including a handle portion and a tubular shaft connecting portion provided with a number of spaced locking pin receiving apertures provided therethrough; the cane shaft assembly including an elongated shaft portion having a first end provided with a first spring loaded lock pin assembly and a second end provided with a second spring loaded lock pin assembly; the first end being slidably positionable into the tubular shaft connecting portion of the handle member; the cane foot assembly including a tubular foot support and a resilient cane foot attached to a bottom end of the tubular foot support; the tubular foot support having a tubular foot support top end sized to receive therein the second end of the shaft portion and a locking pin receiving aperture provided therethrough for connecting with the second spring loaded lock pin assembly; the accessory adapter including a tubular accessory support having an internally threaded accessory connecting aperture at a bottom end of thereof and a tubular accessory adapter top end sized to receive therein the second end of the shaft portion and a locking pin receiving aperture provided therethrough for connecting with the second end of the shaft portion; the shoe horn accessory including a shoe horn portion having a threaded horn connecting rod extending from a top end thereof, the threaded horn connecting rod being companionately threaded to screw into the internally threaded accessory connecting aperture of the accessory adapter; the dressing hook accessory including a hook portion having a threaded hook connecting rod extending from a top end thereof, the threaded hook connecting rod being companionately threaded to screw into the internally threaded accessory connecting aperture of the accessory adapter.




Accordingly, a multi-use patient aid is provided. The multi-use patient aid includes an adjustable length cane body assembly, a cane foot assembly, an accessory adapter, a shoe horn accessory, and a dressing hook accessory; the adjustable length cane body assembly including a handle member and a cane shaft assembly; the handle member including a handle portion and a tubular shaft connecting portion provided with a number of spaced locking pin receiving apertures provided therethrough; the cane shaft assembly including an elongated shaft portion having a first end provided with a first spring loaded lock pin assembly and a second end provided with a second spring loaded lock pin assembly; the first end being slidably positionable into the tubular shaft connecting portion of the handle member; the cane foot assembly including a tubular foot support and a resilient cane foot attached to a bottom end of the tubular foot support; the tubular foot support having a tubular foot support top end sized to receive therein the second end of the shaft portion and a locking pin receiving aperture provided therethrough for connecting with the second spring loaded lock pin assembly; the accessory adapter including a tubular accessory support having an internally threaded accessory connecting aperture at a bottom end of thereof and a tubular accessory adapter top end sized to receive therein the second end of the shaft portion and a locking pin receiving aperture provided therethrough for connecting with the second end of the shaft portion; the shoe horn accessory including a shoe horn portion having a threaded horn connecting rod extending from a top end thereof, the threaded horn connecting rod being companionately threaded to screw into the internally threaded accessory connecting aperture of the accessory adapter; the dressing hook accessory including a hook portion having a threaded hook connecting rod extending from a top end thereof, the threaded hook connecting rod being companionately threaded to screw into the internally threaded accessory connecting aperture of the accessory adapter.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS




For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are given the same or analogous reference numbers and wherein:





FIG. 1

is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the multi-use patient aid of the present invention showing the adjustable length cane body assembly, the cane foot assembly, the accessory adapter, the shoe horn accessory, and the dressing hook accessory; the adjustable length cane body assembly including a handle member and a cane shaft assembly; the handle member including a handle portion and a tubular shaft connecting portion provided with a number of spaced locking pin receiving apertures provided therethrough; the cane shaft assembly including an elongated shaft portion having a first end provided with a first spring loaded lock pin assembly and a second end provided with a second spring loaded lock pin assembly; the first end being slidably positionable into the tubular shaft connecting portion of the handle member; the cane foot assembly including a tubular foot support and a resilient cane foot attached to a bottom end of the tubular foot support; the tubular foot support having a tubular foot support top end sized to receive therein the second end of the shaft portion and a locking pin receiving aperture provided therethrough for connecting with the second spring load lock pin assembly; the accessory adapter including a tubular accessory support having an internally threaded accessory connecting aperture at a bottom end of thereof and a tubular accessory adapter top end sized to receive therein the second end of the shaft portion and a locking pin receiving aperture provided therethrough for connecting with the second end of the shaft portion; the shoe horn accessory including a shoe horn portion having a threaded horn connecting rod extending from a top end thereof, the threaded horn connecting rod being companionately threaded to screw into the internally threaded accessory connecting aperture of the accessory adapter; the dressing hook accessory including a hook portion having a threaded hook connecting rod extending from a top end thereof, the threaded hook connecting rod being companionately threaded to screw into the internally threaded accessory connecting aperture of the accessory adapter.











EXEMPLARY MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION





FIG. 1

is an exploded perspective view showing various aspects of an exemplary embodiment of the multi-use patient aid of the present invention generally designated


10


.




Multi-use patient aid


10


includes an adjustable length cane body assembly, generally designated


12


; a cane foot assembly, generally designated


14


; an accessory adapter, generally designated


16


; a shoe horn accessory, generally designated


18


; and a dressing hook accessory, generally designated


20


. Adjustable length cane body assembly


12


includes a handle member, generally designated


22


, and a cane shaft assembly, generally designated


24


.




Handle member


22


includes a curved handle portion


26


and a tubular shaft connecting portion


28


. Tubular shaft connecting portion


28


includes a number of spaced locking pin receiving apertures


30


provided therethrough. Cane shaft assembly


24


includes an elongated shaft portion


32


having a first end


34


provided with a first spring loaded lock pin assembly


36


and a second end


38


provided with a second spring loaded lock pin assembly


40


. First end


34


is slidably positionable into tubular shaft connecting portion


28


of handle member


22


.




Cane foot assembly


14


includes a tubular foot support


42


and a resilient cane foot


44


attached to a bottom end


46


of tubular foot support


42


. Tubular foot support


42


has a tubular foot support top end


48


sized to receive therein second end


38


of shaft portion


32


and a locking pin receiving aperture


50


provided therethrough for connecting with second spring loaded lock pin assembly


40


.




Accessory adapter


16


includes a tubular accessory support


52


having an internally threaded accessory connecting aperture


54


at a bottom end


56


thereof and a tubular accessory adapter top end


58


sized to receive therein second end


38


of shaft portion


32


and a locking pin receiving aperture


60


provided therethrough for connecting with spring loaded lock pin assembly


40


. Shoe horn accessory


18


includes a molded plastic shoe horn portion


62


having a threaded horn connecting rod


64


extending from a top end thereof. Threaded horn connecting rod


64


is companionately threaded to screw into internally threaded accessory connecting aperture


54


of accessory adapter


16


. Dressing hook accessory


20


includes a hook portion


66


having a threaded hook connecting rod


68


extending from a top end thereof. Threaded hook connecting rod


68


is companionately threaded to screw into the internally threaded accessory connecting aperture


54


of accessory adapter


16


.




It can be seen from the preceding description that a multi-use patient aid has been provided.




It is noted that the embodiment of the multi-use patient aid described herein in detail for exemplary purposes is of course subject to many different variations in structure, design, application and methodology. Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept(s) herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiment herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.



Claims
  • 1. A multi-use patient aid comprising:an adjustable length cane body assembly; a cane foot assembly; an accessory adapter; a shoe horn accessory; and a dressing hook accessory; said adjustable length cane body assembly including a handle member and a cane shaft assembly; said handle member including a handle portion and a tubular shaft connecting portion provided with a number of spaced locking pin receiving apertures provided therethrough; said cane shaft assembly including an elongated shaft portion having a first end provided with a first spring loaded lock pin assembly and a second end provided with a second spring loaded lock pin assembly; said first end being slidably positionable into said tubular shaft connecting portion of said handle member; said cane foot assembly including a tubular foot support and a resilient cane foot attached to a bottom end of said tubular foot support; said tubular foot support having a tubular foot support top end sized to receive therein said second end of said shaft portion and a locking pin receiving aperture provided therethrough for connecting with said second spring loaded lock pin assembly; said accessory adapter including a tubular accessory support having an internally threaded accessory connecting aperture at a bottom end of thereof and a tubular accessory adapter top end sized to receive therein said second end of said shaft portion and a locking pin receiving apertures provided therethrough for connecting with said second end of said shaft portion; said shoe horn accessory including a shoe horn portion having a threaded horn connecting rod extending from a top end thereof, said threaded horn connecting rod being companionately threaded to screw into said internally threaded accessory connecting aperture of said accessory adapter; said dressing hook accessory including a hook portion having a threaded hook connecting rod extending from a top end thereof, said threaded hook connecting rod being companionately threaded to screw into said internally threaded accessory connecting aperture of said accessory adapter.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Number Name Date Kind
2508104 Dickensheets May 1950
4966316 George et al. Oct 1990
5961012 Bucher Dec 1999
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
20203621 Feb 1992 CA