Patent Application
20250160491
The presently disclosed subject matter relates generally to a walking stick that can be used in a variety of outdoor environments. Advantageously, the disclosed walking stick includes a plurality of spring-activated feet that allow the user to easily traverse a wide variety of terrains.
Walking sticks are widely used to assist hikers, the elderly, people with ambulatory problems, and the disabled to more safely and securely walk or stand. Most conventional walking sticks include an elongated body with a ground-engaging foot at one end, and a handle for grasping at an opposite end. A user grips the handle of the walking stick when standing or walking, so that force applied by the user against the handle is transmitted to the ground. However, conventional walking sticks have numerous drawbacks. For example, the feet of typical walking sticks are small and make poor contact when striking the ground at an angle. In addition, the design of typical walking stick feet does not allow adequate traction, increasing the possibility for slipping and falling. Further, many walking sticks are unable to effectively distribute the dynamic forces created between the stick and the ground surface. Lastly, when walking through mud and similar hazards, conventional walking sticks are ineffective at pulling the user's feet out of the mud. Rather, they require a large pulling force that can be damaging to the user's knees and hips. It would therefore be beneficial to provide a walking stick with improved shock absorbing and stability characteristics that allows a user to traverse a wide variety of terrains (including mud) easily and effectively.
In some embodiments, the presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a walking stick comprising a body that includes a first end and an opposed second end, with a length therebetween. The walking stick includes a central support positioned at the second end of the body; the central support defined by a plurality of spring-loaded feet. Each foot comprises a first end attached to an outer edge of the central support and an opposed second end distally positioned from the first end. Each foot also includes a top face and an opposed bottom face, wherein the bottom face includes a hinge. The first end of each foot has a width that is less than the width of the second end. Each foot is configured to flex in an upward or downward direction at the hinge, above and below the central support in response to pressure. Each foot is further configured to flex independently of the other feet.
In some embodiments, the first body end comprises a grip.
In some embodiments, the grip comprises rubber, foam, plastic, fabric, or combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, the body has a length of about 3-6 feet and a diameter of about 0.5-3 inches.
In some embodiments, the body comprises an adjustable length.
In some embodiments, the body first end comprises a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the body second end.
In some embodiments, the body second end comprises a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the body first end.
In some embodiments, the central support includes a central bore that enable attachment to the second end of the body.
In some embodiments, each foot is configured to rotate above and below horizontal.
In some embodiments, each foot is configured to rotate about 5-75 degrees above or below horizontal.
In some embodiments, the feet are symmetrically arranged about an outer edge of the central support.
In some embodiments, the first end of each foot has a width of about 0.5-2 inches and the second end of each foot has a width of about 1.5-5 inches.
In some embodiments, each foot has a thickness of about 0.1-1 inch.
In some embodiments, each foot includes an extending point at the second end that extends away from the first end of the foot.
In some embodiments, each foot includes a first extended configuration and a second flexed configuration.
In some embodiments, the presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a method of traversing muddy terrain. Specifically, the method comprises positioning the disclosed walking stick adjacent to the muddy terrain and exerting pressure on the first end of the walking stick that is transferred to the feet. The feet extend in a first and extended configuration as the feet contact the muddy terrain. The method includes pulling upward on the body of the walking stick to remove the feet from the muddy terrain, whereby the feet of the walking stick flex into a second angled configuration as the walking stick is pulled from the muddy terrain. Once the feet are removed from the muddy terrain, they revert to the first extended configuration.
The presently disclosed subject matter is introduced with sufficient details to provide an understanding of one or more particular embodiments of broader inventive subject matters. The descriptions expound upon and exemplify features of those embodiments without limiting the inventive subject matters to the explicitly described embodiments and features. Considerations in view of these descriptions will likely give rise to additional and similar embodiments and features without departing from the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the presently disclosed subject matter pertains. Although any methods, devices, and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the presently disclosed subject matter, representative methods, devices, and materials are now described.
Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a”, “an”, and “the” refer to “one or more” when used in the subject specification, including the claims. Thus, for example, reference to “a device” can include a plurality of such devices, and so forth. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including” when used herein specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of components, conditions, and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the instant specification and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the presently disclosed subject matter.
As used herein, the term “about”, when referring to a value or to an amount of mass, weight, time, volume, concentration, and/or percentage can encompass variations of, in some embodiments +/−20%, in some embodiments +/−10%, in some embodiments +/−5%, in some embodiments +/−1%, in some embodiments +/−0.5%, and in some embodiments +/−0.1%, from the specified amount, as such variations are appropriate in the disclosed packages and methods.
As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Relative terms such as “below” or “above” or “upper” or “lower” or “horizontal” or “vertical” may be used herein to describe a relationship of one element, layer, or region to another element, layer, or region as illustrated in the drawing figures. It will be understood that these terms and those discussed above are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawing figures.
The embodiments set forth below represent the necessary information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and illustrate the best mode of practicing the embodiments. Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the disclosure and will recognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims.
The presently disclosed subject matter is generally directed to a versatile walking stick that can be used in a wide variety of environments, including (but not limited to) swamps and wetlands. The term “walking stick” generally refers to any device that can be used to aid walking and/or provide postural support and stability. Walking sticks can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as a support when moving uphill and as a brake when moving downhill. Walking sticks can also be useful as a balance point when crossing streams, swamps, or other rough terrain.
As noted above, walking stick 5 includes first end 10 that can be used to grip or maneuver the device. Thus, a user may grasp the walking stick at or near the first end while walking or performing other tasks, as shown in
Body 20 spans the distance between first and second ends 10, 15 of the disclosed walking stick, as shown in
In some embodiments, body 20 can telescope to provide a variable length. The term “telescoping” refers to two or more parts of the walking stick that are coupled together lengthwise, with one part entering, sliding, or passing within the other part. Thus, in some embodiments, body 20 can include first and second telescoping regions 20a and 20b. As shown in
Body 20 can have any desired cross-sectional shape, such as (but not limited to) circular, oval, square, rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, and the like. In some embodiments, the body can be hollow (e.g., cylindrical), but can also be solid without a central opening in other embodiments.
Body 20 can have any suitable diameter 40 that allows a user to grasp the walking stick easily and comfortably. The term “diameter” refers to the longest straight line distance that passes through the center in a cross-sectional segment, as shown in
In other embodiments, the diameter of the walking stick can vary. For example, the diameter of the walking stick can be greater towards second end 15 to provide additional support and stability to the device, as shown in
The walking stick body can be constructed from any desired material, such as (but not limited to) metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum), wood, plastic, carbon fiber composites, laminates, and the like.
Body 20 can vary aesthetically and can be stained, matte, or glossy in some embodiments. A metal body can be anodized, painted, or powder coated in any desired color. Further, the body can include any suitable pattern (e.g., stripes, camouflage, and the like).
The disclosed walking stick 5 also includes a plurality of feet 25 positioned at first end 10. The term “foot” refers to any supportive element that can move in response to pressure. One embodiment of feet 25 is illustrated in
Each foot 25 attaches to the central support via hinge 50 that allows each foot to move independently of the other feet, as shown in
In some embodiments, each foot extends radially outward from the central support in a symmetrical arrangement (e.g., each foot is equally spaced from one another). In other embodiments, the feet can be grouped or non-uniformly positioned about the central support.
Feet 25 can have any suitable shape. As shown in
Each foot also includes top surface 76 and opposed bottom surface 77 (that faces and contacts the ground), as shown in
Alternatively or in addition, the bottom surface of each foot can include coating 81 that reduces adhesion of mud, water, and the like to the foot, as shown in
Each foot includes length 80 (e.g., the distance between the first and second ends 55, 60). Length 80 can be about 3-10 inches or more (e.g., at least/no more than about 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 inches). Each foot also includes thickness 79 of about 0.1-1 inch (e.g., at least/no more than about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, or 1 inch), as shown in
In some embodiments, each foot can include extending point 80 configured at second end 60 that increases the surface area of the foot, as shown in
Feet 25 can be constructed from any suitable material, such as (but not limited to) metal, wood, plastic, carbon fiber, and the like.
Walking stick 5 can include any number of feet 25, such as about 3-5 or more. The feet can be uniformly positioned about the outer circumference of the central support, as noted above.
In use, walking stick 5 can be used in a variety of environments, such as during hunting, hiking, and the like. The distinctive shape of each foot (e.g., with a widened or ridged second end) increases the surface area of the feet, allowing the user to exert more pressure and thereby maneuver more easily through the terrain. The spring actuated feet 25 of the walking stick fold under tension when pulled in an upward direction (e.g., out of mud or any other tacky material), as illustrated in
Thus, the spring-actuated feet of walking stick 5 includes first and second configurations. The first, expanded configuration of
The second, folded configuration allows a user to easily remove the walking stick feet from a muddy surface. Specifically, as the mud holds the feet of the walking stick (due to suction), the feet flex downward, allowing the remainder of the walking stick to be removed from the mud. As a result, the user has leverage to more easily remove the remainder of the walking stick from the mud. Once removed, the feet spring back to the first expanded configuration, as shown in
In addition to use with muddy areas, the disclosed walking stick allows a user to traverse uneven terrain more easily. As illustrated in
Walking stick 5 provides many advantages over conventional walking sticks. For example, the disclosed walking stick can be easily used by a wide variety of consumers, including children and the elderly.
The unique foot configuration prevents the walking stick from sinking into mud or other soft surfaces.
Walking stick 5 resists slippage and exhibits excellent shock absorbing properties when contacted with a variety of terrains, including uneven surfaces and mud.
The disclosed walking stick is durable and can be effectively used long term for many years.
As described above, although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.
