Site News  |   Monitor Keywords  |   Monitor Archive  |   Organizer  |   Account Info  |

Cane holders and canes with extension elements

Cane holders and canes with extension elements description/claims

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/923,920, filed Apr. 17, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is considered as part of the disclosure of the present application and is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

The present invention relates generally to walking canes and cane holders. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to canes comprising extension elements to support resting canes in upright positions and cane holders configured to hold canes in upright positions.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention shown and described herein, a cane holder includes a post and a weighted platform. The weighted platform may be configured to rest on a surface and supports the post such that the post extends upward from the weighted platform in an angled direction, while the post may extend along a longitudinal axis of the cane holder and includes a channeled portion and a handle portion. The channeled portion may terminate near a first end proximal to the weighted platform and opens near a second end proximal to the handle portion to receive at least a portion of a cane. The handle portion may be configured to support at least a portion of the cane and to permit gripping of the handle portion by a user of the cane holder for movement of the cane holder.

In accordance with another embodiment shown and described herein, a cane may include a base portion, a body portion, a handle portion, a switch, and at least one extension element. The base portion may be configured to engage a surface and to support the cane and a user using the cane on the surface, while the handle portion may be configured to permit gripping of the hand portion by the user of the cane. The body portion may extend along a longitudinal axis of the cane and couples the base portion and the handle portion, while the extension element includes a stabilizing foot and is positioned about the body portion. The extension element may be configured to retract to and to extend from a point of connection between the extension element and the body portion such that, when retracted, the extension element may be substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cane; when extended, the extension element may be non-parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cane; and, when fully extended, the extension element is non-parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cane, while the stabilizing foot may be both substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cane and substantially coplanar with the base portion such that the stabilizing foot and the base portion may engage the surface and support the cane on the surface without the use of additional supportive devices. The switch may be positioned about the handle portion and operatively connected to the extension element such that an actuation of the switch retracts or extends the extension element to or from the point of connection between the extension element and the body portion.

In accordance with yet another embodiment, a cane holder may include an upper holding device and a lower holding device. The upper holding device extends along a longitudinal axis and comprises a series of upper slots independently configured to support a handle portion of a cane, while the lower holding device extends along a longitudinal axis and comprises a series of lower slots independently configured to receive a base portion of a cane. The upper and lower holding devices are configured to be secured independently to a fixture such that the respective longitudinal axis of the upper and lower holding devices extend substantially horizontally along the fixture.

The following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present invention can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a cane holder according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of another cane holder according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a cane according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are illustrations of a cane according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are illustrations of a cane according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5C is a magnified illustration of a motor-driven operable connection between a switch and extension elements of a cane according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are illustrations of a motor-driven operable connection between a switch and extension elements of a cane according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a magnified illustration of a motor-driven operable connection between a switch and extension elements of a cane according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are illustrations of a spring-loaded operable connection between a switch and extension elements of a cane according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

• What Is a Patent?
• What Is a Trademark or Servicemark?
• What Is a Copyright?
• Patent Laws