The invention relates to the field of combination canes and extended grabbing devices for aiding individuals in walking and in assisting a user to grasp objects out of the user's normal reach.

As the ranks of the elderly increase with the advancing age of the baby boomers, there exists a wide variety of medical and physical infirmities that can afflict this population. Among one of the more common ailments are those affecting the knees, hips and back that limit the ability of the individual to walk without aid or to bend over to pick up an object lying on the ground. Other groups of individuals with walking difficulties can include those injured by an accident or other medical conditions that make it difficult for them to walk without the aid of a cane of some other type of support. Therefore, a number of prior art canes have been described to provide an individual with a cane and/or a cane that also includes an apparatus, forming a permanent part of the cane, for grasping objects at a distance from the user.

For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,392,800, 5,636,650 and 5,640,985 all describe hollow canes in which tension applied to a cable extending within the hollow cane body causes a grasping arm pivotally mounted near the lower rubber tip of the cane to pivot inward, closing a gap against the rubber tip in order to grasp an object.

Other patents describe a mechanism extending external to the body of the cane for moving a pivotally mounted grasping arm. U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,160 discloses a grasping arm that is pulled into contact with the rubber cane tip by means of a cable extending along the outside of the cane, with the cable being pulled by pivoting a lever near the cane handle.

U.S. Pat. No 6,527,321 to Kuciauskas discloses a grabber and a combined cane and grabber. In the combined cane and grabber, the cane is made of two pieces such that in one alignment the apparatus acts as a standard cane with a "T" handle. By lifting the apparatus off of the ground and pivoting the two cane halves 360 degrees relative to each other, the apparatus acts as a grabber by utilizing the "T" handle ends as ears and lugs for grabbing objects off of the ground.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,692533 discloses a walking cane with a larger foot member that includes a plurality of forward and downward integrally dependant legs which rigidly extent from the lower member of the support member. This provides additional support and stability to the base of the cane for elderly and infirm individuals to aid in walking.

All of the patents described above require structural differences between the cane being described and a conventional cane to an extent that a conventional cane cannot be readily modified to perform in accordance with the described invention. What is needed is, however, is a cost effective means to provide those requiring assistance in walking with a walking cane that can be easily converted into a grasping device to allow them to securely grasp and safely hold objects that are out of their normal reach. A further object of this invention is to provide a combination walking cane and grasping device with a means for easily converting the walking cane tip into a broader base for those requiring additional stability when walking.

None of these, or other references known to the inventor, treat the problem addressed by the invention, that is, provide a safe, stable and secure walking cane which provides rigid stationary support, while allowing easy use of the device as a grasping tool.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cane and grasping device as specified in claim 1. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for using a walking cane as specified in claim 11. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a walking cane device as specified in claim 16.

The instant invention relates to a walking cane that includes a means for easily converting the cane into a tool for grasping items out of the normal reach of an individual. The cane comprises two substantially vertical members, pivotably connected to each other, each vertical member having an upper end, a lower end and a longitudinal axis thereof. The upper end being the handle end and the lower end being the tip end. Upon releasing a first locking mechanism, the handle end can be opened up, thereby opening up the tip end to provide a gripper end for grasping objects distant from the handle end. The gripper end being shaped to provide a flat gripper for grasping objects as well as a concave surface for gripping cylindrical objects. Upon closing the apparatus and securing the first locking mechanism the two vertical members interlock to prevent the members from separation during use as a cane.

In an additional embodiment, when used as a cane, the tip can be securely placed and held into a separate base that comprises a broader base surface for additional support and stability. To release the cane in order to utilize the gripping features, the user simply presses a foot lever on the base to release the cane from the separate base. The cane can then be opened up to use as a gripper by releasing the first locking mechanism in the cane and gripper device. When the user desires to re-attach the separate base to the cane, they simply close the cane together and push the tip of the cane into the opening of the separate base which secures the cane to the separate base with a second locking mechanism.

Other advantages, features and benefits of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, which are meant to be only exemplary of the invention and not meant to limit the invention as defined by the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, schematically illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention in which: -

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in a closed position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the handle portion of an embodiment of the invention in a closed position;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a locking tab used in the handle portion;

Fig. 4 is a front planar view of the handle locking mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a front perspective view of one half of the handle section;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the middle strut section of an embodiment of the present invention in an opened position;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the middle strut section of an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the middle strut section of an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the tip section of an embodiment of the present invention in a closed position;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the tip section of an embodiment of the present invention in an opened position;

Fig. 11 is a frontal plan view of the tip section of an embodiment of the present invention secured into a broader base; and

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the locking and releasing mechanism of the tip section when inserted into the broader base.

Reference will now be made in detail to the description of the invention as illustrated in the drawings. Although the invention is described in connection with the drawings, there is no intent to limit the invention to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed therein. On the contrary, the intent is to include all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents included within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Fig. 1 depicts the combination walking cane and gripper 1, which is divided into three sections. These sections are the handle section 2, the middle strut section 3 and the tip and gripper section 4. On the top portion of the handle section 2 is a cane handle gripping pad 5, secured by fasteners 6 to one half of the handle section 2. The cane handle gripping pad 5 provides a secure and comfortable grip to the cane handle section 2 and prevents any pinch points in the handle section 2 when used as a cane to aid in walking.

Fig. 2 depicts the cane handle section 2 without the cane handle gripping pad 5. The cane handle section 2 comprises two handle halves 7 and 8. In the top of the handle section 2 there is a first opening 9 to allow the user to grasp the cane 1 in order to use the invention as a cane. There are also second and third openings 10 and 11 to allow the user to insert their fingers in the second opening 10 and their thumb in the third opening 11 when they desire to use the cane and gripper 1 as a gripping device. The base of the handle section 2 includes a hole 33 and a locking hole 12 for receiving a locking bar 30 and a locking tab 33 included on the middle strut section 3 depicted in greater detail in Fig. 5. A locking mechanism 13, used to keep the walking cane and gripper 1 in a normally closed position, is depicted in greater detail in Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 3 depicts a view of the locking hook 14. The locking hook 14 includes a horizontal finger tab 16 and a vertical plate 15. The vertical plate 15 has an open ended slot 17 and a closed slot 18. As shown in Fig. 4, the locking hook 14 is slideably placed into an opening 19 formed in the handle halves 7 and 8. The top portion of the opening 19 goes completely through the handle halves 7 and 8 while lower portion of the opening 19 is an opening slot 20 internal to the handle halves 7 and 8. The locking hook 14 is slideably secured into the handle half 8 with a pin 21 that is secured to the handle half 8 on both sides of the opening 20. A securing pin 22 is secured into the opposite handle half 7 on both sides of the opening 20 and is used to selectively engage the open ended slot 17 in the locking hook 14. A compression spring 24 is fixed in a dead end hole 23 in the handle half 8 to keep the locking hook 14 in a normally biased downward position, thereby engaging the open-ended slot 17 in the locking hook 14 on to the securing pin 22 keeping the handle halves 7 and 8 in a normally closed position to allow the walking cane and gripper 1 to function as a cane. By grasping the handle section 2 by the finger and thumb openings 10 and 11, the user can employ a finger to lift the horizontal tab 16 on the locking hook 14 thereby compressing the biasing spring 24 and releasing the vertical plate 15 from the securing pin 22 allowing the user to open the walking cane and gripper 1 in order to use the walking cane and gripper 1 as a gripper. Other means of selectively securing and releasing the two halves 7 and 8 of the handle section are well known in the art. To close the device and transform the gripper back into a cane, the user lifts the horizontal tab 16, thereby compressing the biasing spring 24, close the two halves 7 and 8 of the handle section together and release the horizontal tab 16 which causes the compression spring 24 to bias the locking hook 14 downward causing the open ended slot 17 to engage the securing pin 22 thereby locking the handle halves 7 and 8 together.

Fig. 5 depicts one view of the inner surface of either of the handle halves 7 and 8. The upper portion of the handle half has a protrusion 25 and a curved slot 26. When the handle halves 7 and 8 are mated together the protrusion 25 on each handle fits slideably into the groove 26 of the other handle half 7 or 8. When the handle gripping pad 5 is placed over the handle halves 7 and 8 and secured to one of the handle halves, 7 or 8, the handle gripping pad maintains the handle halves 7 and 8 in a slidable planar relationship to each other while preventing a pinch point when the handle halves 7 and 8 are moved relative to each other. The protrusions 25 in each handle half 7 and 8 slide in the grooves 26 in the opposing handle haves 7 and 8, being maintained in close proximity to each other by the handle gripping pad 5. The handle halves 7 and 8 have a maximum allowable opening width as defined by the protrusions 25 and the length of the grooves 26. When the handle halves 7 and 8 are opened to their fullest extent, the protrusions 25 sliding in the grooves 26 meet each other and prevent the handle halves 7 and 8 from opening any further.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the top of the handle halves 7 and 8 could have a protrusion on the top of the handles 7 and 8 that move slideably inside of a dead-ended groove internal to the handle gripping pad 5, thereby providing a mechanical stop to the width that the handle halves 7 and 8 could open when the protrusions encounter the end of the groove in the handle gripping pad 5. Other means of limiting the amount of opening that the gripper could achieve are known in the art.

Fig. 6 depicts the middle strut section 3 of the walking cane and gripper 1. The middle strut section 3 consists of two vertical halves 27 and 28. The vertical halves 27 and 28 are pivotably secured by a pivot pin 29. Each end of the vertical halves 27 and 28 has integral resilient locking bars 30 and locking tabs 33. These locking bars 30 and tabs 33 are inserted into the holes 31 and the locking tabs 33 engage the locking holes 12 (shown in Fig. 2) in the base of the handle halves 7 and 8 thereby removably fixing the vertical halves 27 and 28 to the handle halves 7 and 8.

Figs. 7 and 8 depict alternative cross-sectional end views of the middle strut section 3. In one embodiment in Fig. 7, vertical halves 27 and 28 are formed in an "L" shape such that the internal mating surfaces 34 and 35 are at right angles to each other. Fig. 8 depicts an alternative embodiment wherein the vertical halves 27 and 28 are formed in a "Z" shape wherein the mating surfaces 34 and 35 are at an acute angle to each other. The embodiment in Fig. 8 would provide additional interlocking support to the vertical struts 27 and 28 to aid in preventing of the struts 27 and 28 from spreading apart or separating away from each other when the walking cane and gripper 1 is utilized as a cane. The same "L" or "Z" shape can be utilized in the design of the handle halves 7 and 8 and in the cane tip and gripper section 4 if so desired.

Figs. 9 and 10 depict the cane tip and gripper section 4 in a closed and opened position respectfully. Fig. 9 shows the two cane tip and gripper halves 36 and 37. Near the base of the cane tip and gripper 4, there is an internal curved portion 40 of the cane tip and gripper halves 36 and 37. This curved portion 40 allows for the gripping of round, tubular or other random shapes. Fixedly attached to base end of the cane tip and gripper halves 36 and 37 and to the inner curved portion 40 is a rubberized or other non-skid material layer 38 and 39 for providing additional gripping action when using the walking cane and gripper 1 as either a cane or as a gripping device.

Fig. 10 depicts the cane tip and gripper section 4 in the open position for use in grasping objects. On each of the cane tip and gripper halves 36 and 37, above the curved portion 40 there is an angular protrusion 42 on one edge and a recessed area 41 on the other edge. When in a closed position, the angular protrusion 42 of one of the halves 36 and 37 interlocks with the recessed area 41 of the other half 36 and 37. This interlocking design aids in preventing the cane tip halves 36 and 37 from separating when in use as a cane. At the top of the cane tip and gripper section 4, there is a hole 43 and a locking hole (not shown) in each end of the halves 36 and 37 similar to the hole 31 and locking hole 12 in the ends of the handle section 2 (shown in Fig. 2) for receiving the locking bars 30 and locking tabs 33 included on the vertical halves 27 and 28 depicted in greater detail in Fig. 5. By inserting the resilient locking bars 30 of the vertical halves 27 and 28 into the holes 43 and 31 in the tip and handle sections 4 and 2 respectively, the handle 2, middle strut section 3 and tip section 4 become removably fixed together for use as either a cane or a gripping apparatus.

Once assembled, the handle section 2 is securely fixed to the middle strut section 3 which is securely attached to the cane tip and gripper section 4. By releasing the locking mechanism 13 located in the handle section 1, the user can open up the cane to use the device as a gripper which is pivoted in the middle strut section 3. By closing the handle and tip sections 2 and 4, engaging the locking mechanism 13 holding the handle halves 7 and 8 together, combined with the interlocking "Z" cross-sectional shape of the handle, strut and tip sections 2, 3 and 4 along with the gripping pad 5 that provides a soft grip and keeps the handle top halves 7 and 8 together, the walking cane and grabber 1 becomes a sturdy and rigid walking cane that can be quickly and easily converted into an extended grabbing devise.

In an alternative embodiment, a handle half 7 or 8, a vertical half 27 or 28 and a tip half 36 or 37 could be made as one continuous piece without the need for assembling the three component parts. Two such continuous pieces could then be pivotably joined proximate the center length of the continuous pieces to create a combination walking cane and grasping device.

In a further alternative embodiment, the non-skid material layers 38 and 39 placed on the tip and the internal curved portion 40 on the cane tip 4 is replaced with a separate non-skid material (not shown) for the internal curved portion and a separate replaceable non-skid material cup portion (not shown) that fits over the end tip for traction with the ground when the device is utilized as a cane. This allows for replacement of the non-skid cup tip portion if it is damaged or wears out through use of the cane.

In an additional embodiment, shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the cane tip and gripper section 4 can be removably inserted into a broader base 45. The removable base 45 can be molded out of plastic, resin or other such materials and have two or more feet 47 (only two are shown). Each of the feet 47 can have tips 48 for providing additional traction, such as those made out of rubber or the like. Thus, when the cane tip and gripper section 4 is placed into the base 45, the bottom tip 49 of the cane tip and gripper section 4 is planar with the tips 48 on the legs 47 thereby providing a stable base for the walking cane and gripper 1.

Fig.12 depicts a cross-sectional view of the broader base 45 with the cane tip and gripper section 4 inserted into the base 45. The inner surface 51 of the base 45 is formed to match the form of the cane tip and gripper end 4. On each side of the cane tip halves 36 and 37, there is a blind hole 44. Mounted into the base 45 are two pins 50 located inline with the holes 44. The tip end of the pins 50 being tapered to allow for easy insertion of the cane tip and gripper section 4. The pins 50 move slideably in holes 52 formed into the base 45. In each of the holes 52 there is a compression spring 53 that biases the pins 50 outwardly. Thus, when the cane tip and gripper 4 is inserted into the base 45, the pins 50 move backwards into the holes 52 as the cane tip is being inserted and then forward into the hole 44 in the cane tip and gripper section 4 when the holes 44 in the cane tip align with the pins 50 thereby locking the base 45 securely to the cane tip and gripper section 4.

To release the walking cane and gripper 1 from the broader base 45, the user depresses the spring 54 loaded button 55 which in turn pushes down on a cable 56. The cable 56 is connected around pulleys 57 to the base of each pin 50. By depressing the button 55, the cable 56 moves downward, thereby causing the pins 50 to be pulled back into the holes 52 in the base 45, which in turn releases the walking cane and grabber 1 from the base 45. Other means of securing and releasing the walking cane and gripper 1 to the base 45 can be easily derived from the concepts presented here by those skilled in the art.

Thus it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, a cane and grabber that satisfies the aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that there may be many alternatives, modifications and variations that may be apparent to one skilled in the art of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such modifications and alternatives as may fall within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.