[0001] The present invention relates to a (walking) stick holder, such as is known from
JP2013-248692 or
NL1035988C, for example. Hereinafter, the term walking stick or (in short) stick includes all
types of sticks and similar (mobility) aids that persons may or should use when standing
or walking, including also (walking) crutches, Nordic walking poles, canes etc.
[0002] From
NL1035988C a device is known that is suitable for and configured as a walking stick holder,
comprising two cooperating clamping elements that are mutually linearly displaceable
relative to each other, one of the clamping elements is configured to be able to be
attached onto a walking stick, and wherein furthermore biasing means are provided,
which are configured for exerting a biasing force on the clamping elements in order
to drive them towards each other.
[0003] When using the stick holder, the two clamping elements (one of which is attached
onto the walking stick) are pulled apart against the biasing force, and the clamping
elements are clamped against the top and bottom of a tabletop, for example. Under
the influence of the biasing force, the stick remains clamped onto the tabletop, preventing
falling over of the stick and simultaneously freeing the hands of the user of the
stick.
[0004] NL1035988C does not clearly disclose in which way the biasing means, referred to as "pretension
element", have been implemented. In practice, the biasing element in the device of
NL1035988C appears to comprise a helical tension spring. In use, this type of (tension) spring
has the disadvantage that the tension force F increases substantially with the elongation
distance S according to the formula ΔF = c
v ∗ ΔS, in which c
v is the spring constant. As a result, it appears that these clamping elements are
not comfortable in use, in particular for older and/or disabled users. A further disadvantage
is of a structural and aesthetic nature: a helical tension spring is not easily mounted
within the clamping elements, due to its "block length" (the length of the fully compressed
spring in which the coils abut against one another).
[0005] The present invention is defined by the features of independent claim 1. According
to tne present invention, therefore a stick holder for a walking stick is provided,
in which use is being made ot a "constant-force spring" as a biasing element (also
known as roll spring, or "constant tension spring") i.e. a rolled-up ribbon spring
having a first end, located within the rolled-up portion, being connected to a first
clamping element, and having a second free pull-out outer end being connected to the
second clamping element.
[0006] The (mainly rolled-up) form of the constant-force spring enables easier integration
into the entire assembly of the mutually linearly displaceable clamping elements.
Furthermore, the spring constant c
v is very small, so that the biasing force varies very little (virtually constant)
when displacing the clamping elements relative to each other. This provides for a
walking stick holder that is much better suited for use with tabletops and other boards
that may possess large differences in thickness. By applying the constant-force spring
proposed by the invention, the force to be exerted by the user on the clamping elements
is almost constant, in order to sufficiently open the elements for engaging them onto
the (table)top edge; contrary to the well-known walking stick holder, which requires
a lot of force during its application onto a (sometimes very) thick edge.
[0007] As a result, according to the invention, a stick holder for a walking stick is provided,
the stick holder comprising two cooperating clamping elements, which are linearly
displaceable relative to each other, and wherein one of the clamping elements is configured
to be able to be attached onto a walking stick, wherein furthermore biasing means
are provided, which are configured to exert a biasing force on the clamping elements,
driving them towards each other, wherein the biasing means comprise a constant-force
spring of rolled-up resilient ribbon material, of which the rolled-up portion is mounted
in or against a first clamping element, and wherein the linearly-extendable free outer
end of the spring is connected to the other clamping element.
[0008] According to the invention the first clamping element comprises a housing for the
at least partly including the rolled-up portion of the constant-force spring.
[0009] According to the invention, the rolled-up portion of the biasing spring is mounted
in the first clamping element that is configured to be able to be attached onto a
walking stick.
[0010] The invention will now be further discussed on the basis of the following figure
description.
- Figures 1 a-b
- show a preferred embodiment of the invention, having closed (abutting) clamping elements,
and having open (pulled apart) clamping elements, respectively.
[0011] Figure 1a-b show a preferred embodiment of the stick holder according to the invention,
comprising two cooperating clamping elements 1, 2, which are linearly displaceable
relative to each other, and wherein one of the clamping elements 1 is configured to
be able to be attached onto a walking stick by means of a fastening part 1a, which
can be mounted in the length against a walking stick (not shown), for example by means
of straps or belts (not shown).
[0012] Biasing means are provided which are configured to exert a biasing force on the clamping
elements 1, 2 in order to drive them towards each other, as represented by the arrows
3.
[0013] The biasing means include a constant-force spring of resilient ribbon (strip) material
5 rolled-up (coiled-up) around a reel 4. The rolled-up portion is mounted in a first
clamping element 1 by bearing mounting the axis 6 of the reel 4 rotatably in a housing
7 of the first clamping element 1. The pull-out free outer end 8 of the resilient
ribbon material 5 of the constant-force spring is connected to, for example, a hook-shaped
connecting portion 9, which is provided in the second clamping element 2 that is displaceable
relative to the first clamping element 1.
[0014] The operation is as follows: in the rest position, as shown in Fig 1a, the two clamping
elements 1, 2 are held against each other under the influence of the pulling force
3 (the biasing force) of the rolled-up constant-force spring 5, which is bearing mounted
by means of reel 4 into the housing 7 of the lower clamping element 1. Thereby the
free outer end 8 of the constant-force spring pulls down the displaceable upper clamping
element 2 by means of the connecting portion 9. Additionally, a rest stop 10 of the
upper clamping element 2 abuts against the top surface 11 of the lower clamping element
1.
[0015] If the user intents to clamp his walking stick onto (for example) a tabletop, firstly
the user has to ensure that the projecting portion 12 of the upper clamping element
2 is positioned against the top surface of the (not shown) table, after which the
walking stick (of which the bottom side must not be in contact with the floor) is
pushed down by the user, thereby causing the lower clamping element 1, which is fixedly
connected to walking stick, to be pushed down. As a result the projecting portion
12 of the clamping element 2 remains pressed down against the upper surface of the
table top, while the walking stick, including the lower clamping element 1, is pushed
down against the spring pressure (biasing force) of the constant-force spring 5 -
thereby aided by the weight of the walking stick -. When the upper surface 11 of the
lower clamping element 1 has reached a level below the lower surface of the tabletop,
the user pushes the walking stick including the two clamping elements 1, 2 in such
a way in the direction of the table top, that the clamping elements 1, 2 clampingly
engage the lower and upper surface of the table top respectively under the influence
of the biasing force 3.
[0016] For the action described in the preceding paragraph, the user may also use a hook-shaped
member 13, which can be used to suspend the walking stick onto something, but which
may also be used to pull up the upper clamping element 2, for clampingly engaging
the walking stick onto the (table) edge. Accordingly, both the projecting portion
12 and the hook-shaped member 13 may be used to "open" the clamping elements 1, 2,
in other words, to move the clamping elements away from one other during clampingly
engaging the walking stick onto a (table) top.
[0017] When the walking stick is clamped onto a tabletop or another plank, the walking stick
is able to be simply pulled away (detached) from the table top, after which the clamping
members 1, 2 return to their rest position under the influence of the downwardly directed
tension force of the free end 8 of the constant-force spring 5, as shown in figure
1a.
[0018] Because the spring constant of the constant-force spring 5 is very low, the biasing
force 3, which is mutually exerted by the clamping elements 1, 2 onto each other when
in the closed position (Figure 1a), is substantially identical to the biasing force
in the opened position (Figure 1b); thereby in practise considerably improving the
ease of use of the walking stick holder. In addition, the biasing element serving
as a constant-force spring 5 may be aesthetically and structurally in a responsible
manner be housed in one of the clamping elements, for example in the clamping element
1, as shown in Figures 1a-b.
1. Stick holder for a walking stick, comprising two cooperating clamping elements (1,
2), which are linearly displaceable relative to each other, and wherein the first
clamping element is configured to be able to be fixedly attached in the length against
the walking stick by means of a fastening part (1a),
wherein furthermore biasing means are provided, which are configured to exert a biasing
force on the clamping elements, driving them towards each other, wherein the biasing
means comprise a constant-force spring (5) of rolled-up resilient ribbon material,
of which the rolled-up portion is mounted in the first clamping element (1), and wherein
the linearly-extendable free outer end (8) of the spring is connected to the second
clamping element (2),
wherein the first clamping element comprises a housing (7) for at least partly including
the rolled-up portion of the constant-force spring,
wherein the rolled-up portion is mounted in the first clamping element (1) that is
configured to be able to be fixedly attached onto the walking stick,
characterized, in that
the constant-force spring is a resilient ribbon material (5) rolled-up around a reel
(4), wherein the rolled-up portion of the ribbon material (5) is mounted in the first
clamping element (1) by bearing mounting the axis (6) of the reel (4) rotatably in
the housing (7) of the first clamping element (1).
2. Stick holder according to claim 1, wherein during engaging the stick holder on an
object, the second clamping element (2) moves upwards relative to the first clamping
element (1) and relative to the walking stick fixedly connected to the first clamping
element.
3. Stick holder according to claim 2, wherein the second clamping element (2) pulls out
the free outer end (8) of the resilient ribbon material (5) when moving upwards relative
to the first clamping element (1).
4. Stick holder according to claim 1 - 3, wherein the second clamping element (2) is
provided with a projecting portion (12) and/or a hook-shaped member (13) for opening
the clamping elements (1, 2).
1. Stockhalter für einen Gehstock, umfassend zwei zusammenwirkende Klemmelemente (1,
2), welche in Bezug zueinander linear verschiebbar sind, und wobei das erste Klemmelement
dazu ausgelegt ist, dass es mittels eines Befestigungsteils (1a) in der Länge fest
an dem Gehstock angebracht werden kann,
wobei ferner Vorspannmittel vorgesehen sind, welche ausgelegt sind, eine Vorspannkraft
auf die Klemmelemente aufzubringen, die diese zueinander treibt,
wobei die Vorspannmittel eine Konstantkraftfeder (5) aus einem aufgerollten, elastischen
Bandmaterial umfassen, deren aufgerollter Abschnitt im ersten Klemmelement (1) gehalten
wird, und wobei das linear ausfahrbare freie äußere Ende (8) der Feder mit dem zweiten
Klemmelement (2) verbunden ist,
wobei das erste Klemmelement ein Gehäuse (7) zum zumindest teilweisen Aufnehmen des
aufgerollten Abschnitts der Konstantkraftfeder umfasst,
wobei der aufgerollte Abschnitt im ersten Klemmelement (1) gehalten ist, das dazu
ausgelegt ist, dass es fest an den Gehstock angebracht werden kann,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die Konstantkraftfeder ein elastisches Bandmaterial (5) ist, das um eine Spule (4)
aufgerollt ist, wobei der aufgerollte Abschnitt des Bandmaterials (5) durch ein Lager,
das die Achse (6) der Spule (4) drehbar im Gehäuse (7) des ersten Klemmelements (1)
hält, in dem ersten Klemmelement (1) gehalten ist.
2. Stockhalter nach Anspruch 1, wobei beim Einrasten des Stockhalters an einem Objekt
das zweite Klemmelement (2) sich bezüglich des ersten Klemmelements (1) und bezüglich
des Stockhalters, der fest mit dem ersten Klemmelement verbunden ist, nach oben bewegt.
3. Stockhalter nach Anspruch 2, wobei das zweite Klemmelement (2) das freie äußere Ende
(8) des elastischen Bandmaterials (5) herauszieht, wenn es sich bezüglich des ersten
Klemmelements (1) nach oben bewegt.
4. Stockhalter nach Anspruch 1-3, wobei das zweite Klemmelement (2) mit einem vorstehenden
Abschnitt (12) und/oder einem hakenförmigen Bauteil (13) zum Öffnen der Klemmelemente
(1, 2) versehen ist.
1. Support de canne pour une canne de marche, comprenant deux éléments de serrage coopérants
(1, 2), qui sont mobile linéairement l'un par rapport à l'autre, et dans lequel le
premier élément de serrage est configuré de façon à pouvoir être attaché de manière
fixe dans la longueur contre la canne de marche au moyen d'une pièce de fixation (la),
dans lequel sont prévus en outre des moyens de sollicitation, qui sont configurés
pour exercer une force de sollicitation sur les éléments de serrage, de manière à
les entraîner l'un vers l'autre,
dans lequel les moyens de sollicitation comprennent un ressort à force constante (5)
d'un matériau de ruban élastique enroulé, dont la partie enroulée est installée dans
le premier élément de serrage (1), et dans lequel l'extrémité extérieure libre pouvant
s'étendre de manière linéaire (8) du ressort, est reliée au deuxième élément de serrage
(2),
dans lequel le premier élément de serrage comprend un boîtier (7) pour inclure au
moins partiellement la partie enroulée du ressort à force constante,
dans lequel la partie enroulée est montée dans le premier élément de serrage (1) qui
est configuré de façon à pouvoir être attaché de manière fixe sur la canne de marche,
caractérisé, en ce que
le ressort à force constante est un matériau de ruban élastique (5) enroulé autour
d'une bobine (4), dans lequel la partie enroulée du matériau de ruban (5) est montée
dans le premier élément de serrage (1) par le montage sur palier de l'axe (6) de la
bobine (4) de manière rotative dans le boîtier (7) du premier élément de serrage (1).
2. Support de canne selon la revendication 1, dans lequel, lors de l'engagement du support
de canne sur un objet, le deuxième élément de serrage (2) se déplace vers le haut
par rapport au premier élément de serrage (1) et par rapport à la canne de marche
reliée fixement au premier élément de serrage.
3. Support de canne selon la revendication 2, dans lequel le deuxième élément de serrage
(2) tire l'extrémité extérieure libre (8) du matériau de ruban élastique (5) lors
du déplacement vers le haut par rapport au premier élément de serrage (1).
4. Support de canne selon les revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel le deuxième élément de
serrage (2) est pourvu d'une partie en saillie (12) et/ou d'un élément en forme de
crochet (13) pour ouvrir les éléments de serrage (1, 2).