Clamp attachment for a cane

Abstract

A clamp attachment for a cane, includes a slide member adapted to slide axially along a cane shaft. Stops are provided for limiting axial movement of the slide member. A clamp is secured to the slide member. The slide member adjusts the height of the clamp to accommodate attachment to objects of differing height.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a clamp attachment for a cane and, in particular, a clamp which is carried by the cane when not in use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A person who uses a cane has a need for a clamp to hold the cane, when the cane is not required or there is a need for unfettered use of one's hands. There are several patents disclosing clamp attachments, which attach to a cane and, when not in use, are carried by the cane. U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,418 (Vogt 1991) discloses a clamp with two pivotally mounted arms, which clamp onto a table. The back of the clamp has wings which enable the Vogt clamp to clip onto the cane. The arms pivot to a stored position, against the cane, when not in use. U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,283 (Aguirre 2003) discloses a clip, which is adapted to clip to clothing. The clip can be secured at any selected position along the cane by any suitable means, such as a strap. The Vogt patent is not suitable for clamping onto a table. Conversely, the Aguirre patent is not suitable for clamping to clothing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

What is required is an alternative configuration of clamp attachment for a cane, which is carried by the cane when not in use.

According to the present invention there is provided a clamp attachment for a cane, which includes a slide member adapted to slide axially along a cane shaft. Means are for limiting axial movement of the slide member. A clamp is secured to the slide member.

With the clamp attachment, as described above, the slide member moves axially along the cane shaft to position the clamp at a height appropriate for the object to which the clamp is to be attached. The means for limiting axial movement of the slide member can take different forms. In the preferred embodiment which will be hereinafter described, a first stop and a second stop are provided. The first stop is adapted for limiting axial movement of the slide member in a first axial direction. The second stop is adapted for limiting axial movement of the slide member in a second axial direction. The second stop is axially spaced from the first stop, thereby accommodating axial movement of the slide member. It will be appreciated that with some cane configurations, the design of the handle may permit the handle to serve as one of the stops.

Although beneficial results may be obtained through the use of the clamp attachment, as described above, the orientation of the object to which the clamp is to be attached can be vertical, horizontal or angular. Even more beneficial results may, therefore, be obtained when the clamp is secured to the slide member by a linkage, which is adapted to permit omni-directional adjustment of the orientation of the clamp. It is preferred that this linkage also permit the clamp to assume a stored position clamped onto the cane shaft.

The clamp used can take various forms. In the preferred embodiment, which will be hereinafter described, the clamp has a wire spring body with arms that intersect at a intersecting point. Contact members are positioned at remote ends of the intersected arms on a first side of the intersecting point. The wire spring body has a hand gripping portion positioned on a second side of the intersecting point. The contact members are biased by the wire spring body toward each other. Squeezing the hand gripping portion of the wire spring body, causes the contact members to move away from each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a clamp attachment constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention attached to a horizontal support in the form of a table top.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the clamp attachment illustrated in FIG. 1, attached to a vertical support in the form of an edge of a door.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the clamp attachment illustrated in FIG. 1, attached to an angular support, in the form of a stair rail.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the clamp attachment illustrated in FIG. 1, with the clamp in a stored position attached to the cane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment, a clamp attachment for a cane generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4.

Structure and Relationship of Parts:

Referring to FIG. 1, clamp attachment 10 has a slide member 12 adapted to slide axially along a cane shaft 14. A first stop 16 is positioned on cane shaft 14 for limiting axial movement of slide member 12 in a first axial direction 18. Beneficial results are obtained where first stop 16 is positioned above the centre of gravity of cane shaft 14. A second stop 20 is positioned on cane shaft 14 for limiting axial movement of slide member 12 in a second axial direction 22. Second stop 20 is axially spaced from first stop 16, thereby accommodating axial movement of slide member 12 along cane shaft 14. A clamp 24 is secured to slide member 12 by a linkage 26. Linkage 26 is adapted to permit omni-directional adjustment of the orientation of clamp 24. Referring to FIG. 4, this permits clamp 24 to assume a stored position clamped onto cane shaft 14. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, referring to FIG. 2, this allows cane shaft 14 to be attached to a vertical member, such as a door 28. In the illustrated embodiment, referring to FIG. 3, this also allows cane shaft 14 to be attached to an angular member, such as a stair rail 30. It will be appreciated that clamp 24 will clamp onto any convenient object, or even the user's clothing. Referring to FIG. 1, clamp 24 has a wire spring body 32 with arms 34 that intersect at a intersecting point 36. Contact members 38 are positioned at remote ends 40 of intersected arms 34 on a first side 42 of intersecting point 36. A hand gripping portion 44 is positioned on a second side 46 of intersecting point 36. Contact members 38 are biased by wire spring body 32 toward each other. In the illustrated embodiment, contact members 38 grip a horizontal member, in the form of a table 48. Where hand gripping portion 44 of wire spring body 32 is squeezed, contact members 38 are caused to move away from each other, releasing grip.

Operation:

The use and operation of clamp attachment for a cane 10 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4. Referring to FIG. 1, first stop 16 is positioned on cane shaft 14 such that slide member 12 is limited to the upper portion 50 of cane shaft 14. This ensures that cane shaft 14 is generally oriented vertically with handle 52 upwards as shown. Second stop 20 limits travel of slide member 12 towards handle 52. Depending upon the type of cane and shape of handle, handle 52 may serve as second stop 20 by limiting travel. Slide member 12 with clamp 24 is attached to cane shaft 14 such that slide member 12 slides freely along cane shaft 14 between first stop 16 and second stop 20. Linkage 26 allows clamp 24 to be both rotationally and angularly free to move in all directions. Where it is desired to keep the cane conveniently poised for use, a user may apply pressure to hand portion 44, open arms 34 around a horizontal member, such as table 48, release the bias force and attach the cane shaft 14 to table 48. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, cane shaft 14 may also be attached to a vertical member, such as door 28 or an angular member, such as stair rail 30 in a similar fashion, linkage 26 allowing cane shaft 14 to adapt to each orientation. Referring to FIG. 4, where a user desires to retract clamp 24 while the cane is in use, he or she may attach it to cane shaft 14.

It will be appreciated that a number of ways of construction may present themselves to accomplish the same function according to the teachings of the invention. When “retrofitting” an existing cane, one would provide stops that secure to cane shaft 14 in an appropriate spaced relation. However, a manufacturer of canes would incorporate integral stops into the cane during fabrication.

In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined in the Claims.

Claims

1. A clamp attachment for a cane, comprising:

a slide member adapted to slide axially along a cane shaft;

means for limiting axial movement of the slide member; and

a clamp secured to the slide member.

2. The clamp attachment as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for limiting axial movement of the slide member includes a first stop adapted to be secured to the cane for limiting axial movement of the slide member in a first axial direction and a second stop adapted to be secured to the cane for limiting axial movement of the slide member in a second axial direction, the second stop being axially spaced from the first stop, thereby accommodating axial movement of the slide member.

3. The clamp attachment as defined in claim 1, wherein the clamp is secured to the slide member by a linkage, which is adapted to permit omni-directional adjustment of the orientation of the clamp.

4. The clamp attachment as defined in claim 1, wherein the clamp has a wire spring body with arms that intersect at a intersecting point, contact members being positioned at remote ends of the intersected arms on a first side of the intersecting point, the wire spring body having a hand gripping portion positioned on a second side of the intersecting point, the contact members being biased by the wire spring body toward each other, squeezing the hand gripping portion of the wire spring body causing the contact members to move away from each other.

5. The clamp attachment as defined in claim 3, wherein the clamp assumes a stored position clamped onto the cane shaft.

6. A clamp attachment for a cane, comprising:

a slide member adapted to slide axially along a cane shaft;

a first stop adapted for positioning on the cane shaft for limiting axial movement of the slide member in a first axial direction;

a second stop adapted for positioning on the cane shaft for limiting axial movement of the slide member in a second axial direction, the second stop being axially spaced from the first stop, thereby accommodating axial movement of the slide member; and

a clamp secured to the slide member by a linkage, which is adapted to permit omni-directional adjustment of the orientation of the clamp and permit the clamp to assume a stored position clamped onto the cane shaft, the clamp having a wire spring body with arms that intersect at a intersecting point, contact members being positioned at remote ends of the intersected arms on a first side of the intersecting point, the wire spring body having a hand gripping portion positioned on a second side of the intersecting point, the contact members being biased by the wire spring body toward each other, squeezing the hand gripping portion of the wire spring body causing the contact members to move away from each other.

7. In combination:

a cane shaft;

a slide member secured to and axially slidable along the cane shaft;

a first stop positioned on the cane shaft for limiting axial movement of the slide member in a first axial direction;

a second stop positioned on the cane shaft for limiting axial movement of the slide member in a second axial direction, the second stop being axially spaced from the first stop, thereby accommodating axial movement of the slide member; and

a clamp secured to the slide member by a linkage, which is adapted to permit omni-directional adjustment of the orientation of the clamp and permit the clamp to assume a stored position clamped onto the cane, the clamp having a wire spring body with arms that intersect at a intersecting point, contact members being positioned at remote ends of the intersected arms on a first side of the intersecting point, the wire spring body having a hand gripping portion positioned on a second side of the intersecting point, the contact members being biased by the wire spring body toward each other, squeezing the hand gripping portion of the wire spring body causing the contact members to move away from each other.