Lighted Cane
A lighted cane includes a transparent rod having upper and lower ends. A foot is coupled to the lower end of the rod. A light source is in communication with one of the rod upper end and the rod lower end, wherein light from the light source travels through and is emitted by the rod. The lighted cane includes a handle operatively coupled to the upper end of the rod. In addition, the lighted cane includes a battery for powering the light source and includes an activation device coupled to the handle for selectively actuating said light source. The lighted cane may also include an emergency alert system having an input device in data communication with a transmitter for transmitting a distress signal upon activation of the input device.
This invention relates generally to mobility aids and, more particularly, to a walking cane having lighting elements and other safety features.
A walking cane is traditionally used to enhance the balance of a person who is elderly, disabled, or otherwise experiencing a mobility challenge, such as may be due to an injury. A person who is using a cane, however, may experience additional challenges when attempting to walk in the dark. To be mobile in a darkened environment may require the walker to carry a flashlight in his free hand. It is also possible that a person who requires a cane to enhance mobility may also have other health concerns that may require special or sometimes urgent health care.
Various devices have been proposed in the art for providing a light source for a walking cane. Although presumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices do not provide a transparent cane rod illuminated by an array of lights or an emergency alert system.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a walking cane having a transport rod lighted by an array of light sources for lighting the path of a person using the cane. Further, it would be desirable to have a cane having an emergency alert system that may be actuated by a user who may be experiencing a health issue. In addition, it would be desirable to have a cane having a sleeve that is selectively and removably attached to a cane handle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA lighted cane according to the present invention includes a transparent rod having upper and lower ends. A foot is coupled to the lower end of the rod. A light source is in communication with one of the rod upper end and the rod lower end, wherein light from the light source travels through and is emitted by the rod. The lighted cane includes a handle operatively coupled to the upper end of the rod. In addition, the lighted cane includes a battery for powering the light source and includes an activation device coupled to the handle for selectively actuating said light source. The lighted cane may also include an emergency alert system having an input device in data communication with a transmitter for transmitting a distress signal upon activation of the input device.
Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a lighted cane for illuminating the path of a person using the cane.
Another object of this invention is to provide a lighted cane, as aforesaid, that includes a transparent rod and an array of light sources for illuminating the entire rod and surrounding area.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a lighted cane, as aforesaid, having an activation device on the cane's handle for conveniently enabling a user to activate the light sources.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a lighted cane, as aforesaid, having an emergency alert device such that a user may cause a distress signal to be transmitted if a medical or other emergency is detected.
A further object of this invention is to provide a lighted cane, as aforesaid, having a sleeve that may be removably coupled to the cane's handle.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a lighted cane, as aforesaid, that is light weight.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.
A lighted cane 100 according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to
As shown in
The foot 120 is coupled to the lower end 112b of the rod 110, as shown in
The handle 130 is operatively coupled to the rod upper end 112a and has proximal and distal ends 132a, 132b. At least one side face 134 extends between the proximal and distal ends 132a, 132b, and the proximal end 132a may be operatively coupled to the rod upper end 112a. The distal end 132b may have an end face 136, as shown in
As shown in
Means for lighting the rod 110 may be included. For example, as shown in
An emergency alert system 160 may have an input device 162 in data communication with a transmitter 164 for transmitting a distress signal upon activation of the input device 162. As shown in
In use, a respective sleeve 140 may be placed over the handle 130 to obtain a desired look or feel as discussed above. The user may use the lighted cane 100 in a traditional manner to aid in walking, and when additional light is needed the user may actuate the activation device 154 (or in other words, press the button 154). The activation device 154 may in turn actuate the light source 150 (e.g., a LED), which may be powered by the battery 152. The transparent nature of the rod 110 may allow the light from the light source 150 to illuminate the entire rod 110 and the surrounding area. The light source 150 may turn off automatically (e.g., by a timer at a predetermined time interval) or may be turned off when the user again presses the button 154. If the user falls or is otherwise in distress, he may press the input device 162, which may cause the transmitter 164 to transmit a distress signal to a monitoring service or another appropriate location (e.g., a family member, nurse, etc.). The location of the input device 162 may keep it from being pressed accidentally, and may therefore prevent false alarms.
It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. A lighted cane, comprising:
- a transparent rod having upper and lower ends;
- a foot coupled to said rod lower end;
- a handle operatively coupled to said rod upper end;
- a light source in communication with one of said rod upper end and said rod lower end, wherein light from said light source travels through and is emitted by said rod;
- a battery for powering said light source; and
- an activation device coupled to said handle for selectively actuating said light source.
2. The lighted cane as in claim 1, further comprising a sleeve selectively coupled to said handle, said sleeve substantially enclosing said handle when coupled thereto.
3. The lighted cane as in claim 1, wherein said light source includes at least one LED.
4. The lighted cane as in claim 1, further comprising a unit housing said light source, and wherein said unit couples said handle to said rod.
5. The lighted cane as in claim 1, wherein:
- said handle has proximal and distal ends;
- said handle proximal end is operatively coupled to said rod upper end; and
- said activation device is a button adjacent said handle proximal end.
6. The lighted cane as in claim 1, further comprising an emergency alert system having an input device in data communication with a transmitter for transmitting a distress signal upon activation of said input device.
7. The lighted cane as in claim 6, wherein:
- said handle has proximal and distal ends and at least one side face extending between said proximal and distal ends;
- said handle distal end has an end face;
- said handle proximal end is operatively coupled to said rod upper end; and
- said input device is a button accessible only at said handle end face.
8. The lighted cane as in claim 7, wherein:
- said handle has a curved configuration; and
- said activation device is a button accessible at said side face adjacent said handle proximal end.
9. The lighted cane as in claim 8, further comprising:
- a sleeve selectively coupled to said handle, said sleeve substantially enclosing said handle when coupled thereto; and
- a unit housing said light source, said unit removably coupling said handle to said rod wherein said battery is accessible when said handle and said rod are separated.
10. A lighted cane, comprising:
- a transparent rod having upper and lower ends;
- a foot coupled to said rod lower end;
- a handle coupled to said rod upper end;
- means for lighting said rod; and
- an emergency alert system having an input device in data communication with a transmitter for transmitting a distress signal upon activation of said input device.
11. The lighted cane as in claim 10, wherein said means for lighting said rod includes at least one LED.
12. The lighted cane as in claim 11, further comprising a unit housing said LED, and wherein said unit couples said handle to said rod.
13. The lighted cane as in claim 10, wherein:
- said handle has proximal and distal ends and at least one side face extending between said proximal and distal ends;
- said handle distal end has an end face;
- said handle proximal end is operatively coupled to said rod upper end; and
- said input device is a button accessible only at said handle end face.
14. The lighted cane as in claim 13, further comprising a sleeve selectively coupled to said handle, said sleeve substantially enclosing said handle when coupled thereto.
15. The lighted cane as in claim 14, wherein:
- said handle has a curved configuration; and
- said means for lighting said rod includes at least one LED.
16. A lighted cane, comprising:
- a transparent acrylic rod having upper and lower ends;
- a foot coupled to said rod lower end, said foot having a nonslip configuration;
- a handle coupled to said rod upper end;
- means for lighting said rod; and
- an emergency alert system having an input device in data communication with a transmitter for transmitting a distress signal upon activation of said input device.
17. The lighted cane as in claim 16, further comprising a plurality of sleeves, each sleeve being configured to be respectively coupled to said handle.
18. The lighted cane as in claim 17, wherein:
- each sleeve substantially encloses said handle when respectively coupled thereto; and
- at least one said sleeve has a tactile characteristic that is different than a tactile characteristic of another said sleeve.
19. The lighted cane as in claim 18, wherein:
- said means for lighting said rod includes at least one LED;
- said handle has proximal and distal ends and at least one side face extending between said proximal and distal ends;
- said handle distal end has an end face;
- said handle proximal end is operatively coupled to said rod upper end;
- said handle has a curved configuration; and
- said input device is a button accessible only at said handle end face.
20. The lighted cane as in claim 16, wherein:
- said means for lighting said rod includes at least one LED;
- said handle has proximal and distal ends and at least one side face extending between said proximal and distal ends;
- said handle distal end has an end face;
- said handle proximal end is operatively coupled to said rod upper end;
- said handle has a curved configuration; and
- said input device is a button accessible only at said handle end face.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 27, 2007
Publication Date: Mar 5, 2009
Inventor: Jeffrey D. Lawhead (Olathe, KS)
Application Number: 11/845,547
International Classification: A45B 3/02 (20060101);