REMOVABLE SHOCK ABSORBING TIP FOR A WALKING AID
A removable shock absorbing tip for a walking aid. The tip may be comprised of a shaft engaging member for connecting the tip to the shaft of a walking aid, an outer shell, and a biasing member. The biasing member may disposed within the outer shell in abutment with the shaft engaging member. The biasing member may also be disposed around the shaft engaging member and in abutment with the outer shell. The biasing member may be a spring, a fluid-filled cushion, or a member formed of elastomeric material. The outer shell may be formed of transparent or translucent material to permit the biasing member to be visible to a user for ease of identification.
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The present disclosure relates generally to walking aids. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to walking aids such as canes, crutches, and walkers having removable shock absorbing tips configured to permit a shock absorbing biasing member of the tip to be visible to a user.
The embodiments disclosed herein will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. These drawings depict only typical embodiments, which will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which:
Certain individuals may require the assistance of a walking aid. Because these individuals rely on their walking aid to be able to walk, they may be motivated to customize the walking aid according to their individual preferences. For example, a hand grip of a walking aid may be exchanged with a customized grip, or a grip more to the user's liking. Similarly, the tip(s) of a walking aid may be exchanged to match the preferences of the user. For example, a user may prefer a hard or soft tip, a tip with a certain type of tread to provide traction and minimize slipping, a tip designed for icy or slippery conditions, or a tip designed for shock absorption. Moreover a user may prefer a different type of shock absorbing tips depending on the conditions. Tips for walking aids, however, are not always readily distinguishable and it may be difficult to easily identify a desired tip when choosing among several options having subtly different features. The present disclosure addresses some of these issues by enabling a user to view the biasing member of a shock absorbing tip and thereby distinguish the tip from other tips.
It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of various embodiments, as represented in the Figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of various embodiments. While the various aspects of the embodiments are presented in drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated.
The phrases “connected to,” “coupled to” and “in communication with” refer to any form of interaction between two or more entities, including mechanical, electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic, fluid, and thermal interaction. Two components may be coupled to each other even though they are not in direct contact with each other. For example, two components may be coupled to each other through an intermediate component.
“Transparent material,” as used herein, designates material that allows objects to be seen clearly through it. “Translucent material,” as used herein, designates material that allows light to pass through, but diffusing it so that objects beyond are not distinctly seen. Transparent or translucent material may be examples of a means for viewing a biasing means from the exterior of the outer shell member 116. Other examples of means for viewing may include a window, a slit, a hole, a notch, or any opening in the outer shell member.
In one embodiment, the removable biasing tip 110 may comprise a biasing member 114, an outer shell member 116, and a slidably moveable member 115. The outer shell 116 may further comprise a shaft engaging member 112 configured to engage the shaft 104 of the walking aid 100, thereby coupling the removable biasing tip 110 to the shaft 104. As depicted in
The biasing member 114 may be positioned within the outer shell member 116 around the shaft engaging member 112. The slidably moveable member 115 may be adapted to be received within the outer shell member 116, but outside of the shaft engaging member 112, to abut against one end of the biasing member. The slidably moveable member 115 may be slidably moveable with respect to the outer shell member 116 and the shaft 104 to compress the biasing member.
A “biasing member” refers to a resilient or elastic component. A biasing member may be capable of providing a force in a particular direction and/or may be capable of returning to an original shape or position after having been compressed. A biasing member may be means for biasing a tip end of a walking aid against a force applied down a shaft of the walking aid. Exemplary biasing members, and biasing means, include a coil spring or other spring, a compressible gas, a compressible liquid, a compressible solid, a compressible gel, a cushion filled with compressible gas, liquid or gel, an elastomeric material, etc.
As depicted in
The slidably moveable member 115 may slide relative to the outer shell member 116 in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the shaft 104 of the walking aid. As a user applies force down the shaft 104, the slidably moveable member 115 may slide within the outer shell member 116, around the shaft engaging member 112, to compress the biasing member 114 and thereby allow the biasing member to soften the impact of the tip 110 and walking aid 100 with the ground. Also, as illustrated, the slidably moveable member 115 may be configured to be received within the interior 120 of the hollow shaft 104, such that a portion of the slidably moveable member 115 slides within the shaft 104 when compressing the biasing member 115. The slidably moveable member 115 may further comprise a tread member 117 to provide the tip 110 with traction on the ground.
In the embodiment of
The removable biasing tip 110B may comprise a biasing member 114B and an outer shell member 116B. The outer shell member may be coupled to an inner shaft-engaging member 112B that is slidably moveable within the outer shell member 116B and configured to engage the shaft 104B of the walking aid 100B. The outer shell 116B may surround the biasing member 114B and couple the shaft engaging member 112B and the biasing member 114B. Because the shaft engaging member 112B is slidably moveable within the outer shell member 116B, the outer shell member 116B can move with respect to the shaft 104B when force is applied down the shaft 104B. The outer shell member 116B compresses the biasing member 114B, thereby enabling the biasing member 114B to absorb the force of impact of tip 110B. Thus, in this embodiment, the outer shell member 116 may be an example of means for compressing the biasing means.
The outer shell member 116B may include a window 118B to permit the biasing member 114B to be visible through the outer shell member 116B. As depicted in
As depicted by
As depicted by
In another embodiment, the shaft engaging member 212C may not be slidably moveable with respect to the outer shell member 216C. There may be not be any slidably moveable member. Rather, the outer shell member 216C may be formed of a flexible material that collapses when pressure is applied. The outer shell member 216C may collapse when force is applied down the shaft 204C, such as when the user of a waking aid applies pressure to the walking aid for stability and support. When the outer shell member 216C collapses, the biasing member 214C may compress to absorb a portion of the shock of impact and the force applied.
The shock absorbing tip 310E of
The shaft engaging member 512 is at least partially received by and slidably moveable within a cavity of the outer shell 516. The shaft engaging member 512 moves relative to the outer shell 516 in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of a shaft to which the shaft engaging member 512 may be coupled. The shaft engaging member 512 may slide along a one or more tracks 522 formed along the inside of the cavity of the outer shell member 516, as shown in
As a force is applied down a shaft of a walking aid and is transferred to the shaft engaging member 512, the shaft engaging member 512 slides further into the outer shell member 516. The collar 520 of the shaft engaging member 512 also moves closer to the top rim 518 of the outer shell member 516, thereby compressing the spring biasing member 514. In this manner, the spring biasing member 514 can absorb the shock of impact of the tip 510 and the walking aid with the ground. The impact of the tip 510 with the ground is softened. When the force down the shaft is removed, the spring biasing member 514 biases the collar 520 of the shaft engaging member 512 away from the outer shell member 516 and into position to soften the shock of a subsequent impact of the tip 510 with the ground.
While specific embodiments of walking aids and removable tips for walking aids have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention claimed hereinafter is not limited to the precise configuration and components disclosed. Various modifications, changes, and variations apparent to those of skill in the art may be made in the arrangement, operation, and details of the apparatus disclosed.
Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can use the preceding description to utilize the present disclosure to its fullest extent. The examples and embodiments disclosed herein are to be construed as merely illustrative and exemplary and not a limitation of the scope of the present disclosure in any way. It will be apparent to those having skill in the art that changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention as claimed hereinafter. In other words, various modifications and improvements of the embodiments specifically disclosed in the description above are within the scope of the appended claims. Note that elements recited in means-plus-function format are intended to be construed in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §112 ¶6.
Claims
1. A walking aid apparatus comprising:
- a walking aid configured to provide support to a user who applies pressure thereon, the walking aid comprising: a handle by which a user can grasp the walking aid; and a shaft extending from the handle toward the ground, the shaft having a handle end and a tip end;
- a biasing tip removably coupled to the tip end of the shaft of the walking aid, the biasing tip comprising: a biasing member to provide shock-absorption for the walking aid; and an outer shell member configured to abut with the biasing member, to couple the biasing member to the shaft of the walking aid, the outer shell member cooperating with the biasing member, such that the biasing member is visible to a user.
2. The walking aid apparatus of claim 1, wherein the biasing tip further comprises a slidably moveable member configured to be partially received and slidably moveable within the outer shell member, wherein the slidably moveable member abuts against one end of the biasing member and moves with respect to the outer shell as the biasing member compresses.
3. The walking aid apparatus of claim 2, wherein the outer shell member of the biasing tip secures the biasing member in abutment with the slidably moveable member.
4. The walking aid apparatus of claim 2, wherein the slidably moveable member moves with respect to the shaft of the walking aid.
5. The walking aid apparatus of claim 2, wherein the slidably moveable member comprises a shaft engaging member and remains stationary with respect to the shaft of the walking aid.
6. The walking aid apparatus of claim 5, wherein the shaft engaging member comprises a collar positioned at a first end of the shaft engaging member and a second end of the shaft engaging member is slidably received within the outer shell member, and
- wherein the biasing member is disposed around a portion of the shaft engaging member and in abutment with the collar of the shaft engaging member and in abutment with a top rim of the outer shell member.
7. The walking aid apparatus of claim 2, wherein the slidably moveable member comprises a piston configured to be partially received by, and slidably moveable within, the outer shell member.
8. The walking aid apparatus of claim 1, wherein a portion of the outer shell member is made of transparent or translucent material.
9. The walking aid apparatus of claim 1, wherein the biasing member of the biasing tip is selected from: a spring, an elastomeric material or a fluid-filled cushion.
10. A biasing tip for a walking aid comprising:
- a shaft engaging member configured to removably couple the biasing tip to a shaft of a walking aid;
- a biasing member to provide shock-absorption for the walking aid, wherein one end of the biasing member abuts a portion of the shaft engaging member; and
- an outer shell member abutting the biasing member and engaging the shaft engaging member, the outer shell member configured secure the biasing member in abutment with the shaft engaging member and to permit the biasing member to be visible.
11. The biasing tip of claim 10, wherein the shaft engaging member comprises a collar positioned at a first end of the shaft engaging member and a second end of the shaft engaging member is slidably received within the outer shell member, and
- wherein the biasing member is disposed around a portion of the shaft engaging member and in abutment with the collar of the shaft engaging member and in abutment with a top rim of the outer shell member.
12. The biasing tip of claim 11, further comprising a slidably moveable member configured to be partially received and slidably moveable within the outer shell member, wherein the slidably moveable member abuts against the biasing member and moves with respect to the outer shell as the biasing member compresses.
13. The biasing tip of claim 11, wherein the biasing member is disposed within the biasing tip, and wherein the outer shell member surrounds the biasing member.
14. The biasing tip of claim 13, wherein a portion of the outer shell member is made of transparent or translucent material.
15. The biasing tip of claim 11, wherein a portion of the outer shell member further comprises a window configured to permit the biasing member to be visible from the exterior of the outer shell member.
16. The biasing tip of claim 11, wherein the biasing member is selected from: a spring, an elastomeric material, or a fluid-filled cushion.
17. A biasing tip for a walking aid comprising:
- a biasing member to provide shock-absorption for the walking aid;
- an outer shell member configured to abut and secure one end of the biasing member; and
- a slidably moveable member configured to be partially received and slidably moveable within the outer shell member, wherein the slidably moveable member abuts against one end of the biasing member and moves with respect to the outer shell as the biasing member compresses to absorb shock and soften a force of impact caused by the biasing tip contacting a surface;
- wherein the biasing tip is configured to be removable from the shaft of the walking aid.
18. The biasing tip of claim 17, wherein the slidably moveable member comprises a piston configured to be partially received within the outer shell member.
19. The biasing tip of claim 18, wherein the slidably moveable member is integrated with a shaft engaging member configured to couple the biasing tip to a shaft of a walking aid.
20. The biasing tip of claim 17, wherein the biasing member is disposed within the biasing tip, the outer shell member substantially enclosing the biasing member and configured to permit the biasing member to be visible from the exterior of the outer shell member.
21. The biasing tip of claim 17, wherein the biasing member is disposed around a portion of the slidably moveable member and in abutment with a portion of the slidably moveable member.
22. A biasing tip for a walking aid comprising:
- an outer shell member;
- means for biasing a tip end of a walking aid against a force applied down a shaft of a walking aid to provide shock-absorption for the walking aid;
- means for compressing the biasing means, wherein the compressing means is slidably moveable with respect to the outer shell member, and wherein the compressing means abuts against the biasing means to compress it against the outer shell member and thereby soften the force of impact,
- wherein the biasing tip is configured removable from the shaft of the walking aid.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 28, 2009
Publication Date: Mar 31, 2011
Applicant: Stander Inc. (Logan, UT)
Inventor: F. Troy Miller (Logan, UT)
Application Number: 12/567,882