CANE

Abstract

A cane includes a rod, a primary handle, a ring, an auxiliary handle and a skid-proof device. The rod includes a first end for contact with the ground. The primary handle extends from a second end of the rod. The ring is provided on the rod in a rotatable and movable manner. The auxiliary handle extends from the ring. The skid-proof device is provided between the rod and the ring. The skid-proof device includes annular ribs on an internal side. A diameter of the annular ribs is at least equal to a diameter of the rod. The auxiliary handle is rotatable about and movable along an axis of the rod due to little friction between the rod and the annular ribs as the auxiliary handle is not pivoted toward the first end of the rod. The auxiliary handle is locked on the rod due to friction between the rod and the annular ribs as the auxiliary handle is pivoted toward the first end of the rod.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a cane and, more particularly, to a can with a primary handle and a movable auxiliary handle.

2. Related Prior Art

A senior citizen or a disabled person often finds it difficult to walk or just stand on their feet that are weak. A cane is an important tool to help a user support his or her weight and keep balance. There are various canes. A first type of cane includes a handle to be held with a single hand. A second type of cane includes a crossbar to be located in an armpit. A third type of cane includes four feet and two handles to be held with two hands. Different persons use different types of canes to meet their needs.

The first type of cane can include a telescopic element from which the handle extends. The length of the telescopic element is adjustable according to a user's figure. The first type of cane is useful for a user to walk with; however, it is not of much help while the user is trying to stand up. To overcome this problem, the first of cane can be equipped with an auxiliary handle connected to the rod below the handle, which extends from an upper end of the rod. A user can hold the auxiliary handle while trying to stand up. It is still inconvenient that the elevation of the auxiliary handle cannot be adjusted according to the figure of the user.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a cane effective for a user while standing and while trying to stand.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the cane includes a rod, a primary handle, a ring, an auxiliary handle and a skid-proof device. The rod includes a first end for contact with the ground. The primary handle extends from a second end of the rod. The ring is provided on the rod in a rotatable and movable manner. The auxiliary handle extends from the ring. The skid-proof device is provided between the rod and the ring. The skid-proof device includes annular ribs on an internal side. A diameter of the annular ribs is at least equal to a diameter of the rod. The auxiliary handle is rotatable about and movable along an axis of the rod due to little friction between the rod and the annular ribs as the auxiliary handle is not pivoted toward the first end of the rod. The auxiliary handle is locked on the rod due to friction between the rod and the annular ribs as the auxiliary handle is pivoted toward the first end of the rod.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cane according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cane shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial, enlarged, cross-sectional view of the cane shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is another partial, enlarged, cross-sectional view of the cane shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the cane shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a cane includes a rod 10, a primary handle 16, a ring 25, an auxiliary handle 20 and a skid-proof device 30 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The rod 10 includes a first, lower end for contact with the ground, a floor, a stair or the like. The rod 10 is preferably hollow for good balance between weight and strength. More preferably, the rod 10 is a telescopic element with an adjustable length.

The primary handle 16 preferably extends from a second, upper end of the rod 10. An axis of the primary handle 16 is in perpendicular to an axis of the rod 10. There is preferably a curved section extending to the primary handle 16 from the second end of the rod 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, the ring 25 includes an aperture 26 defined therein. The aperture 26 includes two open ends spaced along an axis thereof. The ring 25 includes an annular groove 27 defined in an internal side, about the axis of the aperture 26, near the first open end. The ring 25 includes an annular flange 28 formed on the internal side, about the axis of the aperture 26, near the second open end.

The auxiliary handle 20 extends from the ring 25. An axis of the auxiliary handle 20 is in perpendicular to the axis of the aperture 26. A soft sleeve 21 is provided on the auxiliary handle 20 to provide a user with a soft, comfortable touch.

The skid-proof device 30 preferably includes two identical skid-proof elements 31 and 35. The skid-proof elements 31 and 35 are arched. Both of them extend for almost 180 degrees about an axis of the skid-proof device 30. The skid-proof element 31 includes an arched flange 32 formed on an external side and arched ribs 33 formed on an internal side. Each of the arched ribs 33 extends around the axis of the skid-proof device 30. A diameter of each of the arched ribs 33 is equal to or marginally longer than a diameter of the rod 10. Like the skid-proof element 31, the skid-proof element 35 includes an arched flange 36 and arched ribs 37.

The ring 25 is provided on the rod 10. That is, the rod 10 is inserted through the aperture 26. The axis of the ring 25 is coaxial with an axis of the rod 10. Normally, the ring 25 is rotatable about and movable along the axis of the rod 10.

The skid-proof elements 31 and 35 are provided between the rod 10 and the ring 25. The skid-proof elements 31 and 35 are spaced from each other in a radial direction of the rod 10 by two gaps. The axis of the skid-proof device 30 is co-axial with the axis of the rod 10. The arched flanges 32 and 36 are inserted in the annular groove 27. A lower end of each of the skid-proof elements 31 and 35 is abutted against the annular flange 28. Thus, the skid-proof elements 31 and 35 are not movable relative to the ring 25 along the axis of the rod 10.

Referring to FIG. 3, the auxiliary handle 20 is not pivoted toward the first end of the rod 10 when the user does not hold the auxiliary handle 20 and use the cane to support his or her weight or keep balance. The arched ribs 33 and 37 are in slight contact with of the rod 10. That is, there is little friction between the rod 10 and the arched ribs 33 and 37. Hence, the auxiliary handle 20 is movable along the axis of the rod 10. Furthermore, the auxiliary handle 20 is rotatable about the axis of the rod 10 as shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 4, the auxiliary handle 20 is pivoted toward the first end of the rod 10 when the user holds the auxiliary handle 20 and uses the cane to support his or her weight or keep balance. Some of the arched ribs 33 are in firm contact with the rod 10. Some of the arched ribs 37 are in firm contact with the rod 10. That is, there is significant friction between the rod 10 and these arched ribs 33 and 37. The auxiliary handle 20 is locked on the rod 10 due to the significant friction. That is, the auxiliary handle 20 cannot be rotated about and moved along the axis of the rod 10.

The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the ring 25 can include two annular flanges while each of the skid-proof elements 31 and 35 can include two arched grooves that can receive the annular flanges of the ring 25.

For instance, the ring 25 can include two annular flanges while the skid-proof elements 31 and 35 do not include any grooves. The annular flanges of the ring 25 can be abutted against two ends of each of the skid-proof elements 31 and 35.

For example, the ring 25 can include two annular grooves while each of the skid-proof elements 31 and 35 can include two arched flanges. The annular grooves of the ring 25 can receive the arched flanges of the skid-proof elements 31 and 35.

For example, the skid-proof elements 31 and 35 can be made one like a C-ring. That is, the skid-proof device 30 includes a single skid-proof it element with two ends spaced from each other with a gap.

For example, the skid-proof elements 31 and 35 can be made one like a sleeve. That is, the skid-proof device 30 includes an end-less single skid-proof element.

Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A cane comprising:

a rod (10) including a first end for contact with the ground;

a primary handle (16) extending from a second end of the rod (10);

a ring (25) provided on the rod (10) in a rotatable and movable manner;

an auxiliary handle (20) extending from the ring (25); and

a skid-proof device (30) provided between the rod (10) and the ring (25), wherein the skid-proof device (30) comprises annular ribs (33, 37) on an internal side, wherein a diameter of the annular ribs (33, 37) is at least equal to a diameter of the rod (10), wherein the auxiliary handle (20) is rotatable about and movable along an axis of the rod (10) due to little friction between the rod (10) and the annular ribs (33, 37) as the auxiliary handle (20) is not pivoted toward the first end of the rod (10), wherein the auxiliary handle (20) is locked on the rod (10) due to friction between the rod (10) and the annular ribs (33, 37) as the auxiliary handle (20) is pivoted toward the first end of the rod (10).

2. The cane according to claim 1, wherein the rod (10) is a telescopic element with an adjustable length.

3. The cane according to claim 1, further including a soft sleeve (21) provided on the auxiliary handle (20)

4. The cane according to claim 1, wherein the skid-proof device (30) includes two skid-proof elements (31, 35) spaced from each other along a transverse direction of the rod (10) by two gaps and provided between the rod (10) and the ring (25), wherein each of the skid-proof elements (31, 35) includes arched ribs (33, 37) on an internal side, wherein each of the arched ribs (33) of one of the skid-proof elements (31) and a related one of the arched ribs (37) of the other skid-proof element (35) together become one of the annular ribs (33, 37).

5. The cane according to claim 4, wherein the ring (25) includes an annular groove (27) defined in an internal side while each of the skid-proof elements (31, 35) includes an arched flange (32, 36) formed on an external side and inserted in the annular groove (27), avoiding the movement of the ring (25) relative to the skid-proof elements (31, 35) along the axis of the rod (10).

6. The cane according to claim 5, wherein the ring (25) includes on an internal side an annular flange (28) for abutment against a lower end of each of the skid-proof elements (31, 35), avoiding downward movement of the skid-proof elements (31, 35) relative to the ring (25) along the axis of the rod (10).

7. The cane according to claim 1, wherein one of the ring (25) and the skid-proof device (30) includes an annular groove (27) while the other one of the ring (25) and the skid-proof device (30) includes an arched flange (32, 36) inserted in the annular groove (27), thus avoiding the movement of the ring (25) relative to the skid-proof device (30) along the axis of the rod (10).

8. The cane according to claim 1, wherein the ring (25) includes an annular groove (27) defined in an internal side while the skid-proof device (30) includes an annular flange (32, 36) formed on an external side and inserted in the annular groove (27), avoiding the movement of the ring (25) relative to the skid-proof device (30) along the axis of the rod (10).

9. The cane according to claim 8, wherein the ring (25) includes on an internal side an annular flange (28) for abutment against a lower end of the skid-proof device (30), avoiding downward movement of the skid-proof device (30) relative to the ring (25) along the axis of the rod (10).

10. The cane according to claim 1, wherein the primary handle (16) includes an axis in perpendicular to the axis of the rod (10).

11. The cane according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary handle (20) includes an axis in perpendicular to the axis of the rod (10).

12. The cane according to claim 1, wherein the ring (25) includes an aperture (26) through which the rod (10) is inserted.

13. The cane according to claim 12, wherein the ring (25) includes an axis normally in coaxial with an axis of the rod (10).

14. The cane according to claim 12, wherein the auxiliary handle (20) includes an axis in perpendicular to an axis of the ring (25).