Abstract: In a walking stick comprising a rod with a handle structure formed at one end of the rod, the handle structure includes a cylindrical opening receiving indicating or signaling instruments.

Abstract: A walker to assist physically impaired persons in ascending and descending stairs, has two rear legs pivotally attached to two front legs. When the walker is in use, the rear legs are locked against any pivotal movement; when stairs are to be negotiated, a locking member is released to permit relative pivotal movement of the rear legs in respect to the front legs. Thus, the front and rear legs can be placed on the staircase. After this has been done, the legs again are locked into position. The walker maintains this relative position so that the person using it may negotiate the stairs. The locking member is in the form of a toothed substantially circular gear and spring biased bolt.

Abstract: A crutch is disclosed for providing assistance to individuals who have been injured or are physically challenged. The crutch includes two members capable of telescoping adjustment to accommodate the height of a user. A special shoulder support is used to provide comfortable support to the underarm of the user. The crutch also includes a rectangular foot, which is used to provide a more secure contact with the ground. The foot is specially designed so that is may flex in a manner similar to that of a human foot. The crutch is also capable of supporting multiple accessory items such as a beverage container and a briefcase.

Abstract: A knee crutch for supporting a patient, comprising a knee receptacle, one or more legs, an upright and a handle, allowing the patient to walk by grasping the handle and moving the knee crutch and injured knee forward, and to stand with hands free, by resting the abdomen against the handle.

Abstract: Forearm rests are combined with a conventional invalid walker. The forearm rests are located generally spaced above the normal hand-grips. The forearm rests are advantageous for providing inward lateral support to the user's outwardly flexed forearms while the user is grasping the hand-grips and while the user is one of (i) maneuvering the walker and (ii) partly supporting and stabilizing him or herself while standing and walking. The forearm rests provide better stability and support for a user who has diminished arm strength and/or diminished motor control over his or her arm muscles. The forearm-rests can be formed in an accessory apparatus that allows attachment to a conventional walker (without forearm rests) in order to enhance the walker and give it the desirable forearm rests.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved handle comprising an elongated body having an upper end and a lower end and a central channel extending longitudinally through the body which is adapted to receive an elongated shaft of a hand carried article and rigid finger engaging means extending from the body perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof and in linear alignment therealong. The finger engaging means has an aperture adapted to receive at least one finger of the hand therethrough when the handle is grasped, whereby the handle and the umbrella on which it is mounted are steadily supported on the fingers while permitting the user to manipulate other articles with the ends of the fingers. Alternative embodiments include an accessory handle adapted to be mounted on an existing handle whereby the advantages of this invention may be applied to existing articles.

Abstract: Solid (e.g. wooden) and tubular crutches, are adapted for use with standard bolt-supported hand grips, are modified for use with a bolt supported hand grip, at a desired incline for user comfort. The angle of incline, from normal lateral placement, is predetermined and the parallel spaced apart sections of the crutch are correspondingly apertured along such angle, i.e. with through apertures, to permit placement of the hand grip supporting bolt at such angle. A series of correspondingly angled apertures on the crutch bows allows for height adjustment similar to the standard laterally aligned apertures. The angled aperturing may be in addition to the lateral apertures to permit both inclined and lateral hand grip placement as desired. Alternatively, the hand grip itself is formed with an integral incline, whereby, when it is normally laterally affixed to the laterally aligned apertures of standard crutches with a standard bolt and wing nut connection, an inclined grip is provided.

Abstract: The Versatile and Universal Handle has a bilaterally symmetrical, curvilinear shape of predetermined proportions with a tapered, variable grip. The handle includes a proximal gripping area, an intermediate area, and a distal area. The proximal gripping area preferably makes an angle of between eight degrees and fifteen degrees with respect to the intermediate area. The intermediate area preferably makes an angle of approximately one degree to five degrees with respect to the distal area. These three areas flow smoothly in transition from one to the next. In cross-section the handle appears as an ellipse with its exact shape, eccentricity, and size varying considerably with position along the major axis. The cross-sectional shape through the mid-section of the proximal gripping ares is very near circular with a markedly smaller cross-sectional area than at either end of the proximal gripping area.

Abstract: An adjustable hand grip is provided that can slide along the vertical supports of an orthopedic crutch. The hand grip can be easily fixed to the supports at different vertical elevations to accommodate the user by using a locking member that includes a pin that is biased inwardly into apertures provided on the vertical supports.

Abstract: A walking stick having a natural wood stick shaft and a handle formed of a golf ball. The golf ball may be attached to the shaft of the stick by means of a double-ended bolt.

Abstract: This invention relates to a combination walking cane/quick attachment cue stick comprising a non-threading fastener means to assemble a rearward end of a forward shaft to an open end of a rearward shaft to form the cue stick and to fasten the rearward shaft and a cap member over the forward shaft to conveniently form the walking cane. The fastener means comprises a plurality of resilient rings which securely engages the interior of either the cap member or the rearward shaft to securely hold either the cap member or the rearward shaft to and about the forward shaft. The cue stick further comprises a slide member which is slidably mounted on the forward shaft and extendable forward of the cue tip to further steady and assist the aim of the user using this cue stick. Further, replaceable weighted plugs are engageably mounted in the rearward end of the forward shaft to provide the user with a cue stick having a desired weight and balance.

Abstract: A hand grip for canes, crutches, walkers, outrigger skis, tools, etc., includes an elongated body possessing an axially inner end provided with a recess configured for partially receiving an elongated cylindrical support member of the ambulation aid, and an axially outer end including an enlarged circular ridge for preventing axial displacement of a user's hand. A mounting post extends axially through the body, transversely securing the hand grip to the support member. An obliquely forwardly and downwardly inclined platform on an upper side of the body adjacent the inner end applies a major portion of the user's weight to the hypothenar muscles of the user's hand. A depression formed axially outwardly of the platform provides a downwardly and axially outwardly curving concave load bearing surface for engagement with thenar muscles of a hand of a user such that the thumb of the user's hand is maintained in a palmar abducted orientation.

Abstract: An umbrella is described which has a handle (1) which is secured to an upper end part (3) of the umbrella stock (2) via a joint (4) in such a way that it can be pivoted between a position at least approximately aligned with the direction of the stock axis and a position at an angle of approximately 50.degree. to 90.degree. to the stock axis. The end part preferably has the same diameter as the adjacent grip region of the handle and serves as an extension of the grip region. In the grip region of the end part can be secured a snap-on shell which enables the umbrella to be grasped comfortably and securely.

Abstract: A device to aid persons rising from a seated position. The device comprises a structural support having a base positionable under a chair and a brace secured to the base. A sleeve is secured to the structural support for securing one end of an arm thereto. The other end of the arm has a griping section enabling a person seated in the chair to grasp the arm and pull himself up to an upright position.

Abstract: An improved handle (14) for a walking stick or ski pole additionally serves as a vehicle for advertising. The improved handle has an inner part (26) and an outer part (28). The two parts are formed of different materials. Portions (18,20,22,24) of the inner part project outwardly through openings in the outer part, and are visible from the outside of the handle. The inner and outer parts are made of different materials.

Abstract: An extension pole for a paint roller or the like. The pole has a threaded neck for engaging interior threads of a handle. An O-ring or neck engages an end of the handle to resist rotation of the pole relative to the hollow handle.

Abstract: A crutch including a tubular body, an arm support formed in an upper portion of the tubular body, and a hand grip fixed to a middle portion of the tubular body by a sleeve member which is mounted on the middle portion of the crutch and has a pair of flanges superposed with each other whereby each flange has a screw hole formed therein.

Abstract: A multi-purpose cane includes a shaft portion that can be adjusted to different lengths, and an electrical circuit that is used to activate a light generating element and/or an alarm or communicating unit. The electrical circuit includes a manual switch mounted on a handle portion of the cane. A rechargeable battery unit is located in the handle portion, and a second light unit can be mounted on a tip of the cane so the can be used to direct light longitudinally of the shaft portion. The other light generating unit can be moved to direct light at various angles with respect to the shaft portion.

Abstract: A detachable golf putter extension structured to provide a substantially increased putter shaft length for a conventional golf club putter only during use, while being detachable to allow the putter and the device to be easily stored in conventional golf bags and the like. The putter extension includes an elongated rigid extension shaft having a male ferrule upwardly extending from its lower end and an exterior gripping surface extending over the extension shaft from its upper end toward, but not beyond, the male ferrule. The invention is particularly adapted to be retrofit onto existing golf putters by providing a rigid, tubular sleeve which is sized to be slid into, and then rigidly anchored within, the upper end of the golf putter shaft after a suitable hole has been formed into the upper end of the putter grip.

Abstract: An umbrella having an umbrella cover portion, with a stem portion extending downward for providing the coverage for a single individual as a normal umbrella. Further, there is provided a means for separating the stem portion into two separate stem portions, with a section intermediate the stem portion expandable outward to provide that the single coverage umbrella portion expand to a double coverage umbrella portion, with the stem portions at their lowermost end, either hand held by one of the individuals, or may be separated to be held by both individuals being covered under the expanded fold of the umbrella.

Abstract: An umbrella includes a removable, longitudinally elongated handle which connects to the lower end of the shaft of the umbrella. The handle includes a battery powered radio receiver. A clip is provided for engaging the garment of the user enabling the handle to be independently worn and operated as a radio apart from the umbrella. A directional lamp is provided in one of the faces of the handle enabling the handle to function as a flashlight.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for an umbrella or a corresponding means. The umbrella is referred to as a portable means giving shelter mainly against rain or sun, which comprises an elongated body, a shelter cover attached to the body, which can be typically gathered around the body and put up around one end of the body, and a handle situated at the other end of the body. The arrangement according to the invention comprises an arm and a fixing device by means of which the arm can be attached to the body so that it preferably situates at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the body in the working position. The arm is provided with a folding means in the fixing device so that the arm can be folded down in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the body in the carrying position.

Abstract: A cane handle is provided with a novel fastenerless lock for securing the handle to a tubular shaft to form a cane assembly. The fastenerless lock includes a depending stub shaft formed integrally with the handle, that stub shaft having a series of annular lock flanges oriented generally normally to the stub shafts' longitudinal axis. The lock flanges are deformable and have an outside diameter in their undeformed, pre-assembly state, that is slightly greater than that of the inside diameter of the tubular shaft into which the stub shaft bearing the lock flanges is inserted to form a cane assembly. Upon insertion into the tubular shaft, the flanges are deformed upwardly in generally dish shaped configuration that resists their subsequent withdrawal.

Abstract: A cane having a one piece molded handle with a roughened area on the handle's top surface to increase gripping friction with the user's hand, upstanding shoulders at the front and rear ends of the handle that prevents the user's hand from slipping off the handle, and index finger support ribs to enhance control of the cane during use. The handle is preferably connected to a tubular shaft by a fastenerless lock that includes a stub shaft formed integral with the handle, that stub shaft having a series of lock flanges oriented generally normal to the stub shaft's axis that, prior to assembly, are of a slightly greater outside diameter than the inside diameter of the tubular shaft, so that the lock flanges are deformed upwardly in generally dish-shaped configuration when the handle's stub shaft is inserted into the tubular shaft.

Abstract: Device for concealing and locking in place a weapon such as in conjunction with an umbrella wherein the weapon can be unlocked and withdrawn at will. The weapon locking device is operated by manually releasing spring-biased locking pins which are frictionally interlocked with a portion of the weapon when it is disposed in its locked position.

Abstract: A ski pole handle having both a finger shield and a thumb shield for restraining the thumb against backward movement relative to the fingers.

Abstract: A conventional mobility cane for the blind incorporates a compact, dual-mode, ultrasonic obstacle detection sensor that includes a combination transmitting and receiving, capacitance type electrostatic transducer. The size of the protective zone associated with said sensor is infinitely variable. In one mode, the sensor warns of low lying objects that might contact the upper extremities of an ambulatory mobility cane user. In another mode, the user can determine the presence or absence of more remote objects. Means are provided for readily alternating between said object sensor modes.

Abstract: An upright is provided including upper and lower ends and the lower end of the upright includes a foot for frictionally gripping an upwardly facing support surface. The upper end of the upright defines a pair of horizontally spaced apart opposite side portions between which a horizontal upwardly opening cradle is supported for angular adjustment about an axis extending transversely of the cradle and between the opposite side portions. One of the opposite side portions includes a cane handle supported therefrom for angular displacement about its longitudinal axis and projecting above the cradle and one end of the cradle includes an outwardly convex end wall while the other end of the cradle is open and includes an endwise outwardly projecting support arm from whose outer end a second upwardly opening cradle is supported.

Abstract: An improved umbrella structure having a unique handle that permits the umbrella to be staked into the ground, right side up, when desired by the user. The handle, in preferred form, includes a pin having a stake-like point at one end and a threaded shank at the other end, and a cap that can be threadedly connected with the shank. In the stake position, the pin is threaded into the umbrella's handle so that the stake-like point is exposed, and the cap is inserted in the user's pocket. In the storage position, the pin is threaded into the umbrella's handle so that the stake-like point is received in a storage cavity defined in that handle, and the cap is threaded onto the pin so as to protect the threaded shank and establish an aesthetically pleasing contour to the handle.