Adaptive pivoting and impact reduction tip assembly for walking aids
Assignee3C Automation, Inc.
InventorsShyh Min Chen, James Dale Jordan, Dale Bourland Jordan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adaptive ambulatory support includes a shock absorbing and pivoting tip assembly attached to the staff of a walking aid, such as a cane, crutch or walker. The shock absorbing and pivoting tip assembly includes a shock absorber sandwiched between a lower portion and an upper portion. The shock absorber may be a bendable spring or elastic material. The tip assembly enables the shaft of the walking aid to dynamically pivot without the loss of adherence of the lower portion to the floor surface and simultaneous provides the adaptive shock absorbing capability in any angle during ambulation.
Claims19
A walking stick end, comprising:
- at least one cushioned walking stick tip, comprising
- a lower portion having a bottom surface configured to rest against a horizontal surface;
- an upper portion having a shaft passage configured to attach to a user support shaft configured for grasping by a user, the user support shaft attachable to the upper portion to extend up from the upper portion;
- a shock absorber residing between the lower portion and the upper portion;
- and
- a bolt connecting the lower portion to the upper portion, the upper portion tiltable a first angle A5 with respect to the bolt;
- wherein the lower portion is deformable to allow the bolt to tilt a second angle A6 with respect to the lower portion, resulting in the upper portion tilting the first angle A5 plus a second angle A6 with respect to the lower portion.
A cushioned walking stick tip, comprising:
- a lower portion having a bottom surface configured to rest against a horizontal surface;
- an upper portion having a shaft passage configured to receive a user support shaft;
- a shock absorber residing between the lower portion and the upper portion, the shock absorber compressible allowing the upper portion to slide towards the lower portion when downward force is applied to the upper portion through the shaft;
- and
- a bolt connecting the lower portion to the upper portion and cooperating with a vertical passage portion of a cup embedded in the upper portion to allow the wherein the cup allows the upper portion rotating with respect to the lower portion, to tilt with respect to the bolt and the lower portion, and retaining the shock absorber between the lower portion and the upper portion,
- wherein the bolt is biased by the lower portion to remain vertical with respect to the lower portion, but is tiltable if sufficient force is applied, and the shock absorber is deformable, to allow the bolt and upper portion to tilt with respect to the lower portion.
A cushioned walking stick tip, comprising:
- a lower portion having a bottom surface configured to rest against a horizontal surface;
- an upper portion having a shaft passage configured to receive a user support shaft;
- a shock absorber residing between the lower portion and the upper portion, the shock absorber compressible allowing the upper portion to slide towards the lower portion when downward force is applied to the upper portion by the shaft;
- and
- a bolt connecting the lower portion to the upper portion and cooperating with an upper pivot embedded in the upper portion to allow the upper portion to pivot with respect to the bolt and the lower portion, and passing through the shock absorber to retain the shock absorber between the lower portion and the upper portion,
- wherein:
- the bolt is biased by the lower portion to remain vertical with respect to the lower portion, but is pivotable if sufficient force is applied, and the shock absorber is deformable, to allow the bolt and upper portion to pivot with respect to the lower portion;
- and
- the upper portion is retained to the bolt by a nut threaded on the bolt and residing inside the upper portion, the nut limiting the pivoting of the upper portion with respect to the bolt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.