GB2486005A

GB2486005A - A magnetic device for a walking stick

Info

Publication number: GB2486005A
Application number: GB1020320.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ivan Robert Reid
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-12-01
Filing date: 2010-12-01
Publication date: 2012-06-06
Also published as: GB201020320D0

Abstract

A securing device 10 suitable for use with a walking stick, comprises a ferromagnetic piece such as a magnet 12 arranged in housing 18. The housing 18 is held in place on the walking stick by means of helical spring 22. A cross-bar 14 extends through the housing 18, and the helical spring 22 is attached at either end of the crossbar, gripping the stick between it and the housing 18. Alternatively, a walking stick 40 may have a ferromagnetic piece 42 embedded in its surface. A bracket (50, 60, 70, figs. 4-6) may be provided, for fixing to a support. This provides a ferromagnetic holding surface against which the stick may be rested in the upright position.

Description

Walking sticks and accessories for walking sticks The present invention relates to walking sticks and accessories for walking sticks, in particular accessories that enable a walking stick to be supported in an upright position.

Walking sticks are used by many people who are unsteady on their feet, e.g. because of age or infirmity. However, many situations exist in which a person, when stationary, is not able to hold on to the walking stick because both hands are required for another purpose. In such cases, the walking stick may fall to the ground, and so will need to be retrieved for later use. However, users of walking sticks generally have difficulty in bending over to retrieve the walking stick from the ground.

It is known to provide holders for walking sticks that retain the walking stick in a substantially upright position. For example, a walking stick may rest in a tubular stand, similar to an umbrella stand. Alternatively, devices are available that may be secured to items of furniture such as a table, and that provide jaws for supporting a walking stick.

However, these devices provide low flexibility for the user, as they only allow the walking stick to be supported in a limited range of locations and at a limited range of heights.

Therefore, at its most general, the present invention may provide means for allowing a walking stick to be secured in an upright position against a wide variety of supports. The only requirement for the support is it should be configured to allow magnetic interaction between the device and the support. For example, the support may comprise a ferromagnetic component.

In a first aspect, the present invention may provide a securing device for securing a walking stick to a support, the securing device comprising a ferromagnetic piece, the ferromagnetic piece being affixed to attachment means, the attachment means being capable of extending at least partly around a cross-sectional perimeter of the walking stick, to bind the ferromagnetic piece to the walking stick, the securing device being configured to allow at least the handle of the walking stick to be held above ground level by means of magnetic interaction between the ferromagnetic piece and a ferromagnetic holding surface provided on the support body.

Typically, the ferromagnetic piece comprises iron or steel. The ferromagnetic piece may be actively magnetic (i.e. it may generate its own magnetic field). Alternatively, the ferromagnetic piece may be unmagnetised, in which case it is configured to interact with a ferromagnetic holding surface that is actively magnetic. In general, the ferromagnetic piece is actively magnetic.

Preferably, the ferromagnetic piece has a flat surface for contacting the support body. It is thought that the flat surface may enhance magnetic interaction between the ferromagnetic piece and the ferromagnetic holding surface provided on the support body.

The attachment means may provide a closed loop, which is configured to extend entirely around a cross-sectional perimeter of the walking stick when the securing device is positioned on the walking stick. Alternatively, the attachment means may comprise a set of jaws that are e.g. resiliently biased such that they provide a clip, thus allowing the ferromagnetic piece to be clipped to the walking stick.

Typically the attachment means comprises at least one resilient portion. This may allow the ferromagnetic piece to be fitted more securely to the walking stick. In general, the resilient portion comprises a helical spring.

In certain embodiments, the attachment means comprises a cross-bar, the ferromagnetic piece being positioned on the cross-bar. A helical spring is also provided in these embodiments, the helical spring having a first end joined to a first end of the cross-bar, and a second end joined to a second end of the cross-bar.

In such embodiments, the cross-bar may be situated within a housing, the housing having an aperture and the ferromagnetic piece protruding through the aperture.

Optionally, a soft pad may be provided on a radially-inwardly facing surface of the securing device, for example, on the underside of the housing (where present). The soft pad may comprise a material such as cotton, fabric, or sponge. The soft pad may help to ensure a close fit of the securing device to a walking stick, and may help to prevent scratching of the walking stick by the securing device.

In a second aspect, the present invention may provide a kit comprising a securing device according to the first aspect of the invention, and a walking stick. The second aspect of the invention may include one or more optional features of the first aspect of the invention.

The securing device according to the first aspect of the invention may allow a walking stick to be secured against a support having a ferromagnetic surface, such that the handle of the walking stick is held above ground level, within easy reach of the user.

Ferromagnetic surfaces are provided by many items of furniture such as bookshelves and bedside tables. However, in certain cases, ferromagnetic surfaces may not be available at a convenient location and/or height for the user. In such cases, it is desirable to be able to fit a ferromagnetic surface to e.g. an item of furniture, such that the ferromagnetic surface is usefully positioned for the user.

Thus, in a third aspect, the present invention may provide a kit comprising a securing device according to the first aspect of the invention, and a bracket, the bracket having connecting means for allowing the bracket to be connected to a support, the bracket further providing a ferromagnetic holding surface, at least one of the ferromagnetic piece of the securing device and the ferromagnetic holding surface being actively magnetic.

Typically, the ferromagnetic piece is actively magnetic.

The connecting means may comprise a clamp. In certain cases, the connecting means may comprise at least one resilient portion, e.g. it may comprise a clip. In other cases, the connecting means may comprise one or more apertures for allowing fixing means such as screws or nails to pass through the bracket, to secure the bracket to the support.

Typically, the ferromagnetic holding surface is flat. This may increase the strength of the interaction between the ferromagnetic piece and the ferromagnetic holding surface. In general, the ferromagnetic holding surface comprises iron or steel.

The bracket may further comprise a ledge extending outwardly from the ferromagnetic holding surface. The ledge may assist in supporting the securing device, and hence the walking stick to which the securing device is attached.

The kit according to the third aspect of the invention may further include a walking stick.

The kit may further include one or more optional features of the first aspect of the invention.

In a fourth aspect, the present invention may provide a walking stick comprising a ferromagnetic piece, the ferromagnetic piece being configured to allow at least the handle of the walking stick to be held above ground level by means of magnetic interaction between the ferromagnetic piece and a ferromagnetic holding surface provided on a support body.

Typically, the ferromagnetic piece comprises iron or steel. In general the ferromagnetic piece is actively magnetic.

The ferromagnetic piece may be contained within the walking stick or may be exposed at the surface of the walking stick.

Preferably, the ferromagnetic piece lies between the centre of gravity of the walking stick and the handle of the walking stick. In this way, the walking stick will generally be positioned with the handle uppermost when it is secured to the support body.

Preferably, the ferromagnetic piece has a flat surface for contacting the ferromagnetic holding surface. This may strengthen the magnetic interaction between the ferromagnetic piece and the ferromagnetic holding surface.

In a fifth aspect, the present invention may provide a kit comprising a walking stick according to the fourth aspect of the invention and a bracket, the bracket having connecting means for allowing the bracket to be connected to a support, the bracket further providing a ferromagnetic holding surface, at least one of the ferromagnetic piece of the securing device and the ferromagnetic holding surface being actively magnetic.

The kit according to the fifth aspect of the invention may provide one or more optional features of the fourth aspect of the invention. The bracket comprised in the kit according to the fifth aspect of the invention may include one or more optional features of the bracket comprised in the kit according to the third aspect of the invention.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the following Figures in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a securing device according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the securing device of Figure 1, the housing having been removed.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a walking stick according to an embodiment of the fourth aspect of the invention Figure 4 is a perspective view of a bracket for use in a kit according to an embodiment of the third or fifth aspects of the invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a bracket for use in a kit according to a further embodiment of the third or fifth aspects of the invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a bracket for use in a kit according another embodiment of the third or fifth aspects of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a securing device 10 according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention. The securing device 10 has a magnet 12 that comprises magnetised steel. The magnet 12 is annular and is secured to a cross bar 14 by means of a screw 16 passing through the aperture of the annular magnet.

The cross bar 14 is housed in a housing 18, the magnet 12 protruding through an aperture 20 in the housing 18. The housing 18 extends along the length of the cross-bar 14. The housing 18 has a square cross-section and is open at its longitudinal ends. A helical spring 22 passes through further apertures in the housing 18 and is attached to cross-bar 14, as explained in more detail with reference to Figure 2.

Optionally, a soft pad may be attached to the underside of the housing, that is, the side of the housing opposite the aperture 20, that being the side of the housing that faces in a radially inward direction of the loop defined by the securing device 10.

The soft pad may comprise a material such as cotton, fabric, or sponge. The soft pad may help to ensure a close fit of the securing device 10 to a walking stick, and may help to prevent scratching of the walking stick by the securing device 10.

Figure 2 shows the securing device 10 of Figure 1, the housing 18 having been removed. The central region of cross-bar 14 is encased in a sleeve 24 having a square cross-section. The magnet 12 is secured to the cross-bar 14 by means of the screw 16 that passes through the aperture in the magnet 12 and through the sleeve 24. The sleeve 24 helps to prevent rolling of the cross-bar 14 within the housing 18 (shown only in Figure 1), and so helps to maintain the orientation of the magnet 12 within the housing 18.

Helical spring 22 has a first end 22a that is secured to a first end 14a of the cross-bar 14 by means of a hook 23a. Similarly, the second end 22b of the helical spring 22 is secured to the second end 14b of the cross-bar 14 by means of a hook 23b.

The securing device 10 is fitted to a walking stick (not shown) by expanding the helical spring 22 SO that the walking stick can be inserted through the loop defined by the helical spring 22 and the cross-bar 14, and then allowing the helical spring 22 to retract such that the securing device 10 is brought into contact with the surface of the walking stick.

The resilient nature of the helical spring 22 ensures a close fit between the securing device 10 and the surface of the walking stick.

When the securing device 10 is fitted to the walking stick, the walking stick may be secured to a support that contains an iron or steel component, by means of the interaction of the iron or steel component with the magnet 12. Thus, the walking stick may be held e.g. in an upright position, the handle of the walking stick being situated such that it can be reached by the user, without the user having to bend over substantially.

A suitable support may be any object (e.g. a piece of furniture) that includes an iron or steel component e.g. a table leg, a railing, a chair, or a set of shelves.

Figure 3 shows a walking stick 40 according to an embodiment of the fourth aspect of the invention. The walking stick 40 has a handle 40a and a shaft 40b. The walking stick may be made e.g. of wood. The walking stick 40 has a magnet 42 embedded in its surface. That is, the magnet 42 is positioned in a recess provided in the walking stick 40 and is e.g. glued in place. The magnet 42 is located between the centre of gravity of the walking stick and the handle 40a of the walking stick. In this way, the walking stick 40 remains upright when it is secured to a support by means of magnetic interaction between the magnet and the support. That is, the handle 40a of the walking stick 40 remains above the shaft 40b.

The magnet 40 may comprise any ferromagnetic material e.g. iron or steel.

The walking stick of Figure 3 may be secured to a support in similar fashion to a walking stick that is fitted with a securing device as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a bracket 50 that may be attached to a support to provide a ferrous metal surface to which e.g. the walking stick of Figure 3 or a walking stick fitted with the securing device of Figure 1 may be secured.

The bracket has a flat metal plate 52 and a clip 54 that is attached to the plate 52 e.g. by a weld, glue, or one or more rivets. The clip 54 is attached to the plate 52 along the spine 56 of the clip. The clip further has two arms 58a, 58b that extend outwardly from the plane of the metal plate 52. The arms 58a, 58b of the clip are resiliently biased towards each other, such that they are able to clasp a shelf or other panel, to retain the bracket 50 on the shelf or panel.

The flat metal plate 52 is made of iron, steel or another ferromagnetic material, such that a magnetic interaction arises between the flat metal plate and the magnet of e.g. the walking stick of Figure 3 or a walking stick fitted with the securing device of Figure 1.

The user may attach the bracket 52 to a support so that it is at a convenient height to allow e.g. the walking stick of Figure 3 or a walking stick fitted with the securing device of Figure 1, to be secured to it and retrieved when necessary.

Figure 5 shows a bracket 60. The bracket has a steel plate 62 that has apertures 64a, 64b. The apertures allow fixing means such as screws or nails to pass through the bracket 60, to allow the bracket to be fixed to a table or other support. The steel plate 62 is folded to provide a ledge 66 that can help support a securing device (and hence the walking stick to which the securing device is attached). The bracket 60 further has a backplate 68, to provide additional stability of the bracket when it is affixed to a support.

The backplate 68 may be made of a metal such as brass.

Figure 6 shows a bracket 70, comprising a steel plate 72. This bracket has a backplate 74 that is folded to provide a ledge 76.

Claims

Claims 1. A securing device for securing a walking stick to a support, the securing device comprising a ferromagnetic piece, the ferromagnetic piece being affixed to attachment means, the attachment means being capable of extending at least partly around a cross-sectional perimeter of the walking stick, to bind the ferromagnetic piece to the walking stick, the securing device being configured to allow at least the handle of the walking stick to be held above ground level by means of magnetic interaction between the ferromagnetic piece and a ferromagnetic holding surface provided on the support body.
2. A securing device according to claim 1, wherein the ferromagnetic piece comprises iron.
3. A securing device according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the ferromagnetic piece is actively magnetic.
4. A securing device according any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment means provides a closed loop.
5. A securing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment means comprises at least one resilient portion.
6. A securing device according to claim 5, wherein the attachment means includes a helical spring.
7. A securing device according to claim 6, wherein the attachment means comprises a cross-bar, the ferromagnetic piece being positioned on the cross-bar, the helical spring having a first end joined to a first end of the cross-bar, and a second end joined to a second end of the cross-bar.
8. A securing device according to claim 7, wherein the cross-bar is situated within a housing, the housing having an aperture and the ferromagnetic piece protruding through the aperture.
9. A kit comprising a securing device according to any one of the preceding claims and a walking stick.
10. A kit comprising a securing device according to any one of claims I to 8 and a bracket, the bracket having connecting means for allowing the bracket to be connected to a support, the bracket further providing a ferromagnetic holding surface, at least one of the ferromagnetic piece of the securing device and the ferromagnetic holding surface being actively magnetic.
11. A kit according to claim 10, wherein the connecting means comprises one or more apertures that allow fixing means to pass through the bracket, to secure the bracket to the support.
12. A kit according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the ferromagnetic holding surface is flat.
13. A kit according to any one of claims lOto 12, further comprising a walking stick.
14. A walking stick comprising a ferromagnetic piece, the ferromagnetic piece being configured to allow at least the handle of the walking stick to be held above ground level by means of magnetic interaction between the ferromagnetic piece and a ferromagnetic holding surface provided on a support body.
15. A walking stick according to claim 14, wherein the ferromagnetic piece comprises iron.
16. A walking stick according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the ferromagnetic piece is actively magnetic.
17. A walking stick according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the ferromagnetic piece is contained within the walking stick.
18. A walking stick according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the ferromagnetic piece is present at an exterior surface of the walking stick.
19. A walking stick according to any one of claims 14-16 and 18, wherein the ferromagnetic piece has a flat surface for contacting the ferromagnetic holding surface.
20. A kit comprising a walking stick according to any one of claims 14 to 19 and a bracket, the bracket having connecting means for allowing the bracket to be connected to a support, the bracket further providing a ferromagnetic holding surface, at least one of the ferromagnetic piece of the securing device and the ferromagnetic holding surface being actively magnetic.
21. A securing device as herein described, with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
22. A walking stick as herein described, with reference to Figure 3.
23. A kit comprising a securing device as herein described, with reference to Figures I and 2, and a bracket as herein described, with reference to any one of Figures 4, 5, or 6.
24. A kit comprising a walking stick as herein described, with reference to Figure 3, and a bracket as herein described, with reference to any one of Figures 4, 5, or 6.