US20180146752A1

US20180146752A1 - Hiking Staff with Bow Attachment

Info

Publication number: US20180146752A1
Application number: US15/362,506
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph Sloan Lyles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-11-28
Filing date: 2016-11-28
Publication date: 2018-05-31

Abstract

A hiking staff with bow attachment for improving balance to avoid injury by ensuring smooth and efficient energy transfer throughout a complete stride forward. The bow attachment comprises a curved member for maintaining continuous high surface area impacts with ground surfaces and contact points for penetrating ground surfaces to help stabilize the curved member during use. A connecting portion removably joins the bow attachment to the lower section of the staff portion. The hiking staff may be adapted for a specialized outdoor use such as rock climbing or mountaineering and indoor versions are useful as walking assistants for the handicapped, injured or elderly. Lastly, tool attachments secure to either end of the staff portion and transform the hiking staff into a multi-tool system.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the fields of mobility assistance devices, hiking accessories, sports equipment, canes, and detachable tool systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bow shaped attachment that can be combined with a cane, walker, or other walking aid, hiking staff or walking stick, ski pole or trekking pole, or detachable multi-tool system.

BACKGROUND

Walking sticks and hiking staffs have been around for millennia. As long as man has been mobile, he has sought more efficient ways to balance one's body in motion. Originally, hiking staffs were comprised of sticks found in nature. These makeshift devices were found in awkward lengths and suffered from defects that resulted in their breaking often and rotting easily. To compensate for these negative aspects, early hikers made stronger staffs carved from larger pieces of wood. Although, traditional carved wooden staffs proved more durable, and could be readily machined to any desirable length, they were heavy and insufficiently stable due to a single contact point design.
Recently, thin, lightweight hiking or trekking poles have grown in popularity among hiking and backpacking enthusiasts. These devices are made out of advanced materials, such as aluminum, look quite similar to ski poles, and are easier to carry than traditional hiking staffs. Traditional canes are also being updated with modern walking assistance devices, including walkers and rollators adopting more stable mechanisms for contacting ground surfaces in addition to lighter materials. For example, the popular four point cane tip and four contact point walker and rolling walker increase stability, however, these designs are bulky and difficult to operate. Additionally, four point tip walking assistance devices have no structure for providing continuous support and even distribution of weight throughout the full range of motion of a complete step. As a result, user movement is awkward, slow, and lacks the rhythm of a natural stride. As such, there is an immediate need for a device with a structure for balancing weight and supporting rhythmic motion over a wide range of movement.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the claimed subject matter combine the material advancements of state of the art ski and trekking poles with the increased stability of a multi-contact point, curved member to enhance movability by shifting weight evenly and maintaining contact with a ground surface throughout a wide range of motion. Traditional devices having a single contact point are relatively difficult to balance due to minimal surface area for interacting with ground surfaces and frequent instances of no ground surface contact. The curved member described herein enhances the stability of walking aids relative to single point alternatives by expanding the surface area for ground surface interactions to maintain ground contact for a longer period of the step or stride time. Moreover, the curved member has a more flexible bow shape for absorbing the force and vibrations of high stress impacts with the ground, which enhances comfort and performance.
In one embodiment, the curved member is attached to a walking aid to serve as a means for assisting balance and mobility of handicapped, injured, elderly, or other people with weak walking muscles or difficulty remaining balance while walking. In another embodiment, a walking or hiking staff includes the curved member or rib as a point of contact with the ground. This hiking staff design improves balance to avoid injury, and ensures efficient energy and forward momentum transfer during walking or hiking over flat, rocky, steep, or otherwise rugged hiking trails, streambeds, and untrampled wilderness. In other embodiments, the curved member is included in high-performance, lightweight sports accessories. Without adding additional weight, these devices are useful for pushing off ground or vertical surfaces, bracing the impact of a fall, jump, or sudden decrease in height, and balancing to avoid injury while traveling over challenging terrain. The present subject matter also includes a detachable multi-tool system, including a curved member. This device combines mobility assistance with tools for cutting, clearing, digging, holding, catching, and securing objects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example hiking staff with bow attachment divided into four component regions—a multi-purpose top portion, a middle staff portion, a lower connecting portion, and a bottom bow or rib portion.

FIG. 2a illustrates a flat perspective of an example bow attachment embodiment with three support rods.

FIG. 2b shows an angled perspective of an example bow attachment embodiment with three support rods.

FIG. 2c depicts an overhead view of an example bow attachment embodiment with three support rods.

FIG. 2d illustrates a bottom view of an example bow attachment embodiment with three support rods.

FIG. 2e shows a preferred method of fixing the lower connecting portion and bottom bow portion to the staff portion.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross section of a connecting portion embodiment with fastening hardware for securing the staff portion to the bow and connecting portions.

FIG. 4a shows an angled perspective of an example bow attachment embodiment with two support rods.

FIG. 4b displays a flat, side perspective of an example bow attachment embodiment with two support rods.

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross section of an example rubber covering fitted over an example bow portion contact point.

FIG. 6 illustrates an angled perspective of an example indoor bow portion embodiment with example rubber coverings fitted over the bow's three contact points.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flat perspective of the hiking staff rotated along its curved member to a fore position, neutral position, and aft position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an example hiking staff with bow attachment. The hiking staff embodiment comprises four regions including a multi-purpose top portion, a middle staff portion, a bottom bow portion, and a lower connecting portion fixing the top and middle portions to the bottom bow portion. The dimensions and materials comprising the hiking staff with bow attachment are variable and can be optimized to fit a wide variety of uses. The multi-purpose top portion comprises handle and multi-tool embodiments. Handle embodiments include decorative and artistic carvings, engravings, and other designs, ergonomic moldings, textile or leather wrappings and coverings, and combinations thereof. Materials comprising handle embodiments include some combination of cushioning materials such as rubber, cloth, fabric, leather, foam, and gel and shape forming materials such as wood, bamboo, metallic alloys, plastics, and carbon fiber. Multi-tool embodiments are fitted for attaching tools to the staff region. Tool attachments can be permanently fixed to the hiking staff, for example, by welding. Alternatively, some tool attachments are removable, for example, tools attached by screws, bolts, and other hardware. Tool attachments used in these embodiments include curved or straight, static or rotating, and manual or electric saws, axes, spears, shears, blades, and other sharp objects for cutting through wood debris or vegetation as well as springs, cords, slingshots, baskets, compartments, tubes, hooks, and other devices for launching, grabbing, securing, containing, or holding objects. Tool attachments may also include rakes, shovels, plows, augers, and other digging or earth moving devices.
The middle staff portion extends from the top portion of the hiking staff to the lower connecting portion and forms the hiking staff's main body. Staff portion embodiments include short, thin staffs designed for children and lightweight applications such as rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, spelunking, and other activities involving severe and sudden changes in altitude or slow climbing up or down steep rock or ice faces. Alternatively, staff portion embodiments for walking, hiking, and some multi-tool applications are tall enough to reach overhead objects and have stiff, thick staff portions for supporting full body weight and heavy tool attachments. The shape of the staff portion is also optimized according to hiking staff use. Uniform, straight staffs are designed for casual hiking and walking. Alternatively, staff embodiments for adventure sports, for example, trail running, rock climbing, mountaineering, and orienteering are extendable, retractable, hinged, bendable, curved, angled or some combination. Materials comprising staff region embodiments include combinations of wood, bamboo, and other natural products, metals and metallic alloys including stainless steel and other alloys made from iron, nickel, chromium, silicon, bronze, brass, aluminum, zinc, and iridium, carbon fiber, fiberglass, and other composites, as well as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other plastics. To optimize the hiking staffs for lightweight and flexible uses, staff embodiments can be solid or hollow. Optionally, staff portions also contain threaded inserts as part of the bow attachment mechanism or internal reinforcement material for promoting at least one of staff rigidity, strength, durability, handling, or flexibility.
The lower connecting portion joins the middle staff portion to the bottom bow portion. The lower connecting portion attaches to the bow portion and comprises a jacket or socket for enclosing the staff region and a coupling mechanism for fixing the bow portion to the staff portion. The jacket's diameter and shape match the staff portion so that the jacket fits flush around the staff. For example, hiking staff embodiments with curved staffs have curved jackets and hiking staff embodiments with rectangular staffs have rectangular jackets. The top surface of the jacket is open to receive the staff region and two holes, optionally located near the top of the connecting portion, receive hardware for fixing the bow to the staff. Optionally, the holes line up with threaded cavities embedded in the staff near the terminal end. The bottom surface of the jacket is closed to prevent the jacket from sliding too far down the staff. The jacket connects to at least one of the support rods comprising the bow portion. Preferably, the central and two outer support rods are welded, threaded, nailed, or otherwise fixed to the side and bottom surfaces of the jacket. Alternatively, the jacket and bow portion may be printed, cast, molded, woven, or otherwise produced as a single piece construction. To attach the staff portion to the bow portion, the staff is inserted into the connecting portion jacket. Preferably, 1/12 to 1/16 of the staff is inserted into the jacket to secure the bow portion to the staff and allow the hiking staff to rotate along the bow's curved surface under moderate to heavy downward force without failing at or around the connecting portion. Connecting portion embodiments are comprised of metals and metallic alloys, wood, carbon fiber, and PVC and other plastics to achieve optimal weight and flexibility.
The bottom bow or rib portion comprises an arc shaped, curved member providing a large surface area for impacting a ground surface. The curved member stabilizes motion and enables efficient energy transfer during physical activity. A preferred method of using the hiking staff with curved member includes, as part of a stride forward, extending the hiking staff to a beginning position in which the upper portion of the staff is kept aft of the bottom portion and the curved member is advanced in the direction of motion with the rear most contact point impacting a ground surface. To continue a stride, the upper portion is rocked forward to a neutral position with the middle contact point impacting a ground surface. Continuing the upper part of the staff forward to an ending position with the foremost contact point impacting a ground surface completes the stride. A preferred method of placing the hiking staff in the beginning position includes angling the staff portion so that the lower, curved member or rib rests on a ground surface while the rear and center contact points penetrate a ground surface to stabilize the curved member. A preferred method of transitioning the hiking staff from the beginning position to the neutral position includes rotating the staff portion upright until roughly perpendicular to a ground surface, by pivoting the hiking staff on the center contact point until the center portion of the curved member rests on a ground surface and the center contact point penetrates the ground surface to stabilize the curved member or rib. A preferred method of moving the hiking staff from the neutral position to the ending position includes rotating the staff portion until the leading portion of the curved member rests on a ground surface and the foremost and center contact points penetrate the ground surface to stabilize the curved member or rib.
The bow's primary components include a plurality of rods extending out from the connecting portion, a curved surface fixed to the end of the rods, and at least one contact point protruding through the bottom surface of the curved portion. Preferably, the rods intersect and extend through the curved surface to form contact points along the bottom surface of the bow. Materials comprising staff region embodiments include wood, bamboo, and other natural products, metals and metallic alloys including stainless steel, and other alloys for example iron, nickel, chromium, bronze, brass, aluminum, zinc, and iridium, carbon fiber, silicon, fiberglass, and other composites, as well as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other plastics. To optimize the bow portion for specific applications, the number of rods, number of contact points, angle between the rods and the connecting portion, length and diameter of the rods, degree of curvature of the curved portion, width of the curved portion, and thickness, texture, and sharpness of the curved portion edge are varied according to intended user, preferred use, and customization preferences. For example, hiking, backpacking, walking, brush clearing, and other applications favoring durable, sturdy hiking staffs require large embodiments made from stiff and solid materials such as wood and metals and metallic alloys, for example steel, nickel, chromium, iron, aluminum, bronze, and brass. Alternatively, rock climbing, ice climbing, skiing, mountaineering, trail running, orienteering and other uses favoring light weight, high flexibility hiking staffs require smaller embodiments made from high performance materials including bamboo, plastics, carbon fiber, fiberglass, glass and carbon infused polymers, titanium, steel, aluminum alloys, and combinations thereof.
FIGS. 2(a-d) illustrate a preferred hiking bow embodiment with three support rods. The hiking bow embodiment comprises the lower connecting portion and the bottom bow portion of the hiking staff in FIG. 1. FIG. 2a depicts a flat perspective 200 a, FIG. 2b shows an angled perspective 200 b, FIG. 2c displays an overhead view 200 c, and FIG. 2d illustrates a bottom view 200 d. Four components are included in the hiking bow embodiment—a connecting portion, a curved portion, support rods, and contact points. The connecting portion comprises a jacket 206 for enclosing a lower part of the staff portion. Preferably, the jacket 206 fits flush around the staff portion. Optionally, the jacket 206 contains a lip 212 to reduce the sharpness of the jacket's leading edge 213 and help attach and remove the bow portion from the hiking staff. The bottom surface of the jacket 208 is closed to hold the staff portion in place and is attached the central support rod 203. The top surface of the jacket 211 is open to receive the staff portion.
The connecting portion further jacket 206 further comprises an attachment mechanism for joining the bow and staff portions. The attachment mechanism includes at least one hole 207 and hardware for attaching the bow to the staff portion. Optionally, the bow attachment mechanism comprises at least one threaded cavity embedded in the staff portion. Preferable, the at least one threaded cavity has the same diameter as—and is positioned to overlap with—the jacket hole 207 so that hardware, for example, a screw or bolt, can be threaded into the at least one staff portion cavity through the jacket hole 207 to secure the bow to the staff portion. Optionally, the jacket hole 207 is positioned close to the top surface of the jacket 211. In other hiking bow embodiments, the jacket hole 207 is positioned in the middle of the jacket or closer to the jacket's bottom surface 208. The jacket may further comprise machined-in or molded-in screw-like threads.
At least one support rod joins the connecting portion to the bow portion. In the example three rod embodiment, a central support rod 203 extends outwardly from the center of the jacket's bottom surface 208 and intersects the center of the curved portion 201. An outer support rod 205 extends outwardly from the left and right sides of the connecting portion jacket 206 and intersects the curved portion 201 close to the curved portion's outer end or terminal. Preferably, the central support rod 203 and outer support rods 205 are welded to the connecting portion jacket 206. The outer support rods 205 attach to the connecting portion jacket 206 at an angle theta (θ). Theta ranges from ten to fifteen degrees for short hiking bows up to ninety degrees for hiking bows with greater arc angles and arc lengths. In this example, arc angle refers to the angle of curvature of the curved portion and arc length refers to the length of the curved portion.
Bow portion embodiments of the invention are designed to incorporate arc lengths and arc angles that vary according to staff intended users, preferred uses, and customization preferences. For example, bow portions in hiking staff embodiments comprise modest arc angles and longer arc lengths to promote high surface area impacts with ground surfaces and enable smooth transfer of weight and energy throughout a complete stride forward. Alternatively, bow portions in mountaineering staff embodiments comprise steep arc angles and shorter arc lengths for absorbing high energy impacts with ground surfaces and delivering a spring effect to provide lift while ascending a rock face of mountain. In addition to the angle of intersection between the outer support rod 205 and connecting portion jacket 206, the length of the central support rod 203 and outer support rod 205 determine the arc length of the curved portion 201.
Preferably, the central support rod 203 and outer support rod 205 extend through the curved portion 201 at the point of intersection to form contact points that protrude through the bottom surface of the curved portion 201. The central contact point 202 extends through the curved portion or rib 201 at the intersection of the central support rod 203 and the curved portion 201. The outer contact points 204 protrude through the curved portion 201 at the intersection between the outer support rods 205 and the curved portion 201.
Optionally, the contact points are rounded off to a dull edge to promote device safety while increasing the surface area of, and reducing the debris collected by—the contact points. In outdoor embodiments, the contact points dig into the ground to support and stabilize the hiking staff as it is rocked from the beginning position (resting on the hind most contact point) to the neutral position (resting on the central contact point) to the ending position (resting on the forward most contact point) during forward movement. Preferably, the contact points in outdoor embodiments extend less than five millimeters beyond the curved portion 201. Longer contact points are not practical because they penetrate too deep into the ground causing the bow portion to get stuck thereby inhibiting smooth transitions between contact points while moving the hiking staff between its beginning, neutral, and ending positions.
In indoor embodiments, rubber jackets fit around the contact points to prevent the staff from sliding on- or scratching the surface of—indoor flooring while transitioning between contact points. Preferably, contact points for indoor embodiments extend up to three millimeters beyond the curved portion 201. Contact points for indoor embodiments must be shorter since they are not designed to dig into indoor flooring surfaces. Accordingly, preferred indoor contact points are very short and have a wide surface area. This shallow contact point design allows the hiking staff to smoothly transition between rubber tipped contact points without causing the bottom surface of the curved portion 201 to lose contact with the floor.
In addition to the length of the contact points, the height of the curved portion edges 210 influences how high the hiking staff sits off the ground. Sturdy outdoor embodiments have thick curved portion edges that can be up to forty millimeters wide. Optionally, at least one of the curved portion edges 210 may be machined into a sharp cutting edge or saw tooth blade transforming the bow portion into a multi-tool for clearing underbrush and dense vegetation. In alternative embodiments, a curved blade attachment is machined to fit over the curved portion 201. The curved blade attachment is secured to the hiking staff by threading fastening hardware through two holes on the curved portion 201, one between each outer contact point 204 and the central contact point 202.
FIG. 2e illustrates a method of joining the lower connecting portion and bottom bow portion 200 e to the staff portion 215. To form a complete hiking staff embodiment, the lower segment of the staff portion 214 is inserted into the open top end 211 of the connecting portion jacket 206. Optionally, threaded cavities on the lower segment of the staff portion 214 are the same diameter as—and overlap with—holes 207 on the connecting portion jacket so that the lower connecting portion and bow portion 200 e can be secured to the staff portion 215 by inserting hardware, for example a screw, bolt, or other threaded fastener, into the threaded cavities on the lower segment of the staff portion 214. Alternatively in some hiking staff embodiments, nails, glue, welds, or other unthreaded fastening mechanisms are used to fix the lower connecting portion and bottom bow portion 200 e to the staff portion 215.
FIG. 3 illustrates a cross section of a connecting portion embodiment 300 with hardware 306. The connecting portion 300 attaches to the outer support rods 304, 302 of the bow portion 303 and comprises a jacket 307 for coupling to the staff portion 301. Preferably, the jacket 307 fits flush around the lower segment of the staff portion 305 ensuring the distance between the inner surface of the jacket 308 and the outer surface of the staff portion 309 is minimal. Hardware 306, for example screws, nails, bolts, pegs, pins, anchors, rivets, and clips is inserted through holes in the jacket 307 into the lower segment of the staff portion 305 to secure the staff portion to the bow portion.
FIGS. 4(a-b) illustrate a preferred hiking bow embodiment with two support rods. FIG. 4a shows an angled perspective of the hiking bow and FIG. 4b displays a flat, side view of the hiking bow. The example two support rod bow embodiment 400 a, 400 b comprises a connecting portion and a bow portion. The connecting portion includes a jacket 406 with a closed bottom surface 408 for enclosing the lower segment of a staff portion and at least one hole 407 for attaching the lower connecting portion and bow portion to the staff portion. The bow portion includes an outer support rod 401 extending outwardly from the right and left sides of the connecting jacket 406 at an angle theta (0). The support rods join the connecting jacket 406 at weld points 405 and extend beyond the curved portion 402 forming contact points 404 near both ends of the curved portion.
The two rod bow does not contain a central support rod therefore is lighter and more flexible than the three rod design. Accordingly, two support rod hiking bow embodiments 400 a, 400 b comprise smaller hiking staffs for children as well as thin, light staff for casual walking and hiking applications. Variations of the two rod bow design are also ideal for applications favoring high performance, high flexibility bows for example rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, trail running, skiing, rappelling, and spelunking. To optimize the two rod bow for specific applications, the weight and flexibility of the curved portion may be changed by modifying the length of the support rods, the angle of intersection between the support rods and the connecting jacket (0), the arc angle and arc length of the curved portion, the thickness and material of the curved portion, and the thickness, texture, and sharpness of the curved portion edge 403.
FIGS. 5-6 pertain to indoor hiking staff embodiments. FIG. 5 illustrates a cross section of an example rubber covering 500 designed to fit over contact points 503 extending through the bottom of the curved bow portion 504. The example design comprises a narrow top portion 502 that widens to a circular base 501. The rubber covering 500 fits flush around the contact point 503 to minimize the distance between the inner surface of the rubber covering 505 and the outer surface of the contact point 506. Alternative rubber coverings are designed for use with shorter contact points. These covering embodiments comprise a wide circular base that fits flush against the bottom surface of the curved portion 507 and a rubber sleeve embedded in the circular base for housing the contact point.
FIG. 6 illustrates an example indoor three rod hiking bow embodiment 600. As with the example three rod hiking bow embodiment pictured in FIGS. 2(a-d), the outdoor three rod hiking bow embodiment comprises a connecting portion and a bow portion. The connecting portion comprises a jacket 611 and at least one hole 607 for joining the bow embodiment to the staff portion. The bow portion includes a central support rod 603, an outer support rod 605 attached to the right and left side of the jacket 611, a curved portion 601, and a curved portion edge 610. To optimize the hiking bow embodiment for indoor use, the central contact point 602 and outer contact points 604 are housed in a rubber covering. The rubber covering ensures the contact points will not dig into or scratch an indoor flooring surface during hiking staff use. Indoor hiking bow embodiments are attached to the bottom of canes, walkers, and other walking assistance devices to increase stability and promote mobility by ensuring efficient transfer of energy and conservation of momentum during forward motion.
FIG. 7 illustrates a flat perspective of the hiking staff rotated along its curved member to a fore position 701, neutral position 702, and aft position 703. A preferred method of using the hiking staff includes extending the hiking staff to a beginning position, rocking the staff upright to a neutral position, and continuing the staff forward to an ending position. A preferred method of placing the hiking staff in the beginning position includes tilting the staff portion so that the grip and handle portion are angled behind the bow portion, the hind section of the curved member rests on a ground surface, and the rear contact point 704 and center contact point 705 superficially penetrate the ground surface to stabilize the curved member. A preferred method of transitioning the hiking staff from the beginning position to the neutral position includes rotating the handle portion forward until upright by pivoting the bow portion on the center contact point 705 along the curved member until the center portion of the curved member rests on a ground surface and the center contact point superficially penetrates the ground surface to stabilize the curved member. A preferred method of moving the hiking staff from the neutral position to the ending position includes continuing the staff portion forward from the neutral position so that the handle portion is angled ahead of the bow portion, the forward section of the bow portion rests of a ground surface, and the foremost contact point 706 and central contact point 705 are superficially lodged in a ground surface to stabilize the hiking staff.
A preferred method of using the hiking staff to complete a stride forward comprises beginning the stride by angling the staff portion backward and extending the bow portion forward to place the hiking staff in the beginning position; continuing the stride by rotating the staff portion along the curved member until upright in the neutral position; and completing the stride by advancing the staff portion forward until the handle portion is ahead of the bow portion and the staff is in the ending position. Upon reaching the ending position, the stride is completed and the hiking staff can be repositioned for the next stride. A preferred method for repositioning the hiking staff for the next stride comprises lifting the bow portion up from the ground surface and extending the bow portion forward by rotating the handle portion back from the ending position, where the staff portion is angled forward, to the beginning position, where the staff portion is angled backwards.

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. A hiking staff comprising:

a top portion having a handle covered by a high-friction removable, cushioning material and a tool attachment mechanism under, over, or near the handle;

a middle staff portion extending from the top portion to a lower connecting portion and a bow portion, the middle staff portion having an elongated pole, made from a strong material, the elongated pole having a machined section opposite the top portion, the machined section receiving fastening hardware for connecting the staff portion to the bow portion;

a lower connecting portion attached to a top part of the bow portion, the connecting portion comprising a jacket positioned at the top thereof, the jacket having at least one hole bored into at least one side or threads incorporated into at least one side, the jacket for receiving hardware to join the staff portion to the bow portion by overlapping the jacket with the machined section at the bottom of the staff portion;

a bottom bow portion fixed to the staff portion and extending down from the connecting portion, the bow portion aligned perpendicular to the connecting portion and the staff portion, the bow portion comprising a curved member located at the base of the hiking staff, at least one support rod extending up from the curved member to the connecting portion, and at least one contact point positioned at the terminal end of a support rod and extending beyond the bottom surface of the curved member, the at least one contact point for superficially lodging into a ground surface until the bottom surface of the curved member rests on the ground surface, the at least one contact point further for bracing the curved member against the ground surface to stabilize the hiking staff.

2. The hiking staff of claim 1, wherein the material covering the handle portion is a type of cord including parachute cord.

3. The hiking staff of claim 1, further comprising a staff portion having a bottom section machined to fit flush inside the connecting portion jacket.

4. The hiking staff of claim 1, further comprising a tool attachment mechanism having at least one threaded or sleeved cavity embedded in the top section of the hiking staff under the handle, the threaded or sleeved cavity for receiving hardware to secure a tool attachment to the staff portion.

5. The hiking staff of claim 4, further comprising a bow attachment mechanism having at least one threaded or sleeved cavity embedded in the bottom section of the staff portion, the threaded or sleeved cavity for receiving hardware.

6. The hiking staff of claim 5, wherein the shapes of threaded of sleeved cavities embedded in the top and bottom sections of the staff portion are customizable to facilitate connections between the staff portion and the tool and bow attachments.

7. The hiking staff of claim 4, wherein removable tool attachments include curved or straight, static or rotating, and manual or electric saws axes, spears, shears, blades, and other sharp objects for cutting through wood debris or vegetation; springs, cords, slingshots, baskets, compartments, tubes, hooks, and other devices for launching, grabbing, securing, containing, or holding objects; and rakes, shovels, hoes, augers, and other digging or earth moving devices.

8. The hiking staff of claim 1, further comprising a bow portion made from glass, wood, bamboo, and other natural products; metals and metallic alloys including stainless steel and other alloys made from iron, nickel, chromium, titanium, bronze, brass, aluminum, zinc, and iridium; ceramics, carbon fiber, fiberglass, and other composites; polyvinyl chloride (PVC), glass and carbon infused polymers, and other plastics.

9. A walking aid bow attachment comprising:

a lower connecting portion attached to a top part of a bow portion, the connecting portion comprising a jacket having a hole bored into at least one side thereof for receiving hardware, the jacket overlaps with the lower portion of a cane or other walking aid to provide a threaded wall or other surface for joining the walking aid to the bow portion with fastening hardware;

a bottom bow portion extending down from the connecting portion, the bow portion comprising:

a smooth, curved member or rib for tangentially impacting a ground surface to stabilize movement, distribute weight, and conserve energy during forward motion as the walking aid rotates between beginning, neutral, and ending positions;

at least one support rod extending up from the curved member to the connecting portion, the at least one connecting rod for anchoring the curved portion and increasing bow portion stiffness to prevent unwanted flexing or failure of the curved portion under downward force applied to the walking aid during use;

at least one contact point positioned at each support rod's terminal end and extending beyond the bottom surface of the curved portion;

a rubber covering for preventing each contact point from digging into, slipping on, or scratching a hard indoor flooring surface.

10. The walking aid bow attachment of claim 9, wherein the rubber covering further comprises:

a narrow sleeve that fits flush over the at least one contact point;

a wider base component just below the narrow sleeve for stabilizing the walking aid by bracing the curved member and rubber coverings against a hard floor surface as the walking aid bow attachment rotates along the curved member.

11. The walking aid bow attachment of claim 9, wherein the rubber covering further comprises a sleeve portion embedded in a wide circular base, the wide circular base having a top surface that fits flush against a bottom surface of the curved portion for stabilizing the walking aid by maintaining contact between a portion of the curved member's bottom surface and the rubber covering as the walking aid rotates between contact points.

12. A multi-purpose hiking staff system comprising:

a hiking staff portion having a bow portion for stabilizing motion and efficiently transferring energy during physical activity by rotating between contact points along a curved member;

a tool portion having an attachment device for tools for cutting through wood debris or vegetation, launching, grabbing, securing, containing, or holding objects, and digging, raking, or otherwise moving earth;

a connecting mechanism having a jacket for securing the tool portion to the hiking staff portion by overlapping with a surface of the hiking staff portion to create an area for securing the tool portion to the hiking staff portion with fastening hardware.

13. The multi-purpose hiking staff system of claim 12, further comprising a curved member having at least one edge machined into a sharp cutting edge, saw tooth blade, or some combination, the at least one edge for cutting and clearing brush, wood debris and other vegetation.

14. The multi-purpose hiking staff system of claim 12, further comprising a curved blade attachment machined to fit over the curved member;

a connecting mechanism having at least one hole bored into the curved member between at least one outer contact point and the central contact point, wherein the curved blade attachment fixes to the curved member by threading fastening hardware through at least one hole bored into the curved member and a corresponding hole on the curved blade attachment.

15. The multi-purpose hiking staff system of claim 12, further comprising a bow portion having a curved member positioned at the base of the bow portion, the curved member having a an arc portion for supporting and stabilizing motion by tangentially contacting a ground surface staff.

16. The multi-purpose hiking staff system of claim 15, further comprising a bow portion having at least one contact point protruding through the bottom surface of the curved member, the at least one contact point for stabilizing movement by bracing the hiking staff system against an outdoor ground surface by superficially lodging in the outdoor ground surface under a combination of arm pressure and hiking staff weight.

17. The multi-purpose hiking staff system of claim 16, wherein the at least one contact point is rounded off to a dull edge to promote device safety and increase the surface area of the contact points.

18. The multi-purpose hiking staff system of claim 16, further comprising at least one removable, threaded or sleeved cavity embedded in lower section of the hiking staff, the shape of the at least one threaded or sleeved cavity is customizable to facilitate connections between the bow portion and the tool portion.

19. The multi-purpose hiking staff system of claim 12, further comprising at least one threaded or sleeved hole embedded in the hiking staff near the top thereof under or over a handle or grip portion.

20. The multi-purpose hiking staff system of claim 19, further comprising at least one threaded hole bored into a side of the jacket, the hole positioned on the jacket to overlap the threaded or sleeved hole embedded in the hiking staff and provide an area to join the hiking staff portion to the tool portion with fastening hardware, wherein the jacket and hiking staff portion are machined so that the jacket fits flush around the top section of the hiking staff portion.