대표
청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. An adjustable length manually actuated grasping walking cane comprising a handle, an adjustable length body attached to said handle, said adjustable length body having a distal end, an actuator movably coupled proximate to said handle, said actuator having a distal end, an inelastic adjustable length linkage within the adjustable length body, said inelastic adjustable length linkage having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the inelastic adjustable length linkage being attached to the distal end of the actuator, a pivot...
What is claimed is: 1. An adjustable length manually actuated grasping walking cane comprising a handle, an adjustable length body attached to said handle, said adjustable length body having a distal end, an actuator movably coupled proximate to said handle, said actuator having a distal end, an inelastic adjustable length linkage within the adjustable length body, said inelastic adjustable length linkage having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the inelastic adjustable length linkage being attached to the distal end of the actuator, a pivoting grasping member pivotally attached near the distal end of the adjustable length body; said inelastic adjustable length linkage comprising a fastener assembly, a coupling and a cable, said coupling having distal and proximal ends, and said cable having distal and proximal ends, the fastener assembly adjustably connecting the proximal end of the coupling to the actuator, and the distal end of the coupling being attached to the proximal end of the cable; said adjustable length body including an access aperture and said fastener assembly being aligned with the access aperture, whereby the fastener assembly is accessible through said aperture and is adjustable to release and allow adjustment of a length of the inelastic adjustable length linkage; and said inelastic adjustable length linkage being operably coupled to said pivoting grasping member and causing the pivoting grasping member to pivot when said actuator is actuated. 2. An adjustable length manually actuated grasping walking cane according to claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a handle portion configured for actuation by urging towards said handle. 3. An adjustable length manually actuated grasping walking cane according to claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a handle portion configured for actuation by urging towards said handle, said adjustable length body including an actuator aperture, and said distal end of said actuator being bent and offset to connect to the inelastic adjustable length linkage within the adjustable length body via said actuator aperture. 4. An adjustable length manually actuated grasping walking cane according to claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a handle portion configured for actuation by urging towards said handle, said adjustable length body including an actuator aperture, and said distal end of said actuator being bent and offset to connect to the inelastic adjustable length linkage within the adjustable length body via said actuator aperture, and the distal end of the cable being attached to the grasping member. 5. An adjustable length manually actuated grasping walking cane according to claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a handle portion configured for actuation by urging towards said handle, said adjustable length body including an actuator aperture, and said distal end of said actuator being bent and offset to connect to the inelastic adjustable length linkage within the adjustable length body via said actuator aperture, said grasping member including a hub and arm, and the distal end of the cable being attached to the hub of the grasping member and configured to transmit a tensile force from the actuator, through the coupling, through the cable and to the hub of the grasping means, said tensile force causing the grasping means to pivot. 6. An adjustable length manually actuated grasping walking cane according to claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a handle portion configured for actuation by urging towards said handle, said adjustable length body including an actuator aperture, and said distal end of said actuator being bent and offset to connect to the inelastic adjustable length linkage within the adjustable length body via said actuator aperture, said grasping member including a hub and arm, and the distal end of the cable being attached to the hub of the grasping member and configured to transmit a tensile force from the actuator, through the coupling, through the cable and to the hub of the grasping means, said tensile force causing the grasping means to pivot, said grasping member further including a plurality of grasping fingers protruding from said arm. 7. An adjustable length manually actuated grasping walking cane according to claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a handle portion configured for actuation by urging towards said handle, said adjustable length body including an actuator aperture, and said distal end of said actuator being bent and offset to connect to the inelastic adjustable length linkage within the adjustable length body via said actuator aperture, said grasping member including a hub and an arm with a free end opposite the hub, and the distal end of the cable being attached to the hub of the grasping member and configured to transmit a tensile force from the actuator, through the coupling, through the cable and to the hub of the grasping means, said tensile force causing the grasping means to pivot, said grasping member further including a pair of grasping fingers protruding from said arm near the free end of the arm in spaced relation and configured to define a generally v-shaped space between said pair of grasping fingers. 8. An adjustable length manually actuated grasping walking cane according to claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a handle portion configured for actuation by urging towards said handle, said adjustable length body including an actuator aperture, and said distal end of said actuator being bent and offset to connect to the inelastic adjustable length linkage within the adjustable length body via said actuator aperture, said grasping member including a hub and an arm with a free end opposite the hub, and the distal end of the cable being attached to the hub of the grasping member and configured to transmit a tensile force from the actuator, through the coupling, through the cable and to the hub of the grasping means, said tensile force causing the grasping means to pivot, said grasping member further including a pair of grasping fingers protruding from said arm near the free end of the arm in spaced relation and configured to define a generally v-shaped narrow space between said pair of grasping fingers, and further defining a generally v-shaped wide space between said hub and said pair of grasping fingers. 9. An adjustable length manually actuated grasping walking cane according to claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a handle portion configured for actuation by urging towards said handle, said adjustable length body including an actuator aperture, and said distal end of said actuator being bent and offset to connect to the inelastic adjustable length linkage within the adjustable length body via said actuator aperture, said grasping member including a hub and an arm with a free end opposite the hub, and the distal end of the cable being attached to the hub of the grasping member and configured to transmit a tensile force from the actuator, through the coupling, through the cable and to the hub of the grasping means, said tensile force causing the grasping means to pivot, said grasping member further including a pair of grasping fingers protruding from said arm near the free end of the arm in spaced relation and configured to define a generally v-shaped space between said pair of grasping fingers, and further defining a generally v-shaped space between said hub and said pair of grasping fingers. 10. An adjustable length manually actuated grasping walking cane according to claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a handle portion configured for actuation by urging towards said handle, said adjustable length body including an actuator aperture, and said distal end of said actuator being bent and offset to connect to the inelastic adjustable length linkage within the adjustable length body via said actuator aperture, said grasping member including a hub and an arm with a free end opposite the hub, and the distal end of the cable being attached to the hub of the grasping member and configured to transmit a tensile force from the actuator, through the coupling, through the cable and to the hub of the grasping means, said tensile force causing the grasping means to pivot, said grasping member further including a pair of grasping fingers protruding from said arm near the free end of the arm in spaced relation and configured to define a generally v-shaped space between said pair of grasping fingers said v-shaped space between said pair of grasping fingers having an opening less than 1 inch, and further defining a generally v-shaped space between said hub and said pair of grasping fingers. 11. An adjustable length manually actuated grasping walking cane according to claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a handle portion configured for actuation by urging towards said handle, said adjustable length body including an actuator aperture, and said distal end of said actuator being bent and offset to connect to the inelastic adjustable length linkage within the adjustable length body via said actuator aperture, said grasping member including a hub and an arm with a free end opposite the hub, and the distal end of the cable being attached to the hub of the grasping member and configured to transmit a tensile force from the actuator, through the coupling, through the cable and to the hub of the grasping means, said tensile force causing the grasping means to pivot, said grasping member further including a pair of grasping fingers protruding from said arm near the free end of the arm in spaced relation and configured to define a generally v-shaped space between said pair of grasping fingers said v-shaped space between said pair of grasping fingers having an opening less than 1 inch, and further defining a generally v-shaped space between said hub and said pair of grasping fingers, said v-shaped space between said pair of grasping fingers and said hub having an opening greater than 2 inches. 12. An adjustable length manually actuated grasping walking cane according to claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a handle portion configured for actuation by urging towards said handle, said adjustable length body including an actuator aperture, and said distal end of said actuator being bent and offset to connect to the inelastic adjustable length linkage within the adjustable length body via said actuator aperture, said grasping member including a hub and an arm with a free end opposite the hub, and the distal end of the cable being attached to the hub of the grasping member and configured to transmit a tensile force from the actuator, through the coupling, through the cable and to the hub of the grasping means, said tensile force causing the grasping means to pivot, said grasping member further including a pair of grasping fingers protruding from said arm near the free end of the arm in spaced relation and configured to define a generally u-shaped space between said pair of grasping fingers, and further defining a generally u-shaped space between said hub and said pair of grasping fingers. 13. An adjustable length manually actuated grasping walking cane according to claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a handle portion configured for actuation by urging towards said handle, said adjustable length body including an actuator aperture, and said distal end of said actuator being bent and offset to connect to the inelastic adjustable length linkage within the adjustable length body via said actuator aperture, said grasping member including a hub and an arm with a free end opposite the hub, and the distal end of the cable being attached to the hub of the grasping member and configured to transmit a tensile force from the actuator, through the coupling, through the cable and to the hub of the grasping means, said tensile force causing the grasping means to pivot, said grasping member further including a magnet configured to attract ferrous materials. 14. An adjustable length manually actuated grasping walking cane according to claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a handle portion configured for actuation by urging towards said handle, said adjustable length body including an actuator aperture, and said distal end of said actuator being bent and offset to connect to the inelastic adjustable length linkage within the adjustable length body via said actuator aperture, said grasping member including a hub and an arm with a free end opposite the hub, and the distal end of the cable being attached to the hub of the grasping member and configured to transmit a tensile force from the actuator, through the coupling, through the cable and to the hub of the grasping means, said tensile force causing the grasping means to pivot, further including a return spring operably coupled to said hub and configured to urge the grasping member to a closed position. 15. An adjustable length manually actuated grasping walking cane according to claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a handle portion configured for actuation by urging towards said handle, said handle portion including a free end and an end cover covering said free end, said adjustable length body including an actuator aperture, and said distal end of said actuator being bent and offset to connect to the inelastic adjustable length linkage within the adjustable length body via said actuator aperture, said grasping member including a hub and an arm with a free end opposite the hub, and the distal end of the cable being attached to the hub of the grasping member and configured to transmit a tensile force from the actuator, through the coupling, through the cable and to the hub of the grasping means, said tensile force causing the grasping means to pivot, further including a return spring operably coupled to said hub and configured to urge the grasping member to a closed position. 16. An adjustable length manually actuated grasping walking cane according to claim 1, said handle including a free end and an actuator guide attached to said free end, wherein said actuator comprises a handle portion configured for actuation by urging towards said handle, said handle portion including a free end guided by said actuator guide, said adjustable length body including an actuator aperture, and said distal end of said actuator being bent and offset to connect to the inelastic adjustable length linkage within the adjustable length body via said actuator aperture, said grasping member including a hub and an arm with a free end opposite the hub, and the distal end of the cable being attached to the hub of the grasping member and configured to transmit a tensile force from the actuator, through the coupling, through the cable and to the hub of the grasping means, said tensile force causing the grasping means to pivot, further including a return spring operably coupled to said hub and configured to urge the grasping member to a closed position. 17. An adjustable length manually actuated grasping walking cane according to claim 1, said handle including a free end and an actuator guide attached to said free end, wherein said actuator comprises a handle portion configured for actuation by urging towards said handle, said handle portion including a free end guided by said actuator guide, said adjustable length body including an actuator aperture, and said distal end of said actuator being bent and offset to connect to the inelastic adjustable length linkage within the adjustable length body via said actuator aperture, said grasping member including a hub and an arm with a free end opposite the hub, and the distal end of the cable being attached to the hub of the grasping member and configured to transmit a tensile force from the actuator, through the coupling, through the cable and to the hub of the grasping means, said tensile force causing the grasping means to pivot, further including a return spring operably coupled to said hub and configured to urge the grasping member to a closed position, further including a broad base configured to support the cane upright, said broad base being attached to the distal end of the cane body. 18. An adjustable length manually actuated grasping walking cane according to claim 1, said handle including a free end and an actuator guide attached to said free end, wherein said actuator comprises a handle portion configured for actuation by urging towards said handle, said handle portion including a free end guided by said actuator guide, said adjustable length body including an actuator aperture, and said distal end of said actuator being bent and offset to connect to the inelastic adjustable length linkage within the adjustable length body via said actuator aperture, said grasping member including a hub and an arm with a free end opposite the hub, and the distal end of the cable being attached to the hub of the grasping member and configured to transmit a tensile force from the actuator, through the coupling, through the cable and to the hub of the grasping means, said tensile force causing the grasping means to pivot, further including a return spring operably coupled to said hub and configured to urge the grasping member to a closed position, further including a light source mounted to the free end of the handle and a switch for controlling said light source mounted on said handle. 19. An adjustable length manually actuated grasping walking cane according to claim 1, said handle including a free end and an actuator guide attached to said free end, wherein said actuator comprises a handle portion configured for actuation by urging towards said handle, said handle portion including a free end guided by said actuator guide, said adjustable length body including an actuator aperture, and said distal end of said actuator being bent and offset to connect to the inelastic adjustable length linkage within the adjustable length body via said actuator aperture, said grasping member including a hub and an arm with a free end opposite the hub, and the distal end of the cable being attached to the hub of the grasping member and configured to transmit a tensile force from the actuator, through the coupling, through the cable and to the hub of the grasping means, said tensile force causing the grasping means to pivot, further including a return spring operably coupled to said hub and configured to urge the grasping member to a closed position, further including a light source mounted to the free end of the handle and a switch for controlling said light source mounted on said handle, said grasping member further including a pair of grasping fingers protruding from said arm near the free end of the arm in spaced relation and configured to define a generally v-shaped space between said pair of grasping fingers said v-shaped space between said pair of grasping fingers, and said grasping member having a roughened grasping surface, and said hub including a plurality of cable engaging sections, the plurality of cable engaging sections including a plurality of diameters, which may be selectively used to define a torque and range of actuator motion.
