EP1240882A2 - Blindenstock - Google Patents

Blindenstock Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1240882A2
EP1240882A2 EP02425154A EP02425154A EP1240882A2 EP 1240882 A2 EP1240882 A2 EP 1240882A2 EP 02425154 A EP02425154 A EP 02425154A EP 02425154 A EP02425154 A EP 02425154A EP 1240882 A2 EP1240882 A2 EP 1240882A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
stick
handle
ferrule
stick according
elements
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP02425154A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1240882A3 (de
Inventor
Andrea Castagna
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP1240882A2 publication Critical patent/EP1240882A2/de
Publication of EP1240882A3 publication Critical patent/EP1240882A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
    • A61H3/00—Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about
    • A61H3/06—Walking aids for blind persons
    • A61H3/068—Sticks for blind persons
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
    • A61H3/00—Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about
    • A61H3/02—Crutches
    • A61H3/0288—Ferrules or tips therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to a stick for sightless people.
  • the present stick belongs to that category of sticks, used by sightless people as a support for their orientation and mobility, which are also indicated as being of long type, since they exhibit in general a length substantially equal to the height of the user's breast bone from the ground.
  • the parameters which are considered important in view of the optimum characteristics of a stick of long type are the following: straight vertical axis of the rod with a slight tapering from the handle to the ferrule and length varying according to the user's height; length sufficient to provide the user with useful information in due time; light weight ranging from 0.168 to 0.224 kg as a function of the length; low resistance to the wind; rigidity sufficient to allow the user to accurately determining both distance and position of the sensed object without the stick bouncing or bending excessively; capability of maintaining the shape even under stress condition; low thermal and electrical conductivity; suitable ability of transmitting vibrations from the ferrule to the handle so as to efficiently provide sensorial, tactile and acoustic stimuli; resistance to shocks and wear; no risk in case of shattering; ability of being highly visible by car drivers and pedestrians; possibility of producing acoustic signals of an intensity no higher than necessary; satisfactory balancing; acceptable outward appearance.
  • the sticks currently produced for sightless people in general do not entirely meet all the requirements above mentioned and, in particular, may also exhibit the drawbacks described below.
  • One drawback related to the known sticks is that they are provided with a relatively small ferrule that may become struck in use within manholes, gratings, bicycle wheels, etc.
  • a further drawback relates to sticks whose height is adjustable, and is due to their difficulty of being blocked in the desired position and kept in such position.
  • the sticks of known type for sightless people cannot be normally repaired as they exhibit a plurality of hardly replaceable components.
  • these components for example, those tubular elements which make up the stick's body (in the sticks of foldable type) are often different from each other.
  • a further drawback of the foldable sticks lies in the fact that the fixing of the elastic to the tubular elements making up the stick may result difficult to perform, and the same elastic may become worn out by being rubbed against the edges of the tubular elements when the stick is folded up.
  • the main object of the present invention is to overcome the above drawbacks by providing a stick which meets all the requirements above mentioned. This result has been achieved, according to the invention, by providing a stick having the characteristics disclosed in the independent claims. Further characteristics being set forth in the dependent claims.
  • the advantages of the present invention lie essentially in that it is possible to provide a stick for sightless people which is able to completely meet all the requirements above mentioned, that the stick exhibits a ferrule which is extremely sensitive and resistant, thereby resulting significantly efficient when interacting with obstacles of various kinds; that the stick is made up of a plurality of elements easy to replace or assemble; that the inner elastic is particularly resistant; that the means for fixing and housing the elastic inside the stick are extremely simple and robust, without knots and glues; that the stick is easily adjustable in height; that the stick has a limited weight and is well balanced; that the cost of the stick is relatively low; that the stick maintains substantially all its characteristics unchanged even after prolonged service periods.
  • a stick for sightless people is of foldable type, that is, made up of a plurality of portions connected to each other so as to allow the stick to be positioned either in its configuration for use, as shown in Fig. 1, or in its configuration of non use in which the various portions or tubular elements are folded up.
  • This stick for sightless people comprises, essentially, a handle, a body, a ferrule, and connection means for joining said elements with each other.
  • the ferrule of the illustrated embodiment is made up of a hollow, substantially spherical body (20), provided with a coupling portion (21) to allow the fixing thereof to the body of the stick (1).
  • the coupling portion (21) is shaped like a sleeve and can be fitted on the lower end of the body of the stick (1).
  • the ferrule (2) is made form plastics material; in particular, the plastics material is possibly of PPS (polyphenylene sulphide) type, for example the one marketed with the trade mark Ryton, preferably of BR-7-120NA type. Using this material makes it also possible to provide ferrules of different colours.
  • the hollow body (20) may be provided, as in the example, with one or more reinforcing ribs (22). In this way, it is possible to limit the thickness of the ferrule.
  • Said ferrule (2) is made up of more (two, for example) like parts joined opposite to each other.
  • the body of the stick (1) comprises more tubular elements (11); the tubular elements (11) are like each other and have a substantially cylindrical shaping with an upper end (12) defining a seat, and a lower end defining a coupling element (13).
  • the coupling element has an outer diameter lower than the inner diameter of the seat (12) so as to accommodate the tubular elements one within the other.
  • the sameness of the tubular elements (11) (four, in the illustrated example) allows limiting the number of parts making up the stick.
  • the tubular elements (11) are made from glass fibre and may have a reflecting outer surface, preferably coated with a nonslip coat.
  • the coupling element (13) is coated with Teflon type material and provided with a bush (14) having a rounded edge (15).
  • the bush (14) may be made from aluminium and is provided with a through hole (16) of such a diameter as to accommodate a corresponding section of an elastic element (4) - to be described later - with an extremely reduced, that is practically zero, clearance.
  • a longitudinal cut (14') allows fitting the bush onto the elastic (4) already predisposed within the various elements (11) of the body.
  • the rounded edge (15) allows folding the stick without wearing the elastic element inserted within the same stick.
  • connection means comprise two attachment members (5, 6), disposed respectively in correspondence of the handle (3) and the ferrule (2).
  • Such attachment members (5, 6) have a head portion (50, 60) of a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the tubular elements (11) whereby they cannot pass through the inner cavities of the latter.
  • Each of the attachment members (5, 6) has a coupling rod (54, 64) which, as shown in the examples, may be so shaped as to exhibit longitudinal sections of different diameter.
  • the connection members also comprise an elastic element (4) consisting of a single, hollow tubular element made of silicone rubber, for example. The ends of the elastic element (4) are fitted with interference onto the coupling rods (54, 64) so as to result steadily fixed to the attachment members (5, 6).
  • the handle (3) includes an internal tubular element (30) lined with a sheath (31) made from neoprene or cork layer.
  • the lower end (32) of the inner tube (30) results fitted onto the lower end of the tubular element (11) being disposed above, that is, directly connected with the same handle.
  • a clamping device which allows varying the length of the stick by fixing, at variable but stable positions, the handle (3) relative to the body of the stick (1).
  • the device comprises a sleeve (7) and a treaded bush (8).
  • the sleeve (7) which may be made from plastics material, has a cylindrical portion (72) and a substantially truncated-cone portion (70) on which two longitudinal cuts (71) and an external thread (70) are provided.
  • the bush (8) has an inner thread (80) complementary to the sleeve (7), and an outer surface (81) defining a handle for manual operation.
  • the bush (8) may be made from aluminium.
  • the stick results assembled as described below.
  • the four tubular elements (11) are fitted one inside the other, with three connections defined by the associations of coupling portions (13) within the relevant seats (12).
  • the element (11) disposed below results fitted into the sleeve (21) of the ferrule (2).
  • Received inside the ferrule (2) is the head (60) of the attachment member (6), which head, as previously indicated, cannot fit into the tubular element (11) because of its diameter.
  • Fitted onto the coupling rod (64) in a substantially unmovable manner when in use, is the lower end of the elastic (4).
  • the elastic (4) goes through all the body of the stick (1) by passing internally to the bushes (14) disposed in the connection sites of the various tubular elements (11). Inserted in the upper end of the above-standing tubular element (11), as best shown in Fig.
  • the sleeve (7) By rotating the bush in one direction or the other, the sleeve (7) is tightened or loosened. This movement results facilitated by the outer conformation (81) of the bush, and of the nonslip coat possibly provided on the tubular elements. It will be appreciated that it is possible to shift the handle (3) when the sleeve (7) is loosened in order to vary the length of the stick.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Pain & Pain Management (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Rehabilitation Therapy (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Mutual Connection Of Rods And Tubes (AREA)
  • Walking Sticks, Umbrellas, And Fans (AREA)
  • Lubricants (AREA)
  • Surgical Instruments (AREA)
  • Acyclic And Carbocyclic Compounds In Medicinal Compositions (AREA)
EP02425154A 2001-03-16 2002-03-14 Blindenstock Withdrawn EP1240882A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITFI20010041 2001-03-16
ITFI20010041 ITFI20010041A1 (it) 2001-03-16 2001-03-16 Bastone per non vedenti

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1240882A2 true EP1240882A2 (de) 2002-09-18
EP1240882A3 EP1240882A3 (de) 2002-12-18

Family

ID=11442103

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02425154A Withdrawn EP1240882A3 (de) 2001-03-16 2002-03-14 Blindenstock

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1240882A3 (de)
IT (1) ITFI20010041A1 (de)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1556966A (en) * 1925-01-19 1925-10-13 Selig Frank Protective tip
DD154327A1 (de) * 1980-11-20 1982-03-17 Egon Henk Teleskopartiger blindenlangstock
FR2663844A1 (fr) * 1990-06-27 1992-01-03 Betton Rene Dispositif coude et amovible pour canne de non-voyant.
US5301703A (en) * 1993-07-02 1994-04-12 Melvin Kahn Cane tip
WO1998000088A1 (en) * 1996-06-28 1998-01-08 House Of Hardy Limited Lightweight telescopic cane
US5934300A (en) * 1997-08-08 1999-08-10 Breton; James L. Cane for visually handicapped

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1556966A (en) * 1925-01-19 1925-10-13 Selig Frank Protective tip
DD154327A1 (de) * 1980-11-20 1982-03-17 Egon Henk Teleskopartiger blindenlangstock
FR2663844A1 (fr) * 1990-06-27 1992-01-03 Betton Rene Dispositif coude et amovible pour canne de non-voyant.
US5301703A (en) * 1993-07-02 1994-04-12 Melvin Kahn Cane tip
WO1998000088A1 (en) * 1996-06-28 1998-01-08 House Of Hardy Limited Lightweight telescopic cane
US5934300A (en) * 1997-08-08 1999-08-10 Breton; James L. Cane for visually handicapped

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1240882A3 (de) 2002-12-18
ITFI20010041A1 (it) 2002-09-16

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