US20100313925A1

US20100313925A1 - Base structure for a walking stick

Info

Publication number: US20100313925A1
Application number: US12/485,838
Authority: US
Inventors: Jin Shan Jiang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-06-16
Filing date: 2009-06-16
Publication date: 2010-12-16

Abstract

A base structure for a walking stick comprises a body including a connecting support and a plurality of extending legs, the connecting support including a retaining chamber formed around an inner wall thereof to receive a post, and the extending legs extending radially from a bottom end of the connecting support, each of the extending legs including an arcuate arm and a block, and one end of the arcuate arm connected on the bottom end of the connecting support so as to obtain flexibility, the block being located on another end of the arcuate arm and including a plane to abut against the ground; and a washer secured in a bottom surface of the retaining chamber to bias against a bottom end of the post.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a walking stick, and more particularly to a base structure for a walking stick that has excellent sock absorbing effect and secure stability.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional walking stick disclosed in TW Pub. Nos. 212935 and 370873 includes a base formed in a cylinder shape and having pyramid side surfaces around an outer rim thereof, however a shock absorbing effect is limited. Besides, a bottom area of the base is too small to support user securely.
Conventional walking stick disclosed in TW Pub. Nos. 386378, 477184, and M345514 includes a base having a spring disposed in a buffer member or annular grooves formed around a side wall of the buffer member to return the original shape after the swinging of the buffer member, however such buffer member has poor shock absorbing ability and complicated structure.
Conventional walking stick disclosed in TW Pub. No. 338069 includes three extending legs to abut against the ground, but it can not stand on the ground upright, supporting user insecurely.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a base structure for a walking stick that has excellent sock absorbing effect and secure stability.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a base structure for a walking stick that is produced at lower cost and operated conveniently.
A base structure for a walking stick in accordance with the present invention comprises:
a body including a connecting support and a plurality of extending legs, the connecting support including a retaining chamber formed around an inner wall thereof to receive a post, and the extending legs extending radially from a bottom end of the connecting support, each of the extending legs including an arcuate arm and a block, and one end of the arcuate arm connected on the bottom end of the connecting support so as to obtain flexibility, the block being located on another end of the arcuate arm and including a plane to abut against the ground; and a washer secured in a bottom surface of the retaining chamber to bias against a bottom end of the post.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the exploded components of a base structure for a walking stick in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the assembly of the base structure for the walking stick in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the base structure for the walking stick in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a body of the base structure for the walking stick in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross section view of a body of a base structure for a walking stick in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross section view of a body of a base structure for a walking stick in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross section view of a body of a base structure for a walking stick in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross section view of a body of a base structure for a walking stick in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross section view of a body of a base structure for a walking stick in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be clearer from the following description when viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a base structure 2 for a walking stick disposed in a bottom end of a post 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a body 20 and a washer 30, wherein
the body 20 is made of plastic material and includes a connecting support 21, a plurality of extending legs 22, a flange 23, and a number of reinforcement ribs 24. The connecting support 21 includes a retaining chamber 210 formed around an inner wall thereof to receive the post 1. The extending legs 22 extend radially from a bottom end of the connecting support 21 and a preferred number of the extending legs is three. Each of the extending legs 22 includes an arcuate arm 220 and a block 221, and the arcuate arm 220 extends outward from the bottom end of the connecting support 21 so as to obtain flexibility, the block 221 is located on an end portion of the arcuate arm 220 and includes a plane 222 to abut against the ground, the plane 222 includes a number of anti-slip members 223 attached thereon to contact with the ground securely. The flange 23 is fixed on a connecting portion of bottom ends of the extending legs 22, and the reinforcement ribs 24 extend outward from an outer wall of the flange 23 to inner side surfaces of the arcuate arms 220 to enhance support strength of the arcuate arms 220.
The washer 30 is made of metal material and secured in a bottom surface of the retaining chamber 210 to bias against the bottom end of the post 1.
As shown in FIG. 5, when the post 1 is pressed, the arcuate arms 220 of the extending legs 22 become flexible to deform so as to lower an impact of a reaction of the ground, causing shock absorbing effect. When the pressing force of the post 1 vanishes, the arcuate arms 220 of the extending legs 22 return the original shape.
Furthermore, the extending legs 22 and the planes 222 are applied to form a polygonally support surface to enhance stability, lower material cost, and be operated easily.
With reference to FIG. 6, a base structure for a walk stick of a second embodiment of the present invention is similes to that of the first embodiment thereof, wherein the difference between the first and the second embodiments is that a base 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of metal resilient pieces 25, each being disposed in the extending leg 22 of the arcuate arm 220 and connecting with the washer 30 to reinforce support strength of the arcuate arm 220.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, a base structure for a walk stick of a third embodiment of the present invention is similes to that of the first embodiment thereof, wherein the difference between the first and the third embodiments is that a connecting support 21 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a flexible section 211 to couple with the extending legs 22, the flexible section 211 includes an annular groove 212 formed around an outer wall thereof. The body 20 further includes a pad 26 and a plurality of metal resilient pieces 25, the pad 26 is mounted on the connecting portion of the extending legs 22, and each of the metal resilient pieces 25 is fixed in the arcuate arm 220 and an upper end thereof is coupled with the pad 26. By using the flexible section 211, the post 1 or the body 20 can swing to a suitable angle to stand on different tilted grounds, thus enabling to support user securely. The flexible section 211 can make the body 20 swing to an angle and return its original position immediately, and as the user releases the walking stick, the post remains stand upright without falling, and the resilient pieces 25 can further increase the support of the arcuate arms 220.
With reference to FIG. 8, a base structure for a walk stick of a fourth embodiment of the present invention is similes to that of the first embodiment thereof, wherein the difference between the first and the fourth embodiments is that a body 20 further includes a spring 27, an upper end of which connects with the washer 30 and a lower end of which abut against the pad 26, such that the structure and flexibility of the flexible section 211 are increased.
With reference to FIG. 9, a base structure for a walk stick of a fifth embodiment of the present invention is similes to that of the first embodiment thereof, wherein the difference between the fifth embodiment and the first embodiments is that a body 20 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention includes a connecting support 21 and a number of extending legs 22 being joined together by ways of a bolt 21. It is to be noted that the connecting support 21 is a circular buffer member on a bottom end of a connecting support of a conventional walking stick.
With reference to FIG. 10, a base structure for a walk stick of a sixth embodiment of the present invention is similes to that of the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the difference between the sixth and the first embodiments is that a body 20 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention includes a connecting support 21 and a number of extending legs 22 being retained together, wherein the connecting support 21 includes a number of engaging slots 213 longitudinally arranged around an outer rim thereof, and the arcuate arm 220 of the extending leg 22 includes a locking projection 224 extending downward from a top end thereof to be retained in the engaging slot 24, thus assembling the extending legs 22 to the connecting support 21.
While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A base structure for a walking stick comprising:

a body including a connecting support and a plurality of extending legs, the connecting support including a retaining chamber formed around an inner wall thereof to receive a post, and the extending legs extending radially from a bottom end of the connecting support, each of the extending legs including an arcuate arm and a block, and one end of the arcuate arm connected on the bottom end of the connecting support so as to obtain flexibility, the block being located on another end of the arcuate arm and including a contacting plane to abut against the ground; and

a washer secured in a bottom surface of the retaining chamber to bias against a bottom end of the post;

wherein the body further includes a flange and a number of reinforcement ribs, the flange is fixed on a connecting portion of bottom ends of the extending legs, and the reinforcement ribs extend outward from an outer wall of the flange to inner side surfaces of the arcuate arms;

wherein the contacting plane includes a number of anti-slip members attached thereon.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. The base structure for a walking stick as claimed in claim 3, wherein a preferred number of the extending legs is three.

5. The base structure for a walking stick as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body further includes a plurality of metal resilient pieces, each being disposed in the extending leg of the arcuate arm and connecting with the washer.

6. The base structure for a walking stick as claimed in claim 2, wherein the body further includes a plurality of metal resilient pieces, each being disposed in the extending leg of the arcuate arm and connecting with the washer.

7. The base structure for a walking stick as claimed in claim 3, wherein the body further includes a plurality of metal resilient pieces, each being disposed in the extending leg of the arcuate arm and connecting with the washer.

8. The base structure for a walking stick as claimed in claim 4, wherein the body further includes a plurality of metal resilient pieces, each being disposed in the extending leg of the arcuate arm and connecting with the washer.

9. The base structure for a walking stick as claimed in claim 1, wherein a connecting support includes a flexible section to couple with the extending legs, the flexible section includes an annular groove formed around an outer wall thereof, the body further includes a pad and a plurality of metal resilient pieces, the pad is mounted on the connecting portion of the extending legs, and each of the metal resilient pieces is fixed in the arcuate arm and an upper end thereof is coupled with the pad.

10. The base structure for a walking stick as claimed in claim 2, wherein a connecting support includes a flexible section to couple with the extending legs, the flexible section includes an annular groove formed around an outer wall thereof, the body further includes a pad and a plurality of metal resilient pieces, the pad is mounted on the connecting portion of the extending legs, and each of the metal resilient pieces is fixed in the arcuate arm and an upper end thereof is coupled with the pad.

11. The base structure for a walking stick as claimed in claim 3, wherein a connecting support includes a flexible section to couple with the extending legs, the flexible section includes an annular groove formed around an outer wall thereof, the body further includes a pad and a plurality of metal resilient pieces, the pad is mounted on the connecting portion of the extending legs, and each of the metal resilient pieces is fixed in the arcuate arm and an upper end thereof is coupled with the pad.

12. The base structure for a walking stick as claimed in claim 4, wherein a connecting support includes a flexible section to couple with the extending legs, the flexible section includes an annular groove formed around an outer wall thereof, the body further includes a pad and a plurality of metal resilient pieces, the pad is mounted on the connecting portion of the extending legs, and each of the metal resilient pieces is fixed in the arcuate arm and an upper end thereof is coupled with the pad.

13. The base structure for a walking stick as claimed in claim 9, wherein the body further includes a spring, an upper end of which connects with the washer and a lower end of which abut against the pad.

14. The base structure for a walking stick as claimed in claim 10, wherein the body further includes a spring, an upper end of which connects with the washer and a lower end of which abut against the pad.

15. The base structure for a walking stick as claimed in claim 11, wherein the body further includes a spring, an upper end of which connects with the washer and a lower end of which abut against the pad.

16. The base structure for a walking stick as claimed in claim 12, wherein the body further includes a spring, an upper end of which connects with the washer and a lower end of which abut against the pad.

17. The base structure for a walking stick as claimed in claim 1, wherein a connecting support and the extending legs are joined together by ways of a bolt.

18. The base structure for a walking stick as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting support includes a number of engaging slots longitudinally arranged around an outer rim thereof, and the arcuate arm of the extending leg includes a locking projection extending downward from a top end thereof to be retained in the engaging slot.