Walking aid with supplementary features

• US 6,745,786 B1
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rayneda Davis
• Original Assignee: Rayneda Davis
• Inventors: Davis, Rayneda
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/159,096
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 135/65, 135/66, 135/910, 135/911, 362/102, 368/10, 224/903, 280/819
• US Class Current: 135/65
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/00 Sticks combined with other objects
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 9/10 Hand-held or body-worn self-defence devices using repellant gases or chemicals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 135/91 Illuminated cane or umbrella
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 135/911 Cane for the blind

Abstract

A walking aid with supplementary features that are communicatively coupled to an integrated timepiece. The combination of the timepiece'"'"'s intelligent circuitry and memory storage can increase the functionality of the supplementary features integrated therein. The timepiece can also record the use of the supplementary features for later use by the user.

Claims

1. A walking aid comprising:

a handle for the user to grip;

a supporting shaft fixedly connected to said handle;

a tip fixedly connected to said shaft;

a timepiece operationally coupled to said supporting shaft;

a light source operationally coupled to said supporting shaft, said light source is an incandescent bulb;

a defensive substance dispenser operationally coupled to said supporting shaft;

a plurality of controls operationally coupled to said supporting shaft for managing functions of said timepiece, light source, and defensive substance dispenser;

a self contained power supply for providing power to said timepiece and said light source; and

a display device for indicating output from said timepiece.

2. A walking aid of claim 1 further comprising an audio output device operationally coupled to said supporting shaft.

3. A walking aid of claim 1 wherein the timepiece comprises:

real time clock circuitry;

memory storage circuitry; and

micro-controller circuitry.

4. A walking aid of claim 3 wherein the real time clock circuitry, the memory storage circuitry, and the micro-controller circuitry are integrated into a single controller chip.

5. A walking aid of claim 1 wherein the timepiece records a time.

6. A walking aid of claim 1 wherein the light produced by said light source is directed through a lens.

7. A walking aid of claim 2 wherein the audio output device emits an alarm.

8. A walking aid of claim 1 wherein the self-contained power supply comprises one or more batteries.

9. A walking aid of claim 1 wherein the controls are positioned such that the controls are actautable by the hand of the user when the user grasps the handle.

10. A walking aid of claim 1 wherein the display device is an LED display.

11. A walking aid of claim 1 wherein the display device is an LCD display.

12. A walking aid of claim 1 wherein the timepiece is coupled to one or more sensing devices.

13. A walking aid comprising:

a handle for the user to grip;

a supporting shaft fixedly connected to said handle;

a tip fixedly connected to said shaft;

a timepiece operationally coupled to said supporting shaft;

a light source operationally coupled to said supporting shaft, said light source is an incandescent bulb;

a defensive substance dispenser operationally coupled to said supporting shaft;

a plurality of controls operationally coupled to said supporting shaft for managing functions of said timepiece, light source, and defensive substance dispenser;

a self contained power supply for providing power to said timepiece and said light source;

a display device for indicating output from said timepiece;

an audio output device operationally coupled to said supporting shaft, said audio output device emits an alarm;

wherein the timepiece comprises real time clock circuitry, memory storage circuitry, and micro-controller circuitry, and wherein the real time clock circuitry, the memory storage circuitry, and the micro-controller circuitry are integrated into a single controller chip;

said the timepiece records a time when a function of the walking aid is activated by the user;

a lens positioned in said supporting shaft and directing light produced by said light source;

said plurality of controls being positioned such that each one of said plurality of controls are actautable by the hand of the user when the user grasps the handle; and

wherein the timepiece is coupled to one or more sensing devices.

14. The walking aid of claim 13 wherein the display device is an LED display.

15. The walking aid of claim 13 wherein the display device is an LCD display.

16. The walking aid of claim 13, wherein said self-contained power supply further comprises a power source selected from the group of power sources consisting of single capacitor, capacitor bank, single battery, multiple batteries, and fuel cell.

17. The walking aid of claim 13, wherein said sensing device comprises a pulse monitor and said audio output device produces a voice representation of a heart rate determined by said pulse monitor.

18. The walking aid of claim 13, wherein said sensing device comprises a pedometer and said audio output device produces an aural signal associated with a mileage determined by said pedometer.

19. The walking aid of claim 13, wherein said defensive substance dispenser dispenses a defensive substance selected from the group of defensive substances consisting of tear gas, MACE, pepper spray, canine repeller, insecticide, and chemical smoke.

20. The walking aid of claim 13, further comprising:

wherein said self-contained power supply further comprises a power source selected from the group of power sources consisting of single capacitor, capacitor bank, single battery, multiple batteries, and fuel cell;

wherein said defensive substance dispenser dispenses a defensive substance selected from the group of defensive substances consisting of tear gas, MACE, pepper spray, canine repeller, insecticide, and chemical smoke;

wherein said sensing device further comprises a sensor selected from the group of sensors consisting of a pulse monitor operationally coupled to said audio output device for producing a voice representation of a heart rate determined by said pulse monitor, and a pedometer operationally coupled to said audio output device for producing an aural signal associated with a mileage determined by said pedometer.