Mobility aid retention clip

Abstract

A walking cane retention clip that provides convenient temporary placement of the cane so that the user can perform a two-handed task. The retention clip provides a garment clasping region for attachment to a garment such as a waistband, a belt or both. A mobility aid receiving region is used for releasably retaining a mobility aid such as a cane or walking staff. The retention clip comprises a unitary construction that is configured for vertical or horizontal retention of a mobility aid. The retention clip is fabricated from high strength materials that are capable of delivering long-term function without significant risk of wear or mechanical failure. The retention clip is configured and fabricated from materials that facilitate cleaning and sanitization of the retention clip.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to the art of canes, walking sticks and staffs. More particularly, the invention relates to a waist-mounted cane retention clip having improved holding capability and ergonomic functionality.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Throughout history people have used canes, walking sticks and staffs to facilitate personal mobility. Canes, walking sticks, hiking staffs, trekking poles, and walking umbrellas may commonly be referred to as “mobility aids.” There are many reasons why a person may require the use of a mobility aid, such as to overcome a physical disability, increase balance, or conserve energy. The use of a mobility aid assists a person to walk straighter, in natural and proper body alignment, which in turn minimizes stress and strain upon joints and muscles. By using a mobility aid, people are able to participate and enjoy various daily activities that otherwise would have been difficult without the use of such an aid.[0...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The present invention is a mobility aid retention clip enabling the user to instinctively store and naturally retrieve the mobility aid without attaching anything to the aid and further providing for easy cleaning and sanitizing of the clip.

[0021]The invention enables a person to conveniently and effortlessly store a mobility aid at their waist. The mobility aid retention clip provides an intuitive and easy way to temporarily store a mobility aid without any complex attachments or devices. The invention is constructed of high strength materials suitable for long-term, repeated use.

[0023]Finally, the invention provides increased ease of use in storing a mobility aid and increases self-confidence, independence, productivity and usefulness for the user because the user has an efficient means for temporary placement of the mobility aid while performing a two-handed task.

Problems solved by technology

However, mobility aid users frequently encounter a predicament upon arrival at a chosen destination, that being a convenient way to temporarily store the mobility aid while performing a two-handed task.

As a result, many mobility aid users will clumsily attempt to hold the aid while performing the two-handed task.

Some disadvantages of holding the aid during the task are the risk of dropping the aid, taking excessive time to perform the task, interference with performing the task or generally feeling inept.

However, this presents an opportunity for the mobility aid to fall to the ground.

In doing so, depending on the user's agility, the user may suffer discomfort, injury, muscle / joint strain, or loss of balance.

Additionally, using a mobility aid quite often has negative connotations that represent a loss of independence, nuisance, awkwardness, and geriatric predisposition.

These factors can discourage the consistent use of a mobility aid or discourage the use of a mobility aid altogether.

While useful to some extent, this design has the drawback of dangling the mobility aid across the user's torso.

This makes performing the desired task more difficult because the dangling mobility aid is directly in front of the user and may strike or swing into the user.

There is also the possibility of the user tripping while storing the mobility aid using this device, particularly if the task requires lower body movement, because the aid may become entangled between the user's legs.

Additionally, cleaning and sanitizing the loop is difficult because the loop is made of a porous rubber-type material.

Furthermore, this device does not place the mobility aid in a “ready-to-use” position or at a safe and proper height where the user may instinctively reach for and use the aid.

Although useful, this design has disadvantages such as: requiring the user to hang the mobility aid such that the aid could drag the ground, the lengthy second loop may catch on environmental objects such as tables and chairs, and the leather-type material is difficult to clean or sanitize.

While useful, this design requires extensive movement of the mobility aid and does not provide for quick subsequent retrieval of the aid in case of an emergency.

Also, these devices are typically fabricated from cloth or leather and are difficult to clean or sanitize.

Although this design may be beneficial when the mobility aid is dropped, by providing a way to retrieve the aid without bending down, it requires that the aid be attached to the tether and this limits freedom of movement.

Additionally, while the user is walking constant energy is required to keep the mobility aid from being retracted or pulled into a non-stable position by the device.

Also, due to the multi-part construction of the device cleaning and sanitization are difficult to perform.

Although somewhat useful, this wrist mounted device hinders the “hands-free” objective of providing the user with a way to temporarily store the aid while performing a two-handed task.

Also, since the mobility aid is attached to the user's wrist, it is likely that the aid will interfere with the task at hand.

This device also requires that a tether be attached to the mobility aid and with its multi-part construction may prove difficult to clean or sanitize.

Although this device does permit a user to temporarily store a mobility aid at their side, it requires that a tether be attached to the aid by way of a hook-and-loop fastener and its multi-part construction may prove difficult to clean or sanitize.

Against this background of innovation, currently available mobility aid retention devices still suffer from severe deficiencies in providing: a readily accessible means for temporary placement; a retention device that does not require affixing anything to the aid; an aid retention device that is ergonomically positioned; a device constructed of high strength materials durable enough to withstand long-term, repeated, daily use; an easily sanitized device; or a device that produces positive perceptions surrounding use of a mobility aid.

Correspondingly, current mobility aid retention devices have not met with significant success to date.

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