Walking aid functional part

Abstract

Walking aid functional part for a walking aid (6), with a base body (11) in which a receiving opening (8) for receiving the walking aid (10) is provided, characterized in that a cavity (7) open at least on one side of the base body (11) is provided in the base body (11), in which a lamp (1) is inserted, wherein a light source (3) of the lamp (1) is arranged on an open side of the cavity (7), and wherein an actuating switch (4) of the lamp (1) for switching the light source (3) on and off is located on the side facing away from the light source (3) in or adjacent to the cavity (7).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a crutch functional part according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] DE 20 2020 102 813 U1 describes a crutch holder for holding a crutch on the edge of a horizontal or at least substantially horizontal surface, such as a table top. The crutch holder has a base body into which a bore for receiving the crutch and a laterally open receiving opening are made, which can be used to insert another crutch, so that two parallel crutches are connected via the crutch holder. On the underside of the base body there is an adhesive element, which is designed, for example, as foam rubber and has a high coefficient of friction, so that the crutch holder can be placed laterally on a horizontal surface, such as a table top, with only one crutch inserted, without the crutch becoming unstable and falling over.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of equipping a crutch functional part for attachment to a crutch with additional functionality.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention with the features of claim 1. The subclaims specify expedient further developments.

[0005] The functional crutch according to the invention can be attached to a crutch, which may be, for example, a walking stick or a cane. A receiving opening into which the crutch can be inserted is provided in a base body of the functional crutch. In an advantageous embodiment, the receiving opening can be open at the side, which allows the functional crutch with the receiving opening to be slid laterally onto the crutch.

[0006] In addition to the receiving opening, a cavity is provided in the base body of the crutch functional part, which cavity has at least one open side and into which a lamp is inserted. A lamp's illuminant is arranged on an open side of the cavity. Furthermore, the lamp has an operating switch for turning the illuminant on and off. The operating switch is located on the side facing away from the illuminant, in or adjacent to the cavity.

[0007] The crutch functional part designed in this way functions as a lamp that is manually operated by the user. This lamp can be easily attached to the crutch and then removed from the crutch again. When switched on, the lamp significantly improves the user's safety because, in the dark or when visibility is poor, the lamp on the crutch illuminates the area ahead for the person, regardless of other light sources such as street lighting or similar. The crutch functional part can also be used to illuminate a wallet, bag, or similar, both independently of the crutch and when attached to the crutch. This enables people with impaired vision in particular to see and grasp even small objects.

[0008] The operating switch, which turns the lamp's illuminant on and off, is located in or immediately adjacent to the cavity and faces the lamp's illuminant. To turn the lamp on and off, the operating switch is either operated directly by the person, in which case the lamp is firmly held in the cavity in the base body and cannot be adjusted. The cavity, for example, has two opposite openings, with the illuminant located at the first opening and the operating switch, which is operated by the person to turn the lamp on and off as needed, at the second opening.

[0009] In a further advantageous embodiment, the cavity is preferably designed as a blind hole and has only one opening where the luminous element is located. In this case, the lamp is adjustably accommodated in the cavity. To switch the lamp on and off, the person in the area of ​​the luminous element pushes the entire lamp into the cavity, thereby pressing the actuating switch, which is located on the bottom wall of the cavity, against this bottom wall, initiating the switching on or off process.

[0010] In the case of two openings in the cavity that are opposite each other, it may be expedient for the actuating switch to protrude from the adjacent opening in the cavity. This facilitates manual actuation of the actuating switch. Alternatively, it is also possible for the actuating switch to protrude from the opening in the cavity neither in the switched-on nor in the switched-off state, but rather to be located within the cavity in either state, advantageously in the immediate vicinity of the associated opening in the cavity.

[0011] In the case of a displaceable arrangement of the lamp in the cavity, which is advantageously only given when the cavity is designed to be open on one side, the actuating switch is supported on the bottom wall of the cavity, and the switching on and off process is carried out by an axial back and forth movement of the entire lamp in the cavity.

[0012] The cavity also advantageously contains a battery for the lamp. The battery can be part of the lamp or built into the lamp. To change the battery, the lamp is removed from the cavity and then reinserted into the cavity.

[0013] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the cavity in the base body is spaced apart from the receiving opening, which serves to accommodate the crutch. The longitudinal axes of the cavity and the receiving opening advantageously run orthogonally to each other, but they do not intersect, but are spaced apart. A direct connection between the receiving opening and the cavity is avoided to prevent the penetration of dirt and moisture into the cavity that accommodates the lamp.

[0014] According to yet another advantageous embodiment, the cavity is cylindrical and accommodates a correspondingly cylindrical lamp. Non-cylindrical designs of the cavity and lamp are also conceivable, for example, angular cross-sectional shapes. The cavity is preferably rectilinear. If appropriate, evenly curved cavities that follow a circular arc are also possible. In this case, the lamp is also circular in shape.

[0015] The invention further relates to a walking aid equipped with a walking aid functional part as described above. The walking aid is designed as a walking stick or crutch.

[0016] Further advantages and practical embodiments can be found in the further claims, the description of the figures, and the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 an exploded view of a cylindrical lamp for insertion into a walking stick functional part, Fig. 2 the lamp in the assembled state, Fig. 3 a walking stick functional part for a walking stick to hold the lamp, Fig. 4 Crutch function part and inserted lamp, Fig. 5 Crutch functional part with inserted lamp and a walking stick shown in sections.

[0017] In the figures, identical components are provided with identical reference symbols.

[0018] In the Fig. Figures 1 to 5 show different stages of the assembly of a crutch functional part with an inserted lamp on a crutch.

[0019] Fig. Figure 1 shows a lamp 1 with a hollow cylindrical lamp body 2, into which a luminous element 3 is integrated at one end. For switching the lamp on and off, an actuating switch 4, designed as a push-in switch, is located on the lamp body 2 on the side opposite the luminous element 3. The lamp 1 also includes a battery 5 in the form of two button cells, which are also integrated into the hollow cylindrical lamp body 2.

[0020] Fig. 2 shows the lamp 1 in the fully assembled state with lamp body 2, luminous element 3, inserted battery 5 and actuating switch 4 mounted axially on the front.

[0021] In Fig. Figure 3 shows a walking support functional part 6, which has a cylindrical cavity 7 for accommodating the lamp 1. The cavity 7 extends completely through a base body 11 of the walking support functional part 6 and accordingly has an opening on each of the opposite sides. The inner diameter of the cavity 7 is adapted to the outer diameter of the lamp body 2.

[0022] In Fig. 4, the lamp 1 is inserted into the cavity 7 of the crutch functional part 6, the length of the lamp 1 being selected such that the illuminant 3 protrudes slightly at one opening of the cavity 7 and the actuating switch 4 protrudes at the opposite end of the cavity 7. The lamp 1 is firmly received in the cavity 7 of the crutch functional part 6, thus preventing unwanted axial slippage of the lamp 1 in the cavity 7. The lamp 1 is switched on and off by pressing the actuating switch 4.

[0023] The base body 11 of the crutch functional part 6 also has a laterally open receiving opening 8, which is introduced into the base body 11 in such a way that the longitudinal axes of the receiving opening 8 and the cavity 7 are orthogonal to each other, but offset. The side cheeks in the base body 11, which delimit the receiving opening 8, can face each other slightly in the region of their free ends, so that when the crutch functional part 6 is pushed onto the crutch 10 ( Fig. 5) the walking support 10 is enclosed by the side panels and the walking support functional part 6 is held with sufficient security on the walking support 10 and does not accidentally slip.

[0024] On the upper side of the base body 11 of the crutch functional part 6, adjacent to the receiving opening 8, there is a ring 9 which serves as a loss protection device and to which a chain can be attached. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 20 2020 102 813 U1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Crutch functional part for a crutch (6), with a base body (11) into which a receiving opening (8) for receiving the crutch (10) is made, characterized by in that a cavity (7) which is open at least on one side of the base body (11) and into which a lamp (1) is inserted is introduced into the base body (11), wherein a luminous element (3) of the lamp (1) is arranged on an open side of the cavity (7), and wherein an actuating switch (4) of the lamp (1) for switching the luminous element (3) on and off is located on the side facing away from the luminous element (3) in or adjacent to the cavity (7). [2] Crutch functional part according to claim 1, characterized by that the cavity (7) in the base body (11) is continuous and has an opening on each of the opposite sides. [3] Crutch functional part according to claim 1, characterized by that the cavity (7) in the base body (11) has only one open side. [4] Crutch functional part according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the lamp (11) is slidably received in the cavity (7). [5] Crutch functional part according to claim 4, characterized by that the actuating switch (4) is supported on a wall of the cavity (7). [6] Crutch functional part according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the lamp (1) is firmly received in the cavity (7), wherein the actuating switch (4) is located adjacent to an opening of the cavity (7). [7] Crutch functional part according to claim 6, characterized by that the actuating switch (4) protrudes from the opening of the cavity (7). [8] Crutch functional part according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the cavity (7) in the base body (11) is at a distance from the receiving opening (8) for inserting the walking support (7). [9] Crutch functional part according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized bythat a battery (5) of the lamp (1) is inserted into the cavity (11). [10] Crutch functional part according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that the cavity (7) is cylindrical. [11] Walking stick with a walking stick functional part according to one of claims 1 to 10.

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