Cane

Abstract

To provide a cane capable of being prevented from being erroneously taken home from a cane stand or prevented from being stolen, without making a handle carried by a user.SOLUTION: In a cane (1), a shank (2) comprises first and second shanks (200) and (210) that are connected together via a variable part (5). The variable part (5) can switch between a fixed state in which the second shank (210) is fixed to the first shank (200) and an unfixed state in which the second shank (210) can be turned to be bent with respect to the first shank (200), by a detachable fixing member (51).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a walking stick. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Umbrellas that are designed to prevent umbrellas placed in an umbrella stand from being mistakenly taken home or stolen include those with handles that are detachable from the shaft (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-57392 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The umbrella of Patent Document 1 requires the user to hold the handle while the umbrella is placed in the umbrella stand.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a walking stick which does not require a user to carry a handle and which prevents the walking stick from being mistakenly taken away from a walking stick stand or from being stolen. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The invention is, for example, as follows: In the following, the symbols of the drawings are used for reference. [1] The shaft portion (2) has a first shaft portion (200) and a second shaft portion (210) connected via a variable portion (5), The walking stick (1) is characterized in that the variable portion (5) can be switched between a fixed state in which the second shaft portion (210) is fixed to the first shaft portion (200) and an unlocked state in which the second shaft portion (210) can be rotated so as to be bent relative to the first shaft portion (200) by a removable fixing member (51). [2] In the walking stick (1) described in [1], the variable portion (5) includes an elastic member (55) that biases the second shaft portion (210) in a first direction (D1) in a circumferential direction about a rotation axis (R) of the second shaft portion (210), The walking stick (1) is characterized in that the second shaft portion (210) rotates in the first direction (D1) by the elastic member (55) when the variable portion (5) switches from the fixed state to the released state. [3] In the walking stick (1) described in [1], The variable portion (5) is a first fixing hole (56) in the first shaft portion (200); a second fixing hole (572) in the second shaft portion (210) that overlaps with the first fixing hole (56) when the handle (24) is in a position suitable for use; The walking stick (1) is characterized in that, in the fixed state, the fixing member (51) is inserted into the overlapping first fixing hole (56) and second fixing hole (572). [4] In the walking stick (1) described in [3], The fixing member (51) includes a foot portion (512) and a claw portion (513) formed at a tip of the foot portion (512), The foot portion (512) is passed through the first fixing hole (56) and the second fixing hole (572), A walking stick (1) characterized in that the claw portion (513) is hooked around the first fixing hole (56) or the second fixing hole (572). [5] A walking stick (1) according to any one of [1] to [4], The umbrella (1) is characterized in that the variable portion (5) is provided midway along the handle (24). [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an umbrella. [Diagram 2] This is a perspective view of the umbrella from below. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 shows an umbrella placed in an umbrella stand. [Figure 4] 4 is a schematic side view showing a configuration example of a variable section. FIG. [Diagram 5] 5 is a schematic side view of the variable part as seen from an angle different from that of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 13 is a diagram for explaining the movement of the second shaft portion when the variable portion is switched to the fixed release state. FIG. [Figure 7] 13 is a diagram for explaining a movement of returning the second shaft portion, which is bent relative to the first shaft portion, to its original position. FIG. [Figure 8] 13 is a diagram showing a state in which the second fixing hole overlaps with the first fixing hole in a plan view. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an umbrella 1 (walking stick). A walking stick can be carried in one hand and its tip can touch the ground at one point; known walking sticks include umbrellas, walking sticks, and mountain climbing poles. In the following, an umbrella 1 will be used as an example of a walking stick and will be described. The umbrella 1 will be described with the upper wheel 22 side of the umbrella 1 as the upper side and the handle 24 side as the lower side.

[0009] The shaft 2 of the umbrella 1 comprises a center rod 21 that extends in a straight line, and a handle 24 that connects to the lower part of the center rod 21. The handle 24 is, for example, J-shaped, extending downward from the lower end of the center rod 21, curving laterally at the bottom, then folding back upward and extending upward again. The handle 24 may be straight, or may have any other suitable shape.

[0010] A retractable bottom flap 26 is provided on the shaft 2 immediately above the handle 24. A top wheel 22 is fixed to the top of the shaft 2. The base ends of multiple ribs 3 are rotatably connected to the top wheel 22. A seat 31 (Fig. 2) is connected to the ribs 3. The ribs 3 can be opened by retracting the bottom flap 26 into the shaft 2. In the umbrella 1, a top flap 25 that can retract into the shaft 2 is provided between the top wheel 22 and the bottom flap 26 on the shaft 2. A bottom wheel 23 that can slide between the bottom flap 26 and the top flap 25 is provided on the shaft 2. The base ends of multiple ribs 4 are rotatably connected to the bottom wheel 23.

[0011] When the umbrella 1 is closed, the lower roller 23 is fixed in position by the lower flap 26. The lower flap 26 is inserted into the shaft 2 to release the fixed position of the lower roller 23, and the lower roller 23 is manually slid upward to the upper flap 25, whereby the position of the lower roller 23 is fixed by the upper flap 25. The ribs 3 open due to the action of the ribs 4 as the lower roller 23 moves upward. When closing the umbrella 1, conversely, the upper flap 25 is inserted into the shaft 2 to release the fixed position of the lower roller 23 by the upper flap 25, and then the lower roller 23 is manually slid downward to be fixed in position by the lower flap 26. In addition to the above-mentioned manual opening type, the ribs 3 can be opened by a jump type, and the umbrella 1 may be of the jump type.

[0012] In the umbrella 1, the variable part 5 is provided below the bottom flap 26 in the shaft 2. In this embodiment, the variable part 5 is provided in the middle of the handle 24, but it may be provided between the bottom flap 26 and the handle 24, or at any appropriate position on the shaft 2. The shaft 2 includes a first shaft 200 and a second shaft 210 connected via the variable part 5. The variable part 5 can be switched between a fixed state in which the second shaft 210 is fixed to the first shaft 200 and a released state in which the second shaft 210 can be rotated so as to be folded relative to the first shaft 200, by a fixing pin 51 (fixing member) that can be attached to and detached from the umbrella 1. In this embodiment, the variable part 5 can be switched from the fixed state to the released state by removing the fixing pin 51 from the umbrella 1. In this embodiment, a fixed pin 51 is given as an example of a fixing member, but any appropriate configuration can be used as long as it cooperates with the variable portion 5 and can switch the variable portion 5 from a fixed state to an unlocked state when removed.

[0013] FIG. 3 shows an umbrella 1 placed in an umbrella stand 11 (walking stick stand). When the umbrella 1 is placed in the umbrella stand 11, the fixing pin 51 can be removed from the umbrella 1 to release the variable section 5 and to bend the second shaft section 210 relative to the first shaft section 200. Since the umbrella 1 is difficult to use when the second shaft section 210 is bent, this embodiment aims to prevent the umbrella 1 from being taken home by mistake or stolen. In this embodiment, the user only needs to carry the fixing pin 51, which is smaller than the handle 24, while the umbrella 1 is placed in the umbrella stand 11, making it easy to use the umbrella 1.

[0014] Fig. 4 is a schematic side view showing a configuration example of the variable portion 5. In Fig. 4, the variable portion 5 is in a fixed state in which the second shaft portion 210 is fixed to the first shaft portion 200. In Fig. 4, the upper portion of the extension portion 52 and the arm portions 531, 532 is shown as a cut surface in order to show the main parts of the variable portion 5. Fig. 5 is a schematic side view of the variable portion 5 seen from an angle different by 90 degrees from that in Fig. 4, and the hole 572 is omitted.

[0015] The variable section 5 includes an extension section 52 extending downward from the center of the lower end of the first shaft section 200, and a pair of arms 531, 532 extending upward from the upper end of the second shaft section 210, facing each other, with the extension section 52 located between them. The arms 531, 532 support the rotation shaft R. The lower end side of the extension section 52 has a shaft hole 54 through which the rotation shaft R passes.

[0016] When the variable section 5 is in an unlocked state, the second shaft section 210 is rotatable about the rotation axis R relative to the first shaft section 200. The variable section 5 is equipped with a torsion coil spring 55 (elastic member) that biases the second shaft section 210 in a first direction R1 (see FIG. 3) in the circumferential direction about the rotation axis R. When the handle 24 is J-shaped, the first direction R1 is a direction in which the folded-back portion of the handle 24 is located upward when the second shaft section 210 is bent, as shown in FIG. 3. The first direction R1 may be a direction in which the folded-back portion of the handle 24 is located downward in FIG. 3.

[0017] Torsion coil springs 55 are provided, for example, on the lateral portions of extension portion 52 on rotation axis R, with one end connected to extension portion 52 and the other end connected to arm portions 531, 532. The rotation axis R is passed through a coil portion of torsion coil spring 55. When variable portion 5 is in the fixed state of FIG. 4, torsion coil spring 55 is placed in a compressed or pulled state that biases second shaft portion 210 in first direction R1.

[0018] In the extension portion 52 , a first fixing hole 56 is located above the shaft hole 54 .

[0019] Here, the fixing pin 51 is made of resin and includes a head 511, a foot 512 connected to the head 511, and a claw 513 formed at the tip of the foot 512. In this embodiment, a pair of claws 513 are formed, and the outer side of each of them bulges outward in the radial direction of the foot 512 more than the foot 512. The claws 513 are bent inward when pressed on the outer side, and restored to their original shape when the pressure is removed. In order to make it easier to insert the claws 513 into the second fixing hole 572, an inclined surface 514 facing the tip side and outward is formed at the tip of the outer side of the claws 513. In order to make it easier to pull out the claws 513 from the second fixing hole 572, an inclined surface 515 facing the base end side and outward is formed at the base end of the outer side of the claws 513.

[0020] 4 has a hole 571 through which the foot 512 passes. A flat surface is formed around the outer end (the right end in FIG. 4) of the hole 571, with which the head 511 of the fixing pin 51 comes into contact. The foot 512 inserted into the hole 571 passes through the first fixing hole 56.

[0021] The arm 532 on the left side of FIG. 4 has a second fixing hole 572 through which the foot 512 and the claw 513 pass. The hole 571, the first fixing hole 56, and the second fixing hole 572 may be of substantially the same size. The second fixing hole 572 overlaps with the first fixing hole 56 when the handle 24 is in a position suitable for use (FIG. 8). A flat surface is formed around the outer end (left end in FIG. 4) of the second fixing hole 572, and the fixing pin 51 passed through the second fixing hole 572 fixes the second shaft 210 to the first shaft 200 by hooking the claw 513 around the second fixing hole 572. In this way, the variable section 5 is in a fixed state in which the second shaft 210 is fixed to the first shaft 200 by inserting the fixing pin 51 into the hole 571, the first fixing hole 56, and the second fixing hole 572.

[0022] In the arm portion 532, the second fixing hole 572 can be accessed from the outer side. By pressing the claw portion 513 of the fixing pin 51 towards the second fixing hole 572, the claw portion 513 bends inward and passes through the second fixing hole 572, and the head portion 511 floats out of the hole 571. By gripping the head portion 511 and pulling the fixing pin 51, the claw portion 513 bends inward and passes through the first fixing hole 56 and the hole 571, and the fixing pin 51 can be pulled out of the variable portion 5.

[0023] When the fixing pin 51 is pulled out from the variable section 5, the variable section 5 switches from a fixed state to a released state. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the second shaft section 210 rotates in the rotation direction D1 around the rotation axis R relative to the first shaft section 200 due to the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 55 in the rotation direction D1. When the second shaft section 210 rotates a set angle, for example, 90 degrees, relative to the first shaft section 200, the rotation is restricted by a restricting section (not shown). The restricting section may have an appropriate configuration. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the restricting section includes a protruding section 91 protruding inward from the arm section 531 and an abutting plate 92 of the extension section 52 against which the protruding section 91 abuts when the second shaft section 210 rotates by a set angle.

[0024] In this manner, in this embodiment, when the fixing pin 51 is pulled out and the variable section 5 is released from the fixed state, the second shaft section 210 rotates and is bent relative to the first shaft section 200, which is convenient.

[0025] When the fixing pin 51 is attached to the variable part 5, as shown in FIG. 7, the second shaft part 210, which is bent relative to the first shaft part 200, is rotated by the user of the umbrella 1 around the rotation axis R in a rotation direction D2 opposite to the rotation direction D1. As shown in FIG. 8, the second shaft part 210 rotates until the hole 571, the first fixing hole 56, and the second fixing hole 572 overlap in a plan view. Then, as described above, the fixing pin 51 is pushed into the hole 571, the first fixing hole 56, and the second fixing hole 572 until the claw part 513 comes out of the second fixing hole 572, thereby fixing the second shaft part 210 to the first shaft part 200. This puts the handle 24 in a position suitable for use, and the user can pull the umbrella 1 out of the umbrella stand 11 and use it.

[0026] In this embodiment, the fixed state of the second shaft portion 210 is achieved by passing the fixing pin 51 through the first fixing hole 56 and the second fixing hole 572, which can simplify the configuration of the variable portion 5. In this embodiment, the fixing pin 51 can be attached to and detached from the variable portion 5 by making the fixing pin 51 from resin and forming a claw portion 513 at its tip, which can also simplify the configuration of the variable portion 5.

[0027] The uniqueness of the fixing pin 51 to the variable part 5 may be enhanced. For example, a key may be provided on the foot 512, and a key groove may be provided in the first fixing hole 56, with several combinations of the key and the key groove being set. In this way, it becomes difficult to attach the fixing pin 51 to someone else's umbrella 1, and mistakes and theft can be further prevented.

[0028] Contrary to the embodiment, the extension portion 52 may be provided on the second shaft portion 210, and the arms 531, 532 may be provided on the first shaft portion 200. The arm portion 531 does not have to be provided, and it is sufficient that the second fixing hole 572 is provided on the first shaft portion 200 or the second shaft portion 210.

[0029] The present invention can be implemented in the embodiments without departing from its features. The embodiments, modifications, and effects are merely illustrative and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. The features and structures of the embodiments and modifications can be added and combined in various ways to obtain alternative configurations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1...walking stick, 2...shaft portion, 5...adjustable portion, 51...fixed member, 200...first shaft portion, 210...second shaft portion.

Claims

1. The shaft portion includes a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion connected via a variable portion, A walking stick characterized in that the variable portion can be switched between a fixed state in which the second shaft portion is fixed to the first shaft portion and an unlocked state in which the second shaft portion can be rotated so as to be bent relative to the first shaft portion by a removable fixing member.

2. 2. The walking stick according to claim 1, the variable portion includes an elastic member that biases the second shaft portion in a first direction in a circumferential direction about a rotation axis of the second shaft portion, A walking stick characterized in that the second shaft portion rotates in the first direction by the elastic member when the variable portion switches from the fixed state to the released state.

3. 2. The walking stick according to claim 1, The variable portion is a first fixing hole in the first shaft portion; a second fixing hole in the second shaft portion, the second fixing hole overlapping with the first fixing hole when the handle is in a position suitable for use; A walking stick, characterized in that the fixing member is inserted into the overlapping first fixing hole and second fixing hole when in the fixed state.

4. 4. The walking stick according to claim 3, The fixing member includes a foot portion and a claw portion formed at a tip of the foot portion, The foot is passed through the first fixing hole and the second fixing hole, A walking stick, characterized in that the claw portion is hooked around the first fixing hole or the second fixing hole.

5. A walking stick according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The umbrella is characterized in that the variable portion is provided midway through the handle.

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