Walking Cane Hanger with Pivotable Foot for Tabletop Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing walking cane supports lack stability and ease of use when attached to horizontal surfaces like tabletops or appliance tops, often causing the cane to swing or mar the surface.
Innovation Solution
A walking cane hanger with a base attached to the cane, a lateral beam, and a downward leg with a frictional engagement surface, designed to stabilize the cane by positioning the center-of-mass below the edge of the surface and optionally featuring a pivotable foot for enhanced stability on uneven surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a base or clamp is used to attach a walking cane holding device to a cane, then the device can be permanently or releasably attached, but the stability when supporting the cane at the edge of a tabletop is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger extends the support structure into a third dimension by adding a lateral beam extending away from the cane and a leg extending downward from the beam. This creates a L-shaped configuration that positions the engagement surface at a distance from the cane, providing stable support at the edge of horizontal surfaces without requiring complex attachment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam and leg act as intermediary elements between the cane attachment point and the horizontal surface. This intermediate structure distributes the load and provides leverage, enabling stable support even when the attachment to the cane is simple.
2Reliability
If a clip or grapple is used to engage the horizontal surface, then the device can be attached to the surface, but the ease of use is reduced and surface damage may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement surface is designed with a substantially flat exposed surface that matches the typical flat surfaces of tabletops and countertops. This homogeneity in surface geometry allows for simple friction-based engagement without requiring specialized clips, grapples, or complex attachment mechanisms, thereby maintaining ease of use while ensuring reliable attachment.
3Device complexity
If a fixed engagement surface is used, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability to uneven surfaces or various positioning needs is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The foot is made pivotable relative to the leg through a pivot joint, transforming the fixed structure into a dynamic one. This allows the foot to rotate and adapt to uneven surfaces or different positioning requirements while maintaining a simple overall hanger structure. The pivot mechanism enables the engagement surface to orient itself appropriately for stable contact with various surface configurations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides stable and secure support for walking canes on horizontal surfaces, preventing swinging and surface damage, with the pivotable foot allowing flexibility in positioning and accommodating various surface configurations.
Implementation Method 1
The engagement surface has a substantially flat exposed surface for frictionally engaging a tabletop or other horizontal surface
Data Source
AI summary
A cane hanger adapted to stably support a walking cane on a horizontal surface includes a body having a base attachable to a side of a walking cane, a beam projecting away from the base, a leg depending from a distal end of the beam, and a support engagement surface either at a bottom of the leg or located on a foot pivotably attached to a distal end of the leg.