JP3833893B2 - Cane - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cane that expands and contracts the entire length of a cane body and exhibits a cushion function, and particularly relates to a cane that can adjust the amount of expansion and contraction of the cane body.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Some wands including a wand body configured by connecting a plurality of pipes expand and contract the entire length of the wand body in a resilient manner to exhibit a cushion function. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, a cane 1d in which the lower pipe 12d is inserted into the upper pipe 11d and the upper pipe 11d is supported on the lower pipe 12d via a cushion member 2d can be exemplified.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, this cane 1d has a limited use environment and low versatility. That is, when the user uses the cane 1d in a forward leaning posture on an inclined road such as an uphill or a mountain trail, the cane body 10d expands and contracts by a certain amount, which places a burden on the user's wrist and waist. Can be prevented accurately. However, when the cane 1d is used on a flat road or the like, or on soft ground or a carpet, the usability is deteriorated. For example, it is difficult for a user or the like in an upright posture to stretch with the cane 1d when the cane body 10d is always expanded and contracted by a certain amount.
[0004]
As described above, a conventional cane with a cushion function is exclusively used on an inclined road or the like, and on a flat road or the like, it is common to use a fixed cane in which the entire length of the cane body does not expand and contract. That is, conventionally, it is necessary to use a cane with a cushion function and a fixed cane according to the use environment.
[0005]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a cane that can be used for various purposes in various usage environments.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The wand of the invention of claim 1 includes a wand body configured by connecting a plurality of pipes, and includes an upper pipe selected from the plurality of pipes and a lower pipe disposed immediately below the upper pipe. One can be inserted into the other, and the upper pipe is supported by the lower pipe via a cushion member, and the upper pipe can be lowered while resisting the repulsive force of the cushion member. And adjusting means for adjusting the descending amount of the upper pipe.
[0007]
In the cane of the present invention, the amount of expansion and contraction of the cane body can be adjusted by adjusting the descending amount of the upper pipe by the adjusting means, and therefore can be used for various purposes in various usage environments. For example, if the adjusting means can selectively select prohibiting the lowering of the upper pipe and allowing the lowering of the upper pipe, the cane of the present invention can be suitably fixed to a flat road or the like. It can be used as a “cane of a type” or “cane with a cushion function” suitable for an inclined road or the like. Further, if the adjusting means can selectively select the lowering amount of the upper pipe, the expansion / contraction amount of the cane body can be set to a suitable amount according to the inclination angle of the inclined road or the like.
[0008]
Here, various types of the “cane” of the present invention can be selected. For example, in addition to a portable or medical cane used by an elderly person or a physically handicapped person, a cane for mountain climbing or hiking (stock for trekking) Examples include leisure wands such as ski wands (ski stock). The number of pipes constituting the “wand body” of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is two or more.
[0009]
When the number of pipes is three or more, the upper pipe is not necessarily the uppermost pipe. Further, the specific configuration of the cushion member is not particularly limited. For example, a cushion member using a coiled spring, a cushion member using rubber or a resin foam, a cushion member using a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, etc. It can be illustrated.
[0010]
  Also,The cane according to claim 1.Is"The adjusting means is integrally rotated with the other one of the upper pipe and the lower pipe, and the adjustment shaft portion disposed so as to be integrally rotatable with one of the upper pipe and the lower pipe. A shaft insertion portion that allows the adjustment shaft portion to be inserted, and the adjustment shaft portion projects an adjustment protrusion from an outer peripheral surface, and the shaft insertion portion has the adjustment protrusion as an axis. A movement allowing portion that can be inserted in a state in which movement in the direction is allowed and a movement prohibiting portion that can be inserted in a state in which movement of the adjustment protrusion in the axial direction is prohibited are provided in a continuous state in the circumferential direction. '' It is characterized by that.
[0011]
  Claim1In the wand of this invention, when relative rotation is given to the upper pipe and the lower pipe, relative rotation occurs between the adjustment shaft portion and the shaft insertion portion. On the other hand, since the movement allowance part and the movement prohibition part are continuous in the circumferential direction, insertion of the adjustment protrusion into the movement allowance part and movement of the adjustment protrusion are prohibited by relative rotation between the adjustment shaft part and the shaft insertion part. Can be selected alternatively. That is, the claim1The cane of the invention can be used as a “fixed cane” or a “cushioned cane” by giving relative rotation to the upper pipe and the lower pipe. Here, it is not always necessary for the movement prohibition part to completely prohibit the lowering of the adjustment protrusion, and the lowering amount of the adjustment protrusion is 0 to 8 mm, preferably 0 to 3 mm, and more preferably 0 to 1 mm. Also good.
[0012]
  Claim2The invention of claim1In the stick described in 1), “the shaft insertion portion includes a plurality of movement allowing portions having different widths along the axial direction in a state continuous with the movement prohibiting portion in the circumferential direction”.
[0013]
  Claim2In the present invention, since a plurality of movement allowance portions having different widths along the axial direction are provided, the lower pipe is selectively selected by giving a relative rotation to the upper pipe and the lower pipe. can do.
[0014]
  Claim3In the invention of claim1Or claim2The wand described in the above item is characterized by comprising “restricting means for restricting relative rotation between the shaft insertion portion and the adjustment shaft portion”.
[0015]
  Claim3In the cane according to the invention, the relative rotation between the shaft insertion portion and the adjustment shaft portion is restricted (prohibited) by the restricting means, so that the "fixed cane" However, it is possible to prevent switching to a “cane with a cushion function” or changing the lowering amount of the upper pipe.
[0016]
  Claim4The wand of the inventionA cane body configured by connecting a plurality of pipes, and inserting one of an upper pipe selected from the plurality of pipes and a lower pipe disposed immediately below the upper pipe into the other; and The upper pipe is supported by the lower pipe via a cushion member, and the upper pipe is a cane that can be lowered while resisting the repulsive force of the cushion member,
  Built in adjusting means for adjusting the descending amount of the upper pipe,
  The adjusting means is configured to be rotatable integrally with the other of the upper pipe and the lower pipe, and an adjusting shaft portion disposed so as to be rotatable integrally with one of the upper pipe and the lower pipe. A shaft insertion portion that is disposed and inserts the adjustment shaft portion,
  The shaft insertion portion projects an adjustment protrusion from the inner peripheral surface,
  The adjusting shaft portion includes a first movement allowing portion that can be inserted in a state where the adjusting protrusion is allowed to move in the axial direction, and a first movement allowing portion that can be inserted in a state where the adjusting protrusion is allowed to move in the axial direction. (2) a movement-permitting portion and a movement-prohibiting portion that can be inserted in a state where the adjustment protrusion is prohibited from moving in the axial direction.
  The width along the axial direction of the first movement allowing portion is different from the width along the axial direction of the second movement allowing portion.It is characterized by that.
[0017]
  Claim4Also in the cane of the invention of claim1Similarly to the invention, when relative rotation is given to the upper pipe and the lower pipe, relative rotation is generated between the adjustment shaft portion and the shaft insertion portion. And since the movement allowance part and the movement prohibition part are continuous in the circumferential direction, the insertion of the adjustment protrusion into the movement allowance part and the movement prohibition part of the adjustment protrusion by the relative rotation between the adjustment shaft part and the shaft insertion part. Can be selected alternatively. That is, the claim4The cane of the present invention can also be used as a “fixed cane” or a “cushioning cane” by providing relative rotation between the upper pipe and the lower pipe.
[0018]
  Claims4The “movement prohibition part” of the invention of the invention does not necessarily need to completely prohibit the lowering of the adjustment protrusion, and the lowering amount of the adjustment protrusion is 0 to 8 mm, preferably 0 to 3 mm, more preferably 0 to 1 mm. It is good also as a range. Claims4The invention also claims2Inventions and claims3The invention can be applied. That is, the claim4Also in this invention, the said adjustment shaft part may be provided with the several movement permission part from which the width | variety along an axial direction differs from the movement prohibition part in the circumferential direction. Moreover, you may provide the control means which controls the relative rotation of the said shaft insertion part and the said adjustment shaft part.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
(A) First embodiment
  The first embodiment is the first aspect of the present invention.31 shows an example of the invention. And the cane 1 of this Embodiment is provided with the cane main body 10 and the handle 6 as shown in FIG. Even if the handle 6 is formed integrally with the upper end portion of the cane body 10, it is formed separately from the cane body 10, and then the cane body 10 is formed by various methods such as screwing and bonding. It may be integrated with the upper end of the.
[0020]
The cane body 10 includes a first pipe (for example, made of light alloy) 11 disposed at the uppermost portion, a second pipe (for example, made of light alloy) 12 disposed at the intermediate portion, and a first pipe disposed at the lowermost portion. 3 pipes (for example, made of light alloy) 13 are connected to each other. In this embodiment, the first pipe 11 as the upper pipe and the second pipe 12 as the lower pipe are connected by inserting the second pipe 12 into the lower end opening of the first pipe 11. ing. The second pipe 12 and the third pipe 13 are connected by inserting the third pipe 13 into the lower end opening of the second pipe 12.
[0021]
However, the connection mode between the pipes is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the connection between the first pipe 11 and the second pipe 12 is inserted into the upper end opening of the second pipe 12. You may go. Further, the second pipe 12 and the third pipe 13 may be connected by other methods such as screw connection and welding. Further, in the present embodiment, the grip 17 is provided at each lower end portion of the first pipe 11 and the second pipe 12 and the support portion 18 is provided at the lower end portion of the third pipe 13. The structure of each pipe is not limited to this embodiment. Furthermore, in this Embodiment, although the cane main body 10 comprised using three pipes is illustrated, the number of the pipes which comprise the cane main body 10 will not be ask | required in particular if it is two or more.
[0022]
Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotating member 30, the braking member 50, the adjusting means 70, and the cushion member 2 built in the cane body 10 will be described. Here, the rotating member 30 and the braking member 50 are for adjusting the length of the cane body 10, and the adjusting means 7 is for adjusting the descending amount of the first pipe 11.
[0023]
First, the rotating member 30 (for example, made of resin) includes a screw body 31 in which a right-handed male screw portion 32 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate portion, and a fixing portion 34 that hangs down from the lower end surface of the screw body 31. I have. Further, substantially conical large-diameter portions 38 and 38 that gradually increase in outer diameter in the direction of each end portion are provided on both upper and lower end portions of the screw body 31, and the inclined surfaces of both large-diameter portions 38 and 38 are provided. 39 and 39 are in a state of facing each other. In the present embodiment, the rotating member 30 is made of a material having high slidability such as polyacetal and having high rigidity.
[0024]
A braking member (for example, a resin having high elasticity such as ABS) 50 is configured by combining a pair of semi-cylindrical bodies 51 and 51 into a substantially cylindrical shape. And since this braking member 50 is comprised using an elastic raw material, it is provided with the expansion elasticity to a radial outer side direction. In addition, a female screw groove for forming a female screw part 55 to which the male screw part 32 can be screwed is formed in an intermediate portion in the axial direction of the inner peripheral surface of each semi-cylindrical body 51, 51. Further, tapered surfaces 59 and 59 configured by gradually increasing the inner diameter in the direction of each end surface of the braking member 50 are provided on both ends of the inner peripheral surface of the braking member 50.
[0025]
Note that the inclination of the inclined surfaces 39 and 39 is made gentler than the inclination of the tapered surfaces 59 and 59. Moreover, as shown to Fig.6 (a), between this internal thread part 55 and the external thread part 32, 0.8-1.6 mm (0.4-0) along a diameter (radius). A clearance D of about 8 mm) is provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, the half-cylindrical bodies 51 and 51 are connected by a substantially hinge-like connecting piece 52 to facilitate handling of the half-cylindrical bodies 51 and 51. For example, when the braking member 50 is removed from the cane body 10, if the half-cylindrical bodies 51, 51 are separate, there is a high possibility that the half-cylindrical bodies 51, 51 will be inadvertently lost. This is because according to the present embodiment in which the semi-cylindrical bodies 51 and 51 are integrated by the connecting piece 52, this possibility can be reduced.
[0026]
Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6B, the upper and lower end portions of the braking member 50 are substantially equally divided by the dividing grooves 53 and 54 to enhance the expansion elasticity of the braking member 50. Further, the surface roughness of the outer peripheral surface of the braking member 50 is increased, and the frictional resistance of the outer peripheral surface is increased.
[0027]
Next, the adjusting means 70 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the adjusting means 70 includes an adjusting shaft portion 71 that hangs coaxially from the fixing portion 34 of the rotating member 30, and a shaft insertion portion 80 that is inserted and fixed on the upper end side of the second pipe 12. It has.
[0028]
Among these, the adjustment shaft portion (for example, a metal having high rigidity) 71 includes a substantially cylindrical shaft main body 72 that is attached to the fixed portion 34 so as to be integrally rotatable. Further, on the lower end side of the shaft main body 72, mounting holes 73 and 73 are provided at two positions symmetrical in the diameter direction with the shaft center interposed therebetween. As shown in FIG. 3, a columnar or cylindrical pin 74 is attached to the shaft main body 72 through both mounting holes 73, 73, and both ends of the pin 74 project from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft main body 72, An adjustment protrusion 75 is formed.
[0029]
The shaft insertion portion (for example, resin) 80 has a substantially cylindrical outer shape. The shaft insertion portion 80 functions as a bearing, and supports the adjustment shaft portion 71 in a sliding contact state so as to be movable up and down. Further, the shaft insertion portion 80 includes a circular fixing groove 81 on the upper end side, and four fixing ribs 82 are provided in the fixing groove 81.
[0030]
Further, in the intermediate portion along the vertical direction of the shaft insertion portion 80, two types of movement allowing portions 83 and 84 formed in a long hole shape along the axial direction, and a short hole along the axial direction. The movement prohibiting portion 85 formed in a shape is provided in a continuous state in the circumferential direction on each upper end side. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7B, the two types of movement allowance portions 83 and 84 and the movement prohibition portion 85 are symmetrical in the diameter direction with the axis of the shaft insertion portion 80 interposed therebetween. Are provided at two locations.
[0031]
In the present embodiment, a difference is provided in the “total length along the axial direction of the shaft insertion portion 80” of the two types of movement allowance portions 83 and 84. Further, “substantially semicircular” concave grooves 86 to 88 showing one specific example of the restricting means are provided on the upper ends of the movement permitting portions 83 and 84 and the movement prohibiting portion 85.
[0032]
In this embodiment, the movement allowance portions 83 and 84 and the movement prohibition portion 85 are formed so as to penetrate the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the shaft insertion portion 80. However, at least the movement allowance portions 83 and 84 and the movement prohibition portion 85 are included. One can also be provided in the shape of a concave groove that opens on the inner peripheral surface of the shaft insertion portion 80. Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which two types of movement permission portions 83 and 84 are provided is illustrated, but there is no particular limitation as long as the number of movement permission portions provided in the shaft insertion portion 80 is one or more. Furthermore, in this embodiment, although the mode which provides the movement permissible parts 83 and 84 and the movement prohibition part 85 in two positions which have a front-and-back relationship along the diameter direction of the shaft insertion part 80 is illustrated, only one position is provided. Further, the movement permitting units 83 and 84 and the movement prohibiting unit 85 may be provided.
[0033]
The cushion member 2 is configured using a coil spring that generates a repulsive force in the restoring direction when being in a compressed state.
[0034]
Next, a specific example of the procedure for assembling the cane 1 will be described. First, the cushion member 2 is mounted from the lower end portion of the shaft main body 72 of the adjustment shaft portion. This mounting is performed by inserting the shaft main body 72 from the upper end of the cushion member 2. Next, after the cushion member 2 is lightly compressed, the shaft insertion portion 80 is sheathed at the lower end portion of the shaft main body 72, and the movement prohibition portions 85 and 85 of the shaft insertion portion 80 and the mounting holes 73 and 73 of the shaft main body 72 are provided. Align. Then, pins 74 are attached to both mounting holes 73 and 73 through one movement prohibiting portion 85, and both end portions of the pin 74, that is, the adjustment protrusions 75 and 75, are recessed grooves of the movement prohibiting portions 85 and 85. 88, 88. At this time, a repulsive force directed upward of the cushion member 2 is applied to the pin 74 via the shaft main body 72, so that the adjustment protrusions 75 and 75 are firmly engaged with the concave grooves 88 and 88 that open downward. Stopped.
[0035]
As a result, the shaft main body 72 is supported with respect to the shaft insertion portion 80 and can rotate relative to the shaft insertion portion 80 by the entire width along the circumferential direction of the movement allowance portions 83 and 84 and the movement prohibition portion 85. State. Further, by mounting the shaft insertion portion 80, the cushion member 2 is sandwiched while being slightly compressed between the lower end surface of the fixing portion 34 and the upper end surface of the shaft insertion portion 80.
[0036]
Subsequently, the shaft insertion portion 80 is inserted into the upper end side of the second pipe 12. Then, a caulking process is performed on a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the second pipe 12 that is aligned with the fixing groove 81. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, this portion becomes two locking portions 15, 15 that are curved inward in the radial direction of the second pipe 12, and fits into the fixing groove 81. At this time, since both end portions along the circumferential direction of the second pipe 12 in each of the locking portions 15 and 15 are respectively sandwiched by the two fixing ribs 82, the shaft insertion portion 80 and the second pipe 12 are interposed. Relative rotation is prohibited, and the shaft insertion portion 80 and the second pipe 12 are allowed to rotate integrally.
[0037]
Further, the braking member 50 is attached to the screw body 31. This mounting is performed by combining the semi-cylindrical bodies 51, 51 while covering the screw bodies 31 with a pair of semi-cylindrical bodies 51, 51. At this time, the female thread portion 55 of the braking member 50 is connected to the screw body 31. The male screw part 32 is in a state of being screwed.
[0038]
As shown in FIG. 3, when the second pipe 12 including the braking member 50, the rotating member 30, the adjusting means 70 and the like is inserted into the lower end side of the first pipe 11, the assembly of the cane 1 is performed. Complete. At this time, since the outer peripheral surface of the braking member 50 is brought into light contact with the inner peripheral surface of the first pipe 11, the brake member 50 is not slidable with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the first pipe 11. However, relative rotation with respect to the first pipe 11 is difficult to occur. That is, the braking member 50 can rotate integrally with the first pipe 11.
[0039]
Moreover, in this Embodiment, at the time of this assembly | attachment, as shown in FIG.6 (b), the opposing surfaces 58 and 58 of a pair of semi-cylindrical bodies 51 and 51 do not collide. That is, a slit-shaped dividing groove 53 that passes through the axis of the braking member 50 is formed between the opposing surfaces 58 and 58 that do not collide with each other. And since this division groove 53 and the above-mentioned division groove 54 are intersecting substantially perpendicularly, the upper-and-lower-ends side of brake member 50 is in the state divided into four substantially along the peripheral direction. The number of divisions when equally dividing the both end sides of the braking member 50 is not particularly limited as long as it is two or more, but is particularly preferably about 3 to 8 divisions. This is because the effect of providing the dividing grooves 53 and 54 is small in the two divisions, and if the number of divisions is nine or more, the strength of the braking member 50 may be reduced. Further, in each of the present inventions, unlike the present embodiment, it is possible to adopt a mode in which the opposing surfaces 58 and 58 are abutted.
[0040]
Next, the usage example of this cane 1 is shown. First, as shown in FIG. 3, when the screw body 31 is positioned in the middle of the braking member 50, the first pipe 11 is slidable with respect to the second pipe 12. Therefore, if the amount of insertion of the second pipe 12 into the first pipe 11 is adjusted, the length of the cane body 10 can be adjusted steplessly. Then, when the cane body 10 has a desired length, the first pipe 11 and the second pipe 12 are fixed.
[0041]
FIG. 4 shows a usage example suitable for a right-handed user. For example, the first pipe 11 is grasped with the left hand and the second pipe 12 is grasped with the right hand and rotated in the right direction (R direction in FIG. 7). At this time, since the outer peripheral surface of the braking member 50 and the inner peripheral surface of the first pipe 11 are in contact with each other and the braking member 50 is braked so that it does not rotate, the screw body 31 is screwed upward and moved downward. The lower inclined surface 39 is in contact with the tapered surface 59.
[0042]
In the present embodiment, since the outer diameter of the inclined surface 39 is larger than the inner diameter of the tapered surface 59, the lower large-diameter portion 38 is press-fitted into the lower end side of the braking member 50, and the lower end side is expanded. Open. Thereby, the outer peripheral surface on the lower end side is strongly pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the first pipe 11, and the first pipe 11 and the second pipe 12 are securely fixed. In the present embodiment, since the tapered surface 59 and the inclined surface 39 are formed by gentle inclined surfaces, the press-fitting of each end portion side of the screw body 31 is performed particularly smoothly.
[0043]
On the other hand, FIG. 5 shows a use example suitable for a left-handed user. For example, the first pipe 11 is grasped with the right hand and the second pipe 12 is grasped with the left hand and rotated leftward (L direction in FIG. 7). The upper large-diameter portion 38 is press-fitted into the upper end side of the braking member 50, the upper end side is expanded, and the first pipe 11 and the second pipe 12 are securely fixed.
[0044]
Thus, according to the cane 1, the same usability can be obtained regardless of the user's dominant hand. In the present embodiment, (1) as shown in FIG. 6A, an appropriate clearance D is provided between the male screw portion 32 of the screw body 31 and the female screw portion 55 of the braking member 50. (2) As shown in FIG. 6B, both ends of the braking member 50 are substantially equally divided by the dividing grooves 53 and 54, so that this fixing operation is performed particularly smoothly. Can do.
[0045]
That is, if the appropriate clearance D is provided as in (1) above, the contact resistance between the female threaded portion 55 of the braking member 50 and the male threaded portion 32 of the screw body 31 is reduced, so the second pipe Even if the rotational force (torque) applied to 12 is small, the screw body 31 can be smoothly screwed. In addition, when the screw body 31 is screwed in the presence of the clearance D, the rotational force (torque) is hardly transmitted to the braking member 50, so that the braking member 50 is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the first pipe 11. The stationary state is surely maintained by the frictional force. In other words, the rotation of the braking member 50 following the screw body 31 is appropriately suppressed. Furthermore, since there is moderate backlash between the female screw portion 55 and the male screw portion 32, each end portion side of the braking member 50 is easily bent. Therefore, the user can smoothly perform the fixing operation only by applying a small rotational force (torque) to the second pipe 12.
[0046]
Further, in the present embodiment, both end portions of the braking member 50 are substantially equally divided by the dividing grooves 53 and 54, and each of the divided portions is like an imaginary line illustrated in FIG. Expands in the radial direction. For this reason, it becomes easy to expand each end side of the braking member 50 isotropically, and each end side of the braking member 50 generates a substantially uniform pressure contact force along the circumferential direction. 11 is pressed in a balanced manner. Therefore, the fixed state of the first pipe 11 and the second pipe 12 is more reliable and firm. Accordingly, when the first pipe (upper pipe) 11 is slightly rotated (that is, when the first pipe 11 and the second pipe 12 are fixed within a range not impairing the fixing state), the adjustment shaft portion 71 is rotated. Rotates integrally with the first pipe 11 via the braking member 50 and the rotating member 30.
[0047]
Next, the adjusting means 70 is caused to function as follows. That is, in any of the usage examples shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, as shown in FIG. 7B, when both the adjustment protrusions 75 are locked in the concave groove 88 on the upper end side of the movement prohibiting portion 85. When the first pipe 11 is slightly lowered, both the adjustment protrusions 75 come into contact with the bottom surface of the movement prohibiting portion 85. That is, in this state, the lowering of the first pipe 11 is substantially prohibited, and the cushion mechanism of the cane 1 becomes substantially nonfunctional.
[0048]
On the other hand, the first pipe 11 is slightly lowered while resisting the repulsive force of the cushion member 2 to release the locking of both the adjustment protrusions 75 and the concave groove 88, and the second pipe with reference to the first pipe 11. When the pipe 12 is slightly rotated in one direction or the first pipe 11 is slightly rotated in the other direction with respect to the second pipe 12, as shown by a broken line L in FIG. With reference to 80, the adjustment shaft portion 71 rotates in the other direction. As a result, both adjustment protrusions 75 move to one movement allowance portion 83 and are locked in the groove 86 on the upper end side of the movement allowance portion 83. At this time, when an external force directed downward is applied to the first pipe 11, the first pipe 11 can be lowered by the longitudinal width of the movement allowing portion 83 while resisting the repulsive force of the cushion member 2. The cushion mechanism of the cane 1 is in a functioning state.
[0049]
Further, the first pipe 11 is slightly lowered while resisting the repulsive force of the cushion member 2 to release the engagement between the adjustment protrusions 75 and the concave groove 88, and the first pipe 11 is used as a reference. When the two pipes 12 are slightly rotated in the other direction, or when the first pipe 11 is slightly rotated in one direction with respect to the second pipe 12, as shown by a one-dot chain line R in FIG. The adjustment shaft portion 71 rotates in one direction with the insertion portion 80 as a reference. As a result, both adjustment protrusions 75 are locked in the groove 87 on the upper end side of the other movement allowing portion 84. At this time, when an external force downward is applied to the first pipe 11, the first pipe 11 can be lowered by the longitudinal width of the movement allowing portion 84 while resisting the repulsive force of the cushion member 2. The cushion mechanism of the cane 1 is in a functioning state.
[0050]
In the present embodiment, two types of movement allowance portions 83 and 84 having different widths along the axial center direction of the shaft insertion portion 80 can be selectively used, and the rotation given to the first pipe 11 or the second pipe 12. By selecting the direction, it is possible to select the magnitude of the descending amount of the first pipe 11.
[0051]
In the above cane 1, since the amount of expansion and contraction of the cane body 1 can be adjusted by adjusting the descending amount of the first pipe (upper pipe) 11 by the adjusting means 70, it can be used for various purposes in various environments. Can do. That is, if relative rotation is given to the first pipe (upper pipe) 11 and the second pipe (upper pipe) 12, the adjusting means 70 prohibits the lowering of the first pipe (upper pipe) 11, It is alternatively possible to allow one pipe (upper pipe) 11 to descend. The cane 1 can be used as a “fixed cane 1” suitable for a flat road or the like, or can be used as a “cane 1 with a cushion function” suitable for an inclined road or the like. In addition, since the amount of lowering of the first pipe (upper pipe) 11 can be alternatively selected by the adjusting means 70, the amount of expansion / contraction of the cane body 10 is suitable according to the inclination angle of the ramp or the like. It can also be a quantity.
[0052]
Furthermore, in the cane 1 of the present embodiment, the relative rotation between the shaft insertion portion 80 and the adjustment shaft portion 71 is restricted (prohibited) by the action of the concave grooves 86 to 88 as restricting means. That is, an operation of slightly lowering the first pipe 11 against the repulsive force of the cushion member 2, and an operation of applying relative rotation between the first pipe (upper pipe) 11 and the second pipe (upper pipe) 12. , The relative rotation between the shaft insertion portion 80 and the adjustment shaft portion 71 cannot be performed. Therefore, contrary to the user's will during use of the cane 1, the “fixed cane 1” is switched to the “cane 1 with cushion function” or the lowering amount of the first pipe (upper pipe) 11 is changed. Can be prevented.
[0053]
(B) Second embodiment
  Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The second embodiment claims4An example of the inventionTheYes. The cane according to the second embodiment is the same as the cane 1 of the first embodiment except that the cane differs in the following points. That is, in the second embodiment, (1) on the inner peripheral surface of the shaft insertion portion 80a, the adjustment protrusion 75a is protruded from a position symmetrical in the diameter direction across the axis, and (2) adjustment The point that two kinds of movement allowing portions 83a and 84a and the movement prohibiting portion 85a are provided in the shape of a concave groove on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 71a, and (3) the movement allowing portion 83a on the outer peripheral surface of the adjusting shaft portion 71a. , 84a and the movement prohibition portion 85a are provided with a circumferential groove 89a, (4) the outer peripheral surface of the adjustment shaft portion 71a is provided with concave grooves 86a to 88a, and (5) the adjustment shaft portion 71a is provided. A notch for guiding the adjustment protrusion 75a to the circumferential groove 89a (for example, a key groove shape connecting the lower end surface of the adjustment shaft portion 71a and the circulation groove 89a) 89b is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the adjustment shaft portion 71a. It differs from the point provided along the direction.
[0054]
In the cane of the second embodiment, the movement permitting portions 83a and 84a and the movement prohibiting portion 85a are provided at two locations that are symmetrical in the diametrical direction across the axis of the shaft insertion portion 80a. Yes. Further, the notches 89b are also provided at two locations that are symmetrical in the diametrical direction across the axis of the shaft insertion portion 80a.
[0055]
The cane can also be used as a “fixed cane” or a “cane with a cushion function”, similar to the cane 1 of the first embodiment. Further, since the adjustment means 70a can alternatively select the amount of lowering of the first pipe (upper pipe), the amount of expansion / contraction of the cane body is set to a suitable amount according to the inclination angle of the slope or the like. You can also Further, by the function of the concave grooves 86a to 88a as the regulating means, the “fixed type cane” is switched to “the cane with the cushion function” or the first pipe against the user's will during use of the cane. It is possible to prevent the lowering amount of the (upper pipe) 11 from being changed.
[0056]
Note that the scope of the present invention is not limited to those specifically shown in the embodiment of the present invention, and various modifications can be exemplified within the scope of the configuration and purpose of the present invention. That is, in each of the above embodiments, the cushion member 2 using a coiled spring is illustrated, but as shown in FIG. 8B, the cushion member 2c is configured using a rubber molded body or a resin foam. It is also possible to use a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder. In particular, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), when the cushion member 2c is configured using a rubber molded body or a resin foam, the cushion member 2c is divided into a plurality of divided parts in the vertical direction. It is preferable to configure. When configured as a divided body, it is possible to reduce the bulge in the radial inner and outer directions during compression, compared to the case of configuring as a single product. Therefore, the cushion member 2c can be smoothly arranged without particularly increasing the inner diameter of the cane body 10c.
[0057]
Moreover, in each said embodiment, although the relative rotation suppression between the braking member 50 and the 1st pipe (upper pipe) 11 was mainly performed using the friction between both, for example, a braking member The rotation of the outer peripheral surface of 50 and the inner peripheral surface of the first pipe (upper pipe) 11 can be serrated to suppress the rotation.
[0058]
Furthermore, the specific configurations of the rotating member 30 and the braking member 50 are not limited to the above embodiments. For example, it is assumed that “the rotating member has a screw body with a male screw portion provided on the outer peripheral surface”, and “the braking member is configured to have a substantially cylindrical outer shape having expansion elasticity, A threaded female thread portion is provided on the inner peripheral surface, and a thick-walled portion is provided on both end sides to gradually reduce the inner diameter in the direction of each end face. Then, any one end side of the screw body is press-fitted into any one thick part of the braking member, and any one thick part is expanded to be in pressure contact with the inner peripheral surface of the upper pipe. Thus, the upper pipe and the lower pipe may be fixed.
[0059]
Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, the rotating member 30, the braking member 50, and the adjusting means 70 are intensively provided at the connecting portion between the first pipe (upper pipe) 11 and the second pipe (lower pipe) 12. Although the built-in mode is illustrated, the “rotating member 30 and the braking member 50 (hereinafter referred to as the former)” and the “adjusting means 70 (hereinafter referred to as the latter”) are incorporated in separate connection portions. Also good. For example, the former is built in the connecting portion between the first pipe 11 and the second pipe 12, and the latter is built in the connecting portion between the second pipe (upper pipe) 12 and the third pipe (lower pipe) 13. The latter may be built in a connection portion between the first pipe 11 and the second pipe 12, and the former may be built in a connection portion between the second pipe (upper pipe) 12 and the third pipe (lower pipe) 13.
[0060]
Further, the rotating member 30 and the braking member 50 can be omitted from the cane 1 of each of the above embodiments. For example, in each cane 1, the upper end portions or intermediate portions of the adjustment shaft portions 71 and 71 a are fixed to the first pipe (upper pipe) 11, and the adjustment shaft portions 71 and 71 a are connected to the first pipe (upper pipe) 11. What is necessary is just to be able to rotate integrally.
[0062]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to each of the present inventions, a cane that can adjust the cushion function in various usage environments and can be used for general purposes is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cane according to a first embodiment.
2 is an exploded perspective view of the cane of FIG. 1. FIG.
3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the cane of FIG. 1. FIG.
4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the cane of FIG. 1. FIG.
5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the cane of FIG. 1. FIG.
6A is a schematic partial longitudinal sectional view showing the relationship between a female threaded portion of a braking member and a male threaded portion of a rotating member, and FIG. 6B is a 3-3 lateral sectional view of FIG. is there.
7A is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing an expanded state of the braking member, and FIG. 7B is a schematic partial view for explaining the relationship between the shaft insertion portion and the adjustment shaft portion. It is a cross-sectional view.
8A is a main part longitudinal sectional view showing Embodiment 2, and FIG. 8B is a main part longitudinal sectional view showing a modification.
FIG. 9 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
1; cane, 2; cushion member, 6; handle, 10; cane body, 11; first pipe (upper pipe), 12; second pipe (lower pipe), 13; third pipe, 15; , 30; Rotating member, 31; Screw body, 32; Male thread portion, 34; Fixing portion, 38; Large diameter portion, 39; Inclined surface, 50; Braking member, 51; Semi-cylindrical body, 52; 53, 54; Dividing groove, 55; Female thread portion, 58; Opposing surface, 59; Tapered surface, 70; Adjustment means, 71; Adjustment shaft portion, 72; Shaft body, 73; Mounting hole, 74; 75a; adjustment projection, 80; shaft insertion portion, 81; fixing groove, 82; fixing rib, 83, 84; movement allowance portion, 85; movement prohibition portion, 86 to 88; concave groove (regulation means), 89a; Groove, 89b; notch, D; clearance.

Claims (4)

A cane body configured by connecting a plurality of pipes, and inserting one of an upper pipe selected from the plurality of pipes and a lower pipe disposed immediately below the upper pipe into the other; and The upper pipe is supported by the lower pipe via a cushion member, and the upper pipe is a cane that can be lowered while resisting the repulsive force of the cushion member,
Built- in adjusting means for adjusting the descending amount of the upper pipe ,
The adjusting means is configured to be rotatable integrally with the other of the upper pipe and the lower pipe, and an adjusting shaft portion disposed so as to be rotatable integrally with one of the upper pipe and the lower pipe. A shaft insertion portion that is disposed and inserts the adjustment shaft portion,
The adjustment shaft portion projects an adjustment protrusion from the outer peripheral surface,
The shaft insertion portion includes a movement allowing portion that can be inserted while allowing the adjustment protrusion to move in the axial direction, and a movement prohibiting portion that can be inserted while the adjustment protrusion is prohibited from moving in the axial direction. And a cane characterized by being prepared in a circumferentially continuous state . 2. The cane according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft insertion portion includes a plurality of movement allowance portions having different widths along the axial direction in a state of being continuous with the movement prohibition portion in the circumferential direction. Wand of claim 1 or claim 2 comprising a restricting means for restricting the relative rotation between the adjusting shaft portion and the shaft insertion portion. A cane body configured by connecting a plurality of pipes, and inserting one of an upper pipe selected from the plurality of pipes and a lower pipe disposed immediately below the upper pipe into the other; and The upper pipe is supported by the lower pipe via a cushion member, and the upper pipe is a cane that can be lowered while resisting the repulsive force of the cushion member,
Built-in adjusting means for adjusting the descending amount of the upper pipe,
The adjusting means is configured to be rotatable integrally with the other of the upper pipe and the lower pipe, and an adjusting shaft portion disposed so as to be rotatable integrally with one of the upper pipe and the lower pipe. A shaft insertion portion that is disposed and inserts the adjustment shaft portion,
The shaft insertion portion projects an adjustment protrusion from the inner peripheral surface,
The adjusting shaft portion includes a first movement allowing portion that can be inserted in a state where the adjusting protrusion is allowed to move in the axial direction, and a first movement allowing portion that can be inserted in a state where the adjusting protrusion is allowed to move in the axial direction. Two movement-permitting parts and a movement-inhibiting part that can be inserted in a state in which the adjustment protrusion is prohibited from moving in the axial direction, are provided in a continuous state in the circumferential direction,
A cane characterized in that a width along the axial direction of the first movement-permitting part is different from a width along the axial direction of the second movement-permitting part.

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