Carrying implement for attachment to a walking aid

Abstract

A carrying implement that is removably or fixedly attachable to an elongate member of a walking aid includes a bag portion and an attachment assembly coupled to the bag portion and configured to attach the carrying implement to the elongate member. The attachment assembly is attached to the bag portion at a central vertical axis. When the carrying implement is attached to the elongate member, the central vertical axis is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the elongate member and movement of the bag portion relative to the elongate member is substantially restricted.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bag attachable to a cane, the bag comprising: 
 a bag portion defining an enclosure, the bag portion comprising a sidewall having a central vertical axis; and    an attachment member coupled to the sidewall generally along the central vertical axis, the attachment member configured to attach to an elongate portion of the cane,    wherein, when the attachment member is attached to the elongate portion, the central vertical axis of the sidewall is generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the elongate portion and movement of the bag portion relative to the elongate portion is substantially inhibited.    
     
     
         2 . The bag as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment member comprises a first strap attached to the sidewall and a fastener, the fastener being disposed to attach the first strap to the elongate portion of the cane.  
     
     
         3 . The bag as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the fastener detachably attaches the first strap to the elongate portion of the cane.  
     
     
         4 . The bag as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the fastener is a hook-and-loop-type fastener disposed such that the hook portion engages with the loop portion when the first strap is wrapped about the elongate portion of the cane.  
     
     
         5 . The bag as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the first strap comprises front and back opposing surfaces, and wherein the hook portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener is disposed on the front surface of the first strap, and the loop portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener is disposed on the back surface of the first strap.  
     
     
         6 . The bag as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the attachment member comprises a second strap configured to attach to the elongate portion of the cane, and wherein the hook portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener is disposed on a surface of one of the first and second straps, and wherein the loop portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener is disposed on a surface of the other of the first and second straps, and wherein the hook portion fastens with the loop portion when the second strap is attached to the elongate portion of the cane and the first strap is engaged with the second strap.  
     
     
         7 . The bag as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment member comprises a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion configured to mate with the first attachment portion when the bag is attached to the elongate portion of the cane, wherein the first attachment portion is disposed on an exterior surface of the sidewall, and wherein the second attachment portion is attachable to the elongate portion of the cane.  
     
     
         8 . The bag as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the second attachment portion is adhered to the elongate portion of the cane.  
     
     
         9 . The bag as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the attachment member comprises a hook-and-loop-type fastener, wherein the first attachment portion comprises one of the hook portion and the loop portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener, and wherein the second attachment portion comprises the other of the hoop portion and the loop portion.  
     
     
         10 . A purse coupleable to a cane, the purse comprising: 
 a bag portion defining an interior compartment; and    an attachment assembly coupled to the bag portion and configured to couple with an elongate portion of the cane, the attachment assembly comprising a first strap and a fastener, the first strap coupled to the bag portion at an attachment point, and the fastener configured to coupled the first strap with the elongate portion of the cane, such that relative movement of the attachment point is substantially fixed.    
     
     
         11 . The purse as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the fastener is a detachable fastener co 0 nfigured to detachably couple the first strap to the elongate portion of the cane.  
     
     
         12 . The purse as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the detachable fastener is a hook-and-loop-type fastener, and wherein, when the attachment assembly is coupled with the elongate portion of the cane, the hook portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener engages with the loop portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener.  
     
     
         13 . The purse as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the first strap comprises front and back opposing surfaces, and wherein the hook portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener is disposed on the front surface of the first strap, and the loop portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener is disposed on the back surface of the first strap.  
     
     
         14 . The purse as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the attachment assembly comprises a second strap configured to attach to the elongate portion of the cane, and wherein the hook portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener is disposed on a surface of one of the first and second straps, and wherein the loop portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener is disposed on a surface of the other of the first and second straps.  
     
     
         15 . A carrying implement attachable to a cane, the carrying implement comprising: 
 a base;    a sidewall extending upwardly from the base to define an interior compartment; and    an attachment member coupled to an exterior surface of the sidewall and configured to attach to an elongate portion of the cane,    wherein, when the attachment member is attached to the elongate portion, the sidewall is substantially fixed relative to the elongate portion.    
     
     
         16 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the attachment member comprises a first strap coupled to the exterior surface of the sidewall and a fastener configured to attach the first strap to the elongate portion of the cane.  
     
     
         17 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the fastener is a detachable fastener to detachably attach the first strap to the elongate portion of the cane.  
     
     
         18 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the detachable fastener is a hook-and-loop-type fastener disposed such that the hook portion engages with the loop portion when the first strap is wrapped about the elongate portion of the cane.  
     
     
         19 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the first strap comprises front and back opposing surfaces, and wherein the hook portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener is disposed on the front surface of the first strap, and the loop portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener is disposed on the back surface of the first strap.  
     
     
         20 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the attachment member comprises a second strap configured to attach to the elongate portion of the cane, and wherein the hook portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener is disposed on a surface of one of the first and second straps, and wherein the loop portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener is disposed on a surface of the other of the first and second straps, and wherein the hook portion fastens with the loop portion when the second strap is attached to the elongate portion of the cane and the first strap is engaged with the second strap.  
     
     
         21 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the attachment member comprises a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion configured to mate with the first attachment portion when the carrying implement is attached to the elongate portion of the cane, wherein the first attachment portion is disposed on the exterior surface of the sidewall, and wherein the second attachment portion is coupled to the elongate portion of the cane.  
     
     
         22 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the attachment member comprises a hook-and-loop-type fastener, wherein the first attachment portion comprises one of the hook portion and the loop portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener, and wherein the second attachment portion comprises the other of the hoop portion and the loop portion.  
     
     
         23 . A carrying implement coupleable to an elongate member of an ambulatory aid, the carrying implement comprising: 
 a base;    a sidewall extending upwardly from the base to define an interior compartment, the sidewall comprising a back portion having a central vertical axis; and    an attachment member disposed at an attachment point generally along the central vertical axis of the back portion, the attachment member configured to couple with the elongate member,    wherein, when the attachment member is coupled with the elongate member, the sidewall is generally adjacent the elongate member proximate the central vertical axis of the back portion, the central vertical axis is generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the elongate member, and relative movement of the attachment point is substantially fixed.    
     
     
         24 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the attachment member comprises a first strap attached to the back portion of the sidewall and a fastener disposed to couple the first strap with the elongate member of the ambulatory aid.  
     
     
         25 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the fastener is a detachable fastener to detachably couple the first strap with the elongate member.  
     
     
         26 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 25  wherein the detachable faster is a hook-and-loop-type fastener disposed such that the hook portion engages with the loop portion when the first strap is wrapped about the elongate portion of the cane.  
     
     
         27 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the first strap comprises front and back opposing surfaces, and wherein the hook portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener is disposed on the front surface of the first strap, and the loop portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener is disposed on the back surface of the first strap.  
     
     
         28 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the attachment member comprises a second strap configured to attach to the elongate portion of the cane, and wherein the hook portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener is disposed on a surface of one of the first and second straps, and wherein the loop portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener is disposed on a surface of the other of the first and second straps, and wherein the hook portion fastens with the loop portion when the second strap is attached to the elongate portion of the cane and the first strap is engaged with the second strap.  
     
     
         29 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the attachment member comprises a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion configured to mate with the first attachment portion when the carrying implement is attached to the elongate portion of the cane, wherein the first attachment portion is disposed on an exterior surface of the sidewall, and wherein the second attachment portion is coupled to the elongate portion of the cane.  
     
     
         30 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 29 , wherein the attachment member comprises a hook-and-loop-type fastener, wherein the first attachment portion comprises one of the hook portion and the loop portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener, and wherein the second attachment portion comprises the other of the hoop portion and the loop portion.  
     
     
         31 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the back portion is substantially rigid.  
     
     
         32 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the ambulatory aid is a cane and the elongate member is a shaft of the cane.  
     
     
         33 . A carrying implement coupleable with an elongate member of an ambulatory aid, the carrying implement comprising: 
 a bag portion defining an enclosure, the bag portion comprising a sidewall having a central vertical axis; and    an attachment member attached to the sidewall generally along the central vertical axis, the attachment member configured to removably couple with the elongate member of the ambulatory aid,    wherein, when the attachment member is coupled with the elongate member, the bag portion is disposed in a plane that is generally parallel with and offset from a plane passing through a longitudinal axis of the elongate member, and relative movement of the bag portion is substantially fixed.    
     
     
         34 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the attachment member comprises a first strap attached to the sidewall and a fastener configured to couple the first strap with the elongate portion of the cane.  
     
     
         35 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 34 , wherein the fastener is a detachable fastener configured to detachably couple the first strap with the elongate portion of the cane.  
     
     
         36 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 36 , wherein the detachable fastener is a hook-and-loop-type fastener disposed such that the hook portion engages with the loop portion when the first strap is wrapped about the elongate portion of the cane.  
     
     
         37 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 36 , wherein the first strap comprises front and back opposing surfaces, and wherein the hook portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener is disposed on the front surface of the first strap, and the loop portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener is disposed on the back surface of the first strap.  
     
     
         38 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 36 , wherein the attachment member comprises a second strap configured to attach to the elongate portion of the cane, and wherein the hook portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener is disposed on a surface of one of the first and second straps, and wherein the loop portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener is disposed on a surface of the other of the first and second straps, and wherein the hook portion fastens with the loop portion when the second strap is attached to the elongate portion of the cane and the first strap is engaged with the second strap.  
     
     
         39 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the attachment member comprises a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion configured to mate with the first attachment portion when the carrying implement is attached to the elongate portion of the cane, wherein the first attachment portion is disposed on an exterior surface of the sidewall, and wherein the second attachment portion is coupled to the elongate portion of the cane.  
     
     
         40 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 39 , wherein the attachment member comprises a hook-and-loop-type fastener, wherein the first attachment portion comprises one of the hook portion and the loop portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener, and wherein the second attachment portion comprises the other of the hoop portion and the loop portion.  
     
     
         41 . The carrying implement as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the ambulatory aid is a cane, and the elongate portion is a shaft of the cane.