Comfort grip hiking staff

Abstract

An apparatus for assisting a user in walking is provided. The apparatus includes a shaft with an axis through the center. The shaft has an elongated portion and a tip on one end for contacting the ground. A handle with a plurality of finger receiving portions are present that extend around a portion of the outer perimeter of the handle. The handle has an axis through the center and the finger receiving grooves are oriented at an angle to the axis of the handle so that the finger receiving grooves extend along a portion of the length of the axis of the handle. The top of the handle is oriented so that the finger receiving grooves are between the top and the shaft.

1 . An apparatus for assisting a user in walking, comprising:
 a shaft having a circular outer perimeter with an axis through the center of said shaft, said shaft having an elongated portion and a tip on one end for contacting the ground; and   a handle with four finger receiving grooves that each extend half way around the outer perimeter of said handle, said handle having an axis that extends through the center of said handle, said finger receiving grooves oriented at an angle to said axis of said handle such that said finger receiving grooves extend along a portion of the length of said axis of said handle, said handle having a top oriented such that said finger receiving grooves are located between said top and said shaft.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said finger receiving grooves are configured for receiving the index finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger of a user. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the half of the outer perimeter of said handle opposite said finger receiving grooves has a smooth surface. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said finger receiving grooves are oriented at an angle from 50° to 80° to said axis of said handle. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said shaft and said handle are integrally formed with one another. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said top of said handle has a circular outer perimeter such that said axis of said handle extends through the center of said top, and wherein said axis of said handle and said axis of said shaft are aligned such that said shaft and said handle are arranged in a linear configuration. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said handle has an angled portion contiguous with said elongated portion of said shaft, and wherein said axis of said handle is oriented at an angle to said axis of said shaft. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said axis of said handle is oriented at an angle from 25° to 35° to said axis of said shaft. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the depth of said finger receiving grooves remain the same as said finger receiving grooves extend around a portion of the outer perimeter of said handle. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said finger receiving grooves have a concave shape, and wherein said finger receiving grooves are arranged next to one another so that adjacent ends of said finger receiving grooves form an apex. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said shaft and said handle are made of a material selected from the group consisting of wood, aluminum and plastic. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said elongated portion of said shaft has a pair of high visibility sections separated from one another in the direction along the length of said axis of said shaft. 
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for assisting a user in walking, comprising:
 a shaft having an outer perimeter with an axis through the center of said shaft, said shaft having an elongated portion; and   a handle having a top on one end, said handle having a plurality of finger receiving grooves that each extend around a portion of the outer perimeter of said handle, said handle having an axis through the center of said handle, said finger receiving grooves capable of receiving fingers of the user and said finger receiving grooves oriented such that when grasped by a user fingers received by said finger receiving grooves point away from said top of said handle, wherein said finger receiving grooves are located between said top of said handle and said shaft.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising a strap for carrying said handle retained by said top of said handle. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said finger receiving grooves are four in number and each extend around half of the outer perimeter of said handle. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said finger receiving grooves are oriented at an angle from 50° to 80° to said axis of said handle, and wherein said shaft has a circular outer perimeter. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said finger receiving grooves are configured for receiving the fingers on the right hand of the user. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said handle has an angled portion contiguous with said elongated portion of said shaft, and wherein said axis of said handle is oriented at an angle to said axis of said shaft. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein said axis of said handle is oriented at an angle from 25° to 35° to said axis of said shaft. 
   
   
       20 . An apparatus for assisting a user in walking, comprising:
 a shaft having a circular outer perimeter with an axis through the center of said shaft, said shaft having an elongated portion and a rubber tip on one end for contacting the ground, wherein said elongated portion of said shaft has a pair of high visibility sections separated from one another in the direction along the length of said axis of said shaft;   a handle having a top, said handle having four finger receiving grooves that each extend at least half way around the outer perimeter of said handle, said handle having an axis that extends through the center of said handle, said finger receiving grooves oriented at an angle from 50° to 80° to said axis of said handle such that said finger receiving grooves extend along a portion of the length of said axis of said handle and such that when grasped by a user fingers received by said finger receiving grooves point away from said top of said handle, said top oriented such that said finger receiving grooves are located between said top and said shaft, wherein said shaft and said handle are integrally formed with one another, wherein said finger receiving grooves are concave in shape and are arranged next to one another so that adjacent ends of said finger receiving grooves form an apex; and   a strap for carrying said handle retained by said top of said handle.