Mobility aid retention clip

Abstract

A walking cane retention clip that provides convenient temporary placement of the cane so that the user can perform a two-handed task. The retention clip provides a garment clasping region for attachment to a garment such as a waistband, a belt or both. A mobility aid receiving region is used for releasably retaining a mobility aid such as a cane or walking staff. The retention clip comprises a unitary construction that is configured for vertical or horizontal retention of a mobility aid. The retention clip is fabricated from high strength materials that are capable of delivering long-term function without significant risk of wear or mechanical failure. The retention clip is configured and fabricated from materials that facilitate cleaning and sanitization of the retention clip.

1 . A mobility aid retention clip for releasably retaining a portion of a user mobility aid when installed on a user garment, said retention clip comprising:
 a garment clasp portion including a resilient leg portion having a top end, a substantially rigid central support member having a top end, and a web member having opposite ends that integrally connect to each of the top ends and mutually space the leg portion and the support member, wherein the leg portion, the web member, and the central support member together define a garment clasping region; and   a mobility aid receiving portion integrally formed with the central support member, the receiving portion further comprising a substantially resilient curved retention cradle extending away from both the central support member and the garment clasp portion and providing a concave receiving surface for said portion of the mobility aid, the retention cradle having a distal end with an integrally formed essentially S-shaped release cusp curving inwardly toward the central support member and then outwardly thereof, the release cusp and central support member providing a cradle pinch-point there between, wherein the retention cradle and central support member together define a mobility aid receiving region for said portion of the mobility aid; and wherein the cradle pinch-point is sized to releasably retain said portion of the mobility aid.   
   
   
       2 . The mobility aid retention clip of  claim 1 , wherein the retention clip is fabricated as a unitary construction. 
   
   
       3 . The mobility aid retention clip of  claim 2 , wherein the unitary retention clip is fabricated using a thermoplastic polymer. 
   
   
       4 . The mobility aid retention clip of  claim 1 , wherein the leg portion has a bottom end with a garment release flange integrally formed from therein and extending toward the central support member, wherein the release flange and support member form a garment pinch-point there between for releaseably clasping a confronting garment portion when the clip is installed. 
   
   
       5 . The mobility aid retention clip of  claim 4 , wherein the garment release flange is formed in an arcuate shape with a convex surface facing the garment clasping region. 
   
   
       6 . The mobility aid retention clip of  claim 1 , wherein the central support member has a bottom end and wherein the mobility aid receiving portion is integrally formed from the bottom end of the central support member, so that the retention cradle extends generally towards the web member. 
   
   
       7 . The mobility aid retention clip of  claim 1 , wherein the central support member has a first side edge and a second side edge; and wherein the mobility aid receiving portion is integrally formed from the first side edge of the central support member, so that the retention cradle extends generally towards the second side edge. 
   
   
       8 . The mobility aid retention clip of  claim 1 , wherein the central support member has a first side edge and a second side edge; and wherein the mobility aid receiving portion is integrally formed from the second side edge of the central support member, so that the retention cradle extends generally towards the first side edge. 
   
   
       9 . The mobility aid retention clip of  claim 1 , wherein a mobility aid receiving region longitudinal axis is substantially parallel with respect to a garment clasping region longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       10 . The mobility aid retention clip of  claim 1 , wherein a mobility aid receiving region longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular with respect to a garment clasping region longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       11 . A mobility aid retention clip for releasably retaining a portion of a user mobility aid when installed on a user garment, said retention clip comprising:
 a garment clasp portion including a resilient leg portion having a top end, a substantially rigid central support member having a top end, and a web member having opposite ends that integrally connect to each of the top ends and mutually space the leg portion and the support member, wherein the leg portion, the web member, and the central support member together define a garment clasping region; and   a mobility aid receiving portion integrally formed with a bottom edge of the central support member, the receiving portion further comprising a substantially resilient curved retention cradle extending away from both the central support member and the garment clasp portion, so that the retention cradle extends generally towards the web member, and providing a concave receiving surface for said portion of the mobility aid, the retention cradle having a distal end with an integrally formed essentially S-shaped release cusp curving inwardly toward the central support member and then outwardly thereof, the release cusp and central support member providing a cradle pinch-point there between, wherein the retention cradle and central support member together define a mobility aid receiving region for said portion of the mobility aid; and wherein the cradle pinch-point is sized to releasably retain said portion of the mobility aid.   
   
   
       12 . The mobility aid retention clip of  claim 11 , wherein the retention clip is fabricated as a unitary construction. 
   
   
       13 . The mobility aid retention clip of  claim 12 , wherein the unitary retention clip is fabricated using a thermoplastic polymer. 
   
   
       14 . The mobility aid retention clip of  claim 1   1 , wherein the leg portion has a bottom end with a garment release flange integrally formed from therein and extending toward the central support member, wherein the release flange and support member form a garment pinch-point there between for releaseably clasping a confronting garment portion when the clip is installed. 
   
   
       15 . The mobility aid retention clip of  claim 14 , wherein the garment release flange is formed in an arcuate shape with a convex surface facing the garment clasping region. 
   
   
       16 . A mobility aid retention clip for releasably retaining a portion of a user mobility aid when installed on a user garment, said retention clip comprising:
 a garment clasp portion including a resilient leg portion having a top end, a substantially rigid central support member having a top end, and a web member having opposite ends that integrally connect to each of the top ends and mutually space the leg portion and the support member, wherein the leg portion, the web member, and the central support member together define a garment clasping region; and   a mobility aid receiving portion integrally formed with a first side edge of the central support member, the receiving portion further comprising a substantially resilient curved retention cradle extending away from both the central support member and the garment clasp portion, so that the retention cradle extends generally towards a second side edge, and providing a concave receiving surface for said portion of the mobility aid, the retention cradle having a distal end with an integrally formed essentially S-shaped release cusp curving inwardly toward the central support member and then outwardly thereof, the release cusp and central support member providing a cradle pinch-point there between, wherein the retention cradle and central support member together define a mobility aid receiving region for said portion of the mobility aid; and wherein the cradle pinch-point is sized to releasably retain said portion of the mobility aid.   
   
   
       17 . The mobility aid retention clip of  claim 16 , wherein the retention clip is fabricated as a unitary construction. 
   
   
       18 . The mobility aid retention clip of  claim 17 , wherein the unitary retention clip is fabricated using a thermoplastic polymer. 
   
   
       19 . The mobility aid retention clip of  claim 16 , wherein the leg portion has a bottom end with a garment release flange integrally formed from therein and extending toward the central support member, wherein the release flange and support member form a garment pinch-point there between for releaseably clasping a confronting garment portion when the clip is installed. 
   
   
       20 . The mobility aid retention clip of  claim 19 , wherein the garment release flange is formed in an arcuate shape with a convex surface facing the garment clasping region.