Walking Aid

Abstract

A walking aid comprising a shaft and a handle that, as viewed in a position of use of the walking aid, is disposed at an upper end of the shaft, the handle extending transverse to the shaft. The handle is inclined upwardly at an angle to the axis of the shaft. The handle is curved inwardly out of a plane formed by the handle and the shaft and toward the body of a user of the walking aid. When configured for right hand use, the handle is twisted clockwise, and when configured for left hand use, the handle is twisted in a counterclockwise direction.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A walking aid, comprising:
 a shaft ( 2 ); and   a handle ( 1 ) that, as viewed in a position of use of said walking aid, is disposed at an upper end of said shaft ( 2 ), wherein said handle ( 1 ) extends roughly transverse to said shaft ( 2 ), further wherein said handle is inclined upwardly at an angle ( FIG. 1   a ) to an axis of said shaft ( 2 ), further wherein said handle ( 1 ) is curved inwardly (A,  FIGS. 1   b ,  1   e ) out of a plane formed by said handle ( 1 ) and said shaft ( 2 ) and toward the body of a user of said walking aid, further wherein said handle ( 1 ), when configured for right hand use, is twisted in a clockwise direction ( FIG. 3 ), and wherein said handle ( 1 ), when configured for left hand use, is twisted in a counterclockwise direction.   
     
     
         10 . A walking aid according to  claim 9 , wherein a radius of curvature of said handle ( 1 ) is between 300 and 320 mm. 
     
     
         11 . A walking aid according to  claim 10 , wherein the radius of curvature of said handle ( 1 ) is 310 mm. 
     
     
         12 . A walking aid according to  claim 10 , wherein said handle ( 1 ) has an oval cross-section. 
     
     
         13 . A walking aid according to  claim 10 , wherein said handle has a round cross-section. 
     
     
         14 . A walking aid according to  claim 10 , wherein said handle has a quadratic cross-section with rounded-off corners. 
     
     
         15 . A walking aid according to  claim 10 , wherein said handle has a triangular cross-section with rounded sides and corners. 
     
     
         16 . A walking aid according to  claim 9 , wherein the twist of said handle ( 1 ) extends over an angular range of about 35° to about 85°. 
     
     
         17 . A walking aid according to  claim 9 , wherein the angle between said axis of said shaft ( 2 ) and said upwardly inclined handle ( 1 ) is between 100° and 120°. 
     
     
         18 . A walking aid according to  claim 17 , wherein the angle between said axis of said shaft ( 2 ) and said upwardly inclined handle ( 1 ) is 110°.