Assistive walking cane

Abstract

An assistive cane and a tip assembly therefore are provided. The assistive walking cane includes a handle used to hold the walking aid, a shaft connected to the handle that transmits a load from the handle, and a ferrule connected to the shaft that receives the load from the shaft. The ferrule includes an inner core, an outer support, and a lower base. The inner core is contained within a space defined by the outer support and the lower base. The outer support includes a plurality of downwardly extending sidewalls to define the inner core receiving space. The inner core is made of a relatively softer material than the outer support and the lower base, the lower base made of a relatively softer material than the outer support. Thus, when a load is applied to the assistive cane the inner core provides for a gradual resistance to the user applying the load, thus cushioning the impact, and the sidewalls deflect or bend outwardly, thus increasing the surface area of the lower base.

1 . A walking aid comprising:
 a handle used to hold the walking aid;   a shaft connected to the handle that transmits a load from the handle;   a ferrule connected to the shaft that receives the load from the shaft, the ferrule comprising an inner core, an outer support, and a lower base;   the inner core contained within a space defined by the outer support and the lower base, the outer support comprising plurality of downwardly extending sidewalls to define the inner core receiving space;   the inner core comprised of a relatively softer material than the outer support and the lower base, the lower base comprised of a relatively softer material than the outer support;   wherefore when a load is applied to the walking aid the inner core provides for a gradual resistance to the user applying the load, thus cushioning the impact, and the sidewalls deflect or bend outwardly, thus increasing the surface area of the lower base.   
     
     
         2 . The walking aid of  claim 1  further comprising a hardened insert contained at the lower periphery of a cavity defined in the ferrule to received the shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The walking aid of  claim 1  further wherein the inner core comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an elastomeric, gel, foam, and air. 
     
     
         4 . The walking aid of  claim 1  further wherein an inner periphery of the downwardly extending sidewall defines a tongue adapted to be received within a groove defined on the inner core. 
     
     
         5 . The walking aid of  claim 1  further wherein the lower base comprises a flexible, variable thickness, rounded bottom, an outer periphery of the lower base being thicker relative to an inner core of the lower base. 
     
     
         6 . The walking aid of  claim 1  further wherein the lower base defines a plurality of a tread lugs and voids. 
     
     
         7 . The walking aid of  claim 1  further wherein the handle and the shaft are connected by a collar. 
     
     
         8 . A walking aid ferrule comprising:
 a shaft receiving cavity;   an inner core;   an outer support comprising a plurality of downwardly extending sidewalls to help define an inner core receiving space;   a lower base connected to the plurality of downwardly extending sidewalls to define the inner core receiving space;   the inner core comprised of a relatively softer material than the outer support and the lower base, the lower base comprised of a relatively softer material than the outer support;   wherefore when a load is applied to the ferrule the inner core provides for a gradual resistance to the user applying the load, thus cushioning the impact, and the sidewalls deflect or bend outwardly, thus increasing the surface area of the lower base.   
     
     
         9 . The walking aid ferrule of  claim 8  further comprising a hardened insert contained at the lower periphery of a cavity defined in the ferrule to received the shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The walking aid ferrule of  claim 8  further wherein the inner core comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an electrometric, gel, foam, and air. 
     
     
         11 . The walking aid ferrule of  claim 8  further wherein an inner periphery of the downwardly extending sidewall defines a tongue adapted to be received within a groove defined on the inner core. 
     
     
         12 . The walking aid ferrule of  claim 8  further wherein the lower base comprises a flexible, variable thickness, rounded bottom, an outer periphery of the lower base being thicker relative to an inner core of the lower base. 
     
     
         13 . The walking aid ferrule of  claim 8  further wherein the lower base defines a plurality of a tread lugs and voids.