Cane with Spring-Actuated Gripper

Abstract

A cane with trigger-actuated gripper is an apparatus that is used as a walking aid and an aid for grabbing or picking up objects. The apparatus includes a cane which is used to aid a user with walking and increase distance the user is able to reach. A grasping mechanism is connected to the can and used to aid users with grabbing or picking up objects. A trigger located near the handle of the cane is used to control a spring-loaded claw assembly. The spring-loaded claw assembly, located near the foot of the cane, is used to clench or pick up objects. A cable runs through the inside of the cane's hollow shaft and links the trigger to the spring-loaded claw assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cane with trigger-actuated gripper comprises:
 a cane;   a grasping mechanism;   the cane comprises a hollow shaft, a foot, and a handle;   the grasping mechanism comprises a trigger, a spring-loaded claw assembly, and a cable;   the foot and the handle being positioned opposite to each other along the hollow shaft;   the trigger being hingedly and laterally connected to the hollow shaft;   the trigger being positioned adjacent to the handle;   the spring-loaded claw assembly being hingedly and laterally connected to the hollow shaft;   the spring-loaded claw assembly being positioned adjacent to the foot;   the trigger being tensionably tethered to the spring-loaded claw assembly by the cable; and   the cable being slidably mounted through the hollow shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The cane with trigger-actuated gripper as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the trigger comprises a free end, a tensioning end, and a trigger pivot portion; 
 the cable comprises a first cable end; 
 the free end being positioned adjacent and perpendicular to the tensioning end; 
 the trigger pivot portion being positioned between the free end and the tensioning end; 
 the trigger pivot portion being hingedly mounted to the hollow shaft; and 
 the first cable end being adjacently connected to the tensioning end, opposite to the trigger pivot portion. 
 
     
     
         3 . The cane with trigger-actuated gripper as claimed in  claim 2  comprises:
 the grasping mechanism comprises a trigger mount; 
 the trigger mount being laterally connected to the hollow shaft; 
 the trigger pivot portion being hingedly connected to the trigger mount; and 
 the cable traversing through the trigger mount. 
 
     
     
         4 . The cane with trigger-actuated gripper as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the spring-loaded claw assembly comprises a lever and a claw; 
 the lever comprises a pivot end and an actuation end; 
 the cable comprises a second cable end; 
 the claw being adjacently connected to the actuation end; 
 the second cable end being tethered to the actuation end; and 
 the pivot end being hingedly mounted to the hollow shaft. 
 
     
     
         5 . The cane with trigger-actuated gripper as claimed in  claim 4  comprises:
 the grasping mechanism comprises a claw mount; 
 the claw mount being laterally connected to the hollow shaft; 
 the pivot end being hingedly connected to the claw mount; and 
 the cable traversing through the claw mount. 
 
     
     
         6 . The cane with trigger-actuated gripper as claimed in  claim 4  comprises:
 the spring-loaded claw assembly comprises a spring; 
 the spring comprises a first spring end and a second spring end; 
 the first spring end being pivotally connected to the actuation end; and 
 the second spring end being pivotally mounted to the hollow shaft. 
 
     
     
         7 . The cane with trigger-actuated gripper as claimed in  claim 4  comprises:
 the claw comprises a tip, a grasping surface, an outward surface, a plurality of grip features, and a grip layer; 
 the tip being positioned opposite to the actuation end, along the claw; 
 the grasping surface and the outward surface being positioned opposite to each other through the claw; 
 the grasping surface and the outward surface traversing from the actuation end to the tip; 
 the grasping surface being oriented towards the hollow shaft; 
 the outward surface being oriented away from the hollow shaft; 
 the plurality of grip features being integrated across the grasping surface; and 
 the grip layer being superimposed onto the plurality of grip features and about the tip. 
 
     
     
         8 . The cane with trigger-actuated gripper as claimed in  claim 1  comprises:
 the cane comprises a first guide pin and a second guide pin; 
 the first guide pin being laterally mounted within the hollow shaft, adjacent to the trigger; 
 the cable being slidably engaged about the first guide pin; 
 the second guide pin being laterally mounted within the hollow shaft, adjacent to the spring-loaded claw assembly; and 
 the cable being slidably engaged about the second guide pin. 
 
     
     
         9 . A cane with trigger-actuated gripper comprises:
 a cane;   a grasping mechanism;   the cane comprises a hollow shaft, a foot, a handle, a first guide pin and a second guide pin;   the grasping mechanism comprises a trigger, a spring-loaded claw assembly, and a cable;   the foot and the handle being positioned opposite to each other along the hollow shaft;   the trigger being hingedly and laterally connected to the hollow shaft;   the trigger being positioned adjacent to the handle;   the spring-loaded claw assembly being hingedly and laterally connected to the hollow shaft;   the spring-loaded claw assembly being positioned adjacent to the foot;   the trigger being tensionably tethered to the spring-loaded claw assembly by the cable;   the cable being slidably mounted through the hollow shaft;   the first guide pin being laterally mounted within the hollow shaft, adjacent to the trigger;   the cable being slidably engaged about the first guide pin;   the second guide pin being laterally mounted within the hollow shaft, adjacent to the spring-loaded claw assembly; and   the cable being slidably engaged about the second guide pin.   
     
     
         10 . The cane with trigger-actuated gripper as claimed in  claim 9  comprises:
 the trigger comprises a free end, a tensioning end, and a trigger pivot portion; 
 the cable comprises a first cable end; 
 the free end being positioned adjacent and perpendicular to the tensioning end; 
 the trigger pivot portion being positioned between the free end and the tensioning end; 
 the trigger pivot portion being hingedly mounted to the hollow shaft; and 
 the first cable end being adjacently connected to the tensioning end, opposite to the trigger pivot portion. 
 
     
     
         11 . The cane with trigger-actuated gripper as claimed in  claim 10  comprises:
 the grasping mechanism comprises a trigger mount; 
 the trigger mount being laterally connected to the hollow shaft; 
 the trigger pivot portion being hingedly connected to the trigger mount; and 
 the cable traversing through the trigger mount. 
 
     
     
         12 . The cane with trigger-actuated gripper as claimed in  claim 9  comprises:
 the spring-loaded claw assembly comprises a lever and a claw; 
 the lever comprises a pivot end and an actuation end; 
 the cable comprises a second cable end; 
 the claw being adjacently connected to the actuation end; 
 the second cable end being tethered to the actuation end; and 
 the pivot end being hingedly mounted to the hollow shaft. 
 
     
     
         13 . The cane with trigger-actuated gripper as claimed in  claim 12  comprises:
 the grasping mechanism comprises a claw mount; 
 the claw mount being laterally connected to the hollow shaft; 
 the pivot end being hingedly connected to the claw mount; and 
 the cable traversing through the claw mount. 
 
     
     
         14 . The cane with trigger-actuated gripper as claimed in  claim 12  comprises:
 the spring-loaded claw assembly comprises a spring; 
 the spring comprises a first spring end and a second spring end; 
 the first spring end being pivotally connected to the actuation end; and 
 the second spring end being pivotally mounted to the hollow shaft. 
 
     
     
         15 . The cane with trigger-actuated gripper as claimed in  claim 12  comprises:
 the claw comprises a tip, a grasping surface, an outward surface, a plurality of grip features, and a grip layer; 
 the tip being positioned opposite to the actuation end, along the claw; 
 the grasping surface and the outward surface being positioned opposite to each other through the claw; 
 the grasping surface and the outward surface traversing from the actuation end to the tip; 
 the grasping surface being oriented towards the hollow shaft; 
 the outward surface being oriented away from the hollow shaft; 
 the plurality of grip features being integrated across the grasping surface; and 
 the grip layer being superimposed onto the plurality of grip features and about the tip. 
 
     
     
         16 . A cane with trigger-actuated gripper comprises:
 a cane;   a grasping mechanism;   the cane comprises a hollow shaft, a foot, and a handle;   the grasping mechanism comprises a trigger, a spring-loaded claw assembly, and a cable;   the trigger comprises a free end, a tensioning end, and a trigger pivot portion;   the cable comprises a first cable end and a second cable end;   the spring-loaded claw assembly comprises a lever and a claw;   the lever comprises a pivot end and an actuation end;   the foot and the handle being positioned opposite to each other along the hollow shaft;   the trigger being hingedly and laterally connected to the hollow shaft;   the trigger being positioned adjacent to the handle;   the spring-loaded claw assembly being hingedly and laterally connected to the hollow shaft;   the spring-loaded claw assembly being positioned adjacent to the foot;   the trigger being tensionably tethered to the spring-loaded claw assembly by the cable;   the cable being slidably mounted through the hollow shaft;   the free end being positioned adjacent and perpendicular to the tensioning end;   the trigger pivot portion being positioned between the free end and the tensioning end;   the trigger pivot portion being hingedly mounted to the hollow shaft;   the first cable end being adjacently connected to the tensioning end, opposite to the trigger pivot portion;   the claw being adjacently connected to the actuation end;   the second cable end being tethered to the actuation end; and   the pivot end being hingedly mounted to the hollow shaft.   
     
     
         17 . The cane with trigger-actuated gripper as claimed in  claim 16  comprises:
 the grasping mechanism comprises a trigger mount; 
 the trigger mount being laterally connected to the hollow shaft; 
 the trigger pivot portion being hingedly connected to the trigger mount; and 
 the cable traversing through the trigger mount. 
 
     
     
         18 . The cane with trigger-actuated gripper as claimed in  claim 16  comprises:
 the grasping mechanism comprises a claw mount; 
 the claw comprises a tip, a grasping surface, an outward surface, a plurality of grip features, and a grip layer; 
 the claw mount being laterally connected to the hollow shaft; 
 the pivot end being hingedly connected to the claw mount; 
 the cable traversing through the claw mount; 
 the tip being positioned opposite to the actuation end, along the claw; 
 the grasping surface and the outward surface being positioned opposite to each other through the claw; 
 the grasping surface and the outward surface traversing from the actuation end to the tip; 
 the grasping surface being oriented towards the hollow shaft; 
 the outward surface being oriented away from the hollow shaft; 
 the plurality of grip features being integrated across the grasping surface; and 
 the grip layer being superimposed onto the plurality of grip features and about the tip. 
 
     
     
         19 . The cane with trigger-actuated gripper as claimed in  claim 16  comprises:
 the spring-loaded claw assembly comprises a spring; 
 the spring comprises a first spring end and a second spring end; 
 the first spring end being pivotally connected to the actuation end; and 
 the second spring end being pivotally mounted to the hollow shaft. 
 
     
     
         20 . The cane with trigger-actuated gripper as claimed in  claim 16  comprises:
 the cane comprises a first guide pin and a second guide pin; 
 the first guide pin being laterally mounted within the hollow shaft, adjacent to the trigger; 
 the cable being slidably engaged about the first guide pin; 
 the second guide pin being laterally mounted within the hollow shaft, adjacent to the spring-loaded claw assembly; and 
 the cable being slidably engaged about the second guide pin.