Versatile walking cane

Abstract

A versatile walking cane that has an adjustable length and a jaw-grip. The walking cane includes a trigger that can be actuated to mechanically operate the jaw-grip from an open to a closed position. In the closed position, the jaw-grip is retracted into the interior of the cane and does not obstruct the use of the cane for walking. The cane includes an interface for receiving additional tools and an illumination source.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A walking cane comprising:
 a shaft having an upper end and a lower end;   a handle integrated into the shaft proximate to the upper end, the handle including a trigger that can be actuated by applying a force to pull the trigger towards the handle;   a slot defined in the side of the shaft and extending from the lower end of the shaft for a particular length towards the upper end to define a slot upper end; and   an arm that pivotally attaches within the slot at the slot upper end, the arm being coupled to the trigger in such a manner that when the trigger is in a first position, the arm moves to a first position that is rotated from the side of the shaft and defining an area between the arm and the shaft for receiving an item to be grasped and when the trigger is in a second position, the arm moves to a second position to pinch the item to be grasped between the arm and the shaft and, in the absence of an item to be grasped, the arm is retracted within the slot, the arm extending substantially the entire length of the slot and retracting fully into the slot.   
     
     
         2 . The walking cane of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is defined by an upper shaft and lower shaft, the upper shaft include an interior and, the interior diameter of the upper shaft is greater than an exterior diameter of the lower shaft such that the upper shaft can be slid over the lower shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The walking cane of  claim 2 , wherein the arm is pivotally attached within the slot at the slot upper end with a pin and, a torsion spring biases the arm into a particular position. 
     
     
         4 . The walking cane of  claim 3 , wherein the torsion spring biases the arm into an open position and, a trigger string is attached at one end to the trigger and at the opposing end to the arm such that actuation of the trigger causes the string to pull the arm into a closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The walking cane of  claim 3 , wherein the torsion spring biases the arm into a closed position and, a trigger string is attached at one end to the trigger and at the opposing end to a lever such that actuation of the trigger causes the lever to force the arm into an open position. 
     
     
         6 . The walking cane of  claim 3 , wherein a first torsion spring biases the arm into an open position and, a first trigger string is attached at one end to the trigger and at the opposing end to the arm such that actuation of the trigger causes the string to pull the arm into a closed position and, wherein a second torsion spring biases the arm into a closed position and, a second trigger string is attached at one end to the trigger and at the opposing end to a lever such that actuation of the trigger causes the lever to force the arm into an open position, and further including a mechanical switch to activate only one of the first torsion spring and second torsion spring and one of the first trigger string and the second trigger string. 
     
     
         7 . The walking cane of  claim 3 , further comprising a slideably attached shoehorn that can be extended to an operational state and retracted to a stored state. 
     
     
         8 . The walking cane of  claim 3 , further comprising a light that illuminates an area in front of the walking cane. 
     
     
         9 . The walking cane of  claim 3 , further comprising a light that illuminates the arm. 
     
     
         10 . The walking cane of  claim 3 , further comprising an interface at the lower end of the shaft, wherein the interface can receive one of a variety of tools. 
     
     
         11 . The walking cane of  claim 10 , wherein the variety of tools includes at least one of a shoehorn, a screwdriver, a magnet and a tip. 
     
     
         12 . The walking cane of  claim 3 , further comprising a lock that can secure the arm into a closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The walking cane of  claim 3 , further comprising a tip on the lower end of the shaft and wherein the tip includes a slot that aligns with the slot of the lower shaft for allowing the arm to enter into the slot. 
     
     
         14 . The walking cane of  claim 3 , wherein the torsion spring biases the arm into a closed position and, a trigger string is attached at one end to the trigger and at the opposing end to a lever such that actuation of the trigger causes the lever to force the arm into an open position and, an adjustment switch to increase or decrease the length of the trigger string to adjust the length of the pivot of the arm. 
     
     
         15 . A walking cane comprising:
 a shaft having an upper end and a lower end;   a handle attached proximate to the upper end of the shaft, the handle including a trigger that can be actuated by applying a force to the trigger;   the shaft defining a slot for receiving an arm, the slot extending from the lower end of the shaft for a particular length towards the upper end of the shaft to define a slot upper end;   the arm being pivotally attached at one end within the interior of the shaft proximate to the slot upper end, the arm being coupled to the trigger in such a manner that when the trigger is actuated, the arm is forced into an open position and the arm enters a retracted position wherein the arm is substantially completely retracted into the interior of the shaft through the slot d when the trigger is released; and   a torsion spring attached to the arm to bias the arm to move into the retracted position.   
     
     
         16 . The walking cane of  claim 15 , further comprising a light that illuminates an area in front of the walking cane. 
     
     
         17 . The walking cane of  claim 15 , further comprising a light that illuminates the arm. 
     
     
         18 . The walking cane of  claim 15 , further comprising a first light that illuminates an area in front of the walking cane and a second light that illuminates the arm. 
     
     
         19 . The walking cane of  claim 15 , further comprising an interface proximate to the the lower end of the shaft, wherein the interface can receive one of a variety of tools. 
     
     
         20 . The walking cane of  claim 15 , further comprising a tip positioned over the lower end of the shaft, wherein the tip can be placed on a surface when the walking cane is used for supporting a walking user and, the arm does not obstruct the tip from engaging such surface, the tip defining a tip slot that coincides with the slot defined by the shaft such that the arm can be moved into the retracted position.