Walking aids

Abstract

A walking aid in the form of a walking stick 10 with a handle part 12 and a foldable support part 14 . A rechargeable battery is provided in the handle part 12 to selectively illuminate a lighting element in the form of a plurality of LED's 28 in a lowermost section 16 A of the support part 14.

1 . A walking aid assembly, the walking aid comprising a handle part with a support part extending therefrom, and a lighting arrangement, the lighting arrangement being configured when operating to illuminate at least a portion of the support part. 
     
     
         2 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 1 , in which the walking aid is configured such that the lighting arrangement just illuminates a lower part in use of the support part. 
     
     
         3 . A walking aid assembly according to  claims 1  or  2 , in which the support part is elongate and foldable such that in a folded condition adjacent sections of the support part can be located alongside one another. 
     
     
         4 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 3 , in which the support part comprises a plurality of sections foldable together when in an out of use condition, and coaxially mountable together in an in use condition. 
     
     
         5 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 4 , in which the support part sections are configured to provide an electrical connection therebetween when mounted together. 
     
     
         6 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 5 , in which the support part sections have respective inner and outer parts which are insulated from each other and provide respective positive and negative electrical connections between adjacent sections. 
     
     
         7 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 5 , in which a resilient power cable extends through the support part. 
     
     
         8 . A walking aid assembly according to any of  claims 4  to  7 , in which a line means is provided extending through the support part sections for retaining the sections together when in an out of use condition. 
     
     
         9 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which at least part of the support part is hollow and made of a translucent or transparent material, and the lighting arrangement illuminates the interior of the hollow part. 
     
     
         10 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the lighting arrangement is provided in the handle part and shines light down the interior of the support part. 
     
     
         11 . A walking aid assembly according to any of  claims 1  to  9 , in which the lighting arrangement comprises one or more lighting elements located within the hollow part. 
     
     
         12 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 11 , in which the lighting elements are in the form of LEDs or fibre optics. 
     
     
         13 . A walking aid assembly according to  claims 11  or  12 , in which the lighting elements are spaced around and along the length of the hollow part. 
     
     
         14 . A walking aid assembly according to any of  claims 11  to  13  or  1  to  9 , in which the lighting arrangement includes lighting elements around the outside of at least part of the support part. 
     
     
         15 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 14 , in which the lighting elements comprise a light string or fibre optics. 
     
     
         16 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the lighting arrangement is configured to selectively provide a flashing light. 
     
     
         17 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the lighting arrangement is configured to selectively provide different colour lights. 
     
     
         18 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the walking aid includes a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         19 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 18 , in which the battery is located in the handle part. 
     
     
         20 . A walking aid assembly according to  claims 18  or  19 , in which a connection, which may be a USB port, may be provided on the handle to permit charging of the rechargeable battery, and/or charging of other items. 
     
     
         21 . A walking aid assembly according to any of  claims 18  to  20 , in which indication means is provided to indicate that the battery is being charged and/or to indicate the charging state of the battery. 
     
     
         22 . A walking aid assembly according to any of  claims 18  to  21 , in which a solar panel is provided on the walking aid to enable charging of the battery. 
     
     
         23 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which a connection unit for providing wireless connection to a communication device such as a mobile phone, is provided on the walking aid to permit communication therethrough. 
     
     
         24 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 23 , in which a speaker and/or a microphone is provided on the walking aid for use with the connection unit. 
     
     
         25 . A walking aid assembly according to  claims 23  or  24 , in which the connection unit operates by a wireless technology such as BLUETOOTH®. 
     
     
         26 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which a camera, which may be a video camera, is provided on the walking aid. 
     
     
         27 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 26  when dependent on any of  claims 23  to  25 , in which the camera connects to the connection unit, such that the camera can connect to a communication device such as a mobile phone. 
     
     
         28 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which an input to connect to a data storage means is provided on the handle part. 
     
     
         29 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the walking aid includes a GPS unit, which can connect to a communication device such as a mobile phone. 
     
     
         30 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which a torch arrangement is provided on the walking aid. 
     
     
         31 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which a lazer arrangement is provided on the walking aid. 
     
     
         32 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 31 , in which the lazer arrangement projects an image on the ground in front of the walking aid. 
     
     
         33 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which a near field communication microchip is provided in the handle part. 
     
     
         34 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which a light reflective part is provided on the walking aid. 
     
     
         35 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 34 , in which a light reflective part is on the support part. 
     
     
         36 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 35 , in which the light reflective part is provided on the support part adjacent to, or towards the handle. 
     
     
         37 . A walking aid assembly according to any of  claims 34  to  36 , in which the light reflective part comprises a mirror. 
     
     
         38 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the support part is made of any of a plastics material, acrylic or fibreglass, or metal. 
     
     
         39 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the support part is removably mounted on the handle part. 
     
     
         40 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 39 , in which the handle part is selectively mountable on other items for use therewith. 
     
     
         41 . A walking aid assembly according to  claims 39  or  40 , in which engageable screw threads are provided on the support part and handle part. 
     
     
         42 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which a switch arrangement is provided on the handle part for controlling the lighting arrangement and any other components of the walking aid. 
     
     
         43 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which a light is provided on the handle part. 
     
     
         44 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which a heating arrangement is provided within the handle part, such that the handle part can operate as a hand warmer. 
     
     
         45 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 18  or any claim dependent thereon, in which a movable ground engageable part is provided on the support part, with the walking aid configured such that movement of the movable part recharges the battery. 
     
     
         46 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 45 , in which the ground engageable movable part comprises a rotatable part of the lower end in use of the support part. 
     
     
         47 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 46 , in which the rotatable part is in the form of a ball, or a roller. 
     
     
         48 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 44 , in which the ground engageable movable part is in the form of a reciprocally movable lower end in use on the support part. 
     
     
         49 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 48 , in which the reciprocally movable part provides shock absorbing for a user of the walking aid. 
     
     
         50 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the walking aid includes a speech unit which can relay audible messages to a user. 
     
     
         51 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 50 , in which the walking aid includes a translator unit which can translate messages into different languages, and provide an audible message in a required language. 
     
     
         52 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the walking aid includes a clock unit. 
     
     
         53 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 52 , when dependent on  claims 50  or  51 , in which the clock unit is connected to the speech unit so as to provide an audible message telling the time. 
     
     
         54 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which a visual magnifier is provided on the handle. 
     
     
         55 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 54 , in which the magnifier is removable from the handle to permit use. 
     
     
         56 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 55 , in which a line means extends from the visual magnifier to the handle, to prevent loss of the magnifier. 
     
     
         57 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which PIR sensors are provided on the walking aid. 
     
     
         58 . A walking aid assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which low light sensors are provided on the walking aid. 
     
     
         59 . A walking aid assembly according to  claim 58 , in which the walking aid is configured such that the lighting arrangement operates automatically when low light is detected.