WO2016085331A1

WO2016085331A1 - Walking stick holder with constant-force spring

Info

Publication number: WO2016085331A1
Application number: PCT/NL2015/050810
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ing. Koen Berend KOEVOETS
Original assignee: Koevoets Group B.V.
Priority date: 2014-11-24
Filing date: 2015-11-19
Publication date: 2016-06-02
Also published as: EP3223644A1; EP3223644B1

Abstract

Device configured and for use as a stick holder, comprising two cooperating clamping elements (1, 2), which are linearly displaceable relative to each other, and wherein one of the clamping elements is configured to be able to be attached onto a stick. Wherein furthermore biasing means are provided, which are configured to exert a biasing force on the clamping elements, diving them towards each other. Wherein the biasing means comprise a constant-force spring (5) of rolled-up resilient ribbon material, of which the rolled-up portion is mounted in or against a first clamping element (1) and the linearly-extendable free outer end (8) of the spring is connected to the second clamping element (2).

Description

Title: Walking stick holder with constant-force spring DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a (walking) stick holder, such as is known from NL1035988C, for example. Hereinafter, the term walking stick or (in short) stick includes all types of sticks and similar (mobility) aids that persons may or should use when standing or walking, including also (walking) crutches, Nordic walking poles, canes etc.

From NL1035988C a device is known that is suitable for and configured as a walking stick holder, comprising two cooperating clamping elements that are mutually linearly displaceable relative to each other, one of the clamping elements is configured to be able to be attached onto a walking stick, and wherein furthermore biasing means are provided, which are configured for exerting a biasing force on the clamping elements in order to drive them towards each other.

When using the stick holder, the two clamping elements (one of which is attached onto the walking stick) are pulled apart against the biasing force, and the clamping elements are clamped against the top and bottom of a tabletop, for example. Under the influence of the biasing force, the stick remains clamped onto the tabletop, preventing falling over of the stick and simultaneously freeing the hands of the user of the stick. NL1035988C does not clearly disclose in which way the biasing means, referred to as "pretension element", have been implemented. In practice, the biasing element in the device of NL1035988C appears to comprise a helical tension spring. In use, this type of (tension) spring has the disadvantage that the tension force F increases substantially with the elongation distance S according to the formula AF = c_v * AS, in which Cv is the spring constant. As a result, it appears that these clamping elements are not comfortable in use, in particular for older and/or disabled users. A further disadvantage is of a structural and aesthetic nature: a helical tension spring is not easily mounted within the clamping elements, due to its "block length" (the length of the fully compressed spring in which the coils abut against one another).

According to the present invention, therefore a device is provided for use as a walking stick holder, in which use is being made of a "constant-force spring" as a biasing element (also known as roll spring, or "constant tension spring") i.e. a rolled-up ribbon spring having a first end, located within the rolled-up portion, being connected to a first clamping element, and having a second free pull-out outer end being connected to the second clamping element.

(see also www. google. nl/?gws_rd=ssl#q = constante+ kracht+veer)

The (mainly rolled-up) form of the constant-force spring enables easier integration into the entire assembly of the mutually linearly displaceable clamping elements. Furthermore, the spring constant c_v is very small, so that the biasing force varies very little (virtually constant) when displacing the clamping elements relative to each other. This provides for a walking stick holder that is much better suited for use with tabletops and other boards that may possess large differences in thickness. By applying the constant-force spring proposed by the invention, the force to be exerted by the user on the clamping elements is almost constant, in order to sufficiently open the elements for engaging them onto the (table)top edge; contrary to the well-known walking stick holder, which requires a lot of force during its application onto a (sometimes very) thick edge.

As a result, according to the invention, a device is provided, which is suitable for and configured for use as a walking stick holder, comprising two cooperating clamping elements, which are linearly displaceable relative to each other, and wherein one of the clamping elements is configured to be able to be attached onto a walking stick, wherein furthermore biasing means are provided, which are configured to exert a biasing force on the clamping elements, driving them towards each other,

wherein the biasing means comprise a constant-force spring of rolled-up resilient ribbon material, of which the rolled-up portion is mounted in or against a first clamping element, and wherein the linearly-extendable free outer end of the spring is connected to the other clamping element. Preferably, one of the clamping elements comprises a housing for the at least partly including the rolled-up portion of the constant-force spring.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, which will be further discussed hereinafter, the rolled-up portion of the biasing spring is mounted in or at the clamping element that is configured to be able to be attached onto a walking stick. The invention will now be further discussed on the basis of the following figure description.

Figures 1 a-b show a preferred embodiment of the invention, having closed

(abutting) clamping elements, and having open (pulled apart) clamping elements, respectively.

Figure 1 a-b show a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, suitable and configured for use as a walking stick holder, comprising two cooperating clamping elements 1, 2, which are linearly displaceable relative to each other, and wherein one of the clamping elements 1 is configured to be able to be attached onto a walking stick by means of a fastening part la, which can be mounted in the length against a walking stick (not shown), for example by means of straps or belts (not shown).

Biasing means are provided which are configured to exert a biasing force on the clamping elements 1, 2 in order to drive them towards each other, as represented by the arrows 3. The biasing means include a constant-force spring of resilient ribbon (strip) material 5 rolled-up (coiled-up) around a reel 4. The rolled-up portion is mounted in a first clamping element 1 by bearing mounting the axis 6 of the reel 4 rotatably in a housing 7 of the first clamping element 1. The pull-out free outer end 8 of the resilient ribbon material 5 of the constant-force spring is connected to, for example, a hook-shaped connecting portion 9, which is provided in the second clamping element 2 that is displaceable relative to the first clamping element 1.

The operation is as follows: in the rest position, as shown in Fig la, the two clamping elements 1, 2 are held against each other under the influence of the pulling force 3 (the biasing force) of the rolled-up constant-force spring 5, which is bearing mounted by means of reel 4 into the housing 7 of the lower clamping element 1. Thereby the free outer end 8 of the constant-force spring pulls down the displaceable upper clamping element 2 by means of the connecting portion 9. Additionally, a rest stop 10 of the upper clamping element 2 abuts against the top surface 11 of the lower clamping element 1. If the user intents to clamp his walking stick onto (for example) a tabletop, firstly the user has to ensure that the projecting portion 12 of the upper clamping element 2 is positioned against the top surface of the (not shown) table, after which the walking stick (of which the bottom side must not be in contact with the floor) is pushed down by the user, thereby causing the lower clamping element 1, which is fixedly connected to walking stick, to be pushed down. As a result the projecting portion 12 of the clamping element 2 remains pressed down against the upper surface of the table top, while the walking stick, including the lower clamping element 1, is pushed down against the spring pressure (biasing force) of the constant-force spring 5 - thereby aided by the weight of the walking stick -. When the upper surface 11 of the lower clamping element 1 has reached a level below the lower surface of the tabletop, the user pushes the walking stick including the two clamping elements 1, 2 in such a way in the direction of the table top, that the clamping elements 1, 2 clampingly engage the lower and upper surface of the table top respectively under the influence of the biasing force 3.

For the action described in the preceding paragraph, the user may also use a hook- shaped member 13, which can be used to suspend the walking stick onto something, but which may also be used to pull up the upper clamping element 2, for clampingly engaging the walking stick onto the (table) edge. Accordingly, both the projecting portion 12 and the hook-shaped member 13 may be used to "open" the clamping elements 1, 2, in other words, to move the clamping elements away from one other during clampingly engaging the walking stick onto a (table) top.

When the walking stick is clamped onto a tabletop or another plank, the walking stick is able to be simply pulled away (detached) from the table top, after which the clamping members 1, 2 return to their rest position under the influence of the downwardly directed tension force of the free end 8 of the constant-force spring 5, as shown in figure la. Because the spring constant of the constant-force spring 5 is very low, the biasing force 3, which is mutually exerted by the clamping elements 1, 2 onto each other when in the closed position (Figure la), is substantially identical to the biasing force in the opened position (Figure lb); thereby in practise considerably improving the ease of use of the walking stick holder. In addition, the biasing element serving as a constant-force spring 5 may be aesthetically and structurally in a responsible manner be housed in one of the clamping elements, for example in the clamping element 1, as shown in Figures 1 a-b.

Claims

1. Device, which is suitable for and configured as a stick holder, comprising two cooperating clamping elements (1, 2), which are linearly displaceable relative to each other, and wherein one of the clamping elements is configured to be able to be attached onto a stick,

wherein furthermore biasing means are provided, which are configured to exert a biasing force on the clamping elements, driving them towards each other, wherein the biasing means comprise a constant-force spring (5) of rolled-up resilient ribbon material, of which the rolled-up portion is mounted in or against a first clamping element (1), and wherein the linearly-extendable free outer end (8) of the spring is connected to the second clamping element (2).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein one of the clamping elements comprises a housing (7) for at least partly including the rolled-up portion of the constant- force spring.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rolled-up portion is mounted in or at the clamping element (1) that is configured to be able to be attached onto a stick.