US20050211284A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20050211284A1
Application number: US10/799,469
Authority: US
Inventors: David Dooley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-11
Filing date: 2004-03-11
Publication date: 2005-09-29

Abstract

A trekking staff having a solid shaft portion and a hollow elongated chamber portion provides sufficient strength for allowing a user to dynamically load the trekking staff with a significant portion of the user's bodyweight with a minimal possibility of the shaft portion bending or failing. The hollow elongated chamber portion is detachably coupled to the solid shaft portion, and can include a direction finding device, a compass, a personal water purification system, a personal water collection system, a personal first aid kit, survival equipment, unidirectional or bidirectional communication equipment, a transmitter that transmits a homing signal and/or a positional information signal. A grip portion has a shape that conforms to a shape of the trekking staff and can include a strand of cord-like material. A light emitting device can be selectably controlled to emit either a constant light or a flashing light.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to walking sticks. More particularly, the present invention relates to a walking stick that includes survival equipment.

2. Description of the Related Art

Hiking typically involves traversing uneven or previously undisturbed terrain, such as an ascent or descent of a slope; navigating rocks, boulders and/or cliffs; and/or crossing creeks and streams. Often, vegetation is pushed aside as the terrain is traversed. It is instinctive to attempt to aid oneself with additional support while traversing terrain, such as by steadying oneself using a tree or a rock. Additional support, such as a hiking stick or a pole, is sometimes used in order that a person may maintain a normal, erect posture. It has also become common to use a hiking stick in each hand.

Existing hiking sticks and poles are lightweight and made of a tubular construction and have a length that is adaptable to a user. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,348 to Axton and U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,318 to Stuever. Additionally, hiking sticks and poles have been used as multi-purpose supports for various hiking and other outdoor gear, such as a camera support, a gun rest, a shelter pole and/or prop, a pick head and ski pole attachments.

One drawback with conventional hiking sticks and poles having a tubular construction is that they lack sufficient strength for allowing a user to dynamically load the hiking stick with any significant portion of the user's bodyweight without the possibility of the tubular sections bending or failing. A similar drawback with conventional hiking sticks and poles having length adjustable sections is that when a user dynamically loads the hiking stick with a significant portion of the user's bodyweight, there is a possibility that any of the length adjusting mechanisms between may fail, thereby causing the pole to collapse.

A drawback with conventional hiking sticks and poles having length-adjustable sections is that the adjustable sections terminate at a height that is at the approximate height of a user's hand. Consequently, conventional poles lack sufficient height for allowing a user to conveniently deflect vegetation and other obstacles from the user's head and chest area without disengaging the pole from the ground, thereby eliminating the pole's utility as a balance or support-assisting device. Moreover, the relatively short length of such conventional hiking sticks and poles do not permit a user to conveniently place the bottom of a pole into a creek or stream of some depth when crossing the creek or stream without the user bending over to uncomfortable or unbalanced positions.

Additionally, survival devices have been developed for assisting a person in remaining alive until rescued. Most of these devices, however, are cumbersome, do not include particular features for sustaining life for a period of time while affording the additional utility as a balance or support assisting device as a hiking stick or pole. Accordingly, conventional survival devices are frequently left at home or used only occasionally.

Consequently, what is needed is a hiking stick or pole that (1) has sufficient strength for allowing a user to dynamically load the hiking stick with a significant portion of the user's bodyweight with a minimal possibility of the hiking stick bending or failing; (2) allows a user to conveniently deflect vegetation and other obstacles from the user's head and chest area without disengaging the pole from the ground; (3) allows a user to conveniently place the bottom of the hiking stick into a creek or stream of some depth when crossing the creek or stream; and (4) includes survival devices for sustaining life for a period of time without losing the utility as a balance or support assisting device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a trekking staff having sufficient strength for allowing a user to dynamically load the trekking staff with a significant portion of the user's bodyweight with a minimal possibility of the trekking staff bending or failing. Additionally, the trekking staff of the present invention is long enough to allow a user to conveniently deflect vegetation and other obstacles from the user's head and chest area without disengaging the trekking staff from the ground. Further still, the trekking staff of the present invention allows a user to conveniently place the bottom of the hiking stick into a creek or stream of some depth when crossing the creek or stream. Moreover, the trekking staff of the present invention includes survival devices for sustaining life for a period of time without losing the utility as a balance or support assisting device.

The advantages of the present invention are provided by a trekking staff having a solid shaft portion and a hollow elongated chamber portion. The hollow elongated chamber portion is detachably coupled to the solid shaft portion. The hollow elongated chamber portion can include a direction finding device, such as a mechanical magnetic compass, an electronic magnetic compass, or a global positioning system receiver. Additionally or in the alternative, the hollow elongated chamber portion can contain a personal water purification system, a personal water collection system, a personal first aid kit, survival equipment, unidirectional or bidirectional communication equipment, and/or a transmitter that transmits a homing signal and/or a positional information signal. The hollow chamber portion can also contain an MP3 player. The first aid kit can include a single-use medication dispenser having a reservoir containing a single-use portion of an antiseptic liquid-type bandage material and a tearable opening through which the liquid-type bandage material is dispensed.

The trekking staff of the present invention can also include a grip portion that has a shape that conforms to a shape of the trekking staff and can include a strand of cord-like material. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the grip portion is spool shaped and the strand of cord-like material is wrapped around the spool-shaped grip portion. The cord-like material can also be long enough to include a loop that is adjustable in size.

The trekking staff of the present invention can also include a light emitting device that is selectably controllable to emit one of a constant light and a flashing light. Additionally, the light emitting device can be selectably controllable to emit a flashing light containing, for example, a message in Morse code. The light emitting device can also emit a plurality of light colors that are selectably controlled.

The trekking staff of the present invention includes a tip portion that is detachably coupled to the solid shaft portion. The tip portion can be tapered and have a cross-sectional shape that is round or square. Alternatively, the tip portion can include an aperture having a size that allows a cord-like material to pass through the aperture.

The present invention also provides a trekking staff having a shaft portion having a first end and a second end and a hollow elongated chamber portion having a first end and a second end, the second end of the hollow chamber being detachably coupled to the first end of the solid shaft portion, the hollow elongated chamber portion containing an audio reproduction device. The audio reproduction device can be an MP3 player or a tape player. Moreover, the shaft portion can be a solid shaft or a tubular shaft.

Further still, the present invention provides a single-use medication dispenser having a reservoir containing a single-use portion of liquid-type bandage material, and a tearable opening through which the liquid-type bandage material is dispensed. Alternative, the single-use medication dispenser contains a single-use portion of antiseptic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not by limitation in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a cut-away view of an exemplary top portion for a first exemplary embodiment of a trekking staff according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-2C depict exemplary portions of a trekking staff according to the present invention shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary cross-sectional view of a hollow chamber according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram for an exemplary light emitting device according to the present invention;

FIGS. 5A-5C show exemplary tip portions having eyes for the trekking staff according to the present invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B respectively depict a section of an exemplary upper portion and an exemplary lower portion of a second exemplary embodiment of a trekking staff according to the present invention;

FIG. 6C shows an alternative configuration of the second exemplary embodiment of a trekking staff according to the present invention;

FIG. 7A shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a survival wand according to the present invention;

FIG. 7B showsplug701 having aloop702 and anadjustable slide703 that are fastened to plug701 atlanyard loop704; and

FIGS. 8A and 8B respectively show top and side views of an exemplary embodiment of a single-use medication dispenser according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a multi-purpose trekking staff that overcomes the drawbacks of conventional hiking sticks and poles. In that regard, the trekking staff of the present invention has sufficient strength for allowing a user to dynamically load the trekking staff with a significant portion of the user's bodyweight with a minimal possibility of the trekking staff bending or failing. Additionally, the trekking staff of the present invention has a length that allows a user to conveniently deflect vegetation and other obstacles from the user's head and chest area without disengaging the trekking staff from the ground. Further, the length of the trekking staff of the present invention is sufficient to allow a user to conveniently place the bottom of the trekking staff into a creek or stream of some depth when crossing the creek or stream. Further still, the present invention includes survival devices for sustaining life for a period of time without losing the utility as a balance or support assisting device.

FIGS. 1 and 2A-2C depict exemplary portions of a first exemplary embodiment of atrekking staff100 according to the present invention. In particular,FIG. 1 depicts a cut-away view of an exemplary top portion of atrekking staff100.FIG. 2A depicts an exemplary middle portion of atrekking staff100.FIG. 2B depicts an exemplary bottom portion of atrekking staff100, andFIG. 2C depicts an exemplary tip portion of atrekking staff100.Trekking staff100 includes a solid shaft portion101 (FIGS. 2A and 2B) and a hollow elongated chamber portion102 (FIG. 1).Hollow chamber102 is detachably coupled tosolid shaft portion101 in a well-known manner, such as by a threaded engagement ofthreads104awiththreads104b(FIG. 2A). Similarly, a tip portion103 (FIG. 2C) is detachably coupled tosolid shaft portion101 in a well-known manner, such as by a threaded engagement ofthreads114awiththreads114b. WhileFIGS. 1 and 2A-2C only show portions of trekkingstaff100, it should be understood that the overall size of trekkingstaff100 is preferably at least six feet in length.

Solid shaft portion

101 is preferably made from a strong lightweight material, such as aluminum or titanium, but can be made from other strong materials such as steel, wood or a carbon fiber material. Regardless of the material used,solid shaft portion101 has sufficient strength to be dynamically loaded with a significant portion of a user's bodyweight with a minimal possibility of the shaft portion bending or failing.

Hollow chamber

102 can be formed from a hollow aluminum tubing that includes a compartment containing a number of items, such as survival gear, a personal water purification system, a personal water collection system, a personal first aid kit, unidirectional or bidirectional communication equipment, direction finding equipment, like a compass or a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a transmitter that transmits a homing signal and/or a positional information signal.Hollow chamber102 can also have direction finding equipment that is visible and/or accessible on the outside surface ofchamber102. For example,FIG. 1 showshollow chamber102 having a mechanicalmagnetic compass105. Alternatively, the direction finding equipment that is visible and/or accessible on the outside ofchamber102 can be an electronic compass or a GPS receiver. As yet another alternative configuration,hollow chamber102 can contain an MP3 player so that music of the user's preference can accompany the user as trekking staff is being used.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary cross-sectional view ofhollow chamber102 according to the present invention. Items for building a fire that can be contained inhollow chamber102 can include are tinder andcharred material301 and a flint andstriker302. Items for being heard or seen can include awhistle303,vinyl tape304 and flaggingtape305.Vinyl tape304 can have sufficient strength and adhesive properties to be used for signaling and/or forming shelter. Other items that can be included inhollow chamber102 can include aknife306, afirst aid kit307, afishing kit308 containing, for example, fishing line, hooks and a lure, plastic bags309, such as whirl-pack-type bags, a length of, for example, ⅛′× 1/16×″×8′plastic tubing310, and a water purification system, such aswater purification tablets311 or a water filter. Still other items can include a 6′×6′×2mil plastic sheet312 that can be used for shelter and/or for collecting water, a wire saw313, and aspace blanket314. Ahousing315 forcompass105 can be threaded at316 onto the top ofhollow chamber102. Ahousing317 for alight emitting device111, such as a super bright LED, can be threaded at318 ontohousing315.Housing317 is large enough to hold a circuit board, an actuator, super bright LED and batteries.Housing317 shown inFIG. 3 is an alternative configuration from the configuration shown inFIG. 1. In particular,housing317 includes a concavereflective surface319. Additional details regarding the light emitting device are given elsewhere in this disclosure.

Trekking staff

100 includes agrip portion106 that generally conforms to the shape of trekkingstaff100.FIG. 2A shows anexemplary grip portion106.Grip portion106 preferably includesflanges107 so thatgrip portion106 has the general shape of a spool and to provide a stopping surface for a user's hand. A length of a cord-like material108, such as a piece of rope or string, that is wrapped aroundgrip portion106 to provide a gripable surface forgrip portion106. Cord-like material108 preferably has a sufficient length to form aloop109 having anadjustable slide110. A user's hand can be placed throughloop109 while grippinggrip portion106, thereby connectively securingtrekking staff100 to a user by cord-like material.Slide110 permits the size of loop to be adjusted to the preference of a user.

Hollow chamber

102 can include alight emitting device111.FIG. 1 shows an exemplarylight emitting device111 that is located at the top of trekkingstaff100. Preferably, light emittingdevice111 is an LED that can be controlled in a well-known manner to be either continuously on (or pulsed to appear to be continuously on), or flashing.FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram for light emittingdevice111. Acontroller401 is responsive toactuator402 to turnLED403 on and off. A battery power supply is not shown inFIG. 4.Actuator402 can be a mechanical switch that is physically actuated by a user or can alternatively be a Hall-Effect-type sensor that outputs an actuator signal in response to a magnet passing in close proximity toactuator402. Such a magnet can be, for example, attached toloop109 or contained withinslide110 so that it is conveniently available to a user. Additionally,controller401 can selectably controlLED403 to flash a message in Morse code, such as SOS.LED403 can emit a single colored light, such as white, for illuminating an area, and/or can emit one or more of a plurality of colored lights that are selectable by a user.Light emitting device111 can be fixed tohollow chamber102, or can be detachable fromhollow chamber102 and stored withinhollow chamber102. Further, light emittingdevice111 can have a slidable shroud or an adjustable lens with which a user can generally illuminate an area, or can alternatively form a directionally shaped beam of light.

Tip portion

103 is detachable secured tosolid shaft portion101 so that a user can select a tip that has an appropriate shape and/or is made from an appropriate material for the terrain the user will be traversing. For example,FIG. 2C shows anexemplary tip portion103 that has a generally tapered androunded end112 that can be made from, for example, aluminum, titanium, steel, wood, rubber, etc.Tip portion103 can have any of a number of cross-sectional shapes, including round and square. Alternatively,tip portion103 can have a pointed end or a flat end. As yet another alternative,tip portion103 can be shaped to form aneye113, such as shown inFIG. 5A, having a sufficient size that a string can pass througheye113 and a user can use trekkingstaff100 as a fishing pole.FIGS. 5B and 5C respectively show longitudinal and end views of an alternative tip configuration having aneye513 and so a user can use trekkingstaff100 as a fishing pole. For the alternative tip configuration shown inFIGS. 5B and 5C,tip end112 is threadably removable so that washer andeye assembly512 can be fitted betweensolid shaft portion101 andtip portion103.

FIGS. 6A and 6B respectively depict a section of an exemplaryupper portion601 and an exemplarylower portion602 of a second exemplary embodiment of atrekking staff600 according to the present invention. As depicted inFIGS. 6A and 6B, trekkingstaff600 is a hollow tubular shaft formed from, for example, a strong lightweight material, such as aluminum or titanium, but can be made from other strong materials such as steel or a carbon fiber material. As shown inFIG. 6A,upper portion601 includes achamber602 containing anaudio reproduction device603, such as an MP3 player, and apower source604, such as batteries, for poweringaudio reproduction device603.Audio reproduction device603 can include such features as aheadphone jack606, and/or abattery charger jack607 and or controls (not shown).Upper portion601 is detachably coupled to a hollow chamber (not shown inFIG. 6A), such ashollow chamber102 shown inFIG. 3, by, for example, a threadedengagement605. Alternatively,upper portion601 is detachably coupled to a hollow chamber having selected features of exemplaryhollow chamber102 that is shown inFIG. 3.Trekking staff600 also includes a tip portion (not shown) that can be any of the exemplary tip portions shown inFIGS. 2 and 5.FIG. 6C shows an alternative configuration of trekkingstaff600 in which the lower portion of trekkingstaff600 is a solid shaft formed from, for example, a strong lightweight material, such as aluminum or titanium, but can be made from other strong materials such as steel, wood or a carbon fiber material. WhileFIGS. 6A and 6B (andFIG. 6C) only show portions of trekkingstaff600, it should be understood that the overall size of trekkingstaff600 is preferably at least six feet in length.

Hollow chamber

102, shown inFIGS. 1 and 3, can serve as a survival wand that is significantly smaller than trekkingstaff100, but provides many of the same survival resource features. Accordingly, the survival wand of the present invention can be placed in, for example, a backpack or hung from a belt.FIG. 7A shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of asurvival wand700 according to the present invention. Aplug701 can be threaded intothreads104. Items contained insurvival wand700 are identified in connection withFIG. 3.FIG. 7B showsplug701 having aloop702 with anadjustable slide703 that is fastened to plug701 at alanyard attachment loop704.

FIGS. 8A and 8B respectively show top and side views of an exemplary embodiment of a single-use medication dispenser800 according to the present invention. Single-use medication dispenser800 is small, like a condiment package, and includes areservoir801 containing a single-use amount of medication, such as a liquid-type bandage material, an antiseptic ointment, or a cleanser. A suitable liquid-type bandage material can use a cyanoacrylate-based adhesive or a pyroxylin-based adhesive, such as a product marketed under the tradename NEW-SKIN and made by Medtech Laboratories of Jackson, Wyo. The overall shape of single-use medication dispenser800 can be any convenient shape. A suitable material for single-use medication dispenser800 is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,531 to Whiting, Jr., and which is incorporated by reference herein. Medication dispenser800 is used in manner similar to a condiment package, for example, by cutting or tearing package800 between

cuts

802aand802b, thereby openingapplication nozzle803. Accordingly, single-use medication dispenser800 can be an item contained inhollow chamber102 of survival staff100 (FIG. 1), first aid kit307 (FIG. 3) and insurvival wand700.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications may be practiced that are within the scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the present embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalents of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A trekking staff, comprising:

a solid shaft portion having a first end and a second end; and

a hollow elongated chamber portion having a first end and a second end, the second end of the hollow chamber being detachably coupled to the first end of the solid shaft portion.

2. The trekking staff according toclaim 1, wherein the hollow elongated chamber portion includes a direction finding device.

3. The trekking staff according toclaim 2, wherein the direction finding device is a mechanical magnetic compass.

4. The trekking staff according toclaim 2, wherein the direction finding device is an electronic magnetic compass.

5. The trekking staff according toclaim 2, wherein the direction finding device is a global positioning system receiver.

6. The trekking staff according toclaim 1, further comprising a grip portion.

7. The trekking staff according toclaim 6, wherein the grip portion conforms to a shape of the trekking staff.

8. The trekking staff according toclaim 6, wherein the grip portion includes a strand of cord-like material.

9. The trekking staff according toclaim 8, wherein the grip portion is spool shaped, and

wherein the strand of cord-like material is wrapped around the spool-shaped grip portion.

10. The trekking staff according toclaim 8, wherein the strand of cord-like material includes a loop.

11. The trekking staff according toclaim 10, wherein the loop is adjustable in size.

12. The trekking staff according toclaim 1, further comprising a light emitting device.

13. The trekking staff according toclaim 12, wherein the light emitting device is selectably controllable to emit one of a constant light and a flashing light.

14. The trekking staff according toclaim 13, wherein the light emitting device is selectably controllable to emit a flashing light containing a message in Morse code.

15. The trekking staff according toclaim 12, wherein the light emitting device emits a plurality of light colors.

16. The trekking staff according toclaim 12, wherein the light emitting device is controllable to emit light of a selected color.

17. The trekking staff according toclaim 1, further comprising a tip portion having a first end and a second end, the first end of the tip portion being detachably coupled to the second end of the solid shaft portion, and the second end of the tip portion being tapered.

18. The trekking staff according toclaim 17, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the second end of the tip portion is round.

19. The trekking staff according toclaim 17, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the second end of the tip portion is square.

20. The trekking staff according toclaim 1, further comprising a tip portion having a first end and a second end, the first end of the tip portion being detachably coupled to the second end of the solid shaft portion, and the second end of the tip portion including an aperture having a size that allows a cord-like material to pass through the aperture.

21. The trekking staff according toclaim 1, wherein the hollow elongated chamber portion contains a water purification system.

22. The trekking staff according toclaim 1, wherein the hollow elongated chamber portion contains a water collection system.

23. The trekking staff according toclaim 1, wherein the hollow elongated chamber portion contains a first aid kit.

24. The trekking staff according toclaim 23, wherein the first aid kit includes a single-use medication dispenser comprising:

a reservoir containing a single-use portion of a liquid-type bandage material; and

a tearable opening through which the liquid-type bandage material is dispensed.

25. The trekking staff according toclaim 23, wherein the first aid kit includes a single-use medication dispenser comprising:

a reservoir containing a single-use portion of antiseptic; and

a tearable opening through which the antiseptic is dispensed.

26. The trekking staff according toclaim 1, wherein the trekking staff includes a single-use medication dispenser comprising:

a tearable opening through which the liquid-type bandage material is dispensed.

27. The trekking staff according toclaim 1, wherein the trekking staff includes a single-use medication dispenser comprising:

a reservoir containing a single-use portion of antiseptic; and

a tearable opening through which the antiseptic is dispensed.

28. The trekking staff according toclaim 1, wherein the hollow elongated chamber portion contains survival equipment.

29. The trekking staff according toclaim 1, wherein the hollow elongated chamber portion contains a communication device.

30. The trekking staff according toclaim 29, wherein the communication device includes a communication receiver.

31. The trekking staff according toclaim 29, wherein the communication device includes a transmitter.

32. The trekking staff according toclaim 31, wherein the transmitter transmits a voice communication.

33. The trekking staff according toclaim 31, wherein the transmitter transmits a homing signal.

34. The trekking staff according toclaim 31, wherein the transmitter transmits positional information of the trekking staff.

35. The trekking staff according toclaim 29, wherein the communication device is a bidirectional communication device.

37. The trekking staff according toclaim 1, wherein the hollow elongated chamber portion contains an MP3 player.

38. A trekking staff, comprising:

a shaft portion having a first end and a second end; and

a hollow elongated chamber portion having a first end and a second end, the second end of the hollow chamber being detachably coupled to the first end of the solid shaft portion, the hollow elongated chamber portion containing an audio reproduction device.

39. The trekking staff according toclaim 38, wherein the audio reproduction device is an MP3 player.

40. The trekking staff according toclaim 38, wherein the audio reproduction device is a tape player.

41. The trekking staff according toclaim 38, wherein the shaft portion is a solid shaft.

42. The trekking staff according toclaim 38, wherein the shaft portion is a tubular shaft.

43. A single-use medication dispenser comprising:

a tearable opening through which the liquid-type bandage material is dispensed.

44. A single-use medication dispenser comprising:

a reservoir containing a single-use portion of antiseptic; and

a tearable opening through which the antiseptic is dispensed.