Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Canes – sticks – crutches – and walking aids
Patent
1997-06-25
1998-10-06
Mai, Lanna
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Canes, sticks, crutches, and walking aids
135911, 135 66, A45B 700
Patent
active
058162771
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a whitestick with a transmitter for emitting directed signals, a receiver for receiving signals which are reflected by an object and with display means for converting received signals into an indication which is perceptible by the user of the whitestick.
As is well known a whitestick is an essential auxiliary means for blind or partially sighted persons during orienting. However, a disadvantage of the known whitestick is that its reach is limited. For solving this problem attempts have been made in the past to offer an increased "reach" to a partially sighted or blind person. Thus the whitestick was provided with a transmitter and a receiver, whereby received signals were converted into a perceptible indication. Among others, examples of such known whitesticks can be found in Austrian patent specification 355.099 describing a whitestick which is provided with vibration means positioned in the handle, and in German Gebrauchsmuster 9300256, from which a whitestick is known comprising a plate which can be put into vibration.
Also Dutch patent application 93.01911 any United States and foreign patent as may issue therefrom being incorporated herein by reference thereto, in the name of applicant relates to a whitestick of the type referred to above, in which the perceptible indication is realised by means of a notch projecting to a more or less extent.
These known whitesticks have several drawbacks. The constructions and control means which are required for obtaining the desired result are often complicated and thus expensive. Further the whitesticks require a lot of (electrical) energy, thus that their operation time is very limited.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a whitestick of the present type which does not show these disadvantages.
Thus the whitestick according to the invention is characterised in that the display means comprise an at least partially ring-shaped element extending around the whitestick and which through a motor is rotatable around an axis which substantially coincides with the centerline of the whitestick, wherein the plane in which said ring-shaped element is positioned encloses an angle with said axis differing from 90.degree..
Because the ring-shaped element is positioned in a plane enclosing an angle with the axis of rotation differing from 90.degree., a rotation of the ring-shaped element around said axis of rotation creates a change of the distance between the ring-shaped element and a defined fixed point at the circumference of the whitestick, such as for example a hand of the user at that position. Thus, during a rotation of the ring-shaped element, the user as it were feels a movement of said ring-shaped element into forward or backward direction, like this obtaining the desired perceptible indication of the distance towards an object registrated by means of the transmitter and receiver.
The construction of the whitestick according to the invention is extremely simple. Further already a small rotation of the ring-shaped element leads to a clearly perceptible variation of the position of said element. Such a small rotation only needs little energy, such that the whitestick has a long period of operation when using batteries.
With respect to the construction of the ring-shaped element a number of possibilities exist. A simple embodiment is characterised by the fact, that the ring-shaped element is anchor-shaped. In this embodiment both legs of the anchor together define a ring segment which follows the circumference of the whitestick. The neck of the anchor defines the connection between said ring segment and the axis of rotation.
However it is possible too that the ring-shaped element is a complete ring fully encircling the whitestick. Of course said ring is connected with the axis of rotation by means of a connecting part. The advantage of this embodiment is, that a damaging of the ring shaped element and the entrance of pollutions into the whitestick is almost completely excluded.
Further it is advantageous, that the ring-shaped eleme
REFERENCES:
patent: 3546467 (1970-12-01), Benjamin, Jr. et al.
patent: 4280204 (1981-07-01), Elchinger
patent: 4648710 (1987-03-01), Ban et al.
patent: 4858125 (1989-08-01), Washizuka et al.
patent: 5097856 (1992-03-01), Chi-Sheng
patent: 5303954 (1994-04-01), Suda
Mai Lanna
Techn-O-Tape, BV
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