Removable shock absorbing tip for a walking aid

Abstract

A removable shock absorbing tip for a walking aid. The tip may be comprised of a shaft engaging member for connecting the tip to the shaft of a walking aid, an outer shell, and a biasing member. The biasing member may disposed within the outer shell in abutment with the shaft engaging member. The biasing member may also be disposed around the shaft engaging member and in abutment with the outer shell. The biasing member may be a spring, a fluid-filled cushion, or a member formed of elastomeric material. The outer shell may be formed of transparent or translucent material to permit the biasing member to be visible to a user for ease of identification.

1 . A walking aid apparatus comprising:
 a walking aid configured to provide support to a user who applies pressure thereon, the walking aid comprising:
 a handle by which a user can grasp the walking aid; and 
 a shaft extending from the handle toward the ground, the shaft having a handle end and a tip end; 
   a biasing tip removably coupled to the tip end of the shaft of the walking aid, the biasing tip comprising:
 a biasing member to provide shock-absorption for the walking aid; and 
 an outer shell member configured to abut with the biasing member, to couple the biasing member to the shaft of the walking aid, the outer shell member cooperating with the biasing member, such that the biasing member is visible to a user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The walking aid apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing tip further comprises a slidably moveable member configured to be partially received and slidably moveable within the outer shell member, wherein the slidably moveable member abuts against one end of the biasing member and moves with respect to the outer shell as the biasing member compresses. 
     
     
         3 . The walking aid apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the outer shell member of the biasing tip secures the biasing member in abutment with the slidably moveable member. 
     
     
         4 . The walking aid apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the slidably moveable member moves with respect to the shaft of the walking aid. 
     
     
         5 . The walking aid apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the slidably moveable member comprises a shaft engaging member and remains stationary with respect to the shaft of the walking aid. 
     
     
         6 . The walking aid apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the shaft engaging member comprises a collar positioned at a first end of the shaft engaging member and a second end of the shaft engaging member is slidably received within the outer shell member, and
 wherein the biasing member is disposed around a portion of the shaft engaging member and in abutment with the collar of the shaft engaging member and in abutment with a top rim of the outer shell member.   
     
     
         7 . The walking aid apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the slidably moveable member comprises a piston configured to be partially received by, and slidably moveable within, the outer shell member. 
     
     
         8 . The walking aid apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the outer shell member is made of transparent or translucent material. 
     
     
         9 . The walking aid apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing member of the biasing tip is selected from: a spring, an elastomeric material or a fluid-filled cushion. 
     
     
         10 . A biasing tip for a walking aid comprising:
 a shaft engaging member configured to removably couple the biasing tip to a shaft of a walking aid;   a biasing member to provide shock-absorption for the walking aid, wherein one end of the biasing member abuts a portion of the shaft engaging member; and   an outer shell member abutting the biasing member and engaging the shaft engaging member, the outer shell member configured secure the biasing member in abutment with the shaft engaging member and to permit the biasing member to be visible.   
     
     
         11 . The biasing tip of  claim 10 , wherein the shaft engaging member comprises a collar positioned at a first end of the shaft engaging member and a second end of the shaft engaging member is slidably received within the outer shell member, and
 wherein the biasing member is disposed around a portion of the shaft engaging member and in abutment with the collar of the shaft engaging member and in abutment with a top rim of the outer shell member.   
     
     
         12 . The biasing tip of  claim 11 , further comprising a slidably moveable member configured to be partially received and slidably moveable within the outer shell member, wherein the slidably moveable member abuts against the biasing member and moves with respect to the outer shell as the biasing member compresses. 
     
     
         13 . The biasing tip of  claim 11 , wherein the biasing member is disposed within the biasing tip, and wherein the outer shell member surrounds the biasing member. 
     
     
         14 . The biasing tip of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of the outer shell member is made of transparent or translucent material. 
     
     
         15 . The biasing tip of  claim 11 , wherein a portion of the outer shell member further comprises a window configured to permit the biasing member to be visible from the exterior of the outer shell member. 
     
     
         16 . The biasing tip of  claim 11 , wherein the biasing member is selected from: a spring, an elastomeric material, or a fluid-filled cushion. 
     
     
         17 . A biasing tip for a walking aid comprising:
 a biasing member to provide shock-absorption for the walking aid;   an outer shell member configured to abut and secure one end of the biasing member; and   a slidably moveable member configured to be partially received and slidably moveable within the outer shell member, wherein the slidably moveable member abuts against one end of the biasing member and moves with respect to the outer shell as the biasing member compresses to absorb shock and soften a force of impact caused by the biasing tip contacting a surface;   wherein the biasing tip is configured to be removable from the shaft of the walking aid.   
     
     
         18 . The biasing tip of  claim 17 , wherein the slidably moveable member comprises a piston configured to be partially received within the outer shell member. 
     
     
         19 . The biasing tip of  claim 18 , wherein the slidably moveable member is integrated with a shaft engaging member configured to couple the biasing tip to a shaft of a walking aid. 
     
     
         20 . The biasing tip of  claim 17 , wherein the biasing member is disposed within the biasing tip, the outer shell member substantially enclosing the biasing member and configured to permit the biasing member to be visible from the exterior of the outer shell member. 
     
     
         21 . The biasing tip of  claim 17 , wherein the biasing member is disposed around a portion of the slidably moveable member and in abutment with a portion of the slidably moveable member. 
     
     
         22 . A biasing tip for a walking aid comprising:
 an outer shell member;   means for biasing a tip end of a walking aid against a force applied down a shaft of a walking aid to provide shock-absorption for the walking aid;   means for compressing the biasing means, wherein the compressing means is slidably moveable with respect to the outer shell member, and wherein the compressing means abuts against the biasing means to compress it against the outer shell member and thereby soften the force of impact,   wherein the biasing tip is configured removable from the shaft of the walking aid.