A collapsible structure connection system including apparatus for connecting rod segments and apparatus for holding and organizing rod segments. An apparatus for connecting rod segments, such as a pole tip and final rod segment, or two rod segments, may have a pair of mated rod segments and a spring-loaded push-button locking mechanism, with the rod segments connected using an elastomeric connector attached to each rod segment at adjacent, opposing ends. The elastomeric connector may be attached to and held in place against the rod segment using an attachment assembly that may be threaded or unthreaded, and that may mate, or not mate, within the rod segment upon securing the attachment assembly to the rod segment. The spring-loaded push-button locking mechanism may have a spring-loaded push-button seated on a dowel of a male body, and a cavity aperture traversing a dowel cavity of a female body.

A soft terrain walking assist device and foot for the same is disclosed. The walking assist device includes an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. A handle is defined at the proximal end. A foot is attached to the distal end. The foot formed as a rounded plate having a coupling on a top surface of the rounded plate. A plurality of downwardly protruding tabs disposed in a spaced apart relation about a peripheral edge of the rounded plate. The tabs are configured to penetrate a soft terrain in a ground surface and contain a portion of the soft terrain within a containment area defined between the bottom surface and an inner face of each of the plurality of downwardly protruding tabs. The present invention allows users with a stability or strength impediment to enjoy peaceful walks on the beach while providing added stability.

A hiking pole with a retractable blade is shown and described. The hiking pole with a retractable blade includes an elongated pole having a first end and a second end. The second end or the elongated pole has a retractable blade affixed thereto. The blade will extend past the second end when not retracted.

An auxiliary handle for a walking assistance device has a tube seat and a handgrip tube. The tube seat utilizes the positioning space for accepting a crutch tube. When a user holds the handle portion of the handgrip tube and turns it downward; when the handgrip tube is turned, the positioning protrusion of the connecting portion moves from the stopping portion to the positioning portion and compresses the elastic member. When the handgrip tube is horizontal, the positioning protrusion passes over the stopping edge and be inserts into the positioning portion for positioning to lock the handgrip tube and prevent the elastic member from rebounding. Meanwhile, the user holds a top grip on the top of the walking assistance device with one hand, and holds the handgrip tube with the other hand, and then applies force to support the body to get up and stand.

A collapsible structure connection system and method including an apparatus having a pair of mated ferrules or rod segments and a spring-loaded push-button locking mechanism, the spring-loaded push-button locking mechanism having a spring-loaded push-button seated on a dowel of a male ferrule or mail rod segment, and a cavity aperture traversing a dowel cavity of a female ferrule or female rod segment. Each ferrule couples to a rod segment of the structure, the ferrules connecting the rod segments when mated, but allowing the rod segments to disengage into a collapsed structure. An exemplary embodiment of the apparatus and collapsible structure connection system includes a pair of mated ferrules or rod segments, one pivoting pin and at least one slider arm. The slider arm rotates around the pivoting pins, allowing the ferrules or rod segments to rotate into various positions when selectively connecting and collapsing rod segments.

One aspect of this disclosure is a pole apparatus. The pole apparatus may comprise a grip segment comprising a cord attachment surface; a pole segment; a tip segment and a cord extending between at least the pole segment and the tip segment. The grip segment, the pole segment, and the tip segment may be arrangeable in a side-by-side disposition. A portion of the cord extending between the pole segment and the tip segment may be positionable on the cord attachment surface in the side-by-side disposition. The grip segment may be removably attachable to the tip segment such that, when the portion of the cord is positioned on the cord attachment surface, the removable attachment of the grip segment to the tip segment may maintain the side-by-side disposition. Aspects of related apparatus, methods, and systems also are disclosed.

A walking assistance apparatus that includes an elongated staff having a handle at one end and a ground engaging tip at the other with the staff including a light pipe having a high intensity light emitting member disposed therein to produce light around the user's feet and a source of electrical energy coupled through a control circuit to energize the light emitting member. A plurality of switches are disposed on the handle to energize the light emitting member and the apparatus also includes a motion sensor which automatically turns the light emitting member ON when the apparatus is in use.

A compact and collapsible cane includes a handle, a tip, and at least two collapsible cane segments joining the handle to the tip. In some aspects, the cane segments are configurable in an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration, where, in the folded configuration, a flat or nesting surface of one of the cane segments abuts a corresponding flat or nesting surface of an adjacent cane segment. In various examples, the collapsible cane includes a hinge with two parallel pivot axes between the two collapsible cane segments. In some examples, the cane includes a connector system with a male connector and a female connector connected by a shock cord between the two collapsible cane segments.

A locking mechanism is adapted for a foldable pole including a pole body and an elastic drawstring disposed therein, and the pole body being composed of a plurality of pole sections foldably connected with each other through the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a connector and a connecting sleeve. The connecting sleeve is disposed on one end of adjacent two ends of two pole sections and the connector is disposed on another end of adjacent two ends of two pole sections. The connecting sleeve has a through hole for receiving the connector. An elastic buckle for locking the connector is disposed on the connecting sleeve. One end of the elastic buckle passes through the connecting sleeve and is inserted into the clamping groove of the connector. The locking sleeve is pressable against the elastic buckle so as to lock or unlock the connecting sleeve with the connector.

A dual ergonomic walking cane system that is easy and comfortable to use employs an anterior and a posterior cane connected by at least one releasable coupling for use in one hand or following separation allowing the use of one cane in each hand with an optional ball grip on the anterior cane. A guide on one cane consists of a pair of spaced apart guide members extending from one cane toward the other cane for receiving the shaft of the other cane when inserted between them and then held in place by gravity, by an alignment coupling or by magnets. When handles located on each cane are moved apart the canes can be easily disengaged enabling the anterior cane to be quickly removed from the guide while the canes are at or close to horizontal alignment.