FIELD OF THE INVENTION

&null;0001&null; The present invention relates generally to carrying implements for carrying a variety of objects. More particularly, the present invention relates to a carrying implement, such as a purse, that is attachable to a walking aid, such as the elongate shaft of a cane.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

&null;0002&null; Injuries or the aging process often restrict the ability of an individual to walk without assistance. Several ambulatory aids, such as canes, crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs, exist to enable an injured or elderly individual to more easily attend to various tasks or move about from place to place. Ambulatory aids, however, require the use of one or more hands to operate the aid, thus restricting the ability of the individual to carry other items. Although it would be possible to carry items in a bag equipped with a shoulder or back strap or a carrying handle, such a bag may inconvenience the user. For example, an injury or other impairment may prevent the user from carrying such a bag on a shoulder or the back. Further, a shoulder strap, back strap, or a carrying handle may dislodge or move about while the individual is walking and entangle or otherwise interfere with the individual's use of the ambulatory aid.

&null;0003&null; Accordingly, it would be useful to provide a carrying implement for transporting a variety of objects that an individual easily could use in conjunction with an ambulatory aid. Such a carrying implement could attach to the ambulatory aid in a manner that would prevent the carrying implement from moving about and interfering with walking. To provide versatility, it would further be desirable if the carrying implement were easily detachable from the ambulatory aide such that it could be used alone.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

&null;0004&null; The present invention is directed to a carrying implement attachable to an elongate member, such as the shaft of a cane or other elongate member of an ambulatory aid. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the carrying implement comprises a base and a sidewall extending upwardly from the base to define an interior compartment. The sidewall comprises a back portion having a central vertical axis. The implement also comprises an attachment member that is disposed at an attachment point generally along the central vertical axis of the back portion and configured to detachably couple with the elongate member. When the attachment member is coupled with the elongate member, the sidewall is generally adjacent the elongate member proximate the central vertical axis of the back portion, and the central vertical axis is generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the elongate portion. Also, relative movement of the attachment point is substantially fixed.

&null;0005&null; In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a purse coupleable with a cane is provided. The purse comprises a bag portion defining an interior compartment and an attachment assembly coupled to the bag portion and configured to couple with an elongate portion of the cane. The attachment assembly comprises a first strap and a hook-and-loop-type fastener. The first strap is coupled to the bag portion at an attachment point. When the attachment assembly is coupled with the elongate portion of the cane, the hook portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener engages with the loop portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener. Also, relative movement of the attachment point is substantially fixed.

&null;0006&null; In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a bag coupleable with a cane is provided. The bag comprises a bag portion that defines an interior enclosure. The bag portion comprises a sidewall having a central vertical axis. The bag further comprises an attachment member coupled to the sidewall generally along the central vertical axis. The attachment member is configured to attach to an elongate portion of the cane. When the attachment member is attached to the cane, the central vertical axis of the sidewall is generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the elongate portion, and movement of the bag portion relative to the elongate portion is substantially inhibited.

&null;0007&null; The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

&null;0008&null; For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

&null;0009&null; FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a carrying implement attached to the shaft of a cane, in accordance with the invention;

&null;0010&null; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a carrying implement attached to the shaft of a cane, in accordance with the invention;

&null;0011&null; FIG. 3 is a side view of the carrying implement of FIG. 1 attached to the shaft of the cane, in accordance with the invention;

&null;0012&null; FIG. 4 is a back view of the carrying implement of FIG. 1, without the attachment straps;

&null;0013&null; FIG. 5 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a set of attachment straps, in accordance with the invention;

&null;0014&null; FIG. 6 is a plan view of the other sides of the set of attachment straps of FIG. 5; and

&null;0015&null; FIGS. 7A, B, and C are a back view of the carrying implement of FIG. 1, illustrating the detachable engagement of two sets of the attachment straps of FIGS. 5 and 6 with the shaft of a cane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

&null;0016&null; The present invention provides a carrying implement that is coupleable with an elongate member of an ambulatory device. Although the following description is directed toward specific, exemplary embodiments of the invention that comprise a purse removably or fixedly attached to the shaft of a walking cane, it should be understood that carrying implements of a variety of types, shapes, and sizes are envisioned. Such carrying implements may be attached to an elongate member of various types of ambulatory assistance devices, such as a pole, walker, crutch, wheelchair, etc., without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

&null;0017&null; Turning now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a carrying implement 10 attached to an elongate member 12 of an ambulatory aid 14 is illustrated. In FIG. 1, the carrying implement 10 is configured as a conventional purse having a sidewall 16 extending generally upwardly from a base portion 18 to define an open enclosure for carrying one or more objects. The purse 10 includes a flap portion 20 for closing the enclosure in a relatively secure manner.

&null;0018&null; The purse 10 in FIG. 1 has a generally trapezoidal shape, although any of a variety of sizes and shapes is possible, such as the generally rectangular shape of the purse 22 illustrated in FIG. 2. The purse 10 may be made of a variety of materials, such as leather, cloth, synthetic materials, etc., and may include various ornamental elements. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the sidewall 16 and base portion 18 are relatively inflexible or rigid, thus imparting a fixed shape to the purse 10. However, in other embodiments, the sidewall 16 and base portion 18 may be relatively flexible. Further, the base portion 18 may transition seamlessly with the sidewall 16, particularly in embodiments in which the carrying implement 10 has a pouch or sack-like shape.

&null;0019&null; Referring briefly to FIG. 2, a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a carrying implement is illustrated. In FIG. 2, the carrying implement is configured as a generally rectangular purse 22 having a sidewall 24 extending generally upwardly from a base portion 26 to define an interior compartment for holding a variety of objects. An aperture (not visible) providing accessibility to the interior compartment may be opened and secured closed via a flap portion 28. In the embodiment illustrated, the flap portion 28 includes an ornamental element 30 to provide decorative appeal to the purse 22.

&null;0020&null; Returning now to FIG. 1, when the purse 10 is attached to the cane 14, a central vertical axis 32 of the purse 10 is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis 34 of the shaft 12 of the cane 14, such that the purse 10 is laterally centered and balanced on the shaft 12. This lateral centering of the purse 10 relative to the cane shaft 12 assists in stabilizing the purse 10, thus substantially inhibiting radial movement of the purse 10 about the longitudinal axis 34 of the shaft 12.

&null;0021&null; Stabilization of the purse 10 in both the radial direction and the vertical direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 12 is further assisted by an attachment assembly 36, which is configured to removably or fixedly attach the purse 10 to the shaft 12 of the cane 14. Referring now to FIG. 3, a side view of the purse 10 attached to the cane shaft 12 via the attachment assembly 36 is illustrated. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the attachment assembly 36 includes two attachment members 38 and 40 that secure the purse to the shaft 12. When the purse 10 is attached, a back portion 42 of the sidewall 16 is generally adjacent the shaft 12, and the central vertical axis 32 is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis 34 of the shaft 12. Further, envisioning a plane that passes through a central axis 44 of the purse 10, it can be seen in FIG. 3 that the purse 10 is positioned in a plane that is generally parallel to and offset by an amount 48 from a plane that passes through the longitudinal axis 34 of the shaft 12. The offset amount 48 may vary depending on the relative proportions of the purse 10 and the elongate member 12.

&null;0022&null; Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the relationship between an exemplary attachment assembly 36 and the purse 10 will now be described. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the attachment assembly 36 includes the two attachment members 38 and 40, each of which include a purse strap 52, a cane strap 54, and a hook-and-loop-type fastener 56. FIG. 4 is a back view of the back portion 42 of the purse 10 without the attachment assembly 36 attached. FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the attachment member 38, including the purse strap 52, the cane strap 54, and portions of the hook-and-loop-type fastener 56. FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the attachment member 38, showing another portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener 56 disposed on the purse strap 52.

&null;0023&null; Referring first to FIG. 4, the central vertical axis 32 extends through the back portion 42 of the sidewall 16 of the purse 10 as shown. In the embodiment illustrated, the central vertical axis 32 is generally located at the midpoint between opposing edges 58 and 60 of the back portion 42. Two purse straps 52 may be attached to the back portion 42 at attachment points or regions 62 and 64, which are generally aligned along the central vertical axis 32. In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, two attachment members 38 and 40 are shown. However, it should be understood that only a single attachment member or more than two attachment members can be used to secure the purse 10 to the cane 14.

&null;0024&null; In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, each of the attachment members 38 and 40 comprises a mating set of the elongate straps 52 and 54 and the hook-and-loop-type fastener 56 (e.g., VELCRO&null;) that allows the purse 10 to e detachably coupled to the cane 12. The purse elongate strap 52 may be fixedly or removably attached to the back portion 42 of the purse 10 at one of the attachment regions 62 or 64 along the central vertical axis 32. In the embodiment shown, the purse elongate strap 52 is attached at the region 66 (see FIG. 6), such that substantial portions of the ends 68 and 70 of the strap 52 are sufficiently free to wrap about the shaft 12 of the cane 14 and securely engage with the cane strap 54 in a manner that will be described below.

&null;0025&null; In an exemplary embodiment, the purse elongate strap 52 is attached to the region 62 or 64 of the back portion 42 of the purse 10 by sewing the strap 52 at the region 66. In other embodiments, the purse elongate strap 52 may be attached to the purse 10 by other types of fixed fasteners, such as rivets or grommets, or detachable-type fasteners, such as snap closures, hook and eye closures, magnetic closures, etc. A detachable-type fastener allows the purse strap 52 to be removed from the purse 10, thus allowing the user to carry the purse 10 in a more conventional manner.

&null;0026&null; Either the hook portion or loop portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener 56 is disposed on a surface 72 of the purse strap 52, and the other of the hook portion or loop portion of the fastener 56 is disposed on a surface 74 of the cane strap 54, such that the strap 54 can engage the strap 56 in a secure manner when the surfaces 72 and 74 are juxtaposed. The opposing surface 76 of the purse strap 52 includes another portion of the hook-and-loop-type fastener 56. This portion is intended to engage with the fastener portion on the surface 72 of the purse strap 52 when the purse strap 52 is wrapped about the cane shaft 12. For example, if the hook portion of the fastener 56 is disposed on the surface 72, then a loop portion of the fastener 56 is disposed on the surface 76, as well as on the surface 74 of the cane strap 54. The hook and loop portions of the fastener 56 may be disposed on the surfaces 72, 74, and 76 in any suitable manner, such as by sewing, adhering, etc.

&null;0027&null; In the embodiment illustrated, the surface 78 of the cane strap 54 is bare, such that it is suitable for application of an adhesive to adhere the surface 78 of strap 54 to the surface of the cane shaft 12. In other embodiments, an adhesive may be pre-applied to the surface 78 and a protective backing paper placed over the adhesive until the strap 54 is used. Alternatively, the cane strap 54 may be configured as a loop of elastic fabric that is sufficiently tight to grasp the cane shaft 12 in a secure manner. Still further, the cane strap 54 may be fixedly attached to the cane shaft 12, such as by one or more rivets.

&null;0028&null; The straps 52 and 54 may be made of a variety of materials, such as leather, fabric, elastic straps, other synthetic materials, etc. Further, although the fastener 56 has been described as a hook-and-loop-type fastener, it should be understood that other types of detachable fasteners are contemplated, such as snap closures, hook and eye closures, magnetic closures, etc., any of which would be suitable for attaching the purse 10 to the cane 14 in a secure manner. For example, in one embodiment, the attachment assembly 36 could include a plate having an eye or other aperture for receiving a mating hook or other mating member. Such a plate could be attached to the purse 10 along the central vertical axis 32. The attachment assembly 36 further would include the mating hook or other mating member that would be adapted to attach to the cane shaft 12. For example, the mating member could be attached to a strap (e.g., the cane strap 54) wrapped about and adhered to the cane shaft 12. In one embodiment, the cane strap 54 can be a cover or wrap designed to envelop the shaft 12 or the entire cane 14, and the mating member can be attached to such a cover or wrap. Alternatively, the mating member can be attached directly to the cane shaft 12. As yet another example, the attachment member 38 can be an integral attachment assembly having a first portion that attaches to the purse 10 and a second portion that attaches to the cane shaft 12.

&null;0029&null; In another embodiment, the fastener 56 can be a fastener that fixedly attaches the purse 10 to the cane 14 in a secure manner. For example, the fastener 56 can be one or more rivets that fixedly couple the purse strap 52 to the cane shaft 12. Alternatively, if the cane strap 54 is configured as a cover or wrap (e.g., a leather cover) that envelops all or part of the cane 12, the fastener 56 can be a rivet or thread that fixedly attaches the purse 10 to the cover. Numerous other types and configurations of an attachment assembly 36 for both fixed and removable attachment of the purse to the cane can readily be envisioned by one of skill in the appropriate art.

&null;0030&null; Referring now to FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C, an exemplary attachment of the purse 10 to the cane shaft 12 via the exemplary detachable attachment assembly 36 illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 is demonstrated. In FIG. 7A, two cane straps 54 have been wrapped about and secured to the cane shaft 12 in a manner (e.g., adhering) that restricts the movement of the straps 54 in the longitudinal direction along the axis 34. The purse 10 then is positioned adjacent the cane shaft 12 proximate the central vertical axis 32 of the back sidewall portion 42. In FIG. 7B, the ends 70 of the purse straps 52 then are wrapped about the straps 54 such that the hook portion and loop portion of the fastener 56 on the surfaces 72 and 74 of the straps 52 and 54, respectively, engage. Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the ends 70 of straps 52 are the first ends to be wrapped, such that the hook or loop portion of the fastener 56 on the surface 76 of the straps 52 can engage with the other of the hook or loop portion of the fastener 56 on the surface 72 of the straps 52. This engagement is illustrated in FIG. 7C, which shows the ends 68 of the straps 52 wrapped about the cane shaft 12 and, thus, disposed atop the ends 70. When engaged in this manner, movement of the purse 10 relative to the cane shaft 12 is substantially inhibited.

&null;0031&null; Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.