FR2646329A1 - Tip for white walking sticks with illuminated and sound-emitting castors - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention consists of a walking stick 1 equipped, at its end, with a rotary spindle 2 where three tubes 3 with wheels or castors at the end 4 are fastened. The walking stick is also equipped with a sound signal whose principle is as follows: The flexible metal rod 5 touching the obstacle pivots at the border of the relay 6, the contacts of the relay close to link up via two electrical wires 7 with 2 x 1.5 V batteries 8 and a buzzer, and a sound signal is produced which stops as soon as the rod resumes its position. This walking stick makes it possible, in particular, to avoid obstacles and facilitates the climbing of stairs and pavements. It is equipped with an illumination system and an immobiliser for one or more castors.

Description

The present invention relates to devices which adapt to the white canes of the blind; can if this cane is of great help to a blind person in his hesitant walk, it is only at the price of a succession of repeated gestures, sometimes tiring since he is forced to grope with his cane around him to feel the obstacles.

The devices of the present invention therefore provide a better perception of the environment for the blind or visually impaired just as they allow him to be better seen by others.

The present invention therefore comprises 5 devices (which can be used at the same time or separately) listed below: 1 - Castor system (with 1, 2, or 3 casters) (fig. I, 2,3,7,5 / 7) 2 - Hoe blocking system (Fig. 3 bis) 3 - Wheel folding system 4 - Sound system Fig. 4, 6/7 and electrical diagram 5 - Lighting system # 1 - Roller system adapted to the end of the rod, composed
an axis to allow the rotation of the 3 tubes (if system with 3
casters) which facilitates for example the ascent or descent
stairs.

For the 2-wheel system, these are positioned
of pant and atwte of your cane.

With the one wheel system, an ebt spring fits between your rod
and the wheel, to allow its blocking. The necessary equipment
to the making of the system is not of a very precise matter
(plastic, iron, etc.). A length of
17 cm between the axle and the wheel. Except, this precision, the dimension
casters don't matter, it's left to people's tastes
and especially for the use that we design in beech.

Preferably, the wheels will be lined with rubber (to make
the quieter movement).

2 - WHEEL LOCKING SYSTEM
The system we offer, with the casters is of course
reliable, since a blocking device is installed when
the user wants to get up, and uses it to lean on.

The weight of the user causes the casters, which are
fixed on a spring so that the rod can touch the ground and
allow elevation movement.

(by releasing the effont, the rollers regain their position
initial).

The device adapted on the 3-valley system is made
using a spring and slide fixed on each side.

In this case, the rollers will not be positioned horizontally
from the ground like blocking one or two casters, but that's the
rod which by its vertical position and the weight of the user,
will touch the ground.

 So at any time, there is the possibility of blocking the rollers.

3 - The folding system of the casters, of course concerns the system
with 3 casters.

At the axis the 3 tubes bend and can be oriented
in the direction of the cane.

It is advisable to make space-saving casters for
facilitate its folding.

4 - PROVIDING A SOUND SYSTEM ON THE CANE
Goal: Avertin the visually impaired of an obstacle (stair step, holes,
etc ...).

The conslste principle:
Detection is falted by a thin metal rod or fiberglass
fixed on the moving part of the contacts of a relay. This support
contact itself being fixed on the lower part of the rod.

This contact causes the commissioning of a multivibrator which
associated with another low frequency multivibrator gives a sound
module.

Its operation is enabled by the 5 to 12 V supply, which
circuit is made with a CD 4001.

The commissioning of the circuit by the contact on the power supply
causes the 1st multivibrator to operate at 6 HZ
approximately, this modulated signal is amplified by a PNP transition
type ZN 2702 and applied to a miniature loudspeaker or
earphone for ear, very practical and discreet.

5-ALSO PROVIDING A LIGHT SYSTEM ON THE CANE
Its purpose is to allow to report the displacement of a blind person at night
to those around him.

Its principle is an automatic or manual ignition fitted with a bulb in a
Red light.

1) AUTOMATIC IGNITION (flg 1)
It is based on the variation of resistance of a photoelectric cell
type LDR 03.

Its operating principle: in the dark the resistance of this
cell remains very large while in the presence of light it decreases
strongly.

In bright light: The resistance of the cell is low, hence a
base potential of transistor BC 108 and close to that of its emitter;
which blocks this transistor. BC 108 and BC 107 transistors are mounted
in Schmitt trigger from where the emitter collector space of the BC 108 is
behaves like an open circuit and positively polarizes the base of the
BC 107. The BC 107 transistor is closed circuit compatible
brings the base potential of transistor 2N 2222 to a negative value.

The 2N 2222 and BD 135 transistors form a Darlington circuit. In
in this case the relay is at rest.

In the dark the resistance of the cell is great, the transistor
BC 108 is saturated and the BC 107 transiston is blocked, the base of the transistor
2N 2222 is positively biased and the transistor BC 135 conducts this
who coaches you and picks up your temple.

21 MANUAL IGNITION
It is a switch in the lamp circuit.

Claims (8)

 1) Device for facilitating the movement of the blind, in that it comprises a rod (1) on its end an axis of rotation (2) or fixes one or more rollers (4). 2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the axis of rotation is fixed 3 tubes (3) of 1200 each provided with a wheel or caster. 3) Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the distance between the axis (2) and the wheel (4) is between 15 and 20 cm. 4) Device according to claims 1, 2 and 3 characterized in that the rod is equipped with an audible signal.  5) Device according to claim 4 characterized in that a metal rod  flexible (5) coming into contact with the obstacle pivots at the edge of the relay (6), 6) Device according to claim 5 characterized in that the relay contacts are closed in connection by two wires (7) electric with batteries (8) 2 X 1.5 V and a buzzer, an audible signal occurs stopping as soon as the rod returns to its place. 7) Device according to any one of claims I d 6 characterized in that it comprises either ur. automatic ignition based on a variation in resistance of a photocell, ie manual ignition, switch in the lamp circuit.  8) Device according to claims I to 7 characterized in that it comforts  a block using a spring and a slide - or wheels.