Our Story

My name is Art Greene. I have been a structural packaging designer for over 40 years. At the time I developed the Abletripod, I was in the business of making models and prototypes for industry. I invented the Abletripod for my father who, when visiting our home in 1998, leaned his cane against the wall and as his cane fell over he fell when trying to pick it up. Fortunately, he did not get hurt but it left a question for me - how would he keep his cane from ending up on the floor when not in use but be conveniently self-standing so he could grab it.

Dad was in and out of in-patient rehab after being treated for congestive heart failure for many years. I started this journey to make life better for him and everyone else who needs to use a cane. After exploring products available at the time, it seemed no one was seeing this as an issue. There were small base quad canes and some tripod canes but none small and lightweight that made sense. These types of canes are cumbersome and heavy. They do not fit well on stairs and can trip you if you’re not careful. People who use these types of canes tend to use them incorrectly.

Since I introduced the Abletripod there have been several attempts to simulate what I created. Quad tips, Sure Foot, Super Big Foot, mini tripod tips etc. do not compare. These types of replacement tips do not perform the same way. They do not flex as you walk and the amount of surface area in contact with the ground is small compared to the Abletripod's 11 square inches of surface area that contacts the ground through each step. The Abletripod enables your cane to stand on carpeting. "Why stand for a cane that won't stand for you?" became the motto for the AbleTripod® cane. The Hurrycane uses the premise of the ankle as the rotating single axis. This give the user a false expectation and these canes do not stand well on most surfaces that are not flat. Also the Hurrycane has 3 round rubber feet each about 1 square inch that contacts the ground. These become loose after time and fall off.

Another unique property of the Abletripod is the ability to stand the cane up if it should fall. Just place you foot on the upright pod and tip the cane back into your hand.

My approach to this solution came from nature. I was always in awe of birds like egrets and flamingos that stand on one foot supporting large bodies. I thought of how I could fashion a replacement cane tip that could emulate that sturdiness. I also thought about how to make the base flexible to simulate a sneaker that stays in contact with the ground as you walk. I experimented with different materials and decided that a semi hard rubber made sense. Car tires grip the road and are very durable. I began prototyping different designs and while my dad was in rehab. I was able to bring him samples trying them out under supervision. His physical therapist gave me insights to functionality. One of the major attributes of the Abletripod is that the Abletripod base is rigid to the shaft. Only the tips of the pods flex. This allows the Abletripod to roll through each step. When I came up with the final design of the Abletripod his physical therapist said “I can’t believe no one ever thought of this before”. I felt like I had achieved the ultimate goal. Through my business connections I was able to tool and produce the Abletripod.

I introduced the Abletripod to Physical Therapists at their local and national conferences. The Abletripod was well received and continues to be used as an alternative to bulky quad canes for patients at most major university hospitals throughout the US. I was very excited that the Abletripod received mention in one of the physical therapy textbook discussions on mobility: "Physical Rehabilitation - Evidence-Based Examination, Evaluation, and Intervention" by Michelle H. Cameron, PT, OCS, MD and Linda Monroe, MPT, OCS Published Copyright 2007 by Saunders-Elsevier.

The Abletripod was also featured on the cover of CP magazine showing them being used on forearm crutches. A gait study was performed at Johns Hopkins showing that when the Abletripod is used on poles, individuals showed improved ambulation, foot alignment, and upright posture.

The aesthetically pleasing triangular shape naturally conforms to your foot. The low profile is unlikely to interfere with your foot. The specifically weighted Abletripod promotes a normal gait.

Sizes are available to fit all cane types. Simply remove the rubber tip from your cane. Measure the diameter of the cane shaft and order that size (Hint – A penny measures ¾”. Just compare the end of your cane's shaft to a penny. If the shaft of your cane is smaller than a penny, order 5/8”. If the shaft of your cane is larger than a penny, measure using a ruler. We also have 7/8” and 1 inch available. Always measure the cane shaft, not the tip you are replacing. Call customer service at 1-888-988-2263. We are always there to help you with you purchase and to answer your questions.