Was it the First Quad Cane Ever Made?

In August the Society was given a wooden Quad Cane made by Vernon Gibby circa the late 1960s or early 70s. Vernon made it for his wife Marjorie’s sister Mae (Witherel) Ball. Mae’s granddaughter, Carole (Lyons) Mess  brought the cane to the Gibby House to donate to the AHS collection. Carole commented on how useful it was for Mae Ball and we wondered if Vernon’s quad cane was the first one ever made! Googling revealed a patent issued in 1978. Does anyone else know when the first quad cane was produced commercially?