Telescopic spring-loaded walking stick for training

Abstract

The invention relates to a walking stick (1), comprising an outer tube (2) and an inner tube (3) with tube ends engaged in each other, a tube sleeve bushing (8), an elongated elastic element (9) which is tensioned in its pulling direction when the tube ends are pushed into each other, whereby a respective end portion (9a, 9b) of the elastic element is folded double over the end edge (2') of the outer tube (2) and anchored in the tube sleeve bushing (8).It is characteristic that the pipe sleeve bushing (8) comprises a yoke-shaped clamp (12) having a neck part (14) and an external thread (15) on which a cap nut (16) is supported, a pair of legs (24, 24') projecting axially from the neck part (14) which terminate in radially directed flange edge portions (25, 25') which form axial stops for the pipe sleeve bushing (8) against the end edge (2') of the outer pipe (2), and that strip grooves (28, 28') are defined in which a respective end portion (9a, 9b) of the elastic element is accommodated, whereby a first sliding guide (4) between the pipe ends occurs through interaction between a radially directed circular segment-shaped free jacket surface (27, 27), the hose flange edge portions (25, 25') and the inner pipe (3) outer side (3a), and a second sliding guide occurs between the end portions (9a, 9b) of the elastic element received in the belt grooves (28, 28') and the outer side (3a) of the inner tube (3).

Description

The present invention relates to a telescopically spring-loaded walking stick for training according to the preamble of claim 1.BackgroundTelescopically resilient walking poles have long been known and are used in training by so-called Nordic walking. Such a walking pole generally comprises an outer tube and an inner tube whose tube ends are telescopically displaceable in each other (one in the other) under the influence of a sliding guide operating between the parts. An elongated elastic element usually in the form of a band such as a spring is arranged between the two telescopically meeting tube ends which allows the inner tube to, under a certain spring effect or shock-absorbing effect, slide inside the outer tube when the pole is pushed downwards against a surface. The elastic element runs over the tube end of the inner tube, whereby a respective end portion of the elastic element is double-folded over the end edge of the outer tube and the ends of the band are anchored in a tube sleeve bushing which in turn is attached to the tube end of the outer tube and which tube sleeve bushing simultaneously forms part of said sliding guide. The spring properties of the walking stick can be adapted to meet the user's wishes or needs by replacing the elastic element with alternatives with desirable elastic properties.A disadvantage of known walking poles is that the pipe sleeve bushing as a whole must be dismantled from the outer tube in order for the elastic element to be accessible for replacement. In known walking poles, the pipe sleeve bushing further accommodates an annular guide of felt or similar material cooperating with the outer surface of the inner tube, which is received in an annular shoulder or a groove-shaped radial depression in an inner surface of the pipe sleeve bushing. The need to accommodate said felt guide inside the pipe sleeve bushing in order to achieve the required sliding control means not only that the outer dimensions of the pipe sleeve bushing become extensive but also that the outer diameter of the outer tube in meters, in which the pipe sleeve bushing is attached, becomes significant. As a whole, this means that known walking poles do not give a desirably elegant impression but rather are perceived as bulky and clumsy. Examples of walking sticks with said sliding guides are known, for example, from SE 535914 C2 and SE 540 476 C2.SummaryAn object of the present invention is thus to provide a walking stick with improved sliding control. Another object is to provide a walking stick which as a whole has a simple and cost-effective structural design and where the walking stick can be given a slimmer and thus more elegant design by reducing the size of both the telescoping tubes and the tube sleeve bushing. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a walking stick which is easy to dismantle and which makes it easier for a user to replace the elastic element in the walking stick.These objects of the invention are solved by a walking stick of the type specified in patent claim 1. Further advantages and features of the invention are apparent from the subclaims.Brief description of the drawingsThe invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a person practicing Nordic walking with a walking stick according to the present invention,Fig. 2a shows a longitudinal sectional view of a pipe sleeve bushing included in a walking stick according to the invention,Fig. 2b shows a cross-section through a pipe sleeve bushing viewed along the line lib - 1 Ib in Fig. 2a,Fig. 2c shows a cross-section through a pipe sleeve bushing viewed along the line lic - lic in Fig. 2b,Fig. 2d shows a cross-section through the pipe sleeve bushing viewed along the line Ild - Ild in Fig. 2b,Fig. 3a-3e shows in a number of steps the disassembly and assembly of a pipe sleeve bushing for accessing and replacing a band-shaped elastic element included in the walking stick according to the invention.Detailed descriptionIn Fig. 1 a person is shown who, when practicing so-called Nordic walking, uses a pair of telescoping walking poles according to the present invention, generally designated 1. Each walking pole 1 in the pair comprises an upper outer tube 2 and a lower inner tube 3 with opposing tube ends that are slidably received in each other (see Fig. 2a). 8 denotes a tube sleeve bushing with which the inner tube 3 is slidably mounted to the outer tube 2 via a sliding guide.As can be seen from Fig. 2a, the pipe sleeve bushing 8 is applied to an outer side 2a (outer shell surface) of the pipe end of the outer pipe 2 and attached by gluing or similar fastening means and with which pipe sleeve bushing 8 the upper pipe end of the inner pipe 3 is slidably mounted to the outer pipe 2. Between the pipe ends of the outer pipe 2 and the inner pipe 3, respectively, an elongated band-shaped elastic element 9 in the form of a spring is connected so that the elastic element is tensioned in its pulling direction when the pipe ends are pushed into each other. The elastic element 9 runs through the loop 6 in an end plug 7 which is attached to the pipe end of the inner pipe 3. A respective end portion 9a, 9b of the elastic element 9 is double-folded over the free lower end edge 2' of the outer tube 2 and is anchored in the pipe sleeve bushing 8 in a manner that will be described in more detail below.In accordance with the invention, the pipe sleeve bushing 8 comprises two parts that can be joined by screwing together, which comprise a first part in the form of a generally designated 12, yoke-shaped clamp which, along a central axis, has on one end side a neck part 14 which surrounds the outside 2a of the lower pipe end of the outer tube 2. A second part in the form of a generally designated 16 and rotationally symmetrically designed cap nut along a central axis, which is supported on an external thread 15 on the clamp 12. A stop flange 17 extending radially from the clamp 12 limits how far into the clamp 12 the cap nut 16 can be screwed. The cap nut 16 is provided on one end with an internal thread 15' corresponding to said external thread 15 and on its other end with a hollow cylindrical section 18. Said hollow cylindrical section 18 terminates in a diameter-reduced collar 19 through which the inner tube 3 runs. It should be understood that the clamp 12 and the cap nut 16 are mutually designed in such a way that the inner shell defined by the hollow cylindrical section 18 of the cap nut 16, after screwing on, substantially surrounds without play an outer shell defined by the neck part 14 and in addition the outer shell of a pair of legs 24, 24' projecting axially from the neck part 14 on a second end side of the clamp 12.With reference also to Fig. 2b, 2c and 2d, the pair of legs 24, 24' that project axially from the neck part 14 terminate in diametrically opposed circular segment-shaped flange edge portions 25, 25' at the ends. Said flange edge portions 25, 25' each have a flange edge directed radially inwards towards the outer side 3a (outer jacket surface) of the inner tube 3, the shoulder 26, 26' of which serves as an axial stop for the pipe sleeve bushing 8 against the free end edge 2' of the outer tube 2 and the inner circular segment-shaped free jacket surface 27, 27' of which faces the inner tube 3 forms a first sliding guide 4 by interacting with the outer side 3a of the inner tube 3. The elastic element 9 has a respective end portion 9a, 9b which, as described above, are double-folded over the free end edge 2' of the outer tube 2, which end portions 9a, 9b are arranged in open sections in the form of diametrically opposed band channels 28, 28' which, viewed along the circumference of the clamp, are delimited between said circular segment-shaped flange edge portions 25, 25' of the clamp 12 and which end portions 9a, 9b of the elastic element 9 are retained in place by interaction between the clamp 12 and the cap nut 16 in a manner that will be explained in more detail below.As best seen in Fig. 2d, a second slide guide 5 is formed by interaction between the part of the elastic element 9 which extends from the loop 6 in the pipe end of the inner tube 3 and further to the said belt groove 28, 28' on diametrically opposite sides of the pipe end of the inner tube 3 along the length of the annular space defined between the outer tube 2 and the inner tube 3. It should be understood here that the first slide guide 4 and the second slide guide 5 occurring are distributed in pairs on diametrically opposite sides of the pipe end of the outer tube 2, which contributes to the desired symmetry of the slide guide.The pairs of legs 24, 24' projecting axially from the neck portion 14 are designed as diametrically opposed T-shaped tongues which, viewed along the circumference of the clamp 12, define undercut sections 30, 30' between them for receiving anchoring bodies. The respective end portions 9a, 9b of the elastic element 9 are each provided with an anchoring body 31, 31' which can be fitted into the spaces defined by said undercut sections 30, 30' and which, when the cap nut 16 is unscrewed, can be fitted to engage behind the abutments formed by the T-shaped tongues. The cap nut 16 is designed to form a closure element that locks the anchoring bodies 31, 31' in said undercut sections 30, 30' when the cap nut 16 is screwed onto the clamp 12. As best seen in Fig. 2d and Fig. 3b, the outer surface 2a of the outer tube 2 forms a bottom surface of the undercut sections 30, 30' in the clamp 12. The anchoring bodies 31, 31' are designed as curved, essentially flat locking plates with a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, and whose concave inner surface has an inner radius corresponding to the outer surface 2a of the outer tube 2.In a preferred embodiment, the anchoring bodies 31, 31' comprise locking plates of metal which can be pinched into a respective end of the elastic element 9 and which are designed to engage behind ledges in the undercut sections 30, 30'. When the cap nut 16 is screwed on, the anchoring bodies 31, 31' are enclosed and secured in the undercut sections 30, 30' by the action of the hollow cylindrical section 18 of the cap nut 16.Fig. 3a-3e shows in a number of steps the disassembly and assembly of the pipe sleeve bushing 8 for access and replacement of the band-shaped elastic element 9 included in the walking stick 1 according to the invention. Fig. 3a shows how the cap nut 16 is unscrewed from the clamp 12 and in Fig. 3b how the anchoring bodies 31, 31' are exposed from the undercut sections 30, 30' by pushing the cap nut 16 away from the clamp 12 along the inner tube 3. In Fig. 3c, the elastic element 9 has been released for replacement by pulling the inner tube 3 out of the outer tube 2. Figs. 3d and 3e show how the pipe sleeve bushing 8 and thus the walking stick 1 are assembled together in the reverse manner.

Claims

1. Telescopically resilient walking stick (1), comprising an outer tube (2) and an inner tube (3) with tube ends engaged in each other, a tube sleeve bushing (8) which is attached to the outside (2a) of the tube end of the outer tube (2) and with which tube sleeve bushing the inner tube (3) is slidably mounted to the outer tube, an elongated elastic element (9) which is connected to the tube ends of the outer tube (2) and the inner tube (3) respectively in such a way that the elastic element is tensioned in its pulling direction when the tube ends are pushed into each other, whereby a respective end portion (9a, 9b) of the elastic element is folded double over the end edge (2') of the outer tube (2) and anchored in the tube sleeve bushing (8), characterised in that the tube sleeve bushing (8) comprises a yoke-shaped clamp (12) having a neck part (14) surrounding the outer tube (2) pipe end and an external thread (15) on which a cap nut (16) is supported, a pair of legs (24, 24') projecting axially from the neck part (14) which, viewed along a circumference of the end edge (2') of the outer pipe (2), terminate in flange edge portions (25, 25') directed radially towards the inner pipe (3) which form axial stops for the pipe sleeve bushing (8) against the end edge (2') of the outer pipe (2), and that open sections in the form of strip channels (28, 28') are defined along the circumference between said flange edge portions (25, 25') in which strip channels a respective end portion (9a, 9b) of the elastic element is accommodated, whereby a first sliding guide (4) between the pipe ends occurs through interaction between a radially directed circular segment-shaped free surface (27, 27) of the flange edge portions (25, 25') and the outer surface (3a) of the inner tube (3), and a second sliding guide occurs between the end portions (9a, 9b) of the elastic element received in the belt grooves (28, 28') and the outer surface (3a) of the inner tube (3).

2. Walking stick according to claim 1, wherein the first sliding guide (4) and the second sliding guide (5) occurring are distributed in pairs on diametrically opposite sides of the tube end of the outer tube (2).

3. Walking stick according to any one of claims 1 - 2, wherein a respective end portion (9a, 9b) of the elongated elastic element (9) is double-folded over the free end edge (2') of the outer tube (2), and which end portions are located in the band grooves (28, 28') and are retained in place in the tube sleeve bushing (8) by interaction between the clamp (12) and the cap nut (16).

4. Walking stick according to any one of claims 1 - 3, wherein the pair of legs (24, 24') axially projecting from the neck part (14) are designed as diametrically opposed T-shaped tongues which, viewed along the circumference of the clamp (12), define spaces in the form of undercut sections (30, 30') for anchoring bodies, and that the respective end portions (9a, 9b) of the elastic element (9) are provided with anchoring bodies (31, 31') which can be fitted into said spaces when the cap nut (16) is unscrewed, in which the screwed-on cap nut forms a closing element which locks the anchoring bodies in said spaces.

5. Walking stick according to claim 4, wherein the outer surface (2a) of the outer tube (2) forms a bottom surface of the spaces of the undercut sections (30, 30') in the clamp (12) and that the anchoring bodies (31, 31') are designed as curved flat locking plates with a concave outer surface and a convex inner surface corresponding to the outer surface (2a) of the outer tube (2).

6. Walking stick according to any one of claims 1 - 5, wherein the anchoring bodies (31, 31') comprise locking plates of metal which are clamped at a respective end (9a, 9b) of the elastic element 9.

7. Walking stick according to any one of claims 3 - 6, wherein the cap nut (16) is provided with an internal thread (15') at one end side and at its other end a hollow cylindrical section (18) whose inner shell, when the cap nut is screwed on, positively interacts with the anchoring bodies (31, 31') in the clamp (12).

8. Walking stick according to any one of claims 1 - 7, the cap nut (16) at one end is provided with a diameter-reduced collar (19) through which the inner tube (3) runs.

9. Walking stick according to any one of claims 1 - 8, wherein the pipe sleeve bushing (8) is applied to the outside (2a) of the pipe end of the outer pipe (2) and secured by gluing or similar fastening means.