ICE PICK WITH IMPROVED GRIP AND ASSOCIATED MANUFACTURING PROCESS

Description

FIELD OF APPLICATION

[0001] The present invention relates to an ice axe with an improved handle and the related manufacturing method.PRIOR ART

[0002] In particular, ice axes are extremely rigid and lightweight instruments that climbers need as instruments to assist with climbing rocky walls and slopes that are covered with snow and / or ice.

[0003] For this reason, ice axes are usually made of metal materials and comprise a hollow handle, made of lightweight metal material, such as aluminum, and a high-resistance pick, typically made of steel, so as to support shocks against ice and / or rocks without being damaged.

[0004] The handle has a tubular shape and is hollow in order to lighten the overall weight of the ice axe.

[0005] However, the cavity of the handle of the ice axe is a receptacle for snow and / or debris that would make said ice axe less easy to use, as it would increase its weight and the debris itself, falling back, could create inconvenience for the climber. Furthermore, the entry of debris could compromise the connection between the blade and the handle since the known solutions provide for the blade to be inserted into the cavity of the handle. Furthermore, the snow, when melting, could affect the parts made of ferrous material not protected against rust.

[0006] For this reason, it is known to apply caps, usually made of plastics material, which are riveted or locked by interlocking or snapping onto the lower open end of the handle, opposite the pick.

[0007] However, the use of these caps has the drawback of increasing the overall costs of manufacturing and assembling of the ice axe.

[0008] Furthermore, over time, said caps tend to be damaged and also to detach from the seat, and thus they are inevitably lost by the user.

[0009] In order to avoid an increase in production costs, there are also known solutions for ice axes that are completely devoid of caps, but which have the drawback of filling with snow, ice and / or debris during use, as described above.

[0010] Document US2005144731A1 discloses an ice axe comprising a handle provided with a grip and an attachment portion, a pick opposite said grip and integral with said attachment portion of the handle, the handle being tubular and having a side wall delimiting a cavity at least on the side of the grip, wherein the grip comprises at least one closing flap, which is at least partially folded inside said cavity so as to at least partially occlude said cavity on the side of the grip.DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The need to solve the drawbacks and limitations mentioned with reference to the prior art is therefore felt.

[0012] Such a need is met by an ice axe according to claim 1 and by a method for manufacturing an ice axe according to claim 15.DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred, non-limiting embodiments thereof, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ice axe according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2-3 are perspective views, from different angles, of the grip of the ice axe of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view from below of the grip of the ice axe of Fig. 1; Fig. 5-7 are perspective views, in cross section, from different angles, of the grip of the ice axe of Fig. 1.

[0014] Elements or parts of elements common to the embodiments described hereinafter will be indicated with the same numerical references.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] With reference to the aforesaid figures, the reference numeral 4 globally indicates an overall schematic view of an ice axe according to the present invention.

[0016] The ice axe 4 comprises a handle 8 provided with a grip 12 and an attachment portion 16.

[0017] Preferably, the grip 12 and the attachment portion 16 are in one piece with each other.

[0018] Preferably, the handle 8 is made of metal.

[0019] The ice axe 4 also comprises a pick 20 opposite said grip 12 and integral with said attachment portion 16 of the handle 8.

[0020] The handle is generally tubular and has a side wall 24 that delimits a cavity 28 at least on the side of the grip 12.

[0021] In accordance with an embodiment, the cavity 28 extends to the attachment portion 16 of the handle 8.

[0022] Advantageously, the grip 12 comprises at least one closing flap 32, in one piece with the side wall 24 of the handle 8 and at least partially folded inside said cavity 28 so as to at least partially occlude said cavity 28 on the side of the grip 12. This occlusion is needed to prevent ice, snow and / or debris from entering the cavity 28.

[0023] According to a possible embodiment, the grip extends along a main extension axis X-X.

[0024] For example, the at least one closing flap 32 extends along a folding direction B-B which is substantially perpendicular to said main extension axis X-X.

[0025] According to a possible embodiment, the at least one closing flap 32 extends along a folding direction B-B which forms an acute angle with the main extension axis X-X, on the side of said grip 12.

[0026] The at least one closing flap 32 comprises a base 36, integral with the side wall 24, and a tip 40 cantilevered with respect to the base 36, on the opposite side to the side wall 24.

[0027] Preferably, the base 36 is tapered with respect to the tip 40.

[0028] According to a possible embodiment, the closing flap 32 has an overall rectangular shape, with beveled corners 44 and with circular fittings 48 between the base 36 and the tip 40.

[0029] Preferably, the grip 12 has windows 52 that are counter-shaped with respect to the closing flaps 32: in fact, as better described below, the closing flaps 32 are obtained by shearing, laser or CNC cutting of the side wall and folding inside the cavity 28. Therefore, the windows 52 are holes passing through the side wall 24 of the handle 8, preferably of the grip 12.

[0030] According to an embodiment, the grip 12 comprises two closing flaps 32, in one piece with the side wall 24 of the handle 8, at least partially folded inside said cavity 28 so as to at least partially occlude said cavity 28.

[0031] Preferably, said closing flaps 32 are arranged in diametrically opposite positions with respect to said main extension axis X-X.

[0032] According to an embodiment, said closing flaps 32 are symmetrical to each other.

[0033] According to an embodiment, said closing flaps 32 are inclined towards each other.

[0034] According to an embodiment, said closing flaps 32 are parallel to each other and perpendicular with respect to said main extension axis X-X of the grip 12.

[0035] According to an embodiment, said closing flaps 32 are at least partially offset from each other with respect to the main extension axis X-X.

[0036] According to an embodiment, said closing flaps 32 have respective tips 40 which are counter-shaped to each other so as to overall occlude said cavity on the side of the grip 12.

[0037] Preferably, said at least one closing flap 32 is obtained by partial shearing of the side wall 24 of the handle 8, as better described below.

[0038] The method for manufacturing an ice axe according to the present invention will now be described.

[0039] In particular, the steps of arranging a handle 8 provided with the grip 12 and the attachment portion 16 are carried out. The pick 20 opposite to said grip 12 and integral with said attachment portion 16 of the handle 8 is also arranged. The handle is tubular and has the side wall 24 delimiting the cavity 28 at least on the side of the grip 12.

[0040] Thus, in order to obtain the closure of the handle 8, the step of shearing or cutting at least one closing flap 32 from the side wall 24 of the handle 8 and of folding it at least partially inside said cavity 28 so as to at least partially occlude said cavity 28 on the side of the grip 12 is carried out.

[0041] Preferably, the shearing and folding of the closing flaps 32 take place in the same processing step.

[0042] In this way, the closing flap 32 is attached in one piece to the side wall by means of the base 36 and occludes the cavity 28 both by means of the base 36 and by means of the tip 40.

[0043] The handle 8 will therefore be provided with windows 52 that are counter-shaped with respect to the closing flaps 32 obtained by shearing the side wall 24.

[0044] As may be appreciated from that which has been described, the present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0045] In particular, by making the closing flaps as one piece, the lower end of the handle may be advantageously closed without causing a significant increase in the costs of the ice axe.

[0046] Furthermore, the closing flaps may not detach from the handle and therefore there is no risk of the closing cap detaching, as is the case with solutions of the prior art. In fact, the thickness of the base of the flaps is equal to that of the side wall of the handle, which is therefore sturdy and capable of withstanding stresses over time.

[0047] Furthermore, the production costs are certainly low because there is no need to separately manufacture and subsequently apply the closing cap, as in the solutions of the prior art.

[0048] Furthermore, the ice axe does not involve any increase in weight, compared to a solution without a cap, since the flaps are an integral part of the handle and do not even require the addition of rivets or similar expedient fixing means subject to wear and possible detachment.

[0049] A person skilled in the art, for the purpose of satisfying contingent and specific needs, may make numerous modifications and variations to the solutions described above.

[0050] The scope of protection of the invention is defined by the following claims.List of references

[0051] 4:ice axe 8:handle 12:grip 16:attachment portion 20:pick 24:side wall 28:cavity 32:closing flap 36:base 40:tip 44:beveled corners 48:circular fitting 52:window X-X:main extension axis B-B:folding direction

Claims

1. Ice axe (4) comprising: - a handle (8) provided with a grip (12) and an attachment portion (16), - a pick (20) opposite said grip (12) and integral with said attachment portion (16) of the handle (8), - the handle (8) being tubular and having a side wall (24) delimiting a cavity (28) at least on the side of the grip (12), characterised in that the grip (12) comprises at least one closing flap (32), which is in one piece with the side wall (24) of the handle (8) and at least partially folded inside said cavity (28) so as to at least partially occlude said cavity (28) on the side of the grip (12).

2. Ice axe (4) according to claim 1, wherein the cavity (28) extends to the attachment portion (16) of the handle (8).

3. Ice axe (4) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the grip (12) extends along a main extension axis (X-X) and wherein the at least one closing flap (32) extends along a folding direction (B-B) which is substantially perpendicular to said main extension axis (X-X).

4. Ice axe (4) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the grip (12) extends along a main extension axis (X-X) and wherein the at least one closing flap (32) extends along a folding direction (B-B) which forms an acute angle with the main extension axis (X-X), on the side of said grip (12).

5. Ice axe (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one closing flap (32) comprises a base (36), integral with the side wall (24) and a tip (40) which is cantilevered with respect to the base (36), on the opposite side to the side wall (24).

6. Ice axe (4) according to claim 5, wherein the base (36) is tapered with respect to the tip (40).

7. Ice axe (4) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the closing flap (32) has an overall rectangular shape, with bevelled corners (44) and with circular fittings (48) between the base (36) and the tip (40).

8. Ice axe (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the grip (12) has windows (52) which are counter-shaped with respect to the closing flaps (32).

9. Ice axe (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the grip (12) comprises two closing flaps (32), in one piece with the side wall (24) of the handle (8), at least partially folded inside said cavity (28) so as to at least partially occlude said cavity (28), said closing flaps (32) being arranged in diametrically opposite positions with respect to said main extension axis (X-X).

10. Ice axe (4) according to claim 9, wherein said closing flaps (32) are symmetrical to and / or inclined towards each other.

11. Ice axe (4) according to claim 10, wherein said closing flaps (32) are parallel to each other and perpendicular to said main extension axis (X-X) of the grip (12).

12. Ice axe (4) according to claim 9, 10, or 11, wherein said closing flaps (32) are at least partially offset from each other with respect to the main extension axis (X-X).

13. Ice axe (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said closing flaps (32) have respective tips (40) counter-shaped to each other so as to overall occlude said cavity (28) on the side of the grip (12).

14. Ice axe (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the handle (8) is made of metal and wherein said at least one closing flap (32) is obtained by means of partial shearing of the side wall (24) of the handle (8).

15. Method for manufacturing an ice axe (4) comprising the steps of: - arranging a handle (8) provided with a grip (12) and an attachment portion (16), - arranging a pick (40) opposite to said grip (12) and integral with said attachment portion (16) of the handle (8), - the handle (8) being tubular and having a side wall (24) delimiting a cavity (28) at least on the side of the grip (12), - shearing or cutting at least one closing flap (32) from the side wall (24) of the handle (8) and at least partially folding it inside said cavity (28) so as to at least partially occlude said cavity (28), on the side of the grip (12).