Ski pole handle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a ski pole handle comprising a body (10) having at its upper part a wrist strap (40) and having a hollow housing opening into the lower part of the body (10) shaped to receive a shaft of a pole and defining a longitudinal axis Z1 of said handle, said body (10) being extended laterally by a protective shell (20) in the form of an arch connected to the upper and lower parts to define with said body (10) a hollow space (30) for the passage of the phalanges of a gloved hand, characterized in that said protective shell (20) has a continuous flat, domed or semi-cylindrical external sliding surface (25).

Description

Title of the invention: Ski pole handle

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of ski poles. A ski pole usually consists of a tube ending in a hard, resistant tip, often made of steel and sometimes equipped with teeth or spikes to provide resistance even on icy snow. The tube is generally hollow for reasons of lightness, and is made of aluminum, light alloy, fiberglass, carbon fiber, or even bamboo. It is equipped with a basket, a small plastic disc located between the tube and the tip, and a handle providing the interface with the skier.

[0002] The handle is generally molded from hard plastic, or sometimes from plastic with cork for a good grip, even with bare hands. The handle is equipped with a wrist strap designed to hold the pole in the skier's hand and also to increase propulsion. Ski pole handles were originally quite simple and completely symmetrical. Today, they are ergonomic and conform well to the shape of the hand, so that the pole doesn't slip out, even with thick gloves or mittens. State of the art

[0003] In the prior art, US patent US4343490 is known, describing a hand guard for a ski pole comprising an enclosure element made of rigid, highly impact-resistant material and having means defining an access opening thereto, and dimensioned to enclose the skier's hand. A handle is disposed inside the enclosure element, preferably at the level of the access opening, and is accessible through the access opening. The handle has a central bore aligned with an opening through the enclosure element, which opening and bore receive a ski pole.

[0004] US patent 5288106 describes a safety device for protecting a person's thumb and fingers while holding a ski pole grip. The device comprises a grip adapted for a person's hand; and a protective shell having a first lateral protective portion, a second lateral protective portion, a front protective portion, and fastening portions. The shell partially surrounds the grip, with the first lateral protective portion positioned on the thumb area of ​​the grip, i.e., the area of ​​the grip where the thumb of the hand holding the grip is located; and the second lateral protective portion positioned on the knuckle area of ​​the grip—that is, the area of ​​the grip where the knuckles of the fingers of the hand holding the grip are located. The front protective portion extends between the lateral protective portions.The protective case also protects fingers and knuckles from direct impacts during a . falls, protects against cuts to gloves and hands and also helps prevent frostbite of fingers and thumb by acting as a windbreak.

[0005] Prior art solutions are not suitable for certain forms of skiing where the skier makes turns in a very leaning position where the hand touches the snow, as in the case of turns where the skier is very leaned over, in slalom skiing, monoskiing, or skwal™ carving. In these configurations, it is necessary both to protect the back of the hand, usually covered by a glove, and to create an additional gliding surface allowing for smooth and balanced turns.

[0006] To overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention relates to a ski pole handle comprising a body fitted at its upper part with a wrist strap and having a hollow recess opening into the lower part of the body shaped to receive a pole shaft and defining a longitudinal axis ZI of said handle, said body being extended laterally by a protective shell in the shape of an arch connected to the upper and lower parts to define with said body a hollow space for the passage of the phalanges of a gloved hand, characterized in that said protective shell has a continuous flat, convex, or semi-cylindrical sliding outer surface. The shell is preferably tapered to prevent digging into the snow.

[0007] Advantageously, said outer sliding surface deviates to a tangential plane PG parallel to said longitudinal axis ZI of said body and perpendicular to the plane of symmetry passing through said body and said protective shell.

[0008] Preferably, said outer sliding surface has an area between 70 cm2 and 150 cm2.

[0009] Advantageously, said outer sliding surface deviates by 15 millimeters at most from a reference plane PG, whose vertical axis PGz is parallel to said axis ZI of the body and the other axis PGY is perpendicular to the plane of symmetry PS defined by the axis ZI of the body and the middle of the hull.

[0010] According to one variant, said flat outer sliding surface or the tangent plane of said semi-cylindrical surface, curved or semi-tubular outer sliding surface has a longitudinal axis forming an angle between 0° and 10° with respect to said longitudinal axis ZI.

[0011] According to one variant, said external surface of planar sliding or the tangent plane of said semi-cylindrical surface, external surface of curved or semi-tubular sliding has a longitudinal axis parallel to said longitudinal axis ZI.

[0012] According to an alternative, said flat outer sliding surface or the tangent plane of said semi-cylindrical surface, curved or semi- tubular presents a longitudinal axis forming an angle of less than 10° with said longitudinal axis Zl.

[0013] According to another advantageous embodiment, said body in the area oriented towards said hollow space between 5 and 7 notches for the positioning of the fingers.

[0014] According to a first embodiment, said body and said protective shell form a single piece without assembly.

[0015] According to another embodiment, said protective shell forms a molded part having attachment means on the upper and lower parts of a body constituted by a second molded part.

[0016] Detailed description of a non-limiting example of an embodiment of the invention

[0017] The present invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, concerning a non-limiting example of an embodiment illustrated by the accompanying drawings where:

[0018] Figure [1] represents a perspective view of a handle according to the invention

[0019] Figure 2 shows a front view of a handle according to the invention

[0020] Figure 3 shows a side view of a handle according to the invention

[0021] Figure 4 shows a bottom view of a handle according to the invention

[0022] Figure 5 shows a top view of a handle according to the invention

[0023] Figure 6 shows a rear view of a handle according to the invention

[0024] [Fig.7] represents a side view of a handle according to the invention.

[0025] General principle of the invention

[0026] The invention relates to a handle for a ski pole, generally terminating in a tip comprising a ferrule and optionally a washer, and having a third support. This handle has a body (10) with a hollow space (16) for receiving the upper end of the pole. The axis of the cylindrical hollow space (16) defines the longitudinal direction Zl of the handle (10). The attachment can be achieved by a screw (17) passing through the upper front end of the handle (10), or by any other means of attachment such as overmolding, bonding, or transverse anchoring means.

[0027] The body (10) is extended laterally by a shell (20) connected to the upper and lower parts of the body (10) by arched connecting segments (21, 23) respectively. This shell (20) defines with the body (10) a hollow space (30) for the passage of the fingers of a gloved hand.

[0028] This shell (20) is distinguished, in the present invention, by the fact that it has between the connecting segments (21, 23) a median zone (21) whose outer surface (25) is flat or semi-tubular, generated by a straight generatrix displaced along a straight or curved line in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Zl of the body (10).

[0029] The handle according to the invention differs from prior art handles in that it consists of a body extending from the shaft, configured to allow a grip by the gloved hand, with a palmar contact area. This body is extended by a protective shell (20) in the shape of an arch extending on the side opposite the palmar contact area, to define a hollow space (30) for the passage of the phalanges of the gloved hand. This protective shell (20) has a continuous flat or convex outer surface of approximately one hundred square centimeters, typically between 70 cm² and 150 cm², to allow a third sliding support of the fist-side gliding surface on the snow during steep turns. The outer surface or gliding surface refers to the surface of the shell located on the side opposite the hollow space (30). Description of the hull's gliding surface

[0030] This flat or slightly convex outer surface forms a sliding surface that comes into contact with the snow when the skier or skwaleur leans his body in a and his hand rests on the snow to form a third sliding support, in addition to the two feet.

[0031] The grip's sliding surface has a flat surface in the area intended for contact with the snow. This flat surface may have one or more ribs (bumps or concave grooves) in the direction of the glide (along the shaft of the pole) to dampen any lateral slippage of the hand. This flat surface may be slightly convex in the longitudinal direction and / or the lateral plane to facilitate construction and demolding, as well as for aesthetic reasons.

[0032] The gliding surface (25) is parallel to the pole. A slight angle, between 1 and 10°, can be provided to raise the washer at the opposite end of the ski pole, thereby facilitating the lifting of the grip tip. An angle raising the grip backward may be advantageous. An angle plunging the grip forward would be counterproductive.

[0033] The gliding surface (25) is flat or slightly curved or convex. It is defined with respect to a reference plane PG, whose vertical axis PGz is parallel to the axis ZI of the body (10) and the other axis PGY is perpendicular to the plane of symmetry PS defined by the axis ZI of the body (10) and the middle of the hull (20).

[0034] The sliding surface (25) deviates slightly from this reference plane PG, by 15 millimeters at most, and preferably by 5 millimeters at most over a surface of at least 70 cm2.

[0035] The shell (20) then fulfills a known function of protecting the hand and the back of the glove, as well as a new function of transiently extending the contact surfaces with the snow to contribute to the fluidity of the turn and to balance.

[0036] For this, it is necessary that this sliding surface (25) be continuous so as not to catch the snow, especially when it is icy, and defining a flat surface parallel to the longitudinal axis ZI and perpendicular to a plane passing through the body (10) and the hull (20), or a gutter-shaped surface, whose tangent plane is parallel to the longitudinal axis ZI and perpendicular to a plane passing through the body (10) and the hull (20).

[0037] This sliding surface (25) has a width of approximately 7.3 mm (between 6 and 10 mm) and a length of approximately 15 mm (between 12 and 20 mm).

[0038] The sliding surface (25) may have two rails (27, 28) formed by inserts of a hard material that protect the surface of the shell (20) against abrasion. The shell provides both additional sliding support during steep turns and protection for the fingers and hands during impacts on hard snow.

[0039] Detailed description of the body (10)

[0040] The body (10) forms the handle intended to be encircled by the skier's gloved hand. It has, alternatively, five and preferably six notches (11 to 16) designed to accommodate the four phalanges of the hand. The number of notches is greater than the number of phalanges to allow for adjustment of hand positioning, enabling greater pressure on the pole by placing the four phalanges in the four lower notches (12 to 15), or a more flexible and precise grip by placing the four phalanges in the four upper notches (11 to 14).

[0041] Another option is to provide a smooth body (10) to allow free positioning of the hand, depending on the length of the wrist strap fixed on the handle, for example by insertion into a slot (18). Gripping the handle

[0042] On a classic stick the handle has 4 finger notches formed by undulations of the handle for better grip, the thumb surrounding the handle for holding.

[0043] The handle according to a preferred embodiment of the invention does not offer 4 but 6 finger notches (11 to 16).

[0044] The 4 upper notches (11 to 14) allow classic use of the pole and in case of contact in sliding on very hard snow, its "spatula" rise is sufficient to avoid planting in the snow and blocking the hand which would create imbalance.

[0045] When in contact with soft snow, the skier can adapt the grip by shifting the fingers one notch on the handle, the fingers then occupying the notches (12 to 15), the pole then offers an increased sliding plane thanks to its longer front spatula section.

[0046] When in contact with soft or irregular snow: by shifting the fingers another notch, the fingers then occupying notches (13 to 16), the pole offers an increased sliding plane thanks to its even longer spatulated front part.

[0047] For skiers who want more precise finger placement, the handle may not have notches so that the user can move and tilt their hand as they see fit on a smooth handle with a simple grip to promote holding in the hand.

[0048] In all cases, the grip on the handle allows the elbow to be lowered almost to contact with the shaft of the pole, in line with the handle. Manufacturing method:

[0049] The guard can be produced (molded) as a single piece (handle (10) and hoop (20) with the sliding surface) or separately. In the latter case, a fastening system will be provided for attaching the hoop with the sliding surface to the pole and to the handle head.

Claims

Demands

1. Ski pole handle comprising a body (10) having at its upper part a wrist strap (40) and having a hollow housing opening into the lower part of the body (10) shaped to receive a shaft of a pole and defining a longitudinal axis ZI of said body (10), said body (10) being extended laterally by a protective shell (20) in the form of an arch connected to the upper and lower parts to define with said body (10) a hollow space (30) for the passage of the phalanges of a gloved hand, characterized in that said protective shell (20) has a continuous flat, convex or semi-cylindrical external sliding surface (25).

2. Ski pole handle according to claim 1 characterized in that said outer sliding surface (25) deviates to a tangential plane PG parallel to said longitudinal axis ZI of said body (10) and perpendicular to the plane of symmetry passing through said body (10) and said protective shell (20)

3. Ski pole handle according to claim 1 characterized in that said outer sliding surface (25) has an area between 70 cm2 and 150 cm2.

4. Ski pole handle according to claim 3 characterized in that said outer gliding surface (25) deviates by 15 millimeters at most from a reference plane PG, whose vertical axis PGz is parallel to said axis ZI of the body (10) and the other axis PGY is perpendicular to the plane of symmetry PS defined by the axis ZI of the body (10) and the middle of the shell (20).

5. Ski pole handle according to claim 1 characterized in that said flat outer gliding surface (25) or the tangent plane of said semi-cylindrical outer gliding surface convex or semi-tubular (25) has a longitudinal axis forming an angle between 0° and 10° with respect to said longitudinal axis Zl.

6. Ski pole handle according to claim 2 characterized in that said planar outer gliding surface (25) or the tangent plane of said semi-cylindrical outer gliding surface convex or semi-tubular (25) has a longitudinal axis parallel to said longitudinal axis Zl.

7. Ski pole handle according to claim 1 characterized in that said flat outer sliding surface (25) or the tangent plane of said semi-cylindrical, convex or semi-tubular outer sliding surface (25) has a longitudinal axis forming an angle between 1° and 10° with respect to said longitudinal axis Zl, to raise the washer provided at the opposite end of the ski pole when said sliding surface (25) is in contact with the sliding surface,

8. Ski pole handle according to claim 1 characterized in that said planar outer gliding surface (25) or the tangent plane of said semi-cylindrical outer gliding surface convex or semi-tubular (25) has a longitudinal axis forming an angle of less than 10° with said longitudinal axis Zl.

9. Ski pole handle according to claim 1 characterized in that said body (10) in the area oriented towards said hollow space between 5 and 7 notches (11 to 15) for finger positioning.

10. Ski pole handle according to claim 1 characterized in that said body (10) and said protective shell (20) form a single piece without assembly.

11. Ski pole handle according to claim 1 characterized in that said protective shell (20) forms a molded part having attachment means on the upper and lower part of a body (10) constituted by a second molded part.

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