Pole fastening device
The pole fastening device integrates three cylindrical components for efficient snap engagement, reducing parts and improving durability, addressing the complexity and durability issues of existing devices.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2025138111
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-10-25
- Filing Date
- 2025-08-21
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-13
AI Technical Summary
Existing pole fastening devices for walking and ski poles require multiple components, leading to increased complexity and durability issues, particularly with flexible sections.
A pole fastening device comprising a split cylindrical first and second connecting portions connected by a bridging portion, all integrally molded, with inward protrusions to facilitate snap engagement and reduce parts, ensuring high durability.
The device achieves a reduction in the number of parts and enhances durability by allowing easy attachment and detachment while preventing loss.
Smart Images
Figure 2026077568000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a binding tool for poles used when binding a plurality of poles such as walking poles and ski stocks.
Background Art
[0002] For example, as disclosed in Citation 1 and Citation 2, such a binding tool for poles (in Citation 1, the connecting tool 16 for walking poles; in Citation 2, a pair of pole clips; the same shall apply hereinafter) includes one member (the first connecting portion 20, one pole clip) connected to one pole (the first walking pole 12, one pole) and another member (the second connecting portion 22, the other pole clip) connected to the other pole (the second walking pole 14, the other pole), which are separate.
[0003] In such a binding tool for poles (the connecting tool 16 for walking poles, a pair of pole clips), by connecting one member (the first connecting portion 20, one pole clip) and the other member (the second connecting portion 22, the other pole clip), one pole (the first walking pole 12, one pole) and the other pole (the second walking pole 14, the other pole) are bound together.
[0004] Also, by releasing the connection between one member (the first connecting portion 20, one pole clip) and the other member (the second connecting portion 22, the other pole clip), the binding between one pole (the first walking pole 12, one pole) and the other pole (the second walking pole 14, the other pole) is released. Even in this released state, since the binding tool for poles (the connecting tool 16 for walking poles, a pair of pole clips) does not become separate from the poles (the first walking pole 12 and the second walking pole 14, one and the other poles), its loss can be suppressed.
[0005] Next, as disclosed in, for example, Reference 3, such a pole fastener (ski pole fastener) exists in which one member connected to one pole (one pole holding part 4) and the other member connected to the other pole (the other pole holding part 4) are integrally molded via a flexible portion (connecting band 5).
[0006] In such a pole fastening device (ski pole fastening device), one pole and the other pole are fastened together by connecting one component (one pole holding part 4) to one pole and the other component (the other pole holding part 4) to the other pole.
[0007] Furthermore, by, for example, removing one component (one pole holder 4) from one pole and bending the flexible portion (connecting band 5), the connection between one pole and the other pole is released. Even in this released state, the pole fastener (ski pole fastener) remains attached to one pole, thus preventing its loss. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]
[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2024-049855 [Patent Document 2] Design Registration No. 1643678 Gazette [Patent Document 3] Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-005671 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]
[0009] However, the pole fastening devices (walking pole connector 16, pair of pole clips) in References 1 and 2 require a component (first connecting part 20, one pole clip) corresponding to one pole (first walking pole 12, one pole) and a component (second connecting part 22, the other pole clip) corresponding to the other pole (first walking pole 14, the other pole), resulting in a problem of an increased number of parts.
[0010] Furthermore, the pole fastening device (ski pole fastening device) described in Reference 3 required a flexible section (connecting band 5), and there was a problem with the low durability of this section (connecting band 5).
[0011] The objective of the present invention is to provide a pole fastening device that has a small number of parts and high durability. [Means for solving the problem]
[0012] To achieve the above objective, the invention of claim 1 is a pole fastening device comprising: a split cylindrical first connecting portion that can be connected to one pole by snap engagement; a split cylindrical second connecting portion that can be connected to the other pole by snap engagement; and a bridging portion that connects the first and second connecting portions, which are arranged parallel to each other with a gap between them, and can be connected to either the one pole or the other pole by snap engagement, all integrally molded, wherein the bridging portion shares an internal space with the first and second connecting portions.
[0013] The invention of claim 2 is as described in claim 1, wherein at both corners located at the boundary between the opening for attaching and detaching one pole in the first connecting portion, or the opening for attaching and detaching the other pole in the second connecting portion, and the opening for attaching and detaching one pole or the other pole in the bridging portion, protrusions are formed to project inward, thereby narrowing the width of the opening in that portion. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0014] [Figure 1] Front view of the fastener for walking poles. [Figure 2] Rear view of the fastener for walking poles. [Figure 3] Top view of the fastener for walking poles. [Figure 4] Bottom view of the fastener for walking poles. [Figure 5] Left side view of the fastener for walking poles. [Figure 6] Right side view of the fastener for walking poles. [Figure 7] Perspective view explaining the usage state of the fastener for walking poles that binds a pair of walking poles. [Figure 8] Perspective view explaining the non - usage state where the unused fastener for walking poles is attached to one walking pole. [Figure 9] Perspective view explaining the state change between the usage state and the non - usage state. [Figure 10] A figure showing another example, which is the front view of the fastener for walking poles. [Figure 11] A figure showing another example, which is the rear view of the fastener for walking poles. [Figure 12] A figure showing another example, which is the top view of the fastener for walking poles. [Figure 13] A figure showing another example, which is the bottom view of the fastener for walking poles. [Figure 14] A figure showing another example, which is the left side view of the fastener for walking poles. [Figure 15] A figure showing another example, which is the right side view of the fastener for walking poles. [Figure 16] A figure showing another example, which is the cross - sectional view of the fastener for walking poles. [Figure 17] A figure showing another example, which is the perspective view explaining the usage state of the fastener for walking poles that binds a pair of walking poles.
Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention
[0015] The following describes one embodiment of the present invention, which is applied to a fastening device for walking poles (walking aids) used as walking poles.
[0016] As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the fastening device for walking poles comprises a first connecting portion 1 which is a half-split cylindrical shape with a long groove-shaped opening 1a formed in a part of the circumferential direction, and a second connecting portion 2 which is also a half-split cylindrical shape with a long groove-shaped opening 2a formed in a part of the circumferential direction. The first connecting portion 1 and the second connecting portion 2 are parallel to each other with a gap between them.
[0017] The first connecting section 1 and the second connecting section 2 have their respective central axes L1 and L2 parallel, and are of the same length and have the same inner diameter in the direction of the central axes L1 and L2. The openings 1a and 2a of the first connecting section 1 and the second connecting section 2 are arranged so that they face 180 degrees opposite directions around the central axes L1 and L2, respectively.
[0018] The first connecting section 1 and the second connecting section 2 are connected via a bridging section 3 that is shaped like a half-split cylinder. The bridging section 3 has a long groove-shaped opening 3a formed in a part of its circumferential direction. The bridging section 3 shares its internal space with both the first connecting section 1 and the second connecting section 2.
[0019] Therefore, one end of the opening 3a of the bridge section 3 in the direction of the central axis L3 also serves as one of the cylindrical openings of the first connecting section 1. Furthermore, the other end of the opening 3a of the bridge section 3 in the direction of the central axis L3 also serves as one of the cylindrical openings of the second connecting section 2. Thus, the opening 1a of the first connecting section 1 also serves as one of the cylindrical openings of the bridge section 3, and the opening 2a of the second connecting section 2 also serves as the other cylindrical opening of the bridge section 3.
[0020] The bridging section 3 is positioned such that its central axis L3 intersects with the first connecting section 1 and the second connecting section 2, respectively, and the central axis L3 lies on the same virtual plane as the central axes L1 and L2 of the first connecting section 1 and the second connecting section 2. The bridging section 3 has the same inner diameter as the first connecting section 1 and the second connecting section 2, and its length in the direction of the central axes L1, L2, and L3 is greater than that of the first connecting section 1 and the second connecting section 2.
[0021] The first connecting section 1, the second connecting section 2, and the bridging section 3 are integrally molded from synthetic resin materials such as polyethylene resin or polycarbonate resin by injection molding or a 3D printer. The first connecting section 1, the second connecting section 2, and the bridging section 3 have a circumference larger than a semi-cylindrical length, for example, a circumference of about 2 / 3 to 4 / 5 of a cylinder, and due to the elasticity based on the properties of the aforementioned synthetic resin material, they can be attached to and detached from the corresponding walking pole WP (see Figures 7 to 9) by snap engagement via the corresponding openings 1a, 2a, and 3a.
[0022] As shown in Figure 7, if a pair of walking poles WP are not used, in other words, if a fastener for walking poles is used, the pair of walking poles WP are fastened together using the fastener for walking poles.
[0023] Specifically, the first connecting portion 1 is connected to one walking pole WP via an opening 1a by snap engagement, and the second connecting portion 2 is connected to the other walking pole WP via an opening 2a by snap engagement. Since the first connecting portion 1 and the second connecting portion 2 are connected via a bridge portion 3, the pair of walking poles WP are fastened together by a walking pole fastener.
[0024] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8, when using a pair of walking poles WP, in other words, when not using a walking pole fastener, the walking pole fastener should be attached to one of the walking poles WP for carrying.
[0025] In other words, the first connecting portion 1 and the second connecting portion 2 are detached from the corresponding walking pole WP via openings 1a and 2a, while the bridging portion 3 is connected to one of the walking poles WP via opening 3a by snap engagement. Since the bridging portion 3 is positioned in a direction in which the central axes L1, L2, and L3 of the first connecting portion 1 and the second connecting portion 2 intersect, the walking pole fastener attached to one of the walking poles WP protrudes only slightly from that walking pole WP and does not interfere with the user.
[0026] Here, cylindrical projections 1b are formed to protrude inward from both corners located at the boundary between the opening 1a of the first connecting section 1 and the opening 3a of the bridging section 3, thereby appropriately narrowing the width of the openings 1a and 3a in those sections.
[0027] Therefore, the projection 1b prevents, to a certain extent, the first connecting portion 1 and the bridging portion 3 from detaching from the connected walking pole WP at that portion. Furthermore, the projection 1b assists, by pivoting, in allowing the first connecting portion 1 and the bridging portion 3, i.e., the walking pole fastener, to rotate relative to the walking pole WP while remaining connected to the walking pole WP via that portion.
[0028] Therefore, as shown in Figure 9, the binding device for walking poles can be changed between a state of use (the state in which the first connecting part 1 shown in Figure 7 is attached to one walking pole WP) and a state of non-use (the state in which the bridging part 3 shown in Figure 8 is attached to one walking pole WP) simply by attaching and detaching the second connecting part 2 to the other walking pole WP, and by rotating it in place while it remains attached to one walking pole WP.
[0029] As described above, with the walking pole fastening device of this embodiment, the first connecting part 1, the second connecting part 2, and the bridging part 3 are integrally molded, thus reducing the number of parts. Furthermore, when the walking pole fastening device is not in use, it can be carried by connecting it to one walking pole WP via the bridging part 3, and it offers superior durability compared to, for example, a structure in which the bridging part 3 is bent for this purpose.
[0030] (Another example) The above embodiment can be modified, for example, as follows: ○ Change the shape of the fastening device for walking poles. For example, the fastening device for walking poles may be as shown in Figures 10 to 17. As shown in Figures 12 to 14, the projection 1b is formed in a tapered shape. The projection 1b has an inclined surface 1c that is inclined with respect to the central axis L3 so that the opening 1a widens in the direction of the opening. This inclined surface 1c makes it easy to snap-engage the first connecting part 1 with one of the walking poles WP through the opening 1a.
[0031] As shown in Figures 10 to 12, the bridge section 3 has a projection 3b that protrudes outward in the direction of the central axes L1 and L2. The projection 3b has an inclined surface 3c that is inclined with respect to the central axis L3. By pressing the thumb or the like against the projection 3b (specifically the inclined surface 3c) and pushing in the walking pole fastener, it becomes easy to snap the first connecting section 1 to one of the walking poles WP through the opening 1a.
[0032] As shown in Figures 13 and 16, a recess 3d is formed on the inside of the bridge section 3 in the portion corresponding to the protruding portion 3b. If the recess 3d is not present, the portion in question will be thicker due to the protruding portion 3b, increasing the likelihood of sink marks occurring. However, the recess 3d can suppress the occurrence of sink marks. Furthermore, markings may be made on the inside of the recess 3d. In this case, even if the markings are made on the inside of the walking pole fastener, damage to the walking pole WP can be suppressed.
[0033] As shown in Figures 12, 13, and 17, a hole 2b is formed in the second connecting portion 2. A strap 4 (gripping member) is attached to the hole 2b, and the hole 2b functions as an attachment point. By gripping and pulling the strap 4, the fastener for the walking pole can be easily removed from the walking pole WP.
[0034] Remove the protrusion 1b from the fastening device for walking poles.
[0035] ○ A projection similar to projection 1b is also formed at both corners located at the boundary between the opening 2a of the second connecting section 2 and the opening 3a of the bridging section 3.
[0036] To be implemented in a pole fastening device having three or more connecting parts, such as three, four, or five, or in other words, a pole fastening device for fastening three or more poles, such as three, four, or five.
[0037] To be implemented as a binding device for ski poles used as ski poles.
[0038] To be implemented as a fastening device for mountaineering poles, which are used as poles for climbing.
[0039] To be implemented as a binding device for trekking poles used as poles.
[0040] (Note) The technical concepts that can be understood from the above embodiments are described below. (1) The pole fastening device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the central axis of the first connecting portion, the central axis of the second connecting portion, and the central axis of the bridge junction portion are located on the same virtual plane.
[0041] (2) The fastening device for poles according to claim 1 or claim 2 or technical idea (1), wherein the bridging portion has a length in the direction of the central axis greater than the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0042] 1...First connecting section (a...opening, b...protrusion, c...inclined surface), 2...Second connecting section (a...opening, b...hole), 3...Bridge section (a...opening, b...protruding part, c...inclined surface, d...recess), 4...Strap. L1…Central axis of the first connection section, L2…Central axis of the second connection section, L3…Central axis of the bridge junction section, WP…Walking pole.
Claims
1. A pole fastening device comprising: a split cylindrical first connecting portion that can be connected to one pole by snap engagement; a split cylindrical second connecting portion that can be connected to the other pole by snap engagement; and a bridging portion that connects the first and second connecting portions, which are arranged parallel to each other at a distance from each other, and can be connected to one pole or the other pole by snap engagement, all integrally molded, wherein the bridging portion shares an internal space with the first and second connecting portions.
2. The pole fastening device according to claim 1, wherein at the first connecting portion, there is an opening for attaching and detaching one pole, or at the second connecting portion, there is an opening for attaching and detaching the other pole, and at the corners located at the boundary between the opening for attaching and detaching one pole or the other pole at the bridging portion, there are projections formed to protrude inward, thereby narrowing the width of the opening in those portions.