MOUNTAIN SPORTS POLE

Abstract

The present invention provides a mountain sports pole comprising a grip zone for gripping the mountain sports pole and a pole tip zone for planting on the ground, wherein the pole tip zone comprises at least a first tip portion (38) and a second tip portion (40), such that, depending on an angle in the forwards direction between the mountain sports pole and the ground on which the pole tip zone is planted during use, the first tip portion (38) or the second tip portion (40) or both tip portions (38, 40) come into contact with the ground.

Description

The present invention relates to a mountain sports pole comprising a grip zone for gripping the mountain sports pole and a pole tip zone for planting on the ground. The invention relates in particular to a touring ski pole.

Mountain sports poles are part of the equipment for hikers, mountain climbers, touring skiers, mountaineers or the like and, on the one hand, allow the arms' muscle power to provide assistance when moving up the mountain and, on the other hand, offer security and grip by keeping the body balanced when climbing up. The mountain sports pole is gripped by the user in a grip zone and planted with a pole tip zone on the ground, the pole tip zone usually comprising a metal tip in order to provide more slip-free grip on the mountain.

In order to provide suitable support for the body's weight, the mountain sports pole is generally planted approximately vertically. On a steep uphill or downhill slope, i.e. when moving on a mountain, the tip of the pole tip zone is no longer orthogonal to the ground but instead sometimes at quite an acute angle, such that, as a result of the user's supporting force, the downslope force may result in the pole tip zone slipping away from the ground and so endanger the user's safety, particularly on steep slopes or on slippery ground.

It is known, in order to solve this problem, to angle the tip portion of the mountain sports pole such that it no longer points in the pole axis direction, but instead at an oblique forwards angle. When the mountain sports pole is placed on a rising slope, the tip portion penetrates the ground at a distinctly steeper angle to the ground and so grips better.

The disadvantage of this solution is, however, that the higher gripping force when climbing is achieved at the cost of a greater risk of slippage of the pole tip zone when descending, since, on a downhill slope, the tip portion inclined in the forwards direction comes into contact with the ground at a still flatter angle than in the case of a mountain sports pole with a straight tip portion. On steeper downhill sections, the mountain sports pole must therefore occasionally be rotated by 180° about the pole axis direction so that the pole tip zone finds sufficient grip in the ground. This approach is, however, associated with the problem that the usually ergonomically shaped grip zone can then no longer be gripped safely or comfortably and a retaining loop in the grip zone can no longer be used. Moreover, rotating the poles entails an unwanted interruption in movement.

The above-stated problems are felt particularly acutely in touring skiing, where the user is often moving on icy ground or slippery rock, is moreover exposed to severe weather conditions and is wearing touring skis, such that the support provided by the mountain sports poles is particularly important.

Against this background, the object of the present invention is to provide a mountain sports pole, in particular a touring ski pole, which offers the user secure grip on difficult and slippery ground both when climbing and when descending a mountain.

To achieve this object, the invention provides a mountain sports pole comprising a grip zone for gripping the mountain sports pole and a pole tip zone for planting on the ground, wherein the pole tip zone comprises at least a first tip portion and a second tip portion, such that, depending on an angle in the forwards direction between the mountain sports pole and the ground on which the pole tip zone is planted during use, the first tip portion or the second tip portion or both tip portions come into contact with the ground.

When climbing, the angle in the forwards direction between the mountain sports pole and the ground is less than 90°, while when descending said angle becomes greater than 90°. If, according to the invention, depending on said angle in the forwards direction between the mountain sports pole and the ground, the first tip portion or the second tip portion or both tip portions come into contact with the ground, at least one of the two tip portions may always be arranged to provide secure grip for the mountain sports pole when climbing and a second of the tip portions may be arranged to provide secure grip for the mountain sports pole when descending. In this way, the mountain sports pole according to the invention may interact optimally with the ground both when climbing and when descending.

The mountain sports pole preferably defines a forwards direction, in particular by an ergonomic design of the grip zone and/or by the arrangement of a loop in the grip zone and/or by the design of a snow basket which may extend less far in the forwards direction than in the backwards direction. If the mountain sports pole has no particular features to determine a forwards direction, references to the forwards direction in the following description or in the claims should be interpreted to mean that the respective design of the pole tip zone is capable of determining a forwards direction of the mountain sports pole. This forwards direction may then be selected at will with regard to the remaining parts of the mountain sports pole.

The mountain sports pole furthermore defines a pole axis direction, which extends from the grip zone to the pole tip zone, a stick-shaped main portion of the mountain sports pole usually extending along the pole axis direction. However, mountain sports poles of a shape deviating from a straight stick shape should, according to the definition, also have a pole axis direction from the grip zone to the pole tip zone.

Reference is furthermore hereinafter made to a tip direction which defines any tip portion, wherein the respective tip portion tapers along its tip direction. If, for example, the tip portion is formed by opposing straight flanks which form an acute angle between themselves, the tip direction extends along the bisector of the angle between the flanks.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tip directions of the two tip portions point in different directions. While a variant of the invention is conceivable in which two separate tip portions with parallel tip directions are provided, orienting the tip directions in different directions does, however, make it possible for an angle between an active tip portion, i.e. one which is in contact with the ground, and the ground to assume a value suitable in each case for climbing and also for descending.

Testing by the inventor revealed that the support loads applied to the tip portions differ from one another when climbing and when descending. This is attributed to the fact that the sequence of motion and stance of the user differ during climbing and descending. Embodiments which have thus proved particularly advantageous are those in which the tip portions are asymmetrical to one another with regard to the pole axis direction, such that a first of the tip portions is specifically adapted for climbing, while a second of the tip portions is specifically adapted for descending.

An asymmetrical arrangement of the tip portions is achieved, for example, by the tip directions of both tip portions forming angles which differ in amount with the pole axis direction, or the tip direction of one tip portion extending parallel to or along the pole axis direction while the tip direction of the other tip portion extends at an angle to the pole axis direction. An alternative or additional possibility for achieving an asymmetrical arrangement of the tip portions is that the tips of the two tip portions (i.e. the frontmost zones of the tip portions at which the tip portions first come into contact with the ground) are offset relative to one another in the pole axis direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the tip direction of the first tip portion extends obliquely in the forwards direction and in the pole axis direction. The first tip portion is then particularly suitable for interacting with rising ground when climbing and penetrates into the ground at the steepest possible angle. With regard to the angle of the tip direction of the first tip portion relative to the pole axis direction, it has been found that this angle should be between roughly 25° and roughly 45°, since the tip portion is then particularly suitable for those slope gradients for which the additional grip by the pole tip zone according to the invention is particularly desired.

Independently of the first tip portion, the tip direction of the second tip portion may extend substantially in the pole axis direction. This provides satisfactory grip when descending and furthermore elevated stability of the pole tip zone thanks to the second tip portion arranged centrally on the pole axis direction. The second tip portion may, however, also comprise a tip direction which extends at an angle to the pole axis direction and, in so doing, preferably extends obliquely in a backwards direction and the pole axis direction in order to ensure the steepest possible contact angle with falling ground when descending.

An advantageous pole tip zone has also proved to be one in which the tip of the first tip portion reaches further in the pole axis direction than does the tip of the second tip portion. If the first tip portion is here arranged in the forwards direction in front of the second tip portion, this development may ensure that, when descending, both tip portions may be brought simultaneously into contact with the ground and thus slippage of the mountain sports pole when descending may be still better prevented.

The pole tip zone according to the invention may be made unobtrusive if, in a plane orthogonal to the pole axis direction, the outer dimensions of a main body of the mountain sports pole are larger than the maximum extent of the tip portions. The tip portions then do not protrude in a direction orthogonal to the pole axis direction beyond the outer contour of a main body of the mountain sports pole (in particular a connecting portion between the grip zone and pole tip zone), as a result of which any risk of injury is furthermore reduced.

A mountain sports pole of the present invention may be produced inexpensively if the tip portions are constructed as integral pointed projections on a tip body. In this manner, in particular a conventional mountain sports pole may be converted into a mountain sports pole according to the invention by using such a tip body. It is also feasible to insert the tip body into an opening at a longitudinal tip end of a main pole body, such that the tip body may preferably be formed of a material differing from that of the main body of the mountain sports pole.

The advantages of the present invention are particularly worthwhile when the mountain sports pole is used in winter sports applications and accordingly comprises a snow basket. This in particular applies to touring ski poles which are exposed to particular stresses in snow and ice and are in general thrust against slippery or wet ground. Testing on icy ground have demonstrated the reliable grip provided by the mountain sports poles according to the invention both when climbing and when descending.

To achieve the object of the invention, the present invention furthermore provides a tip body which comprises at least a first tip portion and a second tip portion, wherein the tip body comprises a mounting portion for mounting on a mountain sports pole, such that, in a mounted state of the tip body, depending on an angle in the forwards direction between the mountain sports pole and the ground on which the tip body is planted during use, the first tip portion or the second tip portion or both tip portions come into contact with the ground.

The tip body of the invention forms a pole tip zone of the mountain sports pole according to the invention described above and may be further developed by one or more of the features described above with reference to the pole tip zone in order to achieve the advantages and effects stated above for the features in question.

The invention is explained in greater detail below on the basis of a preferred exemplary embodiment and with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a ski pole according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a lower, tip end portion of the ski pole shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective representation of the end portion shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a tip body of the ski pole shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the tip body shown in FIG. 4.

A ski pole 10 shown in side view in FIG. 1 comprises a stick-shaped main body 12, a grip zone 14 arranged at the upper end of the main body 12, a basket zone 16 arranged at the lower end of the main body 12 and a pole tip zone 18 arranged at the bottommost end of the ski pole 10, which pole tip zone 18 is arranged to come into contact with ground U, in the present case a mountain slope inclined relative to a horizontal plane H. A pole axis direction S extends from the grip zone 14 to the pole tip zone 18 along a pole axis AS.

The grip zone 14 comprises a grip 20 with a grip loop 22. The ergonomic shape of the grip 20 and the position of the loop 22 define a forwards direction V of the ski pole 10, along which a user of the ski pole 10, who is gripping the ski pole 10 by the grip zone 14 in a normal use position, moves forwards, the forwards direction V being defined parallel to a horizontal plane H.

The main body 12 is formed of a light metal tube, the centre axis of which coincides with the pole axis direction S. The main body 12 may comprise a telescopic tube system so that the length of the sports pole 12 may be adjusted.

In the basket zone 16, a snow basket 24 is fastened to the main body 12. In the exemplary embodiment, the snow basket 24 is asymmetrical with regard to the main body 12, with a portion of the snow basket 24 located in the forwards direction V being smaller than a portion of the snow basket 24 located in a backwards direction opposite to the forwards direction V. In this manner, the snow basket 24 also defines the same forwards direction V as the grip zone 14.

The pole tip zone 18 of the ski pole 10 is hereinafter also explained in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a snow basket base member 26 manufactured from a plastics injection moulding, on which base member the snow basket 24 is formed in one piece and which comprises a first bore 28 extending along the pole axis direction S, into which a lower end 30 of the main body 12 is introduced, and comprises a second bore 32 extending along the pole axis direction S, into which a tip body 34 is introduced.

The tip body 34 shown individually in FIGS. 4 and 5 is cut from a sheet metal material and comprises a mounting portion 36, with which the tip body 34 is introduced into the second bore 32 of the snow basket main body 26, and a first tip portion 38 and a second tip portion 40. In the first tip portion 38, the tip body 34 tapers between two straight flanks 42a, 42b to form a first tip 42 (pointed edge). In the second tip portion 40, the tip body 34 tapers between two straight flanks 44a, 44b to form second tip 44 (pointed edge). A bisector between the flanks 42a, 42b of the first tip portion 38 defines a tip direction R1 of the first tip portion 38. Correspondingly, a bisector between the flanks 44a, 44b of the second tip portion 40 defines a tip direction R2 of the second tip portion 40.

As shown in FIG. 5, the tip directions R1, R2 of the two tip portions 38, 40 point in different directions. Furthermore, the two tip portions 38, 40 are asymmetrical with regard to the pole axis direction S. The tips 42, 44 of the two tip portions 38, 40 are offset relative to one another in the pole axis direction S, wherein the first tip 42 reaches further (lies lower) in the pole axis direction than does the second tip 44, i.e. the total length of the sports pole 10 in the pole axis direction S is defined by the first tip 42.

The tip direction R1 of the first tip portion 38 extends obliquely in the forwards direction V and in the pole axis direction S. In the exemplary embodiment, an angle W1 by which the tip direction R1 is inclined in the forwards direction relative to the pole axis direction S is here roughly 35°.

The tip direction R2 of the second tip portion 40 extends obliquely in the backwards direction R and in the pole axis direction S. An angle W2 between the tip direction R2 of the second tip portion 40 and the pole axis direction S is here smaller than the angle W1 between the tip direction R1 of the first tip portion 38 and the pole axis direction S. In the exemplary embodiment, angle W2 amounts to roughly 15°. At the same time, the second tip 44 lies substantially on the pole axis AS, such that a tipping moment on the pole is avoided when planting the second tip portion 40.

FIG. 5 furthermore shows that an angle W3 between the flanks 42a, 42b of first tip 42 is smaller than an angle W4 between the flanks 44a, 44b of the second tip 44. In the exemplary embodiment, angle W3 amounts to roughly 30° and angle W4 has a magnitude of roughly 70°. In order to simplify manufacture, the outermost flanks of the tip body 34, i.e. flank 42a of the first tip 42 and flank 44a of the second tip 44, are parallel to one another and the inner flanks 42b (of the first tip 42) and 44b (of the second tip 44) meet at an angle to one another.

FIGS. 1 and 2 furthermore show that, despite their obliquely extending tip directions R1, R2, the tip portions 38, 40 do not or do not substantially protrude beyond the outer contour of the main body 12, i.e. they do not form any troublesome projections in a direction orthogonal to the pole axis direction S. It is thus possible to avoid the user catching him/herself with the pole tip zone 18 due to the particular design of the tip portions 38, 40. Moreover, the tips 42, 44 are then located relatively close to the pole axis AS, such that tipping moments on the pole 10 may be reduced.

Claims

1. A mountain sports pole (10) comprising a grip zone (14) for gripping the mountain sports pole (10) and a pole tip zone (18) for planting on the ground (U), characterised in that the pole tip zone (18) comprises at least a first tip portion (38) and a second tip portion (40), such that, depending on an angle (W0) in the forwards direction (V) between the mountain sports pole (10) and the ground (U) on which the pole tip zone (18) is planted during use, the first tip portion (38) or the second tip portion (40) or both tip portions (38, 40) come into contact with the ground (U).

2. A mountain sports pole (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the tip directions (R1, R2) of the two tip portions (38, 40) point in different directions.

3. A mountain sports pole (10) according to claim 1 ec claim 2, characterised in that the tip portions (38, 40) are asymmetrical to one another with regard to a pole axis direction (S).

4. A mountain sports pole (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that tips (42, 44) of the two tip portions (38, 40) are offset relative to one another in a pole axis direction (S).

5. A mountain sports pole (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the tip direction (R1) of the first tip portion (38) extends obliquely in a forwards direction (V) and a pole axis direction (S).

6. A mountain sports pole (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the tip direction (R1) of the first tip portion (38) is inclined in the forwards direction (V) relative to a pole axis direction (S) by an angle (W1) in the range between roughly 25° and roughly 55°, preferably by an angle (W1) of roughly 35°.

7. A mountain sports pole (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the tip direction (R2) of the second tip portion (40) extends obliquely in a backwards direction (R) and a pole axis direction (S).

8. A mountain sports pole (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the tip direction (R2) of the second tip portion (40) extends substantially in a pole axis direction (S).

9. A mountain sports pole (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the tip (42) of the first tip portion (38) reaches further in a pole axis direction (S) than does the tip (44) of the second tip portion (40).

10. A mountain sports pole (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that, in a plane orthogonal to a pole axis direction (S), the outer dimensions of a main body (12) of the mountain sports pole (10) are larger than the maximum extent of the tip portions (38, 40).

11. A mountain sports pole (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the tip portions (38, 40) are constructed as integral pointed projections on a tip body (34).

12. A mountain sports pole (10) according to claim 11, characterised in that the tip body (34) is insertable into an opening (32) at a longitudinal tip end (30) of a main body (12) of the mountain sports pole (10).

13. A mountain sports pole (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a snow basket (24).

14. A tip body (34) for a mountain sports pole (10) which comprises a mounting portion (36) for attachment to a mountain sports pole (10) and at least a first tip portion (38) and a second tip portion (40), such that, in a mounted state of the tip body (34) on the mountain sports pole (10), depending on an angle (W0) in the forwards direction (V) between the mountain sports pole (10) and the ground (U) on which the tip body (34) is planted during use, the first tip portion (38) or the second tip portion (40) or both tip portions (38, 40) come into contact with the ground (U), wherein the tip body (34) comprises one or more of the features directed to the pole tip zone (18) of claim 1.