Releasably attachable end piece to a pole

(12) PATENT (19) NO

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(11) 330833 (13) B1

<td>NORWAY</td><td>(51) IntCI. A63C 11/24 (2006.01) A63C 11/22 (2006.01)</td>

NIPO

<td> (21)</td><td>Appln</td><td> 20093122</td><td>(86) due date and application no</td>

<td> (22)</td><td>Inng.dag</td><td> 2009.10.09</td><td>(85) Continuation Day</td>

<td> (24)</td><td>Løpedag</td><td> 2009.10.09</td><td>(30) Priority</td>

<td> (41)</td><td>Alm.tilgj</td><td> 2011.04.11</td><td></td>

<td> (45)</td><td>communicated</td><td> 2011.07.25</td><td></td>

<td> (73)</td><td>proprietor</td><td colspan="2">Swix Sport AS, PO Box 113, Kjelsås, 0411 OSLO, Norway</td>

<td> (72)</td><td>Inventor</td><td colspan="2">Svein Pedersen, Bregneveien 3,1812 ASKIM, Norway</td>

<td></td><td></td><td colspan="2">Lars Karlof, Bekkelia 43,1481 HAGAN, Norway</td>

<td></td><td></td><td colspan="2">Elise Reiten, Toppenhaugberget 22,1353 BÆRUMS VERK, Norway</td>

<td> (74)</td><td>Fullmektig</td><td colspan="2">Onsagers AS, PO Box 6963 St Olavs Plass, 0130 OSLO, Norway</td>

<td> (54)</td><td>Designation</td><td>Fixing of pulley</td><td></td>

<td> (56)</td><td>cited</td><td></td><td></td>

<td></td><td>publications</td><td colspan="2">SE 154852 C, EP 1676608 A1</td>

<td> (57)</td><td>Summary</td><td></td><td></td>

The present invention relates to a solution for releasably attaching and connecting an end piece to a rod such as a ski pole suitable for cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, roller skating or walking. The end piece may be a pulley which provides a sliding surface on snow or it may be an end piece with a sharp spike for use in walking or roller skating

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The present invention relates to a solution for releasably coupling and attaching an end piece to a rod such as a ski pole adapted for cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, roller skiing or spacing.

The end piece may be a pulley which provides sliding surface on snow or it may be an end piece with a pointed spike for use in walking or roller skiing. The invention further relates to several embodiments of the general solution, i.e. more detailed solutions within the general concept.

Rods such as ski poles and their end pieces, whether this is a pulley or an alternate design, are designed to take into account a number of different parameters. First, the weight of the stick is important. This applies to the weight in general, but especially to the weight of the part of the rod that swings, ie the part of the rod which is furthest away from the handle. The handle will act as a pivot point in use and the mass rotating around the pivot point will thus apply a moment of inertia. The weight towards the lower end of the rod will greatly affect the moment of inertia due to the length of the rod and the mass along the length of the rod and also any mass located near the end of the rod, i.e. the end piece. This will affect the stability of the rod in addition to other properties of the rod in use. In general, the rod should be easy to use and stable in addition to having an advantageous shape when it comes to wind resistance when used.

One way to improve the shape of the rod is to design the actual rod body in a way that reduces or limits the weight towards the lower end of the rod.

Another approach for shaping the rod is to limit the weight of the end piece at the end of the rod, because this represents the mass that is furthest away from the pivot point of the rod and represents such a significant contribution to the moment of inertia. If the end piece is a pulley, this must still be able to perform its role and fulfill its purpose, which is to provide a sliding surface against the snow to enable the user to use the ski pole effectively to provide a slider forward and thus gain momentum forward . The balance between the weight of the pulley and the robustness and the strength of the end piece, such as a pulley, can be a difficult compromise on the way to optimizing the motion dynamics of the ski pole. The compromise can lead to a more fragile pulley. The attachment of the end piece to the rod body, ie the connection between the end piece and the rod, can also affect the movement dynamics of the rod because the coupling can contribute to the weight near the end of the rod and since the coupling is close to the lower end of the rod, the weight can greatly influence the moment of inertia.

Furthermore, if the end piece in the attempt to reduce the weight of the end piece turns out to be a more fragile design, it may further be advantageous to be able to replace the end piece if it is damaged or damaged. Especially when considering that the materials used in modern rods are rather expensive, it may be advantageous to be able to continue using the rods if this is intact by replacing a non-functional pulley.

For other reasons, it may also be advantageous to be able to replace the end piece. It may then be possible to use the same stick element for multiple purposes. For example, a pulley used on a ski pole will ideally have different shapes and sizes depending on the snow conditions because the sliding surface of the pulley may be of variable size and shape. Therefore, a replaceable pulley will be advantageous. In addition, the user will be able to use the same sticks for snow skiing and roller skiing. Because the rod element can be used for several different purposes, the end piece can also be interchangeable.

In most cases, however, the end piece, such as a pulley, is attached to the rod using a glue and is thus not possible to replace without professional equipment and is a time-consuming process, if at all possible. In alternative embodiments, the end piece may be attached to the rod body via a coupling, for example a bayonet coupling. Solutions of the prior art can be found in DE 14 553 T2 which describes a bayonet connection. EP 1 676 608 discloses a similar solution with a locking mechanism and US 4,669,752 discloses a locking mechanism between a pulley and a ski pole. In SE 154852C a screw coupling or the like can be found which attaches a pulley to a ski pole by clamping the end piece on the pole body.

Finally, as the design of rods is developed and especially ski bodies, the bodies can appear in various shapes and sizes. Thus, the solution for attaching an end piece to the end of a rod must be versatile and general, and should include various rod designs.

Based on the above discussion, the present invention relates to releasably attached end piece for a rod, the rod comprising a rod body having a gripping region for the end piece near the lower end of the rod body, the end piece comprising a lower end piece with a fastening hub and an upper end locking device. The two portions of the end piece are designed to be attached to the rod body in the region of the gripping area in such a way that the upper end piece locking device will lock the lower end piece in a firm grip on the rod. The locking device is releasably attached to the lower end piece by a common complementary design which allows the upper end piece locking device to lock the lower end piece to the rod body. The invention is characterized in that the fastening hub on the lower end piece has a hollow interior with an internal cross-section which is essentially complementary to the outer cross-section of the rod body in the gripping region of the rod body. This allows the rod body to have different cross-sections and the interior of the fastening hub on the lower end piece is always complementarily shaped. That is, the lower end piece will always fit the rod body in the area of ​​the gripping area.

Furthermore, the outer cross-section of the fastening hub is substantially complementary to the inner cross-section of the upper end locking device. This allows the locking device to fit on the top of the fastening hub of the lower end device. Again, the two parts are mutually complementary and the top end piece will be able to fit the fastening hub.

Furthermore, the fastening hub and upper end locking device are each provided with complementary shaped locking means. In order to be able to lock the lower end piece of the rod body, the locking means will be used. According to the invention, both the upper and lower end pieces have complementary locking means which enable the upper part to releasably lock to the lower end piece and further lock the lower end piece to the rod body.

Finally, since the end piece can be releasably attached to the rod, the two connecting parts, ie the upper end piece and the lower end piece can either be connected or disconnected. Thus, the lower end piece and the upper end locking device may be in a non-active position where the lower end piece is disconnected from the upper end piece locking device, or the lower end piece and the upper end locking device may be in an active position. In the active position, the lower end piece is located on the ski bar in the grip area of ​​the ski bar and the upper end piece locking device is coupled to the lower cast piece and provides a locked connection between the lower cast piece and the grip region of the bar body.

In an alternative embodiment, the hollow interior of the fastening hub on the lower end piece has a depth at least equal to the distance from the gripping region of the rod body to the end of the rod body furthest away. This ensures that the lower end piece may be attached to the end of the rod body and the fixing hub will still be in the vicinity of the gripping area. Depending on the design of the lower end piece and the rod body, there may be several different ways of placing the lower end piece in the correct position. If the hollow interior of the fastening hub is open at both ends then the positioning of the lower end piece will be controlled by the location of the gripping area. If the hollow interior is closed at the end and the depth is as described in this embodiment, then the lower end piece will achieve an approximately correct position by sliding the rod element all the way into the interior of the fastening hub.

The main purpose of the gripping area is to increase the friction in the connection between the rod element and the lower end piece. In various embodiments, the gripping area of ​​the rod member may be a slender inward arc or any other change of diameter or circumference. Thus, the gripping area of ​​the rod element may be a surface area of ​​the rod body which is made uneven. This can be accomplished by mechanical or chemical treatment of the rod body in the gripping area.

In order to ensure that the fastening hub can be durably fastened to the rod body, the fastening hub in one embodiment is split longitudinally into two or more fastening tongs and so that there is an opening between the tongues.

Although the fastening hub can be of different shapes and of different types, they have in common that the fastening hub should be attached to the end piece of the rod body in the area of ​​the gripping area by friction rather than with chemical adhesive types. In order to achieve and maintain the fastening grip between the rod body and the lower end piece, it is important that the lower end piece, and in particular the mounting hub, be of such a design that the rod body is pushed into the hub and the upper end piece locking device is used to lock the lower end piece on the rod body. The locking is achieved by clamping the fastening hub around the rod body and then securing the coupling with the complementary shaped locking means.

For example, when the end piece is a pulley for use in snow, the pulley may be subject to additional damage and strain from other skiers and rods. To ensure that the fastening hub is securely attached to the rod body, the inner cross-section of the fastening hub is complementary to the rod body and includes gripping means extending toward the grip region of the rod. These gripping means can improve the grip between the lower end piece and the rod body.

To secure the upper end piece of the lower end piece and the lower end piece of the rod, the fastening hub and upper end locking device may each have complementary shaped threads, the threads of the fastening hub being located substantially in the region of the fastening hub tongues. By inserting the threads in a screw connection, it will be possible to screw the upper end piece into the threads in the fastening hub. In this embodiment, this will clamp the tongues together and against the rod body, forming a releasable but still firm, friction-based grip on the rod body in the gripping region. Furthermore, to ensure the screw connection even better, the threads of at least one of the fastening hub or upper end locking device may be tapered.

If other locking means are used, for example bayonet couplings, pressure couplings or others, then the fastening hub and upper end locking device may each have complementary shaped locking devices conically shaped in the longitudinal direction of the fastening hub pointing to the upper end of the rod.

The end piece for a rod as described above may be available in various shapes and sizes for different applications. In one further embodiment, a releasably attached end piece as described above can be used for skiing wherein the lower end piece further comprises a sliding surface substantially away from the fastening hub and comprising a sharp spike essential in the longitudinal extension of the rod body.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention is further shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows the lower end piece for a snow application pulley.

Figure 2 shows the upper end locking device.

Figure 3 shows a rod body with an embodiment of a gripping region.

Figures 1a-1f show a special lower end piece 4 shaped as a pulley for use on snow. The mounting hub 5 is shown with a cylindrical inner cross-section in the hollow inner 8 as it is complementary to the rod body 1 to be used with the pulley. Furthermore, the end piece 4 has a sliding surface 7 to contact the snow. The snow will be tightly packed under the pulley and will allow the user to transfer power to the ground to gain movement forward.

The attachment hub 5 can be seen split into three similarly shaped tongues 5a which form an opening between two and two of the tongues 5a. This gives the fastening hub some flexibility and allows the tongues to be pressed against the interior of the fastening hub 5 when the upper end locking device 6 is used on the fastening hub 5.

The upper end locking device is shown in Figures 2a-c and in this embodiment resembles a nut with internal threads 10 and in which an internal cross-sectional end 9 is complementary in shape and size with the outer cross-section of the fastening hub 5. In other words, the upper end locking device 6 will be screwed on like a nut on the party hub 5.

The rod body 1 is further shown in Figure 3 as a slender rod with a given cross-section. Towards the lower end of the rod there is a gripping area 3. The gripping area is marked with the circle A in Figure 3a and an enlargement is shown in Figure 3c.

The gripping region 3 is shown in this embodiment as a slender arc, or a section of the rod body of a reduced diameter. By inserting the end of the rod body 1 into the interior 8 of the mounting hub 5, or in other words, pushing the end piece 4 with the mounting hub first in the direction of arrow B in Figure 3c, the lower end piece will be positioned at the bottom of the rod body 1.

At the bottom of the hollow interior 8 of the mounting hub 5 there is a guide button 14 complementary to the guide groove 13 at the end of the rod body. The guide groove and the control knob may have different sizes and shapes, but they should nevertheless be designed so that the lower end piece may preferably only be positioned in one or two ways. This can be used to synchronize the orientation of the end piece with, for example, a handle on the top of the rod or if the cross-section of the rod body is dependent on a particular orientation of the end piece.

Furthermore, to ensure that the fastening hub 5 and the end piece are securely attached to the rod body, the inner 8 of the fastening hub 5 is provided with gripping means 12 facing the gripping region 3 of the rod body. The gripping means shown in Figure 1c are simply small projections. When the threads 10 of the upper end piece 6 are inserted into the threads 11 of the fastening hub 5, the projections on gripping means 12 are pushed towards the gripping region 3 of the rod and will provide a secure friction-based coupling.

By screwing up the upper end locking device 6, it becomes possible to release the end piece from the rod 1. A new end piece can be inserted on the end of the rod and the upper end piece can again be screwed onto the fastening hub 5.

The situation where the upper and lower end pieces are separate and not interconnected can be called the inactive or passive stage. However, when the upper end locking device 6 is inserted on the threads 11 of the fastening hub 5, the end piece is in an active stage where the friction coupling between the end piece and the rod has replaced fastening with chemical adhesive types. Thus, the end piece has become removable and fastenable.

In particular, the threads 11 and 10 may be considered as only one embodiment because several alternative embodiments may be included. Bayonet couplings and other embodiments with male and female couplings may be used.

Also, the size and shape of the cross-section of the rod body may vary and thus also the inner cross-section of the fastening hub 5.

The inner cross-section of the upper end-locking device 6 may be similar to the cross-section of the rod, but the inner cross-section of the upper end-piece is mainly controlled by the outer cross-sectional shape and size of the mounting hub 5.