EP1033155A1

EP1033155A1 - Ski stick provided with an acoustic warning device and/or a radio transmitter

Info

Publication number: EP1033155A1
Application number: EP00200599A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Loris Granziera
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-02-25
Filing date: 2000-02-22
Publication date: 2000-09-06
Also published as: CA2299485A1; IT1312253B1; JP2000279568A; ITPN990024A1

Abstract

Ski stick provided with an acoustic warning device and/or a radio transmitter. In the inside of the tubular element ( 11 ) forming the pole of a ski stick ( 1 ), and in correspondence of its end whereon is applied the ski stick handle ( 2 ), are inserted the following components : at least one circuit ( GA ) of a respective acoustic warning device ( AA ) and eventually also one electronic circuit ( GR ) of a radio transmitter ( RS ), the electric power feeding element, as a suitable battery ( B ), as well as the driving devices, as the power switch ( I ) and a push-button ( P ) for acoustic emission ( EA ) and/or the radio transmission ( A ). All of the above-mentioned devices are of well known type and are suitably disposed in the body of the stick handle.

Description

The present invention relates to the application of an acoustic warning device and, eventually, also of a radio transmitter to a ski stick.
As it is well known, an ever-increasing number of people practise the winter sports. In particular, skiing has become a mass sport.
The thronging of the ski slopes with skiers having different ages and skills causes frequent and dangerous accidents.
Further dangerous situations are caused by the practise of skiing off the tracks because it frequently involves the forming of avalanches which bury and sweep the skiiers away Therefore, it should be considerably useful and advantageous to the skier forewarning of its approach the other skiers going down the same slope in order to avoid dangerous collisions. Moreover, the possibility of attracting attention and of signalling his own position to the helpers is still more useful when the skier is not able to move in consequence of the wounds and/or the fractures caused by an accidental falling off the track as well as in the case the skier has been carried and buried by an avalanche.
As is known, there are many types of electroacoustical and radioelectrical apparatuses and devices which are respectively suited to emit acoustic signals or radio signals.
In particular, the well known and most widely used radio signal transmitting devices are those usually contained in suitable housings which can be easily worn by the skier by means of a girdle or other fastening means.
It results that the skier can be easily and quickly localized by the radiolocalizer of the search-and-rescue operators in the case he has been buried by an avalanche or has had an other kind of serious accidents.
As it is well known, the actual technology allows not only to reduce the sizes of said localizating electro-acoustical or radio-electrical devices but also to increase their signal power to such a value that the signals can be received at middle and also at long distance.
Therefore, the aim of the present invention is to obtain the above-mentioned aims and advantages. According to the present invention, the above-mentioned aims and advantages are all attained by mounting the following components in the inside of the tubular element forming the pole of a ski stick that is provided with the respective ski stick handle : at least one electronic group for producing acoustic signals and/or one electronic group for producing radio signals as well as devices for emitting respective signals, electric power feeding elements and respective driving elements all suitably mounted and disposed in the ski stick handle.
In order to better understand the features and the advantages attainable by the object of the present invention, this object is hereinafter described , by way of a not limitative example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings , wherein :
the Fig. 1 is a cutaway view of the upper ski stick end provided with the respective handle and housing an acoustic warning device, a radio-transmitter as well as the recpective electric power feeding devices , the driving devices and the devices for the emission of the respective signals;
the Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the position of the essential units whether in the acoustic warning device or in the radio-trasmitter.
With reference to Fig. 1, it is to be noticed that in the inside of the tubular element 11, forming the pole of an ordinary ski stick 1, and in correspondence of its end whereupon is applied the respective ski stick handle 2 , are inserted the following components : one electronic circuit GA of a respective acoustic warning device AA and one electronic circuit GR of a radio- transmitter RS.
In the ski stick handle 2 are also mounted the push-button P and the power switch I, which arc driving the respective electronic circuits GA and GR, the acoustic emitter EA and is realized the housing of an electric battery B for feeding either the acoustic warning device AA or the radio-transmitter RS.
The push-button P, the switch I, the acoustic emitter EA and the electric battery B are all of well known type and are disposed in the body of the handle 2 in such a position as to operate as best as possible.
More precisely, the push-button P is preferably disposed in the upper part of said handle 2, as for example it is shown in the above mentioned Fig. 1. in the superior-posterior part of the handle 2. However, the push-button P can be disposed also in other position that be suitable to allow an easy actuation by the user who will be able, while grasping the handle 2, to press the button by means of a finger-tip as preferably the thumb-tip. On the contrary, the switch I is disposed in a position where it is hand-reachable by the skier only of his own will. The acoustic emitter EA is positioned in such a way as not to be covered by the hand which is grasping the handle 2 as well as to allow a rational orientability of its sound signal.
On the contrary, the battery B is housed in a suitable enclosure made out of the handle body 2 and placed in such a way as not to interfere with the grasping of the handle.
As is well known, both electronic groups GA and GR can be made on the surface of an insulating base by forming conductive tracks that include the necessary components as resistors, capacitors, various inductances and integrators.
As it is also well known, each electronic group GA and GR is then encapsulated by immersion into a respective melted block of resin which imparts an high impact strength to the respective group.
Obviously, the block of resin enclosing the electronic group GA and GR has a cilindrical shape with an outside diameter which is equal to the inside diameter of the corresponding part of the tubular element 11 of the ski stick 1 in which the block of resin will be inserted and removably fixed in a known manner and by known means.
As it can be seen from the recalled Fig. 1, the electronic circuits GA and GR are shown with an ordinary disposition of the respective components ( integrators, resistors, capacitors, inductances , etc. ) which are all applied on the respective insulating bases whereon, as already said, are made the conductive tracks.
Moreover, the conductors interconnecting to each other such electronic circuits , the battery B, the push-button P, the switch I and the acoustic emitter EA are marked off, for the sake of clearness, with heavy continuous lines.
It is obvious that on a ski stick 1 can be mounted only one signalling group which comprises, as it is shown, either one acoustic warning device AA or one radio-transmitter RS or, according to the requirements, only one of them.
For example, if the skier wants only to acoustically signalize its presence to the other skiers it will be enough to mount only the acoustic warning device AA which will be used as a "klaxon".
A more prudent skier will choose the complete set including also the radio transmitter RS
With reference to the block diagram shown in the Fig. 2 there are to be noticed the two signalizing groups and more precisely the acoustic warning device AA and the radio transmitter RS both electrically feeded by the battery B.
The part "acoustic warning device AA" includes the push-button P, the electronic circuit GA and the acoustic emitter EA. The part "radio transmitter RS" includes the switch I, the electronic circuit GR and the antenna A.
Referring to either the block diagram in Fig. 2 or the cutaway view in Fig. 1, it will be hereinafter described the operation and the practical use of the particular application forming the object of the present invention.
Whenever the skier presses the push-button P, the battery B energizes the electronic circuit GA. The electronic circuit GA produces an alternating current for feeding the acoustic emitter EA. The acoustic emitter EA generates an audible signal that can be heard also at long distance.
The emitted acoustic signal can have only one frequency or a sequence of frequencies which are successively emitted according to a suitable chronological order.
The monofrequency or the sequence of frequencies are studied in such a way as to obtain the best of signalling performances.
Clearly, the audible signal goes on as long as the push-button P is pressed.
When the skier actuates the switch I , the battery B energizes continuously the electronic circuit GR. The circuit GR produces a suitable radio-frequency current for feeding the antenna A. The antenna A emits a corresponding radio-signal.
It is obvious that the frequency of the radio-signal RS will be of a type as that normally used in the specific field.
Seen as a whole, the circuit can be advantageously completed by the connection represented by broken lines in the Fig. 2. Such connection couples the output of the switch I also to the electronic circuit GA of the acoustic warning device AA.
In this case, the actuation of the switch I causes not only the emission of a radio-signal but also of an acoustic signal.
This possible and alternative embodiment results very advantageous because it makes possible to guide the helpers not only with a radio-signal but also with an acoustic signal which assists them in the localization of the hurt skier.
A suitable pulse generator T can be connected between the switch I and the electronic circuit GA in order to reduce the energy consumption of the battery B,
Said pulse generator energizes or deenergizes the electronic circuit GA according to suitable time intervals. The result is that the produced acoustic signal is intermittent in such a suitable way as to improve the search and localization possibilities.
It is to be pointed out that the antenna A ( not shown in the Fig. 1 ) of the radio transmitting device RS can be constituted by the metallic tubular element 11 forming the pole of the ski stick 1 . In the case of a tubular element 11 constituted by a non-metallic and non-conductive material, the antenna A can be constituted by a suitable element disposed in the body of the stick handle 2 or in other adequate position.
From what stated and described it is clear that the ski stick with an acoustic warning device and/or a radio transmitter according to the invention improves the use and the security conditions.
It is to be pointed out that the type, the form and the position of the acoustic warning device AA components and/or the radio transmitter components may be varied.
Moreover, the circuital parts of such devices (AA-RS) may be further miniaturized by means of components which are offered by the actual technology.
It is well understood that modifications and variations may be made to the object of the present invention without departing however from the scope defined by the following claims with reference to the accompanying drawings and thence from the protection extent of the present industrial invention.

Claims

Ski stick provided with an acoustic warning device and/or a radio transmitter, characterized in that in the inside of the tubular element (11) forming the pole of a ski stick ( 1 ), and in correspondence of its end upon which is applied the ski stick handle (2), are inserted at least one circuit ( GA ) of a respective acoustic warning device ( AA ) and eventually also one electronic circuit ( GR ) of a radio transmitter ( RS ), the electric power feeding element, as a suitable electric battery ( B ), as well as the driving devices (I - P) and the emitting devices ( EA-A ) of said acoustic warning device ( AA ) and/or of said radio transmitter device ( RS ), all of the above-mentioned devices are of well known type and are suitably disposed in the body of the stick handle ( 2 ).
Ski stick according to the claim 1, characterized in that said acoustic warning device ( AA ) is actuated by means of a push-button ( P ) and whenever the skier presses the push-button ( P ), the battery ( B ) energizes the electronic circuit (GA ) which produces an alternating current for feeding a respective acoustic emitter ( EA ) which generates an audible signal that can be heard also at long distance, said push-button ( P ) being disposed in a position that allows its easy actuation by the hand of the user which is grasping the handle ( 2 ), the actuation being obtained by pressing the push-button ( P ) by means of a corresponding finger-tip as preferably the thumb-tip, said acoustic emitter ( EA ) is positioned on the body of the handle ( 2 ) in such a way as not to be covered by the hand which is grasping the handle ( 2 ) during the use.
Ski stick according to the previous claims characterized in that the frequency of the acoustic signal generated by the acoustic emitter ( EA ) is a monofrequency comprised in a range that is suitable to offer a better reception.
Ski stick according to the previous claims characterized in that the acoustic signal generated by the acoustic emitter ( EA ) is formed by two or more frequencies which are successively emitted according to a suitable chronological order in such a way as to obtain the best of signalling performances.
Ski stick according to the previous claims characterized in that said radio transmitter ( RS ) is actuated by means of a switch ( I ) disposed in a position where it is hand-reachable by the skier only of his own will, from the actuation of said switch ( 1 ) it results that the battery ( B ) energizes continuously the electronic circuit ( GR ) which produces a suitable radio-frequency current for feeding the antenna ( A ) which emits a corresponding radio-signal , the frequency of the emitted radio-signal being of a type as that normally used in the specific field.
Ski stick according to the previous claims characterized in that, in the case of a ski stick ( 1 ) provided with an acoustic warning device ( AA ) and a radio transmitter device ( RS ), the output of the switch ( I ) energizes in the meantime, by means of a suitable connection, either the electronic circuit ( GR ) of the radio transmitter ( RS ) or the electronic circuit ( GA ) of the acoustic warning device ( AA ).
Ski stick according to the previous claims and in particular to the claim 6 , characterized in that a suitable pulse generator device ( T ) is connected between the switch ( I ) and the electronic circuit ( GA ) in order to energize or deenergize the electronic circuit ( GA ) according to suitable time intervals, from such connection it results that the energy consumption of the battery ( B ) is suitably reduced and that the produced acoustic signal is further improving the search and localization possibilities of the emitter.
Ski stick according to the previous claims characterized in that the current feedings of the electronic circuit ( GA ) in the acoustic warning device ( AA ) and of the electronic circuit ( GR ) in the radio transmitter ( RS ) are both pulsated.
Ski stick according to the previous claims characterized in that said electronic circuits ( GA ) and ( GR ) respectively of the acoustic warning device ( AA ) and of the radio transmitter ( RS ) are each comprising a suitable generator of pulsating emission.