EP0175625A1 - Ski-stick handle - Google Patents

Abstract

A handle for a ski pole is composed of at least two elements which are assembled together, one of the elements being common to the entire line of handles while the other element can be selected from a group of elements of different sizes to define the ultimate size of the handle. Elements are also provided for assembling them together.

Description

Ski poles always have a handle attached to their upper end. This handle, which is most often produced by plastic molding, consists of a tubular body which is fitted and fixed on the top of the stick and which has an outward profile which facilitates the grip of the stick by the skier.

As a cost saving measure, the handles almost always have the same dimensions. The sizes of skiers' hands are very variable. Such a handle is thus very well suited to a skier, but less well or even badly to another skier. To avoid this drawback, the trader should have sticks which differ not only in their length, but also in the dimensions of their handles. It is easily conceivable that this would result, for the manufacturer, the need for a significant investment in molds of various dimensions and, for the merchant, the obligation to store very many sticks. All this would lead to a sharp increase in cost.

The invention solves this problem, by proposing a handle constituted by at least two elements manufactured separately and one of which, immutable in dimensions, cooperates directly with the stick and serves as a support for the other which, on the one hand, an area of fixed dimensions determined by those of the first element, and, on the other hand, an area whose dimensions are a function of those to be given to the handle, these two elements comprising means for joining together .

From this arrangement it follows that all the handles have an identical element with which is associated an additional element which determines the dimensions of the handle. This identical element being the basic one, the stick can be delivered with this element; and to adapt this stick exactly to the morphology of the skier it will suffice for the merchant to have additional elements of various dimensions.

Various forms of execution are possible. According to one of them, the body of the handle has, on a part of its periphery, a face having a profile identical to that of the corresponding face of a complementary element whose transverse dimensions determine those final of the handle, clips, screws or other means being provided to connect the body of the handle and the insert. The face by which the body and this element cooperate is advantageously a flat face.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the handle is formed in combination, by a first tubular element comprising a base constituting the base of the handle and by a second tubular element covering the first and whose transverse dimensions determine those of the handle. Connection means between these two elements are provided. They can be any. It may for example be the screw which usually allows the strap to be attached to the handle. In this case the inner tubular element of the handle comprises, at its top, a bottom having a central orifice in which the rod of a screw is screwed directly or indirectly which simultaneously ensures the connection between the two elements of the handle and the strap attachment.

• Figures 1 et 2 sont des vues respectivement de côté en élévation et en coupe verticale des deux éléments constitutifs de la poignée, dans le cas de la première forme d'exécution ; Il
• Figure 3 est une vue en coupe verticale identique à la figure 2, mais dans le cas où l'élément représenté par cette figure est destiné à la réalisation d'une poignée de plus grandes dimensions ;
• Figure 4 est une vue de côté en élévation d'une poignée de grandes dimensions réalisée par coopération des éléments représentés respectivement à la figure 1 et à la figure 3 ;
• Figure 5 et 6 sont des vues en coupe longitudinale des deux éléments constitutifs de la poignée, dans le cas de la seconde forme d'exécution ;
• Figure 7 est une vue en coupe longitudinale identique à la figure 6, mais dans le cas d'un élément destiné à la réalisation d'une poignée de plus grandes dimensions ;
• Figure 8 est une vue en coupe longitudinale de la poignée réalisée par association des éléments représentés aux figures 5 et 6, et
• Figure 9 est une vue partielle en coupe longitudinale de la même poignée, agencée pour permettre de régler ses dimensions non seulement transversales, mais aussi longitudinales.

The appended schematic drawing moreover represents, by way of nonlimiting examples, two embodiments of the ski pole handle which is the subject of the invention:

• Figures 1 and 2 are side views respectively in elevation and in vertical section of the two components of the handle, in the case of the first embodiment; he
• Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view identical to Figure 2, but in the case where the element shown in this figure is intended for the realization of a larger handle;
• Figure 4 is a side elevation view of a large handle produced by cooperation of the elements shown in Figure 1 and Figure 3 respectively;
• Figure 5 and 6 are views in longitudinal section of the two components of the handle, in the case of the second embodiment;
• Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view identical to Figure 6, but in the case of an element intended for the production of a handle of larger dimensions;
• FIG. 8 is a view in longitudinal section of the handle produced by combining the elements shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and
• Figure 9 is a partial view in longitudinal section of the same handle, arranged to allow to adjust its dimensions not only transverse, but also longitudinal.

In Figure 1, (1) denotes the body of a handle made of molded plastic. As is known per se, this body (1) has a longitudinal channel (2) intended for its fitting on the upper end of the stick; it ends with a base (3) and a head (4); and it has laterally on a part of its periphery notches (5) facilitating the grip of the stick.

According to the invention the body (1) of the handle has over almost its entire height, between its base (3) and its head (4) and on a part of its periphery, a flat area (6) which occupies a position diametrically opposite the notches (5). On this flat face (6) project the fingers (7) which come from molding with the body of the handle.

This body (1) constitutes one of the two elements of the handle. For the realization of the handle, it is, in fact, associated with a second element (8) (Figure 2). This element (8) which is also made of molded plastic material has a flat face (9) whose dimensions cor correspond to those of the flat face (6) of the body (1) of the handle. The other side of this element (8) is curved; and its transverse dimensions are a function of those which must finally be given to the handle.

Thus, in the case shown in Figure 2, the element (8) is relatively flat so that, by cooperation with the body (1), it allows for a handle of small section. The connection between the body (1) of the handle and the complementary element (8) is achieved by penetration of the two fingers (7) of the body (1) in two corresponding housings (10) arranged in the element (8).

FIG. 3 represents an additional element (8a) whose transverse dimensions are greater than those of the element (8). By making this element (8a) cooperate with the body (1) of the handle, it is possible to obtain a handle of large cross section, as shown in FIG. 4.

In the case of the alternative embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 8, the handle is constituted by two tubular elements respectively (12 and 13). The element (12) consists of a real plastic tube comprising, coming from molding with it, a base (14) constituting the final base of the handle, and an upper bottom (15) having a central orifice (16).

The tubular element (13) associated with that (12) determines the shape and the transverse dimensions of the handle. It has a central bore (17) whose diameter allows it to be fitted onto that (12). This element (13) ends with a head (18) having, on the one hand, a housing intended to receive the two ends of the wrist strap and, on the other hand, a central channel (20) intended for the passage of the screw usually used for fixing the strap in the handle.

This element (13) can have variable transverse dimensions in order to allow the production of handles of various sizes, the only imperative condition being that its bore (17) always has the same diameter. for its fitting on the element (12).

The element (13) shown in Figure 6 can be considered to determine the realization of a small handle. On the other hand, the element (13a) represented in FIG. 7 can be considered as determining the production of a large handle.

8 shows a mounted handle, produced by cooperation of the inner tubular element (12) with the outer element (13) shown in Figure 6; it is therefore a small handle.

Whatever the size of the handle, that is to say whatever the element (13), (13a) ... associated with the element (12), the fixing of the element (13) , (13a) ... on the element (12) is made by means of the usual screw (not shown in the drawing) used for fixing the two ends of the strap in the upper housing (19) arranged in the head ( 18) of the handle. The end of this screw cooperates directly with the wall of the orifice (16) provided in the bottom of the element (12) or with a nut embedded in this orifice.

This embodiment of the handle offers an additional adjustment possibility, namely that of the length of the handle, which allows a good adaptation of this handle not only to the length, but also to the width of the hand. As shown in FIG. 9, this object is achieved by making the tubular body (12) and its annular base (14) independent of one another and by interposing, between them on the stick, one or more washers (21 ). To make a handle having a length corresponding to a determined width of hand, it suffices to interpose between the body (12) and the base (14) one or more washer (21) having such or such thickness; and on the stack thus produced is then engaged an external handle element (13) having the desired length.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the sole embodiments of this ski pole handle which have been described above by way of examples; on the contrary, it embraces all of its variant embodiments.

Claims (6)

1- Ski pole handle, characterized in that it is constituted by at least two elements (1, 8, 8a ... 12, 13, 13a) manufactured separately and one of which (1, 12) cooperates directly with the stick and serves as a support for the other (8, 8a ... 13, 13a ...) which has, on the one hand, an area of dimensions determined by those of the first element, and on the other hand, an area whose dimensions are a function of those to be given to the handle, these two elements comprising means (7, 10, etc.) for joining together. 2- ski pole handle, according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (1) of the handle has, on a part of its periphery, a face (6) having a profile identical to that of the corresponding face ( 9) of a complementary element (8, 8a) whose transverse dimensions determine those of the final handle, clips, screws or other means (7, 10) being provided to connect the body of the handle and the insert. 3- ski pole handle, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the corresponding faces (6, 9) respectively of the body (1) of the handle and of the complementary element (8, 8a) are flat and in that on the flat face (6) of the element (1) protrude from the fingers (7) cooperating with corresponding holes (10) arranged in the complementary element (8, 8a) and accessible from the flat face (9) of this element. 4- ski pole handle according to claim 1 characterized in that it is formed in combination by a first tubular element (12) having a base (14) constituting the base of the handle and by a second tubular element ( 13, 13a) covering the first and whose transverse dimensions determine those of the handle. 5- ski pole handle according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the tubular element (12-) inside the handle has, at its top, a bottom (15) having a central orifice (16) in which is screwed directly or indirectly the stem of a screw which ensures simultaneously the connection between the two elements of the handle and the attachment of the strap. 6- ski pole handle according to any one of claims 1, 4 and 5, characterized in that its inner element is constituted by a tubular body (12), by an independent annular base (14) and by one or more intermediate washers (21) of identical or different thickness.

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