EP0650675B1 - Walking stick - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a novel stick for mountain climbers, which is fitted with a device for braking and power dissipation between the handle (1) and fitted-on tube (5). Specifically, the stick consists of two telescopic tubes (4, 5). The handle (1) is fitted onto one of these tubes while lever systems controlled from the handle actuate the expansion device (7) which influences the sliding movement between the two telescopic tubes. <IMAGE>

Description

Walking sticks are known which consist of a single element and are predominantly tubular and made of a light and elastic material such as wood.

There are also so-called telescopic poles, the length of which can be varied by adjusting or fixing the two elements in predetermined positions. Such sticks are easier to transport in a backpack and adapt to the size of the mountaineer depending on the gait (descent or ascent).

None of the existing walking sticks sets or achieves the goals that the invented walking stick achieves.

In order to avoid the body's own acceleration, the mountaineer has to perform a mechanical braking work on the descent, with the corresponding energy consumption and subsequent fatigue. If the climber descends without the usual walking stick, this work is partly done by the legs. With the usual walking stick, the work is partly at the expense of the arm that holds the stick. The work corresponds to the force exerted times the bending of the arm and legs.

The brake stick, which is the subject of the present invention, has long had a sliding handle with passive resistance the axis (ideal axis) of the stick itself. The climber thus puts his hand on a slidable and brakable element, he no longer needs to bend the arm, ie the work performed by the arm is zero. This work is done by the brake stick and converted into heat.

The mountaineering stick consists of a grip part which is connected to a braking device which has long been displaceable on the mounting element; said floor also consists of a first and a second tube which slide concentrically into one another; a handle is attached to the second tube, which controls an expansion and dissipation device acting on the tube walls.

On said walking stick, the handle is connected to the above-mentioned expansion and dissipation device by a lever and pull system; the reciprocating relative movement of the tube is achieved by actuating the lever system.

On the enclosed table a practical embodiment of the invention is shown, which is to be regarded as an example and is not intended to be a restrictive requirement.

A possible embodiment is explained below, for example. Reference is made to the drawing, where FIG. 1 shows the shortened stick in two orthogonal views (ab); in the horizontal plane, its length must be such that the climber can hold the handle with his arm outstretched to feel the terrain.

There are also: handle (1), lever (2), both made of plastic; metallic pivot pin (3), fixed tube (4) and sliding tube (5), both made of metal.

2 (a b) shows the same views as in FIG. 1, but in section. This makes it easier to see how the fixed tube (4) on the handle etc. is attached to the handle tube extension. The lever device (2) attached to the hinge pin (3) can also be seen. The lever device is operated by hand when the former is pressed against the handle when the latter brakes.

With the steel wire (6), the lever device actuates the expansion pad (7), a plastic disc with high heat resistance.

The expansion is generated by the inner cone element (9) of the plastic disc, which is inserted in the outer cone element.

The above described can be seen from Fig. 3 (a b), where the lower part of the stick is shown in section.

From this you can also see the counter tension spring (8) made of steel and the clamp (10), also made of steel, which locks the pull wire. In three different visual representations on the right-hand side in FIG. 3 it is even clearer how the expansion disk with the incision enables the expansion and how the inner cone element is pulled up by the pulling device and causes the expansion.

The expansion causes the lower disc ring to adhere to the sliding tube (5), the fixed tube (4) (which is firmly attached to the handle) is braked. It should be made clear that the inner tube was designated as a rigid tube in the sense that it forms a firm connection with the handle; during the movement, however, it is the outer tube, which ends with the pointed part, which is fixed in comparison with the floor, if necessary the outer tube can slide in comparison with the inner tube and the handle. The lower part of the inner tube rests on the upper shoulder of the lower disc ring so that it can be braked.

Use and function of the brake stick: The climber holds the stick by the handle; when the hand is not firmly closed, the outer tube, which is freely movable in relation to the inner tube, slides down by gravity, its tip can be directed against a point for placement on the ground; one then closes the hand tightly, and part of the body's own weight is shifted to the stick through the stiff arm. The inner tube (including the firmly attached handle) slides down along the outer tube, creating the braking effect, the strength of which is controlled by the mountaineer himself by deliberately and firmly closing the hand.

Once the braking distance has been covered (ie when the handle tube has reached the head of the outer tube), the climber can lift the stick with his hand closed and lead the tip down to the closest point for the next braking step.

Not shown in the present description, for the sake of simplicity and also because they are not indispensable, the two plastic bearing rings, one forms a fixed connection with the outer tube (top), the second is firmly connected to the inner tube (bottom ); both serve to regulate the sliding of the pipes into one another and to limit the respective route run. The bearing rings, of course, assume an appropriate difference in the average of the two cylindrical contact surfaces, where the contact is taken over by the bearings. In the present description, there is no (and this is appropriate) a bearing ring between the head piece of the inner tube and the attachment of the plastic disk for better expansion of the plastic disk itself.

Claims (3)

1. Supporting stick to be used as a walking aid, comprising a fixed tube (4) secured to a handle (4) and a telescopic tube (5) mounted in said fixed tube (4) to be coaxially shifted therein, in said fixed tube (4) being mounted a brake means connected to an actuating lever (2) pivotally attached to the handle (1), characterised in that the brake means consists of a friction brake (7) mounted in said fixed tube (4) and acting against the inner wall of said telescopic tube (5), the braking intensity being controlled by a definite and determined manual grasping of the handle (1) and of the actuating lever (2), such that, during the way down, the stick is substituting the muscular braking force.
2. Supporting stick according to claim 1, wherein the friction brake (7) consists of an axially slotted spreader ring within which a tapered expanding plug (9) is axially movable, said plug being linked to said actuating lever (2) by means of a tie wire (6).
3. Supporting stick according to claim 2, wherein the lower end of a back pressure spring (8) abuts on the expanding plug (9), whereas the upper end of said spring engages against a stop ring (4) secured in the fixed tube (4).