FR2882270A1 - Trekking or ski pole for e.g. skier, has handle that is integrated to upper end of main body and cooperates with annexed equipment having extension penetrating in housing to integrate equipment to pole - Google Patents

Abstract

The pole has a handle (3) integrated to an upper end of a main body (2). The handle comprises an elongated housing (4) parallel to an axis (5) of the pole and/or the handle. The housing is decentered with respect to a connection point connecting the body to the handle. The handle cooperates with an equipment (6) having an extension (7) penetrating in the housing to integrate the equipment to the pole.

Description

Ski or hiking stick, and equipment for ski poles or

hiking.

  The field of the invention is that of leisure, and in particular hiking, skiing and other activities or disciplines requiring the use of ski poles or hiking (or other similar activities).

  Ski poles and hiking stick typically comprise a rod forming the main body of the stick, it can be straight or define a curve.

  The ski poles and hiking also include a handle attached to the body and allowing the handling of the stick. They generally have a strap for easier use of the stick.

  The handles are conventionally made of plastic. The ergonomics of and the coating of these are essential to ensure a good grip and facilitate the sliding of the hand at the support on the handle.

  A skier or hiker generally has ancillary equipment, usually in his pockets, such as a map of the ski area or hiking for example, it may have been obtained from the office of the station or site where he is for example. This plan is traditionally stored by the user in one of his pockets, and unfolded and folded when consulted.

  However, it is sometimes tedious to take out this equipment for consultation. Indeed, it is necessary to remove gloves and expose the hands to cold and moisture to go out and consult the object, at the risk of falling at the same time other objects in the same poached.

  The same situation arises with electronic devices (GPS, telephones, ...).

  The invention particularly aims to overcome these disadvantages of the prior art.

  More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a new technique that allows a skier or hiker to easily, quickly and efficiently access certain equipment.

  Another objective is not to modify or hinder the aesthetics, ergonomics and effectiveness of ski poles or hiking.

  Another objective of the invention is to propose a technique offering good modularity, which remains simple to design and implement by the user, and relatively inexpensive.

  These objectives, as well as others that will appear more clearly later, are achieved with the help of a ski pole or hiking with a main body and a handle attached to the upper end of the body.

  According to the invention, the handle comprises at least one elongated housing substantially parallel to the axis of the stick and / or the handle, intended to cooperate with at least one auxiliary equipment having an extension intended to penetrate into the housing, so as to secure the equipment with the baton.

  Thus, access to the equipment is easy and direct, without the need to remove gloves or search in his pockets. In addition, the use is easy and ergonomic, the handle being by definition at hand.

  Advantageously, at least one of the housings is eccentric with respect to a connection point of the main body to the handle. In particular, we can provide the presence of several eccentric housing and more or less close to the periphery of the handle.

  It will of course also be possible to provide that one of the housing is instead centered on this point.

  According to a first advantageous approach, at least one housing is flush with the periphery of the handle. The term flush indicates here that the housing can be tangent or opening laterally, over a larger or smaller area, at the periphery of the handle, and thus communicates directly with the outside thereof.

  According to a second advantageous approach, at least one through slot connects at least one of the housing to the periphery of the handle. Thus, when the housing is not flush and therefore does not open directly at the periphery of the handle, a through slot may allow to connect the housing to the outside of the handle.

  Preferably, at least one of the housings extends over the entire height of the handle and opens at an upper and / or lower face of the handle.

  Thus, the extension of the equipment intended to penetrate inside the housing can be introduced by the face at which the housing opens. When the housing opens at the two upper and lower faces, the length of the extension of the equipment may then be greater than the length of the housing, to the extent that it may exceed the handle at the level of the one or both sides thereof.

  In particular, it can be provided that the extension of the equipment exceeds below the handle so as not to interfere with the skier or hiker, and so that it is relatively protected from shocks.

  According to a first advantageous embodiment of the invention, the ski pole or hiking equipment comprises an information carrier.

  The support may carry information such as a map of the ski area or hiking trails of a site for example. The information carrier can thus be housed inside one of the housing of the handle, so that it is directly at hand for the user of the stick.

  Advantageously, the information carrier is flat and mounted on a winding tube, so as to take at least two positions: a folded position in which the support is essentially wound around the winding tube; and an extended position in which the support is unrolled at least partly outside the handle.

  The winding tube then forms the extension cooperating with the housing of the handle. The free end of the plan support may be equipped with a draw bar and / or a tab permanently remaining outside the handle so as to be easily graspable for the user when he wishes to consult the information carrier.

  The winding tube may conventionally comprise a return spring ensuring the folding of the information carrier.

  Thus, when the housing is flush, the information carrier can be deployed outside the handle at the flush portion of the housing. When the housing is not flush, a through slot may be provided over the entire height of the housing necessary for the passage of the information carrier outside the handle during its deployment, as indicated above.

  Furthermore, it can be provided that the information carrier is previously mounted on a winding tube and then introduced into the housing of the handle to be used by the user when desired. The information carriers can thus be delivered to the user directly mounted on a winding tube by the Tourist Offices for example.

  Advantageously, the information carrier is housed inside a housing whose shape is adapted to that of the housing, the housing having a slot for the passage of the support. The housing then forming the extension adapted to the shape of the housing, this allows more] modularity as to the length and diameter of the winding tube housed in the housing.

  The slot of the housing allowing the passage of the support will be positioned so that, when the housing is in place in the housing of the handle, it is at the level of the flush portion if the housing is flush and opens out of the housing on the periphery of that or, if it is not flush, at the through slot as described above.

  According to a second advantageous embodiment of the invention, the extension of the ski pole or hiking equipment has at least one light element. The equipment makes it possible, when the brightness or the visibility is weak, to see the skier or the hiker. Such equipment may be useful in case of fog or during night walks for example.

  Preferably, the light element opens at least partially below the handle. Thus, when the user holds the handle and his hand covers it, the part of the equipment protruding below the handle and having a light element remains visible.

  Advantageously, the light element is maintained along the main body of the stick by securing means provided for this purpose on the equipment and / or on the stick. These securing means such as a clip at the main body of the stick can strengthen the fastening thereof and prevent it from being damaged or broken, by keeping it along the main body during a shock for example.

  Preferably, such equipment having a light element comprises a luminescent tube. A luminescent tube has the advantage of being light by simple deformation thereof and therefore does not require power by means of a battery or a battery for example.

  According to a second advantageous embodiment of the invention the equipment comprises at least one electronic apparatus belonging to the group comprising: radiolocation means; radiocommunication means; means for transmitting an alert signal.

  Advantageously, the apparatus comprises at least one screen situated at the level of the upper face of the handle and / or at the level of the extension.

  The screen, such as an LCD or graphical screen, may allow viewing of number, images or videos and may thus allow viewing at least one information belonging to the group including: time; the speed of movement of the user; - the position of the user; - the distance traveled during a given time; - the slope of the runway or path; temperature; pressure; altitude.

  It will of course be possible for this information to be reproduced in a sound manner, for example by voice synthesis.

  Such a device can thus allow the skier or hiker to know his position and to make a call to communicate it in case of problems. In addition, this device may allow the reception of information from a local station or altitude restaurants for example, so as to obtain information on weather conditions or advertisements for example.

  Advantageously, the extension of the equipment is provided to receive power supply means of the electronic device. The various equipment described according to the different embodiments presented can of course be combined and equip the same stick having several housing. for example.

  Preferably, the various devices described are removable.

  The user can choose to equip his stick when he wants.

  When there is no equipment in the housing of a handle, it will be possible to provide the presence of removable closing objects or empty housings to occupy the free housing. The shape of these obturating objects may be perfectly adapted to that of the housings they occupy, so as to prevent the introduction of an undesirable object into the free housing and to allow a good visual appearance of the handle.

  In addition, the presence of obturating objects makes it possible to contribute to the strength and resistance to deformation of the handle, while avoiding that a recess weakens it.

  A stick having one or more dwellings may thus be marketed with these blank objects or empty housings used to close and fill the housing when not occupied by ancillary equipment.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example, and the appended drawings among which: Figure 1 is a simplified schematic view of a ski pole or hiking according to the invention, the handle has a housing; FIG. 2 shows a stick according to FIG. 1 in which auxiliary equipment is introduced inside the housing; Figure 3 shows an equipment comprising an information carrier and intended to be introduced into a housing; FIG. 4 illustrates a stick according to the invention equipped with a luminescent tube; Figure 5A illustrates a stick having a housing; FIGS. 5B and 5C show an electronic device intended to equip a stick according to FIG. 5A.

  The invention thus has a new technique for providing a ski or hiking pole with ancillary equipment so that this equipment can be easily used, without the skier or hiker having to remove his gloves to get him out. of a pocket for example. According to the invention, the handle of the ski pole comprises at least one housing for receiving an extension of an equipment, so that it can be secured to the handle.

  The invention thus allows to equip a stick without the ergonomics of it is strongly modified.

  Figure 1 is a schematic, intentionally schematic and simplified view of a ski pole or hiking 1 according to the invention, comprising a rod 2 forming the main body of the stick and a handle 3 attached to the body 2 of the stick.

  Stick handles generally have an elongate shape, adapted for good grip by the user, and similar in Figures 1 to 5C to a cylinder for reasons of simplicity. They are conventionally equipped with a strap not shown] [ci.

  The handle 3 has a housing 4 (or recess) of elongated shape. As shown, the housing 4 is substantially cylindrical, it will of course be possible to consider other forms. Moreover, it is not centered with respect to the axis 5 substantially vertical passing through the connection point of the rod 2 to the handle 3, but shifted towards the periphery of the handle 3. It will also be possible to center the housing 4 with respect to the axis 5.

  FIG. 2 illustrates a stick 1 according to FIG. 1 for which an equipment 6 comprising an extension 7 has been introduced inside the housing 4 of the handle 3, and whose shape is designed to cooperate with that of the housing.

  Like reference numerals denote identical elements in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5A to 5C.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the equipment 6 is, according to a first embodiment, an essentially planar information carrier 8, which may be rectangular, for example, and mounted on a winding tube 7 forming the extension , and housed inside the housing 4.

  The housing 4 is not flush with the periphery of the handle, a through slot 9 substantially vertical allows the passage of the information carrier 8 when it is unwound and deployed outside the handle.

  A draw bar 10 equips the free end of the information carrier 8, which may for example be wider than the slot 9, so that during the winding of the support 8, the draw bar 10 remains outside the handle, contiguous to the periphery of it. Thus, the pull bar 10 can effectively seal the slot 9, and avoid the introduction of undesirable objects inside thereof.

  The draw bar 10 may further have a handle or strap 11, easily prehensile for the user of the stick, so that it does not have to remove his gloves to operate the pull bar.

  The winding tube 7 may conventionally comprise a return spring ensuring the folding of the information carrier.

  The information provided by the support 8 may for example be a map of the ski area or hiking trails of the site. It may also be telephone numbers, such as emergency numbers, for example.

  Thus, when the user wants to see this information, he will not have to remove his gloves beforehand and expose his hands to cold to access the support. It can directly operate the draw bar 10 and consult it.

  The support may be made of paper, fabric or plasticized for example, so that it is more resistant and less sensitive to moisture.

  As shown in Figure 2, the housing is not flush with the periphery of the handle, the through slot 9 allows the passage of the support to the outside of the handle 3. However, it can easily be envisaged that the housing 4 is flush with the periphery of the handle 3, so that the housing 4 opens directly on the outside of the handle, so that the existence of a slot 9 is then no longer necessary to allow the passage of the support d 8. The flush term indicates that the housing may be simply tangent to the periphery of the handle, or opening into a more or less wide area of the periphery thereof.

  FIG. 3 shows a piece of equipment 6 according to the invention, comprising an information carrier 8 intended to be introduced inside a housing of a handle.

  The winding tube 7 is housed in a housing 12 whose shape is designed to cooperate with the shape of the housing of the handle into which it will be introduced.

  Furthermore, the housing 12 has an end 13 whose dimensions are greater than that of the upper end 4a of the housing 4, so that when the housing 12 is introduced into the housing 4 from above, the end 13 is blocked. outside the handle 3. Thus, this end 13 larger than the opening 4a will also effectively seal the opening 4a of the housing 4.

  In addition, the end 13 may be equipped with a handle 14 facilitating the gripping and manipulation of the housing 12 by the user.

  A screw thread 15 may also be provided at the housing 12 to allow the housing to be screwed inside the housing 4 and to effectively secure the equipment 6 to the handle 3. It will of course be understood that when There is no casing, the fastening means used such as a screw thread or a larger end may be provided for directly fitting the winding tube 7.

  It may also be provided that one end of the housing, or more generally the equipment intended to be introduced into the housing, has a deformable zone wider than the housing requiring to force slightly during its insertion into the housing, and ensuring the joining together . These enlarged and deformable areas may for example be made of plastic or rubber.

  When the equipment comprises an information carrier 8 mounted on a winding tube 7 as shown in FIG. 3, provision may be made for it to have a vertical slot (not shown) allowing the support to pass when it is deployed. The slot may then be located on the housing 12 so that, when the equipment 6 is introduced into the housing 4, it is against the through slot 9 of the handle 3, or the flush area opening on the outside of the handle if the housing is flush. The information carrier can thus be deployed outside the handle for viewing.

  The presence of a housing for the equipment 6 facilitates its handling by the user and protects it, especially before its introduction into the handle. In addition, this packaging allows easier storage, without fear of damaging the equipment.

  Information carriers with or without boxes can be distributed to skiers or hikers by the Tourist Offices of each site for example.

  The box makes it possible to simplify the distribution, for example by the Tourist Offices, of an information carrier mounted on a reel to the users. Indeed, the housing will then be provided to cooperate with the housing 4 of a stick, allowing a certain modularity as to the size or diameter of the winding tube on which is wound the support. It will be sufficient that it can be housed inside the housing.

  In addition, the empty housings may be used to close the housing or the housing of the handle of a stick when no equipment is present, for the sake of obvious aesthetics and to prevent the introduction of inappropriate objects in the housing . Furthermore, the introduction of the empty housing in the handle ensures the strength of the latter, avoiding a recess does not alter its strength and weakens.

  It is also possible to provide solid objects, for example made of the same material as the handle, and whose shape cooperates with that of the housing of the handle, to occupy and close these when they are not used for ancillary equipment .

  Empty cases or removable obturating objects may be marketed directly with the ski or hiking pole.

  FIG. 4 shows according to a second embodiment of the invention a ski or touring stick whose handle 3 is equipped with a light tube 16 introduced inside the housing 4. The upper ends 4a and 4b of the lower end housing 4 open respectively at the upper faces 3a and lower 3b of the handle 3.

  The tube 16 has an end 17 whose dimensions are greater than that of the opening 4a of the housing so as to block the tube 16 and to seal the opening of the housing 4.

  The length of the tube 16 is greater than that of the housing 4 and the tube thus opens under the handle 3, along the body (or rod) 2 of the stick. Preferably, the tube 16 has at least one light zone at the portion 18 below the handle.

  Thus, when the brightness or visibility is low, for example in case of fog, the skier or hiker will be visible, allowing others to see it or if necessary to avoid it.

  The light tube 16 may for example be a luminescent tube, so that it will suffice to deform it before introduction into the housing or after its introduction, by deforming the portion 18 protruding under the handle for example, so that it is luminous.

  Means for securing the portion 18 of the tube 16 to the rod 2 (or body) of the stick may be provided, such as clips for example, so as to maintain the tube along the body 2 of the stick 1.

  It is easily understood that the fact that the housing 4 opens at the upper surfaces 3a and 3b of the handle allows greater modularity as to the length of the equipment to be introduced.

  In particular, this can also be provided for housing intended to receive an information carrier as described above for example. Thus, the length of the information carriers and the winding tubes on which they are mounted may be variable without this being troublesome. The format adopted for the realization of the different media will therefore not be limiting, the information medium may lead to the bottom of the handle 3.

  FIGS. 5A to 5C show a third embodiment according to which the equipment 6 intended to equip the stick 1 is an electronic device.

  FIG. 5A illustrates the stick 1 whose handle 3 has a housing 4. FIGS. 5B and 5C present an electronic equipment 6 such as a GPS, a transmitter or a radio receiver for example. Such equipment may for example allow a skier or a lost hiker to make a call and indicate its position.

  It has an extension 19 intended to be introduced into the housing 4 and an upper portion 20 to be attached to the upper face 3a of the handle 3. The upper portion 20 has a tongue 21, intended to cooperate with an enclave 22 located at the periphery of the handle 3 and contributing to the attachment of the equipment 6 to the handle.

  Preferably, the tongue 21 is located on the opposite side to the side carrying the extension 19 when it is not centered but shifted towards the periphery of the upper part 20, so as to ensure better fastening.

  Other modes of securing the equipment 6 to the handle 3 may of course be considered.

  The extension 19 of the apparatus may advantageously constitute a housing for the power supply of the apparatus and be provided for introducing batteries or batteries 23. The apparatus may thus have a longer operating autonomy than in the case of an apparatus formed solely of an upper part 20 and whose stacks are located at the upper part 20. Moreover, this limits the thickness of the upper part 20.

  Furthermore, the device may have an information display screen such as an LCD screen 24 for example. This may for example be located on the upper face of the upper part 20 of the equipment as shown in Figure 5B.

  The electronic device may for example be able to obtain information concerning the time, the speed of sliding or walking, the position of the user, the number of turns made, the distance traveled, the inclination of a user. slope, temperature, pressure or altitude.

  The fact that the equipment 6 has an extension 19 penetrating inside a housing of the handle makes it possible to increase the resistance of the equipment to impacts and a better attachment of the latter to the handle, which presents an obvious interest in the context of electronic devices as described which are fragile and expensive. Thus, the reported equipment according to the invention is stronger than equipment that would be directly attached to the top of the handle, for example.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5C, it is also possible to provide the presence of an LCD screen 24 at the extension 19 of the equipment, in particular when the housing 4 is flush with the periphery of the handle 3. , the LCD screen 24 may be visible on the side of the handle 3 when the equipment is in place in the housing 4. This releases the upper part 20 of the device and may have an advantage for example in the case where the device includes a GPS. Indeed, this released upper face can be used for positioning a patch antenna 25.

  Moreover, according to the various embodiments presented, the housing 4 is cylindrical. However, it can provide different forms for it and for the extension of the equipment to be introduced into the housing. In particular, it is possible to envisage a housing of square or rectangle section, so as to avoid the possibility of rotation of the equipment inside the housing, or to provide a shape determining the orientation of the equipment in a precise position when of his introduction.

  The stick handles can be monobloc or dual density, with a more flexible core and peripheral wrapping for the comfort of the user's hand. They can conventionally be made of plastic or rubber.

  The housings inside the handles can be made by molding during the manufacture of the handle for example.

  In addition, we can easily predict the presence of several housing in the same stick handle, so in particular to combine different equipment on the same stick.

Claims (16)

  Ski or hiking pole (1) comprising a main body (2) and a handle (3) secured to the upper end of said body (2), characterized in that said handle (3) comprises at least one housing (4) lying substantially parallel to the axis (5) of said stick (1) and / or of said handle (3), intended to cooperate with at least one additional equipment (6) having an extension (7; 19) provided for penetrate into said housing (4), so as to secure said equipment (6) to said stick (1).   Ski or trekking pole (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said housings (4) is eccentric with respect to a connection point of said main body (2) to said handle (3) .   3. ski or hiking pole (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said handle (3) comprises at least one through slot (9) connecting at least one of said housing (4) to the periphery of said handle (3).   4. Ski or hiking pole (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one of said housing (4) is flush with the periphery of said handle (3).   Ski or trekking pole (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one of said housings (4) extends over the entire height of said handle (3) and it opens at an upper face (3a) and / or lower (3b) of said handle (3).   6. Equipment (6) for ski or hiking stick (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises an information carrier (8).   7. Equipment (6) according to claim 6, characterized in that said information carrier (8) is flat and mounted on a winding tube (7), so as to take at least two positions: - a folded position wherein said support (8) is substantially wound around said winding tube (7); and - an extended position in which said support (8) is unwound at least partly outside said handle (3).   8. Equipment (6) according to any one of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that said information carrier (8) is housed inside a housing (12) whose shape is adapted to that of said housing (4), said housing (12) having a slot for the passage of said support. (8) 9. Equipment (6) for ski or trekking pole (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said extension (7) has at least one light element.   10. Equipment (6) according to claim 9, characterized in that said light element opens at least partially below said handle (3).   11. Equipment (6) according to claim 10, characterized in that said luminous element is maintained along said main body (2) of said stick (1) by securing means provided for this purpose on said equipment (6) and / or on said stick (1).   12. Equipment (6) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that it comprises a luminescent tube (16).   13. Equipment (6) for ski or hiking stick (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises at least one electronic device belonging to the group comprising: - radiolocation means; - radiocommunication means; means for transmitting an alert signal.   14. Equipment according to claim 13, characterized in that said apparatus comprises at least one screen (24) located at said upper face (3a) of said handle (3) and / or at said extension (19).   15. Equipment (6) according to any one of claims 13 and 14, characterized in that said extension (19) is provided to receive supply means (23) of said electronic apparatus.   16. Equipment (6) according to any one of claims 6 to 15, characterized in that it is removable.