LU82245A1 - SKI STICK COMPRISING A TIMING DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

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The present invention relates to a ski pole comprising a timing device, preferably a digital chronograph or second-counter with electronic operation, particularly suitable for the determination of times by the skier himself. It is very obvious and important, especially in ski racing, to be able to accurately measure the time taken by a skier to cover a given distance, in order to allow him to check his abilities, the level of his training, factor tests. exteriors on speed, etc .; as for amateur skiers, they may need an appropriate device allowing. to determine the time necessary to make a descent in order to check their physical condition, to organize races with friends and to check the influence that an element of the equipment or an accessory (ski, shoes, wax, etc.) can have on speed.

For such timings, conventional second-counters are generally inconvenient, · since they require the presence of at least a second person to count the time and, moreover, they are not easy to handle with a gloved hand with a ski glove.

Various ski poles are known comprising a digital chronograph or seconds counter, for example, that of the United States patent NQ 4 111 444, in which a digital seconds account in the form of a box housed in a recess is described. side of the handle, with three buttons applied to this handle to play various roles such as for example determining the start, reset, start, stop, etc; as for the German patent N ° 2 63B 671, it relates to a digital seconds counter permanently mounted in the handle, with two control buttons.

The invention relates to a ski pole comprising a perfectly chronograph or second seconds counter

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i 2 ✓ removable, controlled by the skier himself, which can be easily read through the thickness of the transparent body of the handle and in no way annoying the skier, because it is completely contained in this handle.

The invention also relates to a ski pole comprising a digital seconds counter of very simple construction, requiring no complicated operation for its installation or disassembly and all of the controls of which are grouped in a single button which protrudes slightly from the upper face. of the handle and perfectly waterproof.

More specifically, the ski pole according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a handle made of a transparent plastic material, pierced with a hole in which is housed and fixed by screwing a complete digital seconds counter, with its batteries and its display, comprising only one control push-button, the figures displayed being seen enlarged through this transparent plastic material of the handle.

Other characteristics and advantages of the in-vention will emerge from the description which follows, made with reference to the appended drawings giving, by way of explanation and in no way limitative, an embodiment.

In these drawings: - Figure 1 shows the upper part of a ski pole according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a block diagram of the circuit of a digital second account according to the invention.

The ski pole as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a tubular part 1 made of metal, provided at its upper part with a handle 2 made of a transparent plastic material.

This handle is formed, in a known manner, by molding around the stick 1, then there is drilled, in the upper part of this handle, a hole B serving to accommodate, "3 *" the digital second-counter. The latter comprises an integrated electronic circuit 7, part of which will be described later, two batteries 6, a digital display 5 and a push-button 4 for controlling. Preferably, a four-digit display is provided (of the light-emitting diodB type or of the liquid crystal type), namely a figure indicating the minutes, two figures indicating the seconds and a figure for tenths of a second, respectively. Gn can envisage various variants, for example the suppression of the digit of the minutes and its replacement by a digit for hundredths of a second.

Preferably, the hole 8 intended to receive the second counter is a hole of circular section, the upper part of which is tapped, so that the display adheres better to the transparent material constituting the handle.

A transparent plastic handle has two advantages: first, the second counter can be made as a single piece intended to be completely inserted into the handle, while allowing reading; secondly, the large thickness of transparent material between the observer and the display considerably enlarges the figures, playing the role of a magnifying glass.

The hole 8 is plugged by screwing the threaded upper part of the timing circuit until the push button protrudes only a few millimeters from the top of the handle, thus allowing the user to easily control the account -seconds using the thumb. A rubber washer 11, placed below the part 3 of larger diameter, provides sealing, and a gripping flange IG is attached to the handle with a screw 9, behind the push-button -. evening.

FIG. 2 represents a passible embodiment of the chronograph control circuit, or 4 "second counters, according to the invention. Under the effect of the temporary closing of key T (which corresponds to push button 4), an electrical pulse is formed which is applied to a multivibrator, or shaping device, M, which provides a standard pulse of which the "characteristics are compatible with the logi circuit

than next. Said pulse forces the bistable circuit FF to pass to logic level 1, thereby making the AND gate (Al) conductive, which allows the generator CK

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emit clock pulses of the appropriate frequency, for example, 10 Hz or multiples of this value. The counter (CONT) counts said pulses until a new closing of the key T resets the bistable FF to zero, thereby blocking the gate Al. The number stored in the counter CONT, which corresponds to the elapsed time , is displayed on display D using the DEC encoder. This visual representation can be permanent, or it can follow any stop pulse, so as to save batteries.

The counter and the decoder are chosen so that the first digit (from the left) indicates the elapsed minutes, that the second and third digits indicate the seconds and that the fourth indicates the tenths of a second. The tenths of a second can only be evaluated once the timing has ended.

The key T (push button 4) is used to control the various operations, for example, switching on the counter, starting measurements, stopping measurements, display, resetting the counter to zero and, optionally, the power supply to the second counter. 5next * a variant, this cut-off can take place automatically after a given time from the moment the compte seconds counter has stopped (for example 1 minute). A programmed control circuit advantageously comprises an additional counter used to count up to four pulses "v 5 and the output of which is connected so as to carry out the various operations. For example, the first closing of the key has the effect of putting the counter complementary. keep quiet in the state (01) thereby ensuring a departure similar to that which is ensured by the bistable FF. The following locks of the key allow different configurations to be introduced into the counter, for example, the second lock (configuration 10). being intended to stop the counting and the third closing (configuration * 11) making it possible to display the counting on D..Qn to use the fourth closing of the key T to reset the counter to zero for an operation following timing. We could also ensure the ignition and cut off of the second-counter power supply thanks to an additional six-position counter. According to some variants, we. could perform these last operations (ignition and cut) by rotating the second counter a quarter of a turn so as to disconnect it from the battery terminals or reconnect it. After rotation, the display becomes very difficult to read through the face of the handle used for gripping, which is thicker than the rest of the handle, which makes it possible to visually check the state of the second counter, moreover in the case where a liquid crystal display is used.

The skier pushes the push button during departure and arrival. By opening his hand and turning the handle slightly, he can read the elapsed time through the transparent handle. According to another mode of use of the second account, the skier, being stopped, can check the times of another skier.

Claims (4)

1. Ski pole comprising a chronograph or digital second counter, characterized in that it * comprises a handle (2) made of transparent plastic, - pierced with a hole (8) in which is housed, in a removable manner , a complete digital seconds counter with its batteries (6) and its display (5), with a single push-button-1 control evening (4), the figures displayed being seen enlarged through the plastic material of which the handle. 2. Ski pole according to claim 1, characterized in that this second counter is fixed in the handle (2) by screwing and that there is a programmed circuit which in turn triggers the various operations of this account- seconds, each time that a single push button (4) is pressed. 3. Ski pole according to claim 2, characterized in that a rubber ring (11), intended to ensure sealing, is disposed under the upper end, of larger diameter, of the push button (4 ). 4. Ski pole according to claim 3, characterized in that the power supply to the second counter is cut off by rotating the latter at least a quarter turn. »*