US2627420A - Ski pole - Google Patents

Description

Feb 3, `1953 R. F. WHEELER ET AL. 2,627,420

SKI POLE Filed April 27. 1949 :inventors 2,07@ l? /V/leele/4 Josep Patented Feb. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES SKI POLE Application April 27, 1949, Serial No. 89,864

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to ski poles, and particularly to said poles having an easily assembled grip, wrist strap and snow ring thereon.

An object of the present invention is to provide a grip and wrist strap of simple construction which may be easily assembled and secured to the shaft of the pole.

A feature of the invention resides in the fact that the grip which may be a unitary molded structure of relatively sti, resilient material may be placed in position and the wrist strap thereafter secured to the pole within the grip to project from the grip and hold the grip in assembled position on the shaft with the fastening means for the strap being accessible from the exterior of the grip.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of indicia means on the grip whereby the poles may be identified.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the novel means for adjusting the size of the loop of the wrist strap.

A further feature of the invention resides in the arrangement whereby a stepped shaft is employed with a cylindrical upper end and lower end and the grip and ring detachably secured to the upper and lower cylindrical portions.

Another feature of the invention resides in the ring in which fillets are employed between the spokes and hub and the spokes and rim to provide strength for the rubber of the ring at these points.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims when considered in connection with the drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a ski pole of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the grip.

Fig. 3 shows a sectional View of the grip with the strap in position, with the shaft and strap partly broken away.

Fig. 4 is a top View of the grip.

Fig. 5 is a view of the upper part of the grip looking at the strap-receiving aperture.

Fig. y6 is a plan view of the ring with the shaft in section.

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ring shaft and its fastening means.

Fig. 8 shows a fragmentary View of another Adjacent the lower end, the shaft is r PATENT OFFICE provided with a snow ring I3. As will be described the grip and ring are readily and detachably secured to the shaft.

While the shaft may be of any desired construction, it is herein illustrated in Fig, l as a hollow tubular metal shaft having a plurality of cylindrical portions of gradually reduced diameter progressing from the largest diameter at the top of the pole to the smallest diameter adjacent the bottom of the pole. The upper end is closed as by plug lila, to provide a means for securing strap l2 thereto as will be described.

As shown in Fig, 2, the grip is provided with a cylindrical shaft-receiving bore I4 in one end adapted to snugly receive the end of the shaft. The bore terminates, adjacent the closed top I5 of the grip, in a strap-receiving recess I6. The strap-receiving recess merges with the opening or strap-receiving passage I1 in the side of the grip. The grip, as shown in Fig. l, has its outer surface shaped to provide a comfortable and eincient hand grip and may be made in various ways and of various materials. In the herein illustrated form of the invention it is formed as a molded grip which can be molded in one piece or in several pieces and the several pieces secured together into a single unit, and such constructions are embraced within the term unitary grip member used throughout.

When a molded grip is used it is preferred 130 form it from a relatively stiff, resilient compound of either natural or synthetic rubber or mixtures thereof which will provide a rm cushioned grip. However, since the grip does not rely upon its resiliency or stretchability for its assembly and installation on the shaft it can be molded from other suitable grip materials such as :any of the well-known resin handle materials capable of being molded and providing a satisfactory weather resistant, rugged hand grip.

The wrist strap comprises a flexible strap I8, as shown in Fig. 3, formed into a loop and secured. to the shaft so as to project from the hand grip. it is herein illustrated as having a twist ltherein resulting in an open loop to facilitate the insertion of the hand therethrough. While the strap may be secured to the shaft in many ways it is at present preferred to provide the strap with apertured portions I8a, I8b which are superposed and inserted into the grip through the strap-receiving passage Il and into the strapreceiving recess I6 in the grip so that selected apertures in the strap overlie the end portion of the shaft to which they are secured by any suitable fastening means. In the herein illustrated form of the invention the walls of the recess I6 are formed so that they closely embrace the inserted strap portions and hold them in proper position over the end of the shaft, while the fastening means is being put in place. It will be noted that the strap, when secured in position in the grip will hold the grip in assembled relation on the shaft.

While the fastening means may take many forms, it is at present preferred to make i-t readily detachable so that the straps and grips can be easily removed and replaced. This is accomplished by means of a bolt I9 which is passed through apertures Z, 2i in the superposed strap portions i 8a, 18h and threaded into a tapped hole 22 in plug Ita secured in the end of the hollow shaft. The bolt has an enlarged head overlying the strap and when screwed down tightly clamps the strap to the end of the shaft.

In order to afford access to the fastening means from the exterior of the grip, the end I5 of the grip is provided with a passage 23 which opens on the fastening means so that after the strap has been put into place in the recess I6 access can be had to the fastening means to secure it in position. The passage is preferably large enough to permit the bolt to be passed therethrough and through the apertures in the wrist strap and into the hole 22 in the plug and is of suicient size to permit a tool, such as a screw driver or the like, to be inserted to drive the bolt home.

While the passage 23 may be left open, it is at present preferred to close it to prevent snow and ice from being packed therein and preventing easy access to the fastening means. This is accomplished by a closure therefor in the form of a detachable plug 24. As will be seen in Fig. 2 the passage is provided with an undercut 25 in the walls thereof spaced inwardly of the outer end of the passage and the plug 24 is provided with a rim portion 24a. to be snapped intoV the undercut to interlock therewith and in effect seal the passage closed.

In addition to closing the passage, the plug may be provided with indicia 24h such as an initial, as shown in Fig. 4, whereby the owner of the pole may readily identify the pole. Also, from a rnerchandizing standpoint, a plug having indicia indicating the length of the pole may be inser-ted therein to enable the clerk to readily select the desired length and when the pole is sold, the plug having the length indicia thereon can readily be snapped out of the undercut and a plug with an initial or other indicia, thereon inserted.

The present invention provides a novel means for adjusting the size of the loop without the use of buckles or other fastening devices. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3, each end 18a, Ib of the strap is provided with a plurality of apertures 20, Zta and 2 i, 2m which are spaced longitudinally along the strap. The apertures 2b, 2l and 20a, 2id are aligned and may be reinforced and the superposed portions of the strap secured together by single eyelets 26 and 2l passing therethrough. If a large loop is desired the fastening means is passed through eyelet 2S and if a smaller loop is required the fastening means is passed through the eyelet 2 and secured to the shaft, the end of the strap having eyelet 26 being cut on if necessary. In this manner the desired size of the loop can be readily obtained.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 8, the end I8@ is provided with apertures 20, 2da, 2Gb, Zlio and end Ib provided with an aperture 2|, each aperture being reinforced with an individual eyelet. By selectively aligning apertures 20, 20a, 20h and 20c with 2| and securing the selected apertures to the shaft the size of the loop in the strap can be regulated and adjusted.

As is clear from Figs. 1 and 3, the strap is positively held at a proper angle with respect to the grip for easy access by the user of the pole. This is accomplished by the walls of the passage il which extends through a thickened portion of the grip downwardly and outwardly from the end of the pole and provide guide surfaces fia, Hb which engage and guide the strap as it emerges from the grip.

The snow ring is detachably secured to the shaft, as shown in Figs. S and '7, and comprises a rubber annulus 23 connected to a rubber hub 29 by rubber spokes. The annulus and hub are of the same thickness and the ring is detaohably secured to the shaft by means of the hub. This is accomplished by providing a cylindrical sleeve 3l with a flange 32 on the lower end of the pole and putting a washer 33 on the lower surface of the hub and passing a cotter pin Sli through apertures in the ange, hub and washer.

As is shown in Fig. 6, each spoke is connected to the ring by side fillets 35 which provide for a long connection therebetween. Also the adjacent spokes are connected together adjacent the hub by fillets 35 so that the ring is stabilized in its action and reinforced in its operation.

Thus it will be seen that not only is the grip and wrist strap readily detachable from the shaft but the snow ring is also similarly detachable so that if it is desired to change the grips, wrist straps and rings on a pole this may be easily accomplished. This is an advantage where colored grips and rings are provided and it is desired to produce required colors or color combinations.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

We claim:

1. A ski pole comprising a shaft; a wrist strap having portions thereof engaging the end of the shaft; a fastening device passing through the strap and longitudinally into the shaft to directly clamp the strap to the end of the shaft; and a molded unitary grip of unstretchable material enclosing the end of the shaft and extending along the shaft and shaped to provide a hand grip thereon, said grip overlying the clamping end of the fastening device and being free of clamping pressure of the fastening device and having a strap-receiving opening therein through which the wrist strap extends and a passage therethrough opening on the fastening means to afford access thereto from the exterior of the grip.

2. A ski pcie comprising a shaft; wrist strap comprising a loop having overlapped portions, overlapped portions having longitudinally spaced apertures therein, and axially extending fastener means passing through selected apertures overlying the end of the shaft and into the shaft to directly clamp the strap to the shaft and provide a loop of the required size; and a molded unitary grip enclosing the end of the shaft and extending along the shaft and shaped to provide grip thereon. said grip overlying the clamping end of the fastening device free of clamping relation therewith and having a strap-receiving opening therein through which the wrist strap extends and a passage therethrough opening on the fastening means to afford access thereto from the exterior of the grip.

3. A ski pole comprising a shaft; a wrist strap having superposed portions overlying the end of the shaft; a fastening device passing through the superposed portions of the strapoverlying the end of the shaft and into the shaft to secure the strap to the shaft; and a molded unitary grip having a shaft-receiving bore slidable over and enclosing the end of the shaft and extending along the shaft to provide a hand grip thereon, said grip having a strap-receiving passage therein through which the wrist strap extends and a passage in the closed end of the grip in alignment with the fastening means to enable the fastening device to be passed co-mpletely therethrough and out of clamping relation with said grip and into position to directly clamp the strap to the shaft after the grip has been placed on the shaft.

4. A ski pole comprising a hollow shaft having a plug secured in the end thereof; a wrist strap overlying the plugged end of the shaft; a headed fastening device passing through the strap and into the plug in the shaft to directly clamp the strap to the shaft; and a molded, one-piece grip adapted to be slipped yover the shaft and having a closed end enclosing the plugged end of the shaft and a tubular body extending along the shaft to provide a hand grip thereon, said grip being free of clamping action by the fastening means and having an aperture therein through which the end of the wrist strap is inserted to overlie the end of the shaft and a passage `in the closed end of the grip in alignment with the fastening means to enable the fastening device to be passed completely therethrough and out Aof clamping relation with said grip and into position and secured therein after the grip has been placed on the shaft.

5. A ski pole comprising a shaft having a closed end; a wrist strap having an apertured portion; a threaded fastening device passing through an aperture in the strap and threaded into a hole in the closed end of the shaft to secure the apertured portion of the strap thereto; a molded grip enclosing the end of the shaft and extending along the shaft to provide a hand grip thereon, said grip having a strap-receiving passage therein through which the wrist strap extends and a passage therein in alignment with the apertures and the hole in the shaft and of a size to enable the fastening device to be passed completely through the grip out of clamping relation with said grip, into the apertures in the strap, and into the hole and to receive a tool to actuate the fastening device to secure the strap within the grip independently of said grip.

6. A ski pole comprising a shaft; a Wrist strap having the ends thereof engaging the end of the shaft; a fastening device passing through the endsof the strap and axially into the end of the shaft to directly secure the strap thereto; and a molded grip enclosing the end of the shaft and extending along the shaft and shaped to provide a hand grip thereon, said grip overlying the end of the fastening device and being free of the fastening device and having a strap-receiving recess directly above the end of the shaft to house the ends of the strap, said recess merging with an opening in the side of the grip through which the wrist strap extends, said grip having a passage in the end opening into the recess over the fastening means to afford access thereto from the exterior of the grip.

7. As an article of manufacture, a molded handle grip to be assembled on a shaft, said grip being composed solely of resilient material and having an internal bore to receive the end of a shaft when the grip is assembled thereon, said grip being formed with a strap-receiving recess extending inwardly from its side face at a position to permit the strap to overlie the end face of the shaft, and also formed with a passage opening in the end face of the grip and extending inwardly and intersecting the strap-receiving recess, said passage providing an opening large enough -to permit the strap-fastening means to pass completely therethrough and out of clamping relation with said grip and into direct strapfastening relation after the grip has been placed on the shaft whereby the grip is free of any clamping action of said fastening device.

RALPH F. WHEELER. JOSEPH K. PRESTON. JOSEPH K. WEST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,017,565 Lard Feb. 13, 1912 1,139,843 Brown May 18, 1915 1,535,719 Fisher Apr. 2B, 1925 `2,208,365 Gerber July 16, 1940 2,347,789 Nichols May 2, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 111,379 Switzerland Aug. 17, 1925 152,516 Switzerland 1932 558,814 Germany 1932 636,187 Germany 1936

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