US3658356A

US3658356A - Ski pole device

Info

Publication number: US3658356A
Application number: US19916A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard G Van Reyper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-03-16
Filing date: 1970-03-16
Publication date: 1972-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-25

Abstract

A fastener for instantaneous engagement and disengagement of a strap from a pole. The fastener is especially adapted for use on ski poles. The professional appearance of conventional poles remains unaltered when the fastener is incorporated as part of the ski pole structure. The fastener consists of a female catch member and a male lug member. One member is fixedly mounted in the recess of a hand grip where the wrist strap of conventional ski poles is normally permanently attached. The other member is fixedly mounted to the wrist strap to form a unitary object with the wrist strap. Thus the wrist strap and the fastener part fixed to it are removable from the ski pole and hand grip; but when the two elements of the fastener of the invention are joined, the complete appearance of the ski pole is that of the normal or conventional pole most widely used by professionals and amateurs. The male lug member of the preferred fastener is forked. It is also equipped with plates between which the ends of the wrist strap are secured. The female catch member of the preferred fastener is provided with a special mounting post which permits mounting of it in the recess of the hand grip portion of a ski pole with a single screw. The mounting post serves the added function of being a guide for aligning the forked male lug member during the step of attaching or engaging the two parts of the fastener.

Description

United States Patent Van Reyper [45] Apr.%,1972

r541 SKI POLE DEV'ICE [72] Inventor:

Building, St. Paul, Minn. 55102 221 Filed: Mnr. 16,1970

21 Appl.No.: 19,916

[52] US. Cl. ..280/ll.37 H, 24/20] S, 24/230 SC [51] ..A63c 11/22 [58] Field of Search ..280/1l, 37; 24/201 S, 230 SC [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,540,751 1 1/1970 Pierce ..280/l1.37 H

501,003 7/1893 Edmunds 24/230 SL X 2,149,550 3/1939 Richards et a1... ..24/230 SL 3,113,786 12/1963 Phillipson ..280/11.37 BH 3,378,272 4/1968 Lewis ..280/11.37 B1-1 3,378,273 4/1968 Lewis et al ..280/11.37 B11 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 476,067 4/1915 France 424/201 S Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh Assistant Examiner-Milton L. Smith Attorney-Robert C. Baker Richard G. van Reyper, 1123 Pioneer.

ABSTRACT A fastener for instantaneous engagement and disengagement of a strap from a pole. The fastener is especially adapted for use on ski poles. The professional appearance of conventional poles remains unaltered when the fastener is incorporated as part of the ski pole structure.

The fastener consists of a female catch member and a male lug member. One member is fixedly mounted in the recess of a hand grip where the wrist strap of conventional ski poles is normally permanently attached. The other member is fixedly mounted to the wrist strap to fonn a unitary object with the wrist strap. Thus the wrist strap and the fastener part fixed to it are removable from the ski pole and hand grip; but when the two elements of the fastener of the invention are joined, the complete appearance of the ski pole is that of the normal or conventional pole most widely used by professionals and amateurs.

The male lug member of the preferred fastener is forked. It is also equipped with plates between which the ends of the wrist strap are secured.

Thefemale catch member of the preferred fastener is provided with a special mounting post which permits mounting of it in the recess of the hand grip portion of a ski pole with a single screw. The mounting post serves the added function of being a guide for aligning the forked male lug member during the step of attaching or engaging the two parts of the fastener.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 25 I972 INVENTOR.

RICHARD 6. Vd/V RE YPEI? ATTORNEY SKI 1P0LE DEVICE This invention relates to a new fastener especially useful for instantaneous engagement and disengagement of a strap from a pole. It also relates to improved means for engaging and disengaging a wrist strap in its entirety from a hand grip and pole, particularly a ski pole. Further, it relates to means whereby the engageable and disengagable fastener may be converted easily into a locked unit no longer conveniently disengagable.

For safety reasons, skiers should remove their ski poles from secure attachment to their wrists when they use a lift or tow to reach the heights from which they wish to descend. The wrist strap on conventional ski poles is securely attached to the poles. Thus, skiers using such poles must remove the wrist strap from their wrists in order to free themselves from the pole soas to be able to hole it apart from lift mechanism or a rope tow during ascent. Removing the wrist strap is a clumsy and slow operation because of the bulk of mittens or gloves normally used. Many proposals have been advanced for simplifying this operation by making a part of the wrist strap or ski pole detachable from the remainder; but in all known arrangements, the design of the ski pole, in the portion about the hand grip or strap attachment, has been substantially modified or encumbered with gadgetry making it appear quite unprofessional.

A great advantage of this invention is that the professional appearance of conventional and widely used ski poles is preserved. Nevertheless, by employing the teachings herein, the wrist strap of professional appearing ski poles is readily disengagable from the hand grip and pole by a simple pulling force approximately perpendicular to the shaft of the ski pole. After disengagement of the wrist strap in its entirety, only a small mating piece unified to the wrist strap becomes visible. No bulky assembly is left dangling from ones wrists. The ski pole itself, as well as its hand grip part, retains its professional appearance. It solely lacks the usual wrist strap.

Another feature of the teaching herein is that the fastening means between the ski pole and wrist strap is such that it is not easily disengaged by the usual forces encountered during normal safe skiing. The forces acting on the fastener during skiing are more or less in alignment with the shaft of the ski pole, with the wrist strap itself pulled downwardly as one grips the hand grip of the ski pole. Such normal forces are insufficient to disengage the wrist strap fastener means taught herein.

Advantageously, however, should the basket of a ski pole become caught in brush or the like during descent, the fastening means hereof serves as a safety feature in that it will release as a pull pressure is applied to the wrist strap approximately perpendicular to the shaft of the ski pole or toward a direction away from the basket of the ski pole. This safety feature reduces the likelihood of a sprained or injured wrist.

The improved strap fastener taught herein is easily and quickly installed on ski poles of standard manufacture. Such poles have a hand grip over one end thereof and in alignment with the pole itself, that is, in alignment with the shaft of the pole. A lateral opening extends through the hand grip and communicates with a recess aligned with the shaft of the pole. A loop-like wrist strap extends from that opening; and in conventional poles, the wrist strap is securely attached by a screw to the shaft of the pole (or a body material or plug) in the area of the recess. The improvement afforded by this invention is that of providing cooperative mating fastening elements within that recess. The fastening elements consist essentially of a male part and female part, with one part fixed to the wrist strap to form a unitary object with it and one part fixed in the recess to form a unitary object with the pole and hand grip. The fastening elements are small. They easily fit through the lateral opening in the hand grip into the recess aligned with the shaft of the pole. This permits quick installation..Engagement and disengagement of the fastening elements is easily accomplished by simple push and pull forces approximately perpendicular to the shaft of the pole. The result is that the wrist strap is conveniently detachable and attachable in its entirety from the pole and hand grip. But no bulky parts are present to dangle from the detached wrist strap. Thus, in use, a skier places the wrist strap about his wrists and leaves it there. When he desires to remove his pole for a lift or tow, he quickly pulls it from the wrist strap'. The convenience realized by the teachings hereof saves time and permits a more enjoyable and action-packed skiing activity, without the frustrations and delays of mitten or glove removal in order to arrange poles correctly for taking a lift or tow.

Still other advantages and benefits of the invention, arising from the specialized nature of the location chosen for the detachable fastener mechanism as well as from its specialized features, will be evident as this description proceeds. This invention is further described by reference to a drawing made a part hereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side plan broken view, partially in cross section, of a ski pole which incorporates the new fastening arrangement and mechanism hereof;

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the hand grip end part of a ski pole of standard manufacture, with the strap removed to illustrate the lateral opening in the hand grip through which the fastening elements of this invention are inserted during the step of installing them in proper position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded schematic perspective view of the preferred fastening mechanism of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic side plan view of a modified female part for the fastener of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a detachable wrist strap of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the fastener end of a wrist strap assembly of the invention, with a lock element added; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken on lines 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Referring to the drawing, the ski pole shaft 10, suitably of tubular aluminum, terminates at one end in a point 11, spaced from which is attached the disc or basket 12. At the other end of shaft 10 is a hand grip l3, suitably of rubber or plastic. Hand grip 13 extends in alignment over the end of the pole; that is, as one places ones hand about the hand grip, one simultaneously places ones hand around the shaft of the pole.

A lateral opening, broadly identified as 14 (FIGS. 1 and 2) extends through the material of the hand grip itself; and this lateral opening 14 communicates with a recess 15 aligned with the pole 10. The material of the hand grip 13 normally extends and is contoured over the end of the pole; and a terminal opening through the material of the hand grip, identified by numeral 16, is provided for access to a screw fastener 17. A wooden or plastic or comparable plug 18 is fixed or set in the terminal portion of the tubular shaft 10 opposite the pointed end.

In conventional manufacture, the two ends of a strip of leather or other material serving as the wrist strap 19 are inserted through the lateral opening 14 over the plug 18; and a screw such as screw 17 is inserted through terminal opening 16. The screw 17 is implanted through the ends of the strap 19, and then fastened into the plug material 18. Frequently the ends of the strap may be fixed to a thin metal or plastic plate and then fixed to the pole as just described.

According to this invention, however, the wrist strap 19 (with or without a thin protective plate on its ends) is not as such secured by the screw 17. to the ski pole. Instead, wrist strap 19 is secured to one part 20 of an easily and even instantaneously engagable and disengagable fastener. This fastener consists essentially of two basic parts, Le. a male or lug part 20 and a female or catch part 21. One of the parts or elements of the fastener, e.g. the female part 21, is unified or fixedly mounted in the recess 15 to form a unitary object with the pole l0 and hand grip 13. The other of the fastener elements, e.g. male part 20, is fixedly mounted to the wrist strap to form a unitary object with the wrist strap.

The catch or female fastener part 21 preferably consists essentially of a base hearing or pressure plate 22, a mounting post 23 united to the base bearing plate 22, and a spring catch arm 24 turned upwardly, or curved upwardly, from the heel end 25 of the catch member 21 and extending over bearing plate 22 in spaced relationship thereto. Further, spring catch arm 24 is contoured into two

terminal fingers

26 and 27.

Fingers

26 and 27 extend on opposite sides of mounting post 23. The

fingers

26 and 27, being part of the spring catch arm 24, are likewise spaced from, or in spaced relationship to, the bearing plate 22. Thus, a jaw is formed between each

finger

26 and 27 of the spring catch arm 24 and the bearing plate 22.

Each finger of the spring catch arm has a depressed lock portion 28 (i.e., a depression toward bearing plate 22) along the length thereof disposed over the bearing plate 22. Shoulder 29 of the depressed lock portion 28 is sloped toward the heel end 25 of the female member; that is, the slope is from the depression 28 away from the bearing plate 22 but toward heel 25. The slope angle normally will be at least about 30 up to about 85 with respect to the plane of the bearing plate 22, with a slope of approximately 50 to 75 preferred. This is to be distinguished from a shoulder which is perpendicular to the bearing plate 22 of a female catch member. Further, the leading section 30 from the depressed lock portion 28 (outwardly toward the terminus of the fingers 26 and 27) is also sloped, usually at an angle somewhat less than the slope of the shoulder 29. Leading section 30 forms the slide or mouth part of the catch 21. Sloped shoulder 29, and sloped slide 30, of the depressed lock portion 28 have an overall cross sectional shape somewhat analogous to a v." Especially to be noted is the critical requirement for a sloped shoulder, such as illustrated, in order to permit the rapid or instantaneous disengagement feature taught herein. Relatively speaking, however, engagement is more easily accomplished than disengagement for the structure illustrated, when the force is applied at a 90 angle to the pole.

The toe or leading edge 31 of the bearing plate 22 preferably is slightly curved or bent outwardly at the jaw en trance to catch member 21, so as to cam" or guide the male or lug member 20 into the jaw entrance to the catch member 21. This toe bend, however, is preferably limited to the edge 31. Edge 31 serves in use as a fulcrum against which the normal force on the wrist strap is applied during safe skiing. The fulcrum feature contributes to the lack of disengagement of the strap during normal use in skiing.

Member 21 may be formed from a blank of spring steel (e.g. stainless steel) or equivalent material cut or stamped and folded into the shape illustrated in the drawing. Mounting post 23, suitably consisting of a sleeve of material, may be formed by stamping a part of the metal of the bearing plate 22 into the post shape illustrated and simultaneously form a hole in bearing plate 22 through which screw 17 may pass. However, a sleeve of metal welded or beaded or otherwise fastened permanently to a central hole in the bearing plate provides excellent results. Mounting post or sleeve 23 preferably projects upwardly from a central portion of the bearing plate 22, as illustrated. lt receives a screw 17 or other fastening element for fixing member 21 as an integral part of the pole assembly within the recess (see FIG. 1).

In some ski poles of substantially conventional manufacture the surface of plug 18 (at the end of the pole shaft) is sloped at an angle of 10 or so from a plane perpendicular to the shaft of the pole. This slope is usually in the downward direction toward which the wrist strap is pulled as one uses the pole. To accommodate such poles, a section of the mounting post 23 (see FIG. 3) may be sliced away to form an angular surface part 32 on post 23. The orientation of surface part 32, as catch part 21 is placed over the sloped surface of a plug in such poles, is more or less perpendicular to the axis of the shaft of such poles, and therefore ready to receive the set of a screw 33 as used to fasten the catch part 21 in position. It sometimes is desirable to fill sleeve post 23 itself with a plug of material, such as plastic or lead, as an added feature to improve the rigidity of the mounting of catch member 21 to pole 10.

The male member of the cooperatively mating fastening elements is provided with a lug 34 contoured to mate with the interior recess of the catch member 21 between the jaw formed by the spring

catch arm fingers

26 and 27 and the bearing plate 22. Thus, male part 20 is equipped with a leading lug portion 34. The toe edge 35 of the lug is curved for easy gliding of it between the jaws of the catch member 21, as well as for increased ease of release as the direction of pull outwardly on a wrist strap is changed from about from the shaft of the pole below the wrist strap up to about from that shaft. The outer surface of the base 39 of the male part 20 is comparable in contour or surface shape to the interior surface of bearing plate 22 upon which it rests when the lug 34 of the male part is engaged with the catch member 21. Likewise, the upper or face surface of the male part 20, particularly in the lug part 34, is contoured to mate substantially with the spring catch member 24 (e.g., the fingers 26 and 27) of the female member 21.

The curve of the toe edge 35 continues along upper face of the lug 34 into a lug shoulder elevation 36. From lug shoulder elevation 36, the slope of the upper face of lug 34 is downwardly toward the base 39 of the male part 20. This downward slope forms a depressed part or lock-receiving part 37, into which the depressed lock portion 28 of the female part rests when the lug and female catch parts are engaged.

A central portion of the lug 34 is removed so as to form a slot 38 extending into the leading or toe edge of the lug, thereby making the lug a forked member. Slot 38, between the forked arms of the lug, accommodates or receives the mounting post 23 when the two parts of the fasteners are engaged. Further, the two arms of the ing 34, as formed by slot 38 into its leading edge, serve with post 23 as cooperative guide elements for centering the two parts of the fastener as they are pressed together.

The base of lug 34 extends to form a strap flange or plate member 39. From the upper face, or the lock-receiving portion 37 of lug 34, extends a similar flange or plate 40. Suitably, the upper plate 40, at the part near lock-receiving portion 37, is contoured upwardly or outwardly from base 39 before it extends parallel with the lower flange or plate 40. The extend of upward contour from lock-receiving portion 37 is just suffcient to accommodate the ends of a wrist strap 19 between

plates

39 and 40.

Hooks or points 41, suitably formed by stamping the same inwardly from either

plate

39 or 40, serve to assist in holding the ends of a wrist strap 19 in position, and also assist in preventing a swivel action for a wrist strap when mounted using a rivet 42, as is preferred. To accomplish such mounting, slotted rivet 42 is pressed through preformed hole 43 of plate 40, then through preformed holes in the ends of wrist strap 19, and through an aligned preformed hole in base plate 39 (not shown). The slot 44 of the rivet permits some contraction of the expanded leading end 45 ofit during the step of fixing the rivet in position. Once it is in place, the leading enlarged end 45 projects from the bottom surface of plate 39 (see FIG. 1); and its expanded condition, or normal condition, holds the rivet in position and therefore unifies the wrist strap 19 and the male part 20 as a single element. Other permanent-type fastening means, distinct from a rivet may, of course, be used to fix one part of the fastener mechanism to the strap.

As in the case of the female member, the male member 20 may be formed by stamping its shape from a blank of sheet material such as steel or the like (not necessarily of spring steel character) and then folding it into the contour illustrated in the drawing.

To reduce unwanted destructive cutting of a strap (which generally is of leather or flexible plastic material) as it is pulled downwardly over the rear edge 46 of the lower plate 39 of the male member, it is desirable to curve that rear edge 46 outwardly or downwardly so as to present a smooth surface against which strap 19 is pulled during use.

If desired, an adjustable band or other means 47, preferably elastic in nature, may be included on the strap 19 for the purpose of holding or fixing the strap about ones wrist and thereby reducing any possibility of the strap accidentally falling from ones wrist after the strap has been removed from a ski pole.

The fastener taught herein is quickly installed in conventional ski poles. To do this, one simply first removes the screw 17 through the top opening 16 of the standard or conventional pole. Then the ends of the strap 19 (which in conventional ski poles are fastened by a screw such as'screw 17) are removed from the lateral opening 14 of the hand grip 13. The ends of the strap 19 are inserted between the

flange plates

39 and 40 of male part 20. Rivet 42 is pressed into position to fasten the straps between those flange plates. At this point, if not earlier done, the female catch part 21 is pressed over the leading lug portion of the male part 20. Then the two parts of the fastener, as a single unit, are inserted through the lateral opening 14 into the recess of the pole. The width of the parts of the fastener is preferably only about one-half inch up to about three-fourths inch (e.g. l or 2 centimeters); and this width is easily accommodated by opening 14. Screw 17 then is replaced through mounting post 23 into the plug 18. Appearance-wise, the net result is that of a professional or conventional ski pole, without unsightly projecting elements; but the pole is no longer conventional in its functional character and safety features.

In some few instances, especially where professional skiers desire to engage'in a rigorous exercise or race where under no circumstances would they want to have their ski poles become separated from them, a disengagable strap for a ski pole can be a disadvantage. To satisfy this requirement, after one has installed the readily engagable and disengagable strap fastener of the invention, means are provided whereby the fastener taught herein is converted into a lock which prevents easy disengagement of the strap from the ski pole. An illustrative locking element 48 consists of a shaped bar of material (such as steel) easily slid within the recess defined by the walls of the sheet or blank of material forming the lug portion 34 of the male member 20. Bar 48 may have a flattened base portion 49 (which rests or abutts against the ends of strap 19 in member From the ends of flat portion 49, two

arms

50 and 51 project and terminate in inwardly

curved sections

52 and 53, between which is a jaw opening is formed. inwardly extending

parts

52 and 53 are curved back toward the base bar 49 so as to present a sloped leading surface for

parts

52 and 53 to abutt against mounting post 23 as the lock bar 48, in position within lug 34, is pressed against mounting post 23. Simultaneously, the pressure forces the two arms of lug 34 into the spaced jaws of the female member 21. Application of pressure causes

arms

50 and 51 of the lock bar 48 to expand and allow the inwardly curved

parts

52 and 53 to pass around mounting post 23. Once this is accomplished, the

arms

50 and 51 of lock bar return back to the position illustrated in FIG. 7; and the instantly disengagable feature for the fastener is obstructed by the locking feature of the inwardly curved

parts

52 and 53 of lock bar 48. Removal of lock bar 48 is accomplished by removing screw 17 and pulling out the entire fastener from opening 14, after which a screw driver or other tool is used to spread the arms of lock bar 48 and separate it from post 23 of the female catch part 21. A variety of alternate means may be used to lock the fastener hereof against convenient disengagement whenever that should become desirable. For example, a contoured plate adapted to prevent upward spring of the

spring fingers

26 and 27 may be placed over those fingers as well as over edge parts of mounting post 23, and then secured in position by tightening mounting screw 17.

Of importance in the preferred disengagable fastener illustrated is the relationship between the leading edge 31 of the part 21 fixed to the pole l0 and the heel or rear edge 46 of the part 20 fixed to the strap 19. These edges are in close proximity when the

parts

20 and 21 are engaged. Either such edge may extend beyond the other a slight distance when the parts are engaged. The basic principle is that the forces transmitted to the fastener by pulling upon the wrist strap 19 (as the pole is normally held and used during skiing) must not be transmitted to the fastener through any great leverage. Since the edge 31 serves more or less as the fulcrum edge for transmission of such forces, it is necessary (in order to reduce the leverage under which those forces are transmitted to the fastener) that the strap depend downwardly near that edge during gripping of the handle 13. This feature contributes to resistance to disengagement of the fastener parts during normal skiing use, but if the basket of the pole should become caught during a descent, release of the hand grip will cause the wrist strap to be pulled from the pole at some angle between about up to about (or even )between the shaft of the pole below the hand grip and the pulling force on the wrist strap.

In the preferred embodiment for the fastener, as illustrated, the post 23 serves as not only the mounting post for permanent-type connection to the ski pole, but also as a guide element for engaging the male member. Thus no special bend of the sides of the female member into a guide edge or limit abuttement is needed. Also, in the preferred embodiment, the male lug part 20 need not be so formed as to exhibit a leafspring compression and expansion character, although such is 'optional. In other words, either or both parts may be contoured'and formed of material exhibiting the necessary springy. character for engagement and disengagement, but this feature is preferably present in the female part 21. Although not preferred, an optional style for the detachable fastening elements would be that of forming a female part (analogous to bar 48) of suitably springy character and contour to detachably mate with the mounting post 23.

In some conventional style ski poles, the opening 16 is constricted at the part thereof nearest cavity 15 so that the head of the screw for permanently fastening the wrist strap seats upon handle grip material at the point of the constriction instead of directly upon the ends of the wrist strap. Where that minor modification of structure is encountered, the disengagable fastener of this invention is installed as aforediscussed except that a rubber gasket or grommet is suitably interposed as a stabilizing filler if any unwanted space is present between the upper part of sleeve 23 and the material forming the constriction. Additional stabilization of the female part of the fastener in'the pole recess of such structures is gained by including a plastic filler in the opening of post 23. Indeed, the screwpenetrable filler in post 23 may extend outwardly from that post for cutting to size at the time of installation, thus making a separate gasket or grommet unnecessary.

The nature of this invention makes it especially useful not only for modifying or converting existing ski poles but also for incorporating in new poles as they are made and marketed. Skiers, for the first time insofar as is known, now can enjoy the prestige of professional style pole equipment while at the same time gaining an instant strap release easily handled, in terms of engaging or disengaging the same, without taking off ones mittens or gloves.

That which is claimed is:

1. In an assembly comprising a pole, a hand grip over one end of said pole and in alignment with said pole, a lateral opening through said hand grip communicating with a recess aligned with said pole, and a loop-like wrist strap extending from said lateral opening, the improvement comprising cooperatively mated fastening elements operable for engagement and disengagement of said loop-like wrist strap in its entirety from said hand grip and pole by simple push and pull force approximately perpendicular to said pole, said elements consisting essentially of a female member and a male member, one said member being fixedly mounted in said recess to form a unitary object with said pole and hand grip, and the other said member comprising spaced plate means by which said other member is fixedly mounted to said wrist strap to form a unitary object with said wrist strap, said engaged male and female members being substantially non-disengageable by pulling said strap member in a direction parallel with said pole toward the end of said pole opposite said hand grip, but substantially readily disengageable by pulling said strap member in the opposite direction parallel with said pole.

2. The improved assembly of claim 1, characterized further in that said female member is fixedly mounted in said recess.

a mounting post united to and projecting upwardly from a central portion of said base bearing plate, said female member being fixedly mounted in said recess by a screw extending through said mounting post into said pole.

4. The improved assembly of claim 3 characterized further in that said male member comprises a lug part having a central portion removed to accommode said mounting post of said female member when said male and female members are engaged.

5. A quickly disengagable fastener comprising a female catch member and a male lug member, (a) said female catch member consisting essentially of a base bearing plate, a mounting post united to and projecting upwardly from a central portion of said bearing plate, and a spring catch arm extending from the heel of said catch member over said bearing plate in spaced relationship thereto, said spring catch arm being forked into two fingers at its terminal end, with one finger extending on each side of said mounting post, whereby jaws are formed between said fingers and said bearing plate, each finger of said spring catch arm being characterized by having a depressed lock portion with a shoulder and slide part along the length thereof disposed over said bearing plate, the shoulder of said depressed lock portions being sloped away from said bearing plate toward the heel of said catch member, and the slide part of said depressed lock portions extending toward the terminus of said fingers being sloped toward said terminus, and (b) said male lug member consisting essentially of a lug contoured to mate with the interior recess of said catch member between the jaws formed by said fingers and said bearing plate thereof, with a depression on the upper face of said lug having sloped side walls for mating with the shoulder and slide part of the depressed lock portions of said fingers, said lug member being forked by a slot into its toe leading edge to accommodate the post of said catch member as said male lug member is guided into engagement with said female catch member.

6. In an assembly comprising a pole, a hand grip over one end of said pole and in alignment with said pole, a lateral opening through said and grip communicating with a recess aligned with said pole, and a lo0p-like wrist strap extending from said lateral opening, the improvement comprising a fastener satisfying the requirements of claim 5, with one said member of said fastener fixedly mounted in said recess to form a unitary object with said pole and hand grip, and the other said member of said fastener fixedly mounted to said wrist strap to form a unitary object with said wrist strap, whereby said loop-like wrist strap is disengageable in its entirety from said hand grip and pole.

7. The fastener of claim 5 additionally comprising means to lock said members ofsaid fastener in engaged condition.

8. The improved assembly of claim 6 additionally comprising means to lock said members of said fastener in engaged condition.

9. In an assembly comprising a pole, a hand grip over one end of said pole and in alignment with said pole, a lateral opening through said hand grip communicating with a recess aligned with said pole, and a loop-like wrist strap extending from said lateral opening, the improvement comprising cooperatively mated fastening elements operable for engagement and disengagement of said loop-like wrist strap in its entirety from said hand grip and pole by simple push and pull force approximately perpendicular to said pole, said elements consisting essentially ofa female member and a male member, said female member comprising a base bearing plate and a mounting post united to and projecting upwardly from said base bearing plate, said female member being fixedly mounted in said recess to form a unitary object with said pole and hand grip, and said male member comprising a lug part having a portion removed to accommodate said mounting post of said female member when said male and female members are engaged, said male member being fixedly mounted to said wrist strap to form a unitary object with said wrist strap.

1 The improved assembly of claim 9 wherein said pole is a ski pole and includes a basket member at the end opposite said hand grip.

Claims

1. In an assembly comprising a pole, a hand grip over one end of said pole and in alignment with said pole, a lateral opening through said hand grip communicating with a recess aligned with said pole, and a loop-like wrist strap extending from said lateral opening, the improvement comprising cooperatively mated fastening elements operable for engagement and disengagement of said loop-like wrist strap in its entirety from said hand grip and pole by simple push and pull force approximately perpendicular to said pole, said elements consisting essentially of a female member and a male member, one said member being fixedly mounted in said recess to form a unitary object with said pole and hand grip, and the other said member comprising spaced plate means by which said other member is fixedly mounted to said wrist strap to form a unitary object with said wrist strap, said engaged male and female members being substantially nondisengageable by pulling said strap member in a direction parallel with said pole toward the end of said pole opposite said hand grip, but substantially readily disenGageable by pulling said strap member in the opposite direction parallel with said pole.

3. The improved assembly of claim 2, characterized further in that said female member comprises a base bearing plate and a mounting post united to and projecting upwardly from a central portion of said base bearing plate, said female member being fixedly mounted in said recess by a screw extending through said mounting post into said pole.

6. In an assembly comprising a pole, a hand grip over one end of said pole and in alignment with said pole, a lateral opening through said and grip communicating with a recess aligned with said pole, and a loop-like wrist strap extending from said lateral opening, the improvement comprising a fastener satisfying the requirements of claim 5, with one said member of said fastener fixedly mounted in said recess to form a unitary object with said pole and hand grip, and the other said member of said fastener fixedly mounted to said wrist strap to form a unitary object with said wrist strap, whereby said loop-like wrist strap is disengageable in its entirety from said hand grip and pole.

7. The fastener of claim 5 additionally comprising means to lock said members of said fastener in engaged condition.

9. In an assembly comprising a pole, a hand grip over one end of said pole and in alignment with said pole, a lateral opening through said hand grip communicating with a recess aligned with said pole, and a loop-like wrist strap extending from said lateral opening, the improvement comprising cooperatively mated fastening elements operable for engagement and disengagement of said loop-like wrist strap in its entirety from said hand grip and pole by simple push and pull force approximately perpendicular to said pole, said elements consisting essentially of a female member and a male member, said female member comprising a base bearing plate and a mounting post united to and projecting upwardly fRom said base bearing plate, said female member being fixedly mounted in said recess to form a unitary object with said pole and hand grip, and said male member comprising a lug part having a portion removed to accommodate said mounting post of said female member when said male and female members are engaged, said male member being fixedly mounted to said wrist strap to form a unitary object with said wrist strap.

10. The improved assembly of claim 9 wherein said pole is a ski pole and includes a basket member at the end opposite said hand grip.