WO2007032684A1

WO2007032684A1 - Ski pole

Info

Publication number: WO2007032684A1
Application number: PCT/NO2006/000312
Authority: WO
Inventors: Svein Pedersen; Per Erik Vold
Original assignee: Swix Sport As
Priority date: 2005-09-13
Filing date: 2006-09-11
Publication date: 2007-03-22
Also published as: NO20054245D0; NO324425B1; NO20054245L

Abstract

Abstract. A ski pole, comprising a handle (2) with means for fastening of a strap (8), wherein a main portion (5) of the handle is inclined in a direction transversely of a pole portion (1). During use, the lower part of the main portion (5) is farther away from the user than the upper part thereof, said main portion (5) being offset in the transverse direction in such a manner that the strap fastening means mainly is situated in a plane in the user's direction of movement, through the longitudinal axis of the pole portion (1) below the handle (2).

Description

SK I POLE 1

The present invention relates to a ski pole, in particular but not exclusively, for use by cross country skiers and users of roller skis. The ski pole may also be used for "Nordic Walking", i.e. without the use of skis.

For use in practising cross country skiing and in competitions the skiers to an increasing extent seek to use optimized equipment, including poles. Extremely lightweight and strong poles have come into use. For instance carbon fiber is a lightweight and strong material used among else for ski poles.

Such materials have a double weight reducing effect. The high strength permits the use of a less quantity of material, and the material has a lower density than materials used previously. This influences the forces or torques which a skier has to exert on the poles through the arms and the hands, in particular for pivoting the poles forwardly upon having made a stroke rearwardly, but also for stopping the pivoting of the poles before another stroke. A small mass is of course also of importance in order to minimize the physical work the skiers must perform in order to bring the ski poles along in uphills.

Another factor related to the pivotal movement of ski poles is the outer shape of the cross-section of the poles, which is of importance with respect to the air resistance. Poles having an approximately oval cross-section with the longest axis in the direction of movement have been suggested. An example is shown in GB 2 357 980.

A third factor, which the present invention particularly concerns, is the position of the hands during use of ski poles. Pole handles being a part of a straight pole have most frequently been used, but also handles being shaped to fit the hands gripping the handles. Inserts encapsulated in leather as well as pieces of cork fastened directly to the pole have been used in order to give the handle a cross-sectional shape different from that of a circular cylinder, and also with a varying cross-sectional shape lengthwisely of the handle.

The invention relates to a ski pole, comprising a handle with means for fastening of a strap, wherein a main portion of the handle is inclined in a direction transversely of the pole, and whereby, during use, the lower part of the main portion is farther away from the user than the upper part thereof, said main portion being offset in the transverse direction in such a manner that the strap fastening means mainly is situated in a plane in the user's direction of movement, through the longitudinal axis of the pole below the handle.

The main portion may be approximately straight, as seen in the direction of movement, and the inclination of the main portion may be relatively small, for instance in the range of 5 to 20 degrees. An angle of approximately 10 degree has been found to be appropriate.

If the handle is shaped such that the main portion is inclined, but without being offset in the transverse direction in the manner defined above, the strap fastening means will be situated in a certain distance from the plane through the longitudinal axis of the pole, and forces transferred via the strap will not be directed along the middle plane in the direction of the user's movement. During a stroke a certain transverse bending moment will occur in the pole.

Most users of ski poles find it comfortable that the hands gripping the ski pole handles are somewhat inclined transversely of the direction of movement, whereby the forearms are less twisted from the position being the most natural when the forearms are held approximately horizontal, i.e. that the palm and back of the hand, respectively, form a certain angle with the vertical direction.

In order to achieve the inclined position of the main portion of the handle, a lower portion of the handle from which the main portion extends inclined upwardly may extend outwardly from the pole below the handle or inclined outwardly and upwardly from the pole below the handle. Moreover, an upper portion of the handle, from which the main portion extends inclined downwardly, may extend outwardly and upwardly from the main portion of the handle, and the strap fastening means may be situated on this upper portion.

Somewhat exaggerated it may be said that the main portion of the handle together with the lower and upper portions form a shape like a Z, of which the horizontal parts are the lower and upper portions, respectively, and the inclined part is the main portion. However, the lower and upper portions of the handle need not be horizontal (when the pole is vertical), as they may be inclined approximately in the same direction, i.e. that they are parallel. The strap fastening means may, thus, be situated at the middle of the pole in the transverse direction thereof. A force exerted on the handle by the user will not cause any transverse bending moment in the pole. Consequently, the pole may have a less bending strength in the transverse direction, compared with a pole subjected to a transverse bending moment during use.

In other respects the pole may be conventionally shaped, but it may also have a particular cross-sectional shape, whereby the outer cross-sectional shape is approximately oval, the shape being such that the width (in the transverse direction) decreases more from the maximum width in the rearward direction than in the forward direction. Irrespectively of the cross-sectional shape the pole may have a cross-section which decreases from the handle towards its lower end.

An embodiment of a pole according to the invention will in the following be explained, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a pole in accordance with the invention, seen from the right side. Fig. 2 shows the pole of Fig. 1 , seen from the rear. Fig. 3 shows the pole of Fig. 1 and 2, seen from the left side. Fig. 4 shows the pole of Fig. 1 , seen from the front

Fig. 5 shows, somewhat enlarged relatively to the Figs. 1 to 4, the upper part of the pole, seen from the rear.

Fig. 6 shows, somewhat enlarged relatively to the Figs. 1 to 4, the upper part of the pole, seen from the front.

The pole shown has a handle integral with the remainder of the pole, and has a rearwardly directed disc at the lower end. Strap fastening means is provided near the top of the handle.

A pole according to the invention comprises a pole portion 1 and a handle 2. Lowermost on the handle 2 is a lower, upwardly inclined portion 6, which is integrally connected to a main portion 5 of the handle. At its uppermost end the main portion 5 is integrally connected to an upwardly inclined upper portion 7. A strap 8, of which is shown an upper end 4, is fastened to the upper portion 7. The strap 8 may be fastened in any possible manner. For instance, the upper end 4 may be inserted in a recess in an upper head 9 being an extension of the upper portion 7, and the strap may be clamped by a clamping piece (not shown), which may be removable for adjustment of the effective length of the strap 8. The strap may be shaped as a loop, or it may be connected to a collar adapted for insertion of the hand. The use of a loop-shaped strap having a fixed, not adjustable effective length is of course also possible.

As it appears in particular from the Figs. 2, 4 and 6, the main portion 5 of the handle 2 is inclined in such a direction that it during use extends inwardly towards the user in the upward direction. The lower portion 6 and the upper portion 7 of the handle 2 cause that the strap 8 can be fastened centrally of the pole portion 1 , as it appears from the Figs. 2, 4 and 5.

The pole portion 1 and the handle 2 may be integrally formed. The pole portion 1 may be hollow.

As an alternative to forming the pole portion 1 and the handle 2 as a unitary structure, these may be separate parts which are assembled in any possible manner. However, a unitary structure may lead to the advantage that the overall weight is reduced, compared with the use of separate parts.

The pole according to the invention may be made from any suitable materials, including such materials as mentioned introductorily, and the outer cross-section may be given a suitable shape with respect to air resistance.

Claims

Claims.

1. A ski pole, comprising a handle (2) with means for fastening of a strap (8), wherein a main portion (5) of the handle is inclined in a direction transversely of a pole portion (1), and whereby, during use, the lower part of the main portion (5) is farther away from the user than the upper part thereof, said main portion (5) being offset in the transverse direction in such a manner that the strap fastening means mainly is situated in a plane in the user's direction of movement, through the longitudinal axis of the pole portion (1) below the handle (2).

2. A ski pole according to claim 1 , wherein a lower portion (6) of the handle (2), from which the main portion (5) extends upwardly, extends outwardly or inclined outwardly and upwardly from the pole portion (1) below the handle (2)

3. A ski pole according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an upper portion (7) of the handle (2), from which the main portion (5) extends inclined downwardly, extends outwardly or inclined outwardly from the main portion (5) of the handle (2), and the strap fastening means is provided on this upper portion (7).