WO2020070449A1

WO2020070449A1 - Improved stick handle

Info

Publication number: WO2020070449A1
Application number: PCT/FR2019/052339
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Francois Fauvet
Original assignee: Fauvet Jean Francois
Priority date: 2018-10-03
Filing date: 2019-10-02
Publication date: 2020-04-09
Also published as: FR3086848A1; EP3860388A1; FR3086848B1

Abstract

The stick (1) has a first end and a second opposing end defining a longitudinal axis. A stick handle (2) is installed on the first end of the stick (1). The handle (2) comprises a body (4) mounted so as to be able to rotate relative to the longitudinal axis of the stick (1) by means of a rotation shaft (5). The rotation shaft (5) is mounted perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stick (1). The body (4) comprises a fastening member (6) configured to mechanically connect the stick handle (2) to a user's hand. The fastening member (6) is arranged between the rotation shaft (5) and a second end of the stick (1) intended to come into contact with the ground.

Description

IMPROVED STICK HANDLE

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to a handle of a stick for sliding or hiking sport.

State of the art

In many sliding and hiking activities, the distribution of efforts is made between the lower body and the upper body by means of sticks. The user uses sticks in order to balance themselves and above all to provide additional effort by means of the upper body muscles.

Conventionally, the handle of the stick has a strap which is used to keep the user's wrist in direct contact with the stick. The strap is made by a strap ring fixed to the head of the stick and inside which the user's hand passes. The user grips the stick in order to place the stick in the desired position before initiating a pushing phase.

It appears that this configuration in which the user's hand squeezes the stick almost continuously does not allow good relaxation of the user's hand, especially when the arm passes from a low position to a high position in order to fetch the future position of the stick against the ground.

Furthermore, it has been observed that the stick both escape from the user's hand when the latter's arm arrives at the end of pushing and returns to a high position in a relaxed manner. It is therefore particularly advantageous to better control the fixing of the stick with the hand of the user in the different stages of the push.

To improve the transmission of forces, it is known to produce a stick whose handle is pivoting. An exemplary embodiment is illustrated in document FR 3032333 which describes a handle pivotally mounted relative to the longitudinal axis of the stick. The area for fixing the hand to the stick is carried out on the upper part of the handle above or at the level of the axis of rotation. The ergonomic, monobloc handle has two lateral support zones for positioning thumb and middle finger in combination with a wrist strap and a rigid spoiler. The thumb rests on a support zone in the axis of rotation of the handle.

The gain provided by this configuration is minimal because it appears that this configuration does not allow good relaxation of the arm muscles between two pushing phases. In addition, when the handle is rotated, the ring finger and the little finger come into contact with the body of the stick, which prevents a full push. A substantially equivalent education is provided by document KR 10-2012-0051805 which is unable to provide relaxation of the arm muscles between two phases of thrust.

Summary of the invention

An object of the invention is to provide a handle intended to be installed at a first end of a stick and which improves the mechanical connection between the hand of the user and the stick during the various movements carried out.

There is a tendency to resolve this need by means of a stick handle intended to be installed at a first end of a tube of a stick, the stick having a longitudinal axis connecting the first end of the tube to a second end of the tube intended coming into contact with the ground, the stick handle comprising: a rigid body mounted movable in rotation relative to the stick tube by means of a rotation shaft, the rotation shaft being mounted perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stick , a fixing member configured to mechanically connect the stick handle to a hand of a user and transmit the forces applied by the hand of the user during a pushing phase.

The handle is remarkable in that the fixing member is configured to make a mechanical connection located only under the rotation shaft, the fixing member being arranged in a plane perpendicular to the rotation shaft and which cuts the tube.

In one development, the rotation shaft is mounted movable in translation along the longitudinal axis of the stick so that the body is movable in translation along the longitudinal axis of the stick. Advantageously, the handle comprises a spring configured to move the rotation shaft towards a first end of the handle opposite to the second end of the tube.

In a particular embodiment, the handle comprises a first hollow element configured to be fixed to the tube of the stick, the body being mounted movable in rotation and in translation relative to the first hollow element.

It is advantageous to provide that the first hollow element traps the spring.

In another development, the first hollow element defines at least one groove oriented along the longitudinal axis, the rotation shaft moving along the groove.

The invention also relates to a stick which is more practical than the sticks of the prior art.

The stick is remarkable in that it has a handle in one of the previous configurations.

Preferably, the handle is configured to be removably mounted relative to the tube.

Alternatively, the handle is fixedly mounted on the stick.

It is also advantageous to provide that the stick comprises a fixing system intended to be worn on the hand of the user and comprising a second fixing member cooperating with the fixing member.

Brief description of the drawings

Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the description which follows of particular embodiments given by way of nonlimiting examples and illustrated with the aid of the appended drawings, in which: FIGS. 1 and 2 represent schematic views a stick according to two embodiments of the invention; Figure 3 shows, schematically, in longitudinal section, a stick tube provided with a spring blocking a rotation shaft; Figure 4 shows, schematically, in longitudinal section, a stick tube provided with a spring blocking a rotation shaft, the cutting plane being perpendicular to that of Figure 3; FIG. 5 schematically shows, in longitudinal section, another embodiment of a stick tube provided with a spring blocking a rotation shaft with a groove in the side wall, the cutting plane being perpendicular to that of Figure 3; FIG. 6 schematically represents, in longitudinal section, a stick provided with a spring blocking a rotation shaft and the rotary body provided with an opening, the cutting plane being perpendicular to that of FIG. 3 in relation to the embodiment of Figure 1; FIG. 7 schematically represents, in longitudinal section, a stick provided with a spring blocking a rotation shaft and the rotary body provided with a hook, the cutting plane being perpendicular to that of FIG. 3 in relation to the embodiment of Figure 2; Figure 8 illustrates, schematically, a fixing system installed on the hand of a user to cooperate with the stick fixing member.

Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

Figures 1, 2, 6 and 7 illustrate a first and a second embodiment of a stick 1 which include a stick handle 2 installed at a first end of the stick 1. The first end of the stick 1 is intended for gripping by the hand of the user while the second end of the stick 1 is intended to come into contact with the ground.

The stick 1 has a tube 3 which defines a longitudinal axis which connects the first end to the second end of the tube 3. According to the embodiments, the stick 1 can be straight or slightly curved. The tube 3 can be made of any suitable material, for example metal, wood, composite materials, carbon fiber or a mixture of the latter. It is advantageous to provide that the tube 3 of the stick is hollow. The cross section of the tube 3 preferably has a circular shape but it is also possible to have an ovoid shape or another shape.

Depending on the configuration, the stick handle 2 can be installed removably or fixedly on the tube 3.

The handle 2 comprises a body 4 which is mounted movable in rotation relative to the tube 3 and preferably relative to the longitudinal axis of the stick 1. The handle 2 is mounted movable by means of a rotation shaft 5 which is mounted perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stick 1. By mounted perpendicular, it is meant that the rotation shaft 5 makes a right angle (90 °) with the longitudinal axis of the stick 1 with an offset which is preferably less than 10 °, again more preferably less than 5 °. Indeed, a strictly perpendicular configuration gives good results, but it appears that a slight offset from the strictly perpendicular configuration makes it possible to better follow the movement of each of the user's hands during the pushing phases. The use of an offset from the strict perpendicular can lead to the appearance of a right handle 2 and a left handle 2, for example for cross-country skiing or other sports in which the sticks 1 do not have no symmetry of revolution.

In a particular embodiment, the body 4 can pivot relative to the longitudinal axis of the stick by an angle less than 120 °, even more preferably less than 90 ° during the different stages of a pushing phase. Advantageously, the minimum angle of rotation is equal to 15 °, preferably 30 °. Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a body 4 in a waiting position. The angle of rotation is measured from this position and by performing a counterclockwise rotation.

The body 4 is made of a rigid material in order to retransmit the forces applied by the hand of the user on the handle 2 and especially to improve the guidance of the stick during the different stages of the pushing phase and mainly when the user brings back handle 2 in front of him before the next pushing step.

The body 4 includes a fixing member 6 which is configured to fix the user's hand with the stick 1 and more particularly with the handle 2. The fixing member 6 makes the mechanical connection between the hand of the user and the stick 1. This mechanical connection allows the transmission of the force applied by the user's hand to the stick 1. During a pushing phase, the user pulls on the body 4 which is mechanically connected to the rotation shaft 5 so that the user pulls on the rotation shaft 5. This configuration is more effective than the configurations of the prior art or the user pushes on handle 2.

The fastening member 6 is arranged in the plane of the tube 3 in order to improve the transmission of forces at all stages of the thrust. The fixing member 6 is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the rotation shaft 5 and which intersects the tube 3. Advantageously, the plane is a plane of symmetry and / or median plane of the cross section of the tube 3. This configuration is more advantageous than those of the prior art where the handle 2 is shaped in order to define support zones for the fingers of the user which partially imposes the configuration of the thrust by encouraging to tighten the handle strongly 2 during the pushing phases. In these configurations, the user's hand is located above or at the level of the rotation shaft, which requires firm grip of the handle 2 during the pushing phase. The user pushes on the stick instead of pulling.

Advantageously, the fixing member 6 is configured to carry out the fixing of the user's hand with the handle 2 of the stick only under the rotation shaft 5, that is to say only between the shaft of rotation 5 and the second end of the stick. The fixing member 6 is not facing the rotation shaft in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube 3.

In this configuration, the user no longer needs to tighten the body 4 of the stick 1, it is particularly advantageous to provide that the handle 2 is devoid of protruding support for the placement of the fingers. The tube 3 can be smooth with the exception of the body 4. The stick 1 is then only directed by means of the body 4 of the handle 2.

The fixing member 6 installed on the body 4 of the handle 2 cooperates with a second fixing member 8 which is installed on the hand of the user and illustrated in FIG. 8. In this way, the stick 1 is fixed to the hand of the user by means of the fastening member 6 of the stick and of the second fastening member 8. The fingers of the user no longer need to tighten the stick 1 during the different pushing phases which improves muscle relaxation between two pushing phases. It has been observed that a significant improvement in the ergonomics of the handle 2 of the stick appears when the attachment between the handle 2 and the user's hand is under the rotation shaft 5 in normal use of the stick. In an advantageous embodiment, the fixing member 6 of the handle 2 is disposed between the rotation shaft 5 and the second end of the tube 3.

In a particular embodiment, the fixing member 6 is mounted so that the thumb and middle finger are arranged under the axis of rotation during a pushing phase.

During a pushing phase, the stick 1 is in contact with the ground which blocks the second end. As the user presses the stick 1 and advances, the stick 1 moves relative to the user so that he is forced to twist his wrist and he cannot take full advantage of the pushing force when moving his arm backwards. At the end of the pushing phase, the natural orientation of the wrists causes the second end of the stick 1 to be off the ground so that a non-negligible part of the pushing force is lost. According to the invention, by using a body 4 mounted rotatably installed initially above the point of attachment between the hand of the user and the stick 1, it is possible to have a movement of the arm and wrist which is more natural and have a longer push phase.

According to an advantageous configuration, the rotation shaft 5 is configured so as to make only one rotation. When the body 4 can only move in one movement per rotation, it is much easier to handle the stick 1, to place it in the right places during the different phases of the push and especially between two push phases.

In an alternative embodiment, the rotation shaft 5 is configured so as to allow the body 4 to rotate relative to the stick 1 and it is also configured to move by translation along the longitudinal axis of the tube 3. The movement of the rotation shaft 5 by translation is advantageously less than 5 cm so as not to penalize the pushing force.

Preferably, as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, the handle 2 has a spring 7 which is configured to return the handle 2 to a standby position between two pushing phases. In a pushing phase, the handle 2 moves so that the fixing member 6 moves away from the second end of the stick and / or from the body 4 of the stick. The spring is advantageously configured so that the fixing member 6 approaches the body 4 of the stick and / or the second end of the stick, in the absence of stress.

When pushing, the user presses the stick which is blocked against the ground. The effort provided by the user is opposed to that of the spring 7 so that the body 4 pivots. Once the pushing phase is complete, the second end of the stick 1 is no longer blocked against the ground and the spring 7 can bring the body 4 back into the waiting position for the next pushing phase.

A person skilled in the art will be able to choose the force provided by the spring 7 so as not to prevent the rotation of the body 4 and to ensure the return to a waiting position. The spring 7 can be formed by a helical spring or by any known element. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3 in section, the rotation shaft 7 is locked in the tube 3 by means of a plug 7b and the spring 7.

In a preferred configuration, the handle 2 comprises a first element 9 which cooperates with the body 4. The first element 9 is fixed to the tube 3 and defines a housing for the rotation shaft 5. The body 4 is mounted so as to be movable in rotation by compared to the first element 9.

Alternatively, the first element 9 is formed by the tube 3.

Advantageously, the first element 9 is hollow and the spring 7 is installed inside the first element 9.

It is possible to provide a spring 7 which is of helical type and whose turns move along the horizontal axis of the stick 1. In this configuration, it is advantageous to provide that the rotation shaft 5 does not have a circular shape so that the variations in the section of the rotation shaft 5 brings it back to its standby position and therefore brings the body 4 of the handle 2 back to the standby position.

Advantageously, the rotation shaft 5 has a flat which defines the waiting position of the body 4. The flat of the rotation shaft 5 cooperates with a flat area of the first element 9 so that the rotational movement of the rotation shaft 5 stops when the flat comes to rest on the flat area of the first element 9. Alternatively, the flat can be removed and the body 4 stops when it comes into contact with the tube 3. L use of the flat is advantageous because it allows avoid repeated shocks of the body 4 against the tube 3 and therefore a fatigue rupture of the body 4 and / or of the tube 3.

The dimensions of the rotation shaft 5 are advantageously configured to increasingly constrain the spring as the fastening member 6 moves away from the longitudinal axis of the stick 1.

When the first element defines a groove 10 allowing a displacement of the rotation shaft 5 along the longitudinal axis of the stick, the use of a rotation shaft 5 with variable section as indicated above allows the spring to allow the longitudinal translation and rotation and to bring the body 4 into the waiting position between two pushing phases. FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment where the rotation shaft passes through a cavity provided in the first element 9 and allowing the rotation of the shaft. FIG. 5 illustrates the production of a groove 10.

Advantageously, the fixing member 6 is a cavity (Figures 1 and 6) or a hook (Figures 2 and 7) which cooperates with the second fixing member 6 which is respectively a hook or a cavity. Other fixing systems are possible, but the use of a hook cooperating with a cavity is preferred since it is particularly effective from a mechanical point of view and easy to implement.

It is preferable that the fixing member 6 is in the form of an orifice or a cavity which facilitates the formation of the fixing member 6. The orifice cooperates with a hook installed on the hand of the user preferably in the space located on the palm of the hand in the part delimited by the longitudinal axis of the middle finger and which contains the thumb and between 0.1 and 3 cm above the axis of rotation of the wrist. It is optionally possible to place the binding between the hand and the handle at the axis of rotation of the wrist relative to the ulna and the radius.

In a preferred configuration, the body 4 is fixed to the rotation shaft 5 at at least two places separated by the first element 9. This configuration is mechanically more resistant than that at a single fixing point.

In a particular embodiment, the body 4 defines a complementary or almost complementary shape to the external surface of the first element 9. This configuration makes it possible to have a body 4 which best matches the shape of the first element 9 and makes it possible to have a body 4 which forms a slight extra thickness with respect to the stick 1. Thus, the user finds an operation of the stick 1 almost identical to the usual operation in the standby position.

The body 4 is advantageously made of plastic or a composite material such as carbon fiber. The rotation shaft 5 is advantageously made of a metal.

When the handle 2 is mounted irremovable, it is advantageous to form the first element 9 in the tube 3 of the stick 1.

As an alternative, when the handle 2 is removably mounted, it comprises a clamping means on the first end of the tube 3 of the stick 1. Preferably, the first element 9 has a hollow part whose internal shape is complementary to the external shape of the section transverse of the tube 3 of the stick 1, that is to say perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stick. It is then possible to dismantle the initial handle and then to mount the handle 2 as described in the previous embodiments.

It is particularly advantageous to provide that the rotation shaft 5 passes through the external envelope of the tube 3. For example, when the tube 3 has a circular section, it is advantageous that the rotation shaft 5 is directed along a diameter. This configuration is mechanically more solid. This embodiment is particularly advantageous for forming a stick for the practice of cross-country skiing, Nordic skiing, roller skiing or skating and any other sport.

It is particularly advantageous to use the handle 2 with a glove or a system for fixing the hand with the stick commonly called "strap" and which has the second fixing member 8.

In the configurations of the prior art, the point of attachment of the hand with the handle 2 of the stick is located substantially above a straight line which connects the end of the thumb with the end of the little finger. The attachment point is formed by a flexible element which is configured to avoid losing the stick and not to carry out the push. In the preferred configuration, the fixing member 6 is located between the straight line which connects the base of the thumb with the base of the little finger and the axis of rotation of the wrist during flexion and extension.

With this configuration, during the pushing phase, the pressure exerted on the user's fingers is less because the effort is mainly provided by the second fixing member 8 on the first fixing member 6 and therefore on the stick 1.

In a particular embodiment, the fixing system comprises an additional fixing means which is fixed to the body 4. The additional fixing means makes it possible to form a second fixing point with the body 4 which allows better control of the orientation of the body 4 and the orientation of the stick by orienting his hand without firmly holding the stick. This configuration allows better muscle relaxation between two pushing phases because it is between the two pushing phases that the stick is placed and that it is necessary to properly control the orientation of the stick. A good control of the orientation of the stick makes it possible in particular to prevent the latter from turning because it is not well enough maintained. The stick can then be installed between the legs of the user which automatically causes the skier to fall.

In another configuration, the handle 2 comprises the system for fixing the hand of the user so that the system for fixing the hand of the user is irremovable.

Claims

1. Stick handle (2) intended to be installed at a first end of a tube (3) of a stick (1), the stick (1) having a longitudinal axis connecting the first end of the tube (3) to a second end of the tube (3) intended to come into contact with the ground, the handle (2) of the stick comprising: a rigid body (4) mounted movable in rotation relative to the tube (3) of the stick

(1) by means of a rotation shaft (5), the rotation shaft (5) being mounted perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stick (1), a fixing member (6) configured to mechanically connect the handle

(2) stick to a hand of a user and transmit the forces applied by the hand of the user during a pushing phase, characterized in that the fixing member (6) is configured to make a connection mechanical located only under the rotation shaft (5) to pull the rotation shaft during a pushing phase, the fixing member (6) being arranged in a plane perpendicular to the rotation shaft (5 ) and which cuts the tube (3).

2. handle (2) stick according to the preceding claim wherein the rotation shaft (5) is mounted movable in translation along the longitudinal axis of the stick (1) so that the body (4) is movable in translation along the longitudinal axis of the stick (1) ·

3. handle (2) of stick according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a first hollow element (9) configured to be fixed to the tube (3) of the stick (1), the body (4) being mounted movable in rotation and in translation relative to the first hollow element (9).

4. handle (2) stick according to one of the preceding claims comprising a spring (7) configured to move the rotation shaft (5) towards a first end of the handle (2) opposite to the second end of the tube ( 3).

5. handle (2) stick according to the preceding claim wherein the first hollow element (9) traps the spring (7).

6. handle (2) stick according to the combination of claims 4 and 5 wherein the first hollow element (9) defines at least one groove (10) oriented along the longitudinal axis, the rotation shaft (5) moving along the groove (10).

7. A stick comprising a stick handle according to any one of the preceding claims.

8. Stick according to the preceding claim wherein the handle (2) is configured to be removably mounted relative to the tube (3).

9. Stick according to claim 7 wherein the handle (2) is fixedly mounted on the stick (1).

10. A stick according to the preceding claim characterized in that it comprises a fixing system intended to be worn on the hand of the user and comprising a second fixing member (8) cooperating with the fixing member (6).