Patent Application
20180271236
The present invention relates to a pole handle, in particular for walking poles, trekking poles, Alpine ski poles, cross-country ski poles or Nordic walking poles, having a handle body with a hook-like device for fastening a hand-retaining device, in particular in the form of a hand strap or a glove. In this case, latching means are arranged in the region of the hook-like device in such a manner that a strap-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device, which is inserted from above into the hook-like device and is provided on the hand-retaining device, is fixed in a self-locking manner in the hook-like device.
WO 2006/066423 A1 discloses a pole handle having a holding mandrel for fastening a hand-retaining device. In the case of said pole handle, in particular for walking poles, trekking poles, Alpine ski poles, cross-country poles and Nordic walking poles, there is a handle body and a hook-like device for fastening a hand-retaining device in particular in the form of a hand strap or a glove. Displaceable or rotatable latching means are arranged in the region of the hook-like device in such a manner that a strap-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device, which is inserted substantially from above into the hook-like device and is provided on the hand-retaining device, is fixed in a self-locking manner in the hook-like device. With all the advantages, the design described therein has the disadvantage, among others, that dirt or snow, e.g. in the event of a fall, is able to penetrate into the slot formed in the pole handle by the hook-like device or into gaps between the release button and the wall of the recess of the handle in which the release button is accommodated. This can, in particular at temperatures below freezing, result in the latching mechanism being blocked, e.g. as a result of ice formation, or rather in the eyelet-shaped device not being able to be latched-in or no longer being able to be released, the latter possibly being a safety risk in the event of a fall. In addition, the latching mechanism of the embodiment of the document described in conjunction with
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pole handle for cross-country athletes, in particular, among others, biathlon athletes, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.
Said object is achieved by a pole handle according to claim 1.
The pole handle according to the invention is suitable, in particular, for trekking poles, Nordic walking poles, Alpine ski poles or cross-country poles. It comprises a handle head and a handle body, as well as a hook-like device for fastening a hand-retaining device, in particular in the form of a hand strap or a glove.
At least one displaceable, pivotable or rotatable latching means is arranged in the region of the hook-like device in such a manner that a strap-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device, which is inserted substantially from above into the hook-like device and is provided on the hand-retaining device, is fixed in a self-locking manner in the hook-like device.
In this case, the hook-like device is arranged on the pole handle on the hand side in the top region of the handle body or in the handle head. The hook-like device includes a holding mandrel or holding pin which is arranged offset to the hand side from the handle body thereby realizing an insertion slot or as an incision in the handle body. The holding mandrel or holding pin can be arranged substantially parallel to the pole handle longitudinal axis, but it can also be inclined rearward to a certain extent, that is to say toward the rear side or hand side, by an angle β in a plane spanned by the pole axis and the direction of movement such that it is not accessible from above parallel to the pole handle longitudinal axis, but from a slight upward angle. The corresponding opening angle β (to be understood with a positive sign anticlockwise in
The latching means is realized in the form of a retaining lug or latching lug which, in the braced position, defines in the downward direction a restricted or enclosed region for the strap-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device. To this end, a recess is provided from above in the handle head and/or handle body, in which recess a displaceably and/or rotatably mounted locking block is arranged, on or in which the latching means is arranged. The core of the invention is that, on its upper side, the locking block comprises an actuating region which forms the handle head at least in part and which, on the hand side, in a rear handle head region, engages over the top of the insertion slot at least in part without closing the access to the insertion slot.
In other words, the actuating region overlaps the insertion slot, but leaves it accessible, however, from a hand side or rather from the rear or at an angle from above so that the strap-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device of the hand-retaining device can be pulled over or rather guided over the holding mandrel. Consequently, the insertion slot is accessible from the outside both in the rest position, in which the retaining lug is braced against the holding mandrel, and in a release position in which, as a result of the movement of the actuating region, the retaining lug is removed out of the insertion slot.
According to a preferred embodiment, the actuating region forms a top closure of the handle head, wherein the actuating region preferably engages over the top of a side wall, in a preferred manner of both lateral side walls of the handle head. In order to prevent an ingress of water, dirt or snow through said slot between actuating region and respective side wall, the lower edge of the actuating region can be realized correspondingly, for example in a stepped manner, and the side wall adjoining there can be correspondingly stepped, or it is also possible to realize a labyrinth edge in said region. As the actuating region and the side wall are realized here with the same radius about the pivot point of the block, good seals can be achieved with small tolerances. In an advantageous manner, the actuating region additionally covers a downwardly beveled flank of the handle head in a front handle head region.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the actuating region, in a rear handle head region, on the hand side or rather directed rearward, comprises an extension which preferably extends substantially transversely to the pole handle longitudinal axis along a horizontal direction (opposite to the direction of movement of the user) and which overlaps the insertion slot at least in part. Consequently, the insertion slot is overlapped at least in part by the extension of the actuating region both in a rest position, in which the latching means is braced against the hook-like device, and in a release position in which the latching means releases the insertion slot at least in part.
It is particularly advantageous when the extension comprises on its hand-side end an upwardly beveled flank which extends upward forming an angle of between 95 and 120 degrees, preferably of between 100 and 105 degrees, to a plane which is spanned by the pole handle longitudinal axis and the rotational axis. As a result, more space remains on the holding mandrel for the coupling of the hand-retaining device or rather the insertion of the strap-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device.
The activating region at its widest point preferably comprises a width of between 0.7 and 2.5 cm, in particular preferably of approximately between 1 and 2 cm. The actuating region at its widest point preferably comprises an almost identically large or preferably an at least identically large, or preferably a somewhat larger width, i.e. by a total of between 1 and 5 mm, than a width of the handle head at its widest point. The actuating region consequently “caps” the handle head to a certain extent. In contrast to various embodiments from the prior art, the actuating region here is not embedded in the handle head. The advantage of this is that no dirt or snow is able to penetrate into the handle head recess between the actuating region and the side wall of the handle head.
In addition, it is advantageous when the actuating region extends further in the front handle head region in the direction of movement than the handle head in the front handle head region. Here too, an overlap results in the ingress of the dirt or snow into the handle head recess being avoided.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the locking block is mounted on the handle head so as to be rotatable about a horizontal rotational axis which is arranged perpendicularly to the pole handle longitudinal axis and preferably transversely to the direction of movement. This is preferably realized by a transverse pin, by means of which the locking block is mounted in the handle head, and which projects through the locking block and the side walls of the handle head.
A bottom edge of the actuating region, which adjoins a side wall of the handle head, and preferably also the two side walls of the handle head at that location, preferably forms at least in regions an arc about the rotational axis of the locking block. In this case, a circle with a circle radius of between 0.5 and 3.5 cm, preferably within the range of between 0.5 and 1.5 cm, is preferably defined.
The locking block can be realized in one piece with the actuating region or can be integrally formed on the locking block. Consequently, in said embodiment, to a certain extent the actuating region forms the topmost portion of the locking block. The actuating region, in this case, can be realized from a softer material than the locking block, for example with more grip-friendly characteristics.
When the pole handle is looked at from the side, or rather in relation to or relative to a plane which is spanned by the pole handle longitudinal axis and the direction of movement, the actuating region is preferably realized in a convex manner or rather is curved downward or in an arched manner. The actuating region is preferably realized in a downwardly directed arched manner at least in the front handle head region, also in the hand-side rear handle head region. This allows the handle head to be comfortably gripped around from above, for example when supporting. This allows the locking block/actuating region to be actuated in many ways, namely with the thumb, with the index finger, of the same or the other hand.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment, in addition to this or as an alternative to it, the actuating region is realized in a convex manner or rather is curved downward or in an arched manner in relation to or rather relative to a plane which extends perpendicularly to the pole handle longitudinal axis.
A particularly grip-friendly embodiment comprises an actuating region which, on its top surface, comprises a structuring, in particular a ribbing, which is suitable for avoiding a user finger slipping. The structuring, in this case, is preferably arranged both in a rear or rather hand-side handle head region and in a front handle head region of the actuating region.
For the purpose of ergonomic shape and saving material, a further preferred embodiment is characterized in that the actuating region is realized in a converging manner in the direction of movement in the front handle head region and/or in the hand-side rear handle head region when viewed from above.
A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that, in the front handle head region, the actuating region additionally comprises an extension which overlaps the handle head in the direction of movement, preferably by between 1 and 3.5 cm, preferably within the range of between 1.5 and 2.8 cm. Said embodiment is particularly suitable, for example, for use in biathlon. When the athlete takes up the pole in a loose manner, the pole handle can slip through the hand of the athlete and come to a stop in the ready position at the lower edge of said extension which serves to a certain extent as a “stop catch”. In the stop position, the hand strap of the athlete is then arranged at the correct height of the pole handle so that the athlete is then able, almost “blindly”, to click the hand-retaining device into the handle or rather on the holding mandrel by means of the strap-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped coupling element.
Said function is particularly favored in a pole handle, the actuating region of which comprises, in a front handle head region, a substantially straight portion which extends on the top surface in the direction of movement substantially horizontally to the pole handle longitudinal axis, preferably over a length of between 1.0 and 3.5 cm, preferably over a length of between 1.5 and 3.5 cm, in particular preferably between 2 and 3 cm. To this end, it is particularly advantageous when, in the front handle head region, the actuating region comprises an end which connects to the straight portion and is bent downward. The downwardly directed curvature on the bottom surface or rather bottom edge of the extension in the front handle head region which overlaps the handle head preferably describes at least in part an arc of a circle which has substantially at least the same arc radius as a finger, in particular an index finger, of a user. The end is then bent off in such a manner that the end describes a somewhat larger curvature or rather a smaller arc radius such that the extension can serve in an optimum manner as a stop catch. The extension can additionally have at least one material cutout or rather recess or indentation for the purpose of saving material and consequently weight.
The above-described latching means is preferably realized in the form of a retaining lug or rather latching lug which is preferably arranged on or in the locking block or is realized in one piece with the locking block. The retaining lug can, for example, form the bottom portion of the locking block.
Said retaining lug, in this case, in a position braced against the hook-like device (rest position of the latching mechanism when the pole is in use), defines downward a restricted region for the strap-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device. The strap-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device is consequently held captive in said restricted region, until it is released by means of releasing the latching mechanism as a result of rotating/tilting the actuating region in a direction to a hand side of the user or rather rearward (opposite the direction of movement).
The locking block is advantageously braced by means of a spring, in particular in a preferred manner by means of a leaf spring, against the hook-like device which is arranged on the hand side. In this case, the spring is preferably arranged in a recess of the locking block, wherein the recess is preferably arranged in a front region of the locking block, said front region being directed away from the hook-like device in the direction of movement. In said preferred embodiment, the spring is braced there against a (front) inside wall of the handle head in the recess of the handle head. This allows for a self-locking mechanism. For this purpose, the retaining lug preferably comprises a beveled flank parallel to the pole handle longitudinal axis from top to bottom in the direction of insertion. To achieve the self-locking, the user has just to guide the strap-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device on the hand-retaining device in the rest position over the holding mandrel, the retaining lug being displaced out of the insertion slot against the spring force and snapping back as soon as the strap-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device is caught in the restricted region.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the locking block is tiltable against the force of the spring about the rotational axis from outside by means of the actuating region thereby releasing the self-locking. For this purpose, the actuating region is tilted toward one hand side of the user. This can be achieved in a convenient manner by means of the index finger or by means of the thumb of the hand. In the case of the above-described variant for biathlon sport with the extension on the front handle head region, the actuating region can be additionally actuated or rather pivoted as a result of moving the index finger held under the stop catch axially upward along the pole handle longitudinal axis.
The pole handle can additionally have a mechanism for automatic release, for example as a safety aspect. Such an automatic release can be realized by a separate mechanism, such as is disclosed, for example, in WO 2006/066423, however it can also be achieved simply as a result of the bottom region of the retaining lug being realized in a beveled manner, namely angled slightly upward toward the holding mandrel such that the block is able to be deflected when there is a sufficiently large tensile force upward on the strap/eyelet against the restoring force of the spring 12.
The present invention additionally relates to a pole, in particular a walking pole, trekking pole, Alpine ski pole, cross-country ski pole or Nordic walking pole having a pole handle according to one of the previously described embodiments.
Further exemplary embodiments are described in the dependent claims.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below by way of the drawings which simply serve for explanation and are not to be interpreted as restricting. The drawings are as follows:
When seen from the side, that is to say in a plane E1 which is spanned by the direction of movement L and the pole longitudinal axis S, the actuating region 10 comprises an arched or rather curved design. Said convexly curved design when seen from the side is important, as mentioned above, for the option of actuation both with the thumb (from behind) and with the index finger (from the front) with the same hand. To illustrate said curvature, a circle K1 with a radius r1 is added in
In the rear or rather hand-side handle head region 2a, the actuating region 10 comprises an extension 10c which engages over the insertion slot 6, this being accessible from the hand side H. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the extension 10c comprises a flank 17 which is beveled/angled upward at an angle a of approximately 105 degrees with respect to the pole longitudinal axis S, measured in a plane E1 which is spanned by the pole handle longitudinal axis S and the direction of movement L.
The extension 10c on the actuating region 10 and the path of the movement of the actuating region 10 for the release movement is provided or set up in such a manner that access to the insertion slot 6 is ensured both in the rest position and in the release position, at least in a direction from the back to the front, or rather parallel to the direction of movement L.
The actuating region 10 additionally comprises on its top surface, both in the rear handle head region 2a and in the front handle head region 2b, a structuring 16, or rather a ribbing, which provides the user with a grippier surface when releasing the latching mechanism. The structuring 16 is arranged at the back and at the front as the user is able to actuate the actuating region 10 in the direction of rotation D both with the thumb and with the index finger of the hand that is coupled to the pole handle 1 by means of a hand-retaining device (or with a finger of the other hand). It can be seen in
As can be seen from
As mentioned in the introduction, the axis 25 of the holding mandrel 4 can be arranged parallel to the pole handle longitudinal axis S. As shown in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01732/14 | Nov 2014 | CH | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2015/073847 | 10/15/2015 | WO | 00 |
