The present invention relates to a pole for use as sports equipment, in particular as a Nordic walking pole according to the features of the preamble of claim 1.
A plurality of Nordic walking poles are known from the prior art, not least because the type of sport Nordic walking is enjoying great popularity among a broad section of the population.
WO 2005/120281 discloses such a Nordic walking pole which comprises a handle with a loop, a pole body, a pole tip and a rubber buffer in the area of the pole tip. The pole tip is axially displaceable in the direction of the pole axis in such a manner that the tip extends from the rolling surface of the rubber buffer or that the tip is completely retracted so that no parts of the rubber buffer extend over the rolling surface. For this purpose the buffer is typically turned through a specific angle about the pole axis, axially displaced and then turned back again through the same angle. The user can accordingly make the choice, according to the ground, whether the pole should be used with the rubber buffer or with the extended tip. On a forest path or a path through fields with coarser stones or gravel and soft ground, the user for example selects the extended tip. On an asphalt road with a hard, usually fairly smooth surface the user preferably selects the rubber buffer.
CH 384 148 discloses a protective device for pole tips. The said protective device is axially displaceable along the pole axis and can be fixed with an adjusting screw or a quick release device. In this case, the protective sleeve can have different positions, namely for example, a position which releases the pole tip or a position which protects the pole tip. The protective tip is non-positively firmly clamped by means of a force which is applied through the adjusting screw or the quick release device radially to the circumference of the pole body.
A disadvantage with the poles of the prior art is generally that the change from the use of the tip to the rubber or the rubber buffer to the tip is complex and laborious.
Another disadvantage arises from the fact that many of these buffers could be displaced in the axial direction when there is a larger force in the axial direction, that is in the direction of the pole axis.
In addition, adjustable pole tips are liable to contamination. In particular on wet paths, dirt can collect between the pole tip and the pole body. Since only a small play should be provided between pole tip and pole body, the penetration of dirt can impede or even make impossible any movement of the pole tip.
Known from WO 2008/037098 is a pole, in particular a Nordic walking pole, which comprises a pole body at the lower end whereof a tip body and a buffer are provided. The buffer is mounted displaceably so that it can be fixed in an axial direction to the pole body. The buffer can be fixed in at least two axially different positions by means of a positive connection in relation to the pole body. The tip body and/or the lowermost portion of the pole body are arranged to pass through a central opening of the buffer and the buffer can be fixed in an axial direction to the pole body in this central opening.
It is accordingly the object of the present invention to provide an improved buffer for a pole, in particular for a Nordic walking pole, which allows it to be changed simply between a position with extended tip and a position with retracted tip, which has no loose parts and in which the buffer need not be removed and then stowed away for the conversion. Specifically this involves the improvement of a buffer or especially a pole having a pole body, at the lower end of which a buffer with a tip is provided, wherein the tip and/or a lowermost portion of an inner sleeve secured to the pole body are arranged passing through a central opening (in the running surface or rolling surface) of the buffer, wherein the buffer is mounted so that it can be moved and secured in an axial direction (in relation to the pole axis) to the pole body in this central opening, and wherein the buffer can be secured in at least two axially different positions in relation to the pole body or the inner sleeve via a form-fit connection. In such a pole or buffer, the buffer is characterised according to the invention by an outer sleeve engaging around and mounted axially movably on the inner sleeve, on the outside of which outer sleeve a latching lever is articulated, wherein the latching lever, at its lower end directed towards the rolling surface, is articulated on the outer sleeve and, at its upper end in the secured position of the buffer, engages around the pole body and/or the inner sleeve at least partially with a form fit and can be released by being pivoted away from the outer sleeve.
The form fit ensures a constructively simple but as secure as possible fixing which is scarcely susceptible to dirt. As a result of the external arrangement of the latching lever, this can easily be actuated by hand from outside and is scarcely susceptible to dirt, this is in contrast to constructions in which such a latching lever is installed inside the outer sleeve. Nevertheless, however in the folded-in state, that is when one of the two positions is fixed positively, the latching lever can engage at least partially in an indentation of the outer sleeve and can be arranged, for example, at least in sections or even completely flush with the contour of this. As a result of the axis of rotation of the latching lever located at the bottom, the region located at the top and barely exposed to dirt can be used for the form fit. The form fit is additionally ensured whereby the upper end of the latching lever engages at least partially around the inner sleeve or the pole tube.
According to a first preferred embodiment, the latching lever in the secured position of the buffer (or preferably in both secured positions) engages at least partially around the inner sleeve, preferably by more than half the circumference of the inner sleeve. In particular, the latter design is preferred since by this means whilst simultaneously using a slightly flexible (but non-elastomeric) material for the latching lever, a, to a certain extent, automatic snapping-in of the same around the inner sleeve can be achieved constructively very simply. The latching lever can thus be fixed entirely without spring mounting and simply only by axial mounting on the outer sleeve, which further simplifies the construction and nevertheless optimally fixes both positions. According to a further preferred embodiment, an at least partially circumferential extension (in the sense of a rib running at least partially around the pole axis, typically having a width in the axial direction in the range of 1-10 mm, preferably in the range of 2-6 mm) and/or an at least partially circumferential indentation (in the sense of a groove running at least partially around the pole axis) can be provided on the inner sleeve in the engagement region of the lever, on or in which the upper end of the latching lever acts or engages positively.
Such an embodiment is further preferably characterised in that on the inner side of the upper end of the latching lever a projection in the form of a contact region (in the sense of an inwardly directed flange or a circumferential inwardly directed rib, this can be configured to be corresponding and adapted to the aforesaid rib on the inner sleeve) is provided on the circumference of the inner sleeve and an undercut (in the sense of a preferably at least partially circumferential groove) following directly in the direction of the axis of rotation (that is downwards) is provided for contact on the circumference of the extension in at least one secured position.
A further preferred embodiment is characterised in that the axis of rotation of the latching lever is disposed substantially perpendicular to the pole axis, that is preferably running transversely to this and offset laterally from this, and that preferably outwardly projecting bearing extensions are provided on the outer sleeve in order to mount this axis of rotation in axial holes.
A further preferred embodiment is characterised in that the outer sleeve comprises a buffer attachment at the lower end thereof, which can be detachably secured to the outer sleeve, preferably with the aid of a securing pin running transversely to the pole axis. It is quite particularly preferred if this securing pin at the same time serves as an anti-turn device for the displacement of the outer sleeve on the inner sleeve. On the one hand, this facilitates assembly as will be explained further below and on the other hand ensures the exchangeability and the anti-turn locking of the two components relative to one another.
Quite generally preferably inner sleeve and outer sleeve as well as preferably the latching lever consist of a metal or a substantially inflexible thermoplastic hard plastic such as polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyamide, ABS, PVC and optionally fibre-reinforced forms thereof. Multi-component components are also possible here (e.g. combinations of metal and plastic). The buffer attachment is preferably formed from an elastomeric material such as, for example, from a thermoplastic elastomer such as, for example, TPE, TPU (TPU=urethane-based thermoplastic elastomers) or vulcanised rubber, or said buffer attachment can also be formed as a two-component component having a securing region made of a substantially inflexible hard plastic and having an elastomeric region forming the rolling surface. Spikes can also be let into the rolling surface of the buffer attachment, as is known for example from WO 2006/128312.
A further preferred embodiment is characterised in that in an upper region the inner sleeve has an axial recess for receiving and securing the pole body and the tip is secured in a lower region (at the lower end) of the inner sleeve. Quite generally the tip preferably comprises a separate metal tip, in particular made of hardened and/or coated metal or of ceramic or of a combination of such materials. It is further preferred that the tip is secured in an axial recess of the lower part of the inner sleeve.
The tip can be secured directly on the lower region of the inner sleeve or by means of a separate securing element (for example, made of metal or plastic), which has an upper securing stub which is secured in a recess in the lower region of the inner sleeve, and adjoining in the downward direction, a flange preferably only extending in the running direction towards the front and back preferably followed in the downward direction by a lower securing stub in which a tip is let in and secured in a recess. In order to predefine the rotation position of the securing element relative to the inner sleeve, the upper securing stub can preferably have a non-circular cross-section and accordingly, the recess of the inner sleeve, in which the securing stub is let in, has a corresponding non-circular cross-section.
As already mentioned further above, during an axial displacement of inner sleeve relative to outer sleeve, it is preferable to prevent these two elements from being able to twist simultaneously. Accordingly, according to a further preferred embodiment, means are provided, which, in the event of an axial displacement of the outer sleeve relative to the inner sleeve, prevent a twisting of these two elements relative to one another about the pole axis, wherein this means preferably comprises a guide pin running transversely to the pole axis, which engages in a guide recess (or guide indentation) of the inner sleeve which allows axial displacement but not twisting.
The outer sleeve can preferably be fixed in two positions relative to the inner sleeve but it is also possible to provide a plurality of, for example, three different positions. If two or only two such positions are provided, it is preferable that in an upper position of the outer sleeve relative to the inner sleeve, the tip is arranged so that it projects downwards over the rolling surface, preferably projecting in the range of 2-10 mm, and in a lower position of the outer sleeve the tip does not project over the rolling surface, wherein this is preferably arranged in this second position 2-10 mm above (or behind) the rolling surface and embedded in the buffer, and wherein these two positions are each fixed positively by means of the latching lever.
The present invention further relates to a buffer for such a pole. In addition, the present invention relates to a method for mounting a pole as has been described above, where this method is preferably characterised in that the outer sleeve without attachment with buffer element is pushed onto the inner sleeve and that the attachment is then put in place and is secured with the securing pin on the outer sleeve, wherein the securing pin engages in a guide recess in the inner sleeve so that inner sleeve and outer sleeve are only displaceable in a torque-proof manner in the axial region predefined by the guide recesses.
According to a first preferred embodiment, this method is characterised in that the inner sleeve is secured on the pole body, preferably by securing the pole body in a recess in the upper region of the inner sleeve, wherein the tip can preferably be secured by means of a securing element on the inner sleeve or can be secured thereafter on the inner sleeve. Further embodiments are given in the dependent claims.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained hereinafter with reference to the drawings, which merely serve for explanation and are not to be interpreted as restrictive. In the drawings:
The lower region 36 of the inner sleeve 3 has an axial recess in which an upper securing stub 29 of the securing element 28 is let in or secured. As can be identified in particular with reference to the sectional views according to FIGS 1f and g, this securing stub 29 has a greater width in the running direction (
This is followed in the downward direction by a flange formed on the upper securing stub 29 and in one piece with this, which rests with its upper side on the downwardly directed end surface of the inner sleeve 3. This flange 30 is only formed to the front and rear when viewed in the running direction (compare
This is followed in the downward direction on this flange 30 on the securing element 28 by a lower securing stub 35 which has a recess 31 in the downward direction, in which the actual separate tip 19 consisting of a hard material as described above is pressed or glued in. The entire lower securing stub 35 and the tip 19 have a cross-sectional shape which is adapted to a through-opening provided in an attachment 16 or the elastic region 15 and the securing region 26 so that in different positions of the outer sleeve 25 relative to the inner sleeve 3 the tip 19 can be displaced through this through-opening 18.
An outer sleeve 25 is located on the lower region 36 of the inner sleeve 3 mounted displaceably in the axial direction. A latching lever 4 is articulated on the outer side of this outer sleeve 25, which lever has two bearing extensions 9 of the outer sleeve 25 formed towards the back in the running direction, which having two aligned axial holes 10. The latching lever 4 is secured between these two bearing extensions 9. For this purpose a tapered region 6 of the latching lever engages between the two bearing extensions 9, which region has a through-opening and an axis of rotation 5, typically a metal pin, is inserted between the two axial holes 10 and this through-opening so that the latching lever 4 is pivotably mounted about this axis on the outer sleeve 25.
At its upper end this latching lever 4 has a clamp region 7. With this clamp region 7 the latching lever embraces the upper part 37 of the inner sleeve 3 in a self-latching manner in the fixed position of the buffer. On the inner side of this clamp region 7, for precise fixing of the positive connection in both positions, on the one hand there is a radially inwardly extending contact region 22 located on the inside on the circumference and an undercut 23 in the sense of a similarly circumferential groove following directly below.
The axial displaceability of the outer sleeve is furthermore ensured by a guide recess 27 provided in the lower region 36 of the inner sleeve 3, which is configured to be elongated in the axial direction. A transversely running guide pin 17 which is secured in the outer sleeve 25 engages in this guide recess 27. In the lower position of the outer sleeve 25, as can be seen in particular from
On the lower side of the outer sleeve 25 a detachable attachment 16 is provided in this design so that according to requirements, another softer buffer region can be placed thereon, for example, different degrees of hardness of the buffer can be characterised by different colours.
This attachment 16 comprises a securing region 26 typically made of hard plastic as well as an elastic region 15 typically injection moulded on this region 26, the lower side of which forms the rolling surface 13 with a profile 14. The rolling surface 13 is here configured asymmetrically and is in particular raised further towards the front in the running direction in order to be optimally matched to the running direction for Nordic walking. The tip 19 passes through this rolling surface approximately in the rear third. In addition, the profiling has lateral extensions 21.
Such an attachment 16 is now secured to the outer sleeve 25 by being pushed onto a projection 32 on the outer sleeve and then the guide pin 17 already discussed above being inserted laterally. The guide pin 17 is used at the same time for securing the attachment 16, whereby the attachment has two aligned through-openings provided in two laterally arranged wings of the same which grip around the outer sleeve, through which the transverse pin 17 passes.
From the, to a certain extent, lower position of the outer sleeve 25 relative to the inner sleeve 3, as shown in
A slightly modified simplified design of such a buffer is shown in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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00533/10 | Apr 2010 | CH | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP2011/055296 | 4/6/2011 | WO | 00 | 11/28/2012 |