Patent Application
20130146110
The present invention relates to a pole such as for example a trekking, ski, hiking, or Nordic walking pole which comprises a pole handle, a pole tube and a pole tip. Respectively adjacent pole segments can be adjustable relative to one another. The pole according to the invention has a damping device with a guide sleeve held in a rotationally fixed manner in which a rod is guided axially movably.
Various poles with shock absorbers are known from the prior art, thus for example in DE-U-298 13 601 and CH 680 771 A5, which however both enable only a relatively hard shock absorption. EP 1 435 805 B1 discloses a pole with damping whose shock characteristics are less hard thanks to a special serial arrangement of the compression spring device and whose rebound properties are less jerky and free from kickback compared to the first two mentioned documents.
Known from EP 1327468 is a damper structure for damping inside a pole handle in which a sleeve except for a flange is mounted in an inner tube where this sleeve has a blind hole open at the top. On the other side, a rod is attached to the pole handle which slides in this blind hole and a spiral spring is disposed between rod and floor of the blind hole. In other words, the suspension is mounted completely inside the inner tube as well as a corresponding mechanism which delimits the axial movability of rod and sleeve. This has the disadvantage that this mechanism is only accessible while the sleeve is not fixed in the inner tube.
WO 2009/003298 relates to a pole such as, for example, a trekking, ski, hiking, or Nordic walking pole which comprises a pole handle, a pole tube comprising at least three telescopic tubular sections, and a pole tip. Two adjacent pole sections are each adjustable relative to one another. The pole has a damping device with compression spring device, where an axial pin held axially fixedly on a second tubular section is guided in a guide sleeve held in a rotationally fixed manner in a first tubular section. Here also the suspension is located completely inside the inner tube in precisely the same way as a corresponding mechanism which delimits the axial movability of rod and sleeve.
It is accordingly the object of the present invention to provide an improved damping device for a pole, for example, a trekking, ski, hiking, or Nordic walking pole. This can comprise a damping device which is formed between two tube segments which are arranged displaceably and adjustably and which slide into one another with a spreading device (telescopic poles) but this can also comprise a damping device which is disposed directly on the pole handle, specifically in the inside of the pole handle, and provides a suspension. Such a suspension in the pole handle can be used both in conventional non-adjustable poles and also in telescopic poles. In particular in the latter when these have external clamping mechanisms for the adjustment of the tube section relative to one another since suspensions cannot be provided so easily with these adjusting mechanisms.
Normally such a damping device comprises an attaching sleeve by means of which the damping device is attached to a first tube segment by inserting and attaching therein. In addition, this damping device normally comprises an attaching element by means of which the damping device is attached to a pole handle or a second tube segment having a somewhat larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the first tube segment.
At the same time the attaching element is movably supported in a spring-loaded manner in the axial direction with respect to the attaching sleeve, whereby an axially running rod connected to or integral to the attaching element is provided, which rod is axially movably supported in the attaching sleeve and extends into an inner chamber in the attaching sleeve open to the attaching element. The inner chamber is designed as a blind hole and at least one spring element is disposed between the floor of the blind hole and the free end of the rod. According to the invention, the attaching sleeve comprises an attaching segment forming the end opposite the attaching element which substantially lies completely within the first tube segment, and an exposed region facing the attaching element which protrudes past the free end of the first tube segment. In the transition between the attaching segment and the exposed region, there is typically circumferential shoulder which expands the outside diameter in the form of a step, on which the circumferential edge of the first tube segment comes to a stop.
At the same time, at least one guide element is disposed in said exposed region which limits both the axial movability of attaching sleeve and attaching element in the axial direction and substantially prevents the relative rotation of said two elements. The damping element can thus be produced as a separate assembly and then combined with tube and/or additional tube or handle.
Furthermore, the rod preferably consists of metal or a plastic material at least in the region engaging in the attaching sleeve. In fact such rods in damping devices of the prior art are conventionally always made of metal since it was always assumed that the corresponding axial and torsional forces can only be intercepted by such materials. In addition, such rods were conventionally made of metal since the known damping devices of the prior art each have a spreading element of an adjustable clamping device as attaching element and in these it is necessary for the uppermost region of the rod to have an external thread. Such external threads can be manufactured almost only from metal materials so that the required easy running of the adjusting mechanism is ensured. As the present invention shows, however this is by no means essential and actually it is possible to make the rod of a typically thermoplastic plastic material which then results in advantages from the manufacturing technology viewpoint but at the same time the weight of the damping device can be substantially reduced.
A first preferred embodiment of the damping device according to the invention is characterised in that the guide element comprises at least one, preferably two, slits, which are arranged opposite one another, run axially and are delimited in both axial directions, in the cylindrical side wall (typically the outer wall) of the exposed region of the attaching sleeve, in which a transverse pin running perpendicularly to the axis of the damping device, which is attached to the rod, or through this, is guided transversely through a through opening.
Alternatively, the guide element can comprise at least one elongate slit, which runs axially and is delimited in both axial directions, in the rod, in which a transverse pin running perpendicularly to the axis of the damping device, which is fixed in the cylindrical side wall of the exposed region of the attaching sleeve for example, by fixing the transverse pin at both its ends in the corresponding wall section of the attaching sleeve or the exposed region of the same), is captured.
The said slit typically has an axial length in the region of 0.5-2 cm, preferably in the range of 0.7-1.5 cm.
The slit preferably in addition preferably has a width in the range of 1-3 mm, preferably in the range of 2 mm.
According to a preferred embodiment, the end of the slit facing the attaching element for attaching in the pole handle or to the outer tube can have a damping element. In fact, it is the case that if the transverse pin comes to the stop in the maximally relaxed situation, this takes place with considerable force and momentum on account of the assistance by the suspension. This leads to a hard stop and to corresponding noise. This can be intercepted by fitting the end of the slit facing the attaching element with a damping. It is also possible to provide the transverse pin with a corresponding damping. The same is possible, i.e. a damping of the lower stop of the slit, with the end of the slit facing away from the attaching element even if these problems do not typically occur there to the same extent.
Such damping can be achieved quite particularly simply by providing an outside circumferential groove in the exposed region of the attaching sleeve which lies at the height of the end of the slit facing the attaching element and thus lies at the upper stop for the transverse pin running in the slit. A damping element can now be inserted in this groove, for example, a rubber ring or an O ring. If the transverse pin now arrives at the upper stop in the slit, it does not impact there on the hard end of the slit but on this damping element. This can comprise a relatively narrow annular damping element with an extension in the axial direction in the range of 0.5-2 mm.
The transverse pin typically consists of metal but can also consist of hard plastic. It can be continuous but can also comprise one or two opposite stubs fixed in the corresponding component.
The transverse pin preferably has a circular, rectangular or square cross-section. In addition, said pin preferably has a diameter or a width which is somewhat smaller than the width of the guide slit.
A further preferred embodiment is characterised in that the attaching element has a sleeve for the attachment, for example, in a pole handle, which sleeve at least partially grips around the outside of the attaching sleeve and which slides on the outer side thereof leading into the exposed region thereof when the mechanism is compressed. A further guidance of the two movable elements relative to one another can thus be ensured and in addition, the axial length of the attachment of the attaching elements on the outer tube or on the pole handle can be enlarged. The exposed region therefore is then only actually completely exposed in the relaxed state whereas in the completely compressed state typically only a flange is exposed which serves to provide a stop for insertion of the attaching sleeve in the inner tube. Furthermore, with this design the rod can be made relatively simply of metal and this sleeve made of a plastic so that an optimal material combination is possible.
A quite particularly preferred embodiment of the damping device according to the invention is characterised in that the attaching element and the exposed region of the attaching sleeve are configured displaceably at least partially intermeshing in the axial direction so that an extremely compact design can be achieved in the axial direction which in particular is of great advantage with a mounting in the pole handle. This preferred embodiment is accordingly specifically characterised in that at least when the damping device is in the tensioned state (but preferably also to a small extent when the damping device is in the relaxed state), and attaching sleeve and attaching element are in maximal proximity, the attaching element and the exposed region at least partially intermesh.
In this case and for this purpose, preferably the exposed region and the attaching element have corresponding axially running, elongated slit-like guide recesses and circumferentially interposed axial web-like or rod-like or rib- or comb-shaped guide regions formed by these guide recesses and each forming the radial outer wall. At the same time the guide recesses of the attaching element are configured so that they come into in displaceable engagement with the axial guide regions of the exposed region and the guide recesses of the exposed region come into displaceable engagement with the axial guide regions of the attaching element. The side walls of the corresponding element in this case slide on one another. Thus, for example, when viewed in cross-section, these axial guide regions in the attaching element are configured in the form of, for example, four axial fingers (guide regions) each extending only over a certain angular section and extending downwards from a closed head region of the attaching element, which engage slidingly in corresponding axial grooves (guide recesses) in the exposed region. Preferably the axial length of the guide recess is substantially the same as the length of the guide regions so that a closed cylindrical circumferential surface is formed by the exposed region and the attaching element pushed into one another substantially when the damping device is completely pushed together (tensioned).
The guide recesses or the guide regions typically have an axial length in the range of 0.5-2 cm, preferably in the range of 0.7-1.5 cm. The exposed region and the attaching element preferably each have at least two axial guide regions and two axial guide recesses, preferably at least three of both, in particular at least four of both, as explained in the above example and shown in
A further preferred embodiment is characterised in that the end of the rod facing the floor is in direct contact with the spring element, preferably with an elastomer spring which either forms the spring element as a whole or is part thereof.
The spring element preferably further comprises a structure in which a serial arrangement of spring elements comprising at least one elastomer spring and one spiral spring is provided between the floor and the said end. Particularly preferably comprises a serial arrangement consisting of the following sequence of elements: first elastomer spring in direct contact with the end of the rod followed in the direction of the floor by a spiral spring followed in the direction of the floor by at least one further elastomer spring which for its part rests with its underside on the base. The spring elements preferably have a diameter which is only insignificantly smaller than the inside diameter of the recess in the attaching sleeve but in the case of the elastomer spring is sufficiently smaller so that the required suspension effect is ensured. In the transition region between elastomer spring and spiral spring, guide elements can be provided which at least partially engage in the interior of the spiral spring in the axial direction and on the other side provide a contact surface for the elastomer spring. Preferably no further element is disposed between elastomer spring and the end of the rod and specifically because the rod is made of plastic, this end of the rod can readily serve as a direct contact surface for the elastomer spring which brings with it a further improvement in terms of manufacturing technology and weight. The elastomer spring can, for example, comprise a polyurethane spring element in the form of a foam element, typically having an axial height in the range of 5-15 mm and a diameter which is only insignificantly less than the inside diameter of the blind hole in the recess in the attaching sleeve.
An even more extensive torsional stability can be achieved whereby the rod, at least in that section which is guided through an appropriate corresponding axial opening formed with a similar non-circular cross-section in the exposed region, has a non-circular cross-section, preferably a rectangular or square cross-section. In particular when the attaching element is configured as an adjustable clamping element and large torques are exerted when releasing the adjustment, these torsional forces which must otherwise be completely intercepted, for example, by the above-mentioned transverse pin, can thus be better absorbed.
A further preferred embodiment is characterised in that the attaching element comprises an adjustable clamping device or spreading device with which the first tube segment can be attached detachably or adjustably in the pole handle or a second tube segment having a larger inside diameter.
This preferably comprises a spreading device which is provided rotatably on a screw attached in a rotationally fixed manner on or in the rod at least in components.
Further preferably, the spreading device comprises an inner element mounted rotatably on the screw by means of an internal thread with a single outer cone which widens towards the damping device and a spreading element which receives this inner element in an inner space, with a corresponding inner cone which expands towards the damping device having substantially the same slope as the outer cone and adapted thereto. The spreading element is movable along the axial direction without rotational movement within the framework of a small play (typically in the range of 0.1-5 mm, preferably in the range of 0.3-3 mm) between a lower axial stop and an upper stop.
Further preferably the spreading element has at least one axial slit, in which wings formed on the inner element engage at least partially displaceably in the axial direction. Preferably there are two such slits in the spreading element, an axially completely continuous slit and a slit which is interrupted in a shoulder region on the opposite side. This spreading element can thus be folded out to a certain extent where the non-continuous slit acts to a certain extent as a hinge in the non-continuous region.
In other words, in such a damping device the spreading device preferably sits on a screw having an external thread attached in a rotationally fixed manner to the rod. Such a screw is preferably made of a metal material and has an external thread in that region where the inner element is rotatably mounted. Preferably such a screw is let in and fastened (for example glued in or injected) in an axial blind hole provided for this screw in the rod.
Such a screw preferably has at the end opposite the attaching sleeve, an upper stop element for a spreading element, preferably in the form of a screw head and particularly preferably, on the other side the rod has a circumferential flange formed integrally with the rod at the free end facing the screw, preferably as lower stop element for a spreading element of the spreading device.
The rod preferably consists of a thermoplastic plastic material selected from the group: polyamide, polyester, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene or a combination/blend thereof, optionally formed in fibre-reinforced form (for example, glass fibres, carbon fibres etc. also particle-shaped fillers are possible), wherein this preferably comprises polyamide.
The attaching sleeve is preferably formed integrally and consists of a thermoplastic plastic material selected from the group: polyamide, polyester, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene or a combination/blend thereof, optionally formed in fibre-reinforced form (for example, glass fibres, carbon fibres etc. also particle-shaped fillers are possible), wherein this preferably comprises polyamide.
Attaching sleeve and/or attaching element can, however also consists of metal, for example, light metal such as aluminium or from an aluminium alloy (e.g. Al/Mg alloy) or have a corresponding coating or sleeve for contact with the tube.
The attaching element preferably has an axial length in the range of 1-4 cm, preferably in the range of 1.5-3 cm.
The exposed region preferably has an axial length in the range of 0.5-4 cm, preferably in the range of 1.5-3 cm.
The attaching section for its part preferably has an axial length in the range of 2-10 cm, preferably in the range of 4-7 cm.
Normally and preferably the floor of the recess in the attaching element for the rod or the suspension element is configured to be closed. However, it can also have a central axial opening as long as a sufficient contact surface for the spring element is still provided.
Accordingly, such a central axial opening should have a diameter which is substantially less than the inside diameter of the recess, thus, for example a diameter of less than 2 mm, preferably of less than 1 mm.
Preferably the rod and the attaching element are formed integrally and the attaching element is firmly fastened in the pole handle or in the first tube segment by means of a connection as a tight fit, and/or as a force fit and/or adhesive bond.
The present invention further relates to a trekking, ski, hiking, or Nordic walking pole having a damping device as described above, wherein the pole has a pole handle with an axial recess for attaching a pole tube and wherein the damping device is attached in this axial recess in the region near the handle head with the attaching element and the pole tube with its upper free end is attached (for example, force fit and/or adhesive bond such as for example gluing) in the attaching section (surrounding) the attaching sleeve.
In addition, the present invention relates to a trekking, ski, hiking, or Nordic walking pole having a damping device as described above, wherein the pole has at least two tube segments arranged axially displaceably to one another and wherein the damping device is attached in a first tube section with a smaller (outside) diameter by means of the attaching section and in a second tube segment having a larger (inside) diameter by means of the attaching element which is preferably configured as a detachable spreading device.
Further embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings which merely serve for explanation and are not to be interpreted as restrictive. In the drawings:
The tube handle 5 shown here accordingly has a substantially axial recess 12 formed from below in the form of a blind hole, which has a circular cross-section and extends as far as possible upwards into the tube handle. In the head region the tube handle has a clamping device 9 for a hand loop, this is typically passed through a recess 10 in the head handle and clamped in different positions or length settings by a flap or another type of clamping.
As can be identified in particular in the views according to
When the attaching sleeve 4 is attached thus in the pole tube, the attaching sleeve 4 projects with the exposed region 16 beyond the free end of the pole tube 11. In this exposed region 16 an elongated axial slit 7 is provided in the cylindrical outer wall of this region. A guide pin 8 in the form of a transverse pin 8 typically made of metal is captured in this axial slit. This transverse pin 8 is fixed in a through opening 19 of a rod 2, which is formed integrally with the attaching element 3, and extends laterally in both direction beyond the width of the rod 2, as can be identified in particular in the axial section according to
In fact, the attaching sleeve has a blind hole with a floor 47 which extends from above into said sleeve, i.e. there is an inner space 46 with a cylindrical outer wall in the lower region 14 going over into a region having a square cross-sectional area in region 16. A small axial opening 25 can be provided in the floor 47 of this recess 46.
The said rod 2 now runs in an axially displaceable manner in this axial opening 46, where the axial mobility of the rod 2 is restricted by the play inside the slit 7 which the guide pin 8 is allowed. Accordingly, the completely relaxed state as shown in
In this case, the rod 2 is only disposed in the upper region of the recess 46, since a spring element is disposed in the lower region. This spring element comprises a sequence composed of an elastomer spring 20 which is in direct contact with the lower contact surface, i.e. the lower end 24 of the rod 2, followed by a spiral spring 22, in turn followed at the lower end by a second elastomer spring 21 which is in contact with the floor 47.
Such a sequence of spring elements has the result that on the one hand, a very good suspension is provided but on the other hand, not too high elasticity, i.e. it is ensured that the recoil is not too high upon impact on the floor, i.e. a suspension is thus obtained with large spring path but low kickback, i.e. with large damping. In order to provide a clearly defined contact surface for the spiral spring on the elastomer springs, there are intermediate elements 23 which engage with a circumferential flange into the interior of the spiral spring over a certain axial section and which have a flat element on the side facing the respective elastomer spring.
In this case, the rod 2 consisting of a plastic material is not configured to be cylindrical but has a square cross-section. This square cross-section grips through a likewise square through opening 17 in the exposed region 16 and is accordingly guided through this through opening 17. On the one hand due to the arrangement of the transverse pin 8 in the guide pin and on the other hand due to this non-circular configuration of rod 2 and through opening 17, it is ensured that rod and attaching element are mounted displaceably in relation to the attaching sleeve in the axial direction but cannot be turned. This is of great advantage for the stability of the structure and in particular allows, in a modification of the exemplary embodiment according to
A second exemplary embodiment of the damping device according to the present invention is shown in
In general the same reference numbers designate the same or functionally equivalent elements such as have already been presented and discussed within the framework of
In order to ensure the most compact design possible, in this exemplary embodiment the procedure is adopted that the attaching element 3 which is not configured here as a spreading element and the exposed region 16 intermesh as far as possible axially in particular in the completely tensioned state (cf.
Corresponding to this, the exposed region 16 has axial grooves or guide recesses 28 whose cross-sectional area is adapted to the axial guide regions 27 of the attaching element 3. These guide recesses 28 of which four are distributed around the circumference, are for their part separated by four finger-like upwardly extending axial guide regions 29 which are not interconnected at the upper end and accordingly have free ends. The guide pin 8 is attached in a bridging fashion between two opposite free ends of this type.
The axial guide regions 27 therefore run axially displaceably in the axial guide recesses 28 and the axial guide regions 29 run displaceably in the guide recesses 26 in the axial direction. Even in the completely relaxed state (
In this exemplary embodiment the upper stop for the relaxed state is predefined by the stop of the transverse pin 8 at the lower end of the slit 7 (cf. in particular
This exemplary embodiment is not only maximally compact but can also be mounted particularly easily because the transverse pin 8 is disposed in a region which projects upwards over the attaching region 14. With such a design it is furthermore easily possible to provide a complete locking of the suspension.
A somewhat modified exemplary embodiment similar to that of
In other words, the longitudinal slit in the axial direction is again provided in the exposed region 16 and specifically in two opposite axial guide regions 29 and the transverse pin 8 is mounted in a through opening 17 in the rod 2. Accordingly, the upper stop for the relaxed state as shown in
A fourth exemplary embodiment of the damping device is shown in
In the exposed region 16 formed integrally with the attaching section 14, there is a longitudinal slit 7 in the cylindrical outer wall in which a transverse pin fixed in an axially running rod 2 in a through opening 17 is captured. The upper stop for the relaxed state is here defined by the upper end of the slit 7, as shown in
This inner element 36 can only be displaced in the axial direction when it turns relative to the screw. In contrast to this, the spreading element 30 is easily moveable in the axial direction, i.e., captured with a certain play between a screw head 31 and a circumferential shoulder 35. Within the limits of this play, the spreading element 30 can be moved to and fro in the axial direction without itself turning.
The spreading element 30 furthermore has a longitudinal slit 33 extending over the complete axial length on one side and on the opposite side this longitudinal slit is not continuous, as can be identified in particular by reference to
In order that such a clamping device functions efficiently, the inner element 36 must be mounted rotatably on the external thread 42 so that it runs as easily as possible. If friction here is too great, as a result of the great torsion when attempting to fix the clamping mechanism, the spreading element 30 also turns and a clamping cannot be produced. Accordingly it is important that the external thread 42 is highly precise and high-strength, which is why the screw 41 must typically consist of metal. However, it is not necessary that the rod 2 must also be made of metal for this reason and specifically it is found to be a great advantage if this screw 41 is configured as a separate metal element which is as short as possible and fixed in a blind hole 40 in the rod 2 in a positionally and rotatably fixed manner, for example, by overmoulding. This blind hole 40 extends just so far that it leaves the through opening 17 untouched for the transverse pin 8. Accordingly the rod 2, which is made of a plastic material and is therefore substantially lighter and has better availability in terms of production technology, is configured so that in the upper region to a certain extent it provides a sleeve for receiving the screw 41 and via the flange 35 a stop for the spreading device, serves for fastening the transverse pin in the central region and with the lower terminating surface 24 which projects into the attaching sleeve, serves as a stop for the spring element. Here also the spring element is configured as a series of elastomer spring 20, spiral spring 22 and followed on the floor 47 of the recess 46 by another elastomer spring 21. Here also guide elements 23 are provided at the transitions from spiral spring 22 to the corresponding elastomer spring 20 or 21.
The damping element 48 can, for example, comprise an O-ring with corresponding radius and in this case the groove 49 can be configured as a semi-circular groove in the lower region. However, the damping element 48 can also have a rectangular or square cross-section so that such an element can then preferably be inserted into a corresponding rectangular groove 49.
A further preferred embodiment of a damping mechanism, in particular for attachment in a pole handle, is given in
22 Spiral spring
23 Guide element/supporting element for 22 at 20/21
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00948/10 | Jun 2010 | CH | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP11/59265 | 6/6/2011 | WO | 00 | 2/27/2013 |
