SELF-ORIENTING ADJUSTABLE LENGTH FITNESS POLE

Abstract

Provided is an adjustable length fitness pole that includes an upper tubular section having an upper handgrip portion and a lower joint portion. The fitness pole also includes a lower tubular section having a lower foot mounting portion and an upper joint portion. The joint portions of the upper and lower tubular sections are sized and configured for slideable, registered engagement with each other thereby to prevent relative misalignment between the foot mounting portion and the handgrip portion.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The exemplary embodiment of the present invention broadly concerns fitness and sporting goods. More particularly, however, the exemplary embodiment of the present invention concerns adjustable-length poles used in activities such as Nordic walking as well as running, hiking, rollerblading, roller skating and other activities for which poles may be used to enhance the experience and performance of the activity. The embodiment is specifically directed to adjustable-length poles for which there is a correct and incorrect orientation to the poles for proper use.

BACKGROUND

There are many activities where the use of a pole is beneficial. For example, downhill skiers use poles to stabilize themselves as they traverse the mountain. In addition, where the skier plants the pole helps define a pivot point about which the skier turns. Snowshoeing in deep snow is an example of a sport where an adjustable pole is useful. Deep soft snow can be somewhat unstable to walk in without poles. An adjustable pole is particularly useful in snowshoeing because one can adjust for varying depths of snow. Cross-country skiing also uses adjustable poles not only for stability, but for propulsion as well. An adjustable pole is particularly helpful because proper height adjustment can prevent stress on the skier's back and provide for the most efficient propulsion.

Another popular sport, of particular interest here, which also employs the use of adjustable poles, is fitness walking or Nordic walking. Nordic walking simulates, to some extent, cross-country skiing and turns a regular walk into a full body workout. Nordic walking poles engage the upper body during fitness walking. Nordic walking involves applying force to the poles with each stride. It is estimated that a person can burn up to 40% more calories using walking poles over just regular walking. Correctly adjusted poles encourage the walker to use their arms and act to take stress off of the back and leg joints. According to some sources the correct height for Nordic walking poles is approximately 68% of the height of the user.

Nordic walking poles typically have both durable metal tips in conjunction with a basket for use on snow, ice, and trails. Nordic walking poles also usually have removable rubber tips for use on pavement and other hard surfaces. The rubber traction tip or foot may have directional tread and is usually contoured for use in a particular orientation.

The telescopic sections of existing adjustable-length Nordic walking poles can rotate freely during length adjustment. This requires the user to re-align the traction foot with the handgrip. This is inconvenient, time-consuming, and can be difficult for elderly users or others having poor manual dexterity. Also, removing and re-attaching the foot increases the possibility that the foot will be improperly installed or aligned, and can result in unnecessary wear over time. Adjusting the length of the poles happens frequently, especially in situations where the user is traveling. The poles are adjusted for different conditions, terrain, and activities. Also the poles require adjustment based on the anatomical geometry of different persons using the poles.

Accordingly there is a need for an adjustable-length pole that ensures that the traction foot and hand grip are always properly aligned, eliminating the need for the user to re-align the foot after each length adjustment or installation and removal of the foot.

SUMMARY

To ensure proper relative alignment of the removable traction foot and the handgrip, the tubular telescopic pole sections are registered angularly relative to each other, while still allowing for longitudinal adjustment. Additionally, the removable traction foot is registered to the lower tubular section which prevents it from being installed with an incorrect orientation.

The foot mounting portion includes a snap ring which engages a mating groove formed in the traction foot. The snap ring and mating groove are an improvement over the typical press-fit retention method because it reduces the force needed to install and remove the rubber traction foot, and provides the user tactile feedback when the foot is properly seated.

The handgrip includes an easily-operable latch and release mechanism, which securely captures and releases a catch element installed on the hand strap. This provides added convenience by enabling the user to easily free up the hands as needed for actions such as zipping up a jacket, tying shoe laces, drinking from a water bottle, talking on a cellular phone, etc. without completely extricating the hand from the strap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the self-orienting adjustable length fitness pole;

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the self-orienting adjustable length fitness pole shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the self-orienting adjustable length fitness pole;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the self-orienting adjustable length fitness pole as viewed about line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the fitness pole's upper tubular section;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the upper tubular section as viewed about line 6-6 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an exploded and enlarged partial perspective view of the fitness pole's lower tubular section;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the pole's lower tubular section as viewed about line 8-8 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the self-orienting adjustable length fitness pole showing in more detail the clamp mechanism securing the upper and lower tubular sections;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the clamp mechanism of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view of the hand grip with the catch mechanism engaged as viewed about line 6-6 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view of the hand grip with the catch mechanism released as viewed about line 6-6 in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Provided herein is a self-orienting adjustable length fitness pole that includes features for angularly aligning the adjustable tubes and removable foot, to ensure proper registration between the handgrip and foot after length adjustment or foot re-installation.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate the exemplary embodiment of the self orienting adjustable length fitness pole 1 which includes upper tubular section 2 and lower tubular section 4. Upper tubular section 2 includes handgrip 6 and lower joint portion 20. Disposed about lower joint portion 20 is clamp 50, in the form of a clamping collar, the structure and operation of which is described more fully below. Lower joint portion 20 is configured to receive upper joint portion 24 of lower tubular section 4. Lower tubular section 4 also includes lower foot end 26. Mounted to foot mounting portion 26 are basket 28 and ground engaging foot 30. An optional slide bushing 40 may be installed between the upper tubular section 2 and the lower tubular section 4.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 the self orienting feature of the fitness pole is described. Upper tubular section 2 includes a dimple 42 formed in its lower portion, which registers in keyway 44, which is formed in the upper joint portion 24 of the lower tubular section 4. Keyway 44 is trough-shaped so that it is contoured to accommodate dimple 42. This arrangement allows the lower tubular section 4 to slide longitudinally within the upper tubular section 2 while maintaining registered alignment between grip 6 and traction foot 30. In this context, registered alignment refers to the proper orientation of the handgrip and foot during intended use of the fitness pole. Once the upper and lower tubular sections 2, 4 are longitudinally adjusted to the desired height, clamp 50 is engaged to retain them at this height. It should be understood that registration can be accomplished not only by the dimple and keyway arrangement as described above but by other suitable means as well, such as using tubes having a non-cylindrical cross-section, such as an elliptical or D-shaped cross-section. It should also be understood that more than two tubular sections could be employed using the same registration concept. Moreover, telescoping could be reversed, they could be bungied, or slideably mated, all without departing from the inventive concepts herein.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, which show hand strap 8 disengaged from grip 6, it can be seen that hand strap 8 is connected to grip 6 with a tether 10. Tether 10 includes strap catch 12 which releasably engages grip 6. Strap catch 12 includes a toothed profile 16 which is adapted to mate with a corresponding toothed profile 15 formed on release mechanism 14. Strap catch 12 engages toothed profile 15 when the strap catch is inserted into opening 19 formed in handgrip 6. Depressing the release mechanism's button 13 disengages the mating toothed profile 15 from toothed profile 16 thereby allowing the strap catch 12 to be removed from grip 6. Depressing the release mechanism's button 13 causes a deflection in the tooth profile 15, which disengages the two profiles from each other. Release button 14 is inserted into handgrip 6 and held in place with pin 18.

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate the operation of latch mechanism 14. In FIG. 11A the latch is shown in the engaged state. As can be seen in the Figures, the latch mechanism button 13 includes ramped portion 17 that interacts with arm 11 when button 13 is depressed. Arm 11 extends from the toothed profile 15. In order to disengage latch 12, button 13 is depressed forcing ramp portion 17 against arm 11, which in turn bends toothed profile portion 15 away from toothed profile 16 of latch 12 (see FIG. 11B). Latch mechanism 14 is preferably formed of a resilient material such as plastic thereby acting as a spring to return both button 13 and arm 11 to the engaged state shown in FIG. 11A. Preferably, grip 6 is permanently attached to the upper end of upper tubular section 2.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 it can be appreciated that adjustable pole 1 is convertible between a pole having a tip and basket 32, 28 for use in snow or ice, to a pole having foot 30 designed for use on pavement or other hard surfaces. Traction foot 30 is preferably formed of a compliant rubber. Foot mounting portion 26 includes key 36 which registers in a geometrically congruent keyway 37 formed in foot 30. Foot mounting portion 26 also includes a snap ring 35 which engages annular snap ring groove 34 also formed in foot 30, thereby to retain foot 30 on lower tubular section 4.

Key 36 engages foot keyway 37, allowing the removal of the foot by axial displacement, while maintaining proper angular orientation of the foot. Since the handgrip 6, preferably, is permanently affixed to the upper tubular section 2, and the food end portion 26 is permanently affixed to the lower tubular section 4, continual alignment between the traction foot 30 and handgrip 6 is achieved regardless of the height adjustment of the upper and lower tubular sections.

Preferably, foot 30 is loosely fitted with foot mounting portion 26 such that the two components are secured longitudinally solely by the interference between the snap ring 35 and groove 34, with the vertical load resisted by a metal washer 31 bearing against tip 32. This detent retention method results in a more controllable installation force than the tapered press-fit method normally used.

FIG. 9 is a view of the middle section of the self-orienting adjustable length fitness pole, showing the upper tubular section 2 with clamp 50 installed on the lower joint portion 20. FIG. 9 shows the clamp 50 in the locked or pressure-fit position. Clamp 50 includes split collar 52 which contacts the lower joint portion 20. Lower joint portion 20 has a relief slot 48 extending from the end of upper tubular section 2 to stop hole 47. Relief slot 48 facilitates deformation of lower joint portion 20 allowing the transfer of gripping action exerted by the clamp 50 to upper joint portion 24.

Clamp 50 also includes clamp lever arm 54, which is secured to split collar 52 with pin 64, clamp screw 60, and clamp nut 62. Also shown in this figure is a stop 46 which is secured to lower tubular section 4 and operative to ride upwardly against the interior of upper tubular section 2 until it engages stop hole 47 when upper joint portion 24 is extended to the end of its travel. This corresponds to the longest effective length for the fitness pole. FIG. 10 is a top view of clamping collar 50 in the unlocked position, with the eccentric cam surface 56 of the clamp lever arm 54 disengaged from the clamp split collar 52.

Accordingly, the present invention has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated, though, that the present invention is defined by the following claims construed in light of the prior art so that modifications or changes may be made to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained herein.

Claims

1. An adjustable length fitness pole comprising: an upper tubular section having an upper handgrip portion and a lower joint portion,a lower tubular section having a lower foot mounting portion and an upper joint portion,said joint portions of the upper and lower tubular sections being sized and configured for slideable, registered engagement with each other thereby to prevent relative misalignment between said foot mounting portion and said handgrip portion.

2. An adjustable length fitness pole according to claim 1 wherein said upper tubular section includes a key and said lower tubular section includes a keyway that is geometrically congruent to said key.

3. An adjustable length fitness pole according to claim 2 including a foot attachment releasably secured and rotationally registered to said foot mounting portion.

4. An adjustable length fitness pole according to claim 3 including a handgrip secured to said upper handgrip portion, said handgrip including a releasable hand strap.

5. An adjustable length fitness pole according to claim 1 wherein said upper and lower joint portions have non-circular cross-sections.