Patent Application
20240181327
Ski poles are commonly if not almost universally used while skiing. They are used while actively skiing down a trail for balance, rhythm, timing, and support. They are also used as a means of transferring force from the arms to the snow-covered ground when climbing up a slope or gliding over a flat section. Ski poles also are used as a tool, such as to knock snow off of a boot before inserting the boot into a binding or releasing the boot from a binding.
Most ski poles include baskets several inches from their distal ends. They typically serve the singular purpose of reducing the penetration of the pole into the snow during use. Many baskets are generally circular having a diameter that can depend on the type of snow in which the associated person is skiing. For instance, larger diameter baskets having a larger surface area are used in lightly packed snow, such as powder, wherein smaller baskets with less surface area are used for densely packed snow.
Ski pole baskets are typically made of a thin semi-flexible plastic material. The basket is often snap and friction fit over a ferrule that is securely mounted to the pole. The ferrule typically has an upper circumferential upper ridge and a circumferential lower ridge. A center bore of the basket resiliently deforms as it is pushed over the lower ridge and snaps back to its nominal diameter once positioned between the ridges effectively securing it in place. Variations of the ferrule are also known that allow threaded receipt of the basket thereon or include a threaded nut that tightens over the ferrule in place of the lower ridge to secure the basket in place.
Embodiments of the present invention comprise a ski pole basket, typically made of a polymeric material, that includes at least one generally rigid portion with a specifically shaped perimeter/interface configured to interface with the heel lip of a ski boot. When the basket is attached to a ski pole, a skier can use the pole to press down on the ski boot while he/she removes his/her foot from the boot while in a substantially erect standing position.
The terms and phrases as indicated in quotes (“ ”) in this section are intended to have the meaning ascribed to them in this Terminology section applied to them throughout this document including the claims unless clearly indicated otherwise in context. Further, as applicable, the stated definitions are to apply, regardless of the word or phrase's case, to the singular and plural variations of the defined word or phrase.
The term “or” as used in this specification and the appended claims is not meant to be exclusive, rather the term is inclusive meaning “either or both”.
References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “a preferred embodiment”, “an alternative embodiment” and similar phrases mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least an embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all meant to refer to the same embodiment.
The term “couple” or “coupled” as used in this specification and the appended claims refers to either an indirect or direct connection between the identified elements, components or objects. Often the manner of the coupling will be related specifically to the manner in which the two coupled elements interact.
Directional and/or relationary terms such as, but not limited to, left, right, nadir, apex, top, bottom, upper, lower, vertical, horizontal, back, front and lateral are relative to each other and are dependent on the specific orientation of an applicable element or article, and are used accordingly to aid in the description of the various embodiments and are not necessarily intended to be construed as limiting.
Unless otherwise indicated or dictated by context, the terms “approximately” and “about” mean+−20%. Unless otherwise indicated or dictated by context, the term “substantially” means+−10%. The term “generally” means for the most part.
The term “concave” as used herein pertains to an edge or perimeter that is inwardly indented. The surface of the indent can be curved, such as the arc of a circle or comprise a combination of straight lines or a combination of straight and curved lines.
Almost universally, downhill ski boots 200 comprise both a heel lip 205 and toe box lip 210 as can be seen in
In other variations, the basket 10 can be snap or friction fit on a basket mount 105 having annular top and bottom lips that hold the basket in place once it is seated thereon. In yet other variations, two or more pins may extend outwardly from the basket mount that correspond with slots formed in the mounting bore such that the basket can be locked in place by engaging the pins in the slots. Other mounting mechanisms are contemplated for securing a ski basket to a ski pole including, but not limited to, structurally enhanced mounting mechanisms constructed and configured to facilitate the transfer of the necessary load to assist in the removal of a ski boot.
The body 14 typically includes a generally flat bottom surface 20 that is orthogonal to the axis of the mounting bore 12. The surface area of the body's bottom surface can vary with versions configured for soft snow generally have a larger area, and versions configured for harder snow having a smaller area. The area of bottom surface are often matters of personal preference of a skier. Accordingly, embodiments of the ski basket 10 can be produced in a variety of sizes.
As is evident in the figures, the basket 10 comprises four concave sides. At least one of the sides comprises a heel lip interface 16. In the illustrated embodiment, two opposing sides comprise heel lip interfaces. It is appreciated that variations are contemplated wherein three sides or even all sides can be configured as heel lip interfaces. The heel lip interface is characterized by its radius (or effective radius), which substantially matches the radius of the arc of the boot's heel lip 205. Accordingly, the radius of the arc is typically substantially 1.5″. It is appreciated that for boots having different heel lip radii, the radii of the associated ski pole baskets can vary to match the boots 200.
The two other sides are also concave although in this particular embodiment they are not sized to be received against a boot's heel lip 205. It is appreciated that the size and configuration of these sides can vary substantially and significantly from the illustrated embodiment. Of particular note, opposing annular notches 18 are provided at the center of the sides concave edge. The notches are sized and configured to snappily receive a tubular section of a ski pole roughly proximate the poles tip therein. This permits a user to join two poles together making the pair easier to carry to and from the ski area.
The thickness of a body of a typical prior art ski pole basket is relatively thin, such as about 0.1″, and is most often comprised of a relatively low modulus flexible plastic. At this thickness, a prior art basket is unable to effectively transfer load between its edge and the mounting bore. In contrast, the thickness of embodiments of the basket 10 are substantially thicker and/or comprised of stiffer plastic materials. In the illustrated variation the thickness of the basket at the center of the arc of the heel lip interface 16 is about 0.250″ thick and located about 1″ from the axis of the mounting bore 12. The thickness of the portion of the body 14 extending between the mounting bore and the interface is at least as thick, and in the illustrated embodiment becomes thicker closer to the mounting bore. Adjacent the mounting bore, the illustrated embodiment is about 0.35″ thick with its thickness tapering as it extends towards the heel lip interface. Resultingly, the embodiment is capable of effectively transfer load between the ski pole and the heel lip without undue flexing even when comprised of a semirigid resilient elastomer, such as polyurethane having a Shore D hardness of about 60.
As shown, the generally vertical face of the heel lip interface 16 is substantially smooth. In variations, the face can be textured, such as ridges, grooves, and peaks, to assist in gripping against the boot when placed in contact with the heel lip. The textured surface can be molded into the face during fabrication or it can comprise a material added thereafter, such as a coating or an adhesively-applied strip of grippy or abrasive material. It is further appreciated that a textured or grippy surface can be provided on the bottom surface 20 of the basket in the area proximate the heel lip interface 16 to enhance grip on the horizontal portions of the heel lip 205.
The embodiments of the basket 10 can be comprised of anyone of a number of polymeric materials that facilitate the transfer of load from the heel lip interface 16 to the mounting bore 12. In one embodiment, a thermoset polyurethane elastomer that cures into a semi-rigid material having a Shore D hardness of about 60 is used, such as Smooth-Cast 60D, made by Smooth-On, Inc. of Macungie, PA. For a basket made of polyurethane having a hardness of about 60D, the basket is between 0.20-0.50″ thick at the heel lip interface.
In other variations other materials can be utilized such as, but not limited to, nylon, polycarbonate, ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), polypropylene and thermoplastic polyurethane. The hardness and moduli of the various vary and the resulting geometry of a basket 10 made of a particular material is adjusted to ensure the basket is capable of transferring the necessary amount of load from the ski pole 100 to the boot 200 while also provide a measure of flexibility and resiliency as is often desired in a ski pole basket as is performing its traditional function.
The embodiments of the baskets 10 can be manufactured by any suitable methods; however, thermoset polyurethane baskets are usually pour molded and/or reaction injection molded as a single unitary piece. Baskets made of a thermoplastic material can be injection molded typically as a single unitary piece. In variations, such as those comprising a reinforced or metal mounting bore, mounting bore inserts can be secured to the body of the basket in a post-molding operation, or the insert can be placed into the mold prior to molding such that the body of the basket is formed around the insert during the injection or reaction molding operation.
As can be appreciated, the physical properties of a particular basket 10 are determined by both the basket's material, and the dimensions and configuration of the basket. For example, a basket comprised of glass reinforced nylon would typically be much thinner that a basket comprised of a polyurethane elastomer that has similar load transferring characteristics. Further, a larger basket with a greater distance from the axis of the mounting bore and the face of the heel lip interface would require a thicker basket than one with having a shorter distance.
The particular basket designs shown and described herein are merely examples and numerous variations are contemplated in a variety of shapes, sizes, materials, and pole mounting mechanisms that incorporate the same structural features and functionality as recited in the various claims. For instance, the embodiments of the basket described herein are substantially solid, but although variations are known wherein gussets and reinforcing grids are employed instead of or in addition to a thick solid portion to provide enhanced strength and stiffness to efficiently transfer load while using less plastic.
Additionally, the shape of the basket can vary substantially in variations. The illustrated embodiment is merely one example of the myriad of possible shapes. Several embodiments of ski baskets 10C-G having different shapes are shown in
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional patent application No. 63/430,377, entitled Ski Pole Basket and Ski Pole and Methods of Use Thereof, filed on Dec. 6, 2022, which as the same inventorship as the present application.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63430377 | Dec 2022 | US |
