Stick similar to a ski stick or walking stick

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6644328
  • Patent Number
    6,644,328
  • Date Filed
    Monday, April 30, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 11, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Friedman; Carl D.
    • Horton; Yvonne M.
    Agents
    • Jones, Tullar & Cooper, P.C.
Abstract
A stick such as a ski-stick, walking stick or same, provided with a handle comprising a gripping element and a length-adjustable pole in addition to a regulating device that contains a joint and is arranged outside the pole, whereby the gripping element can be positioned at an angle to the pole and a tubular part of the pole can be pushed through the joint into the gripping element of the pole when the regulating device is oriented in a rectilinear position. This ensures that the regulating device is substantially protected against the effects of the environment and the diameter of the pole is increased to a lesser degree. In order to achieve this, a regulating element is respectively formed by the handle on a lower extension piece of the gripping element and a cap that is firmly connected to the upper end of the pole, whereby one respective regulating element is pivotally and moveably accommodated in a recess of the other regulating element.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to a stick, such as a ski pole, walking stick, or the like, with a stick handle having a handle element and a stick tube, as well as an adjusting device, which contains a hinge and is arranged outside of the stick tube, by means of which the handle element of the stick handle can be fixed in place in an angled position with respect to the stick tube. The stick tube has a straight orientation including a tube element which can be pushed through the hinge into the handle element of the stick handle.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




With such a stick, known from German Patent DE 196 42 297 C2, which can be shortened to a short size for packing, the adjusting elements of the adjusting device are formed by an extension element of a stick tube element maintained in the stick handle and by a fork-like receiver element maintained on the stick tube. The fork-like receiver element is held, fixed in the various angled positions, on laterally projecting pins of the extension element by means of screw caps. The adjusting device is arranged exposed on the stick tube of this construction, which can lead to problems in the winter in case of ice and snow. Moreover, the adjusting elements of the adjusting device considerably project past the diameter of the stick tube.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a stick of the type mentioned at the outset, whose adjusting device is protected to a large extent against environmental influences and extends less with respect to the diameter of the stick tube.




To achieve this object the stick handle forms an outer adjusting element and a cap on the lower extension element of the handle element, the cap being fixedly connected with the upper end of the stick tube. The outer adjusting element and the cap constitute an adjusting element of the adjusting device, wherein the one adjusting element is pivotably received in a cutout of the other adjusting element.




It is achieved by means of the measures in accordance with the present invention that the adjusting device is arranged to be covered inside the stick handle, so that it is generally protected from external influences, such as ice and snow. Because of the arrangement inside the stick handle, the actual, and in particular the visual, widening of the stick tube is essentially reduced.




In accordance with one embodiment, a less protruding housing of the pivot hinge and locking device is achieved in that the two adjusting elements have the pivot shaft on one side of the stick tube, and on the opposite side of the stick tube a locking device for fixation of the respective angled position. It is useful here to design the locking device in that the locking device has an outer tooth arrangement at the adjusting element of the cap of the stick tube, and a locking slide on the extension element of the stick handle. In order to prevent in this case an unintended actuation of the locking slide in the opening direction, locking slide projects past one side of the stick handle are provided.




Further advantageous embodiments of this locking device ensue from a locking slide having a longitudinal groove which receives the respective tooth of the outer tooth arrangement, and a notch which releases the tooth, from embodying the locking slide conically with an eccentric lever assigned to the locking slide, and from receiving the cap inside the cutout of the lower extension element for every angled position of the outer tooth arrangement.




Two adjusting elements on one side of the stick tube have a pivot hinge, with an eccentric lever cooperating with the pivot hinge for clamping fixation in place of the two adjusting elements in the respective position represent another embodiment of the locking device. Besides a less protruding placement of the pivot hinge and the locking device, a quick and easy to handle fixation of the angle position setting furthermore results. In this connection it is useful to design the eccentric lever by maintaining the pivot shaft of the pivot hinge on one, preferably outer, adjusting element and the eccentric lever on the other, preferably inner, adjusting element and/or by seating the pivot shaft in a bore which has a greater diameter and is eccentric with respect to it, of the eccentric lever.




An adjusting device which can be fixed over a large surface is created in that the one adjusting element has an interior surface in the shape of a universal ball joint, and the other adjusting element has a corresponding exterior surface in the shape of a universal ball joint. In order to achieve a sufficient fixation, or clamping, by means of the eccentric lever here, either the interior surface and the exterior surface are provided with a friction coating, or the interior surface and the exterior surface are provided with profiling are provided. Because of this, a frictional fixation results in the one case, while in the other case an interlocking fixation has been achieved.




By means of providing the adjusting device with a device to indicate the adjusted position, it is possible in a simple manner to set both sticks of a pair of sticks at the same angle and to fix them in place in the same way. In this case a visually attractive and easy-to-read indication can be embodied having a window on the outer adjustment element and a marking on the inner adjusting element and/or the window is constituted by a plurality of window sections, which are arranged along a ring section of a circle and whose shape corresponds to that of the marking.




Further embodiments ensue from the provision of an axial blind bore in the stick handle, which lengthens the stick tube, and/or forming the handle element with a lower extension element.




In a further exemplary embodiment wherein the handle element of the stick handle is maintained on a handle tube element into which, in a straight orientation of the stick, the tube element of the stick tube can be pushed through the hinge, the handle element of the stick handle is embodied in two pieces by an upper partial handle element and a separate lower partial handle element, and that the upper partial handle element can be placed on the handle tube element and fastened the advantage results that sticks, embodied in this way, are uniformly pre-produced and preassembled, except for the upper handle element, until at the end of this preassembly the upper handle element suitable for the desired type of handle must yet be attached. In this case the upper handle elements can differ in form and/or technology.




The selection of the upper handle elements can be exclusively limited to those at the final assembly, however, it can also take place later in that the upper partial handle element of the handle element of the stick handle is maintained removably for exchange.




In this connection the upper partial handle element contains all or parts of the handle area, and/or, on its ends adjoining the lower partial handle element, the partial handle element is provided with a shape which makes a transition into the shape of the respective end of the lower partial handle element are usefully provided in order to achieve, on the one hand, a more or less extensive changed portion in the handle area and, on the other hand, to obtain a tactile and visual transition from the handle element to the extension element.




Further embodiments ensue from the lower partial handle element having a cutout which partially receives the outer tooth arrangement of the adjusting element, and/or the handle element and the partial handle element are extruded as one piece.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




Further details of the present invention can be taken from the following description, in which the present invention is described in greater detail and explained by means of the exemplary embodiments represented in the drawings. Shown are:





FIG. 1

, is a lateral view of a stick angled in the stick handle area in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention,





FIG. 2

, is a representation corresponding to

FIG. 1

, but with a handle angled with respect to the stick tube,





FIG. 3

, is a section along the line III—III in

FIG. 2

,





FIG. 4

, shows the handle of the stick in

FIG. 1

in a lateral view,





FIGS. 5A

to C, show the upper end of the stick tube in

FIG. 1

in a lateral view, front view in accordance with the arrow VB, or in a view from above in accordance with the arrow VC in

FIG. 5A

,





FIGS. 6A and 6B

, show lateral views of a stick angled in the handle area in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention in an angled, or in a straight position,





FIG. 7

, is a representation corresponding to

FIG. 6A

, but prior to the application of the handle element on the handle tube portion of the stick handle,





FIG. 8

, is a section along the line VIII—VIII in

FIG. 6A

,





FIG. 9

, shows the stick handle in

FIG. 7

without the handle element in a lateral view,





FIGS. 10A-C

, show the upper end of the stick tube in a lateral view, front view in accordance with the arrow XB, or in a top view in accordance with the arrow XC in

FIG. 10A

,





FIG. 11

, is a section along the line XI—XI of

FIG. 8

, but in accordance with a variation,





FIG. 12

, is a schematic lateral view of a stick in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the invention, which can be or is angled off in the area of the stick handle,





FIG. 13

, shows the angled-off stick of

FIG. 12

in an enlarged, broken representation of the area of the adjusting device, partially in longitudinal section and partially in a plan view,





FIGS. 14A and 14B

, show a representation corresponding to

FIG. 7

, but in a straight orientation of the stick in the released, or in the fixed, position of the adjusting device,





FIG. 15

, is a section along the line XV—XV in FIG.


14


B.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION




The stick


10


,


110


, or


210


, shown by way of example in the drawings in accordance with several embodiments, for example in the form of a ski pole, has a stick handle


11


,


111


or


211


, and a stick tube


12


,


112


, or


212


, for example made of metal. The length of the stick tube


12


,


112


,


212


can be telescopically changed in that a lower inner tube


13


,


113


,


213


with a disk, not represented, can be pushed into an upper outer tube


14


,


114


,


214


. The inner tube


13


,


113


,


213


has a spreading element


16


,


116


(not represented in the second exemplary embodiment) so that in the course of twisting the inner tube


13


,


113


,


213


with respect to the outer tube


14


,


114


,


214


these two can be fixed against each other and in the circumferential direction in the axial direction by means of the spreading element


16


,


116


,


216


. In an extension of the outer tube


14


, the stick handle


11


has a blind bore


17


,


217


, or receives a stick tube element


118


, whose interior diameter is equal to that of the outer tube, so that the inner tube


13


, with its spreading element


16


leading, can be pushed into the blind bore


17


, or into the stick tube element


118


and can be fixed in place there in the above manner, when the stick handle


11


,


111


,


211


and the stick tube


12


,


112


,


212


are aligned straight with respect to each other (

FIGS. 1

, or


10


B). In this way it is possible to bring the telescoping stick


10


,


110


,


210


down to a short size for packing. It goes without saying that, in place of the two tube elements


13


,


113


,


213


and


14


,


114


,


214


, the telescoping stick can also have three or more tube elements, which can be telescopically pushed into each other.




The stick


10


,


110


,


210


is designed in such a way that the stick handle


11


,


111


,


211


is angled with respect to the stick tube


12


,


112


,


212


and can be fixed in various angled positions. For this purpose the stick


10


,


110


,


210


has an adjusting device


22


, pivot shaft


23


,


123


,


223


and a locking device


21


,


121


,


221


in a covering area between the end of the stick handle


11


,


111


,


211


and the upper end of the outer tube


14


,


114


,


214


of the stick tube


12


,


112


,


212


.




In the first and second embodiments in accordance with

FIGS. 5

or


10


, the upper end area of the outer tube


14


,


114


of the stick tube


12


,


112


is connected, fixed against relative rotation and displacement, with an inner adjusting element or cap


26


,


126


. The cap


26


,


126


, which is a part of the adjusting device


22


,


122


, has a through-bore


27


,


127


, in which the outer tube


14


,


114


is fixedly received. The cap


26


,


126


, which is preferably made as a single piece from plastic, has a radially projecting eye


28


,


128


with a bore


29


,


129


for receiving the pivot shaft


123


on one circumferential side, and a toothed ring section


31


,


131


on the diametrically opposite circumferential side. The width of the eye


28


,


128


approximately corresponds to the exterior diameter of the cap


26


,


126


. On the circumference, the toothed ring section


31


,


131


is embodied as a narrow arc of a circle around the center axis of the bore


29


,


129


of the eye


28


,


128


. The toothed ring section


31


,


131


is provided with several, here five, teeth


32


,


132


on this circumference, and the tooth ring section


31


,


131


extends symmetrically downward, or upward, in relation to a horizontal line drawn through the bore


29


,


129


.




The stick handle


11


in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment (

FIGS. 1

to


5


), which is designed to fit the hand ergonomically, has an outer adjusting element, or extension element


37


, which is designed approximately rectangularly, as seen in

FIG. 3

, on its lower end adjoining the grip area


36


, which is approximately oval in cross section. The element


37


of the stick handle


11


, which also constitutes a part of the adjusting device


22


, has a cutout


38


, in which the upper area of the cap


26


with the eye


28


and the toothed ring section


31


are received. For this purpose the cutout


38


has a section on both sides of the blind bore


17


which corresponds to the shape of the eye


28


, or of the toothed ring section


31


. The section of the cutout


38


receiving the eye


28


of the cap


26


is delimited by two cheeks


41


,


42


, arranged in the shape of a fork, which are provided with a bore


43


, which bores


43


are aligned with the bore


29


of the eye


28


and through which the pivot shaft


23


passes in the assembled state.




In accordance with the second exemplary embodiment (

FIGS. 6

to


11


), the stick handle


111


essentially consists of the stick tube element


118


and the handle element


119


, which is ergonomically designed to fit the hand. The handle element


119


is composed of an upper handle element


134


, which is approximately oval in cross section, and a lower handle element


137


which, in cross section, can be embodied to be approximately rectangular, as can be seen in FIG.


8


. The lower handle element, or outer adjusting element, or extension, or partial handle element


137


of the stick handle


111


, which also forms a part of the adjusting device


122


, has a cutout


138


, in which, on the one side, an end of the handle tube element


118


is received, or mounted, fixed in place and, on the other side, the upper area of the cap


126


with the eye


128


and the toothed ring section


131


is movably received. On both sides of its through-bore


127


, which receives the handle tube element


118


in its end, the cutout


138


has a section, or a shaped part, which corresponds to the shape of the eye


128


, or the toothed ring section


131


. The shaped part of the cutout


138


receiving the eye


128


of the cap


126


is delimited by two cheeks


141


,


142


, arranged in a fork-like manner, which are provided with a bore


143


, which bores


143


are aligned with the bore


129


of the eye


128


and through which the pivot shaft


123


passes in the assembled state.




As can be seen in

FIG. 7

, the adjusting device


122


, including the locking device


121


, is provided on the one side on the cap


126


, and on the other side on the lower handle element


137


, which is separated from the upper handle element


134


. Following the assembly of the outer stick tube


114


with the cap


126


and the handle tube element


118


, the upper handle element


134


with the lower handle element


137


can be placed on the handle tube element


118


. It is possible because of this to employ handle elements


119


of different shapes and structural design, independently of the production and assembly process of the adjusting device


122


with the locking device


121


on the telescoping stick


110


. For example, the handle elements


119


can differ in size, as well as in surface structure, as well as in the fastening of their wrist strap. In its area adjoining the upper handle element


134


, the lower handle element


137


is shaped in such a way that a transition area is formed, which is advantageous, or attractive, with respect to handling and visual appearance.




In the first and second exemplary embodiments, a locking slide


46


,


146


which, the same as the toothed ring section


31


,


131


, is a part of the locking device


21


,


121


, can be moved transversely in the groove-like section of the cutout


38


,


138


, which is located diagonally opposite the cheeks


41


,


42


, or


141


,


142


, and receives the toothed ring


31


,


131


. The locking slide


46


,


146


is approximately U-shaped in cross section and is guided parallel with the pivot shaft


23


,


123


in corresponding U-shaped grooves


47


,


147


of the extension


37


,


137


of the stick handle


11


,


111


. The locking slide


46


,


146


penetrates the groove-like section of the cutout


38


,


138


, which separates the two U-shaped grooves


47


,


147


from each other in a guided manner, and projects past a side of the stick handle extension


37


,


137


.




The locking slide


46


,


146


, whose base leg


48


,


148


is designed in a dovetailed manner and is guided in the stick handle extension


37


,


137


, has a notch


51


,


151


in the area of its lateral legs


49


and


50


, or


149


and


150


, which is asymmetrically arranged with respect to the length of the slide and is slightly wider than the toothed ring section. This means that the locking slide


46


,


146


can be brought into a release position and into a locking position by axial displacement. In the release position, the toothed ring section


31


,


131


is located inside the notch


51


,


151


, so that the stick handle


11


,


111


can be angularly inclined, or displaced, with respect to the stick tube


12


,


112


in accordance with FIG.


2


. In each position, which can be changed in steps, the locking slide


46


,


146


can be displaced in such a way that the respective tooth


32


,


132


of the toothed ring section


31


,


131


comes between the lateral legs


49


,


50


,


149


,


150


of the locking slide


46


,


146


, so that the respective angled position is locked in. In each locking position, the end face of the locking slide


46


,


146


which must be employed for unlocking is flush with the exterior surface of the stick handle extension


37


,


137


, so that unintentional unlocking, or release, is not possible.




In the variation of the second exemplary embodiment represented in

FIG. 11

, the groove


147


′ of the locking slide


146


′ is embodied slightly conically in the direction of the locking movement in order to receive the respective tooth


132


of the toothed ring section


131


clampingly and free of play. Here, the teeth


132


of the outer tooth arrangement


131


are not conical in the direction of their width. As can be seen, the groove


147


′ starts at one end of the notch


151


and extends as far as the facing end of the locking slide


146


. An eccentric lever


153


, which is used for clamping the respective tooth


132


of the outer tooth arrangement


131


, is hinged on the locking slide


146


′ at a place adjoining the other side of the notch


151


. The opening movement takes place in that in accordance with

FIG. 11

the eccentric lever


153


drawn in solid lines is pivoted in the direction of the arrow D into the position represented by dash-dotted lines. It is then possible to displace the locking slide


146


in the direction of the arrow E with the aid of the eccentric lever


153


, so that the respective end of the locking slide projects out of the stick handle


111


or the partial handle element


137


. Following the angular displacement, the locking slide


146


′ is pushed back in the direction opposite the arrow E by pressure on the projecting end, after which the eccentric lever


153


is pivoted in the direction opposite the arrow D for clamped locking.




It goes without saying that the angled inclination of the stick handle


11


,


111


with respect to the stick tube


12


,


112


can only take place if the inner tube


13


,


113


has been pulled out of the handle tube element


18


,


118


of the stick handle


11


,


111


. In accordance with the represented exemplary embodiment, the non-angled position of the stick handle


11


,


111


with respect to the stick tube


12


,


112


is the one end position of the adjusting device


22


,


122


, so that angling takes place in one direction exclusively. In the exemplary embodiment represented, the cutout


38


,


138


in the lower partial stick handle element


137


′ is so deep that in the straight end position all teeth


32


,


132


, or their gaps of the toothed ring section


31


,


131


, are received inside the cutout


38


,


138


and are therefore arranged covered in the lower partial stick handle element


137


′.




It goes without saying that in a manner not represented the handle tube element


18


,


118


is provided with an elongated cutout in an area of the circumference facing the toothed ring section


31


,


131


for receiving the toothed ring section


31


,


131


in one of the angled positions.




In the second exemplary embodiment the handle tube element


118


is mounted as a separate component in the lower partial handle element


137


′. But in accordance with a variation, the handle tube element


118


is extruded in one piece on the lower partial handle element


137


′.




In the second exemplary embodiment, the handle grip area or upper handle element


134


is constituted exclusively by the circumference of the upper partial element


134


′ of the handle element


119


. In accordance with a further exemplary embodiment, not represented, the lower partial handle element


137


′ is included in this handle grip area


134


, which means that the area of the hand of a user facing away from the thumb and index finger grips around an area of the lower partial handle element


137


′ when the hand is placed on the stick handle


111


.




In the third exemplary embodiment (

FIGS. 12

to


15


), in accordance with

FIG. 13

the upper end area of the outer tube


214


of the stick tube


212


is connected fixed against relative rotation and displacement with a cap


226


. The cap


226


, which is a part of the adjusting device


222


, has a through-bore


227


, in which the outer tube


214


is fixedly received. The cap


226


, which is preferably made in.one piece of plastic, has a radially projecting eye


228


with a bore


229


for receiving a shaft


254


of a clamping lever


253


on one circumferential side. The eye


228


is designed in the shape of a fork, so that a portion of the shaft


254


of the clamping lever


253


is pivotably seated at both sides, and the arm


255


of the clamping lever


253


can be pivotably moved up or down in the slit of the fork.




Diametrically opposite the clamping lever receiver


228


, the cap


226


has an inner clamping section


231


, which has an exterior face


233


in the shape of a universal balljoint. In the example represented, the exterior face


233


in the shape of a universal ball joint is provided with profiling, preferably ribbing


232


, extending transversely to the pivot direction in accordance with the arrow A. The center of the exterior face


233


in the shape of a universal ball joint is represented by the pivot shaft


254


, or its longitudinal center.




The stick handle


211


, which is designed to fit the hand ergonomically, has on its lower end adjoining the handle element


219


, which is approximately oval in cross section, an extension


237


, which is formed on it in one piece and is also designed approximately oval in cross section with an enlarged longitudinal axis, as is shown in FIG.


4


. The extension element


237


of the stick handle


211


, which also constitutes a part of the adjusting device


222


, has a cutout


238


, in which the upper area of the cap


226


with the eye


228


and the section


231


in the shape of a universal ball joint are received. For this purpose the cutout


238


has a section on both sides of the blind bore


217


which corresponds to the shape of the eye


228


, or of the section


231


in the shape of a universal ball joint. The section of the cutout


238


receiving the eye


228


of the cap


226


is delimited by two cheeks


241


, arranged in the shape of a fork, which are provided with a bore


243


. The two bores


243


receive a pivot shaft


244


of the pivot hinge


223


, which penetrates the hollow shaft


254


of the clamping lever


253


. In this case the pivot shaft


244


, which is used for adjustment, is arranged eccentrically with respect to the bore


256


of the hollow shaft


254


of the pivot lever


253


, wherein the outer diameter of the pivot shaft


244


is less than the inner diameter of the bore


256


of the clamping lever shaft


254


. The lever bore


256


and the lever shaft


254


are eccentric with respect to each other, while the lever shaft


254


and the pivot shaft


244


are centered with respect to each other.




The section of the cutout


238


of the extension


237


located diagonally opposite the cheeks


241


is provided with an interior surface


239


in the shape of a universal ball joint, whose shape corresponds to the exterior surface


233


in the shape of a universal ball joint of the cap


226


and is, the same as the latter, provided with profiling, or ribbing


240


, extending transversely to the pivot direction A. It is possible in this way to displace the two surfaces


233


and


239


in the shape of a universal ball joint in steps in accordance with the gaps between the ribbings


232


and


240


and can be fixed in place against each other.




If in accordance with

FIGS. 13 and 14A

the clamping lever


253


is arranged in its upper, laterally projecting position, the exterior surface


233


in the shape of a universal ball joint and the interior surface


239


in the shape of a universal ball joint are then arranged, because of the eccentric arrangement of the clamping lever shaft


254


and the pivot shaft


244


at the handle area extension


237


, at a radial distance in such a way that a pivot movement of the one surface in the shape of a universal ball joint with respect to the other surface in the shape of a universal ball joint, and therefore of the stick handle


211


with respect to the stick tube


212


, becomes possible. If a defined angle position has been set, for example the one represented in

FIG. 13

, the clamping lever


252


is moved downward in the direction of the arrow B until it rests with its arm inside


257


against the outside


225


of the cap


226


. Because of the eccentric seating, the pivot shaft


244


in accordance with

FIGS. 14A and 14B

is moved to the right during this movement, so that the interior surface


239


in the shape of a universal ball joint of the extension


237


moves toward the exterior surface


233


in the shape of a universal ball joint of the cap


226


and rests against it under pressure. An interlocked clamping of the set angle position is achieved in this way. It goes without saying that, instead of the interlocked clamped connection because of the ribbings


232


and


240


, the surfaces in the shape of a universal ball joint can be embodied to be plain and can be individually, or both, covered with a friction coating, so that then a frictional connection results. An infinitely variable adjustment is possible with this embodiment, not represented.




In the area of its section


231


in the shape of a universal ball joint, the cap


226


of the stick tube


212


is provided with a marking


261


, here in the shape of dots and, if desired, in color, which is a part of a marking device


260


. The extension


237


of the stick handle


211


is provided with a window


262


of the marking device


260


. This window


262


consists of a plurality of circular window elements


263


arranged on top of each other, which extend along a section of a circle whose center is the pivot shaft


244


. During the adjusting movement the point marking


261


passes by the window elements


263


. With the stepped adjustment possibility represented, the spacing of the window elements


263


has been selected in such a way that the point marking


261


appears in one of the window elements


263


for each adjustment step. It is possible in this way to set both sticks


210


of a pair of sticks at the same angle in a simple way. It goes without saying that the cross section of the marking


261


and of the window elements


263


can be selected in any arbitrary way. Although only five window elements


263


, and therefore five steps, are represented in the example represented in

FIG. 12

, it goes without saying that these can also be more or fewer.




It furthermore goes without saying that the angled inclination of the stick handle


211


with respect to the stick tube


212


can also occur when the inner tube


213


has been pulled out of the blind bore


217


of the stick handle


211


. In accordance with the exemplary embodiment represented, the non-angled position of the stick handle


211


with respect to the stick tube


212


is the one end position of the adjusting device


222


, so that angling can take place in one direction exclusively.




In a further embodiment, the third exemplary embodiment can be combined with the second in regard to the two-piece embodiment of the handle element.



Claims
  • 1. A stick, or the like, comprising:a stick handle having a handle element; a stick tube having a tube element; a cap; and an adjusting device having a hinge arranged outside of said stick tube, by a means of which said handle element is fixed in place in an angled position with respect to said stick tube, wherein: in the straight orientation of said stick tube, said tube element passes through said hinge into said handle element, said handle element forms, on a lower extension element thereof, an outer adjusting element of said adjusting device, said outer adjusting element defining a cutout; said cap, which is fixedly connected with the upper end of said stick tube, forms an inner adjusting element of said adjusting device; and said inner adjusting element is pivotably received in the cutout of said outer adjusting element.
  • 2. The stick as defined in claim 1, further comprising:a pivot shaft; a locking device, further wherein: said inner and outer adjusting elements have said pivot shaft on one side of said stick tube, and said locking device on the opposite side of said stick tube, for fixation of the respective angled position.
  • 3. The stick as defined in claim 2, further wherein:said locking device has an outer tooth arrangement at said inner adjusting element and a locking slide on said outer adjusting element.
  • 4. The stick as defined in claim 3, further wherein:said locking slide projects past one side of said stick handle.
  • 5. The stick as defined in claim 3, further wherein:said locking slide has a longitudinal groove which receives a respective tooth of said outer tooth arrangement, and a notch which releases the tooth.
  • 6. The stick as defined in claim 5, further comprising:an eccentric lever, further wherein: said longitudinal groove is conically embodied; and said eccentric lever cooperates with said locking slide.
  • 7. The stick as defined in claim 1, further wherein:in every angled position, said outer tooth arrangement is received inside of said cutout.
  • 8. The stick as defined in claim 1, further comprising:an eccentric lever, further wherein: said eccentric lever operatively cooperates with said pivot hinges for clamping fixation in place of said two adjusting elements in a respective position.
  • 9. The stick as defined in claim 8, further comprising:a pivot shaft, and further wherein: said pivot shaft is preferably maintained on said outer adjusting element, and said eccentric lever preferably on said inner adjusting element.
  • 10. The stick as defined in claim 9, further wherein:said eccentric lever has a bore; and said pivot shaft is seated in said bore, said bore having a greater diameter than said pivot shaft and is eccentric with respect to said eccentric lever.
  • 11. The stick as defined in claim 8, further wherein:said outer adjusting element has an interior surface in the shape of a universal ball joint, and said inner adjusting element has a corresponding exterior surface in the shape of a universal ball joint.
  • 12. The stick as defined in claim 11, further wherein:at least one of said interior surface and said exterior surface are provided with a friction coating.
  • 13. The stick as defined in claim 11, further wherein:at least one of said interior surface and said exterior surface are provided with profiling.
  • 14. The stick as defined in claim 11, further comprising:a device indicating the adjusted position, further wherein: said adjusting device is provided with said device indicating the adjusted position.
  • 15. The stick as defined in claim 14, further wherein:said inner adjusting element has a marking, sand said outer adjusting element has a window.
  • 16. The stick as defined in claim 15, further wherein:said window comprises a plurality of window sections arranged along a ring section of a circle and whose shape corresponds to that of the marking.
  • 17. The stick as defined in claim 1, further wherein:said stick handle defines an axial blind bore which lengthens said stick tube.
  • 18. The stick as defined in claim 1, further wherein:said handle element includes the lower extension element.
  • 19. The stick as defined in claim 1, further wherein:said handle element is embodied in two pieces, by an upper partial handle element and a separate lower partial handle element; and said upper partial handle element is placed on said handle tube element and fastened.
  • 20. The stick as defined in claim 1, further wherein:said upper partial handle element is removable for exchange.
  • 21. The stick as defined in claim 19, further wherein:said upper partial handle element contains one of: all or parts of the handle area.
  • 22. The stick as defined in claim 20, further wherein:on its ends adjoining said lower partial handle element, said partial handle element is provided with a shape which makes a transition into the shape of the respective end of said lower partial handle element.
  • 23. The stick as defined in claim 19, further wherein:said lower partial handle element has a cutout, which partially receives the outer tooth arrangement of said adjusting element.
  • 24. The stick as defined in claim 19, further wherein:said handle tube element and said partial handle element are extruded as one piece.
Priority Claims (3)
Number Date Country Kind
298 20 452 U Nov 1998 DE
299 13 403 U Jul 1999 DE
299 19 631 U Nov 1999 DE
PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind
PCT/EP99/08773 WO 00
Publishing Document Publishing Date Country Kind
WO00/29079 5/25/2000 WO A
US Referenced Citations (6)
Number Name Date Kind
4597589 Fujii et al. Jul 1986 A
5287870 Rhodes Feb 1994 A
6070907 Bujold et al. Jun 2000 A
6082767 Bujold et al. Jul 2000 A
6142527 Lenhart Nov 2000 A
6203063 Bujold et al. Mar 2001 B1
Foreign Referenced Citations (6)
Number Date Country
504878 Jul 1930 DE
G8702756.9 Apr 1987 DE
4440343 May 1996 DE
19642297 May 1998 DE
19642297 Aug 1998 DE
0149576 Jan 1985 EP