POLE HANDLE WITH LOOP FASTENING

Abstract

A pole handle having a central receiving area that receives a loop fastening element with a hand loop, which is secured to the loop fastening element and has an adjustable size. The loop fastening element and the hand loop is secured to the loop fastening element to form a modular unit which is formed separately from a core of the pole handle and which is secured to the core of the pole handle in a reversibly tiltable manner about a rotational axis in the pole handle. The loop fastening element can be tilted from a rest position, in which the loop fastening element is integrated into the surface contour of the handle head and in which the size of the hand loop cannot be adjusted, upwards about the rotational axis into an adjustment position, in which the size of the hand loop can be adjusted.

Claims

1. A pole handle, having a head region and a handle region, as well as an axial recess for receiving a pole tube and a hand loop which is fastened thereto and which is adjustable in terms of its size, wherein the pole handle has a central recess in which a loop fastening element with said hand loop, which is fastened to the loop fastening element and which is adjustable in terms of its size, is at least partially received, wherein the loop fastening element and the hand loop, which is fastened to the loop fastening element, form a modular unit which is configured separately from a core of the pole handle and which is fastened to the core of the pole handle in a reversibly tiltable manner about a rotational axis in the pole handle, wherein the loop fastening element can be tilted from a resting position, in which the loop fastening element is integrated in the surface contour of the handle head and in which the size of the hand loop cannot be adjusted, upwardly about the rotational axis into an adjustment position, and in this adjustment position the size of the hand loop can be adjusted.

2. The pole handle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loop fastening element has a through-opening through which the loop strap of the hand loop is guided out of the pole handle, is guided around the hand of the user, and passes again through the loop fastening element, through the same through-opening with the free end.

3. The pole handle as claimed in claim 2, wherein in the resting position the loop strap is fixedly clamped between a lower face of the loop fastening element and an opposing base of the central recess.

4. The pole handle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loop fastening element is tiltably fastened on the core of the pole handle by means of a transverse pin arranged along the rotational axis transversely to a direction of travel and transversely to the pole handle longitudinal axis in a through-opening of the core of the pole handle.

5. The pole handle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loop fastening element is additionally fastened by means of a direct or indirect connection to the core of the pole handle.

6. The pole handle as claimed in claim 1, wherein latching elements which permit the loop fastening element to be latched in the resting position and/or in the adjustment position are provided.

7. The pole handle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand loop has a loop portion circulating around the hand of the user, and a deflection portion which adjoins the loop portion on one side, which is inserted into a slotted through-opening of the loop fastening element, and which is guided downwardly in the central recess around a deflection region of the loop fastening element, and a first free end which protrudes from the central recess and which adjoins the deflection portion, wherein the hand loop additionally has a second end which adjoins the peripheral loop portion and which is fastened to the loop fastening element.

8. The pole handle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loop fastening element has at least one recess, or wherein the loop fastening element has means which ensure a seal on its front surface in the transition to the top portion, forming the surface of the handle head during use in the resting position.

9. The pole handle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pole handle has at least one attachment which is positively and releasably connected to the loop fastening element and/or to the core.

10. The pole handle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the attachment is positively and releasably connected to the core of the pole handle.

11. The pole handle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the angle between the resting position and the adjustment position ranges from 20-90°.

12. The pole handle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pole handle has a first positive connection between the core and the loop fastening element, as well as a second positive connection between the loop fastening element and the attachment and a third positive connection between the core and the attachment.

13. The pole handle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loop fastening element has a curved top portion which in the fixed position is integrated at least partially, or in particular virtually entirely, in an external contour of the top region.

14. A method for the assembly of a pole handle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand loop is fastened with a free end to the loop fastening element and is then inserted as a module into the central recess and is tiltably fastened via a transverse pin in the handle head.

15. A pole having a pole handle as claimed in claim 1.

16. The pole handle as claimed in claim 1, wherein it is for a ski pole, cross-country ski pole, trekking pole or Nordic walking pole

17. The pole handle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the free end of the loop strap is guided downwardly to the rear of this through-opening around the loop fastening element around a deflection region, and is then guided out of the handle head below the loop as a free loop end.

18. The pole handle as claimed in claim 3, wherein means are arranged in the clamping region and/or in the deflection region in order to prevent the adjustment of the size of the hand loop.

19. Pole handle as claimed in claim 18, wherein the means are configured at least partially in the form of one or more clamping projections or clamping protrusions and/or corresponding recesses, steps or grooves in the mating surface or wherein at least one rib running transversely to the direction of travel is arranged on the lower face of the loop fastening element and a corresponding step is arranged in the opposing base of the central recess.

20. The pole handle as claimed in claim 5, wherein said connection is providing at the same time a guide function for the tilting movement between the resting position and the fixed position or wherein projections are provided therefor on the core and/or on a separate element, said projections engaging at least partially in curved recesses in the lateral surfaces.

21. The pole handle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the loop fastening element has at least one first latching channel in at least one lateral surface in which at least one first latching cam engages in the resting state, wherein the loop fastening element has two latching channels which are arranged on two lateral walls of the loop fastening element, which are arranged parallel to one another and opposing one another, and wherein the core has two latching cams which are oriented inwardly into the central recess and which are arranged on two lateral walls of the core, which are arranged substantially parallel to one another and opposing one another, and which engage in the two latching channels, or wherein the loop fastening element has at least one second latching channel in at least one lateral surface in which at least one first latching cam engages in the adjustment position, wherein the loop fastening element has two latching channels which are arranged on two lateral walls of the loop fastening element, which are arranged parallel to one another and opposing one another, and wherein the core has two latching cams which are oriented inwardly into the central recess and which are arranged on two lateral walls of the core, which are arranged substantially parallel to one another and opposing one another, and which engage in the two latching channels.

22. The pole handle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand loop has a loop portion circulating around the hand of the user, and a deflection portion which adjoins the loop portion on one side, which is inserted into a slotted through-opening of the loop fastening element, and which is guided downwardly in the central recess around a deflection region of the loop fastening element, and a first free end which protrudes from the central recess and which adjoins the deflection portion, wherein the hand loop additionally has a second end which adjoins the peripheral loop portion and which is fastened to the loop fastening element, on a front wall of the loop fastening element which is arranged in the central recess of the pole handle, by means of a fastening means which is a screw, a pin, a rivet, a hook, a material connection, including an adhesive connection, welded connection, injection-molding or a combination thereof.

23. The pole handle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loop fastening element has at least one recess which is arranged transversely to the direction of travel.

24. The pole handle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pole handle has at least one, clamp-shaped, attachment which is positively and releasably connected to the loop fastening element and/or to the core, wherein the attachment has two lateral walls which converge in a front wall in the direction of travel and which are connected downwardly by a base in a front region, wherein the lateral walls in each case have a free end which is oriented to the rear counter to the direction of travel and on which in each case a latching pin is arranged, and wherein the latching pins engage in each case in a curved guide channel which is arranged on opposing lateral walls of the loop fastening element, whereby during a tilting movement of the loop fastening element the loop fastening element is guided in the central recess of the pole handle, and wherein the at least one guide channel is configured along the curvature of a top portion of the loop fastening element.

25. The pole handle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the attachment is positively and releasably connected to the core of the pole handle, by means of at least one latching connection.

26. The pole handle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the angle between the resting position and the adjustment position ranges from 30-80°, or from 45-70°.

27. The method for the assembly of a pole handle as claimed in claim 14, wherein the hand loop is fastened with a free end to the loop fastening element and is then inserted as a module into the central recess and is tiltably fastened via a transverse pin in the handle head, wherein, before or subsequently thereto, at least one attachment is pushed on and fastened to the handle head, in a self-latching manner, and the loop fastening element is additionally secured via this attachment, respectively regions thereof, to the handle head and is additionally guided for the tilting movement.

28. The pole according to claim 15, wherein it is a trekking pole, ski pole, cross-country ski pole or Nordic walking pole.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0064] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the following with reference to the drawings, which are for the purpose of illustrating the present preferred embodiments of the invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same. In the drawings,

[0065] FIG. 1 shows perspective views of the pole handle according to a first exemplary embodiment in a) from top left to the rear and in b) from top left to the front;

[0066] FIG. 2 shows a perspective exploded view of the pole handle according to a first exemplary embodiment from top left to the front;

[0067] FIG. 3 shows a view of the pole handle according to the first exemplary embodiment from the rear along the direction of travel;

[0068] FIG. 4 shows an axial section X of the pole handle according to the first exemplary embodiment along the cutting plane A-A of FIG. 3;

[0069] FIG. 5 shows sections X of FIG. 4, in a) X1 with the fixed loop fastening element and a fixed loop length and in b) X2 with the loop fastening element tilted to the front and a longitudinally adjustable loop length;

[0070] FIG. 6 shows a section of the pole handle according to the first exemplary embodiment in a perspective view from top left to the front, with the inserted loop fastening element, wherein the head region of the pole handle along the cutting plane A-A of FIG. 3 to the cutting plane B-B of FIG. 8 is cut out in a quadrant;

[0071] FIG. 7 shows sections of the pole handle along the cutting plane A-A of FIG. 3 according to the first exemplary embodiment in a perspective view without the loop fastening element, loop and pin, in a) from top left to the front and in b) from top left to the rear;

[0072] FIG. 8 shows a lateral schematic view of the pole handle according to the first exemplary embodiment from the left transversely to the direction of travel;

[0073] FIG. 9 shows a section Y along the cutting plane B-B of FIG. 8 with the hand loop;

[0074] FIG. 10 shows an enlarged view of the section Y of FIG. 9 without the hand loop;

[0075] FIG. 11 shows a schematic view of the pole handle according to the first exemplary embodiment from above along the pole handle longitudinal axis with the hand loop;

[0076] FIG. 12 shows views of the pole handle according to the first exemplary embodiment, wherein only the core of the pole handle is shown, i.e. without the attachment element, without the pin, without the loop fastening element and without the hand loops, in a) perspectively from top right to the rear, in b) perspectively from top left to the front, in c) a view from the front counter to the direction of travel, in d) a lateral view from the left transversely to the direction of travel;

[0077] FIG. 13 shows views of the attachment of the pole handle according to the first exemplary embodiment in a) perspectively from top right to the rear, in b) perspectively from top left to the front, in c) from above, in d) a sectional view along the cutting plane D-D in c), in e) a sectional view along the cutting plane E-E in c) viewed in the direction of travel, in f) a sectional view along the cutting plane F-F in d), in g) a view from below;

[0078] FIG. 14 shows views of the loop fastening element of the pole handle according to the first exemplary embodiment, in a) perspectively from top left to the front, in b) perspectively from top right to the rear, in c) from below, and in d) from the right, when viewed transversely to the direction of travel, in e) from the rear, in f) from the left, in g) from the front, when viewed counter to the direction of travel, and in h) from above;

[0079] FIG. 15 shows an axial section X of the pole handle according to the first exemplary embodiment along the cutting plane A-A of FIG. 3, wherein a casing made of a cork material or foam material is arranged in the handle region.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0080] A first preferred exemplary embodiment of the pole handle 1 according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 1-14. In this case, the same reference signs denote the same elements according to the list of reference signs.

[0081] The pole handle 1 (see FIG. 1) has a head region 2 or a handle head and a handle region 3. The pole handle 1 is constructed substantially from the following basic elements, namely a pole handle core 1a (typically manufactured from a plastics material in a single-component or multi-component injection-molding method), an attachment element 7 which is pushed or positioned from the front onto the core 1a in the head region 2, respectively the handle nose 2a, and partially clamps around the front upper handle region of the head region 2, and a coupling module made of a loop fastening element 5 with a hand loop 4 which is fastened thereto and which can be adjusted in terms of size in the present exemplary embodiment. The core 1a of the pole handle, as can be identified in FIG. 2 and FIG. 12, is a one-part or multi-part component which is configured in multiple components and which typically has in the handle region 3 a surface coating made of material which is easy to grip, or a corresponding casing typically made of a grip foam or natural material, for example cork. The core 1a of the pole handle can also be divided transversely to the pole axis in order to assemble, for example, alternative handle materials in the form of sleeves, which can make up a partial region of the gripping surface. At the lower end of the handle region 3 the pole handle 1 or the core 1a of the pole handle 1 has a shoulder 17, oriented to the rear counter to the direction of travel L or oriented toward the pole handle user during use, on which the user can rest the palm of the hand when gripping the pole handle 1 in the lower handle region in the peripheral direction U.

[0082] The core 1a of the pole handle 1 has a central axial pole handle recess 16 from the bottom, typically defined upwardly toward the handle head, in the form of a blind hole which is arranged substantially along the pole handle longitudinal axis S. The axial recess 16 serves for receiving and fastening a pole tube (not shown) or a tube portion of a pole, in particular of a ski pole, cross-country pole, trekking pole or a Nordic walking pole.

[0083] The head region 2 of the pole handle 1 has a front region 2a or a handle nose facing in the direction of travel L, wherein the direction of travel L is arranged substantially perpendicular to the pole handle longitudinal axis L and faces away from the user of the pole handle 1. The head region 2 of the pole handle 1 is covered by the user with the inner surface of the hand when the user rests on the pole handle from the top. In the front region 2a of the head region 2, the pole handle 1 has an elevation 40 below the handle head 2 in the transition region to the handle region 3. This elevation serves for ease of gripping, in particular when the handle head is gripped from the rear at the top and the fingers enclose this lower front region. Thus, for example, it is possible to place the index finger into the recess in front of this elevation 40 and the middle finger into the recess behind this elevation 40, or shifted by one finger position further, the middle finger in the recess in front of the elevation 40 and the ring finger in the recess behind the elevation 40.

[0084] The head region 2 of the pole handle 1 has, from the rear on the upper face, a central recess 11 for receiving a loop fastening element 5 for a hand loop 4 (see for example FIG. 2 or FIG. 7). This central recess 11 extends from the rear region 2b of the head region 2 as far as the front region 2a. The core 1a is thus configured to be partially hollow in the head region 2.

[0085] The core 1a has, when viewed in the direction of travel L, a first left-hand lateral wall 14a and a second right-hand lateral wall 14b. These lateral walls are open toward the rear face and converge in the front region 2a of the pole handle 1 in a front wall 14c. In the upper and front handle region 2a, the lateral walls 14a, 14b are offset inwardly in some regions, whereby a shoulder 21 partially circulating in the peripheral direction U is formed. The core 1 a has a plurality of through-holes 12a-12f, 15 in the aforementioned lateral walls 14 in the head region 2. In the exemplary embodiment shown, these through-holes are implemented by a first through-hole 12a, a second through-hole 12b and a third through-hole 12c in the first left-hand lateral wall 14a and by a fourth through-hole 12d, a fifth through-hole 12e and a sixth through-hole 12f in the second right-hand lateral wall 14b of the core 1a. In this case, two through-holes 12a, 12d (front), respectively 12b, 12e (in the middle), respectively 12c, 12f (rear) oppose one another in the head region 2 of the core 1 a. The through-holes form in each case a through-hole surface 12, i.e. a cross-sectional surface of the respective through-opening.

[0086] In the exemplary embodiment shown of FIG. 2, the front wall 14c has a seventh through-hole 15.

[0087] The through-holes 12a-12f in the lateral walls 14a, 14b are separated from one another in each case by webs 13a-13d and the foremost webs 13e and 13f in the respective lateral walls 14a, 14b. The webs 13a-13f run substantially from the upper face or the top surface 6 of the core 1a downwardly in the direction of the handle region 3 as far as the partially peripheral shoulder 21. The top surface 6, which is closed in this exemplary embodiment, is correspondingly supported by a plurality of webs 13, and the lateral walls and the top surface enclose a hollow space 42 which runs in the direction of travel, which transitions at the rear into the recess 11 and which is closed at the front by the front wall 14c.

[0088] These webs can be oriented substantially parallel to the pole longitudinal axis but, as shown in this exemplary embodiment, can preferably be oriented so as to be adapted as bionic structures to the typical loading directions. Thus here the respective rear webs 13b, 13d are inclined from bottom to top toward the rear and the front webs 13a, 13c are inclined from bottom to top toward the front, in each case typically toward the rear at an angle of 30-60°, relative to the pole longitudinal axis, and toward the front at an angle of 20-45° relative to the pole longitudinal axis. This results, to a certain extent, in a lattice structure or network structure of the core 1a in the upper head region 2 for supporting the top surface 6.

[0089] Furthermore, in each case the top surface 6 is borne toward the rear on either side by an arcuate web 41 which connects the top surface 6 to the lower part of the core and encloses and guides the loop fastening element 5 at the side.

[0090] The surface of the head region 2 of the pole handle 1 and thus the gripping surface from above (see FIG. 11) is partially formed by the upper face, respectively the top surface 6, of the core 1a, partially by the attachment element 7 and partially by the loop fastening element 5. In this case, the curved upper face or the top portion 25 of the loop fastening element 5 in the resting position or the untilted fixed position is approximately fully integrated in the external contour of the head region 2. In this case, when the loop fastening element is removed, in a side view (see FIG. 14) the surface of the head region has a first protrusion 19 in the transition of the upper face to the loop fastening element, and a second protrusion 20 in the transition to the lower handle region, so that here the loop fastening element is embedded in the surface of the handle head flush with the contours.

[0091] The attachment element 7 grips or covers the front region or the front wall 7c of the core 1a in the head region 2 of the pole handle 1 with the front wall 7c of the attachment element 7, which is configured to a certain extent as a clamp, and with its two arms 7a, 7b extending laterally in each case from the front wall 7c covers the flanks or lateral walls 14a, 14b of the core 1a, as can be identified in the exploded view of FIG. 2. The attachment 7 thus encloses with its two lateral walls 7a, 7b and its front wall 7c on three sides the front region of the handle head and the two lateral regions of the lateral walls 14. Furthermore, the attachment encloses a region which serves for receiving a latching structure 35 in the interior of the head region 2 of the core 1a, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10.

[0092] In the front region of the attachment 7, this attachment has a base 7d which connects together the two lateral walls 7a, 7b, (see FIG. 13) and which has a recess 7g and defines the interior in the front region toward the bottom. The base 7d extends substantially parallel to the cutting plane B-B, illustrated in FIG. 8, which extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the head region K1. When the attachment 7 is pushed from the front onto the core 1a in the head region 2 of the pole handle 1, the base 7d slides at least partially from the front into a slot 18 in the latching structure 35 and the attachment 7 is latched on the core 1a of the pole handle 1. This is permitted by a positive connection between a latching tongue 34, which is configured to be substantially semi-circular with an undercut on the latching structure 35 in the interior of the head region 2, and the corresponding recess 7g in the base 7d of the attachment (see FIG. 10). The recess 7g has a slot-like extension 7k oriented in the direction of travel L in order to permit the widening of the attachment 7 for the latching process. The recess 7g is defined toward the interior 7m and to the rear by two lugs 7h, 7i oriented inwardly, substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis of the lateral arms 7a, 7b of the attachment. When positioning the clamp-shaped attachment, the two lugs 7h, 7i engage below the two opposing foremost through-holes 12a, 12d into the slot 18 in the head region 2 of the core 1a and are latched in the undercut behind the latching tongue 34 of the core 1a, to a certain extent in each case in a latching recess or in the respective undercut.

[0093] The through-holes are all overlapped or covered in each case by one lateral arm 7a, 7b of the attachment. The front wall 7c and the lateral walls 7a, 7b of the attachment are located in the positioned state on the shoulder 21 of the core 1a which circulates around the head region 2 in the front region 2a and on the two sides, and seamlessly transitions with the curvature of the head region 2 into the rear region 2b. The arms 7a, 7b have a concave curvature oriented toward the interior 7m of the attachment 7. The cover element 7 thus serves, amongst other things, to a certain extent for sealing the open lightweight design with the webs and thus for preventing dirt or the like from being able to penetrate into the handle head, and on the other hand for providing a surface for the handle which as far as possible is smooth and free of transitions. The cover element is typically and preferably produced from a transparent or translucent thermoplastic material, for example polyamide, polycarbonate, polyacrylate (e.g. PMMA), POM or a mixture of such materials, so that the view of the internal structure is revealed.

[0094] At the free end of the respective first left-hand arm 7a or of the second right-hand arm 7b of the attachment, each arm 7a, 7b respectively has a latching hook, latching projection or latching pin 7e, 7f. This latching pin 7e, 7f extends initially inwardly from the respective arm 7a, 7b, i.e. toward the interior 7m of the attachment 7, and then toward the upper rear face. These latching pins 7e, 7f serve for fastening the attachment 7 to the loop fastening element and thus indirectly for fastening the attachment to the core 1a, and the latching pins also have a guiding function for the loop fastening element 5 as described further below. The latching pins 7e, 7f in this case engage from outside through the through-holes 12c, respectively 12f, and then engage in each case behind the arcuate web 41. In other words, the attachment 7 is pushed on so as to grip from the front, then grips with the latching pins around the webs 41 on the inner face and is latched to the recess 7g on the latching tongue 34 further toward the front.

[0095] The head region 2 of the pole handle 1 also has a rear region 2b which faces the pole handle user and in which a hand loop 4 is fastened. In the first exemplary embodiment shown, the hand loop 4 is connected to the pole handle 1, or coupled thereto, via the loop fastening element 5 which is arranged in the central recess 11 in the head region 2a of the pole handle 1 and in the embodiment shown is tiltable by a movement indicated in FIG. 5a. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the loop fastening element 5 is to a certain extent of block-shaped configuration. The central recess 11 of the pole handle 1 is defined downwardly in the core 1a by a base 27 and is separated from the upper end of the pole handle recess 16. The hand loop 4 has a loop portion 4a which is configured to enclose at least partially a hand or a wrist of the pole handle user. The loop portion 4a is arranged between a first free loop end 4c, which emerges from the pole handle interior and which can be pulled by hand for the purposes of reducing the loop width, and a second loop end 4d which is fastened in or on the loop fastening element 5.

[0096] In the first exemplary embodiment shown, a deflection portion 4b is arranged between the loop portion 4a and the first free loop end 4c, said deflection portion being guided around a deflection region 22 of the loop fastening element 5 (see in particular FIG. 2 and FIG. 6). The second loop end 4d is fastened on a front side 29 of the loop fastening element 5 facing the direction of travel L by means of a fastening means 10 which is configured in the present exemplary embodiment as a screw. By forming a projection 24 running in the direction of travel L on the upper front edge of the loop fastening element 5, the second fastened loop end 4d is covered at the top toward the upper face of the head region 2a of the pole handle 1 and protected from environmental influences and the thickness of the loop material fastened in this region is compensated, so that the front surface of the loop fastening element is substantially flush. For guiding through the loop strap in order to form the loop portion 4a, the loop fastening element 5 has a through-opening 26 in the form of a slotted channel which is arranged substantially parallel to the bottom surface 35 of the loop fastening element 5, which with its longitudinal axis K2 in the non-tilted state or resting state of the loop fastening element 5 is substantially arranged along the longitudinal axis K1 of the head region of the pole handle. Both loop regions, which form the loop portion 4a for the hand, are guided through this through-opening 26, i.e. both the region for the fastened second loop end 4a and that for the free loop end 4c.

[0097] According to the first exemplary embodiment shown of FIGS. 1-14, the loop fastening element 5 is tiltably or pivotably arranged in the central handle head recess 11 about a rotational axis or tilt axis D about a pin 9 arranged in a through-opening 8, and namely between a resting position X1 as shown in FIG. 5a, and a tilted position X2 as shown in FIG. 5b. The pivoting region in this case is 30-40°. In the resting position the loop width is fixedly set, and in the tilted position of the loop fastening element 5 the loop width is adjustable, wherein the loop width in the latter position of the loop fastening element can be reduced by pulling on the first free end 4a of the hand loop, and can be increased by pulling on the part of the loop portion 4a facing the first free end.

[0098] In the resting position of the loop fastening element 5, the deflection portion 4b of the hand loop 4 is clamped between the base 27 of the handle head recess 11 and the lower face or the base 5c of the loop fastening element 5. The clamping is achieved here in a substantially similar manner to a labyrinth seal, in the form of a clamping portion 23 of the loop fastening element 5 which is configured as a projection 23 oriented downwardly toward the base 27 of the handle head recess 11. In addition to the frictional connection, to a certain extent there is also a positive connection via the one or optionally (more) clamping edge(s). The required clamping force for fixing the loop is significantly smaller due to the labyrinth edge than with a linear line of force, which permits an improved clamping action with the same clamping force or the same clamping action with a reduced clamping force. For this purpose, the base 27 of the handle head recess 11 has a clamping portion 27a which is configured as a step 37 by means of the edge 11b. In the resting state of the loop fastening element, the loop strap is clamped here between its deflection portion 4b and the first free loop portion 4a, protruding outwardly from the through-opening 26 of the loop fastening element 5 configured as a channel, by a frictional connection between the projection 23 and the stepped portion 27b of the base 27 of the handle head recess 11. As a result of the deflection of the free end of the loop strap, after passing through the through-opening 26 downwardly and to the rear around the loop fastening element, and which can be reinforced in a deflection region 22 (see FIG. 14) by corresponding transverse ribs or the like, the frictional connection is correspondingly reinforced by the clamping between the clamping projection 23 and the step 27b. The aforementioned clamping has the advantage that, in the case of a typical loading of the hand loop downwardly in one direction during use, the clamping is reinforced by the corresponding torque applied thereby (clockwise in the view according to FIG. 4).

[0099] As shown in FIG. 2, the loop fastening element 5 is a separately configured component which can be fastened to a “core body” or core 1a of the pole handle 1. The fastening takes place by a pin 9 which is introduced into a first through-opening 8a in the left-hand lateral wall of the pole handle 8b, is then guided through a through-opening 38 which extends through the loop fastening element 5 from a first left-hand lateral wall 5a of the loop fastening element 5 to a second right-hand lateral wall 5b, and is then guided through a second through-opening 8b in the right-hand lateral wall of the head region 2a of the pole handle 1. The longitudinal axis of the through-opening 38 or the longitudinal axis of the pin 9, with the inserted loop fastening element 5, is arranged substantially transversely to the pole handle longitudinal axis S and transversely to the direction of travel L.

[0100] In FIG. 14 the loop fastening element 5 or folding element is shown in detail. The loop fastening element 5 has a bulged top portion 25 which has a slightly protruding front edge 39 in the direction of travel. The top portion 25 or the upper face of the loop fastening element is incorporated in the upper face 6 of the pole handle 1 in the resting position and at the same time forms the rear region 2b of the head region 2 of the pole handle 1. The loop fastening element 5 is additionally captured by the engagement of the latching pins 7e and 7f (see FIG. 7a) into corresponding guide channels 28a and 28b.

[0101] In order to save weight, the loop fastening element can have recesses or windows 32, where a design consisting of solid material is not required when considering the load. Generally, the loop fastening element is preferably produced from a thermoplastic material, for example from polyamide, polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, in each case optionally (glass) fiber-reinforced, or mixtures of such materials.

[0102] In the resting state and when inserted in the pole handle recess 11, the loop fastening element 5 also has a lower face 37 oriented toward the base 27 of the central recess 11 of the pole handle 1. The loop fastening element 5 also has a first left-hand lateral surface 5a and a second right-hand lateral surface 5b which are arranged parallel to a plane E spanned by the handle head longitudinal axis K1 and the pole handle longitudinal axis S and extend parallel to the cutting plane A-A shown in FIG. 3.

[0103] In each case, a guide channel 28a or 28b which is curved according to the rotational movement of the loop fastening element is arranged both in the first left-hand lateral surface 5a and in the second right-hand lateral surface 5b, said guide channel extending parallel to the curvature of the top portion 25, and namely from the lower face 37 of the loop fastening element 5 (in this case an open groove) via a partial region of the respective lateral wall 5a, 5b and not completely as far as the front wall 29 of the loop fastening element 5. In addition to the aforementioned capture of the element, this respective guide channel 28a, 28b serves for the guidance of the loop fastening element 5 during the tilting process about the rotational or tilt axis 9 or about the pin 9. This guidance is achieved by the two above-described lateral, also correspondingly curved, latching pins 7e, 7f of the attachment 7 engaging or latching into these two guide channels 28a, 28b. This latching connection between the loop fastening element 5 and the attachment 7 connects the attachment 7 to the loop fastening element 5 and at the same time also indirectly connects the attachment to the core 1a of the pole handle 1 via the loop fastening element 5. The latching connection thus provides at the same time a guide function for the rotation of the loop fastening element between the latching position and the adjustment position, and a protection against loss for the attachment 7 on the core 1a of the pole handle 1.

[0104] In each case, a latching channel 33a, 33b is arranged in both lateral surfaces 5a, 5b of the loop fastening element 5, in each case a latching cam 31a, 31b oriented inwardly from the lateral wall 14a, 14b of the core 1a engaging therein in the resting position, i.e. in the untilted position of the loop fastening element 5. In this case, the latching channels 30a, 30b run in each case substantially parallel to the bottom surface 37 of the loop fastening element 5.

[0105] The latching cams 31a, 31b run substantially parallel to the base 27 of the central recess 11 of the core 1a.

[0106] Additionally, each lateral wall 5a, 5b of the loop fastening element 5 respectively has a further latching channel 33a, 33b which intersects the first or the second latching channel 30a, 30b at an acute angle. The point of intersection of the first latching channel 30a with the third latching channel 33c in the first lateral wall 5a of the loop fastening element 5 and the point of intersection of the second latching channel 30b with the fourth latching channel 33d in the second lateral wall 5b of the loop fastening element 5 is defined by the through-opening 38 in the loop fastening element 5 or by the receiving channel for the transverse pin 9 for the tiltable connection of the loop fastening element 5 on the pole handle core 1a. Thus, in the untilted resting state according to FIG. 5a, the loop fastening element 5 is latched with its first and second latching channel 30a, 30b in the two opposing latching cams 31a, 31b in the core 1a, which for example can be identified in FIG. 6 on the second lateral wall 14b of the core 1a. In order to tilt the loop fastening element 5 to the front for the purpose of adjusting the diameter of the hand loop, the loop portion 4a of the hand loop 4 is pulled upwardly. When the loop fastening element 5 is tilted to the front about the rotational axis/tilt axis or about the transverse pin 9, the latching cams 31a, 31b are pushed out of the respective corresponding first and second latching channel 30a, 30b and thus this latching connection is released, wherein in the tilted state according to FIG. 5b, the latching cams 31a, 31b engage in the third or fourth latching channel 33a, 33b and thus a further latching connection is created. The latching and release of the latching results, on the one hand, in a simple positive fixing of the respective position but, on the other hand, also in a haptic and optionally also acoustic feedback for the user.

[0107] Furthermore, when the loop fastening element 5 is tilted or pivoted, the clamping region 23 of the loop fastening element 5 is lifted away from the stepped portion 27a. During the tilting process, the projection 24 on the top portion 25 of the loop fastening element 5 is additionally pivoted into the central recess 11 of the head region 2.

[0108] The loop fastening element 5 also has a front surface 29 which is oriented in the direction of travel L, the surface thereof extending at an angle which is less than 90° to the bottom surface 27 of the loop fastening element 5. A recess 10a is arranged substantially centrally in this front surface 29, said recess serving for receiving a fastening means 10 for the second loop end 4d. In the exemplary embodiment shown of FIG. 2, or FIGS. 5a, 5b, this fastening means is configured as a screw. In this case, however, a rivet, a pin, an adhesively bonded connection, an eye in the hand loop with a hook, or a combination of such fastening means can also be used.

[0109] If the loop fastening element 5 is replaced, or this loop fastening element is dismantled for the replacement of the hand loop, for example, either the attachment 7 can be initially removed from the core 1a and from the loop fastening element 5, i.e. the latching connection between the latching pins 7e, 7f on the arms 7a, 7b of the attachment 7 and the loop fastening element 5 can be released by spreading apart the arms 7a, 7b. Due to this spreading apart, the latching connection is also released between the latching tongue 34 of the core 1a and the latching lugs 7g, 7h on the base 7d of the attachment 7. Then (or even before) the transverse pin 9 can be pushed out of the through-opening 8a in the loop fastening element 5 and from the through-opening 8 below the head region 2 of the core 1a, for example by means of a pin of smaller diameter. By pulling the loop fastening element to the rear along the latching cam 31a, 31b, the loop fastening element 5 can be removed from the central recess 11 of the core 1a.

[0110] Alternatively, the transverse pin 9 can be initially pushed out of the through-opening 8a in the loop fastening element 5 and from the through-opening 8 below the head region 2 of the core 1a, for example by means of a pin of smaller diameter. Then the loop fastening element 5 can be removed out of the central recess 11 of the core 1a, simply by spreading apart the arms 7a, 7b and by pulling the loop fastening element 5 upwardly or to the rear. Then the attachment 7 is removed from the core 1a, i.e. the latching connection is released between the latching pins 7e, 7f on the arms 7a, 7b of the attachment 7.

[0111] For the assembly of the pole handle 1 during manufacture, or after replacing or repairing the loop fastening element 5 or the hand loop 4, either the loop fastening element 5 is initially inserted into the central recess 11 of the handle head 2 of the pole handle 1 substantially from the rear along the longitudinal axis K1 of the head region 2 and along the latching cams 31a, 31b and fastened by means of the transverse pin 9 to the core 1a of the pole handle 1, as described above, and then the attachment 7 is pushed from the front onto the core 1a of the pole handle 1, for the further indirect connection of the loop fastening element to the core 1a of the pole handle 1. Alternatively, in the reverse sequence, the attachment is initially positioned and then the loop fastening element 5 is inserted and fastened in the central recess 11 of the handle head 2 of the pole handle 1.

[0112] In FIG. 15 a variant of the handle according to FIG. 4 is shown. In this case, the handle has in the handle region a peripheral casing 43 made of a cork material or a foam material (for example EVA). The casing 43 in this case is introduced into a peripheral recess 44 in the actual region 45 of the hard core material which forms the handle. The casing 43 in this case terminates flush with the contour of the handle over the entire edge. As a result, a construction which is particularly easy to grip and which is also lightweight is ensured. So that such a construction can be easily assembled, the cylindrical region 45 of the hard core material 3 has a peripheral slot 46, i.e. the handle is configured approximately in two parts relative to the hard core material, namely there is an upper region 48 with the head region 2 and the upper part of the region which forms the axial recess 16, and a lower part 49 which, for example, comprises the shoulder 17 and the lower part of the region which forms the axial recess 16.

[0113] Advantageously, the slot 46, as shown in the figure in dashed lines, is designed with a meandering path 47, in particular so that to a certain extent an anti-rotation device is ensured and to a certain extent also a positive connection or even a non-positive connection can be provided between the upper and the lower part. In a preferred variant, the meandering slot 46 has longitudinal portions 50 of the edges which run along the axis of the pole, and transverse portions 51 of the edges which run in the peripheral direction and perpendicular to the axis of the pole. Preferably, the longitudinal edges of the meandering slot from the upper part and the lower part are joined virtually without play or even slidably in abutment, or specifically even in frictional contact against one another with a frictional connection, in order to achieve as far as possible an exact orientation of the two handle parts relative to rotation about the pole axis. In a further advantageous manner, when the casing is assembled, the meandering slot forms with the transverse edges 51 in its transverse path relative to the pole axis a spacing 52 between the front-side contact surfaces of the two sleeve portions of the handle parts. This avoids a redundancy of the handle parts. This design of the slot is advantageous, irrespective of the further features of the exemplary embodiment which is used here for illustration, and is to be regarded as being in accordance with the invention.

[0114] Such a handle head is assembled by the upper region 48 being pre-positioned, then the casing 43 being pushed from below onto the cylindrical region 45, and then the lower region 49 being pushed from below into the exposed lower opening in the casing 43. The parts are connected together by adhesive being provided between the casing and the upper region 48 and the lower region 49, and connecting means can also be provided between the upper region 48 and the lower region 49. Since this region is ultimately fixed by the inserted pole tube, it can be sufficient if an adhesive connection is provided of the respective region 48/49 on the casing 43. Similarly, the elastomer region, already mentioned above, can also be arranged on the lower face of the handle head in the region of the elevation 40 in a corresponding recess in the hard core material. Typically, however, such an elastomer region is not manufactured as a separate component but, in a simpler manner, injection-molded in a two-component method onto the hard core material at the same time.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0115]

TABLE-US-00001  1 Pole handle, handle body  1a Core of 1a, body  2 Head region  2a Front region, handle nose of 2  2b Rear region of 2  3 Handle region  4 Hand loop  4a Loop portion  4b Deflection portion  4c Free first loop end  4d Fastened second loop end  5 Loop fastening element/block  5a Left-hand first lateral surface of 5  5b Right-hand second lateral surface of 5  5c Lower face/base of 5  6 Upper face/top surface of 1a or of 2  7 Cover element/attachment element  7a Left-hand first arm of 7  7b Right-hand second arm of 7  7c Front wall of 7  7d Base of 7  7e First latching pin on 7a  7f Second latching pin on 7b  7g Recess of 7  7h Left-hand first lug on 7g in 7d  7i Right-hand second lug on 7g in 7d  7k Slotted extension of 7g  7m Interior of 7  8 Through-opening in 3 for 9  9 Pin of 5 10 Fastening means for 4d 10a Recess in 5 for 10 11 Central recess in 2 12 Through-hole surface 12a First through-hole in 14a 12b Second through-hole in 14a 12c Third through-hole in 14a 12d Fourth through-hole in 14b 12e Fifth through-hole in 14b 12f Sixth through-hole in 14b 13a First web of 1a in 2/14a 13b Second web of 1a in 2/14a 13c Third web of 1a in 2/14b 13d Fourth web of 1a in 2/14b 13e Left-hand foremost web in 14a 13f Right-hand foremost web in 14b 14a Left-hand first lateral wall of 1a on 2 14b Right-hand second lateral wall of 1a on 2 14c Front wall of 1a in 2a 15 Fifth through-hole in 14c 16 Axial recess in 3 17 Shoulder on 3 18 Slot in 2a 19 First protrusion in 6 20 Second protrusion 21 Shoulder on 2 22 Deflection region of 5 23 Clamping region of 5 24 Projection of 5 25 Top portion of 5 26 Through-opening of 5 27 Base of 11 27a Step, clamping portion of 27 27b Edge of 27 28a Guide channel for 7e 28b Guide channel for 7f 29 Front wall of 5 30a First latching channel on 5a 30b Second latching channel on 5b 31a First latching cam of 14a in 11 31b Second latching cam of 14b in 11 32 Window in 5 33a Third latching channel on 5a 33b Fourth latching channel on 5b 34 Latching tongue on 35 for 7g 35 Latching structure 37 Lower face of 5 38 Through-opening of 5, receiving channel for 9 in 5 39 Front edge of 25 40 Elevation below 2 41 Arcuate web 42 Hollow space 43 Cork or foam casing 44 Peripheral recess in hard core material 45 Cylindrical region of hard core material of 3 46 Peripheral slot in 45, parting line 47 Meandering path of 46 48 Upper region of hard core material 49 Lower region of hard core material 50 Longitudinal edges of slot 46 51 Transverse edges of slot 46 52 Spacing between 51 of upper part and lower part α Angle between K1 and S D Rotational axis for 5 E Plane spanned by handle head longitudinal axis K1 and pole handle longitudinal axis S K1 Longitudinal axis of 2a, longitudinal axis of 26 in resting position of 5 K2 Longitudinal axis of 26 in adjustment position of 5 L Direction of travel S Pole handle longitudinal axis U Peripheral direction of 1 X1 Resting position, position in which the length of the hand loop cannot be adjusted X2 Adjustment position, position in which the length of the hand loop can be adjusted