Nordic walking pole having a buffer

Abstract

The invention relates to a Nordic walking pole, comprising a pole tube (2), at the lower end of which an attachment (3) is provided, to which attachment a buffer (4) of rubber-elastic material is detachably fastened. The buffer according to the invention has an insert (5) of hard material in a central cut-out. Said insert is fastened to the attachment in order to connect the buffer to the pole.

Claims

1. A pole having a pole tube, on the lower end whereof is provided an attachment to which a buffer made of rubber-elastic material is detachably secured, wherein the underside of the buffer forms a profiled rolling surface, wherein the buffer has an insert made of hard material, which is secured in a central recess of the buffer, which recess is upwardly open in a direction to the attachment of the pole, wherein the buffer is formed as a two-part component having said insert of inflexible hard material as securing region and a rubber elastic region forming said rolling surface; wherein the buffer is detachably fastened to the attachment by means of a bayonet lock between the insert and an outer sleeve of the attachment, wherein said bayonet lock is provided in that the insert of the buffer has at least a first recess on an inner wall of the insert for receiving at least a first radial projection which is arranged on a lower portion of said outer sleeve facing the buffer, wherein the attachment comprises an inner sleeve secured to the pole tube, wherein said outer sleeve encloses the inner sleeve and is mounted thereon in an axially displaceable manner, wherein the attachment is provided with a tip, wherein the tip and/or a lowermost portion of the inner sleeve is/are arranged passing through the central recess in the buffer and a central recess in the insert, wherein the buffer is mounted displaceably so that it can be fixed in an axial direction along a longitudinal axis of the pole in this central recess, and wherein the buffer can be locked in at least two axially different positions via a form-fitting connection in respect of the pole tube or inner sleeve.

2. The pole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buffer can be secured in only a single rotational position on the attachment of the pole, wherein the attachment and/or the buffer has a distortion lock to prevent rotation of the buffer in respect of the attachment in a state fitted to the pole.

3. The pole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment has a lower portion facing the buffer, the cross section whereof is not circular.

4. The pole as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lower portion has a greater width in a running direction than in a direction perpendicular to the running direction.

5. The pole according to claim 1, wherein said lower portion of said outer sleeve has a second radial projection opposite said first radial projection and the insert of the buffer has a second recess opposite said first recess on an inner wall of the insert, and wherein in a secured position of the buffer on the attachment, a bisecting sectional plane of the attachment arranged along the longitudinal axis of the pole, which sectional plane runs through the two radial projections, is distorted in the circumferential direction in relation to a bisecting sectional plane of the insert running along the longitudinal axis of the plane, which sectional plane runs through two recesses lying opposite one another, wherein the bisecting sectional plane of the attachment running along the longitudinal axis of the pole runs parallel to a running direction.

6. The pole according to claim 1, wherein each radial projection on a lower portion of the attachment reaches below a shoulder running in the circumferential direction on the inner wall of the insert of the buffer secured to the attachment, wherein the respective shoulder forms on the inner wall of the insert an upper abutment for the respective projection of the attachment.

7. The pole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment has a projection extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pole up to the buffer which engages with a corresponding recess on an outside of the buffer secured to the attachment.

8. The pole as claimed in claim 7, wherein the projection extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pole up to the buffer is an axial lug, which engages with a corresponding third recess on an outside of the buffer secured to the attachment.

9. The pole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central recess in the buffer is a blind hole.

10. The pole as claimed in claim 9, wherein an upper portion of the central recess is substantially cylindrical in design, and wherein the buffer has on its inner wall at least one, or a plurality of, recesses in the circumferential direction and at different axial positions along the length of the upper portion of the central recess of the buffer for receiving a radial flange arranged on an outer wall of the insert, extending sectionally in the circumferential direction.

11. The pole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buffer is configured asymmetrically, wherein the buffer, measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pole, viewed in a front region in a running direction, has a shorter length than in a rear region.

12. The pole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment has a tip, which is arranged passing through a central recess of the buffer and of the insert, and wherein the tip or the buffer can be locked at at least two axially different positions via a form-fitting connection.

13. A buffer for a pole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buffer has a region made of rubber-elastic material that provides a form fit of the lowermost pole tube to the buffer.

14. The buffer as claimed in claim 13, wherein the insert made of hard material is secured, by form-fitting and/or force-fitting to the buffer.

15. A buffer for a pole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buffer can be secured in only a single rotational position on the attachment of the pole, and wherein the buffer has a distortion lock to prevent rotation of the buffer in respect of the attachment in a state fitted to the pole.

16. A buffer for a pole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central recess is a through-opening for receiving a pole tip, wherein an upper portion of the central recess in which the insert is secured has a greater diameter than a lower region of the recess facing a rolling surface of the buffer, and wherein the insert has a lower abutment on a boundary surface of the buffer between the larger-diameter upper portion and the smaller-diameter lower portion of the central recess.

17. A buffer for a pole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert is inserted in a rotational position in the central recess of the buffer, in which two radially opposite recesses of the insert lie opposite in the circumferential direction of the pole twisted in respect of a running direction.

18. The pole as claimed in claim 16 in the form of a Nordic walking pole.

19. The pole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert of the buffer is configured as a hollow cylinder, and has in addition a second recess radially opposite the first recess for receiving a second projection radially opposite the first projection, and wherein the second recess is bisected in the circumferential direction by an axial rib extending along the longitudinal axis of the pole only incompletely over an axial length of the insert on the inner wall and the second projection of the attachment is interrupted by an axial gap which is suitable for receiving the axial rib of the insert.

20. A buffer for a pole as claimed in claim 1, in which there are two radially opposite recesses of the insert which lie opposite in the circumferential direction of the pole twisted by 45-90 degrees in respect of a running direction.

21. A pole having a pole tube, on the lower end whereof is provided an attachment to which a buffer made of rubber-elastic material is detachably secured, wherein the underside of the buffer forms a profiled rolling surface, wherein the buffer has an insert made of hard material which is secured in a central recess of the buffer, which recess is upwardly open in a direction to the attachment of the pole, wherein the buffer is formed as a two-part component having said insert of inflexible hard material as securing region and a rubber elastic region forming said rolling surface; wherein the buffer is detachably fastened to the attachment by means of a bayonet lock between the insert and an outer sleeve of the attachment, and wherein said buffer is secured and locked to the outer sleeve of the attachment in said bayonet lock via a plug-in/rotate movement, in which the buffer with the insert is fitted to the lower portion of the outer sleeve of the attachment in a plug-in direction along the longitudinal axis of the pole and then rotated thereon involving a rotational movement of the insert relative to the outer sleeve of the attachment.

22. The pole as claimed in claim 21, wherein the attachment comprises an inner sleeve secured to the pole tube, wherein said outer sleeve encloses the inner sleeve and is mounted thereon in an axially displaceable manner, wherein the attachment is provided with a tip, wherein the tip and/or a lowermost portion of the inner sleeve is/are arranged passing through the central recess in the buffer and a central recess in the insert, wherein the buffer is mounted displaceably so that it can be fixed in an axial direction along a longitudinal axis of the pole in this central recess, and wherein the buffer can be locked in at least two axially different positions via a form-fitting connection in respect of the pole tube or inner sleeve.

23. The pole as claimed in claim 22, wherein a latching lever is articulated at its lower end facing a rolling surface of the buffer on the outside on the outer sleeve and at its upper end in the secured position of the buffer engages around the pole tube and/or the inner sleeve at least partially with a form fit and can be released by pivoting away from the outer sleeve.

24. A pole having a pole tube, on the lower end whereof is provided an attachment to which a buffer made of rubber-elastic material is detachably secured, wherein the underside of the buffer forms a profiled rolling surface, wherein the buffer has an insert made of hard material which is secured in a central recess of the buffer, which recess is upwardly open in a direction to the attachment of the pole, wherein the buffer is formed as a two-part component having said insert of inflexible hard material as securing region and a rubber elastic region forming said rolling surface; wherein the buffer is detachably fastened to the attachment by means of a bayonet lock between the insert and the attachment, and wherein the insert has at least one L-shaped recess on an inner wall thereof with a wide neck extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pole and a narrower leg in the circumferential direction for receiving a radial projection which is arranged on a lower portion of the attachment facing the buffer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings which are only intended as an illustration and should not be interpreted as limiting. In the drawings:

(2) FIGS. 1a) to 1f) show in different schematic representations a buffer according to a first exemplary embodiment in the fixed position in which the tip projects downwards beyond the rolling surface, wherein 1a) shows a perspective view in the running direction from rear right, 1b) shows a perspective view in the running direction from front right, 1c) shows a view in the running direction from the front. 1d) shows a side view in the running direction from the right, 1e) shows a view in the running direction from the rear. 1f) shows the view from the front with the sectional plane/plane of symmetry A-A, and 1g) shows a section along A-A in FIG. 1f), wherein in FIGS. 1f and 1g the lowermost pole tube portion is depicted;

(3) FIGS. 2a) to 2g) show in different schematic representations a buffer according to the first exemplary embodiment in the position in which the tip is concealed, wherein 2a) is a perspective view in the running direction from rear right, 2b) is a perspective view in the running direction from front right, 2c) is a view in the running direction from the front, 2d) is a side view, 2e) is a view in the running direction from behind, 2f) is the view from the front with the sectional plane/plane of symmetry A-A, and 2g) shows a section along B-B in FIG. 2f, wherein in FIGS. 2f and 2g the lowermost pole tube portion is depicted;

(4) FIG. 3 shows in two different schematic representations a buffer according to the first exemplary embodiment, wherein 3 a) shows an exploded view in the running direction from rear right, 3b) shows an exploded view in the running direction from front right and 3c) shows an exploded view from the right in relation to the running direction;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a pole with a buffer in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment with a projecting pole tip.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) FIG. 4 depicts a pole 1 according to the invention, in this case a Nordic walking exhibiting a pole handle 48 and also an upper pole tube portion 2a and a lower pole tube portion 2. The attachment 3 with the buffer 4 secured thereto is secured to the lower end of the lower pole tube portion 2. If the pole has only a single pole tube, the attachment 3 is fastened to the lower end thereof. If the pole 1 has a plurality of pole tube portions 2, 2a, the attachment is secured to the lowermost pole tube portion 2 in each case.

(7) In all figures, an attachment 3 according to a first exemplary embodiment is depicted, on the lower end whereof a rubber-elastic buffer 4 is detachably secured. In this exemplary embodiment, the buffer is mounted displaceably in an axial direction along the longitudinal axis of the pole S, which allows the user to choose between a first position with a tip 30 projecting beyond the rubber-elastic bearing surface or rolling surface 43, as depicted in FIG. 1, and a second position with a rubber-elastic bearing surface or with a tip 30 concealed in the buffer, as depicted in FIG. 2.

(8) FIG. 1a-1g shows a buffer 4 secured to an attachment 3 for a pole 1 in its upper position, as shown by the arrow. The tip 30 in this case projects beyond the rolling surface 43.

(9) The rubber-elastic buffer 4 has an asymmetric design in this case, wherein the rolling surface 43 is drawn forwards further upwards in the running direction V, in order to be optimally adapted to the running direction during Nordic walking. The tip 30 passes through this rolling surface 43 roughly in the rear third. In addition, the profiling 44 has lateral extensions 46.

(10) The buffer 4 in this case is fitted to an attachment 3 for a pole 1, wherein the attachment 3 in this preferred exemplary embodiment comprises an inner sleeve 26 mounted fixedly to the lower end of the pole tube 2 and an outer sleeve 28 that is axially displaceable on the inner sleeve. A securing element 31 is mounted on the inner sleeve 26, on the lower fastening lug 31b whereof a tip 30 is let in and secured. In the case of poles which have a simple replacement buffer which is not arranged in a height-adjustable manner for the purposes of penetration by a tip, the lower portion of the attachment 3 to which the buffer is detachably secured assumes the function of the lower portion 28b of the outer sleeve 28 depicted here and is configured accordingly.

(11) The composition of the attachment 3 and the embodiment of the constituents thereof are shown particularly clearly in the exploded view in FIG. 3. The inner sleeve 26 has a central axial recess 27 in which the lower-end of a conically tapering pole tube 2 depicted in FIGS. 1g, 2g and 4 is pressed and/or adhered. The upper region of this inner sleeve 26 to a certain extent forms a sleeve which encloses the pole tube 2. The inner sleeve 26 has an upper portion 26a which creates this sleeve and is used to receive the pole tube 2 and also to safeguard the form-fitting connection in the two positions of the outer sleeve 28. In addition, a lower portion 26b of the inner sleeve 26 follows which is configured downwardly and integrally with the upper portion 26a. On this lower portion 26b, the actual tip 30 made from a wear-resistant material such as metal, hard metal, ceramic or a combination of these materials, for example, is secured at the lower end. The securing is not direct but via a securing element 31 which is typically made of metal or hard plastic.

(12) The lower portion 26b of the inner sleeve 26 has an axial recess 33 in which an upper securing stub 31a of the securing element 31 is let in or else secured. A hexagonal flange 32 in this exemplary embodiment which is integrally configured with the upper and lower securing stub 31a and which is still fastened in the lower portion 26b of the inner sleeve 26 separates the upper securing stub 31a from a lower securing stub 31b of the securing element 31 which penetrates the buffer 4 by means of the through-opening 6. The hexagonal shape of the flange 32 serves to secure the rotational position of the securing element 31 in the inner sleeve 26. As an alternative to this, however, the distortion-proof securing of the securing element 31 in the inner sleeve 26 may also be achieved by another non-circular embodiment of the flange 32 or of the upper securing stub 31a, by injection-molding, pressing-in, knurling the shaft or a combination of these measures. At the lower end of the lower portion 26b of the inner sleeve 26 there is a recess 49 for receiving a portion of the flange 32 which is configured in the shape of a hexagonal geometric profile in this case. The lower portion 26b of the inner sleeve 26 has a shape on its outer lateral surface which in this case substantially corresponds to the matching shape of the inner side of the lower portion 28b of the outer sleeve 28 and has only slightly smaller dimensions, so that the outer sleeve 28 is displaceable without radial play along the longitudinal pole axis S axially on the inner sleeve.

(13) Both the lower portion 28b of the outer sleeve 28b and also the lower portion 26b of the inner sleeve 26, which fits in the lower portion 28b of the outer sleeve 28 and is mounted therein in an axially displaceable manner, is not circular in design in the present exemplary embodiment, but instead configured as an originally cylindrical laterally flattened area, so to a certain extent as a flat cylinder, which has a greater width in the running direction than perpendicularly to the running direction. The lower portion 28b therefore has a planar first right wall 20 and a planar second left wall, and also a curved third front wall 22 and a curved fourth rear wall 23.

(14) The flange 32 constitutes a defined lower abutment point for the position in which the tip 30 projects downwards beyond the rolling surface 43 (cf. in particular, the sectional depiction in accordance with FIG. 3b) and lies in an extended position of the tip 30 with its underside on a contact surface on the base 6c of the central recess 6 of the buffer 4.

(15) The actual separate tip 30 made of a hard material, as described above, is pressed in and/or adhered or fixed in some other manner (soldered, screwed, etc.) into the lower securing stub 31b which has a downwardly facing recess 31c. The entire lower securing stub 31b and the tip 30 in this case have a cross-sectional shape which is adapted to a through-opening provided, in the flexible buffer 4, so that in different positions of the outer sleeve 28 relative to the inner sleeve 26 the tip 30 can be displaced through this through-opening 6. The through-opening 6 in the buffer 4 is therefore configured in an upper portion 6a which is designed to receive the insert 5 with a greater diameter than in the lower portion 6b which is designed to receive the tip 30. The through-opening 6 is therefore designed to taper downwards to the rolling surface.

(16) An outer sleeve 28 is arranged on the lower portion 26b of the inner sleeve 26 mounted displaceably in the axial direction. A latching lever 34 is articulated on the outside of this outer sleeve 28, which lever has two bearing extensions 35 of the outer sleeve 28 formed towards the back in the running direction which have two aligned axial holes 36a, 36b. The latching lever 34 is secured between these two bearing extensions 35. For this purpose, a tapered region 34a of the latching lever 34 engages between the two bearing extensions 35, which region has a through-opening 34c. A rotational axis 37, typically a metal pin, is inserted through the two axial holes 10 and this through-opening 34c, so that the latching lever 34 is pivotably mounted about this rotational axis 37 on the outer sleeve 28.

(17) At its upper end, this latching lever 34 has a clamp region 34b. With this clamp region 34b the latching lever 34 embraces the upper portion 26a of the inner sleeve 26 in a self-latching manner in the fixed position of the buffer 4. On the inside of this clamp region 34b, for precise fixing of the form-fitting connection in both positions, on the one hand there is a radially inwardly extending bearing region 38 arranged on the inside on the circumference and an undercut 39 within the meaning of a similarly circumferential groove following directly below.

(18) The axial displaceability of the outer sleeve 28 is furthermore ensured by a guide recess 40 provided in the lower region 26b of the inner sleeve 26 which has an elongate design in the axial direction. A transversely running guide pin 41 which is secured in the outer sleeve 28 engages with this guide recess 40 which is to a certain extent formed as an undercut of the lower portion 26b of the inner sleeve 26 and only forms an elongate hole following insertion into the outer sleeve 28. In the lower position of the outer sleeve 28, as can be seen in particular with the help of FIG. 2g, this guide pin 41 rests on the lower abutment point of the guide recess 40. On the other side, the bearing region 34b of the latching lever 34 engages from below in a form-fitting manner with a circumferential latching extension 42 in the upper portion 26a of the inner sleeve 26. Accordingly, in the lower position of the outer sleeve 28, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer sleeve 28 is fixed in this position, whereby one abutment is created by the relative position of the guide pin 41 in the guide recess 40 on the lower abutment and on the other side by the bearing of the bearing region 34b of the latching lever 34 on the lower surface of the latching extension 42.

(19) In this design the detachably secured buffer 4 is provided on the underside of the outer sleeve 28. From the, to a certain extent, lower position of the outer sleeve 28 relative to the inner sleeve 26, as shown in FIG. 2, a buffer 4 of this kind can be displaced into the position with extended tip 30 according to FIG. 1, whereby the latching lever 34 is pivoted laterally outwards, so that the bearing portion 34b releases the latching extension 42. The outer sleeve 28 can then be (successively) displaced upwards within the framework of the movability of the guide pin 41 in the guide recess 40.

(20) FIG. 1 depicts the position in which the outer sleeve 28 has been pushed through the abutment of the axial movability predefined by the recess 27 or the guide pin 41 and the latching lever 34 has again been placed onto the inner sleeve 26 and has snapped around the inner sleeve 26 in a self-latching manner to a certain extent. In this upper position of the outer sleeve 28, the bearing region 34b now lies above the latching extension 42 and the latching extension 42 engages with the undercut 39 in a form-fitting manner. In this position the upper region of the latching lever 34 therefore defines a complete form-fitting securing and the lower abutment, predefined by the guide recess 40 or else the guide pin 41, is not absolutely necessary but is possible.

(21) The buffer 4 in the exemplary embodiment shown is secured by means of a bayonet lock 50 to the attachment 3. In the case of a variant with axial displaceability of a buffer 4 that can be slid over a tip 30, the buffer is secured on the lower portion 28b of the outer sleeve 28. To achieve this, the buffer 4 is slipped onto the lower portion of the attachment 3 or on the lower portion 28b of the outer sleeve 28 and then turned by a rotation of the buffer 4 relative to the attachment 3 or the outer sleeve 28 into the abutment/latching position and therefore secured on the pole 1. The bayonet connection provided by the bayonet lock 50 is made between the insert 5 introduced in the buffer 4 made of hard plastic and the attachment 3 or else the outer sleeve 28. The slip-on position is defined by the front radial projection 16 and the rear radial projection 17 on the lower portion of the attachment 3 or of the outer sleeve 28 and in particular by the axial gap 18 on the rear radial projection 17 for receiving the axial rib 9 of the insert 5. If, after the buffer 4 has been fitted in the slip-on position, the buffer 4 is locked, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3 the pole tube 2 with the attachment 3 is turned clockwise in the circumferential direction U through an angle range of 90-120 degrees up to the abutment of the front radial projection 16 on a right abutment 25 of the first recess 7 in the insert 5 and of the rear radial projection 17 on a right abutment of the second recess 8 in the insert 5.

(22) For this purpose, the radial projections 16, 17 of the lower portion 28b of the attachment 3, which are depicted in FIG. 3c, each run in the insert 5 of the buffer 4 to a certain extent in a rail which is created by a correspondingly formed recess or a notch or groove in the inner wall 5a of the cylindrical insert 5. This notch is, as previously described, formed by the leg of the L-shaped recess running in the circumferential direction U of the insert 5.

(23) In the case of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a pole which either has no tip at all, but only a rubber-elastic buffer (with or without a tip body fixedly installed thereon), the attachment is simply used for the form-fitting connection of the lowermost pole tube portion to the buffer. The attachment may, however, also have a tip body fixedly installed thereon or exchangeably mounted thereon, wherein the detachably securable buffer is slipped over this tip body. With a multi-part attachment, the tip body can either be exposed by an axial displacement of the buffer along with a lower part of the attachment relative to an upper part of the attachment or else extend beyond the rolling surface (as shown in FIG. 1) or be concealed in the inside of the buffer (as shown in FIG. 2).

(24) TABLE-US-00001 LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 1 Pole 2 Lowermost pole tube portion 2a Upper pole tube portion 3 Attachment 4 Buffer 4a Inner wall of 4 5 Insert in 4 5a Inner wall of 5 5b Outer wall of 5 6 Central recess in 4 6a Upper portion of 6 6b Lower portion of 6 6c Base of 6 7 First recess in 5 7a First half of 7 7b Second half of 7 8 Second recess in 5 9 Axial rib of 5 in 7 10 Front flange on 5 11 Rear flange on 5 12 First recess in 4a for 10 13 Second recess in 4a for 11 14 Third recess in 4 for 15 15 Axial lug on 3 or 28b 16 Front radial projection on 3 or 28b 16a Upper edge of 16 17 Rear radial projection on 3 or 28b 17a Upper edge of 17 18 Axial gap in 17 for 9 19 Through-opening in 5 20 First right wall of 3 22 Third front wall of 3 23 Fourth rear wall of 3 24 Left abutment of 7 25 Right abutment of 8 26 Inner sleeve 26a Upper portion of 26 26b Lower portion of 26 27 Upper central axial recess in 26 for 2 28 Outer sleeve 28a Upper portion of 28 28b Lower portion of 28 29 Central axial recess of 28 30 Tip 31 Securing element for 30 31a Upper fastening stub of 31 31b Lower fastening stub of 31b 31c Lower central axial recess in 31 32 Circumferential flange on 31 33 Axial recess in 26b for 31a 34 Latching lever 34a Tapered region of 34 34b Clamp region of 34 34c Through-opening of 34a 35 Bearing extension of 28 36a Left axis hole in 28 36b Right axis hole in 28 37 Rotational axis in 28, cross pin through 34c 38 Extended bearing region of 34b 39 Undercut, groove in 34b 40 Guide recess 41 Guide pin in 28 42 Latching extension of 26 43 Rolling surface of 4 44 Profiling in 43 45a Left through-opening for 41 in 28 45b Right through-opening for 41 in 28 46 Lateral extensions of 44 47 Shoulder between 26a, 26b 48 Pole handle 49 Recess in 26b for 32 50 bayonet lock. A-A Sectional plane in FIG. 1f, axial plane of symmetry of 4 B-B Sectional plane in FIG. 2f, axial plane of symmetry of 4 E1 Bisecting plane of 5 E2 Bisecting plane of 3 H Against the running direction, rearwards L Longitudinal direction of 28b 16 Length of 6a S Longitudinal axis of the pole U Circumferential direction V Running direction, forwards