POLE HANDLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a pole handle (1) for walking poles, trekking poles, alpine ski poles, cross-country ski poles or Nordic walking poles, comprising a length-adjustable hand strap (2), wherein the strap length is fixed using a blocking element arranged in the handle body. A first end of the hand strap is secured in a top section (4a) of the handle body (4), wherein a mid-section (2d) of the strap is introduced into a recess (6) of the handle body (4), is deflected about a deflection element (11) in the recess (6), and passes downwards out of the handle body as the free second end (2b). The blocking element is pressed onto a lower strap section (2e) in order to block the adjustability of the length of the hand strap.

Claims

1. A pole handle for walking poles, trekking poles, alpine ski poles, cross country ski poles or Nordic Walking poles, with a length-adjustable hand strap, comprising: a handle body with a head section; and a grip section, wherein the hand strap is fastened with a device for blocking and adjusting the length of the hand strap on the handle body for use, wherein the handle body comprises an opening with a radial first section and an axial second section, wherein the hand strap comprises a first end, and enters into the opening of the handle body with a middle strap section, experiences a deflection around a deflection element and exits the opening towards the bottom as a free second end, wherein in the opening a blocking element is arranged, which, when the hand strap is directed downwards, blocks the lower strap section which exits from the opening towards the lower, free, second end, and wherein the blocking element is mounted in an insertion element, which is arranged with an upper head section in the opening of the handle body.

2. The pole handle according to claim 1, wherein in a blocking position, the lower strap section is pressed by the blocking element {-1-0-}in a blocking manner onto a support surface of the insertion element.

3. The pole handle according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the hand strap is fastened in the head section of the handle body.

4. The pole handle according to claim 1, wherein the insertion element comprises a lower neck section, which adjoins the head section in an axial direction downwards.

5. The pole handle according to claim 4, wherein between the head section and the neck section a separation wall is arranged transverse to the longitudinal pole axis and extending essentially in a radial direction, and wherein the separation wall forms, at least partially, the support surface for the lower strap section, against which the lower strap section is pressed in the blocking position.

6. The pole handle according to claim 1, wherein the upper, first end of the hand strap is fastened on or in an upper wall of the insertion element by means of a fastening element.

7. The pole handle according to claim 1, wherein the deflection element is a pin, which is arranged essentially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the handle body, and which preferably is mounted in a lateral wall of the insertion element in corresponding openings.

8. The pole handle according to claim 1, wherein the blocking element is mounted in a rotatable or pivotable manner around the deflection element.

9. The pole handle according to claim 1, wherein the blocking element comprises an angled region or a downwards directed region, which in a blocking position is pressed onto the lower strap section which exits the handle body towards the free lower second end.

10. The pole handle according to claim 1, wherein the middle strap section which enters the handle body is guided around a pin, which is arranged essentially horizontally in the opening of the head section of the handle body and is mounted in the lateral wall of the insertion element in corresponding openings, wherein said middle strap section is guided out of the opening of the handle body towards the bottom as a second, free lower end, wherein the blocking element comprises a deflection section which is encompassed with an encompassing angle of at least 120 degrees on the outside, preferably of at least 160 degrees by the middle strap section, and wherein the blocking element comprises a straight section which adjoins the deflection section said straight section having an end which is directed away from the pin and which comprises a downwards angled region.

11. The pole handle according to claim 1, wherein the straight section and the angled region of the blocking element each have a length or height, respectively, such that when the hand strap is directed downwards, the middle strap section which enters into the opening of the handle body presses the angled region of the blocking element downwards onto the lower strap section which exits the handle body towards the free end.

12. The pole handle according to claim 1, wherein the blocking element, especially at a bottom side of the angled region of the blocking element comprises a toothing.

13. The pole handle according to claim 1, the insertion element is formed of metal.

14. The pole handle according to claim 1, wherein the blocking element is held in the blocking position via traction force, and only allows an adjustability of the length of the hand strap upon relief of the strain or upon selective upwards deflection of the hand strap.

15. The pole handle according to claim 1, wherein the blocking element is arranged in an upper central opening of the insertion element, wherein preferably the blocking element is fastened in a rotatable or fixed manner on the deflection element formed as a transverse pin, wherein the transverse pin protrudes the upper central opening of the insertion element in a direction transverse to the longitudinal pole axis and transverse to an insertion direction of the middle strap section into the opening of the handle body, and wherein the transverse pin is mounted on both sides in a wall of the head section of the insertion element.

16. The pole handle according to claim 1, wherein the blocking element is pivoted downwards around the deflection element during a downwards movement of the hand strap, for the purpose of blocking the lower strap section, and in that the blocking element is pivoted upwards around the deflection element during an upwards movement of the hand strap, resulting in a release of the lower strap section, for the purpose of enabling adjustability of the length of the hand strap.

17. A pole, especially walking pole, trekking pole, alpine ski pole, cross country ski pole, or Nordic Walking pole, comprising a pole grip according to claim 1.

18. The pole handle according to claim 4, wherein the lower neck section is formed as a hollow cylinder, wherein the neck section is insertable or inserted at the upper end of an uppermost tube section of a pole tube in a central opening of the uppermost tube section, or which is slidable onto or slid onto the uppermost tube section, and wherein the insertion element comprises, between the head section and the neck section, a shoulder, which serves as an upper stop surface for the uppermost tube section.

19. The pole handle according to claim 7, wherein the corresponding openings preferably are formed as through openings at least on one side.

20. The pole handle according to claim 13, wherein the insertion element is formed of one of the following: aluminium, an aluminium alloy, PC, PP, polyamide, ABS.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] 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,

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a perspective, schematic view of a pole handle according to a first embodiment on a pole obliquely from the rear left with respect to the direction of walking;

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a perspective, schematic view of the pole handle of FIG. 1 obliquely from the front left with respect to the direction of walking;

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the pole handle of FIG. 1 from the rear with respect to the direction of walking;

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the pole handle of FIG. 1 along the section plane A-A of FIG. 3;

[0040] FIG. 5 a detailed view of the section view of the upper section of the pole handle of FIG. 4;

[0041] FIG. 6 a schematic view of a pole handle according to a second embodiment on a pole, from the rear with respect to the direction of walking;

[0042] FIG. 7 a schematic section view of the pole handle of FIG. 6 along the section plane B-B of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0043] FIG. 1 is a first embodiment of a pole 1 according to the invention in the blocking position or clamping position, respectively. The handle body 4 of the pole handle 1 is fastened to an upper end of a pole tube, or to an uppermost tube section 3 of a pole tube, respectively. The handle body 4 comprises an upper head section 4a and a lower grip section 4b. The hand strap 2 fastened in the head section 4a of the handle body 4 is formed in a length-adjustable manner. For the purpose of decreasing the diameter of the hand strap 2, the lower, free, second end 2b of the strap band of the hand strap 2 must be pulled, wherein the length can only be changed or adjusted, or a traction on the lower, free, second end is only possible, respectively, when the hand strap 2, or the upper strap portion 2c which exits the handle head 4a, respectively, and the middle strap section 2d, which enters into the handle head 4a or into the handle body 4b, respectively, are moved upwards.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 4, the handle body 4 comprises an axial opening or an axial cavity 21, respectively, which is open towards the bottom, and into which the pole tube 3 is inserted. The pole handle 1 is formed in an ergonomic manner, wherein the grip section 4b of the handle body 4 comprises a forwardly directed shoulder 4d in the direction of walking V, for the support of fingers, and a projection 4c directed towards the rear at the lower end of the grip section 4b. At the upper end of the handle head 4a, an overhanging knob is formed in the direction of walking V, which facilitates a user to lean onto the pole from above and to grasp around it.

[0045] Furthermore, the handle head 4a of the handle body 4 comprises an opening 6, which is formed in an open manner towards the rear side of the pole handle 1, with respect to the direction of walking V, i.e. on the side of the user where the hand strap enters the handle head 4a, or exits the handle head 4a, respectively. This essentially horizontal opening 6 opens into the central axial opening 21 for the pole tube, or the uppermost tube section 3 of a pole tube.

[0046] Into the upper end 3a of the inserted uppermost tube section 3 of a pole tube, an insertion element 7 is inserted from above in the embodiment according to the invention shown in FIG. 5, said insertion element 7 engaging with its neck section 7b in the uppermost tube section 3 of the pole tube. The neck section 7b of the insertion element 7 is formed as a hollow cylinder. The head section 7a of the insertion element 7 is also formed essentially as a so-to-speak incomplete hollow cylinder, with respect to the circumferential direction U1, with a convex upper wall 7f which is open towards the top. The head region 7a is formed in a closed manner, with respect to the direction of walking V towards the front in the circumferential direction, however, open towards the rear, i.e. the lateral surface of the head region 7a of the insertion element 7 is partially missing in the circumferential direction U1 of the insertion element. Therein, less than the half of the circumference of the lateral surface is missing. The insertion element 7 meets an upper stop surface on the wall limiting the axial opening 21 of the handle head 4a towards the top.

[0047] Through this opening, the hand strap 2 can project further into the opening 6 of the handle head 4a and further into the central opening 8a head section 7a of the insertion element 7.

[0048] A circumferential shoulder 15 formed in the circumferential direction U1 of the insertion element 7 at the transition from the lower neck section 7b to the upper head section 7a of the insertion element 7, serves as an upper stop surface for the pole tube. Therein, the circumferential lower edge 16 on the shoulder 15 is formed in an inclined manner, as well as the lower, circumferential edge 17 of the neck section 7b of the insertion element 7, as shown in detail in FIG. 5.

[0049] Between the head section 7a and the neck section 7b of the insertion element 7, or between the upper central opening 8a and the lower central opening 8b of the insertion element 7, respectively, according to the embodiment of FIGS. 4, 5, a separation wall 9 is arranged, which so-to-speak forms the floor of the upper central opening 8a.

[0050] In the head section 7a of the insertion element 7 a blocking element 10 is mounted in a rotatable or in a pivotable manner, respectively, about a rotation axis, which is arranged transverse to the longitudinal pole axis L or to the longitudinal axis of the pole handle 1, and transverse to the direction of walking V and essentially horizontal. Along the rotation axis, a pin or transverse pin 11 is arranged, about which the blocking element 10 is arranged in a pivotable manner. The head section 7a comprises in its lateral wall or in the lateral surface, respectively, on two opposite sides, each a through opening or an opening which is open at least on one side, respectively, through which one end of the transverse pin 11 projects in each case.

[0051] The blocking element 10, which is formed in a wing-like manner, comprises a deflection section 10a, as well as a leg or straight section 10b, respectively, adjoined thereto, followed by an angled region 10c. This angled region 10c comprises, on its bottom side, small teeth 12 which are directed downwards, or a toothing or a continuous clamping edge, respectively, in order to increase the friction force or the blocking force, respectively, of the blocking element 10 onto the lower strap section 2e.

[0052] The deflection section 10a, as well as the straight section 10b and the angled region 10c extend over the entire inner diameter of the head section 7a of the insertion element 7, or projects through the upper, central opening of the insertion element 7 in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the transverse pin 11, or in a direction transverse to the longitudinal pole axis L, respectively.

[0053] The pin or transverse pin 11, respectively, simultaneously serves as a deflection element for the middle strap portion 2d of the hand strap 2 in the interior of the handle head 4a, or in the interior of the upper central opening 8a of the insertion element, respectively.

[0054] The hand strap 2 comprises a strap band with two free ends 2a, 2b, whereof an upper first end 2a is fastened by means of a fastening element 13 in an upper wall 7f of the insertion element 7. For the fastening, the upper wall 7f of the head section 7a of the insertion element 7 comprises an axial central opening or hole 14. The upper, first end 2a of the hand strap 2 takes place by the insertion of the fastening element 13 in the form of a pin, a rivet, or a screw into this central opening or hole 14.

[0055] Starting from the fastened upper first end 2a, the strap band runs through the essentially horizontal opening of the handle head 4a with respect to the direction of walking V towards the rear and exits the handle head 4a at the rear side of the pole handle 1. From there, the strap band forms a hand strap 2, which surrounds the hand of the user, and then enters into the opening 6 of the handle head 4a again with a middle strap section 2d. There, it then enters into the upper central opening 8a of the insertion element 7 and is deflected around the pin or transverse pin 11, respectively, which is mounted essentially horizontally in the insertion element 7, or around the blocking element 10, which is mounted in a rotatable manner about the transverse pin 11, respectively. After the deflection, the now lower strap section 2e first lies on top of the support surface 20 formed at least in some regions by the separation wall 9, before the lower strap section 2e leaves the handle head 4a again through the opening 6 towards the rear. The lower, free second end 2b of the strap band hangs down free towards the bottom and is formed in a deflected manner in the embodiment shown.

[0056] In the embodiment shown, the angled region 10c of the blocking element 10 presses the lower strap section 2e onto the separation wall 9, or onto the support surface 20 in the region of the shoulder 15 between the head section 7a and the neck section 7b of the insertion element 7, respectively. The pressure mark is located in the region of the lateral wall or of the lateral surface at the lower end of the head section 7a of the insertion element 7, immediately before the contact point between the insertion element and the rear wall of the handle body 4 at the lower end of the radial first section 6a of the opening 6.

[0057] The hand strap of FIG. 4 is shown in a so-to-speak neutral position, i.e. neither in a position, in which it is pulled downwards, in which the blocking element 10 is in a clamping position or blocking position, respectively, nor in a position, in which it is pulled upwards, in which the blocking element 10 is in an adjusting position, i.e. in which the hand strap 2 is length-adjustable, but in a position in between. Thus, in the blocking position, the middle strap section 2d lies immediately on top of the lower strap section 2e at the rear exit of the opening 6.

[0058] If the hand strap 2 is directed downwards, which however is not shown in the figures, as it is typically the case when using the pole, or when the hand strap 2 is pulled downwards, respectively, the middle strap section 2d pulls on the deflection section 10a of the blocking element 10 in clock-wise direction U2. By the traction of the middle strap section 2d the blocking element 10 is rotated about the transverse pin 11 or around the rotation axis, respectively, due to the enclosure of the deflection section 10a of the blocking element 10 by the middle strap section 2d. Thereby, the angled region 10c of the blocking element 10 is pressed onto the lower strap section 2e, which in turn thereby is pressed onto the support surface 20 in the region of the lateral wall in the region of the shoulder 15 of the insertion element 7. Thereby, the length of the hand strap 2 is fixed and the adjustability of the length is prevented in this position. Here, the toothing 12 or spikes on the bottom side of the angled region 10c increase the friction force or the blocking effect, respectively.

[0059] If the hand strap 2 is held in a horizontal position or directed upwards, the blocking element 10 is easily pivotable and does not exert any pressure on the underlying lower strap section 2e. Accordingly, the length of the hand strap 2 can be adjusted in this position, in other words, the hand strap 2 can be shortened by pulling the second, free end 2b, or lengthened by pulling the middle strap section 2d which enters into the handle body 4. Furthermore, the length of the hand strap 2 can in any case be increased when the hand strap 2 is in a position directed upwards, which automatically results in a safety in case of a fall or in case the pole gets caught.

[0060] In FIG. 6, a second embodiment of a pole handle is shown in a schematic view in the direction of walking from rear to front, with view onto the opening 6 of the head section 4a of the handle body 4. The section along the section plane B-B of FIG. 6 is shown in FIG. 7. Here, it can be recognized that the insertion element 7 is formed longer than in the embodiment of FIG. 4. Instead of the insertion element 7 being inserted in the uppermost tube section 3 with its neck section 7b, as shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the insertion element 7 is placed onto or sleeved onto, respectively, the uppermost tube section 3 and fastened thereto in the region of its neck section 7b which is formed as a sleeve. The uppermost tube section 3 therefore extends within the lower central opening 8b of the insertion element 7 over the entire length of the neck section 7b and beyond. Furthermore, the neck section 7b of the insertion element 7 is received in the central axial opening 21 of the handle body 4, and therefore fastened in the interior of the grip body 4 on the grip body 4. Thereby, the insertion element 7 can either be produced as a structural unit with the handle body 4 and/or as a structural unit with the uppermost tube section 3. The wall thickness of the insertion 7 in the neck section 7b is larger in this embodiment than the wall thickness of the uppermost tube section 3.

[0061] While in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the upper central opening 8a of the insertion element 7 has a larger diameter in its head section 7a than the lower central opening 8b in its neck section 7b, in the embodiment of FIG. 7, the upper central opening 8a of the insertion element 7 has a smaller diameter in its head section 7a than the lower central opening 8b has in its neck section 7b. Accordingly, between the head section 7a and the neck section 7b a radially, inwardly directed, circumferential shoulder 15a which extends along the entire circumference of the insertion element 7, or a section with a smaller diameter, respectively, is arranged. This forms an upper stop surface for the uppermost tube section 3 on the upper end of the neck section 7b. In the embodiment shown, an essentially disc-like hollow or filled radial cavity 22 is arranged below the separation wall 9 or the floor 9, respectively, in the region of the circumferential shoulder 15a.

[0062] As in the embodiment of FIG. 4, also in the embodiment of FIG. 7 the blocking element 10 is arranged and fastened in the upper central opening 8a in the head section 7a of the insertion element 7, wherein the types of arrangement and fastening of the blocking element 10 as well as the types of fastening of the hand strap 2 on the insertion element are also applicable to this alternative embodiment of FIG. 7.

TABLE-US-00001 LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 1 pole handle 2 hand strap 2a first, upper end of 2 2b second, lower end of 2 2c upper strap section of 2 2d middle section of 2 2e lower strap section of 2 3 uppermost tube section, pole tube 3a upper end of 3 4 handle body 4a head section of 4 4b grip section of 4 4c rear projection of 4 4d front shoulder of 4 5 cavity, central opening of 3 6 opening of 4 in 4a 6a horizontal first section of 6 6b axial second section of 6 7 insertion element 7a head section of 7 7b neck section of 7 7c lower end of 7 7d upper end of 7 7e lateral wall of 7 7f upper wall of 7 8a upper central opening of 7 8b lower central opening of 7 9 separation wall of 7, floor of 8a 10 blocking element 10a deflection section of 10 10b straight section, leg of 10 10c angled region of 10 11 deflection element, transverse pin of 10 12 toothing of 10 on 10c 13 fastening element for 2a 14 axial, central opening in 7f 15 shoulder on 7 between 7a, 7b in FIG. 4 15a radial shoulder on 7 between 7a, 7b in FIG. 7 16 circumferential inclined edge of 7 on 15 17 circumferential inclined edge of 7 on 7c 18 upper limitation of 6a 19 lower limitation of 6a 20 support surface of 7 21 central, axial opening of 4 for 3 22 space at 15a between 7a, 7b L longitudinal pole axis U circumferential direction V forwards, direction of walking