Pole grip having a guided loop

Abstract

A pole grip for walking sticks, trekking poles, alpine ski, cross-country ski, or Nordic walking poles, and an associated hand-retaining device, or a set of said elements. The pole grip has a grip body and a hook-like device for fastening the hand-retaining device. Movable or rotatable locking elements are arranged in the area of the hook-like device in such a way that a loop-shaped device provided on the hand-retaining device and inserted into the hook-like device substantially from above is fastened in the hook-like device in a self-locking manner. The design is characterized in that elements that prevent rotation of a loop-shaped device fastened to the hook-like device about the longitudinal axis of the hook-like device by elements of form closure are provided on the hook-like device, and that corresponding complementary elements are provided on the hand-retaining device.

Claims

1. A pole grip comprising: a grip body, a hook-shaped device for fastening a hand-retaining device, displaceable or twistable latching elements arranged in an area of the hook-shaped device in such a manner that a loop-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device inserted into the hook-shaped device substantially from above, which is provided on the hand-retaining device, is fixed in the hook-shaped device in a self-latching manner, and first anti-twisting elements provided on the hook-shaped device which prevent any twisting of the loop-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device fastened on the hook-shaped device about a longitudinal axis of the hook-shaped device; wherein the first anti-twisting elements are configured in the form of a first groove in the hook-shaped device extending along the longitudinal axis or in the form of a first rib on the hook-shaped device extending along the longitudinal axis.

2. The pole grip according to claim 1, wherein the first anti-twisting elements are configured in the form of the first groove in the hook-shaped device extending along the longitudinal axis and wherein the first groove is provided in a rear surface of the hook-shaped device facing away from the grip body and extends from an upper-side tip, and wherein the first groove is configured to be open, downwards over an entire length of the hook-shaped device and is closed at a lower end by a groove boundary.

3. The pole grip according to claim 2, wherein the first groove over its length has a substantially constant width (b) transverse to the longitudinal axis of the hook-shaped device.

4. The pole grip according to claim 3, wherein the first groove over its length has a substantially constant width (b) transverse to the longitudinal axis of the hook-shaped device and at an upper end has a region which expands upwards.

5. The pole grip according to claim 1, wherein the first groove has a recess in a region of a groove boundary in a groove base.

6. The pole grip according to claim 1, wherein the first groove is configured as a U-shaped groove with flanks standing parallel to one another and groove base disposed perpendicular thereto.

7. The pole grip according to claim 1, wherein a width (b) of the groove is in the range of 0.1-0.75 times a width (B) of the hook-shaped device at half height of the hook-shaped device between a tip of the hook-shaped device and a region of the hook-shaped device for the loop-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device inserted in the hook-shaped device.

8. The pole grip according to claim 1, wherein a length of the hook-shaped device measured from a tip thereof facing a grip head as far as a region in which a the loop-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device inserted in the hook-shaped device is captured in a slot between the hook-shaped device and the grip head is in a range of 2-4.5 cm and/or wherein a width of the hook-shaped device lies in a range of 1-1.5 cm and tapers towards a tip over a length of 1.5-2 cm in rounded form, wherein a short axis except in a tip-side tapering region has a length in a range of 0.3-1.5 cm.

9. The hand-retaining device, for use with the pole grip according to claim 1, wherein in a region between thumb and forefinger, the loop-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device which is inherently flexible but nevertheless positionally stable in space is provided and second anti-twisting elements are provided substantially parallel to an opening axis of the device above and/or below the device, the second anti-twisting elements prevent any twisting of the loop-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device fastened on the hook-shaped device about the longitudinal axis of the hook-shaped device.

10. The hand-retaining device according to claim 9, wherein the second anti-twisting elements are configured in the form of a second groove extending along the opening axis in the hand-retaining device and/or in the form of a second rib extending along the opening axis and/or at least a projection disposed on the opening axis.

11. The hand-retaining device according to claim 10, wherein the second anti-twisting elements are configured in the form of the second rib extending along the opening axis on a region of the hand-retaining device facing the pole grip when the hand-retaining device is worn by a user and is attached to the pole grip and the pole grip is held by the user.

12. The hand-retaining device according to claim 10, wherein the second anti-twisting elements additionally comprise a guide pin, which guide pin is disposed below the device when the hand-retaining device is worn by a user and is attached to the pole grip and the pole grip is held by the user.

13. The hand-retaining device according to claim 9, wherein the second anti-twisting elements are only provided at a height of the device when the hand-retaining device is worn by a user and is attached to the pole grip and the pole grip is held by the user.

14. The hand-retaining device according to claim 10, wherein the second anti-twisting elements are configured in the form of the second rib extending along the opening axis on a region of the hand-retaining device facing the pole grip when used as prescribed, on a side disposed above the device when the hand-retaining device is worn by a user and is attached to the pole grip and the pole grip is held by the user, wherein the rib has a length in the range of 10-15 mm and a width in the range of 0.3-0.7 cm, wherein the second rib is formed from a thermoplastic material and with a substantially rectangular or square cross-sectional area or the second rib is formed by an elongated shaped piece extending along the opening axis, from a monofilament or multifilament piece of cord or from plastic or metal, having a round cross-section and a diameter in a range of 1-6 mm, including flat textile strip, wherein the textile strip is longer than the hook shaped piece and encloses the latter with a circumferential seam and/or weld.

15. The hand-retaining device according to claim 10, wherein the second anti-twisting elements additionally comprise a guide pin having a substantially circular cross-sectional area, which guide pin is disposed below the device when the hand-retaining device is worn by a user and is attached to the pole grip and the pole grip is held by the user, and which guide pin has a height which is greater than a height of the second rib.

16. The hand-retaining device according to claim 9, wherein no second anti-twisting elements are provided at a height of the hand-retaining device, but only above and below the height of the hand-retaining device when the hand-retaining device is worn by a user and is attached to the pole grip and the pole grip is held by the user.

17. A pole grip set comprising the pole grip according to claim 1 and the hand-retaining device wherein the first anti-twisting elements on the pole grip and second anti-twisting elements on the hand-retaining device are matched to one another in regard to dimensioning so they positively intermesh when the hand-retaining device is fastened on the pole grip.

18. The pole grip set according to claim 17, wherein the first and second anti-twisting elements are configured in such a manner that during a prescribed pivoting movement of the hand-retaining device about the pole grip they intermesh positively above the loop-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device in the hook-shaped device.

19. The hand-retaining device, in the form of a glove or a hand loop for use with the pole grip set according to claim 17, wherein in the region between thumb and forefinger, the loop-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device which is inherently flexible but nevertheless positionally stable in space is provided and the elements are provided substantially parallel to the opening axis of the device above and/or below the device, which elements prevent any twisting of the loop-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device fastened on the hook-shaped device about the longitudinal axis of the hook-shaped device.

20. The pole grip according to claim 1, for walking sticks, trekking poles, alpine ski poles, cross-country ski poles or Nordic walking poles comprising the grip body and comprising the hook-shaped device for fastening the hand-retaining device, in the form of a hand loop or a glove.

21. The pole grip according to claim 1, wherein the first anti-twisting elements are configured in the form of the first groove in the hook-shaped device extending along the longitudinal axis and wherein the first groove is provided in a rear surface of the hook-shaped device facing away from the grip body and extends from an upper-side tip, wherein the first groove is configured to be open, downwards over the entire length of the hook-shaped device and is closed at a lower end by a groove boundary, wherein this groove boundary is disposed in relation to a grip head below that region in which the loop-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device inserted into the hook-shaped device is captured in a slot between the hook-shaped device and the grip head.

22. The pole grip according to claim 1, wherein the first groove has a recess, in the form of a circular or polygonal blind hole, in a region of a groove boundary in a groove base.

23. The pole grip according to claim 1, wherein the first groove is configured as a U-shaped groove with flanks standing parallel to one another and groove base disposed perpendicular thereto, wherein a depth of the groove as far as the groove base is in a range of 0.75-1.5 mm.

24. The pole grip according to claim 1, wherein a width (b) of the first groove is in a range of 0.1-0.75 times a width (B) of the hook-shaped device at half height of the hook-shaped device between a tip of the hook-shaped device and a region of the hook-shaped device for the loop-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device inserted in the hook-shaped device, wherein the width (b) of the first groove corresponds to 0.25-0.5 times the width (B) of the hook-shaped device and wherein the width (b) lies in a range of 0.3-0.7 cm.

25. The pole grip according to claim 1, wherein a length of the hook-shaped device measured from a tip thereof facing a grip head as far as a region in which the loop-shaped, ring-shaped or eyelet-shaped device inserted in the hook-shaped device is captured in a slot between the hook-shaped device and the grip head is in a range of 3-4 cm and/or that a width (B) of the hook-shaped device lies in a range of 1-1.5 cm and tapers towards a tip over a length of 1.5-2 cm in rounded form, wherein a cross-sectional surface of the hook-shaped device is configured to be oval or lens-shaped with a long axis transverse to the pole grip and to a prescribed running direction, wherein a short axis except in a tip-side tapering region has a length in a range of 0.5-1 cm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Preferred embodiments of the invention are described hereinafter with reference to the drawings which merely serve for explanation and should not be interpreted as restrictive. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a side view of a first exemplary embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a view of the first exemplary embodiment from behind;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a hand loop;

(5) FIG. 4 shows an enlarged section from FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the head region of the grip according to the first exemplary embodiment;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a pole grip according to the first exemplary embodiment with hand loop fastened in the lower position;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a pole grip according to the first exemplary embodiment with hand loop fastened in the upper position;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a view from the front of a grip according to a second exemplary embodiment;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of the section according to A-A in FIG. 8;

(11) FIG. 10 shows a rear view of the second exemplary embodiment;

(12) FIG. 11 shows a plan view from above of the grip of the second exemplary embodiment;

(13) FIG. 12 shows a view from below of the second exemplary embodiment; and

(14) FIG. 13 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a hand loop with guide means in the eyelet region, wherein a) shows a perspective view of a section of the hand loop and b) shows a section perpendicular to the opening axis.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(15) FIGS. 1-7 show a first exemplary embodiment of a pole grip with a hand loop. The pole grip 1 is here configured as a Nordic walking cross country ski pole grip and has an elongated structure with a grip body 3 and a soft grip region 2 on the front side 8, which for example can be made from a softer material in a two-component injection moulding method together with the grip body made of a harder material or can be let into a recess in the grip body 3 in a subsequent fabrication step. The grip body has a recess 5 for a pole tube (not shown in the figures) on the underside and typically a pole tip is arranged at the lower end of this pole tube. On the hand side 7, in the region of the grip head, that is at the top, the grip has a slot 13 extending at an acute angle to the grip axis, so that a hook-like device 14 in the form of a retaining mandrel is formed offset from the pole grip. The tip 16 of this retaining mandrel is disposed somewhat below the highest point of the pole grip.

(16) In the pole grip there is a recess accessible from above in which a block is arranged rotatably about an axis of rotation 10 in a spring-mounted pre-tensioned manner and which can be actuated by means of the actuating button 9. This block 6 comprises an extension passing through an opening to the slot 13 and in particular forms a retaining lug 11. In the diagram according to FIG. 1 the fixing block is tensioned by a spring against the retaining mandrel 14, that is if the actuating button 9 is not pressed down, the retaining lug 11 is pressed on the inner side so that it abuts against the retaining mandrel 14 due to this spring tension.

(17) Below the retaining lug 11 there is a free region 15 whose lowest saddle point 17 defines the lowest position of a loop 26 inserted into this slot 13. Located somewhat deeper than this saddle point 17 on both sides of the pole grip is a lower transition region 18 which defines the transition to the outer surface of the grip body 3.

(18) A hand-retaining device as shown for example in FIGS. 3 and 4 can be fastened to such a pole grip by pushing the loop 26 of the hand-retaining device over the retaining mandrel 14, then urges the fixing block in a self-engaging manner against the spring force into the pole grip until the loop has reached the region 15, the block then recoils back into the rest position shown in FIG. 1 and then the loop is captured there in this region 15. Typically the loop 26 is specifically adjusted so that it embraces the retaining mandrel 14 abutting tautly under a certain tension, as shown for example in FIGS. 6 and 7.

(19) It is now important that on the hand side 7, that is in particular on the back, which can be identified in particular in the corresponding view in FIG. 2, a longitudinal groove 20 extending along the longitudinal axis 42 of the pole grip or the retaining mandrel is disposed in the surface 19 of the retaining mandrel, which groove is configured to be open at the top, that is in the region of the tip 16 of the retaining mandrel, whereas it is closed at the lower end by a groove boundary 38. The groove 20 has two lateral flanks 21 and a groove base 20 disposed perpendicular to these two flanks. In a sectional view the groove is preferably a U-profile having two parallel flanks 21 or side walls of the groove, but the two side walls can be made to be slightly expanding with respect to one another, that is slightly converging towards the groove base.

(20) To facilitate insertion of the hand-retaining device, this groove expands towards the tip 16 in an upper-side expansion region 23 in a trumpet shape. On the lower side the groove boundary 38 is configured to be rounded. The groove boundary runs substantially over the entire length of the groove at the same height, in the region of the lowest section, that is specifically adjoining the groove boundary 38, but in this case a blind-hole like recess 24 is provided, that is in this region the depth of the groove on a circular surface is somewhat deeper than in the region located above. The function of this recess is explained in detail further below.

(21) FIGS. 3 and 4 show a hand loop for cooperative complementary interaction with such a pole grip construction. This comprises a hand loop with three openings, one opening as insertion opening for the hand, one outlet opening 33 for the back of the hand and finger and one opening 34 for the thumb. The hand loop here has an adjusting mechanism, for example, in the form of a textile strip guided through a hook and loop fastener and through a metal loop, which can be opened for adjustment and which can be variably adjusted in length and which can be fixed by the hook and loop fastener.

(22) Such a hand loop 25 now has in the region between thumb and forefinger, that is in the corresponding saddle region of the hand, on the one hand a textile or leather section 36 on the inner side as a protective covering and above this, a textile strip which is given the reference number 31. Sewn into this textile strip is a loop 26 which, as already described above is used for fastening the hand-retaining device on the pole grip. This loop 26 is typically a braided loop made of a highly tensile-resistant material such as, for example, Dyneema which certainly has a certain flexibility and therefore does not disturb between thumb and forefinger but nevertheless has a sufficient intrinsic stability so that it can be simply pulled over the retaining mandrel 14 without needing to be manipulated in its position. For this purpose this loop is quite specifically sewn into the optimal position on the textile strip 31 and a second textile strip possibly located therebelow.

(23) A plastic attachment 30 made of a thermoplastic material is now provided in addition to this loop, this being important for cooperation with the pole grip already described above. This is glued on, moulded on and/or sewn on the textile layer 31 and on its outer side has an elongated rib 28 which has a width which corresponds to the width of the groove 20 of the pole grip or specifically is configured to be somewhat narrower. The rib additionally has a depth which is also adapted to the depth of the groove 20 or specifically is configured to be somewhat smaller. When used as prescribed the rib 28 is disposed above the loop 26 and in the near region additionally optionally has wedge-shaped expansions in the form of sawtooth-shaped elevations 37.

(24) A guide pin 27 is disposed on the other lower side of the loop 26. This guide pin 27 has a greater height than the rib 28 and is, for example, also formed from the thermoplastic material of the attachment 30 but can also consist of metal such as, for example, aluminium and is connected to the region of the attachment 30 where the rib 28 is disposed via an optional narrow web 44. This narrow web therefore connects the region of the guide pin 27 and that of the rib 28 and runs through the loop 26. This web enables the means for positive guidance of the hand-retaining device on the pole grip construction to be formed in one piece, which is advantageous both with regard to stability and also with regard to production processes.

(25) The advantages of rib 28 and pin 27 can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 shows the lower position of the hand-retaining device on the pole grip approximately in that position when the hand embraces the pole grip. In this position the guide pin 27 is in deep engagement with the groove 20 in the pole grip and in particular engages in the recess 24 specifically provided for this. In addition, above the loop 26 the rib 28 engages in the groove 20. In the lower position of the hand loop as shown in FIG. 6 it is thus ensured that the loop 26 cannot twist around the retaining mandrel 14.

(26) In order to now ensure this positive securing of the rotational position of the loop 26 around the retaining mandrel, even when the pole grip tilts during a sporting running movement, the rib 28 is now configured over a considerable length towards the top and when the hand-retaining device is moved relative to the pole grip along the arrows specified in FIG. 7 for the pendulum movement 40/41, the rib 28 engages positively in the upper region of the groove 20 and stabilizes not only the loop 26 before twisting but the entire hand-retaining device is now also stabilized in the upper region in the ideal movement position. This upper region of the rib 28 in its positive interaction with the groove 20 in other words serves not only to ensure a twisting of the loop 26 around the retaining mandrel even when the guide pin 27, for example, should no longer be in engagement with the groove but also serves to ensure a controlled rolling position of the hand loop for this pivoting position over the entire rolling region.

(27) A second exemplary embodiment is shown in FIGS. 8-12. The same reference numbers here designate the same elements as within the framework of the exemplary embodiment in the previous figures. The exemplary embodiment is in this case, in particular in FIG. 9, given without the corresponding fixing block in a central sectional view so that in particular the depth t of the groove can be recognized. In this exemplary embodiment there is no recess 24 in the groove base for a guide pin but the groove has the same depth of the groove base over the entire axial length. In such a case it is either possible to completely dispense with the guide pin 27 in the construction of the hand-retaining device but it is also possible to configure the guide pin simply only with the same height as the rib 28. The guide pin then does not have to have a circular cross-section but can be configured to be elongated with rounding on the underside, in order to terminate optimally with the rounding in the region of the groove boundary 38.

(28) A further exemplary embodiment of a hand loop with a guide element is shown in FIG. 13 in two different sections: in a) in a perspective view only onto the region between forefinger and thumb and in b) in a sectional view perpendicular to the opening axis 43 in the region of the eyelet 26. In this exemplary embodiment there is a sewn-on patch of a textile material provided by the rib 28. The textile strip 45 is sewn onto one or more textile layers 31 of the hand loop in this region and extends as a strip from above the eyelet to somewhat below it. The textile strip 45 covers below it a likewise elongated shaped piece 47 disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the textile strip 45, made of a pressure-stable material, here a cord section made of a multifilament aramid material which however is preferably bendable about its longitudinal axis to a certain extent. This shaped piece 47 has the result that the elongated textile strip 45 curves towards the hand grip in the region of the shaped piece forming a rib 28. A cord section of a monofilament or multifilament material, for example, aramid such as Kevlar or Dyneema is suitable for this shaped piece. This shaped piece 47 is covered by the textile strip 45 and a circumferential seam 46 and/or adhesion encloses the shaped piece 47. Alternatively without a separate textile strip 45 in a multilayer arrangement of the hand loop in this region it is possible to arrange the shaped piece 47 between two of these layers and position parallel to the opening axis 43 in a suitable region.

REFERENCE LIST

(29) 1 Pole grip 2 Soft region at front 3 Grip body 4 Recess in 3 5 Cavity in 3 for pole tube 6 Fixing block 7 Hand side 8 Front side 9 Actuation button 10 Axis of rotation of 6 11 Retaining lug of 6 12 Bore in 3 for 10 13 Slot for loop 14 Retaining mandrel 15 Region for fastened loop/eyelet 16 Tip of 14 17 Saddle point 18 Lower transition region to outer surface 19 Rear surface of 14 20 Axial groove in 19 21 Flank of 20, wall of 20 22 Base of 20, groove base 23 Upper extension of 20 24 Recess in groove base 25 Hand loop 26 Loop 27 Guide pin 28 Guide rib 29 Region of 25 between thumb and hand surface 30 Plastic attachment 31 Textile layer 32 Insertion opening of 25 33 Opening of 25 for back of hand and finger 34 Opening of 25 for thumb 35 Adjusting mechanism of 25 36 Protective covering below 29 37 Elevations on 28 38 Groove boundary 39 Groove opening 40 Pendulum movement of hand loop upwards 41 Pendulum movement of pole grip frontwards 42 Longitudinal axis of 14 43 Opening axis of 26 44 Web 45 Textile layer of 28 46 Side seam of 45 47 Sewn-in shaped piece B Width of 14 b Width of 20 t Depth of 20