U.S. patent application number 14/391615 was filed with the patent office on 2015-03-05 for hiking stick.
The applicant listed for this patent is Kyung-Won KIM. Invention is credited to Kyung-Won Kim.
Application Number | 20150059816 14/391615 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48867327 |
Filed Date | 2015-03-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150059816 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Kyung-Won |
March 5, 2015 |
Hiking Stick
Abstract
The present invention relates to a hiking stick, which enables
the lengths of multi-stage support pipes to be quickly and simply
adjusted by a simple touch and elastically supports the weight of a
user when walking with the stick. The present invention provides a
hiking stick (10) in which support pipes (11, 12, 13) having
different diameters are combined such that the lengths of the
support pipes are adjusted by adjusting means (30) and a handle
(20) and a support (40) are combined to the support pipes (11, 12,
13), wherein the adjusting means (30) are configured such that: a
fixing pipe (31) is coupled to the lower part of the first support
pipe (11), and an operating pipe (32) is elastically supported by a
spring (33) in connection with the fixing pipe (31); the second
support pipe (12) having locking grooves (12a) formed on the outer
surface thereof is elevated by being inserted into the first
support pipe (11); a connection hole (31b) that penetrates the side
of the fixing pipe (31) is perforated such that a stopper ball
(31a) is inserted thereinto; when the ball (31a) is pressed on the
inner diameter of the operating pipe (32), the ball (31a) is locked
in the locking grooves (12a) of the second support pipe (12)
whereby the second support pipe (12) is fixed to the first support
pipe (11); when the operating pipe (32) is raised and the ball
(31a) is located in a wide extensive groove (32a) of the operating
pipe (32), the ball (31a) is separated from the locking grooves
(12a) of the second support pipe (12) whereby the second support
pipe (12) is elevated in the first support pipe (11); and a snap
ring (34) is coupled to the fixing pipe (31), thereby preventing
the separation of the operating pipe (32).
Inventors: |
Kim; Kyung-Won; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KIM; Kyung-Won |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
48867327 |
Appl. No.: |
14/391615 |
Filed: |
March 26, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
March 26, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2013/002477 |
371 Date: |
October 9, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/75 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2225/093 20130101;
A45B 9/00 20130101; A45B 2009/007 20130101; A63B 2210/58 20130101;
A63B 29/08 20130101; A63C 2203/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/75 |
International
Class: |
A45B 9/00 20060101
A45B009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 26, 2012 |
KR |
10-2012-0043696 |
Claims
1. A hiking stick 10 wherein support pipes 11, 12 and 13 each
having different diameters are engaged to each other, and the
length thereof is elastically adjusted by means of an adjusting
means 30, and a handle 20 and a prop 40 are engaged to the tops and
bottoms of the support pipes 11, 12 and 13, comprising: the
adjusting means 30 which includes a fixing pipe 31 engaged to
bottom of the first support pipe 11, and an operation pipe 32
engaged to the fixing pipe 31 and is elastically supported by means
of a spring 33, wherein a second support pipe 12 on an outer
circumferential surface of which a plurality of engaging grooves
12a are formed at regular intervals, is inserted in the interior of
the first support pipe 11 and ascends and descends therein, and an
engaging hole 31b passing through its side surface is formed at
bottom of the fixing pipe 31, and a stopper ball 31a is inserted in
the engaging hole 31b, and when the ball 31a is pressed against the
inner diameter of the operation pipe 32, the ball 31a is caught by
the engaging groove 12a of the second support pipe 12, and the
second support pipe 12 is fixed in the interior of the first
support pipe 11, and the operation pipe 32 ascends, and when the
ball 31a is positioned in a wider expansion groove 32a at bottom of
the operation pipe 32, the ball 31a disengages from the engaging
groove 12a of the second support pipe 12, and the second support
pipe 12 freely ascends or descends in the interior of the first
support pipe 11, and a snap ring 34 is engaged to bottom of the
fixing pipe 31 so as to prevent the operation pipe 32 from
disengaging.
2. The stick of claim 1, wherein the adjusting means 30 is engaged
to bottom of the second support pipe 12, thus adjusting the length
of the third support pipe 13 inserted in the second support pipe
12.
3. The stick of claim 1, wherein the prop 40 comprises a first
guide pipe 41 engaged to bottom of the third support pipe 13, a
second guide pipe 42 engaged to the first guide pipe 41, a third
guide pipe 43 engaged to the second guide pipe 42, and first and
second springs 44a and 44b inserted between the first and second
guide pipes 41 and 42 and between the second and third guide pipes
42 and 43 for thereby elastically supporting the first guide pipe
41, and to bottom of the third guide pipe 43, a cemented carbide
support member 45 is engaged.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a US national phase of PCT patent Application No.
PCT/KR2013/002477 having an International filing date of Mar. 26,
2013, which claims priority to Korean Patent Application No.
10-2012-0043696, filed on Apr. 26, 2012, the entireties of which
are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a hiking stick, which
enables the lengths of multi-stage support pipes to be quickly and
simply adjusted by a simple touch and elastically supports the
weight of a user when walking with the stick.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A hiking stick is generally configured to decrease the
consumption of physical strength in such a way to absorb about 30%
of the total weight applied to user's legs, while providing a
stable hiking by maintaining balanced hiking postures when the user
climbs up or down mountain. When the user climbs down mountains,
the hiking stick may effectively absorb the impacts applied to the
user's knees, so such a hiking stick is widely used by men and
women of all ages because it is regarded as one of the key hiking
equipment.
[0004] The above-described hiking stick is configured in such a way
that the length thereof may be adjusted for easier carrying. More
specifically, the lengths of the multistage support pipes may be
elastically adjusted by tightening or loosening the multistage
support pipes in such a way to rotate a nut type tightening
member.
[0005] Since the related length adjustable hiking stick is
configured to elastically adjust the length by tightening or
loosening the multistage support pipes in such a way to rotate a
thread-engaged tightening member, it takes relatively longer time
to strongly tighten or loosen the tightening member while causing
complicated work. If the tightening member is not tightly engaged,
the hiking stick may not withstand strong impacts when touching on
the ground, so the support pipes may unintentionally slide into the
other support pipes, thus breaking the parts.
[0006] The hiking stick is generally made from a predetermined
material and is configured to have high durability, which are
strong and high enough to prevent the hiking stick from bending or
breaking when a user touches on the ground. When the force of about
41 kg is applied for 15 seconds to a portion about 10 mm away from
the center of the hiking stick, it should not be bent or broken or
deformed; however many of the related hiking sticks fail to pass
the resistance test based on the materials of the hiking
sticks.
[0007] Due to the above-described problems, if the support pipes
slide into the other support pipes or the hiking stick is bent or
deformed, the user may lose the center of gravity when climbing
down mountains, which results in critical accidents.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a state that the length
of a hiking stick is extended according to the present
invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a state that the length
of a hiking stick is contracted according to the present
invention.
[0010] FIGS. 3a and 3b are partially enlarged cross sectional views
illustrating an operation state according to the present
invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a disassembled perspective view illustrating an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
TABLE-US-00001 [Legend of Reference Numbers] 10: hiking stick 11:
first support pipe 12: second support pipe 12a, 13a: engaging
groove 13: third support pipe 20: handle 30: adjusting unit 31:
fixing pipe 31a: ball 31b: engaging hole 31c: shoulder 32:
operation pipe 32a: expansion groove 33, 44a, 44b: spring 34, 46:
snap ring 40: prop 41: first guide pipe 42: second guide pipe 43:
third guide pipe 45: support member
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Technical Field
[0012] Accordingly, the present invention is made in an effort to
improve the above-mentioned problems. It is an object of the
present invention to provide a high quality and good function
hiking stick characterized in that the length of a hiking stick may
be quickly and easily adjusted through simple procedures, and the
hiking stick may be prevented from bending in such a way to
elastically support the weight.
Technical Solution
[0013] To achieve the above object, there is provided a hiking
stick 10 wherein support pipes 11, 12 and 13 each having different
diameters are engaged to each other, and the length is elastically
adjusted by means of an adjusting unit 30, and a handle 20 and a
prop 40 are engaged to the tops and bottoms of the support pipes
11, 12 and 13, comprising the adjusting unit 30 which includes a
fixing pipe 31 engaged to bottom of the first support pipe 11, and
an operation pipe 32 which is engaged to the fixing pipe 31 and is
elastically supported by means of a spring 33, wherein a second
support pipe 12 on an outer circumferential surface of which a
plurality of engaging grooves 12a are formed at regular intervals
is inserted in the interior of the first support pipe 11 and
ascends and descends therein, and an engaging hole 31b passing
through its side surface is formed at bottom of the fixing pipe 31,
and a stopper ball 31a is inserted in the engaging hole 31b, and
when the ball 31a is pressed against the inner diameter of the
operation pipe 32, the ball 31a is caught by the engaging groove
12a of the second support pipe 12, and the second support pipe 12
is fixed in the interior of the first support pipe 11, and the
operation pipe 32 ascends, and when the ball 31a is positioned in a
wider expansion groove 32a at bottom of the operation pipe 32, the
ball 31a disengages from the engaging groove 12a of the second
support pipe 12, and the second support pipe 12 freely ascends or
descends in the interior of the first support pipe 11, and a snap
ring 34 is engaged to bottom of the fixing pipe 31 so as to prevent
the operation pipe 32 from disengaging.
Advantageous Effects
[0014] In the present invention, the length of the second support
pipe 12 may be quickly and easily adjusted through simple
procedures of pulling the operation pipe 32 of the adjusting unit
30. When releasing the pulled operation pipe 32, the
length-adjusted first and second support pipes 11 and 12 are
reliably fixed, so the length adjusting work may be simply finished
while obtaining enhanced convenience when in use, which leads to
the provision of a high quality and good function hiking stick.
Also, a pair of springs formed of first and second springs 44a and
44b of the support unit 40 are provided so as to distribute and
support weight, thus stably supporting the weight thanks to a
synergic operation of the support force which balances a user's
body and the buffer power, so the center of gravity may be stably
maintained, while effectively absorbing impacts and preventing any
deformation of the hiking stick, whereby safe mountain hiking may
be obtained.
MODE FOR INVENTION
[0015] In order to accomplish the object, the preferred embodiments
of the present invention will be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0016] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the length of the hiking
stick may be adjusted in such a way that support pipes 11, 12 and
13 each having different diameters are engaged, and the support
pipes 11, 12 and 13 are inserted into the interiors of the
neighboring support pipes, thus contracting the length, and when
they are withdrawn, the length extends.
[0017] The support pipes 11, 12 and 13 are configured for their
lengths to be adjusted by an adjusting unit 30. A handle 20 and a
prop 40 are engaged to the tops and bottoms of the support pipes
11, 12 and 13.
[0018] The construction of the thusly constituted hiking stick 10
is a known art. The most important feature of the present invention
lies in the construction of an adjusting unit 30 which is
configured to facilitate the lengths of the support pipes to be
quickly and easily adjusted when the operation pipe 32 is simply
touched.
[0019] More specifically, the adjusting unit 30 comprises a fixing
pipe 31 engaged to bottom of the first support pipe 11, and an
operation pipe 32 which is engaged to the fixing pipe 31 and is
elastically supported by the spring 33.
[0020] The second support pipe 12 is inserted into the interior of
the first support pipe 11 and may ascend and descend therein. A
plurality of engaging grooves 12a are formed at regular intervals
on an outer circumferential surface of the second support pipe
12.
[0021] At the bottom of the fixing pipe 31, there is formed an
engaging hole 31b which passes through its side surface. A stopper
ball 31a is inserted in the engaging groove 31b.
[0022] In a state that the stopper ball 31a is inserted in the
engaging hole 31b, when the ball 31a is pressed against the inner
diameter of the operation pipe 32, it protrudes in an inward
direction in the engaging hole 31, so the ball 31a is caught by the
engaging groove 12a of the second support pipe 12, and the second
support pipe 12 is fixedly inserted in the interior of the first
support pipe 11.
[0023] When the ball 31a ascends in the fixing pipe 31 by pulling
the operation pipe 32, the ball 31a is positioned in the wider
expansion groove 32a at the bottom of the operation pipe 32 and
remains free, so the ball 31a separates from the engaging groove
12a of the second support pipe 12, and the second support pipe 12
may freely ascend or descend in the interior of the first support
pipe 11.
[0024] A snap ring is engaged to the bottom of the fixing pipe 31,
thus preventing the operation pipe 32 separating and moving toward
the bottom of the fixing pipe 31, and a shoulder 31c is formed at
top of the fixing pipe 31, so the operation pipe 32 may move
between the shoulder 31c and the snap ring 34 in a state that the
operation pipe 32 is elastically supported by the spring 33.
[0025] As illustrated in FIG. 3a, in the present invention, the
stopper ball 31a is engaged to the engaging groove 12a of the
second support pipe 12. In a state that the second support pipe 12
is fixedly inserted in the interior of the first support pipe 11,
when the operation pipe 32 is pulled in an upward direction, as
illustrated in FIG. 3b, the ball 31a is positioned in the wider
expansion groove 32a at bottom of the operation pipe 32 and remains
free. When the operation pipe 32 is released at a predetermined
length while freely moving the second support pipe 12, the
operation pipe 32 descends by recovery force of the spring 33, and
the stopper ball 31a is pressed against the inner diameter of the
operation pipe 32 and is caught by the engaging groove 12a of the
second support pipe 12, so the length of the second support pipe 12
is adjusted and fixed.
[0026] The length of the second support pipe 12 can be quickly and
easily adjusted by a simple procedure of pulling the operation pipe
32. When the pulled operation pipe 32 is released, the first and
second support pipes 11 and 12 whose lengths have been already
adjusted may be stably fixed, so it is possible to provide a high
quality and good function hiking stick whose length may be easily
adjusted, while enhancing convenience when in use.
[0027] Also, the stopper ball 31a, the fixing pipe 31, the
operation pipe 32 and the first and second support pipes 11 and 12
are all made from stainless steel, so once the stopper ball 31a is
caught by the engaging groove 12a of the second support pipe 12, it
is stably fixed and won't easily separate from the engaging groove
12a, which makes sure that requirements of the resistance test may
be met while substantially supporting the weight. So, the present
invention may provide a hiking stick having a high competitiveness
and good function by improving the problems encountered in the
conventional art wherein the hiking stick is inserted into the
interior of the support pipes and is bent or deformed, which causes
critical accident when a user climbs down mountains and then loses
the center of gravity.
[0028] The adjusting unit 30 may be also engaged to bottom of the
second support pipe 12, thus adjusting the length of the third
support pipe 13 inserted in the second support pipe 12. The
engaging groove 13a is also formed at the third support pipe 13, so
the ball 31a of the adjusting unit 30 may be engaged thereto.
[0029] At this time, the lengths of the second support pipe 12 and
the third support pipe 13 may be together adjusted by means of two
adjusting units 30 for thereby more greatly adjusting the length of
the hiking stick 10. The length of the hiking stick may be adjusted
much shorter, thus enhancing convenience when carrying the hiking
stick.
[0030] The prop 40 comprises a first guide pipe 41 fixedly engaged
to bottom of the third support pipe 13, a second guide pipe 42
engaged to the first guide pipe 41, a third guide pipe 43 engaged
to the second guide pipe 42, and first and second springs 44a and
44b which are inserted between the first and second guide pipes 41
and 42 and between the second and third guide pipes 42 and 43 for
thereby elastically supporting the first guide pipe 41. To bottom
of the third guide pipe 43, a cemented carbide support member 45 is
engaged.
[0031] To bottom of the first guide pipe 41, a snap ring 46 is
engaged for thereby preventing the second guide pipe 42 from
disengaging and moving toward bottom of the first guide pipe
41.
[0032] In the above-described construction, since the first guide
pipe 41 fixedly against the third support pipe 13 is elastically
supported by means of the first and second springs 44a and 44b, the
weight applied when the hiking stick 10 is touched may be
elastically absorbed, by means of which it is possible to prevent
the hiking stick 10 from bending or breaking or deforming, which
results in safe hiking.
[0033] Since the two springs consisting of the first and second
springs 44a and 44b are configured to support weight in such a way
to distribute the weight, the support force maintaining a balance
of a user's body and the buffer powder absorbing the impacts
synergically operate, thus implementing a good function hiking
stick, so the present invention may absorb impacts while
maintaining the center of gravity by stably supporting the weight
and prevent any deformation of the hiking stick, which leads to
safe hiking.
[0034] The above-described exemplary embodiments of the present
invention are provided for illustrative purposes and should
understood in such a way that the above-described examples are not
limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless
otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within
its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and
therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the meets
and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds
are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.
* * * * *