Safety Ski Pole

Abstract

The present invention relates to a safety ski pole wherein a number of safety features are combined into an integral unit. The handle has a safety enhancing large top surface and a wrist strap which may be pulled off the handle against the force of a spring when the pole should be stuck. The pole proper comprises telescoped or hinged tubing sections which, against locking means, will yield to an axial impact applied to the handle or tip end of the pole. The tip itself is also yieldable to retract into the pole tubing in response to such impacts.

Parent Case Text

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

The invention relates to ski poles, and more specifically to safety ski poles. This application is a continutation in part application of our copending application 112,888 filed Feb. 5, 1971 and now abandoned.

Description

Although conventional ski poles with their basic features and their overall construction have often been a source of danger and the cause for many injuries and bodily damages to the skier, so far only suggestions and experiments have been made to reduce danger by correcting individual elements of the ski pole. These corrections resulted, however, in most cases merely in unsatisfactory partial safety features, some of which even constituted a new source of dangers. Practically none of these corrections have resulted in a fully satisfactory solution. Therefore, these prior art improvements have not found widespread acceptance except for the snow basket without a closed outer ring. A ski pole constructed in its entirety for safety and being totally effective for protecting against injuries has been completely missing until now.

Conventional ski poles, regardless whether only one rod or tubing was used or whether two or more tubings were used for the construction of length adjustable or especially break safe ski poles, led repeatedly to bodily damages and injuries of the skier, if the skier in falling, especially at high speed, hit one end of the ski pole. It has happened again and again that the upper end of the ski pole penetrated into the body of the skier and in completely uncontrollable crushes even the lower end of the ski pole entered the body. In some cases the human body was completely pierced through. Normally, it could not be prevented that such an impact resulted in severe injuries and damages. If vital organs were involved, as happened repeatedly, the death of the skier occurred in certain cases. Such injuries involved the soft parts of the trunk as well as areas of the neck and head. Besides, it often happened that injuries, though not fatal, were very painful, for example broken ribs or the especially severe loss of an eye.

The attempt to eliminate these dangers through the use of an elastic ski pole tubing did not lead to a solution of the problems. At a low elasticity of the tubing a severe danger of injuries remained while a high elasticity of the tubing causes a noticeable insecurity during the use of the ski pole and with it a new endangering of the skier. The problem could not be solved by giving the ski pole an oval profile and providing it with an extra firmness in the direction of the longer axis of the oval and a special elasticity in the direction of the shorter axis of the oval. If the skier fell, for example, exactly on top or in the direction of the longer cross sectional axis onto the ski pole, the danger of injuries still existed, while the flexibility of the ski pole in the direction of the shorter cross sectional axis leads to insecurity during the use. If such an oval tubing had just a little elasticity in the direction of the shorter cross sectional axis, the danger of injuries could not be substantially reduced.

In the cases where the material of the ski poles was elastic but not very break resistant and could not be kinked, i.e., permanently bent under the impact of the skier, dangerous ski pole breakages occurred.

Prior art ski pole handles offered little protection to the human body if it landed during a fall at high speed on the comparatively small and hard surface on the upper end of these handles. In these situations the pressure acting upon a small area of the human body could become extraordinarily high. The destructive momentum and hardness of a heavy impact could not be substantially reduced even by making the upper end of the handle thicker. These dangers could also not be eliminated by installing a helical spring into the handle because after the compression of the spring the ski pole was again forced against the body of the skier. Besides, this precaution gave a feeling of insecurity because the handle yielded and sprang back even during normal usage of the ski pole. This insecurity during usage could not be eliminated by introducing a locking mechanism for temporarily fixing the position of the handle since it is impossible to arrest the handle prior to every impact or pressure load on the ski pole. Besides, the installed spring would lose its function and with it its limited protective effect if the handle is constantly arrested during normal use. Besides, the possibilities of offering the skier complete protection during a heavy impact on the top of the ski pole merely by the structure of the handle are rather limited.

The prior suggestions of an injury reducing ski pole point or tip, for example a blunt, spherical point, covered by a synthetic material, or a tip comprising actually several small tips, could not significantly reduce the dangers which were caused when the skier fell upon an upwardly pointing ski pole during an uncontrollable fall or during a fall caused by the fall of another skier. Besides, even in these cases the pressure of the impact on an upwardly pointing ski pole is distributed only over a very small area of the human body. On the other hand, there exist natural limitations to the bluntness of the point because the point is supposed to offer a secure hold on a compact and smooth snow surface as well as on ice. These limitations for the safety promoting construction of the lower ski pole end resulted because of the prevailing skiing technique only a single, centrally located ski pole point which is sufficiently spaced from the snow basket is possible at the lower ski pole end.

A further considerable source of danger for the skier exists if the skier is caught during skiing with the ski pole on an obstacle and the hand of the skier is simultaneously held back by the loop of the ski pole. In many cases the loop does not even detach itself from the wrist if the ski pole is inclined forwardly under the resulting pulling force in the skiing direction. In these cases overstraining of the arm often resulted with damage to the wrist or shoulder joint. In addition especially sudden and violent falls were often caused in these instances, resulting again in injuries.

The ski pole could easily be caught particularly in obstacles, for example in underbrush, if the snow basket had an outer closed ring. This danger could be somewhat reduced by using snow baskets without a closed outer ring, even though the rigidity of the snow basket was reduced.

But the ski pole could be caught in obstacles even with these snow baskets, which usually were star shaped, for example in forked branches or between fence laths, rubble or ice. This danger existed also for snow baskets having a downwardly opening bell-shape and which are made of a solid material. This danger could only be surmounted with a certain dependability if the snow baskets, which have a downwardly facing open end, are made of a very elastic material. However, these bell-shaped and at the same time elastic baskets were practically not used at all because they were very labile during use and did not always give the skier, especially with a slanted pole usage, a safe hold in the snow. At the same time the different widening of the bell through the pole use made it impossible for the skier to propel himself from the ground with the same effort as with other types of baskets where all other conditions were the same.

Until now the proposals which tried to eliminate the danger of entrapping the ski pole by using detachable or dividable handles or loops have not been entirely satisfactory.

Suggestions according to which the handle could be detached by an excessive pull, acting through the loop were unsatisfactory because the stability of the ski pole at the juncture between the handle and the rest of the pole was insufficient and the possibility of reconnecting the handle to the pole was small while on the slope. A simple reconnection while on the ski slope was not even possible in those constructions wherein the upper part of the handle along with the loop could be disconnected from the ski pole by an excessive force. Depending on the particular construction of the detachable handle, they were subject to further disadvantages.

In case of the known suggestions and experiments for a wrist strap which detaches itself from the handle in response to an overstress, it was disadvantageous that the wrist strap or loop was arranged horizontally in the upper part of the grip of conventional ski poles. In these cases, the detachability of the loop was hindered or endangered when the ski pole was forwardly inclining when it became entangled in an obstacle. In this case the loop was bent at its exit from the handle in the direction of motion and therefore the forces were divided at the same location while simultaneously resulting in considerable friction losses. As a result, only a part of the pulling forces actually occurring at the outer end of the loop could act on the anchorage of the loop in the handle.

For similar reasons the release of the human hand was uncertain in a dangerous situation when the ski pole was caught if the release was to be accomplished by a snap fastener as, for example, known in the textile industry. This snap fastener was located in the upper part of the loop as connecting element between the two sections of the two-part loop. If a tightly locking fastener was used, the locking effect of the fastener transversely to the appearing pulling force hindered in some cases an immediate release of the human hand out of the enclosure of the loop. If on the other hand a fastener with a reduced locking strength was used, this fastener would often open itself during a normal use of the ski pole and cause in this way a really unsafe condition. The attempts made to alleviate this situation were rather unsatisfactory makeshifts.

A suggestion was also made to prevent the premature opening of such a fastener which was located between the outwardly bent ends of the two loop sections, by using simultaneously an inner connection piece between the two loop sections. The connection piece was connected rigidly to one of the two loop sections and connected detachably to the other with a loose noose. Even this solution was not satisfactory since it was complicated and it was disturbing the to user that the ends of the loop were sticking out. Besides, this solution did not confine itself to the separation of both loop sections in response to a dangerous entanglement with an obstacle, but the loop sections separated sometimes when a larger though not dangerous stress occurred during normal skiing.

Even the suggestions made decades ago which made possible a detachment of the loop only when the ski pole was entangled, offered no suitable, fully developed solution and could not prevail in practice; even though there was a large need for safety which was expressed in the meantime by several other suggestions and experiments.

Fastening of the loop by means of an elastic, upwardly detachable ring placed around the ski pole was only realizable in connection with poles made of bamboo or wood without a handle of their own. Even the suggestion to fasten the loop by means of a ring secured to a narrow spring element which opened upwardly and was attached to the ski pole had several deficiencies which prevented this type of loop fastening to gain importance in practice. This loop fastening suffered mainly from the insufficient stability of the spring after repeated heavy strain resulting from the pull of the loop during normal use. Besides, a wider construction of the spring element without a simultaneous bending was practically impossible. The bending would have considerably hindered an upward movement of the loop. Besides, the spring could be bent sideways by a strong pull even within the limits of normal use of the ski pole.

Another embodiment of this known type of fastening was not resilient but had instead an elastic rubber padding attached to the pole above the fastening ring which made it difficult to adjust a high threshold of detachability of the loop in response to entanglement of the ski pole on an obstacle. A further disdvantage of both of the above forms consisted in the difficulty of refastening the loop to the ski pole with the aid of the fastening ring, if the connection piece mounted on the ski pole had to have a very tight fit in order to raise the threshold value for the detachability of the loop, and, thus had to be made of a very firm material; or if said rubber padding consisted of a very firm material for the same reasons. Altogether both of the mentioned forms appeared to be a mere makeshift solution.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:

In view of the foregoing, the invention aims at achieving the following objects singly or in combination:

to overcome the outlined drawbacks and disadvantages;

to provide a ski pole which, with its entire structure, will effectively protect its user against injuries;

to assure that each constituent member of the ski pole will effectively and efficiently contribute to the overall safety of its user;

to combine a plurality of safety features in a ski pole so that these features become effective as an integral unit;

to combine a safety pole with a safety handle and with a safety tip as well as with a safety snow basket or disc;

to provide a safety handle for ski poles;

to provide a safety ski pole capable of yielding to impacts but remaining rigid during regular use;

to provide a safety snow basket or disc;

to provide a ski pole tip capable of yielding to impacts for collapsing into the ski pole to an extent so that the outer end of the tip is substantially in a plane defined by the snow disc;

to provide a wrist strap or loop for a ski pole handle which will easily detach itself from the handle in response to forces other than those occurring during ordinary use of the ski pole; and

to assure the safety of the user of the ski pole by making it collapsible in response to substantially longitudinal pressures or impacts regardless whether the skier falls on top of the ski pole handle or on top of the lower tip of the ski pole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

According to the invention the present safety ski pole is constructed in its entirety to comprise several parts which are movable relative to each other at least at one location in a direction corresponding to direction of forces resulting from an impact applied in the longitudinal direction of the pole and to that end of the pole which at the instant of impact points upwardly. Briefly, the ski pole of the invention comprises at least two movable tubings fastened to each other and interlocking devices located inside the tubings to rigidly connect the tubings to each other during the use of the ski pole.

The interlocking devices are shiftable, especially by means located at the handle, out of their interlocking position to such an extent that the tubings are movable in response to pressure or impact applied to either end of the ski pole.

According to the invention there is further provided a ski pole having an upphr end constructed as an elastic cushion and the point or tip of the ski pole is mounted to the lower end of the movably connected tubings so that it is movable together with the lower tubing upwardly to the snow disc or basket and the wrist strap at the handle is mounted for removal in response to a force pulling in the direction toward the upper ski pole end.

The interlocking devices located in the ski pole may be connected to spring elements for automatically assuming the interlocking position. The spring elements are biased in the direction toward the interlocking position. The interlocking devices generally have an upper end piece, attached to the upper end of the handle, and movable downwardly by pressure or impact effective longitudinally relative to the ski pole. The interlocking devices are displaceable out of their interlocking position by downward movement of this upper end piece.

In order to assure that said downward movement of the upper end piece will take place only in response to a dangerous fall onto one or the other end of the ski pole, support members are provided between the upper end piece of the interlocking devices and the grip portion of the handle located below said upper end piece, whereby the support members are movable sideways and biased to counteract such lateral movement. Especially, said outwardly movable support members may be located on the outside of the handle in such a position that they are subjected to an inwardly directed finger pressure when the skier supports himself with his hand resting on the upper end of the handle.

According to another feature of this invention, the tubings of the ski pole may be connected to each other telescopically as well as in a hinged manner.

Furthermore, means may be provided in the ski pole which are controllable from the outside for blocking the interlocking devices in the interlocking position even in case of pressure and impact applied to the ends of the ski pole.

The teachings of the present invention relating to the shaft, to the handle assembly, to the wrist strap, and to the tip assembly may be employed singly or in combination.

SHORT FIGURE DESCRIPTION:

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a reduced longitudinal sectional overall view of an embodiment of the safety ski pole according to the invention, wherein the ski pole comprises essentially two telescopically connected tubings of about equal length and an elastic cushion at the upper end of the handle assembly, as well as a removable wrist strap, and a collapsible point; the ski pole tubings are rigidly connected by the interlocking devices arranged inside the hollow tubing;

FIG. 2 illustrates a longitudinal section through the handle assembly of this ski pole in direction from front to back in the sense of the normal skiing direction, in which the upper end piece of the interlocking devices, which is provided with an elastic cushion, is located atop the longitudinal grip portion of the handle assembly; the upper end piece is held in its upper most position by a compressive spring;

FIG. 3a is a longitudinal sectional view through the handle assembly of the present ski pole rotated by 90.degree. relative to FIG. 2;

FIG. 3b is a top view onto the upper end of the handle assembly;

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the connection zone between two tubings forming the elements of the ski pole in its length dimension;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the handle assembly;

FIG. 6a is an enlarged perspective view of the mounting arrangement provided on the handle for the removable wrist strap;

FIGS. 6b and 6c illustrate enlarged top and side views of the upper piece of the wrist strap with its connection means to the mounting arrangement on the grip;

FIGS. 7a to 7d show an embodiment of the uppermost portion of the handle which permits locking the rigid connection between the ski pole tubings by cross positioning the upper end piece of the interlocking devices; whereby FIGS. 7a and 7b illustrate a top and side view with the upper end piece of the interlocking devices removed, while FIG. 7c is a development of the upper portion of the longitudinal lower grip proper of the handle assembly, and FIG. 7d is a side view of the cross positioned or laterally displaced upper end piece;

FIGS. 8a and 8b show an embodiment of the upper portion of the handle assembly in a longitudinal sectional view an in a side view in which a rotary locking member is installed for locking the rigid connection between the ski pole tubings, whereby said member may be operated from the outside by a lever;

FIG. 8c is a cross section through the handle somewhat above the rotary locking member when it is in its non-arresting position;

FIG. 8d is a cross section through the same location as in FIG. 8c, however, with the locking member in its arresting position;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross section through the lowest part of the ski pole shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the snow basket or disc and the collapsible point or tip;

FIG. 10 shows a longitudinal section through another embodiment of a handle assembly in which the upper end piece of the interlocking devices is held in its upper position by a tension spring;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged longitudinal section;

FIGS. 12a and 12b are an enlarged longitudinal and a cross section through still another embodiment of a telescoping connection between the ski pole tubings;

FIG. 13a is a longitudinal section through the upper portion of a telescoping ski pole wherein the lower tubing is supported against movement into the upper wider tubing by two scissor braces;

FIGS. 13b to 13d are cross sections A--A, B--B, and C--C through the upper ski pole tubing shown in FIG. 13a;

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal section through an embodiment of a safety ski pole according to the invention in which the tubings of the ski pole are hinged together; and

FIG. 15 shows a further advantageous embodiment of a handle assembly.

FIG. 16a is a partial cross-sectional view of the upper end of ski pole showing a further modification of the present invention;

FIG. 16b is a plan view of one of the components, in the flat, of the ski pole illustrated in FIG. 16a;

FIG. 16c is a side elevational view of a modified hand grip for a ski pole;

FIG. 16d is a top plan view of FIG. 16c;

FIG. 17 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of a ski pole constructed in accordance with the present invention and illustrating a further modification;

FIG. 18 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to FIGS. 4 and 17, illustrating a still further modification;

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the upper end of a ski pole illustrating further modifications; and

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a modified lower end for the ski pole.

The overall view of FIG. 1 presents a ski pole constructed to comprise two telescopically joined tubings 1 and 2. The tubings 1 and 2 are selected so that one tubing will easily slide inside the other in response to a displacement of the tubings relative to each other. The upper end of the tubing continues into a handle which is provided with a releasable wrist strap 4. The lower part of the handle assembly comprises a longitudinal lower grip 34 and an upper part formed by an upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices. The lower end of the ski pole comprises a telescopic slide-in tubing 27 which supports the ski pole point or tip 31. Hereafter the slide-in tubing 27 and the point or tip proper 31 will be referred to as the collapsible tip 5 for brevity.

The upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices comprises a solid base piece 7 and an elastic cushion 3 slipped over the solid base piece 7. The upper end piece 6 is held in its defined uppermost position by the inserted helical spring 8.

The uppermost position of the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices signifies in the present embodiment that the tubings 1 and 2 are rigidly fastened to each other by the interlocking devices inside the ski pole and that the slide-in tubing 27 is also rigidly fastened to the lower tubing 2 in its lowermost position by the interlocking devices. The upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices is connected by the control rod 9 to parts of the interlocking devices which are located in the connecting zone of the two ski pole tubings 1 and 2. The interlocking devices in the zone of the collapsible tip 5 are connected to the lower end piece 17 of the control rod 9 by a tight cable 21.

If the upper end of the ski pole receives a pressure or an impact which is sufficient to compress the helical spring 8 located below the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices to a predetermined extent, the interlocking devices will be displaced by means of the simultaneously lowered control rod 9 so far out of their interlocking position inside the ski pole that the ski pole tubings are mutually movable relative to each other, that is, in the present case they may telescope into each othr.

Because the cable 21 is simultaneously slackened, portions of the interlocking devices which are located in the zone of the tip may move so far out of their interlocking position that the collapsible tip 5 may be telescoped into the above adjacent tubing 2. Due to the telescoping of the tubings the ski pole is especially well suited to slip away or to skip away beneath the body of the skier if he or she should fall on top of the ski pole. For this reason the danger resulting from a fall on top of the ski pole end is instantaneously eliminated. This is accomplished regardless whether the skier falls on top of the upper end of the ski pole or on top of the lower upwardly pointed end, since in both instances the helical spring 8 located below the end piece 6 of the interlocking devices is compressed.

The transition region between the two tubings 1 and 2 is sealed externally by a sleeve and is therefore also shielded against immediate penetration by snow and moisture. This sleeve is made of solid and stiff material and comprises an upper member 15 rigidly mounted to the upper wider tubing 1 and a lower member 15a which fits tightly, however easily sliding, over the lower tubing 2. This construction of the sleeve enables the sleeve 15, 15a together with the tubing 1 to slide over the tubing 2 when the tubings telescope in response to a fall.

All further structural details of this ski pole are shown clearer in the following figures. The present handle assembly shown in FIGS. 2, 3a and 3b of the ski pole comprises the longitudinal lower grip 34 proper, for example, made of synthetics which makes possible a complete clasping by the human hand. The upper end of the grip is shaped into a circular shoulder piece 42. The handle assembly further comprises the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices which is located above the grip 34 proper. The upper end piece 6 comprises a solid base piece 7 and an elastic cushion or buffer 3 which is slipcovered over the base piece 7. Except on the lateral portions of the solid base piece 7, one may use an adhesive connection between the cushion 3 and the base piece 7.

The upper end piece of the interlocking devices is arranged on the circular shoulder piece 42 with suitable guide means for movement between fixed upper and lower end positions. Such movement is made possible in the present embodiment, as can be seen in FIG. 2, by guide grooves 43 in the shoulder piece 42 of the lower grip 34 and by corresponding guide pins 44 in the solid base piece 7 of the upper end piece 6. However, other possibilities besides this one exist for assuring the mutual guidance of the solid grip and the movable upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices. The upward movement of the end piece 6 can also be limited by a stop on the control rod 9 inside the handle assembly. The upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices is kpet in its uppermost position by the helical spring 8 which, in the present case, is housed inside the circular shoulder piece 42 of the grip 34. An upper end piece 41 of the control rod 9 serves as an intermediate piece. This arrangement keeps the control rod 9 simultaneously in its upper-most position.

The control rod 9 which itself is a part of the interlocking devices of the ski pole and which reaches down to the interlocking members of the interlocking devices located in the connecting zone between tubings 1 and 2, extends below its upper end piece 41 first inside the helical spring 8 and passes further down, easily movable, through the solid wall of the grip 34 proper. In this embodiment a fall upon the upper surface of the ski pole moves the control rod 9 and the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices downwardly so that the other locking members or elements located further down in the ski pole are displaced automatically out of their interlocking position, whereby the ski pole tubings may be telescoped under the pressure of the impact to respectively reduce or eliminate the danger.

It is also possible to connect the control rod 9 directly to the solid base piece 7 of the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices, for example, with a screw. However, the present embodiment, in which the control rod 9 and its upper end piece 41 support the solid lower part 7 of the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices merely from below, has been chosen for an easy assembly of the ski pole and for easily disconnecting the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking device from the ski pole, if necessary.

The elastic cushion 3, which terminates the handle assembly upwardly, serves also for diminishing the danger during the fall upon the ski pole. In the present embodiment this cushion 3 is made of foam material, for example, a suitable polyurethane foam surrounded by a sealed cover 45. A washer 48 made of a solid material is embedded in the cushion 3. The washer 48 is rigidly connected to the lower part 7 of the upper end piece 6 by a bolt 48, accessible through a channel 47. This arrangement inside the cushion 3 provides the latter with good support against all laterally effective pressures or pulling forces. Simultaneously the arrangement acts as an internal resistance against lateral twisting of the cushion.

It is especially advantageous to use a foam material cushion as described. However, basically the use of another elastic material may also be suitable. In still another embodiment the elastic cushion may be constructed as a closed hollow body, which, if desired, may be filled with an internal pressure.

As may be seen from FIGS. 2, 3a and 3b, the present ski pole is provided at its upper end with an elastic cushion or buffer 3 which forms an oval in the cross section perpendicular to the length of the ski pole. The oval has a length approximately corresponding to the width of a hand. The cushion 3 has a bulging top portion and tapers downwardly. Due to this shape the cushion is capable to distribute the pressure of an impact against the body over the largest possible area and also to soften the impact as much as possible. When the skier falls against the upper end of the ski pole the cushion also dampens considerably the destructive force of the ski pole. This cushion especially prevents in cooperation with the telescopical collapse of the ski pole an injury of the skier to the particularly endangered locations or parts of the human body, for example, the oncovered areas of the neck and the head. The injury-diminishing effect is even present especially in cases where the crush or fall is not particularly severe or dangerous, that is, in cases where the ski pole tubings are not yet telescopically collapsed. Basically, the buffer 3 alsways assures a diminishing of the injuring danger in that the cushion yields elastically at the impact of the human body, thus facilitating the lateral tilting or sliding away of the pole.

The present ski pole enables the skier to grasp the grip 34 in the accustomed manner with the assurance that the ski poles telescoping are perfectly interconnected and safe against pressure and impact during normal use. Only when a crush or impact on the upper end of the ski pole occurs will the interlocking devices inside the ski pole be shifted far enough out of their locking or arresting position so that the tubings 1 and 2 may telescope under the pressure applied thereto.

Moreover, the skier may safely lean against the upper end of the present ski pole without having to take into account that the tubings may telescope. FIG. 3a shows that the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices is supported for this purpose not only by the helical spring 8, but also by solid and simultaneously elastic supporting members against the lower grip 34 of the handle assembly. Supports of this kind may also be provided on the grip 34 and at the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices.

In the present embodiment such supporting members form a part of the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices and comprise downwardly pointing extensions 49 of the elastic cushion 3 and the side portions of a U-shaped leaf spring 50 which is embedded in the upper end piece 6 beneath the cushion 3. At the lower end of the leaf spring 50 inwardly facing spring loops 51 are formed which are squeezed as spacers between the solid base piece 7 of the upper end piece 6 and the lower grip 34. These spring loops 51 have at the top a shape which rises outwardly and at the bottom they have a downwardly sloping form. These spring loops preferably rest with their bottom portion on surfaces of the lower grip 34 which surfaces are slanted outwardly. The shown spacing is inconsequential.

The purpose of members 49, 50 and 51, which function as supports, is to maintain the upper end piece 6 sufficiently in its upper position even when the skier supports himself on the top of the end piece of the ski pole, for example during uphill climbing. On the other hand, if the skier falls on top of one of the two ends of a ski pole, it is assured that the support members 49, 50 and 51 may be pushed outwardly because of their elasticity and due to the described slanted surface in order to provide for the upper end piece 6 a downward clearance sufficient enough for the unlocking of the tubing connections. The dangerousness of a blow against the body, which blow cannot be dampened sufficiently anymore by the cushion alone, may be eliminated, as in this case, by the provision of a movable connection between the ski pole tubings.

The skier can still push the ski pole against the ground without telescoping of the ski pole tubings even when he is supporting himself at the top of the ski pole. The present form of the cushion 3 causes the skier, while executing such a push, to press the fingers laterally against the support members 49, 50 and 51 in the upper part of the handle assembly because the skier can hold the ski pole during the down push solely by means of this lateral pressure of the hand. This requirement prevents the laterally outward displacement of the support members 41, 50 and 51 toward the outside.

The cushion 3 offers, because of its larger and softer surface, to the hand of the skier a comfortable support when the skier supports himself during uphill clmibing by leaning on top of the ski poles. This feature greatly facilitates the uphill climing since the ski pole handle is not painfully impressed into the hand palms during a prolonged uphill climb.

The lateral support members for the upper end piece 6 may be constructed in another manner than described above, for example, the leaf spring may be made of a suitable synthetic material and it may also be directly embedded into the foam material of the cushion. A form of construction of this leaf spring without the spring loops 51 functioning as spacers, is also possible. The necessary supporting effect may, however, also be achieved if the downward extensions of the foam material cushion with the sealed cover layer has a sufficient rigidity especially due to the formation of said cover layer. Even in the case where no buffer 3 is used, the desired effect can be obtained, for example, by a cap-like formation of the solid base piece of the upper end piece of the interlocking devices whereby simultaneously laterally flexible support members should be used.

Furthermore, it is possible to shape the handle assembly so as to provide an immediate transition between the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices and the lower grip 34 of the handle assembly. The open guide grooves 43, as shown, may thus be replaced by covered guide grooves for the movement of the upper end piece 6. The present form of open guide grooves 43, however, has been chosen in order to provide for an easy inspection and cleaning for preventing the danger of hidden icing or freeze-up.

The further details of the FIGS. 2 and 3a, especially the releasable loop 4 and its seating on the handle assembly 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, as well as the grooves 58 in the upper extension 42 of the grip 34 (FIG. 3a), will be descriped in connection with FIGS. 5 and 6a to 6c, as well as 7a to 7c.

FIG. 4 shows on an enlarged scale the middle zone of the ski pole according to FIG. 1 in which the two ski pole tubings 1 and 2 are fastened to each other.

The sleeve 16, which is rigidly connected to the upper larger tubing 1 and which sits easily sliding over the lower narrow tubing 2, is constructed in one piece, thus deviating from the construction of FIG. 1, but has the same function on the ready mounted ski pole. The sleeve 16 may be made of a rather solid but nevertheless elastic material, for example, a high-grade synthetic rubber. Therefore, the sleeve 16 is surrounded on its outside by a rigid cylindrical shell 16a. The remaining details of FIG. 4 correspond to those shown in FIG. 1.

To assure good sliding between the tubings 1 and 2 even when the tubings are not exactly aligned, spaced bulging ridges 52 are provided in the upper region of the tubing 2 where the tubing 2 reaches into tubing 1. A tubing taper 53 is provided at the lower end of tubing 1. These bulging ridges 52 and the tubing taper 53 assure simultaneously that the ski pole tubings can not be pulled further apart than shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 also shows those means of the inner interlocking devices of the ski pole which assure together with the interlocking means located in the handle, that the ski pole tubings can not telescope under normal load conditions. This portion of the interlocking devices which comprises mainly the ring-shaped spacer 10, prevents in its normal position that leaf spring 12, which connects the tubings 1 and 2 and the lower ends of which are bent outwardly into spring loops 11, is displaced from its position under normal use of the ski pole.

The leaf spring 12 is positioned and fastened inside the lower tubing 2 by a support piece 13. The support piece 13 is inserted through a lateral opening in the tubing and is provided with a horizontal slot for receiving the leaf spring 12. The leaf spring 12 and the support piece 13 have vertical apertures for a good sliding passage of the control rod 9 which reaches up to the handle assembly. The spring loops 11 formed at the lower end of the leaf spring 12 protrude outwardly below the tubing 1 through openings 55 of the tubing 2 and have on top a slanted surface which inclines inwardly of the ski pole. The space between the lower end of the tubing 1 and the spring loops 11 is filled by the sleeve 16.

A downwardly directed pressure applied to the upper tubing 1 is transferred in a material protecting manner through the sleeve 16 to the spring loops 11. Because of their inward, inclining top surfaces, the spring loops 11 tend to retreat into the tubing 2 under such a pressure, however, the spring loops 11 are prevented from so retreating by the ring-shaped spacer 10, occupying the space between the spring loops 11.

The spring loops 11 may be constructed to withstand all occurring loads without deformation. It is, however, also possible to insert, for example, a metallic inlay into the spring loops for reinforcement. Instead of forming spring loops on the leaf springs 12 it is also possible to attach outwardly reaching locking pieces shaped for proper operation and made, for example, out of steel, to the lower end of a U-shaped leaf spring. These locking pieces and the shown spring loops 11 are called briefly cross-locking means in the following text since they prevent the tubing 1 and the attached sleeve 16 to slide down over tubing 2.

For surely preventing without more the disengaging of the locking means 11 from tubing 2, that is the telescoping of the ski pole tubings, during normal usage, the main portion of the ring-shaped spacer or interlocking ring 10 is formed cylindrically and the immediately adjacent surface of the locking means 11 is formed to extend vertically. In this manner the locking means 11 cannot transmit any force to the spacer 10 in the longitudinal direction of the ski pole which would otherwise displace the spacer 10 longitudinally and thus permit the locking means 11 to retreat into the tubing.

However, to assure that the cross-locking means 11 will retreat into the tubing 2 in response to a crush to permit the telescoping of the ski pole tubings, the following basic arrangement is provided: the spacer 10 is positioned on the control rod 9 below a shoulder stop 54 on the rod 9. Thus, if the control rod 9 is triggered by the downward motion of the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices in response to an impact on one or the other end of the ski pole, the spacer 10 is displaced downwardly far enough out of the region of the locking means 11 so that these means 11 may yield back into the tubing 2 under the effective pressure.

A further essential advantage is realized by the present embodiment because due to the special construction and seating of the spacer 10, the ski pole tubings can telescope easily under an impact on top of the ski pole, whereas a rather substantial static load on the upper end of the ski pole end is required for such telescoping. This advantage is achieved by the slightly conical shape of the upper end of the spacer 10 above the cross-locking means 11, as shown in FIG. 4, and by the fact that the spacer 10 is movably supported on the control rod 9 between the upper shoulder stop 54 and a helical spring 14 surrounding the rod 9 whereby the spring in turn rests with its lower end on a stop 17 of the control rod 9. Due to this special arrangement the upper conical end of the spacer 10 still remains between the cross-linking means 11 after the desired downward movement of the cylindrical portion of the spacer. Thereafter the inwardly directed pressure of the cross-linking means 11 pushes the spacer 10 so far downwardly against the pressure of the spring 14 and out of the region of the cross-locking means 11, that the cross-locking means can completely retreat into the tubing 2. Considering only the effect of the arrangement shown in this FIG. 4, however not the effect of the spring 8, which also counteracts the unlocking, and of the support members 49, 50 and 51, the before-mentioned retreat of the locking means takes place under static pressure loads on the upper ski pole end only at load values which are high enough so that even for this reason alone the skier may support himself with full force on top of the ski pole without having to be affraid that the ski pole will collapse. On the other hand the cross-linking means 11 can completely place the conical portion of the spacer 10 out of its space in response to added momentum and acceleration factors resulting from even a slight impact on the cross-locking means 11.

The movement of the cross-locking means 11 is not hindered by the tubing wall below said means 11 since the openings 55 in the tubing 2 are large enough to provide sufficient play for the cross-locking means so that they can not contact the adjacent tubing wall. The opposite pressure of the two tubings 1 and 2 is effective at the boundary between the sleeve 16 and the upper surface of the cross-locking means 11. These cross-locking means 11 form together with the tension spring 12 an integral part of the tubing 2.

FIG. 4 further shows a helical spring 19 conically wound about the lower portion of the control rod 9. The spring 19 is clamped between a ring 20, fastened into tubing 2 to form an upper support, and a nut 18 forming a lower support. The nut 18 is adjustable in its position along the lower end piece 17 of the control rod 9. This compression spring 19 is provided to assure a smoth down movement of the control rod 9 when the spring 19 is extended while the spring 8 is compressed, whereby a possible jamming of the spacer 10 between the cross-locking means 11 and any resulting bending of the control rod is eliminated. Using the spring 19 requires that the spring 8 in the handle assembly is stiff enough for sufficiently counteracting the oppositely directed pressure of the spring 19.

Instead of the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 it is also possible to rigidly connect the spacer 10 with the control rod 9 and to install simultaneously instead of the spring 14 a corresponding spring element in the handle assembly whereby the conical portion of the spacer 10 must be pushed downwardly against the resistance of said spring element. The effect can also be achieved with a correspondingly elongated spring 8.

If it is not important to doubly secure the threshold value of the static loading of the ski poles when the skier supports himself on top of the handle assembly, namely by the construction of the handle assembly and by the type and seating of the spacer 10; it is possible to either totally or partially obviate the support members 49, 50 and 51 or the steep conical upper end of the spacer 10.

Furthermore, FIG. 4 shows the cable 21 which is fastened to the lower end piece 17 of the control rod 9 and which extends to the mounting of the ski pole point. The disc 18a is fastened to the end piece 17 close above the cable 21. The disc 18a prevents entangling of the cable 21 between the interlocking devices and the spring elements located thereabove when the cable 21 slackens during the telescoping of ski pole tubing 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the handle assembly according to FIG. 1 and shows, among other features, that a uniform and pleasing shape is possible for this type of handle assembly.

One of the two lateral extensions 49 is visible on the cushion 3 having a closed cover skin 45. The extension and the covered leaf springs 50 and 51, according to FIG. 3a, provide the support members for seating the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices against the lower grip 34.

The details shown in FIGS. 6a to 6c will be described together with the details of the releasable wrist strap 4 which is fastened to the grip 34 by means of a cross member 37 provided at the upper end of the strap. The member 37 may be made of metal, for example. For the mounting of the cross member 37, the upwardly bent extensions 35 of the grip 34 are provided as external holding means and a leaf spring 36 is provided as an internal holding means. The spring 36 is pressed from the inside against the cross member 37 and is also fastened to the grip 34. An example for the mounting of the leaf spring 36 in the grip 34 can be seen in the FIGS. 2 and 3a. The protruding extensions 35 of the grip 34 and the leaf spring 36 enclose from the side completely or partially the upper portion of the cross member 37. The cross member 37 can therefore only be separated from its mounting pin when the loop 39 is pulled in the direction of the upper ski pole end. For this purpose it can be advantageous if the external or internal holding part of the cross member 37, as shown in FIG. 5, terminates at the backside of the grip.

Providing two or more extensions 35, separated by the largest possible distance, as shown for example in FIG. 6a, makes it possible for the loop to extend downwardly between the extensions during normal use. In the present example embodiment of the strap, bands or ties 38 are provided between the cross piece 37 and the main body 39 of the wrist strap. The strap ties 38 reach through the extensions 35. These strap ties 38 are bent, as can be seen in FIGS. 6b and 6c at their upper end around the cross member 37 and enlarged at their lower portion for attachment to the main body 39 of the wrist strap, for example by means of rivets 40. The wrist strap may, for example, be made of leather. If only two extensions 35 exist and if the main body 39 of the wrist strap has a narrow shape at its upper end, the main body 39 may be attached by a single strap tie or it may be fastened directly to the cross member 37.

Since the extensions 35 have a substantial rigidity they assure that the wrist strap 4 has complete support in its mounting during normal usage when the wrist strap is exposed to a strong pull applied downwardly or in a horizontal, backward direction. In order to increase the loading capacity in the direction of these normal stresses, the extensions 35 may be made completely or partially of metal. Additionally, the inner surface of the extensions 35 and of the associated spring element 36 are shaped as a circular arc as much as possible to provide a good swivel action of the cross member 37 in its mounting. These extensions 35 also prevent a sideways slippage of the wrist strap 4 out of its mounting on the grip. In order to also prevent that the upwardly directed wrist strap 4 slips sideways out of its mounting, especially when the spring element 36 does not tightly contact the extensions 35 with its upper end, the portions of the cross member 37 which are positioned between the extensions 35 may have a larger diameter than the rest as can be seen in FIG. 6b. This enlargement can also be obtained by bending the strap tie 38 around the cross member 37.

In any case, a disconnected wrist strap may be simply reattached by pushing reasonably strongly against the spring element 36 toward the grip 34 and by reinserting the cross members sideways or from the top.

The releasable wrist strap as just described avoids the disadvantages of conventional attempts and suggestions in this field, and it facilitates the sliding away of the collapsing ski pole beneath the body of the skier. Because of the manner of its mounting, the wrist strap can be heavily loaded during normal use, but it can be disconnected under normal conditions whereas the wrist strap separates in the required direction when the ski pole gets stuck. The rigidity of this mounting provides for the hardest wear even over longer periods of time.

The removability of the wrist strap by a pulling force in the required direction can be precisely controlled to a desired threshold value selected with due regard to health requirements. In other words, the threshold force for releasing the strap must be smaller than any force capable of injuring the wrist or arm joints of the skier. This threshold value can be controlled exactly and permanently especially by the shape of the holding members 35 and 36 and by the upper spacing therebetween, as well as the size of the cross member 37 and the spring 36. Finally, it is also important that this solution presents to the skier an immediately comprehensible and convincing realization of a separable wrist strap which induces him to put this wrist strap actually in use for his own safety.

Another feature of the upper part of the handle assembly is shown in FIGS. 7a to 7c. This construction gives the skier the possibility to block or arrest the installed interlocking devices in their interlocking position if desired. Thus, the present ski pole may easily be converted to a ski pole the tubings of which stay rigidly connected even in case of an impact on top of the ski pole.

For the implementation of such blocking it is merely necessary in the present embodiment to shift the end piece 6 of the interlocking devices from its normal position to a cross-wise position so that the cushion 3 which normally extends longitudinally stands transversely to the direction of the motion. A transverse placement of the cushion 3 for the purpose of blocking the interlocking devices is illustrated in FIG. 7d. Even if the cushion 3 stands crossways it is still possible to support oneself well on top of the ski poles, for example, while going uphill. Besides, it is an advantage that the skier recognizes instantly from the position of the cushion 3 and at any time whether the ski pole is blocked or whether it is usable as a safety ski pole.

This crosswise positioning of the end piece 6 of the interlocking devices is possible since guide grooves 43 (FIG. 2) as mentioned, as well as guide grooves 58 which extend transversely to said first mentioned grooves, are provided in the circular shoulder piece 4a of the lower grip 34. The grooves 58 branch off from the perpendicular grooves 43 slightly below their upper ends. The transversely extending grooves 58 prevent the guide pins 44 which are guided in these grooves (FIG. 2) and thus the other parts of the interlocking devices from moving downwardly. Therefore, the interlocking devices will not be displaced from their interlocking position. In the present embodiment the transversely running grooves 58 also possess at the end upwardly oriented enlargements 59 which give the guidepins 44 the possibility to return to the previous level under the pressure of the spring 8 immediately after the upper end piece 6 has been shifted to its crosswise position.

The FIGS. 7 a to 7c show the arrangement of the guide grooves in the cylindrical shoulder piece 42 of the lower grip 34. The upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices has been removed. FIG. 7b is a side view of a vertical guide groove 43 with the branching-off, horizontal guide groove 58. Moreover, the upwardly extending end enlargement 59 of the groove 58 is recognizable

The guide grooves 56 and 57 serve merely for the insertion of the guide pins 44 (FIG. 2) and facilitate the removal of the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices from the remaining portion of the handle assembly by intentionally applying a certain pressure to the top of the end piece 6 while simultaneously rotating it. The top view of FIG. 7a onto the remaining lower portion of the handle assembly shows that the described grooves for guiding the two pins 44 (FIG. 2) are arranged opposite each other and in duplicate. FIG. 7c clarifies this in a development of the exterior surface of the cylindrical shoulder piece 42. The development starts and terminates at the location A marked in FIG. 7a.

For the blocking and unlocking of the tubing interlocking it is merely required to rotate the cushion 3 and with it the upper end piece 6 with a downward push of the hand by 90.degree.. Since the respective end position of the guide pins 44 in higher than the transverse groove 58 due to the upwardly directed force of the spring 8 (FIGS. 1 to 3a), an accidental locking or unlocking of the interlocking devices is excluded. However, in order to facilitate the intentional rotation of the buffer 3, the transition to the groove 58 positioned therebelow is rounded off. When the guide pins 44 are located in the transverse grooves 58, only the cylindrical lower portion of the spacer 10 continues to rest against the inside surface of the cross-locking means 11 (FIG. 4), consequently these means 11 can not yield inwardly under pressure. It is also possible to locate the grooves 58 further up and thus the spring loops 51 at a lower position as illustrated in FIG. 3a.

Using guide slots extending in the same fashion instead of said guide grooves is possible in practice if the helical spring 8 is installed at a somewhat higher or lower location in the ski pole. The spring may be installed between a lower, rigid shoulder connected to the grip 34 or to the ski pole tubing and a stop located somewhat higher up on the control rod 9. The grooves 56 and 57 are not necessary if the guide pins 44 can be inserted from the outside into the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices. The downward path of the guide grooves 57 is advantageous for preventing an unintentional removal of the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices, that is, the removal is made possible only against the pressure of the spring 8. Simultaneously the path of the guide grooves 57 can not prevent the necessary downward movement of the guide pins 44 in case of a fall.

The described example shall clarify that for realizing such a blocking device, it is essential to provide guide curves or cams in the connection means between the lower grip of the handle assembly and the upper end piece of the interlocking devices whereby such guide curves or cams are to be formed or shaped according to the teachings outlined for controlling the mutual mobility of these two members or the handle assembly.

The skier may use the present ski pole for powerful thrusts against the ground if the interlocking devices are maintained in their interlocking position in the described manner, for example, during climbing with the skis, and even if he holds the ski pole merely rather loosely at the upper end of the handle assembly.

Another possibility for blocking or arresting the tubing interlocking devices is shown in FIGS. 8a to 8d. In this case the blocking is achieved by means of a rotary slide 60 installed in the handle assembly. The rotary slide 60 can be worked by means of a lever 61 from the outside and can be positioned by a rotation of 90.degree. crosswise relative to a special profile piece of the control rod 9 whereby a downward movement of the control rod is made impossible. Other embodiments are also possible on the basis of the present teaching, for example, a crosswise positioning or arresting between the profile piece and the control may be possible even by means of a smaller relative rotation.

The sectional view of the handle assembly shown in FIG. 8a illustrates the following changes as compared to FIG. 2. The rotary slide 60 rests on the grip 34 underneath the helical spring 8 inside the circular shoulder piece 42. A rectangular opening 62 is provided inside this rotary slide 60 through which the round main part of the control rod 9 extends. Above this opening 62 the control rod 9 also has a rectangular cross-section in the short segment 9a. The rectangular cross-section is, however, kept somewhat smaller that the opening 62, and therefore it may be received by the opening 62 in the rotary slide 60 if the control rod moves downwardly, provided the rectangles have the same orientation. That means, in this case, that a displacement of the interlocking devices out of their interlocking position is not hindered by the rotary slide 60. However, if the rotary slide 60 is rotated through the lever 61 about the round portion of the control rod 9 by less than 180.degree., in this case by 90.degree., a downward movement of the control rod 9 becomes impossible, since the rectangular opening 62 is positional transversely to the adjacent rectangular profile segment 9a of the control rod 9. Stated differently, in this instance when the rectangles do not have the same orientation, the segment 9a will not fit through the opening 62.

The first mentioned situation wherein the rectangles have the same orientation is shown in FIG. 8c and the second mentioned situation wherein the rectangles have different orientations is illustrated in FIG. 8d. Both figures represent a cross-section through the handle assembly slightly above the rotary slied 60 with a view upon the rotary slide positioned just below the sectional plane.

These figures also show that at the level of the rotary slide 60 a clearance 63 is provided in the circular shoulder piece 42. The clearance 63 renders possible a quarter rotation (90.degree.) of the control lever 61. Beneath the clearance 63 a recessed interlocking location 64 is provided for the normal position of the lever 61. An arresting location is provided for the blocking or arresting position of the control lever 61. For the shifting the rotary slide 60, the lever 61 and thus also the rotary slide 60 are lifted somewhat against the pressure of the adjacent helical spring 8 located thereabove. The interlocking and arresting locations or grooves 64 and 66 and the requirement of lifting the lever 61 against the pressure of the spring 8 secure the rotary slide 60 against an unintentional shifting. Different markings, for example color markings, may be employed to distringuish the portions of the rotary slide 60 which become visible in each case in the clearance 63 to provide an additional indication whether the ski pole is in its arrested condition. The portion 65 of the side surface of the rotary slide 60 has, for example, a metal color or is colored green to identify the normal condition. The portion 67 of the side surface is generally colored red and identifies the arrested condition of the ski pole. These marking spots or areas are clearly visible in the uppermost portion of the handle assembly, please see the side view of FIG. 8b.

The described blocking or arresting can not only be achieved by means of rectangular cross sections, but also by means of oval or otherwise shaped non-circular cross sections. The rotary slide 60, especially if the leaf spring 36 which serves for retaining the wrist strap, is attached in an altered form, may be arranged somewhat further down in the lower grip 34. In any case, the skier can reach lever 61 very easily with his hand.

In the sectional view of the circular shoulder piece 42 in FIGS. 8a and 8d the two vertical guide grooves 43 are visible which control the movement of the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices.

According to the invention equivalents or alternatives to the two blocking devices illustrated in FIGS. 7a to 8d comprising other arresting means are also possible which, for example, use interlocking, notch locating, jamming or clamping elements in connection with the present ski pole for the blocking or arresting the interlocking devices in their interlocking position. For example, inside the upper part of the handle assembly lever or slide means may be provided which can be operated from the outside by the hand supporting itself on the upper end of the ski pole, and which prevent the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices to move downwardly. Such an operating lever can for instance be provided in the side parts of the cushion 3 as a horizontal push button and may be shifted by a push of the finger into the intermediate space of the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices, or rather into the space between the solid base piece 7 and the circular shoulder piece 42 of the grip 34. Furthermore, spring elements may be provided in the handle assembly which push the blocking devices outwardly in their normal condition.

The lower end of the safety ski pole shown in FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIG. 9 to point out the details of the mounting of the ski pole tip or point.

The mounting of the point 31 is unique in the sense that the point 31 is fastened to the lowest one of the telescoping tubings of the ski pole and in that the point 31 together with the tubing 27 is capable of moving up to the snow basket or disc 30, if the interlocking devices of the ski pole are displaced out of their interlocking position. The tubing 27, which supports the ski pole point 31, is also connected in telescoping fashion to the tubing 2 and will be called the slide-in tubing 27, which forms with the point 31 the callapsible point or tip 5. The devices inside the tubings 2 and 27, which can establish a rigid connection between these two tubings, form the lowest part of the inner interlocking devices. The two tubings 2 and 27 are connected by the cable 21 to the parts of the interlocking devices, located further up in the ski pole. The cable 21 may be a rope or a brake safe string made for example of synthetic material or metal. A glass fiber cord embedded in synthetic material is also suitable for this purpose.

The point 31 is flattened and even concave at its bottom surface, whereby it is recessed hemispherically or in a calotte shape in order to diminish a possible wedge effect against the human body. This point shape satisfies as far as the shaping allows the two requirements for diminishing the wedge effect and for a sufficient and safe support with the point on the ground, even on ice; which is assured by the resulting ring shaped rim.

The basically round form of the recess at the lower end of the ski pole point facilitates the removal of ice or snow which may have accumulated at the end of the tip simply by the forces occurring during the use of the ski pole. The point mounting illustrated in this figure is, however, basically independent of the form of the lowest part of the point. The callote has been chosen to obtain an optimum protection.

The rigid fastening of the slide-in tubing 27 with the tubing 2 is achieved in similar fashion as already described with reference to the two tubings 1 and 2. The direct fastening of the two tubings 2 and 27 is accomplished by means of a U-shaped leaf spring 25 and the two lower ends of which are formed into spring loops 24 which operate as cross-locking means, as well as the cylindrical spacer 22 which is inserted between the two loops 24. The spacer prevents a displacement or yielding retreat of this cross-locking means into the slide-in tubing 27. The leaf spring 25 is mounted in the tubing 27 at its upper end on a support piece 26. The support piece 26 is inserted through the openings in the wall of the tubing 27 and is provided with a slot for the insertion of the leaf spring 25. The spring loops 24 extend with their inner surface in parallel to the vertical cylindrical surface of the ring shaped spacer 22. The spring loops 24 have, as can be seen from the drawing, a steplike inwardly directed shoulder in the upper region of the spacer 22.

An adjustable cap nut 23 is provided at a narrower downwardly extension of the spacer 22. The cap nut 23 is used for the connection of the cable 21 at its lower end and it may be used for tightening the cable 21 before its assembling or after a possible removal of the ski pole point 31. The cable 21 is connected with its upper end to the lower end piece 17 of the control rod 9 (FIGS. 1 and 4) and passes freely sliding through the support piece 26, the leaf spring 25, and the spacer 22. The tightening of the cable 21 at its upper end is assured by the forced positioning of the control rod 9 into its upper position by the helical spring 8 and by the lateral support members 49, 50 and 51 of the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices. The possibility of tightening the cable 21 in the present embodiment in which the point or tip is mounted at the lower end of the cable, is assured in that the ring shaped spacer 22, and with it the cap nut 23, rest firmly on the inwardly directed step-shaped shoulder of the cross-locking means 24, which shoulder prevents a further upward movement of these two parts. The possibility of tightening the cable 21 is further assured in that the cross-locking means 24 which protrude through the openings in the wall of the tubing 27 and which rest on the outside against the solid lower end ring 29 of the tubing 2, cannot be moved upwardly against this ring 29.

Inversely, the cross-locking means 24 can also not retreat inwardly under the pressure of the tubing 2 and of the solid end ring 29 because of the interposed spacer 22. Therefore, the tubing 2 can not slide downwardly over the tubing 27. For this reason the collapsible point 5 stays fixed in its outward position during the normal use of the ski pole.

If the correct length of the cable 21 is given, the proper position of the spacer 22 may be adjusted by means of the cap nut 23. If the spacer 22 rests firmly against the cross-locking means 24, a further downward adjustment of the cap nut 23 results in a further tightening of the cable 21.

The effectiveness of the present arrangement in connection with a fall on top of the ski pole is determined also by the two helical springs 28 and 32 positioned around the cable 21. The helical spring 28 is attached to the support piece 26 and to the upper portion of the spacer 22 so that it is compressed between these two members by a predetermined amount. The helical spring 32 rests downwardly on top of the support piece 26 or it may alternatively rest on top of a ring shaped insertion piece (not shown) at the upper end of the insertion tubing 27. At its upper end the spring 32 is supported by the ring shaped support 33 which is mounted inside the tubing 2.

In case of a fall causing a longitudinal impact at both ends of the ski pole, the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices as well as the control rod 9 are moved downwardly whereupon the tightened cable 21 slackens automatically. Immediately thereafter the cable 21 slackens even more at the moment of telescoping of the tubings 1 and 2. Due to this slackening of cable 21 the compressed helical spring 28 expands immediately whereby it pushes the spacer 22 downwardly out of the intermediate space between the cross-locking means 24. Immediately thereafter the cross-locking means 24 are not supported any more from the inside, hence, the means 24 can not sufficiently resist against the pressure exerted by the tubing 2 which is applied through the end ring 29. Thus, the means 24 retreat into the inner space of the slide-in tubing 27 which now can slide into the interior of the snow basket or disc 30 provided that a longitudinal pressure continues to be applied to the ski pole and the tubing 2 whereby the small counter pressure of the helical spring 32 is easily overcome. Thus, the point or tip does not present any further danger. The retraction of the ski pole point from the ground can simultaneously facilitate the tipping over of the ski pole. Last, but not least, the retraction of the point, directed against the body of the skier, is advantageous if the ski pole should not immediately tip or slide away beneath the body of the skier. The pressure of the snow basket 30 against the body is considerably safer.

The effect of the impact on top of the snow basket can be decreased by the shaping and construction of this snow basket or disc. This problem may be solved, however, in different ways. Especially making the snow basket of a cold-resisting elastic material, for example synthetic rubber may be considered. The present lower buckling of the snow basket 30 may be constructed to be rather flat and may also be entirely eliminated if the built-in interlocking devices are arranged somewhat higher up. The shown end ring 29 which is fastened to the tubing 2 serves also for the fastening of the snow basket or disc 30.

As soon as the pressure on the lower end of the ski pole disappears after retraction of the collapsible point 5, the point 5 is again moved automatically into its original position by the pressure of the helical spring 32. If at this moment the tubings 1 and 2 are still telescoped and the cable 21 is still slackened, the cross-locking means 24 which already returned to their original position, prevent the tubing 27 from dropping out of the ski pole.

Whether the ski pole point should be collapsible already in response to a small or to the entire downward movement of the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices or of the control rod 9, or whether it should collapse only during the telescoping of the tubings 1 and 2 under pressure, may be controlled by the height of the spacer 22 and by the adjacent parts of the cross-locking means 24 and depends on the evaluation of the particular safety requirements. In the present case all tubings of the ski pole 1, 2 and 27 can telescope practically simultaneously. A built-in threshold value for the telescoping of the slide-in tubing 27, as could be established for example by means of a conical upper portion of the spacer 22 and by simultaneously positioning the step-shaped shoulder in the leaf spring 25 higher up, has been disregarded for the sake of a higher safety. The illustration of a somewhat less practical, however possible in principle, hinged connection between the tubing 2 and a support tubing for the ski point below the snow basket has also been omitted for the sake of brevity. It is also possible to provide a similar tubing connection just somewhat above the snow basket which can, for example, be executed according to the connection principles shown in FIG. 14. as

FIG. 10 shows a longitudinal cross section through the handle assembly of a safety ski pole with the elastic cushion or buffer 3 and the releasable wrist strap 4 with its members 25 to 40. In this arrangement the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices is not held in its upper position by the pressure spring 8 but by a tension spring 68. Basically, there exist different embodiment versions for the positioning of the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices in the upper position by means of a tension spring. In order to be able to show the basic principle in the simplest way, an embodiment has been selected for the illustration which requires the minimum changes ad compared to the previous figures.

The guide pins 44 are separately inserted in the solid base piece 7 of the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices. The control rod 9 is directly fastened in the end piece 7. The tension spring 68 is wound in sections with three different diameters. The section with the smallest diameter surrounds the control rod 9 below its round enlargement 69. The section with the next larger diameter surrounds the enlargement 69 and the above adjacent portion of the control rod 9 and passes with the control rod 9 through an opening in the lower grip 34. The portion of the spring 68 with the largest diameter rests inside the circular shoulder piece on the grip 34.

Since the upper support of the tension spring 68 is fixed, said spring is able to hold the enlargement 69 of the control rod 9 and with it the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices in its upper position. In case of a longitudinal impact on the ends of the ski pole and a subsequently triggered downward movement of the mentioned parts, the spring 68 is expanded. The advantage of such an arrangement is that a spring which expands under its load can basically be less impaired in its function by any possible freezeup than a spring which is compressed under its load because the expansion would tend to tear away from each other the frozen spring windings, whereas compressing any ice between the winding is practically impossible.

According to this principle the pressure spring 19 which is used in the middle portion of the ski pole and which expands during the downward movement of the control rod 9 is also basically not endangered by icing. The small pressure spring 14 (FIG. 4) which surrounds the control rod 9 below the spacer 10 can be protected from an impairment of its function by a freeze-up with a strong antifreeze lubrication, for example silicone grease. As mentioned, the spring 14 can, however, be obviated if the spacer 10 is solidly connected to the control rod 9. The function of spring 14 may be replaced by the spring 8 or 68 which are located in the handle assembly and which merely would have to be made somewhat longer. The spring 28 used for the mounting of the point (FIG. 9) expands when the cable 21 slackens and is therefore even without lubrication hardly or not at all endangered. The ejector spring 32 used near the point is not endangered with a satisfactory permanent lubrication. The same applies also for the pressure spring 8 which, in the illustrated example embodiment, is located in the grip assembly.

In order to exclude every hindrance by ice accumulations, the spaces between the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices and the grip 34, respectively its extension into the circular shoulder piece 42, are filled in this example with a very elastic foam material with closed pores, that is, the exterior space is filled with the closed ring 70 of foam material. It is desirable to reduce the number and size of any cavities or interspaces which are required in this part of the handle assembly, for example by suitably shaping the elements. Thus, if the internal spaces are unified into a single larger space, such space can be protected by inserting a gas-filled, well compressible hollow body, for example, of a synthetic material which surrounds the control rod 9 as a ring shape.

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of the connection zone between the two tubings 1 and 2 which is essentially equivalent to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, however, the external sleeve 16 and 16a (see FIGS. 1, 15 and 15a) has been omitted.

The cross-locking means 11 are in this case covered by the tubing provided with a tubing restriction 71 resting directly at the upper surface of the cross-locking means. The bulges or ridges 52 in the upper part of the tubing 2 which are required for a satisfactory mutual sliding capability of the tubings 1 and 2, and which at the same time prevent an excessive extension of these tubings, are matched to the restriction 71 in their size. The taper 71a at the lower end of tubing 1 is also adjusted in its size to the diameter of the tubing 2.

In this arrangement the lower tubing 2 is narrower than in other examples and consequently the additional advantages in the use of the present pole are seen in a weight reduction of the lower part of the pole and in an increased conical form of the ski pole favored by the buyer. The function of the restriction 71 can also be taken over by a ring-shaped insertion piece with an equivalently shaped profile which is inserted from below into the tubing 1.

FIG. 13a shows the enlarged longitudinal section through an embodiment of a connecting zone of the two tubings 1 and 2 in which the cross-locking means 11 comprise individual, shaped members which are pushed apart by means of small helical springs 75.

The two ring shaped inserts 72 and 73 mounted inside the tubing 2 facilitate the mounting and guidance of the two horizontally movable cross-locking means 11. The lower insert 73 forms simultaneously the upper support for the compressed helical spring 19. The spring action facilitates, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 11, a satisfactory bending free downward movement of the control rod 9. The helical spring 19 is prestressed by the necessary amount through the nut 74 which is screwed to the lower end of the control rod 9. In any case this spring is weaker than the opposing spring 8, respectively 68, mounted in the handle assembly.

The cable 21 is also attached to the lower end of the control rod 9 and reaches to the support tubing of the collapsible point 5. The cross-locking means 11 are surrounded externally by a two-piece sleeve, for example, of synthetic material or metal. The upper piece 15 of this sleeve is mounted rigidly and in a load carrying fashion to the tubing 1. The lower piece 15a is attached to the upper piece 15 also in a rigid and load carrying fashion, however, the lower piece 15a has a slide fit along the lower tubing 2.

FIG. 12b shows a cross sectional view through the tubing 2 along the section plane A-A marked in FIG. 12 a whereby the lower sleeve piece 15a has been removed.

The two cross-locking means 11 which are held in their most outward position by the helical springs 75 project outwardly through the openings 55 in the tubing 2 and reach also partially into the adjacent tubing cavity. The spacer 10 is mounted in the middle of the tubing between the helical springs 75 and the cross-locking means 11 whereby its longer sectional axis extends in parallel to the helical springs 75.

The spacer 10 is rigidly fastened to the control rod 9. Springs 8 or 68 mounted in the handle assembly or any other spring element, also mounted in the handle assembly and acting in the same fashion, take over simultaneously the function of the eliminated spring 14 (FIG. 4). These springs, just as the helical spring 14 in FIG. 4, have to fulfill an additional special function. If the tubings 1 and 2 are pullsed apart again after their telescoping, the spacer 10 can only then reenter the space between the cross-locking means 11 when these are returned into their outward position through the openings 55; up to this moment the spacer 10 can be prevented from further advancing against the cross-locking means 11 due to the yielding of said spring elements.

If the control rod 9 is displaced so far downwardly in response to a longitudinal crush on top of the ski pole, that the cylindrical part of the spacer 10 is located outside the space between the two cross-locking means 11, the latter can retreat into the tubing 2 under the pressure of the tubings 1 and 2 which acts on the contact surface between the sleeve 15 and the cross-locking means 11 and against the pressure of the springs 75 and 8 or 68. Therefore, the tubing 1 and the sleeve pieces 15 and 15a can slide over the tubing 2.

The threshold value for the telescoping of the tubing 1 and 2 is in this cas e smaller than for the embodiment of FIG. 4 since the spacer 10 can be displaced downwardly more easily by the cross-locking means 11 due to its flatter upper portion.

FIG. 13a shows another embodiment of the interlocking devices of a telescope-like constructed safety ski pole. In this construction the tubings of the ski pole are held in their mutual position by the scissor-like joint braces which are housed longitudinal in the wider tubing and which rest against the upper end of the narrower tubing. In this special embodiment the braces 78 and 79 are located in the upper tubing 1 and rest with their lower ends against the ring-shaped upper end shoulder 84 of the lower tubing 2.

The pressure springs 80 and 81 are attached to the braces between the upper and lower ends. The pressure of these springs pushes the lower ends of the braces 78 and 79 completely outwardly against the tubing wall. The upper ends of the braces 78 and 79 rest simultaneously on the lower portion of the conically recessed control piece 82. This control piece 82 is connected to a shortened control rod 9 in the uppermost part of the tubing 1 and is movable longitudinally in tubing 1 according to its cross sectional shape. The upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices and the pressure spring 8 as well as the releasable wrist strap 4 correspond to the embodiments discussed above.

As can be seen from FIG. 13c, the braces 78 and 79 are both supported approximately at their center for swiveling on a rigid axis 83 which is mounted inside the tubing 1. If, in case of a fall on top of the ski pole, the control rod 9 is pushed downwardly, the conically recessed control piece 82 is thus also displaced downwardly. The downward movement of the conical interior surfaces of the control piece 82 moves the upper ends and thus also the lower ends of the braces 78 and 79 simultaneously toward each other. Since the lower ends of the braces 78 and 79 are moved automatically inwardly brace members 78 and 79 lose their support function. Thereafter the tubing 2 can be telescoped into tubing 1 up to the axis 83. By mounting the axis 83 higher up in the tubing 1 and by corresponding matching the remaining members in the tubing 1, the tubings may telescope relative to each other to a substantial extent. By keeping the scissor-like connection of the braces, deviations from the presented linear shape of the braces, from the type of their mounting in tubing 1, and from the control of their folding are possible without departing from the gist of the invention.

FIG. 13a shows furthermore the cable 21 which reaches to the mounting of the collapsible point and which, in this embodiment, is elongated upwardly to the conically recessed control piece 82 when this control piece 82 moves downwardly the cable 21 is slackened and the point retracts as described above.

FIG. 13b shows a cross sectional view through tubing 1 in the sectional plane A-A marked in FIG. 13a. The elements which are arranged in the upper portion of the tubing are also visible. The two braces 78 and 79 are bent to provide offsett portions. Therefore, their upper ends rest on precisely opposite locations in the conical recess of the control piece 82 although the braces, as shown in FIG. 13c, extend only in a side by side relationship in their middle portion.

FIG. 13c shows the cross sectional view through tubing 1 in the section plane B-B marked in FIG. 13a with a simultaneous upward view. These braces may be provided with offset portions in the region of the support axis 83 to provide a scissor-like connection of the braces whereby the braces are located in their entirety in the same plane.

FIG. 13d shows a cross sectional view through tubing 1 in the section plane C-C with a simultaneous downward view. This figure shows the lower ends of the braces 78 and 79 in their position on top of the ring-shaped upper and shoulder of tubing 2 when the scissor-like braces 78 and 79 fold up they slide downwardly through the opening of the ring-shaped end shoulder 84.

FIG. 14 shows an example embodiment of a safety ski pole according to the invention wherein in response to a crush on top of one of the two ends of the ski pole tubings 1 and 2 also become movable toward each other. In this case, however, no telescopic but a hinge-like connection of the two tubings is used.

The upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices corresponds to the version of FIG. 2 except for the different height of the guide grooves 43. The same applies to the construction of the releasable wrist strap 4. The control rod 9 terminates inside the lower grip 34 and is continued downwardly by the cable 21.

The connection of the tubings 1 and 2, which, as shown, have the same diameter, is achieved in the following manner. The ball 87 is mounted to the lower end of the tubing 1 by means of a ring-shaped insert 88 and by an extension shaft 87a which is screwed into the insert 88. The ball 87 and its upwardly directed shaft 87a are made of a very strong material, for example, a high quality steel. The ball 87 is provided with a longitudinal bore hole 86.

The ball 87 which is rigidly connected to and forms part of the upper tubing 1, rests on top of a suitable insert piece 89 of the lower tubing 2. For this purpose a ball cap is provided in the upper part of the insert piece 89. The longitudinal bore hole 86 in the ball 87 continues downwardly through the insert piece 89. An ejection of the ball 87 out of its mounting is impossible since an additional retaining member 90 is mounted to the tubing 2. The retaining member 90 embraces a portion of the upper half of the ball whereby the ball is sufficiently retained for a swivelling movement toward all sides. The good swivelling of the tubings 1 and 2 relative to each other is also assured by the fact that a sleeve 92 made out of elastic material, for example synthetic rubber, surrounds the two tubings in the joining zone.

The figure also illustrates the interlocking of this tubing connection which in the normal condition of the ski pole assures its rigidity. Such interlocking of the tubing connection is accomplished by means of a very strong pin 85, for example of high quality steel, which is inserted through the bore hole 86 of the ball 87. The members 89 and 87 are rigidly fixed in their mutual position by the pin 85 which fills the space of the bore holes 86 and 86a.

In order to make the tubings 1 and 2 movable relative to each other in case of a fall on top of the ski pole, the following conditions exist. The interlocking pin 85 is connected to the shortened control rod 9 by the tightened cable 21. The pin 85 continues downwardly with an extension which terminates in a piston-like cross piece 91. Between this piston-like cross piece 91 and the insert piece 89 positioned higher up in the tubing, a helical spring 19 is provided around the pin 85. This spring is weaker than the spring 8 located in the handle assembly and is compressed between the members 89 and 91. If the control rod 9 moves downwardly in case of a fall on top of the ski pole, the pin 85 is displaced out of its interlocking position, that is out of the bore hole 86 in the ball 87 by the expansion of the spring 19. As long as this happens the part of cable 21 reaching to the handle assembly remains tight.

The portion of the cable 21 between the lower end of the interlocking pin 85 and the point assembly 5 becomes during this process simultaneously slackened and thus permits the collapsing of the point.

Since the tubings 1 and 2 become movable relative to each other during a fall whereby the ski pole collapses sideways, the ski pole looses immediately its dangerousness. Practically, the ski pole always collapses sideways. If the tubings 1 and 2 are again aligned in a linear position, the pin 85 can return immediately to its original position under the effect of the spring 8 and the tubings 1 and 2 are again rigidly connected. Simultaneously the spring 19 is again pretensioned and the point 5 returns to its external position as described.

The connection of the ski pole tubings can however not only be obtained by means of a ball joint but also by other types of joints, for example, a universal joint. Also other modifications of the entire arrangement are possible.

FIG. 15 shows a longitudinal section along the ski pole axis through an advantageous construction of the handle assembly which may be used in connection with all types of embodiments of the remaining members of the ski pole.

In this embodiment not only the streamlined cushion or buffer 3, but also the vertical grip 34 of the handle assembly are made of a foam material with a closed skin 45, especially of polyurethane foam. Both members are built as an integral unit 93 in which the cushion 3 and the grip 34 supplement each other harmonically in their external appearance.

The integral unit 93 has not only the advantages of a uniform, elegant shape and of a construction closed all around, but it is also in its entirety especially warm for the hand and provides for the hand a pleasing, elastic support. The rigidity of the material can be selected without any difficulty so that the cushion 3 reacts sufficiently, softly and elastically to an impact, but that the entire handle offers to the hand of the skier a sufficient and not too yieldable support. Achieving the adjustment of the correct rigidity is facilitated by the fact that the formed foam material body automatically has a larger rigidity in the region of the grip 34 than in the region of the cushion 3 because of the thinner foam material layer although the same cover skin thickness is provided over the entire unit 93.

Furthermore, the unit 93 has a special compressible zone 94 in the region above the grip 34 which is realized in the present embodiment by a thin wall of the unit 93 at the level of the internal ring-shaped cavity 96. This cavity may also be provided in a changed arrangement, for example it may be mounted higher in the cushion, it may be formed smaller, or it may also be filled with soft foam material which has closed pores.

This compressible zone 94 of the unit 93 is located at the transition between the lower longitudinal grip 34 and the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices which comprise in this instance the elastic cushion 3 and the somewhat smaller solid base piece 7. The height of the zone 94 is selected so that a downward movement of the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices is assured by the outward or inward buckling of the wall part 94 or by the bulging of a respective other elastic wall part whereby the downward movement must be such that in case of a fall the interlocking devices of the ski pole are completely displaced out of their interlocking position.

The mounting of the integral unit 93 on top of the upper ski tubing 1 is achieved in the present example embodiment by means of a solid core piece 99 inserted from the top into the tubing 1. This solid core piece has also a circular shoulder piece 42 with longitudinal guide grooves 43 in the same manner as described above with reference to the other figures, for example FIG. 2. The solid base piece 7 with its guide pins 44 of the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices, is also mounted in a similar manner. The mentioned core piece 99 has in its interior a cavity, suitable for receiving the helical spring 8. This helical spring 8 holds the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices or means 3 and 7 in their upper position. An upper end piece 41 of the control rod 9 is placed as an intermediate member between the helical spring 8 and the solid base piece 7. The end piece 41 is screwed to the control rod 9 and is provided at the top with a screw groove 100 located in the drawing plane and thus it is therefore not hatched.

The releasable wrist strap 4 is mounted to the handle assembly as follows. In order to obtain the necessary twisting rigidity of the cushion 3, the washer 48 is embedded in the foam of the cushion 3 as an internal support. This washer is connected tightly to the base piece 7 of the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices by means of the spacer 97 and the screw 46. A curved piece of solid material 95 is formed as part of the washer 48 and reaches outwardly through the cushion 3. The curved piece 95 is provided at its ends with two solid loop-like upwardly directed teeth 35 for the mounting of the cross member 37 of the wrist strap 4. The teeth 35 rest above the cross member 37 against the wall of the cushion 3. The elastic internal support member in this case is directly formed by the cushion 3. An adequate threshold value can be realized in practice by this arrangement for releasing the wrist strap 4 from the handle. The threshold value on the one hand prevents that the ski pole is lost even in case of a slight, however safe entanglement in the snow, and on the other hand it assures that the wrist strap is released with certainty from the handle assembly before the danger limit is reached.

This construction has a further advantage if the leaf spring 50 visible in the drawing above the base piece 7 is provided. The leaf spring 50 has extending support members located outside the plane of the drawing which counteract a premature downward movement of the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices. The lower ends of the leaf spring 50 rest tightly on slightly slanted support surfaces of the core piece 99. In this manner it is possible to prevent, just as has been described above with reference to other figures, that the upper end piece 6 is not displaced in response to safe loads. Since the wrist strap 4 is directly connected to this upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices it is possible on the other hand that the ski pole tubings telescope under an excessive downwardly directed load which can not be taken up by the support parts of leaf spring 50. Thus, in certain extreme situations during a fall, an injury to the arm or to other parts of the body which could happen in connection with rigid ski poles, may be prevented with this advantageous mounting of the wrist strap 4.

If these advantages are deemed to be unnecessary, it is possible to provide an upwardly reaching rigid extension on the solid core piece which reaches through the cushion 3 and which has teeth 35 at its end for supporting the wrist strap 4. Further, it is possible to produce an integrate handle assembly of this kind by using a gas-filled, normally pressurized, elastic cavity cushion. For this purpose especially the means for supporting the wrist strap would have to be reshaped.

The blocking or arresting of the tubing interlocking devices in their upper position may in this case be accomplished mainly by blocking means located immediately below the grip 34. These means may be constructed according to the principles described with reference to FIGS. 8a to 8d. For example, a small rotary disc could be located inside the tubing 1. The rotary disc may be adjustable transversely relative to a special member having a non-circular cross section. An operating lever extending outwardly should be constructed as small as possible. For the purpose of reinforcing the tubing where the operating lever extends through the tubing 1, the latter may be surrounded by a rigid sleeve which has simultaneously corresponding locating detents for the operating lever. An involuntary displacmeent of the rotary disc may additionally be impeded by a spring element under tension longitudinally to the ski pole.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15 it will be appreciated that especially a cushion damper of the type illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 3b is suitable to provide a so far unknown protecting effect even by the handle assembly which simultaneously assures the required ease of handling when the skier supports himself on top of the handle assembly. Merely providing a bulging upper end at the top of a customary grip can not solve the problem, because it would be clumsy for the required size and could not without more substantially reduce the force or hardness of an impact against the body.

Many variations and changes are possible with regard to the details within the scope of the present invention, that is, within the scope of the described example embodiment.

Besides the individual elements of the invention may be used independently of each other, for examle, only a cushion and a collapsible point may be provided in children ski poles wherein the point is connected to the upper end piece of the interlocking devices by a tightened cable reaching through the entire length of the ski pole.

According to the embodiment of the collpasible point of FIG. 9, the spacer causing the interlocking in the connection region between the tubings 1 and 2 may only be connected with a cable to the upper end piece of the interlocking devices. As in the case of the collapsible point, an accelerated telescoping of the ski pole tubings may be improved using leaf springs 12 having an inwardly directed bias tension. Furthermore, other perhaps less advantageous systems of tubing connections and interlocking devices may also be used.

It is possible that in some instances the terminological limitation between the interlocking devices on the hand and and the other devices located in the ski pole may be difficult, especially where these other devices perform for example auxiliary functions or also interlocking functions such as the blocking or arresting means. In any event, means may be defined for providing a ski pole tubing interconnection which is movable in response to pressure. Further, means may be defined which provide the prime cause for the interlocking or unlocking of said otherwise mobable tuting connection in response to their displacement triggered at the handle assembly. These means may directly be defined as interlocking devices.

Having described the invention in detail, it is appropriate to summarize the advantages achieved by the invention. The present ski pole is completely pressure and impact proof during the intended naormal use due to the interlocking devices located inside the ski pole and preferably held in their locking position by means of spring elements. However, if the skier falls in the direction longitudinally to the ski pole on top of either end, the impact is effective directly on the upper end piece of the interlocking devices, that is, on the upper handle end positioned above the portion clasped by the hand. The upper end piece of the interlocking devices is triggered simultaneously to move downwardly against a spring tension and possibly also against the resistance of interposed support pieces, whereby the remaining members of the interlocking devices are displaced out of their interlocking position. This has the advantage that the ski pole tubings become immediately movable against each other, that is, the yield effectively under the pressure of the falling body whereby, in the embodiment comprising tubings interconnected in a telescoping manner, the tubings telescope instantly. Thus, normally the poles tip or slide away from underneath the body of the skier. This tipping or sliding of the ski poles is mainly facilitated by the fact that normally even initially there is an angle between the ski pole and the direction in which the skier falls, which angle even increases during the telescoping of the ski pole. Said sliding away is further facilitated by the elastic yielding of said cushion or buffer 3 at the upper end of the present ski pole. This reaction of the ski pole instantly removes the danger that the skier could be pierced by the ski pole or that he could otherwise be injured or damaged.

The elastic cushion which is provided at the upper end of the ski pole and which forms simultaneously the upper part of the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices, dampens the effect of any impact on top of the ski pole end from the very beginning and thereby it effectively protects the easily vulnerable body members of the skier such as the neck and head. Another advantage of the cushion is seen in that it acts as an inherently effective protection in case of light falls which do not yet cause a telescoping of the ski pole tubings.

In the embodiment comprising a hinging connection between the ski pole tubings, the advantage of the pole yielding is also assured by the formation of a lateral angle in response to the impact.

The yielding tilting of the ski pole is further faciliated in the telescoping as well as in the hinged connection embodiment by the use of an elastic, possibly movably mounted snow basket. A still further facilitation of the desirable tilting is provided by using in combination with the above features a collapsible ski pole point which retreats into the tubing up to the snow basket. The collapsing of the point is facilitated by an individual support tubing for the ski pole point which support tubing is connected in a similar manner, for example, in a telescoping fashing. For these reasons the tilting of the ski pole during the impact of the skier is practically guaranteed in all cases which is a considerable advance in this art.

The danger of injury to the skier is significantly reduced by the collapsible ski pole point even in those cases in which the skier falls on an upwardly directed ski pole point. Furthermore, even in this case the ski pole tubings yield laterally underneath the body of the skier with the tendency to tip or slide sideways. In connection with the particularly advantageous telescoping embodiment, the skier may at the worst only fall on top of the snow basket which is relatively safe.

In some cases the sideways sliding of the ski pole from underneath the body of the falling skier is facilitated by the wrist strap which is releasable from its mounting under the pulling stress in the direction of the upper ski pole end. Since the wrist strap may disconnect itself from the handle assembly under said stress during the sideways sliding, it becomes impossible for the skier to hold the ski pole close to the body whereby the danger moment is prevented.

Another advantage of the present releasable wrist strap is seen in that it prevents the endangering of the skier when his ski pole becomes entangled in an obstacle. In these situations the wrist strap swivels in the direction toward the upper ski pole end and thus becomes the upper portion of the ski pole in response to a sudden pull on the strap in said direction whereby it is easily released, thus avoiding severe stress injuries.

FIGS. 16 a to 16 d and FIG. 17 show a further exemplary embodiment of the safety ski pole in accordance with the invention. FIGS. 16 a to 16 d show the details in the area of the handle, and FIG. 17 shows a longitudinal section through the associated connecting zone of the two tubings 1 and 2.

FIG. 16 a shows a longitudinal section through the ski pole in the area of the handle, at right angles to the normal direction of skiing.

As can be seen from this drawing, the abutment means 102 is secured in the tubing 1 by means of screws 101. The helical springs 9 and 8 a, which are respectively biased with the aid of the nuts 103 and 104, which are screwed to the upper end of the control rod 9, lie upon this abutment means 102.

In place of the two nuts 103 and 104, however, an insert piece into which the control rod 9 is screwed, which is thereby securely connected to the carrier part 105, may also be secured at the lower end of the carrier part 105 for the cushion. The cushion 106 and the carrier part 105 thereof in this case together form the upper end piece 6 of the interlocking devices.

With the aid of the helical springs 8 and 8 a, the control rod 9 and thus also the carrier part 105 with the cushion 106 are constantly held in their uppermost position. The inner, smaller spring 8 a here serves to reinforce the outer spring 8. If spring 8 a is somewhat longer than the spring 8 it can simultaneously serve for the easier arresting of the control rod 9 in its uppermost position, since the cushion 106, as described in detail below, must in this case be set with a certain downward pressure at right angles to the direction of movement as described with reference to FIGS. 7 a to 7 c.

In the illustrated position of control rod 9 carrier part 105 and cushion 106, as shown in FIG. 17, the inner surfaces of the two spring loops 11 of the two-armed leaf spring 12 lie in parallel upon the cylindrical part of the annular shaped intermediate spacer 10 from the lower edge thereof upwards.

The carrier part 105, upon which the cushion 106 is secured with by the screw 107, is inserted downwards into the tubing 1. The carrier part 105 is provided with the perpendicular guiding slots 108, which lie opposite one another and the horizontal guiding slots 109, which likewise lie opposite one another, which slots are designed in accordance with the guiding grooves 43 and 58 as shown in FIGS. 7 a, 7 b, and 7 d but only one cross slot 109 is visible in the drawing. The details of the design of these guiding slots can be gathered from FIG. 16 b which represents a development of the cylindrical part of the carrier part 105.

The carrier part 105 and the guiding slots 108 and 109 are connected to the handle 34 by the guiding pin 110; the pin with head 110 having counter screw 110 a is conducted through the two perpendicular slots 108 and also through bores in the handle 34 and in the tubing 1 when the control rod 9 is not in the arrested state. As the springs 8 and 8 a continuously press the carrier part 105 upwards, when no pressure is exerted upon the cushion in the direction of the ski pole axis, which overcomes the force of the springs 8 and 8 a, the guiding pin 110 which is defined in its position always lies at the lower end of the guiding slot 108.

The guiding slots 108 make possible the downwards movement of the carrier part 105 and thus also of the control rod 9, which is required in the case of the present exemplary embodiment in order to be able to make the ski pole tubings telescope in the event of an impact on the ski pole which takes place in the longitudinal direction of the ski pole. The horizontal guiding slots 109 make it possible as stated for the carrier part 105 and the control rod 9 to stay in their uppermost position i.e., to remain fixed also in the case of an impact to the upper end of the ski pole. This arresting takes place, as in the case of FIG. 7 a to 7 d, through lightly pressing downwards and also by rotating the cushion 106 by 90.degree. and in this cross position of the cushion, full optical control is retained whether the pole is "arrested" or not.

In FIG. 16 b the end enlargements 109 a of the horizontal guiding slots 109 can be seen, which, when the tubing connection is arrested, serve the same purpose as the extentions 59 in the arresting position of FIG. 7c. The extensions 109 a have the opposite direction, however, in comparison with the extension 59, on account of the movable bearing of the carrier part 105.

As a result of a strong push on the pole, the parts mounted to spring downwards in the interlocking system, move down further as a result of their mass inertia, even after the push. However, due to the design of the interlocking system, an unwanted unlocking of the tubing connections of the ski pole does not occur. In particular, the strength and bias of the springs 8 and 8 a and also 14, possibly also 19 is selected to be such that its largest vibration amplitude in the case of normal grip even in the most vigorous use of the pole and at the highest speed is less than the height of the cylindrical part of the annular shaped intermediate piece 10 or, in other words, the height of the cylindrical part at the intermediate piece 10 is adapted to the helical springs. The same applies to the height of the cylindrical interlocking ring 22, which can be provided in the frame of the tip bearing (FIGS. 1 and 9).

The abutment means 102 (inside the handle 34) is extended in tubular shape on its underside, and on the inside of this extension is provided with a circumferential groove, into which the two-armed leaf spring 111 which is secured at the upper end of the tubing 2, engages after the tubings 1 and 2 have been pushed together. The securing of these small leaf springs is similar to that of the leaf springs 12, using a specially adapted upper part 13 a of the holding piece 13, (see also description of FIG. 4). The inserted tubing 2 is thereby secured in its position during transport and is prevented from sliding out.

An alternative solution to prevent the undesired sliding out of the lower tubing 22 during transport is illustrated in FIG. 17. An insert piece 114, which is produced from a resilient material, such as, for example synthetic rubber, synthetic plastics material or the like which has an abrasive action on the interior of the tubing 1 serves for this purpose. The cushion 106 (FIG. 16 a) is laterally equipped with two supporting parts 112 which project somewhat downwards. As the cushion consists of a resilient material, in this case of a foam material with a closed outer membrane, the supporting parts 112 are automatically pressed inwards with the fingers of the hand which rests from above upon the cushion whereby the lower ends of the supporting parts 112 engage in the grooves 113 at the upper end of the handle 34, provided for this purpose. As these laterally engaged supporting parts 112 to a large extent prevent the cushion 106 moving downwards, the skier can strongly push the pole against the ground even when holding the pole in this way, without the two ski pole tubings 1 and 2 telescoping.

However, as already stated in the description of FIG. 4, the skier can also rest the weight of his body on the ski pole from above, even when the supporting parts 112 do not engage in the grooves 113. This is shown in detail in FIG. 17.

As shown in FIGS. 16 c and 16 d, the spring 36 used for the bearing of the wrist strap 4 (FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6 a amongst others), instead of metal, can likewise consist of synthetic plastics material and can be manufactured in one piece together with the holding part 34 of the handle and the external holding teeth 35, if the plastics material available possesses, apart from a very good resistance to cold, also a high degree of solidity and resilence which make it possible for the outer teeth 35 to take over as a result of their solidity, not only their securing function but also partly or wholly the resilient properties of the spring 36. This inner holding part 38 produced from synthetic plastics material, can also be designed under the aforementioned provisions in such manner that it practically only represents a small recess possibly also sub-divided up into individual teeth, at the rear upper edge of the holding part 34. The reference signs used in connection with the detachable wrist strap 4 correspond to those shown in FIG. 5 and 6 a to 6 c. The resecuring of the detached wrist strap takes place by applying the cross piece 37 to the conical gap between the teeth 35 and 36 so that it is made to snap into its bearing between the teeth 35 and 36 with the aid of a downward pull on the wrist strap. The guiding pin 110 which can be seen with wrist strap (FIG. 16 c) in the side view of the handle have already been mentioned as were the grooves 113, which can be seen in the plan view of the same handle 34 (FIG. 16).

The longitudinal section illustrated in FIG. 17 through the connecting zone of the two tubings 1 and 2 is similar in basic construction to the design illustrated in FIG. 4.

The annular shaped intermediate piece 10 is attached to the control rod 9 so as to be capable of being shifted by the stop 54 on the control rod downwards. Normally it is always pressed against the stop 54 with the aid of the helical spring 14. The height of the cylindrical part of the annular-shaped intermediate piece 10 is at least equal to the freedom of movement of the pin 110 in the perpendicular guiding slots 108 (FIG. 16 a).

With the aid of the tubular wedge 117, which is screwed on at the lower end of the control rod 9, the helical spring 14 is appropriately biased. The double-armed leaf spring 12 is securely fastened in the region of the upper end of the tubing 2, with the aid of the holding piece 13 and an upper part 13 a.

The outer sleeve, which covers the connecting zone of the two tubings 1 and 2 from the outside, consists of an upper part 15 and a lower part 15 a. The impact ring 115, is likewise securely fastened below the upper part 15, which is fastened to the tube 1. This impact ring can be produced from hardened steel or from a suitable resilient material such as, for example a robust and age-resistant synthetic rubber or the like.

If the impact ring 115 consists of hardened steel, its inner lower edge is provided with a circumferential bevel, so that possible deformations in the steel ring, which can be caused in the case of a severe impact on the pole through the spring loops 11, cannot damage the tubing 2, i.e., when the two tubings 1 and 2 telescope no scrapings or scratches can be caused on the exterior of the tubing 2.

If the impact ring 115 is produced of suitable resilient but at the same time sufficiently solid and stressable material, hard pole impacts are very greatly alleviated and the double-armed leaf spring 12 is also not so greatly stressed thereby as in the case of the use of impact rings consisting of hardened steel.

Moreover, through the use of a resilient impact ring, in the case of vigorous use of the poles, the hand joints and in particular the elbow joints of the skier are protected to a substantially greater degree.

In order to prevent snow and moisture penetrating into the interlocking zone as far as possible, the lower sleeve part 15 a which produced from a solid material e.g., duralumin is fastened to the upper sleeve part 15 securely, but so that it can be detached if necessary. Thereby the point of the tube 2 which is weakened by the openings 55 for the spring loops 11 is bridged and is moreover, reinforced to a substantially greater degree. Moreover, in the tube, at least below the recesses 55, the tubular reinforcing lining 116 is provided which consists for example of a strong aluminum alloy, and as can be seen from the Figure extends downwards in the tube 2 further than the sleeve part 15 a. Thus the zone in which the ski pole can bend in the case of a very strong lateral pressure lies sufficiently below the sleeve 15 a. By these two measures mentioned (sleeve part 15 a and reinforcing lining 116) breakage of the tubing 2 in the region of the recesses 55 is largely prevented even in the case of the strongest lateral loads. It is possible that in some cases, the sleeve part 15 a can suffice for this purpose or, if this is less solid, the reinforcing lining 116 is necessary and this can also extend between the openings 55.

The tubular wedge 117, with which the helical spring 14 is biased, simultaneously serves to release the retractable tip 135 as shown in FIG. 20.

The effectiveness of the tubing connector device illustrated is, as basically already described at an earlier point (in relation to FIG. 4 etc.) as follows:

In the normal use of the ski pole in the descent i.e., when the skier's hand clutches the perpendicular holding part (handle), the tubings 1 and 2 cannot be telescopel (unless a longitudinally directed blow or impact is simultaneously experienced by the cushion), as the control rod 9 cannot be moved downwards by the handle 34, there being no possibility of triggering the mechanism from the handle 34. The cylindrical part of the intermediate piece 10, remains, as described, in its interlocking position between the spring loops 11 even in the case of the hardest impact with the normal hold.

If the cushion 106 is subjected to a static compression load from the upper end, without the hand pressing the supporting parts 112 inwards to prevent the downwards movement for the carrier part 105 and control rod 9 as takes place quite naturally when skiers are climbing, the carrier part 105 and with it, the control rod 9 are pressed downwards against the pressure of the springs 8 and 8 a to such an extent that the guiding pin 110 meets the stops at the upper end of the two perpendicular slots 108. The pressure is then transferred from the carrier part 105 via the pin 110 to the tubing 1, which transfers the pressure, as can be seen from FIG. 17, via the impact ring 115 to the two spring loops 11. Simultaneously the intermediate piece 10 is also moved downwards, so that the pressure of the spring loops 11 directed towards the inside acts on the lowest section of the conical part of the intermediate piece 10. On account of the relatively sharp angle of this conical part and the counter pressure of the helical spring arranged below the intermediate piece 10, a very high pressure must be exerted on the spring loops 11 in order to be able to completely shift the intermediate piece 10 downwards out of the intermediate region of the spring loops 11. The skier can therefore support the weight of his body on the upper end of the safety ski pole particularly as in the case of a normal rigid ski pole. By an appropriate combination of the angle, the height of the level at the annular shaped intermediate piece 10 and the helical spring 14, the theoretical value for this kind of static stress ability can be set to the particular requirements.

Only as a result of a fall or impact upon the pole in the direction of its longitudinal axis are the spring loops 11 momentarily in the position to shift the intermediate piece 10 out of its intermediate area due to the pressure reinforcing action of the acceleration, and the effect of the acceleration upon the mass of the intermediate piece 10 and upon the helical springs used.

As a result of this effect of the acceleration upon the mass and spring system inside the pole, a further advantageous form of the inner interlocking of the ski pole may be realised in which the ski pole cannot be telescoped by a static pressure load, by the use of a practically completely cylindrical intermediate piece so that no downwards directed force is transferred from the cross bolt to the intermediate piece.

Simultaneously the pole can be further telescoped by a longitudinally-directed blow on the cushion so that the intermediate piece swings out of the area between the cross bolts. Moreover, as in the examples illustrated it can be provided by the height of the intermediate piece or by the height of the perpendicular guiding slot 108 and also by the strength, length and bias of the helical springs used, that the intermediate piece cannot swing out of the region between the cross bolts even when the strongest blow is exerted, with the normal hold (grip piece 34). The interlocking systems illustrated must in this case be altered, however, in such a manner that the intermediate piece can swing out of the region between the cross bolts also in the case of a blow to a pole the tip of which is directed upwards thus in this case in the direction of the cushion. A construction of this kind may, for example, in some ways be similar to the construction of FIG. 12 a and 12 b. A ski pole constructed as shown on FIG. 17 can also be telescoped due to the conical part of the intermediate piece 10, when the blow takes place to a ski pole with its tip directed upwards.

With rough use of the pole and when the full weight of the body is supported on the upper end of the ski pole, to prevent the lowerable tip (FIGS. 1 and 9) from being released from its locking, and the tubing 27 from being inserted into the tubing 2, the smooth areas on the inside of the cross bolt 24 of the leaf spring 25 are designed below the bend to be so long that the intermediate piece 22 can be moved downwards by the helical spring 28 so far that the cylindrical part thereof still lies at the lower edge of the two spring loops 24, although the spring loops 11 already lie with their inside on the conical part of the intermediate piece 10, in the connecting zone of the tubings 1 and 2. Not until the moment when the two spring loops 11 can completely withdraw into the inner space of the tubing 2, and the two tubings 1 and 2 are unlocked, is the tube 27 which bears the tip also unlocked so that it can be moved under pressure into the tubing 2.

FIGS. 18, 19, and 20 show other types of interlocking for the tubings of a safety ski pole in accordance with the invention.

In the type of construction shown in FIGS. 18 and 20, the connection of the two tubings 1 and 2 connected in telescopic fashion (or articulated together) is locked by the hand which envelopes the handle, a control element for the tubing interlocking being accommodated in the handle. If the skier's hand lets go of the handle, however, which takes place as a reflex action in the event of a fall (the skier attempts to break the fall to the ground with open hands) the two tubings are immediately unlocked. If the skier falls upon the pole with his body approximately in the longitudinal direction of the pole, the two tubings immediately telescope and the pole collapses under the body of the faller, as a result of which the danger of a serious injury through being struck is momentarily removed.

FIG. 18 shows an embodiment of an interlocking zone of the two tubings 1 and 2, in accordance with this type of construction in longitudinal section. The intermediate piece 10 is mounted on the control rod 9 so as to be capable of sliding, and lies on the enlarged portion 9 b of this control rod 9. This portion 9 b is located in the region of the ring 118 which is arranged in the tubing 2 on the inside thereof, and which prevents the intermediate piece 10 from moving further downwards.

The double-armed leaf spring 12 is secured inside the tubing 2 in the uppermost part thereof by the inserts 119 and 120 which are fixed there. Both arms of the leaf spring 12 are equipped with spring loops 11 at their lower end which project through the openings 55 in the tubing 2, and 55 a in the tubing 1.

The annular shaped intermediate piece, is pressed downwards by the helical spring 121, which lies on the insert 119 with its upper end, until it reaches the ring 118, when the hand does not envelop the handle and thereby does not cause the control rod 9 to move downwards. The conically wound helical spring 122, which serves to keep the control rod 9 in its lowest position, when the skier's hand does not envelop the handle, rests on the underside of the ring 118 and is correspondingly biased with the aid of the tubular wedge 117. This wedge is screwed in at the lower end of the control rod.

When the control rod 9 and the extension thereof 9 b, are not raised from the handle, the intermediate piece 10 is always in the illustrated position below the spring loops 11. If a longitudinally-directed pressure is exerted on the tube 1, the tube 1 can thereby press inwards the cross bolt 11 which is inclined on its upper external edge so that the tubing 1 can slide downwards over the tubing 2. If however, the control rod 9 is raised, the intermediate piece 10 moves between the spring loops 11, so that the cross bolts 11 can no longer withdraw inwards, even under a strong pressure from the tubing 1. This is also rendered impossible by the fact that the intermediate piece 10 presses the cross bolt 11 so far outwards that the horizontal upper side of the cross bolts 11 come under the tubing 1. An elastic sleeve 123, which covers the openings 55 a in the tubing 1, from the outside, and also the sleeve 124, both of which may be, for example, of synthetic rubber, prevent moisture from penetrating between the tubing.

A further very advantageous example for a tubing connection or interlocking of this kind is obtained if in the construction of the tubing connection shown in FIG. 4, the intermediate piece 10 and the control rod 9 and also the conical helical spring 19 are arranged a few millimeters (e.g. approximately 11 - 12 mm) deeper, so that the lower end of the spring loops 11 is located at the height of the lower part of the conical section, on the interlocking ring or intermediate piece 10. Also the ring 33 inserted in the tubing 2 and which serves as upper abutment means for the helical spring 19 is extended downwards by the same distance. This lower-lying position of the interlocking element 10 is then the normal position thereof before the control rod 9 is raised from the handle for the purpose of the rigid interlocking of the tubing. In the case of a static pressure on the ski pole, the spring loops 11 lie on the conical section of the interlocking ring 10, which results in the advantage of a high value for the possible static pressure load of the pole, but which, in the case of a longitudinally directed blow or fall on the ski pole in the manner already described, simultaneously leads to an immediate complete unlocking of the tubing connection. In order also to produce a rigid tubing connection in the case of a strong blow to the ski pole, the interlocking ring 10 is then raised from the handle, together with the control rod 9, to such an extent that the cylindrical part of the interlocking ring comes to lie between the perpendicular inner areas of the spring loops 10 and the interlocking ring 10 thus becomes the intermediate piece of the cross bolt (spring loops) 11. The helical spring 10 stressed in the upwards movement of the control rod 9 provides an automatic return of the control rod 9 into its lower-lying initial position, as soon as the control rod 9 is no longer secured in its raised position.

In this last mentioned embodiment and in the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 18, and moreover, in nearly all cases of a telescopic tubing connection in accordance with the invention, inner and outer reinforcements for the tubing connection region can be provided and are applied as discussed in connection with FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 shows one construction of a handle for use with the arrangement of FIG. 18 with a control element for the tubing interlocking, in this case having a raising device for the control rod 9, to be operated against the pressure of springs 121 and 122 in FIG. 18. The control rod 9 terminates at the top in a two-part fork, the ends of which lie behind one another in the view of the observer of the drawing, and which are connected to one another by the small round cross-pin 125.

The handle cover 127 is pivotably mounted on an axle 128 on the fixed part 126 of the handle. The broken line shows the position of the handle cover 127 when the control rod 9 is not raised. The arm parts 129 and 130 are provided on the inside of the handle cover 127 and the projection 129 is arranged to easily slide between the two fork-like upper ends of the control rod 9. The slot 131, in which the pin 125 of the control rod 9 is mounted so as to be slidable, is located between the two arm parts 129 and 130. The sloping planes, which limit the slot 131 upwards and downwards, serve as guiding curves for the upwards and downwards movement of the control rod 9. Thus, if the handle cover 127 is pressed inwards, the pin 125 and thus the control rod 9 are raised. The pin 125 lies upon the upper less steep part of the lower limit of the slot 131 so that the pin 125 can be kept in this position with a slight pressure on the handle cover 127. In order to make possible the requisite movement of the handle cover 127 inwards, the tubing 1 is cut out correspondingly at the front.

When the handle cover 127 is pressed into the handle part 126, against the force of the spring 121 and 122 of FIG. 18, the control rod 9 and with the annular-shaped intermediate piece 10 are raised to such an extent that the intermediate piece lies on the inside of the spring loops 11 and braces these against moving inwards. If the movable handle part 127 is let go of by the hand, the spring 121 and 122 press the control rod 9 and the intermediate piece 10 immediately back into their lower initial position. In order to prevent the pin 125 from sliding out of the guiding slot 131, the lower arm part 129 is designed in the form of a hook at its lower end but the arm parts 129 and 130 can join one another at the lower end, so that a completely closed guiding curve is formed.

The pivotable handle cover 127 is extended at its upper end by the arm 132, which can be easily gripped by the fingers of a hand which rests on the cushion 3 from above, and can be pressed against this cushion, so that, when support is received from the upper end of the pole e.g. when skiers are going uphill the connection of the tubings 1 and 2 is locked. This arm can be designed in detail in various ways e.g. it may be thicker and padded and may, for example, be operated by the fingers being pressed on an auxiliary cover movably mounted on the ski pole, which cover covers the movable handle part 127 sloping from the top. Other additional interlocking systems are also possible in order to prevent the control rod 9 from moving downwards when support is being received from the upper end of the ski pole, which can be operated at the side of the cushion by pressure with the fingers, or which are related to the arresting device shown in FIGS. 8 a to 8 d.

The cushion 3, which is produced from a foam material with closed outer membrane, is secured to the handle 126 by the screw 133. The handle 126 is simultaneously secured to the tubing 1 in a non-rotatable fashion by the plug 134 and the screw 133. The screw 133 is accessible through the channel 133 a which as can be seen from the drawing, can be closed with the aid of an insert piece.

FIG. 20 shows a tip of the safety ski pole, which may be withdrawn in the case of a fall on the ski pole. The tip 135 which is recessed at the lower end in the form of a calotte, is mounted so as to be capable of being moved upwards in the cylinder 136, which is inserted in the tubing 2. It is held into its lowest position through the helical spring 146 provided in the cylinder 136, which bears downwards on a piston-like widening of the tip part. The tip is secured in this position, by the bent downwards ends of two leaf springs 138, which support the shaft 137 of the tip from above.

As the two springs 138 mutually support one another and can be provided with resilient jaws which embrace the shaft 137, in the case of a strong impact on the pole the springs can bend somewhat inwards, so that the tip is securely and resiliently mounted. In this manner, the arm joints of the skier are protected from injury as a result of vigorous use of the pole. If however, the two tubings 1 and 2 telescope in the event of a fall or in the case of an impact on the pole, the tubular wedge 117, which is thereby shifted downwards in the tubing 2, presses the two leaf springs 138 apart, even before the tubing 1 had attained its lowest position. The shaft 137 of the tip can then move upwards under the pressure acting on the pole into the interior of the tubular wedge 117. If the tip 135 is no longer stressed from the outside, however, the helical spring 146 presses it outwards again, and if subsequently the two tubings 1 and 2 are moved away from one another, whereby the tubular wedge 117 is raised again, the leaf spring 138 again assume their original position and support the shaft 137 from above.

The two leaf springs 138 are securely applied to the flange 140 on an inserted cylinder 136, at their lower end which is bent outwards through 90.degree.. The flange 140 and the snow disc 142 are secured to a flange 143 by screws 144 and the flange 143 is itself fastened to the tubing 2 by pins 145.

The concave-shaped tip, which is usually recessed in calotte shape, has a sharp edged rim which grips ice very well, and consists of hardened steel or hard metal. In order to prevent snow or ice adhering the concave-shaped recess, this is designed to be mainly as flat as possible to ensure the turning out of a possible gathering of snow or ice by the normal force of a sloping use of the pole. In this flat recess a possible accumulation of snow or ice is lost very easily again from the recess. In order to reduce the sharp effect of the tip against the body which is possible in the event of a fall, independently of the tip withdrawal the diameter of the circle, which is formed by the sharp-edge which surrounds the tip externally is made as large as possible. For example the diameter of the edge may be approximately 6.5mm; the depth of the calotte-shaped recess approximagely 1.2 to 1.6 mm or an approximately proportional enlargement. Other tip forms may, of course, be used.

In order to prevent the recess from retaining ice or snow it may be coated with a polymer having a florine content e.g., polyfluorohydrocarbons. In the case of the tip described an insert piece having an appropriate recess is used inside the sharp edged rim or a heated coating consisting of such a material is applied.

Yet another advantage is seen in the fact that this ski pole may also be shortened intentionally by hitting it on top of the upper end of the handle assembly for the purpose of an easier, space having transport or storing whereby the point is also positioned internally and thus eliminated as a source of danger.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it is to be understood that it is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A safety ski pole comprising a plurality of members forming an integral unit, devices for interlocking said members when said ski pole is in normal use, said interlocking devices being operative to interlock said members at a single relative position of said members, means operatively connected to said interlocking devices and responsive to a predetermined force applied simultaneously to both ends of said ski pole for releasing said interlocking devices, whereby both ends of the ski pole are moved toward each other when said force is applied.

2. The safety ski pole according to claim 1, wherein said members comprise at least two tubings including an upper tubing and a lower tubing movably connected to each other and defining a longitudinal ski pole axis, means for supporting said interlocking devices inside said tubings for rigidly interconnecting said tubings when the ski pole is used, a handle assembly, means for locating said responsive means in said handle assembly, and control means operatively associated with said interlocking devices and with said responsive means for shifting the interlocking devices out of their locking position, whereby the tubings are movable relative to each other when said predetermined force is applied to either end of the ski pole.

3. The safety pole according to claim 2, further comprising an elastic cushion forming the upper end of the ski pole.

4. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, wherein said members comprise a snow disc attached to the lower one of said tubings, a ski pole tip, means for locating said tip at the outer end of the lower one of said two tubings, and wherein said interlocking devices comprise elements connected to said tip for collapsing the tip in response to the shifting of the interlocking devices out of their interlocking position, whereby the tip is movable back to said snow disc simultaneously with the movement of the lower one of said tubings.

5. The safety ski pole according to claim 1, wherein said members comprise a handle assembly, a wrist strap and means for releaseably attaching the wrist strap to the handle assembly, whereby the wrist strap is releasable in response to a force pulling in the direction toward the upper end of the ski pole.

6. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, wherein said handle assembly comprises a grip, said responsive means comprising an upper end piece, means for arranging the upper end piece on top of said grip and for moving the grip toward said upper end piece in response to a predetermined force longitudinally effective on said ski pole, whereby said interlocking devices are shifted out of their interlocking position.

7. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, further comprising means for interconnecting said tubings in a telescoping manner.

8. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, further comprising hinge means for hinging said tubings to each other.

9. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, wherein said interlocking devices comprise spring means arranged inside said tubings and means for mounting said spring means to bias said interlocking devices into their interlocking position, whereby a rigid interconnection of the tubings is automatically established.

10. The safety ski pole according to claim 6, wherein said means for arranging the upper end piece of the interlocking devices on top of said grip comprise laterally movable supporting members, said supporting members including biasing means bias said supporting members against a lateral movement.

11. The safety ski pole according to claim 10, wherein said laterally movable support members are arranged in a position adjacent to an outside surface of said grip, whereby the support members are subject to an inwardly directed finger pressure by the hand of the skier.

12. The safety ski pole according to claim 1, further comprising arresting means located inside said ski pole, actuating means for said arresting means operable from the outside of the ski pole for arresting the interlocking devices in their interlocking position so that the interlocking devices will remain in their interlocking position even when said predetermined force is applied to either end of the ski pole.

13. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, wherein said interlocking devices comprise spaced stop means inside said tubings and locking elements extending substantially perpendicularly relative to said longitudinal ski pole axis, said locking elements being located between said stop means for interconnecting the ski pole tubings.

14. The safety ski pole according to claim 13, wherein said substantially perpendicularly extending locking elements comprise rigid cross bolts and spring means arranged between the rigid cross bolts for biasing the cross bolts.

15. The safety ski pole according to claim 14, wherein said cross bolts have a perpendicular surface on their inside, said interlocking devices further comprising cylindrical spacer means inserted between said cross bolts for rigidly interconnecting the tubings, and means for connecting the spacer means through said control means to said force responsive means.

16. The safety ski pole according to claim 15, wherein said spacer means comprise an upper portion of a conical shape which reaches into the space intermediate said cross bolts when said interlocking devices move downwardly.

17. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, further comprising lower interlocking members located in said lower tubing and auxiliary spring means connected at one end thereof to said lower interlocking members, and abutment means in said tubings for locating the opposite end of said auxiliary spring means to provide a downwardly directed biasing force on said lower interlocking members.

18. The safety ski pole according to claim 17, wherein said control means comprise a tightened cable for connecting said force responsive means to said lower interlocking devices.

19. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, wherein said ski pole members comprise in addition to said upper and lower tubing forming the ski pole proper, a third tubing telescopically connected to the lower tubing, ski pole tip means connected to said third tubing, an abutment means in said lower tubing, and a compression spring arranged between the lower and third tubing, one end of said compression spring being supported by said abutment means in the lower tubing while the other end of said compression spring rests against said tip means.

20. The safety ski pole according to claim 19, wherein said lower tubing surrounds said third tubing.

21. The safety ski pole according to claim 1, wherein said members comprise an upper and a lower tubing, one tubing having a diameter wider than the other for slidingly receiving the other tubing in said one tubing, said interlocking devices comprising an axle supported in said wider diameter tubing, locking bars journaled on said axle in the manner of scissors and having upper and lower ends remote from said axle, resilient means interposed between said upper and lower ends of the locking bars for normally biasing said ends apart, and means for operatively connecting said upper ends to said force responsive means, whereby said upper ends of the locking bars are moved toward each other in response to movement of said force responsive means.

22. The safety ski pole according to claim 8, further comprising means for holding the hinge means in a fixed position relative to each other to interconnect the ski pole tubings during normal use, said holding means comprising a pin vertically inserted in said hinge means.

23. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, wherein said force responsive means comprise a piece forming an upper end piece of the interlocking devices, said handle assembly comprising said upper end piece, a grip arranged below said upper end piece, said means for locating the upper end piece comprising guide means for reciprocably guiding said upper end piece and said grip, said guide means permitting a horizontal rotation of said upper end piece of the interlocking devices while preventing a downwardly directed movement of said end piece upon its rotation, whereby the interlocking devices are arrested in their interlocking position.

24. The safety ski pole according to claim 3, wherein said elastic cushion at the upper end of the ski pole is made of a foam material having a closed outer skin.

25. The safety ski pole according to claim 3, wherein said cushion at the upper end of the ski pole is a hollow body filled with gas.

26. The safety ski pole according to claim 3, wherein said cushion at the upper end of the ski pole forms an oval cross sectional shape perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis of the ski pole, said oval shape having a length corresponding substantially to the width of a human hand, said cushion further comprising an upwardly bulging shape and a downwardly extending taper.

27. The safety ski pole according to claim 1, wherein said members comprise a wrist strap, a handle assembly and means for releasably journaling the wrist strap to the handle assembly, said journaling means comprising an upwardly extending, resiliently yielding member, upwardly directed teeth attached to the handle assembly for cooperation with said yielding member and a rigid cross piece fitting between said yielding member and said teeth, said yielding member having an upwardly extending portion spaced from the upper ends of said teeth, and means for releasably securing an end of said wrist strap to said handle assembly through said rigid cross piece located between said yielding member and said teeth.

28. The safety ski pole according to claim 3, wherein said members comprise a wrist strap and a handle assembly, said elastic cushion forming part of said handle assembly, a rigid cross piece, a clamping member held in said handle assembly and having teeth extending upwardly above a bend in said clamping member and outside said handle assembly, said elastic cushion having an upwardly extending wall portion, said rigid cross piece fitting into said bend between said cushion wall portion and said clamping member, whereby said teeth contact said upwardly extending wall portion of the cushion above said rigid cross piece, and means for releasably securing said wrist strap to said handle assembly through said rigid cross piece located in said bend.

29. The safety ski pole according to claim 27 or wherein said rigid cross piece for supporting the wrist strap on the handle assembly comprises a larger diameter between said teeth as compared to its diameter in contact with said teeth, for preventing lateral shifting of said rigid cross piece.

30. The safety ski pole according to claim 1, wherein said members comprise a handle assembly including an elastic cushion forming an upper portion of said handle assembly and a longitudinal grip forming a lower portion of the handle assembly, said cushion and grip forming an integral unit made of elastic material, said integral unit comprising a compressible intermediate zone between said cushion and said grip which zone may be compressed by a force longitudinally effective relative to said ski pole, said compressible zone having a height such that the interlocking devices are shiftable out of their interlocking position by a downward movement of the cushion.

31. The safety ski pole according to claim 28, wherein said interlocking devices comprise an upper end piece located in said handle assembly, said upper end piece having a rigid base portion, said clamping member comprising an outwardly extending rigid bail, the outer end of which is shaped into said teeth for holding said cross piece and means for rigidly securing said bail to said rigid base portion.

32. The safety ski pole according to claim 1, wherein said members comprise a wrist strap, a handle assembly, means for releasably attaching the wrist strap to the handle assembly, said attaching means comprising two outwardly extending cooperating clamping elements forming upwardly pointing receiving ends outside said handle assembly at least one of said clamping elements being resiliently yieldable, means for rigidly securing said clamping elements to said ski pole inside said handle assembly and a rigid cross piece positioned between said receiving ends for holding said wrist strap.

33. The safety ski pole according to claim 6, wherein intermediate spaces between the upper end piece of the interlocking devices and the grip located therebelow in the handle assembly are filled with an elastic, especially with a closed cell foam material.

34. The safety ski pole according to claim 1, wherein said interlocking devices comprise helical springs located inside the ski pole, and means for holding said springs in such positions that the springs are expanded in response to a sliding of the interlocking devices out of their interlocking positions and during the movement of said members.

35. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, further comprising sealing sleeve means arranged to surround interconnecting zones between adjacent ski pole tubings.

36. The safety ski pole according to claim 35, in which said upper and lower tubings have different diameters, wherein said sealing sleeve means are rigidly connected to the tubing having a larger diameter and are in sliding contact with the adjacent tubing having a narrower diameter.

37. The safety ski pole according to claim 36, wherein the sleeve means comprise an inwardly extending intermediate ridge between the ski pole tubing having the larger diameter and openings in the ski pole tubing having the narrower diameter through which openings said interlocking devices extend laterally outwardly.

38. The safety ski pole according to claim 9, further comprising auxiliary spring means arranged in the ski pole for facilitating the smooth and exact shifting of the interlocking devices out of their interlocking positions, and means for mounting said auxiliary spring means to act upon said interlocking devices in the direction of an unlocking shift, said auxiliary spring means having a spring force which is smaller than the spring force of the spring means which bias the interlocking devices in the direction of an interlocking shift.

39. The safety ski pole according to claim 15, further comprising a biasing element and wherein said cylindrical spacer means which serves for interlocking the tubings is supported on said connecting means extending toward the handle assembly, said biasing element exerting a tension on said cylindrical spacer means in the direction toward the interlocking position of said cylindrical spacer means.

40. The safety ski pole according to claim 15, further comprising longitudinally vibratable spring elements, having a predetermined vibratory maximum amplitude, said cylindrical spacer means of the interlocking devices having an effective interlocking length such that said maximum longitudinal vibration amplitude of said spring elements which acts on the cylindrical spacer means is less than said effective interlocking length of the cylindrical spacer means.

41. The safety ski pole according to claim 40, further comprising stop means for the downward movement of the perpendicular control means which connects the upper end piece of the interlocking devices and the cylindrical spacer means of the interlocking devices in the region of the shaft of the ski pole, whereby the downward movement of the perpendicular connecting control means, calculated from the uppermost interlocking position is substantially equal to said effective interlocking length of the adjoining cylindrical spacer means.

42. The safety ski pole according to claim 40 and, comprising a plurality of tubing connecting means between adjacent tubings, said connecting means being interconnected to the upper end piece of the interlocking elements by said control means said interlocking elements comprising effective smooth interlocking surfaces, whereby the interlocking surfaces of lower interlocking elements between lower tubing sections have a height corresponding to the total effective height of an upper interlocking element.

43. The safety ski pole according to claim 1, further comprising leaf spring means inside one of said members, said members being telescopically connected, means for securing said leaf spring means to said one tubing in the region of the second tubing and grooves provided in said second tubing for engaging said leaf spring means after the tubings have been telescoped.

44. The safety ski pole according to claim 43, wherein the thinner tubing of said telescoping tubing comprises at its upper end an elastic, thickened member which presses against the inside of the wider tubing.

45. The safety ski pole according to claim 35, wherein said sleeve means which encloses interconnecting zones of adjacent ski pole tubings is made of a material highly resistant to bending, said tubings being connected in telescopic fashion.

46. The safety ski pole according to claim 45, further comprising reinforcing insert means located in at least one of said telescoping tubings in the connecting zone between adjacent tubings and in the area where the tubings are provided with apertures for their mutual interconnection, said insert means preventing a bending of said tubings in said area.

47. The safety ski pole according to claim 5, wherein said means for releasably attaching the wrist strap to the handle assembly are made of a solid synthetic plastics material which is resilient and resistant to cold, said attaching means forming an integral, one piece unit with the handle.

48. The safety ski pole according to claim 47, wherein an inner holding member of said attaching means forms directly a part of the synthetic plastics material handle for holding a cross piece of the wrist strap.

49. The safety ski pole according to claim 5, wherein said attaching means comprise outer and inner holding pieces which together form a funnel-like opening extending upwardly above the point at which they are closest together.

50. The safety ski pole according to claim 3, wherein said elastic cushion forming the upper end of the ski pole and of the interlocking devices comprises lateral supporting walls pointing toward the handle, which terminate downwardly in respective edges and which project from the handle; and wherein recesses are provided on the upper end of the handle proper into which said edges of the supporting walls fit.

51. The safety ski pole according to claim 6, wherein the upper end piece of the interlocking devices comprises a cushion and a tubular carrier member for the cushion, which is inserted into the upper end of the upper tubing, said carrier member comprising perpendicular and horizontal guiding slots for the required upward and downward movements of the upper end piece of the interlocking devices and also for arresting these interlocking devices in their interlocking position, by rotation of said upper end piece and wherein a guiding pin which can be mounted and removed from the outside through openings in the surrounding tubing and handle extends through said guiding slots which lie opposite one another and which are of the same type.

52. The safety ski pole according to claim 2, wherein said interlocking devices comprise interlocking elements, first and second spring means, and first means for cooperatively connecting said interlocking elements and said first and second spring means, said control means including a control member located in said handle assembly and second means for connecting said control member to said first spring means whereby said first spring means are biased in response to actuating said control member for rigidly interconnecting said tubings through said interlocking elements as long as said control member is actuated, said second connecting means including means for partially releasing said first spring means in response to deactivating said control member whereby said interlocking elements are partially released by said first spring means, but held in such an interlocking position by said second spring means that a movement of said tubings is possible relative to each other in response to an impact effective in the direction of said longitudinal ski pole axis.

53. The safety ski pole according to claim 52, wherein said control member is a spring biased, pivotable handle flap whereby said spring bias is exerted by said first spring means.

54. The safety ski pole according to claim 4, wherein said tip has an upper end, said tip locating means comprising supporting leaf spring means having upper ends which extend upwardly at an angle relative to said longitudinal ski pole axis so as to upwardly diverge away from said axis, means for rigidly securing said leaf spring means in said lower tubing against upward movement, said control means comprising a rod extending longitudinally through said pole and having hollow wedge means attached to its lower end, said wedge means having an outer wedge surface for separating said upper end of the leaf springs in response to a telescoping of said tubings of the ski pole, said wedge further having a bore for receiving said upper end of said ski pole tip, said locating means further comprising a shoulder between the tip and its upper end, a stop member secured against upward movement and a spring surrounding said upper end between said shoulder and said stop member, whereby said spring forces the tip out of the lower tubing in response to a withdrawal of said wedge means from between said leaf spring means.

55. The safety ski pole according to claim 4, wherein said ski pole tip has a concave form at its lower end whereby a recess is formed, and a polymer coating having a flourine content covering said recess.

56. The safety ski pole according to claim 55, wherein the recess is surrounded by a sharp-edged outer rim.

57. The safety ski pole according to claim 4, wherein said ski pole tip has a concave form at its lower end whereby a recess is formed, and a polymer insert having a flourine content firmly secured in said recess.