Runner-equipped Ski Pole

Abstract

The pole has a laterally projecting strut thereon, and an elongated runner connected to the outboard end of the strut which can serve as a freely slidable bearing surface for one of the skier's arms when he holds the pole in the hand of that arm and places the runner on the snow to brace himself with his arm.

Description

THE INVENTION IN GENERAL

This invention relates to a runner-equipped ski pole, and in particular to a ski pole grip which is equipped with a runner that can serve as a freely slidable bearing surface for one of the skier's arms, when he holds the grip in the hand of that arm and places the runner on the snow to brace himself with his arm. Using such a grip, ski poles may now function not only as basket-ended appendages to be "poled into" the snow in traditional fashion, but also as runner-equipped outriggers which can be applied against the surface of the snow and allowed to slide over the surface in the same manner as the skies themselves. Such an effect is particularly advantageous when the skier finds it necessary to lean to one side or the other, as for example in making a turn; or when one or more of his skies slips from under him and he needs additional support while making a recovery from the slip. In fact, with the increased popularity of exhibition or trick skiing, the addition of two other sliding supports increases the repertoire which trick skiers can undergo. For example, one trick performance which has become popular, is the so-called Royal Christie stance wherein the skier raises one leg and ski off of the ground and continues ahead on the other alone. Using runner-equipped ski poles, such a skier may now lean to one side, place the runner of the pole on that side on the ground, and continue ahead on the ski and runner. Similarly, when a jump skier comes out of a jump in a crouched or inclined position, he may use one or both of the runners on his poles as bearing surfaces from which to "push off" into an upright position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate certain of the presently preferred embodiments of the same.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a skier undergoing a turn while using ski poles equipped with grips having runners thereon which can be applied to the snow for additional support, as illustrated;

FIG. 2 is an exploded part perspective view of the handheld end of one pole, illustrating the grip thereon;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the pole and grip;

FIG. 4 is a part cross-sectional axial view of the same;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the pole equipped with a modified grip;

FIG. 6 is another such view of the pole equipped with another form of grip;

FIG. 7 is a similar view of a pole equipped with still another version of the grip;

FIG. 8 is a part perspective view of a pole equipped with a fifth form of grip;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the pole and fifth form of grip;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the same along the line 10--10 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a sixth form of grip;

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Turning to the drawings, it will be seen that each grip 2 comprises an elongated sheath-like body 4 adapted to be mounted on the upper hand-held end of the basket-ended shaft 6' of the pole 6. In FIGS. 1-4, the body 4 has a laterally projecting strut 8 thereon, and an elongated runner 10 is connected at one end to the outboard end of the strut. The main longitudinally extending portion 10' of the runner is collaterally disposed with the body 4, so that their longitudinal axes are substantially coplanar. However, the portion 10' is spaced apart from the body, so that the skier's hand can encircle the body in assuming a hold thereon, there being a series of indentations 12 in the body, opposite the inboard side of the runner, to accommodate his fingers as they take hold of the grip. The outboard side of the portion 10' has a generally planar surface 14 thereon, the plane of which is perpendicular to the plane of the body and the portion, and the width of which is greater than the widthwise dimension of the body in planes parallel to the surface. In this way, the runner has sufficient outboard surface area to serve as a freely slidable bearing surface for one of the skier's arms, when he holds the grip in the hand of that arm and places the runner 10 on the snow to brace himself with his arm in the manner of FIG. 1.

The strut 8 projects from the body, adjacent the forward end thereof, and the outboard side of the strut curves reentrantly toward the opposite end of the body, to form an upturned toe 16 for the leading end of the runner. The curvature of the toe may terminate at the forward end 4' of the body, or it may terminate at a point short of that; whereupon the toe may be interconnected with the body by a rectilinear section (not shown) which is perhaps perpendicular to the body.

To the rear, there is at least one additional strut 18 interposed between the body and the main portion of the runner. However, the additional strut is spaced sufficiently to the rear of the toe strut 8, to enable the skier's hand to be interposed between the struts. The number of additional struts depends in part on the length of the body and/or the runner. As seen in FIG. 5, the addition of a third strut 20 enables the runner to be considerably lengthened to the rear.

In FIG. 6, no additional strut is employed, and the main portion 10' of the runner is constructed to flex in relation to the toe strut 8, relatively toward and away from the body 4. In this way, the grip may cushion the impact of placing the runner on the snow.

In FIG. 7, the outboard side of the additional strut 18' is contoured in much the same fashion as the toe strut, but in a reverse sense, so as to form an inturned heel for the runner.

In FIGS. 8-10, the forward end 24 of the body has a strut 26 thereon which projects to the opposite side of the body from the runner 10, but then curves reentrantly back across the end to merge with the forward end 28 of the runner. The runner is canted to the pole, and the additional strut 30 at the rear of the runner has a bowed configuration in the direction laterally inward of the skier, so as to provide a support for the heel of the palm of the skier's hand, when it is engaged about the body of the grip. The grip is also equipped with a wrist strap 32 which is looped from a point adjacent the end of the body.

In FIG. 11, the runner 10 lays up against the end 34 of the body, as opposed to being spaced from it in FIGS. 8-10, and the strut 36 is swept back behind the end to form an upturned toe, as in FIGS. 8-10. The additional strut 38 is bowed in the manner of the strut 30.

The various grips are commonly fabricated from a resinous plastic material which has the strength suited to their use. The bore 22 in the body of each grip, enables it to be fit snugly over the hand-held end of the shaft 6' of the pole, and various means (not shown) may be employed to secure the grip on the pole in known fashion.

The width of the surface 14' is a function of the specific use intended for the runner 10 and will vary from one use to another. The FIGS. 8-10 embodiment is particularly suited to trick skiing, including maneuvers requiring that the hands be placed on the upper ends 24 of the bodies of the grips, within the half loops of the struts 26.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A ski pole comprising an elongated basket-ended shaft having a laterally projecting strut thereon, adjacent the hand-held end thereof, and an elongated runner connected to the outboard end of the strut, the main longitudinally extending portion of which runner extends side by side with the body of the shaft, but in spaced relationship to the shaft so that the skier's hand can encircle the shaft to assume a hold thereon, the longitudinal axes of the runner and the shaft being substantially coplanar with one another, but the outboard side of said main runner portion having a generally planar surface thereon, which is substantially perpendicular to the axial plane of the runner and the shaft, and adapted in relation to the body of the shaft, widthwise thereof in planes parallel to the surface, to serve as a freely slidable, ski-like bearing surface when the runner is placed on the snow, said strut and runner being constructed of a semi-rigid material adapted to sustain the weight of the skier, and to support the skier's hand above the snow, when the skier leans on the runner on the snow.

2. The ski pole according to claim 1 wherein the main portion of the runner is connected at one end to the strut, and the outboard side of the strut curves reentrantly toward the basket end of the shaft to form an upturned toe for the end of the runner.

3. The ski pole according to claim 1 wherein the hand-held end of the pole has a sheath-like grip mounted thereon from which the strut and the runner are laterally outriggered thereon.

4. The ski pole according to claim 1 wherein the width of the surface of the main runner portion is greater than the maximum widthwise dimension of the body of the shaft in planes parallel to the surface.

5. A grip for a ski pole comprising an elongated sheathlike body adapted to be mounted on the hand-held end of the shaft of the pole, and to be encircled by the skier's hand when he assumes a hold thereon, said body having a laterally projecting strut thereon, and an elongated runner connected to the outboard end of the strut, the main longitudinally extending portion of which runner extends side by side with the body, but in spaced relationship to the body so that the skier's hand can be interposed therebetween in encircling the body, the longitudinal axes of the runner and the body being substantially coplanar with one another, but the outboard side of said main runner portion having a generally planar surface thereon, which is substantially perpendicular to the axial plane of the runner and the body, and adapted in relation to the body, widthwise thereof in planes parallel to the surface, to serve as a freely slidable, ski-like bearing surface when the runner is placed on the snow, said strut and runner being constructed of a semi-rigid material adapted to sustain the weight of the skier, and to support the skier's hand above the snow, when the skier leans on the runner on the snow.

6. The grip according to claim 5 wherein the width of the surface of the main runner portion is greater than the maximum widthwise dimension of the body in planes parallel to the surface.

7. The grip according to claim 5 wherein the main portion of the runner is constructed to flex in relation to the strut, relatively toward and away from the body.

8. The grip according to claim 5 wherein the strut is disposed adjacent one end of the body, and the body has an axial bore therein opening at the opposite end thereof.

9. The grip according to claim 5 wherein the strut is disposed adjacent one end of the body, the main portion of the runner is connected at one end to the strut, and the outboard side of the strut curves reentrantly toward the opposite end of the body, to form an upturned toe for the end of the runner.

10. The grip according to claim 9 wherein the curvature of the toe terminates at the one end of the body.

11. The grip according to claim 9 wherein the main portion of the runner terminates in a free end adjacent the opposite end of the body.

12. The grip according to claim 9 wherein there is at least one additional strut interposed between the body and the main portion of the runner.

13. The grip according to claim 12 wherein the additional strut is spaced sufficiently apart from the first-mentioned strut, to enable the skier's hand to be interposed between the struts.

14. The grip according to claim 12 wherein the main portion of the runner is connected at the opposite end to the additional strut, and the additional strut curves reentrantly toward the one end of the body, to form an upturned heel for the opposite end of the runner.