A quick release skip pole strap system includes a novel ski pole strap that attaches to a ski pole grip. A locking mechanism within the ski pole grip automatically engages with a strap pin. A button attached to a side of the ski pole grip, when depressed, causes the strap pin to automatically eject from the ski pole grip decoupling the skier from the ski pole. The skier can depress the button without having to remove his hands from the ski pole grips. The ski pole strap in one embodiment is made of an elastic material that automatically pulls the pin from the ski pole grip and holds the ski pole in a "ready to plant" position.
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7. An attachment system for securing a hand of a skier to a ski pole, comprising:
a ski pole grip having a front and back and sides contoured for gripping with the hand of the skier; a strap having a first and second end, the first end attached to the skier; an elongated tubular strap pin attached to the second end of the strap; an attachment mechanism disposed within the ski pole grip for receiving and locking the strap pin to the ski pole grip; an ejection mechanism disposed inside the ski pole grip; an elongated circular channel extending horizontally into the ski pole grip, the strap pin inserting horizontally into the channel and engaging with the attachment mechanism while moving the ejection mechanism into a compressed cocked position; and a button coupled to the attachment mechanism and depressible with the hand of the skier, the button in the depressed condition disengaging the strap pin from the attachment assembly allowing the ejection mechanism to uncock thereby ejecting the strap pin completely out of the channel while the same hand of the skier remains wrapped around the ski pole grip.
0. 8. A quick release attachment system for coupling a hand of a skier to a ski pole, comprising:
a ski pole grip having a front side and back side, joined by opposite lateral sides and having a cross-sectional shape sized so that the hand of the skier can be wrapped around the ski pole grip in a griping manner; a pin attached to the hand of a skier; an attachment mechanism disposed within the ski pole grip for receiving and locking the pin to the ski pole grip; an ejection mechanism; an elongated channel extending in a horizontal direction into the front side of the ski pole grip substantially above the hand of the skier while said hand is wrapped around the ski pole grip, so that the pin can insert horizontally into the channel and engage with the attachment mechanism while moving the ejection mechanism into a cocked position; and a button extending from the ski pole grip and mechanically coupled to the attachment mechanism, the button depressible by a thumb on the hand of the skier disengaging the attachment mechanism from the pin causing the ejection mechanism to eject the pin horizontally from the channel out over a top end of the hand of the skier while said same hand of the skier remains wrapped around the ski pole grip.
0. 10. A quick release attachment system for coupling a hand of a skier to a ski pole, comprising:
a ski pole grip having a front side and back side, joined by opposite lateral sides and having a cross-sectional shape sized so that the hand of the skier can be wrapped around the ski pole grip in a griping manner; a pin connected to a glove of a skier, the pin having an end portion which includes a notch; an attachment mechanism disposed within the ski pole grip for receiving and releasably locking the pin to the ski pole grip; the attachment mechanism including: an elongated channel extending in a horizontal direction into the front side of the ski pole grip above the hand of the skier while said hand is wrapped around the ski pole grip; a retractable finger protruding across a portion of the channel, the pin inserting horizontally into the channel and engaging the notch with the finger; and a button on the ski pole grip and mechanically coupled to the finger, the button depressible by a thumb on the hand of the skier to retract the finger from the notch in the end portion of the pin, causing the pin to detach from the attachment mechanism and move out of the channel and toward a top end of the hand of the skier while same hand of the skier remains wrapped around the ski pole grip; and an ejection mechanism configured to eject the pin from the channel.
1. A quick release attachment system for coupling a hand of a skier to a ski pole, comprising:
a ski pole grip having a front side and back side, joined by opposite lateral sides and having a cross-sectional shape sized so that the hand of the skier can be wrapped around the ski pole grip in a griping manner; a strap having a first and second end, the first end attached to the skier; a strap pin attached to the second end of the strap; an attachment mechanism disposed within the ski pole grip for receiving and locking the strap pin to the ski pole grip; an ejection mechanism; an elongated channel extending in a horizontal direction into the front side of the ski pole grip above the hand of the skier while said hand is wrapped around the ski pole grip, the strap pin inserting horizontally into the channel and engaging with the attachment mechanism while moving the ejection mechanism into a compressed cocked position; and a button extending from one of the lateral sides of the ski pole grip and mechanically coupled to the attachment mechanism, the button depressible by the hand of the skier disengaging the attachment mechanism from the strap pin allowing the ejection mechanism to uncock, the ejection mechanism when uncocked ejecting the strap pin horizontally from the channel out over a top end of the hand of the skier while said same hand of the skier remains wrapped around the ski pole grip.
0. 12. A quick release attachment system for coupling a hand of a skier to a ski pole, comprising:
a ski pole grip having a front side and back side, joined by opposite lateral sides and having a cross-sectional shape sized so that the hand of the skier can be wrapped around the ski pole grip in a gripping manner; a pin connected to a glove of a skier, the pin having an end portion which includes a notch; an attachment mechanism disposed within the ski pole grip for receiving and releasably locking the pin to the ski pole grip; the attachment mechanism including: an elongated channel extending in a horizontal direction into the front side of the ski pole grip above the hand of the skier while said hand is wrapped around the ski pole grip; a retractable finger protruding across a portion of the channel, the pin inserting horizontally into the channel and engaging the notch with the finger; a button on the ski pole grip and mechanically coupled to the finger, the button depressible by a thumb on the hand of the skier to retract the finger from the notch in the end portion of the pin, allowing the pin to detach from the attachment mechanism and move out of the channel and toward a top end of the hand of the skier while same hand of the skier remains wrapped around the ski pole grip; an elastic strap sized to length to connect the pin to the glove on the hand of the skier under tension so that, upon depressing the button, the strap can pull the pin out of the attachment mechanism; and an ejection mechanism configured to eject the pin from the channel. 2. An attachment system according to
3. An attachment system according to claim 7 2 wherein the button is recessed below an outside surface of the ski pole grip.
4. An attachment system according to
5. An attachment system according to
6. An attachment system according to
0. 9. A quick release attachment system according to
0. 11. A quick release attachment system according to
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This is a division of commonly signed application Ser. No. 08/154,865 entitled QUICK RELEASE SKI POLE AND STRAP SYSTEM filed Nov. 18, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,287.
This invention relates generally to ski equipment and more particularly to a system for attaching a ski pole to the hand of a skier. Standard ski poles include a leather strap that is wrapped around the skiers wrist. The skier inserts a hand through the strap and then wraps his hand around a grip on the top end of the ski pole. The strap holds the ski pole to the skier in the event that the skier's hand dislodges from the ski pole grip.
For example, when the skier falls during a ski run his hands typically looses hold of the ski pole grip. The strap, however, remains wrapped around the skier's wrist keeping the pole attached to the skier as he falls down the slope. Thus, the skier does not have to traverse back up the hill to retrieve ski poles that have been inadvertently released at the beginning of the fall.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,085,814 to Scott shows a typical ski pole strap 17 wrapped around the wrist while the skier's hand is wrapped around a ski pole grip 10. The problem with standard ski pole straps as shown in Scott, is that they are difficult to remove from the skier's wrist. For example, the strap must be securely wrapped around the skier's hand so that it does not easily fall off during a ski run mishap. However, because the strap is securely wrapped around the skier's wrist, it is difficult for the skier to remove the strap, especially while wearing heavy gloves or mittens.
For safety reasons, ski resorts require that ski straps be removed before entering a ski lift. Because it is awkward and time consuming for a skier to remove the ski pole strap from the wrist, the skier must begin the process of removing the strap a good deal of time before actually being seated on a ski lift. If the ski lift line is relatively short or does not exist, a skier can ski directly up to the ski lift and immediately be seated on a ski lift chair. Therefore, to save time, skiers remove ski pole straps while still skiing down the mountain so that the straps are removed before reaching the ski lift.
Removing ski straps at the end of a ski run is hazardous since the skier's attention is distracted from the normal skiing process. Having to remove ski straps while skiing also reduces the skiers enjoyment during the latter part of the ski run.
Because the ski strap is just as difficult to attach as to remove, the skier upon exiting from a ski lift must stop and engage each hand through the corresponding strap before beginning the next ski run. Having to continuously attach and detach ski straps wastes time that could be used skiing and in general is a hindrance that reduces the overall enjoyment of the skiing experience.
To reduce the amount of time and the inconvenience of attaching and removing ski straps, various strapless ski pole grips have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,992,021 to Tobin shows a molded ski pole grip that wraps around the outside of a skier's hand. While the ski pole grip provides additional support for holding the skier's hand in the ski pole grip, the ski pole still releases when the skier's hand no longer is wrapped around the ski pole grip. Therefore, if the skier releases the ski pole grip during a fall, the ski pole typically remains at the initial location of the mishap. Thus, if the skier tumbles down the hill, he still must climb back up the hill to retrieve the ski poles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,674 to Bagneres et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,154 to Street show various locking mechanisms that are used to attach a skier's wrist or glove to a ski pole grip. For example, Bagneres, et al. shows a strap that couples directly to a slot in the ski pole grip. Alternatively, Street shows a clip that attaches to a mating latch formed on a ski pole grip. The attachment mechanisms in both Bagneres, et al. and Street, however, are more difficult to remove than the standard strap shown in Tobin.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,896 to Ingalls shows a spring activated pin that is locked vertically into the top of a ski pole grip. The pin 37 is disengaged by pressing down on the top of the pin 37 with the skiers thumb. The pin, however, is not automatically ejected from the ski pole grip 10 after being depressed. Therefore, the skier must grab the pin 37 or strap 49 with one hand and manually pull the pin out of a slot in the ski pole grip. In addition, the positioning of the ski strap 49 makes it awkward for a skier to move his thumb around the strap 49 and over pin 37. Because depression of pin 37 unlocks the pin from the ski pole grip, the system is subject to inadvertent release in a crash.
Thus, in Bagneres et al., Street, and Ingalls, the skier is faced with the same problems arising with standard ski pole straps. Namely, that the strap is difficult and awkward to remove.
Accordingly, a need remains for a quick release ski pole strap that quickly and reliably detaches from a ski pole grip.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to reduce the amount of time required to detach a ski pole strap from a skier's wrist.
Another object of the invention is to automatically disengage a ski strap from a ski pole while both hands of the skier remain wrapped around the ski pole grips.
A further object of the invention is to reduce the amount of time it takes to attach a ski strap to a ski pole grip.
A quick release ski pole strap system includes a novel ski pole strap that attaches to a ski pole by inserting a strap pin into a channel on a ski pole grip. The ski pole grip has a front and back side joined by lateral sides. A locking mechanism within the ski pole grip automatically engages with the strap pin. A button attached in the ski pole grip is depressed causing the strap pin to automatically eject from the ski pole grip.
Thus, the skier is quickly decoupled from the ski pole. The skier then has the option of waiting until the last moment before disengaging the ski strap from the ski pole grip.
In one embodiment, the channel extends from the front to the back of the ski pole grip and the button is located on the lateral side of the ski pole grip. This unique channel/button configuration allow each ski pole to be used in either the right or left hand of the skier. In addition, the novel channel configuration in coordination with the strap pin automatically remove snow and debris away from the locking mechanism preventing the locking mechanism from jamming.
The ski pole strap in one embodiment is made of an elastic material that automatically pulls the pin from the ski pole grip when the button is depressed. The elastic strap when stretched provides a tension that also pulls the top of the ski pole grip toward the skier's wrist. Pulling the top of the ski pole grip toward the skier's wrist in turn angles the bottom of the ski pole upward and forward. Thus, the ski pole is initially held in a "ready to plant" position while the skier is traversing down a ski slope. The elasticity of the strap also expands and contracts according to which direction the ski pole grip moves as the skier plants and turns during a ski run. Thus, the ski pole strap while initially holding the ski pole in a "ready to plant" position, also alters the ski pole to move in any possible planting position.
The elastic ski pole strap allows easy attachment around the wrist of the skier and also allows the strap to remain attached to a ski glove even after the glove is removed from the hand of a skier. Thus, the elastic strap assists in ejecting the strap pin, holding the skier's hand in a "ready to plant" position and simplifying attachment and detachment of the ski pole strap to and from the skier's wrist.
The button can be located at different positions on the ski grip allowing different fingers or different finger positions to be utilized to release the ski pole strap. For example, the locking mechanism can be located at the top or bottom either on the front or lateral side of the ski pole grip. The various button positions allow depression with various fingers on the skier's hand.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The ski pole strap 20 can have various configurations depending upon the type of locking mechanism incorporated inside the ski pole grip 14. The type and length of the ski pole strap 20 also change according to how the ski pole grip will rest in the skiers hand. For example, in the embodiment shown in
The stretched ski pole strap pulls the top end of the ski pole grip 14 toward the wrist area 19 of hand 18. Pulling the top of ski pole grip 14 toward the wrist area 19 is advantageous in keeping the ski pole 16 angled slightly forward and upward in a "ready to plant" position. The ski pole 16 when in the angled position shown in
The elasticity of ski pole strap 20 is also sufficient to allow the skier to plant the end of the ski pole 16 (not shown) and move the ski pole grip into any necessary forward position. Thus, the ski strap expands and contracts according to which direction the skier plants and turns.
Referring to
For example, the bottom end 36 of ski pole strap 20 is snugly secured around the skier's wrist or, typically, around the glove 21. Thus, the skier after detaching the strap pin 24 from the ski pole grip 14, can remove the glove 21 while the strap 20 remains wrapped around a lower end of the glove. Because of the elasticity of ski pole strap 20, the bottom end 36 expands as the skier's hand is removed from the glove. However, after the hand is removed, the strap contracts holding the strap snugly around the ski glove 21.
Referring back to
Automatic release of the strap pin 24 allows the skier to wait until the last instant before removing his hands from the ski pole grip 14. Therefore, the skier does not have to start removing the ski pole strap 20 a long time before entering the ski lift, for example, while still skiing. Thus, the ski pole strap arrangement shown in
The bottom end 36 of ski pole strap 20 is attached to the wrist area 19 by various methods in addition to the elastic strap shown in FIG. 1. For example, the lower section 36 of ski pole strap 20 can be attached with VELCRO® having a eye section capable of attaching with a hook section. The "hook and eye" configuration is sized to attach around a wide variety of wrist sizes. A wide variety of alternative attachment schemes such as a snap can be utilized to also secure the ski pole strap 20 around the wrist of the skier.
The button 28 extends vertically out a lateral side of ski pole grip 14. The position of button 28 allows the thumb of hand 18 to easily move up from a standard gripping position to a trigger position over button 28 as shown in FIG. 1. It is important to note that the hand 18 remains wrapped around the skip pole grip 14 while button 28 is being depressed. This increases ease and safety by allowing the skiers hands to keep a secure grip on the ski pole grip 14 at the same time that the ski pole strap 20 is being released.
The button 28 can be located at other locations on the ski pole grip 14 while still allowing the skier to release the ski pole strap 20 and hold on to the ski pole grip 14 at the same time. For example, the button 28 can be located on either lateral side of the ski pole grip 14. Thus, either the skier's index finger or thumb can be used to depress button 28. Alternatively, the button 28 can be located at the bottom of the ski pole grip so that the skier's pinky can initiate the release of ski pole strap 20. An alternative embodiment of the invention having a button extending from the front of the ski pole grip is shown in FIG. 9.
Referring back to
The quick release ski pole strap system 12 can be utilized with any type of ski pole grip. For example,
Incorporating the ski pole strap system 12 to the ski pole grip 14, offers two separate means (i.e., straps 44 and ski pole strap 12 for coupling the skiers hand to the ski pole. However, the assembly in
It can be seen in
By depressing button 28, button cylinder 56 slides inside cylinder 48 compressing spring 50 52. As button 28 is depressed, hole 52 coaxially aligns with hole 54. When holes 52 and 54 become aligned, the strap 20 (
Referring to
As front end 60 moves inside button cylinder 56, button cylinder 56 is pushed back by spring 50 against section 62 clamping button cylinder 56 and cylinder 48 against opposite sides of the section 62. Since the diameter of opening 25 is now smaller than the diameter of strap pin end 60, strap pin 24 is locked into ski pole grip 14. It is important to note that strap pin 24 is locked into the ski pole grip 14 without having to depress button 28. This allows faster and easier attachment of ski pole strap 20 to ski pole grip 14.
The channel 64 extends from a front side 66 to a back side 68 of the ski pole grip 14 so that the strap pin 24 can be inserted from either the front or back side of the ski pole grip 14. As previously shown in
For example, when ski pole grip 14 is held in the left hand, strap pin 24 is inserted into channel 64 as shown in FIG. 5. However, if ski pole grip 14 is held in the right hand, strap pin 24 is inserted into channel 64 from the backside 68. Both cylinder 48 and button cylinder 56 have holes facing the front and back side of the ski pole grip.
Because channel 64 extends through the entire ski pole grip 14, the ski strap system 12 is resistent to jamming. For example, it is possible for snow to enter channel 64 during a ski crash. However, strap pin 24 when inserted into either end of channel 52 pushes debris out the opposite end of the ski pole grip 14. Therefore, channel 64 is automatically cleaned each time strap pin 24 is inserted ensuring proper operation of locking mechanism 46.
A cavity 72 contains a spring 74. A channel 76 extends from the front side 78 of ski pole grip 14 to cavity 72. A button 80 is coupled to a finger 82 and is held down into channel 76 by a spring 84. The finger 82 is joined to the ski pole grip 14 by a pin 86.
Referring to
Strap pin 88 is ejected from cavity 72 and channel 76 by depressing button 80 causing finger 82 to pivot about pin 86 pushing finger 82 out from notch 92. When finger 82 is removed from notch 92, spring 74 is allowed to expand completely ejecting strap pin 88 from channel 76.
The automatic ejection mechanism 70 shown in
Strap pin 24 is locked into the ski pole grip 102 by inserting the strap pin 24 into channel 108. Front end 60 of strap pin 24 pushes arm 106 upward compressing spring 104. As front end 60 moves further into channel 108, spring 104 pushes arm 106 against section 102. Strap pin 24 is released by pressing button 98 with the skier's fore finger. Arm 106 is then raised allowing elastic strap 20 to pull strap pin 24 from channel 108. For safety, the strap pin 24 can be pulled from channel 76 even when the pin 24 is locked to finger 82. For example, if a skier falls during a ski run, the ski pole may be firmly lodged in the snow while the skier continues to fall down the ski hill. A large enough force applied away from the ski pole grip 14 forces the pin 24 to disengage from finger 82 and allows the pin 24 to eject from channel 76. Thus, the ski straps will automatically detach from the ski pole grip during extreme bailments during a ski run.
The overall operation of the quick release ski pole strap system is now briefly described. Before, beginning a ski run at the top of a slope, the skier wraps the bottom end 36 of ski pole strap 20 around the wrist area of a glove. The skier then inserts the strap pin 24 into the channel 64 locking the ski pole strap 20 to the ski pole grip 14. The skier then begins a ski run. The length of ski pole strap 20 can be sized as described above so that the top end of ski pole grip 14 is pulled slightly toward the wrist of the skier providing additional support for holding the ski pole 16 in a forwardly extended "ready to plant" position.
As the skier plants the ski pole 16, ski pole strap 20 stretches as the ski pole grip 14 moves forward. A longer ski pole strap is used when it is not desirable to hold the ski pole grip 14 toward the wrist area 19 of the skier. In this situation, an automatic eject mechanism as shown in
After the skier has completed the ski run and approaches the ski lift, the skier disconnects the ski pole strap 20 from the ski pole grip 14 simply by depressing button 28. The ski pole strap 20 thereby remains wrapped around the skiers wrist while riding up a ski lift. While the skier is transported to the top of the ski lift, the strap 20 is locked back onto the ski pole grip 14 by simply inserting strap pin 24 into channel 64.
If the skier wishes to remove the ski glove, the ski pole straps 20 remain wrapped around the ski gloves, preventing the ski pole straps from being misplaced.
Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention in a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. I claim all modifications and variation coming within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
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