Abstract:
A spreader device that attaches to the straps of a ski pole or similar pole holding the straps apart so that it is easy for a user to grasp or release the grip of the pole. It is constructed of rubber, plastic, or metal with resilient, spring-like characteristics. The device has two removable parts that may be used together or alone, and will fit the straps of most poles. It is very simple in design and inexpensive to manufacture, so it can be made available at a very affordable price.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/139,694, filed Jun. 16, 2008, now abandoned. This continuation application claims the benefit of provisional application, No. 60946720, filed: Jun. 28, 2007 by the present inventor. 
     
    
     STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0005]    This invention relates to sports and exercise equipment, specifically to spreaders applied to straps on ski poles used for snow skiing and to straps on similar poles. 
         [0006]    2. Prior Art 
         [0007]    In the current state of the art the two straps attached to the top of a ski pole when fastened together with a buckle serve to attach the pole to the hand and wrist of a skier. The purpose of the straps is to provide a secure connection between the hand of the skier and the pole and also to prevent separation of the pole from the skier in a fall or other situation that may result in the inadvertent release of the pole. A pole separated from a skier while skiing may result in loss of the pole in deep snow, and in some cases a loose pole may become a safety hazard to the skier or to others. 
         [0008]    When a ski pole is not in use, the two straps tend to hang side by side from the top of the pole with little or no space between them. To grasp the pole and get ready to ski, the skier must first open up a loop between the buckled straps through which he or she can insert a hand. This generally takes both hands of the skier—one to hold the loop open enough so that the other hand can be inserted through the loop to grasp the grip of the pole. This tends to be somewhat awkward and time consuming especially with heavy ski gloves or mittens. Releasing the hand from within the loop also requires two hands and is somewhat awkward. 
         [0009]    A spreader for ski pole straps is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,588 to Young, et al (2002). The disclosed spreader is part of an elaborate ski pole grip and strap system that has a spreader attached to the top of a pole&#39;s grip in a slot with a pin. This spreader requires a ski pole with a specially designed and manufactured grip and strap attachment. It would not fit any other ski pole, so has very limited application. Two other patents, U.S. Pat. No. 3,923,317 to Penny (1975) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,303 to Finnegan (1978) disclose straps with openings for grasping the grip of a ski pole, but both of these require specially designed and manufactured straps that would not fit on other poles. One of the primary advantages of the spreader device applied for in this patent application over the prior art is that it has essentially universal application and will fit on the straps of almost all ski poles. U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,819 B1 to Ingold (2002) is for a device that attaches to the two straps of a ski pole at a position over the top of the buckle that holds the two straps together. A disadvantage of this device is that it has a permanent connection and interferes with the function of the buckle in adjusting the size of the loop between the straps. Some skiers like to adjust the fit of the loop each time they use a ski pole, and this device would be a nuisance for them. Another advantage of the device applied for in this patent application is that it does not restrict the function of the buckle in adjusting the size of the loop in the straps. 
         [0010]    The device disclosed herein provides an open loop large enough to easily insert or remove the gloved hand of a user without help of the other hand, and does not adversely affect the function of the straps. Once the hand is in place within the loop and the user grasps the pole, the spreader device flexes slightly and conforms to the shape of the gloved hand. Although this device is described for use with ski poles, it could be used with any type of pole that has straps for securing the pole to a hand. Examples of other such poles are those used for walking and snow shoeing. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    This device consists of two parts, an upper spreader and a lower spreader that are attached to the straps of a ski pole. There are two basic embodiments of the upper spreader—one embodiment hereinafter referred to as a slip-on upper spreader is composed of a single piece of rubber, plastic, or metal that is flat and generally rectangular in shape, approximately 1¼″ wide×2½″ long× 1/16″ thick with four slots. This slip-on upper spreader is installed by inserting the ski pole straps into and through the four slots and then slipping the spreader up the straps until it is in its final position at the upper ends of the straps near the top of the ski pole. The other one of the aforementioned two embodiments hereinafter referred to as a snap-on upper spreader is comprised of two flat V-shaped parts that are fastened together with rivets and/or snaps. The straps of the ski pole are sandwiched between the two parts of the snap-on spreader and held at a predetermined angle when the snaps on the spreader are fastened. The lower spreader has two slots and a notch for holding the straps and causing them to separate and open a loop between them when the straps are buckled together. The upper and lower spreaders may be used together on the same pair of straps or they may be used alone, each one independently providing a significant loop opening. The open loop makes it easier for a user to insert his or her hand between the straps and grasp the grip of the pole. It also makes it easier to remove the hand from within the straps. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a ski pole showing the straps in open position with the slip-on upper spreader and the lower spreader in place. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the slip-on upper spreader showing the location of two smaller slots on one end and two larger slots on the other end. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side view of one design of the slip-on upper spreader showing it to be essentially a flat plate with slots. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an alternative design of the slip-on upper spreader in which said spreader is essentially a curved plate with slots. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the lower spreader showing the location of two slots at one end and a notch at the other end. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a top portion of a ski pole showing the straps in open position with the snap-on upper spreader in place. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is cross-sectional view of a portion of the snap-on spreader in place. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    The reference numbers are assigned as follows:
         6  Slip-on upper spreader     7  Lower spreader     8  Inside small slot in  6       9  Outside small slot in  6       10  Ski pole strap without a buckle     11  Inside large slot in  6       12  Outside large slot in  6       13  Ski pole strap with a buckle     14  Buckle     15  Outside small slot in  7       16  Inside small slot in  7       17  Notch in  7       18  Top of ski pole     19  Outside edge of  7       20  Ski pole grip     21  Opening between straps  10  and  13       22  Indentation in  7  that forms a cradle for grip     23  Left leg of upper flat plate     24  Left leg of lower flat plate     25  Right leg of upper flat plate     26  Right leg of lower flat plate     27  Snap     28  Snap or rivet     29  Snap     30  Snap or rivet       
 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0045]    This spreader device consists of two parts, an upper spreader and a lower spreader that are attached to the straps of a ski pole. There are two embodiments of the upper spreader—one embodiment is hereinafter referred to as the slip-on upper spreader and the other embodiment is hereinafter referred to as the snap-on upper spreader. There is only a single embodiment of the lower spreader. The slip-on upper spreader and the lower spreader each consists of a flat piece of rubber, metal, or plastic in a rectangular shape approximately 1¼″ wide×2½″ long× 1/16″ thick with openings to fit the straps and buckle of a ski pole in a particular manner as will subsequently be explained. The slip-on upper spreader and the lower spreader are shown attached to the straps of a ski pole in  FIG. 1 . The two parts by themselves are shown in  FIGS. 2-5 . The snap-on upper spreader is comprised of two similar flat V-shaped plates that are fastened together with rivets and/or snaps. The straps of a ski pole are held at a predetermined angle between the flat plates of this spreader when they are fastened together. The snap-on upper spreader is shown attached to the straps of a ski pole in  FIG. 6 . A cross sectional view of part of said snap=on spreader is shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0046]    The slip-on upper spreader  6  is a flat plate with two small parallel slots  8  and  9 , each approximately ⅛ in.×1 in. in size, located on one end and positioned at an angle of about 45 degrees with the longitudinal axis. See  FIG. 2 . The slots are rectangular in shape and each sized to hold strap  10 . Two larger parallel slots  11  and  12  are located similarly on the other end of the plate have openings slightly larger than the first two just described. These two are each large enough to pass the buckle  14  on the end of ski strap  13  and are also positioned at an angle of about 45 degrees with the longitudinal axis, but oriented in an opposite angle from the other two slots. 
         [0047]    The snap-on upper spreader in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  is comprised of two flat plates which are each die cut or molded in a similar V-shape (or U-shape, not shown) with corresponding legs  23  and  24  of the “V” fastened together on the left side and corresponding legs  25  and  26  fastened together on the right side. The two snaps,  27  and  28 , serve to fasten the left ski pole strap  10  in between legs  23  and  24 , and the two snaps  29  and  30  serve to fasten the right ski pole strap  13  in between legs  25  and  26 . The snaps may be external off-the-shelf fasteners which are attached to the opposing surfaces of the plates in the spreader to be fastened, or in the case of injection molded plates they may be molded in the plates themselves. Rivets may be employed in place of the two interior snaps  28  and  30  for a more permanent fastening. The ski pole straps thus held at predetermined angles and locations within the legs of the snap-on upper spreader create an opening or loop in the straps. 
         [0048]    The second part of said spreader device, designated as the lower spreader  7 , is a flat plate with two small parallel slots  15  and  16  for holding strap  10  on one end, each at an angle of 90 degrees with the longitudinal axis. See  FIG. 5 . On the other end, the plate has a single notch  17  in the outside edge large enough to pass strap  13  with buckle  14 . 
         [0049]    Installation of the slip-on upper spreader  6  is described first with reference to  FIG. 1 . The strap without a buckle  10  is passed down through the inside slot  8  and threaded up through outside slot  9  of the slip-on upper spreader. The strap  10  is then allowed to hang down vertically to be in position to be inserted into the lower spreader  7 . Next, the other strap  13  with a buckle  14  is passed down through inside slot  11  and threaded up through outside slot  12  of the slip-on upper spreader  6 . This strap with a buckle is then allowed to hang down vertically to be in position to be passed through the notch  17  in lower spreader  7  for subsequent attachment to the end of strap  10 . While the free ends of the two straps  10  and  13  are held securely, said slip-on upper spreader  6  is pushed up to the upper end of the straps next to the top of the ski pole grip  18 . 
         [0050]    The installation of the snap-on upper spreader is described with reference to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 . With the inner snaps  28  and  30  closed, the snaps  27  and  29  are opened so that the ski pole straps  10  and  13  can be placed between the upper and lower legs of the spreader plates. The upper part of the left ski pole strap  10  is placed between legs  23  and  24 , and the upper part of the right ski pole strap  13  is placed between legs  25  and  26 . After the ski pole straps are in place, snaps  27  and  29  are snapped together thereby holding the straps in a position to form an open loop. 
         [0051]    The lower spreader  7  is installed after the upper spreader is in place. The strap without a buckle  10  is passed down around the outside edge  19  of the lower spreader  7  and threaded up through the outside slot  15  and down through inside slot  16 . The strap  13  with buckle  14  is then passed down through the notch  17 , and fastened to the other strap  10  underneath the lower spreader  7 . With the lower spreader  7  in this position near the bottom of the grip  20 , and with the upper spreader (either the slip-on embodiment or the snap-on embodiment) in position near the top of the grip, the upper and lower spreaders function together to hold straps  10  and  13  apart and form an opening  21 . The aforementioned upper and lower spreaders together provide an ample opening  21  for insertion of a gloved hand with little or no assistance from the skier&#39;s other hand. The design of the lower spreader  7  with an oversized notch  17  allows the buckle  14  to move through the notch without restraint. In other words, the loop between straps  10  and  13  can be cinched up or loosened so as to make the opening  21  smaller or larger. And, when adjustments in the size of opening  21  are made, the buckle  14  on strap  13  is free to move through notch  17 , and may end up below, within, or above the notch. Although the use of both spreaders, upper  6  and lower  7 , provide for a maximum opening  21 , either one of the spreaders may be used alone, providing a significant and useful degree of opening. The indentation  22  on the edge of the lower spreader  7  rests next to the grip of the pole  20  when the spreader is in place and provides a cradle for the grip. 
         [0052]    The spreaders may be constructed of plastic, rubber, or metal with spring-like characteristics. They may be stamped from sheet material, or in the case of plastic may also be injection molded, thus making them very inexpensive to manufacture. The material must have slight flexibility so that the spreaders can conform to the shape of the hand as force is exerted on the straps in the performance of skiing. This is necessary so that the device will be comfortable and not interfere with the normal function of the ski straps. The material must also be resilient so that the parts will return to their former shape after the hand is released from the pole. 
         [0053]    The slip-on upper spreader and the lower spreader have predetermined openings of size and shape to fit a wide range of straps produced by different manufacturers. The approximate dimensions of the overall device and the dimensions of the slots and notch that are described have been used successfully in prototypes, but are not the only ones that can be used. Other dimensions slightly larger or smaller could also be used. The slip-on upper spreader  6  shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  can be constructed of either a flat piece or a curved piece. The flat-piece alternative is shown in  FIG. 3 . The curved piece alternative  23  is shown in  FIG. 4 . Either alternative will function satisfactorily. The curved piece can be attached with the concave side resting next to the pole grip, thus affording a more streamlined appearance.