Abstract:
Provided is an adjustable length fitness pole that includes an upper tubular section having an upper handgrip portion and a lower joint portion. The fitness pole also includes a lower tubular section having a lower foot mounting portion and an upper joint portion. The joint portions of the upper and lower tubular sections are sized and configured for slideable, registered engagement with each other thereby to prevent relative misalignment between the foot mounting portion and the handgrip portion.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The exemplary embodiment of the present invention broadly concerns fitness and sporting goods. More particularly, however, the exemplary embodiment of the present invention concerns adjustable-length poles used in activities such as Nordic walking as well as running, hiking, rollerblading, roller skating and other activities for which poles may be used to enhance the experience and performance of the activity. The embodiment is specifically directed to adjustable-length poles for which there is a correct and incorrect orientation to the poles for proper use. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    There are many activities where the use of a pole is beneficial. For example, downhill skiers use poles to stabilize themselves as they traverse the mountain. In addition, where the skier plants the pole helps define a pivot point about which the skier turns. Snowshoeing in deep snow is an example of a sport where an adjustable pole is useful. Deep soft snow can be somewhat unstable to walk in without poles. An adjustable pole is particularly useful in snowshoeing because one can adjust for varying depths of snow. Cross-country skiing also uses adjustable poles not only for stability, but for propulsion as well. An adjustable pole is particularly helpful because proper height adjustment can prevent stress on the skier&#39;s back and provide for the most efficient propulsion. 
         [0003]    Another popular sport, of particular interest here, which also employs the use of adjustable poles, is fitness walking or Nordic walking. Nordic walking simulates, to some extent, cross-country skiing and turns a regular walk into a full body workout. Nordic walking poles engage the upper body during fitness walking. Nordic walking involves applying force to the poles with each stride. It is estimated that a person can burn up to 40% more calories using walking poles over just regular walking. Correctly adjusted poles encourage the walker to use their arms and act to take stress off of the back and leg joints. According to some sources the correct height for Nordic walking poles is approximately 68% of the height of the user. 
         [0004]    Nordic walking poles typically have both durable metal tips in conjunction with a basket for use on snow, ice, and trails. Nordic walking poles also usually have removable rubber tips for use on pavement and other hard surfaces. The rubber traction tip or foot may have directional tread and is usually contoured for use in a particular orientation. 
         [0005]    The telescopic sections of existing adjustable-length Nordic walking poles can rotate freely during length adjustment. This requires the user to re-align the traction foot with the handgrip. This is inconvenient, time-consuming, and can be difficult for elderly users or others having poor manual dexterity. Also, removing and re-attaching the foot increases the possibility that the foot will be improperly installed or aligned, and can result in unnecessary wear over time. Adjusting the length of the poles happens frequently, especially in situations where the user is traveling. The poles are adjusted for different conditions, terrain, and activities. Also the poles require adjustment based on the anatomical geometry of different persons using the poles. 
         [0006]    Accordingly there is a need for an adjustable-length pole that ensures that the traction foot and hand grip are always properly aligned, eliminating the need for the user to re-align the foot after each length adjustment or installation and removal of the foot. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    To ensure proper relative alignment of the removable traction foot and the handgrip, the tubular telescopic pole sections are registered angularly relative to each other, while still allowing for longitudinal adjustment. Additionally, the removable traction foot is registered to the lower tubular section which prevents it from being installed with an incorrect orientation. 
         [0008]    The foot mounting portion includes a snap ring which engages a mating groove formed in the traction foot. The snap ring and mating groove are an improvement over the typical press-fit retention method because it reduces the force needed to install and remove the rubber traction foot, and provides the user tactile feedback when the foot is properly seated. 
         [0009]    The handgrip includes an easily-operable latch and release mechanism, which securely captures and releases a catch element installed on the hand strap. This provides added convenience by enabling the user to easily free up the hands as needed for actions such as zipping up a jacket, tying shoe laces, drinking from a water bottle, talking on a cellular phone, etc. without completely extricating the hand from the strap. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the self-orienting adjustable length fitness pole; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front plan view of the self-orienting adjustable length fitness pole shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the self-orienting adjustable length fitness pole; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the self-orienting adjustable length fitness pole as viewed about line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged partial perspective view of the fitness pole&#39;s upper tubular section; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the upper tubular section as viewed about line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an exploded and enlarged partial perspective view of the fitness pole&#39;s lower tubular section; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the pole&#39;s lower tubular section as viewed about line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged partial perspective view of the self-orienting adjustable length fitness pole showing in more detail the clamp mechanism securing the upper and lower tubular sections; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the clamp mechanism of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11A  is a cross-sectional view of the hand grip with the catch mechanism engaged as viewed about line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 11B  is a cross-sectional view of the hand grip with the catch mechanism released as viewed about line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Provided herein is a self-orienting adjustable length fitness pole that includes features for angularly aligning the adjustable tubes and removable foot, to ensure proper registration between the handgrip and foot after length adjustment or foot re-installation. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate the exemplary embodiment of the self orienting adjustable length fitness pole  1  which includes upper tubular section  2  and lower tubular section  4 . Upper tubular section  2  includes handgrip  6  and lower joint portion  20 . Disposed about lower joint portion  20  is clamp  50 , in the form of a clamping collar, the structure and operation of which is described more fully below. Lower joint portion  20  is configured to receive upper joint portion  24  of lower tubular section  4 . Lower tubular section  4  also includes lower foot end  26 . Mounted to foot mounting portion  26  are basket  28  and ground engaging foot  30 . An optional slide bushing  40  may be installed between the upper tubular section  2  and the lower tubular section  4 . 
         [0024]    With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4  the self orienting feature of the fitness pole is described. Upper tubular section  2  includes a dimple  42  formed in its lower portion, which registers in keyway  44 , which is formed in the upper joint portion  24  of the lower tubular section  4 . Keyway  44  is trough-shaped so that it is contoured to accommodate dimple  42 . This arrangement allows the lower tubular section  4  to slide longitudinally within the upper tubular section  2  while maintaining registered alignment between grip  6  and traction foot  30 . In this context, registered alignment refers to the proper orientation of the handgrip and foot during intended use of the fitness pole. Once the upper and lower tubular sections  2 ,  4  are longitudinally adjusted to the desired height, clamp  50  is engaged to retain them at this height. It should be understood that registration can be accomplished not only by the dimple and keyway arrangement as described above but by other suitable means as well, such as using tubes having a non-cylindrical cross-section, such as an elliptical or D-shaped cross-section. It should also be understood that more than two tubular sections could be employed using the same registration concept. Moreover, telescoping could be reversed, they could be bungied, or slideably mated, all without departing from the inventive concepts herein. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , which show hand strap  8  disengaged from grip  6 , it can be seen that hand strap  8  is connected to grip  6  with a tether  10 . Tether  10  includes strap catch  12  which releasably engages grip  6 . Strap catch  12  includes a toothed profile  16  which is adapted to mate with a corresponding toothed profile  15  formed on release mechanism  14 . Strap catch  12  engages toothed profile  15  when the strap catch is inserted into opening  19  formed in handgrip  6 . Depressing the release mechanism&#39;s button  13  disengages the mating toothed profile  15  from toothed profile  16  thereby allowing the strap catch  12  to be removed from grip  6 . Depressing the release mechanism&#39;s button  13  causes a deflection in the tooth profile  15 , which disengages the two profiles from each other. Release button  14  is inserted into handgrip  6  and held in place with pin  18 . 
         [0026]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  illustrate the operation of latch mechanism  14 . In  FIG. 11A  the latch is shown in the engaged state. As can be seen in the Figures, the latch mechanism button  13  includes ramped portion  17  that interacts with arm  11  when button  13  is depressed. Arm  11  extends from the toothed profile  15 . In order to disengage latch  12 , button  13  is depressed forcing ramp portion  17  against arm  11 , which in turn bends toothed profile portion  15  away from toothed profile  16  of latch  12  (see  FIG. 11B ). Latch mechanism  14  is preferably formed of a resilient material such as plastic thereby acting as a spring to return both button  13  and arm  11  to the engaged state shown in  FIG. 11A . Preferably, grip  6  is permanently attached to the upper end of upper tubular section  2 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8  it can be appreciated that adjustable pole  1  is convertible between a pole having a tip and basket  32 ,  28  for use in snow or ice, to a pole having foot  30  designed for use on pavement or other hard surfaces. Traction foot  30  is preferably formed of a compliant rubber. Foot mounting portion  26  includes key  36  which registers in a geometrically congruent keyway  37  formed in foot  30 . Foot mounting portion  26  also includes a snap ring  35  which engages annular snap ring groove  34  also formed in foot  30 , thereby to retain foot  30  on lower tubular section  4 . 
         [0028]    Key  36  engages foot keyway  37 , allowing the removal of the foot by axial displacement, while maintaining proper angular orientation of the foot. Since the handgrip  6 , preferably, is permanently affixed to the upper tubular section  2 , and the food end portion  26  is permanently affixed to the lower tubular section  4 , continual alignment between the traction foot  30  and handgrip  6  is achieved regardless of the height adjustment of the upper and lower tubular sections. 
         [0029]    Preferably, foot  30  is loosely fitted with foot mounting portion  26  such that the two components are secured longitudinally solely by the interference between the snap ring  35  and groove  34 , with the vertical load resisted by a metal washer  31  bearing against tip  32 . This detent retention method results in a more controllable installation force than the tapered press-fit method normally used. 
         [0030]      FIG. 9  is a view of the middle section of the self-orienting adjustable length fitness pole, showing the upper tubular section  2  with clamp  50  installed on the lower joint portion  20 .  FIG. 9  shows the clamp  50  in the locked or pressure-fit position. Clamp  50  includes split collar  52  which contacts the lower joint portion  20 . Lower joint portion  20  has a relief slot  48  extending from the end of upper tubular section  2  to stop hole  47 . Relief slot  48  facilitates deformation of lower joint portion  20  allowing the transfer of gripping action exerted by the clamp  50  to upper joint portion  24 . 
         [0031]    Clamp  50  also includes clamp lever arm  54 , which is secured to split collar  52  with pin  64 , clamp screw  60 , and clamp nut  62 . Also shown in this figure is a stop  46  which is secured to lower tubular section  4  and operative to ride upwardly against the interior of upper tubular section  2  until it engages stop hole  47  when upper joint portion  24  is extended to the end of its travel. This corresponds to the longest effective length for the fitness pole.  FIG. 10  is a top view of clamping collar  50  in the unlocked position, with the eccentric cam surface  56  of the clamp lever arm  54  disengaged from the clamp split collar  52 . 
         [0032]    Accordingly, the present invention has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated, though, that the present invention is defined by the following claims construed in light of the prior art so that modifications or changes may be made to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained herein.