Abstract:
A strap leg separating device for maintaining a distance between a first strap leg and a second strap leg of a strap attached to a handgrip of a sport or ski pole. In a preferred embodiment, a handgrip is provided that integrates the feature of maintaining a distance between a first strap leg segment and a second strap leg segment of a strap into the handgrip design and manufacture. A first strap leg receiving member supports and directs a segment of the first strap leg along a first axis and a second strap leg receiving member supports and directs a segment of the second strap leg along a second axis at an angle to the first axis. Alternately, a strap leg separating device may be provided for retrofit to a sport pole for maintaining a distance between the first strap leg and the second strap leg of a strap.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    1. Field of Invention  
           [0002]    The invention relates to handgrips for ski-poles, trekking poles and the like, herein sport poles, which include a wrist strap and more particularly to a device for maintaining a gap between the leg segments of a loop of the strap to facilitate insertion of the fingers, hand and wrist through the loop of the strap.  
           [0003]    2. Prior Art  
           [0004]    A common problem with sport poles which include a handgrip having a security strap, lies in the fact that it may be cumbersome and problematic for an individual to insert the fingers of the hand through the adjacent legs of the strap which form a loop. Commonly a sport pole includes a handgrip having a strap. The strap may be placed about the wrist or hand of the user, to secure the pole to the user reducing the potential for dropping or otherwise loosing grip of the pole at times that may prove inconvenient or otherwise undesirable. The strap is commonly configured as a loop formed by inserting a first end and a second end of a strip of material, for instance leather or various synthetic materials, into the grip and securing to the handgrip. For example a screw may threadedly engage the handgrip, passing through a cross-section of the first end and the second end of the strip of material, securing the strap to the handgrip. The strap loop is formed by the first and second legs of the strap extending from a point of attachment to the handgrip and extending to a point at which the legs attach. In some cases the legs may form a continuous segment. In other cases the legs may attach to one another in a releasable or adjustable manner.  
           [0005]    Typically, when the strap is not placed around the wrist of the user, the legs of the loop may close against one another making insertion of the fingers between the legs difficult. This situation is further complicated in situations in which the user is heavily clothed, as when skiing or trekking in inclement conditions.  
           [0006]    A number of developments have been advanced that relate to ski poles, trekking poles and the like. U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,418 to Lenhart entitled Pole Grip with Wrist Strap discloses a pole grip for releasably locking a wrist strap to the pole grip. The pole grip includes a first connecting element that is fixed to the wrist wrap and a second connecting element provided in a pole grip recess which is accessible in the region of grip head of pole grip. The pole grip includes a body which defines the recess, an inlet and an outlet to the recess. The first connecting element may be introduced and retracted relative to the inlet.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,039 to Manninen entitled Means for Fastening the Hand to a Ski Pole discloses a harness for securing a hand to a ski-pole grip, the harness surrounding at least partially a thumb-side outer edge of the hand, and at least one wrist-encircling tightening strap, wherein the protector is provided with at least one adjustment strap, extending in a substantially wrist-encircling direction and fitted with a fastening buckle which is intended for cooperation with the tightening strap and whose position along the adjustment strap is adjustable longitudinally of the adjustment strap according to a size of the hand.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,681 to Vesalainen, et al. entitled System for Securing a Ski Pole to the Hand of a Skier discloses a system for securing a ski pole to a hand of a skier, wherein a ski glove or a hand-wrapping harness strap includes a wedge-shaped or triangular locking piece, with the locking piece being attached to the harness strap or attached to the ski glove by a flexible lip located within a web area between a thumb and an index finger of the glove. The locking piece may be attached to the handgrip of the ski pole, with the handgrip being provided with a mating-shaped cavity for receiving the locking piece.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,282 to Lenhart entitled Glove With an Integrated Hand Loop for Poles discloses a glove with an integrated wrist strap for a ski pole or the like. The glove with an integrated wrist strap has an upper surface that defines a palm side, a back side, a wrist part and a thumb joint part. The wrist strap is formed integrally with the glove and includes a circumferentially adjustable loop part that wraps around the wrist part, an attachment part which extends on the palm side of the glove in the region of the thumb joint part, and a pull tab which extends on the outside of the glove. Also included is a binding element which is attached to the attachment part and the pull tab. The binding element, the attachment part and the pull tab are located adjacent the thumb joint part on the palm side of the glove.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,388 to Bjerke entitled Device For Use on Ski Pole Handles discloses a device for use on ski pole handles, as an aid for keeping the handle against or in close vicinity to the user&#39;s hand including an element adapted to be fastened by insertion of an attachment member on the element in a strap aperture in the handle, whereby a portion of the element protrudes from the handle.  
           [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,252,344 to Larsen entitled Combination Safety Strap and Handle for Ski Poles discloses a combination safety strap and handle for ski poles wherein the strap is arranged to be disconnected from the wrist of a skier under adverse conditions, the strap having at least one end thereof attached directly to the handle member and formed having an enlarged loop, the loop being defined by the strap looped over itself and held in this configuration by means of two opposing, cooperating, fastening-sheet-material tape members which will disconnect under stress, thus freeing the ski pole from the skier.  
           [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,210 to Allsop, et al. entitled Ski Pole Grip With Elastic Strap discloses a ski pole grip or handle is provided that includes an elastic strap that can slide through a slot and wherein the strap will stay in place and be released at the proper time. The strap is pliable so that there will be sufficient and proper give and yet the strap can effectively move through its retaining slot when sufficient pressure is applied thereto.  
           [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,303 to Finnegan entitled Releasable-Strap Ski-Pole Grip discloses a releasable-strap ski-pole grip including an injection-molded piece of flexibly yieldable material having a hand-grip body to fit the end of a ski pole, and integrally formed upper and lower strap portions which provide radially offset longitudinally approaching ends. These ends carry releasably engageable hook-and-loop tape elements which enable adjustable setting of the strap connection, to suit the comfort and size of a particular gloved hand, and the nature of the connection is to release upon accidental wrenching of the hand with respect to the grip, the release being automatic whatever the degree of adjustment.  
           [0014]    It may be advantageous to provide a handgrip for a sport pole which includes a wrist strap which also includes a member for maintaining a gap between the leg segments of the strap to facilitate insertion of the fingers and hand through the loop of the strap.  
           [0015]    It may be advantageous to provide a device to adapt an existing handgrip having a wrist strap according to the prior art which, when installed on the existing handgrip, will maintain a gap between the leg segments of the strap to facilitate insertion of the fingers and hand through the loop of the strap.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0016]    The present invention is directed to a strap leg separating device for maintaining a distance between a first strap leg segment and a second strap leg segment of a strap attached to a handgrip of a sport pole. The strap leg separating device includes a body having a first strap leg receiving member having a first receiving member axis which extends from a primary axis of the handgrip. The first strap leg receiving member includes a length extending along the first receiving member axis in a first plane. The first strap leg receiving member is configured to receive and maintain a segment of a length of the first leg of the strap along the first plane. The body also includes a second strap leg receiving member having a second receiving member axis extending from the primary axis at a second angle, the second strap leg receiving member also includes a length extending along the second receiving member axis in a second plane. The second strap leg receiving member is configured to receive and maintain a segment of a length of the first leg of the strap along the second plane. In one preferred embodiment, the length of the second strap leg receiving member extends along the second receiving member axis in a second plane which lies substantially perpendicular to the first plane.  
           [0017]    In one preferred embodiment, the strap leg separating device is formed as a device that may be installed on an existing sport pole. A first strap leg is inserted through a first strap leg receiving aperture formed in the body of the strap leg separating device. The first strap leg receiving aperture receives and maintains a segment of a length of the first leg of the strap along the first plane. Similarly, a second strap leg is inserted through a second strap leg receiving aperture formed in the body of the strap leg separating device. The second strap leg receiving aperture receives and maintains a segment of a length of the second leg of the strap along the second plane.  
           [0018]    In one preferred embodiment, the first receiving plane extends from the primary axis in such a manner that a width of the first strap leg receiving aperture is substantially perpendicular to the primary axis. In another preferred embodiment, the first receiving plane extends from the primary axis in such an manner that a width of the first strap leg receiving aperture is substantially parallel to the primary axis.  
           [0019]    In one preferred embodiment, the first strap leg receiving member and the second strap leg receiving members are formed as first and second strap leg receiving aperture formed in the body of the strap leg separating device.  
           [0020]    In another preferred embodiment, the first strap leg receiving member and the second strap leg receiving members include first and second biased arms which are formed as a part of or are otherwise connected to the body. A gap is defined between the first biased arm and the body for receiving and retaining the first strap leg segment between the first biased arm and the body. Similarly, a gap is defined between the second biased arm and the body for receiving and retaining the second strap leg segment between the second biased arm and the body. Each of the first and second biased arms may include a retaining lip which assists in retaining the strap leg under the biased arm.  
           [0021]    In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a handgrip for a sport pole includes a handle which includes a strap leg separating element. The strap leg separating element may be connected to the handle, or in the alternative it may be integral to the handle. For example, the strap leg separating element may be incorporated into the handle design and molded as a portion of the handle. In this embodiment, the first strap leg separating element may include a projecting element connected to and extending from the handle along the first receiving member axis. The projecting element includes a first strap leg receiving aperture having a length extending along the first receiving member axis. The projecting element aperture is configured to receive and maintain a segment of a length of the first leg of the strap along the first plane. The first strap leg receiving aperture is defined by a length extending along the first receiving member axis in a first plane, a width and a height. The width of the strap is proportional to the width of the first strap leg receiving aperture and the thickness of the strap is proportional to the height of the first strap leg receiving aperture. Similarly, in this embodiment of the invention, the second strap leg separating element is formed as a second strap leg receiving aperture formed in the handle portion of the handgrip. The length of the second strap leg receiving aperture extends along a second receiving member axis in a second plane which lies substantially perpendicular to the first plane.  
           [0022]    In yet another embodiment of the invention, a sport pole includes a shaft having a first end including a terrain engagement tip and a second end. A handgrip is attached to the second end of the shaft. The handgrip includes a handle and a strap attached to the handle. The handle includes a strap leg separating element connected to or integrated with the handle portion.  
           [0023]    The present invention consists of the device hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DRAWINGS  
       [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 is a representative side view of a sport pole including a strap leg separating device;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is a representative side view of a handgrip for a sport pole including a strap leg separating device;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 is a representative side cutaway view of a handgrip including a strap leg separating device;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 is a representative side cutaway view of a handgrip including a strap leg separating device;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5 is a representative perspective view of a strap leg separating device;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 6 is a representative top view of a strap leg separating device;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 7 is a representative front view of a strap leg separating device;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 8 is a representative side view of a strap leg separating device;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 9 is a representative side cutaway view of a strap leg separating device;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 10 is a representative front view of a handgrip including a strap leg separating device;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 11 is a representative side view of a handgrip including a strap leg separating device;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 12 is a representative top view of a handgrip including a strap leg separating device;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 13 is a representative perspective view of a strap leg separating device;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 14 is a representative rear view of a strap leg separating device;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 15 is a representative side view of a strap leg separating device; and  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 16 is a representative cutaway top view of a strap leg separating device. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0040]    Referring now to FIG. 1, sport pole  10  includes shaft  11  having basket  13  and tip  18 . Sport pole  10  also includes handgrip  50  which includes strap separating device  60 .  
         [0041]    Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, sport pole  10  is shown including a portion of shaft  11  and handgrip  50 , including strap leg separating element  60 . In the embodiment shown, handgrip  50  includes a grip  45  and projecting grip element  51 . As shown in FIG. 2, handgrip  50  also includes strap  12  having strap first leg  14  and strap second leg  15  which extend from grip  45  through projecting grip element  51 . First and second strap legs  14  and  15  are joined by strap leg connector  19 .  
         [0042]    As shown in FIG. 3, first strap leg  14  includes first end  41  which passes through first strap leg receiving aperture  52  which extends through projecting grip element  51  along first axis FA. Second strap leg  15  includes second end  42  which passes through second strap leg receiving aperture  56  which extends through grip  45  along second axis SA. First strap leg  14  and second strap leg  15  are secured to handgrip  50  by screw  18  which passes through first end  41  of first strap leg  14  and second end  42  of second strap leg  15 .  
         [0043]    As seen in FIG. 3 a primary axis P extends through the length of shaft  11  extending through handgrip  50 . First axis FA extends from primary axis P at a first angle A 1 . In the embodiment shown, first angle Al is substantially equal to 90°. Also in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, second axis SA lies substantially parallel to primary axis P and therefore, second angle A 2  is substantially equal to 0°. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, second axis SA intersects first axis FA. As shown, first strap leg receiving aperture  52  extends through projecting grip element  51  along first axis FA. First end  41  of first leg  14  is received by first strap leg receiving aperture  52  and first segment  16  of first leg  14  is maintained in alignment with first axis FA along a length of first segment  16  through projecting grip element  51 . Second end  42  of second leg  15  is received by second strap leg receiving aperture  56  and second segment  17  of second leg  15  is maintained in alignment with second axis SA along a length of second segment  17  through second strap leg receiving aperture  56 . Maintaining a length of first segment  16  of first leg  14  in alignment with first axis FA along a length of first segment  16  and maintaining a length of second segment  17  of second leg  15  along second axis SA a length of second segment  17  provides a handgrip  50  configured such that a minimum distance D is maintained between first strap leg  14  and second strap leg  15  to facilitate placement of strap  12  around fingers, hand and/or wrist of a user.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention, wherein strap leg separating device  20  is retrofitted to sport pole  100  including a handgrip  110  attached to shaft  111 . Handgrip  110  includes grip  120  and strap  112 . Strap leg separating device  20  is shown installed on sport pole  100  to a maintain a minimum distance D between first strap leg  114  and second strap leg  115  to facilitate placement of strap  112  around fingers, hand and/or wrist of a user. As shown in FIG. 4, first strap leg  114  and second strap leg  115  are joined by connector  119 . First strap leg  114  includes first end  101  which passes through first strap leg receiving aperture  24  of strap leg separating device  20  along first axis FA and then through strap leg receiving aperture  105  of handgrip  110 . Second strap leg  115  includes second end  102  which passes through second strap leg receiving aperture  32  of strap leg separating device  20  along second axis SA and then through strap leg receiving aperture  105  of handgrip  110 . First strap leg  114  and second strap leg  115  are secured to handgrip  110  by screw  118  which passes through first end  101  of first strap leg  114  and second end  102  of second strap leg  115 .  
         [0045]    As seen in FIG. 4, primary axis P extends through the length of shaft  111  extending through handgrip  110 . First axis FA extends from primary axis P at a first angle A 1 . In the embodiment shown, first angle A 1  is substantially equal to 90°. Also in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, second axis SA lies substantially parallel to primary axis P and therefore, second angle A 2  is substantially equal to 0°. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, second axis SA intersects first axis FA. As shown, first strap leg receiving aperture  24  extends through strap leg separating device  20  along first axis FA. First end  101  of first leg  114  is received by first strap leg receiving aperture  24  and first segment  116  of first leg  114  is maintained in alignment with first axis FA along a length of first segment  116  through strap leg separating device  20 . Second end  102  of second leg  115  is received by second strap leg receiving aperture  32  and second segment  117  of second leg  115  is maintained in alignment with second axis SA along a length of second segment  117  through second strap leg receiving aperture  32 . Maintaining a length of first leg  114  in alignment with first axis FA along a length of first segment  116  and maintaining a length of second leg  115  along second axis SA a length of second segment  117  provides a retrofit device for handgrip  110  that maintains a minimum distance D between first strap leg  114  and second strap leg  115  to facilitate placement of strap  112  around fingers, hand and/or wrist of a user.  
         [0046]    Referring to FIGS. 5 through 9, strap leg separating device  20  is shown to advantage including body portion  21 . FIGS. 5, 6,  7  and  9  show first strap leg receiving member  22  including first biased arm  23  which is formed with respect to body portion  21  so as to form first strap leg receiving aperture  24  for receiving a first strap leg  114  as shown in FIG. 4. First biased arm retainer lip  25  provides additional means for securing the strap leg within first strap leg receiving aperture  24 , when strap leg separating device  20  is installed on handgrip  110 . Strap leg separating device  20  also includes second strap leg receiving member  30 . As seen in FIGS. 5 through 9, second strap leg receiving member  30  includes second biased arm  31  which forms second strap leg receiving aperture  32  for receiving strap second leg  115  as shown in FIG. 4. Second biased arm  31  also includes additional means for retaining the strap within second strap leg receiving aperture  32 , in this case second biased arm retainer lip  33 , shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Strap leg separating device  20 , as shown in FIGS. 5, 6,  7  and  9 , also includes contoured portion  38 , which facilitates fit of strap leg separating device  20  against a radius grip portion  120  of handgrip  110  as shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 7, first strap leg receiving aperture  24  includes width  28  and height  27  which are proportional to a width and thickness of strap  112 , shown in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 9, first strap leg receiving aperture  24  includes length  26  and height  27  which is proportional to a thickness of strap  112 , shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 6 shows second strap leg receiving member  30  including second strap leg receiving aperture  32  having a width  35  which is proportional to a width of strap  112 , shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 9 shows second strap leg receiving member  30  including second strap leg receiving aperture  32  having a depth  36  which is proportional to a thickness of strap  112 , shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 9 also shows second strap leg receiving member  30  including second strap leg receiving aperture  32  having a height  34 . FIG. 9 also shows first axis FA extending through first strap leg receiving aperture  24  and second axis SA extending through second strap leg receiving aperture  32 .  
         [0048]    It will be noted that FIGS. 4 through 9 depict strap leg separating device  20  configured such that first biased arm  23  opens to a first side of body portion  21  and second biased arm  31  opens to a second side of body portion  21 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that leg separating device  20  may be configured such that first biased arm  23  and second biased arm  31  both open to a first side of body portion  21  or to the second side of body portion  21 .  
         [0049]    [0049]FIGS. 10 through 16 illustrate strap leg separating device  220  which may be retrofitted to sport pole  200  including a handgrip  210  attached to shaft  211  as shown in FIGS. 10 through 12. Referring to FIGS. 10 through 12, handgrip  210  includes grip  213  and strap  212 . Referring to FIG. 11, first strap leg  214  and second strap leg  215  attach to handgrip  210  is such a manner that a width W of strap  212  lies on a plane that is substantially parallel to primary axis P which extends through a length of handgrip  210  and shaft  211 . As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, fastener  219  connects a second end of first strap leg  214 , seen in FIGS. 10 and 12, to a second end of second strap leg  215 , seen in FIGS. 10 through 12.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 12 is a representative top cutaway view of strap leg separating device  220  shown installed on sport pole  200  to a maintain a minimum distance D between first strap leg  214  and second strap leg  215  to facilitate placement of strap  212  around fingers, hand and/or wrist of a user. First strap leg  214  passes through first strap leg receiver  221  of strap leg separating device  220  along first axis FA and then through first strap leg receiving aperture  224 , to be secured within handgrip  210 . Second strap leg  215  passes through second strap leg receiver  222  of strap leg separating device  220  along second axis SA and then through the strap leg receiving aperture  225 , to be secured within handgrip  210 .  
         [0051]    As seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, primary axis P extends through the length of shaft  211  extending through handgrip  210 . As shown, strap leg axis SLA extends from primary axis P at a first angle A 1 . In the embodiment shown, first angle A 1  is substantially equal to 90°. As shown in FIG. 12, first strap leg receiving aperture  224  includes width  230  which is proportional to a thickness of first strap leg  214 . Similarly, second strap leg receiving aperture  225  includes width  231  which is proportional to a thickness of second strap leg  215 . First strap leg receiving aperture  224  includes length  234  and second strap leg receiving aperture  225  includes length  235 . In use, first strap leg  214  inserts through first strap leg includes length  235 . In use, first strap leg  214  inserts through first strap leg receiving aperture  224  and second strap leg  215  inserts through second strap leg receiving aperture  225 . First strap leg receiving aperture  224  supports, maintains and directs first strap leg  214  for a length equal to length  234  of first strap leg receiving aperture  224  and second strap leg receiving aperture  225  supports, maintains and directs second strap leg  215  for a length equal to length  235  of second strap leg  215  thereby maintaining a minimum distance D between first strap leg  214  and second strap leg  215  to facilitate placement of strap  112  around fingers, hand and/or wrist of a user.  
         [0052]    Referring to FIGS. 13 through 16, strap leg separating device  220  is shown to advantage including body portion  223 . First strap leg receiver  221  and second strap leg receiver  222  extend from body portion  223 . Referring to FIGS. 13,15 and  16 , second strap leg receiving aperture  225  extends through first strap leg receiver  221  and body portion  223 . Referring to FIGS. 14 and 16, first strap leg receiving aperture  224  extends through first strap leg receiver  221  and body portion  223  along first axis FA as seen in FIG. 16. Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 12 through 16, second strap leg receiving aperture  225  extends through second strap leg receiver  222  and body portion  223  along second axis SA as seen in FIG. 16. Referring to FIG. 14, first strap leg receiving aperture  224  and second strap leg receiving aperture  225  include a height  232  which is proportional to a width of strap  212 , shown in FIG. 11. Strap leg separating device  220 , as shown in FIG. 16 also includes contoured portion  228 , which facilitates fit of strap leg separating device  220  against a radius of grip  213  of handgrip  210  as shown in FIG. 12.  
         [0053]    While this invention has been described with reference to the detailed embodiments, this is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications to the described embodiments as well as the inclusion or exclusion of additional embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to this description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as fall within the true scope of the invention.