Ski pole with timing device

A ski pole having an accurate timing mechanism associated with the handle portion thereof and including actutation means disposed adjacent the free end of the handle for recording a given period of time and also independently recording split intervals of time within the given period of time. The timing mechanism is preferably an electronic stopwatch having a portable power source and a digital display face that is viewable by the skier from the side of the handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention generally relates to apparatus for use in the sport 
of skiing. Specifically, the invention comprises an improved ski pole 
having an accurate timing mechanism associated with the handle portion of 
the pole for easy and positive actuation by the skier in measuring the 
time it takes to complete a given skiing event. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The sport of skiing can usually be classified into two basic forms, general 
recreational skiing and competitive skiing. 
When skiers are participating in competitive skiing events, such as cross 
country racing, downhill racing, slalom racing and other similar events, 
the minimum time within which such an event is completed determines the 
event winner. Though the timing of such events during actual competition 
is achieved through accurate and sophisticated timing systems set up and 
controlled by individuals other than the competitors, there has always 
existed a need whereby a skier can easily and accurately monitor his own 
performance, particularly during training sessions. 
For example, in training for a slalom race during which a skier must 
negotiate around and through a plurality of gates, it is extremely 
advantageous if the skier can conduct his practice sessions over the 
slalom course while accurately determining, by himself, the time periods 
required for completion of the course. Such measurements should permit the 
skier to know just how much time has elapsed since the start of the run 
and also how much time it takes to complete the distances between any 
given pair of gates. Accordingly, the skier will be able to conduct all 
his training sessions in the absence of a separate timekeeper and thereby 
permit the making, by himself, of necessary adjustments in preparation for 
the actual race. 
In order to realize these advantages, it is highly desirable that a timing 
mechanism be inconspicuously associated with the handle portion of the ski 
pole so as to have a minimum effect on the skier's normal usage of the 
pole. It is further advantageous for such a timing mechanism to be easily 
actuated and viewed during skiing so as to provide a minimum of visual 
distraction for the skier. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ski pole 
having an accurate timing device associated therewith. 
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved ski pole 
having a timing device capable of accurately and efficiently recording 
elapsed periods of time during all forms of skiing activities and 
maneuvers. 
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a ski pole 
having a timing mechanism which accurately measures a given period of time 
required for a skier to complete a specified event and independently 
recording intervals of time within the given period of time. 
The invention serves to achieve the foregoing and other objects by 
providing a ski pole handle having an accurate timing mechanism associated 
therewith, with such mechanism being preferably an electronic stopwatch 
having a digital display face. The timing mechanism may be disposed within 
a recess provided in the side of the handle so that the display face may 
be easily viewed by the skier. The mechanism may also be disposed adjacent 
the base portion of the handle. Actuation buttons provided adjacent the 
free end of the handle permit manual manipulation of the timing mechanism 
by the thumb of the skier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The improved ski pole 1 of the invention is depicted in FIG. 1 and includes 
an elongate-shaped handle 3 and a shaft 5. A wrist strap 7 having an 
adjusting buckle 9 may be secured to handle 3 by means of a rivet 10 or 
similar fastening means. 
Handle 3 may be made from any suitable material well known in the art for 
this purpose, though it is preferred that handle 3 be formed as an 
integral body from moldable plastic or elastomeric material. Handle 3 is 
provided with a plurality of convolutions 11 integrally formed therewith 
to provide a gripping surface for the fingers of the skier. 
Shaft 5 may be of bamboo, metal, fiberglass or any other well known 
material found suitable for its intended use and is securely attached to 
one end of handle 3 as generally indicated at 13. This may be achieved by 
directly molding handle 3 around the end of shaft 5, by threadedly 
attaching shaft 5 to handle 3 or by any other secure method of attachment 
well known in the art. The other end of shaft 5 is provided with the usual 
basket or ring structure (not shown). 
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a recess 15 is provided within the body of 
handle 3 for receiving a timing device 17 powered by a portable power 
source (not shown), such as an electric battery. It is preferred that 
recess 15 be substantially the same size as device 17 in order that a 
precise fit be achieved for device 17. A transparent cover 19 serves to 
enclose device 17 within recess 15 and permits viewing of a display face 
21 provided on device 17. Cover 19 is received within a peripheral ledge 
22 formed around the outer peripheral edge of recess 15 and is secured 
therein by means of a plurality of screws 23 to permit insertion and 
removal of device 17 for servicing purposes. As is apparent in FIGS. 2 and 
3, the outer surface of cover 19 is substantially coplanar with the 
corresponding adjacnet portions of handle 3 to thereby provide an overall 
smooth shape to the exterior configuration of handle 3. 
The free end of handle 3 is provided with a first actuation button 25 for 
resetting timing device 17 back to zero position, a second actuation 
button 27 for starting and stopping the timing function of device 17 and a 
third actuation button 29 for independently recording a split interval of 
time within an overall given period of time being recorded by device 17. 
Button 25 may alternatively be disposed closer to display face 21 to 
prevent its accidental actuation. 
As seen in FIG. 1, buttons 25 and 27 are partially received in 
correspondingly shaped recesses 31 and 33 formed in handle 3. A spring 35 
is disposed within recess 31 for biasing button 25 in an outward position. 
Similarly, a spring 37 may be disposed within recess 33 for biasing button 
27 in an outward position. Button 29 may also be disposed within a recess 
and spring-biased in the same manner as buttons 25 and 27. 
Button 25 is coupled to a switch 39a disposed in device 17 through a direct 
actuation member 39 for the purpose of resetting the timing device back to 
a zero position. An actuation member 41 permits button 27 to control a 
switch 41a disposed in device 17 for the purpose of starting and stopping 
the timing function. Similarly, an actuation member 43 is disposed between 
button 29 and device 17 for direct actuation of a switch 43a contained in 
device 17 for independently recording split intervals of time within the 
general time period being measured and recorded through the actuation of 
button 27. 
Device 17 may comprise any accurate timing mechanism which is capable of 
being structurally utilized in combination with handle 3 in the manner 
described. It is further desirable that device 17 be capable of the 
various measuring functions imposed by actuation buttons 25, 27 and 29. 
Device 17 is preferably an electronically operated stopwatch wherein 
display face 21 comprises either a liquid crystal display (LCD) or light 
emitting diode (LED) digital display. As seen in FIG. 1, display face 21 
provides a primary indication of total time elapsed in minutes and 
seconds, as indicated at 45, upon actuation of button 27. Further, a 
display of a split interval of time in hundredths of a second, as 
indicated at 47, is provided upon actuation of button 29. 
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is depicted another embodiment of the 
invention. A ski pole 100 is shown to include a handle 101 and a shaft 103 
embedded within and secured to an end of handle 101. A wrist strap 105 is 
provided adjacent the free end of handle 101 for securing the hand of the 
skier therearound. 
A housing 106 is carried by shaft 103 adjacent the base of handle 101. A 
portion of shaft 103, as indicated at 107, passes through housing 106. A 
timing device having a display face indicated generally at 109, is 
removably mounted within a recess provided in housing 106 and secured 
therein by means of a detachable transparent plate 111. 
The free end of handle 101 is provided with a first spring-biased actuation 
button 113 for resetting timing device 109 back to zero position through 
an actuation member 115. Similarly, a second spring-biased actuation 
button 117 is provided for starting and stopping the timing function of 
device 109 through an actuation member 119. A third spring-biased 
actuation button 121 may also be provided at the free end of handle 101 
for independently recording a split interval of time within an overall 
given period of time in device 109 through an actuation member 123. As 
indicated in FIG. 4, buttons 113, 117 and 121 are all disposed at the free 
end of handle 101 with their corresponding actuation members 115, 119 and 
123 passing through both handle 101 and the upper portion of housing 106 
for direct connection to device 109. Alternatively, button 113 may be 
disposed on housing 106 to prevent accidental resetting of device 109 back 
to zero position. 
Timing mechanisms which may be utilized in the practice of the invention 
may include those manufactured and sold by the Heuer Time and Electronics 
Corporation of Springfield, New Jersey 07081. Specific liquid crystal 
display models found particularly suitable are the Heuer Microsplit liquid 
crystal display types designated by REF 370B, REF 370CH and REF 320. 
However, it is to be understood that any other similar forms of timing 
mechanisms may also be found equally suitable for use with the present 
invention. 
BASIC MODE OF OPERATION 
The operation of the invention shall now be described with reference to the 
embodiment thereof depicted in FIGS. 1-3. In utilizing the improved ski 
pole 1, the skier loops strap 7 around his wrist in the usual manner and 
grips handle 3 by wrapping four fingers around convolutions 11 formed 
therein. The thumb of the skier is then disposed adjacent buttons 25, 27 
and 129. Assume the skier is desirous of timing a slalom run which 
includes several gates. At the start of the run, button 27 is actuated to 
thereby begin the recordation of total elapsed time as indicated at 45 on 
display face 21. As the skier arrives at the first gate and wishes to 
record the specific interval of time within which it takes him to pass 
from this gate to the second gate, he presses button 29. This immediately 
provides a recordation of split time in hundredths of a second as 
indicated at 47, which recordation is totally independent of the overall 
elapsed time as shown at 45. By repressing button 29 when the skier has 
reached the second gate, the total time it took him to travel between the 
gates will be provided at 47. By again pressing button 29, the time 
indicated at 47 will be set back to zero position so that the skier may 
then record the periods of time it takes him to complete the various 
distances between remaining pairs of gates. 
The location of buttons 25, 27 and 29 adjacent the free end of handle 3 
permits their individual actuation with a minimum of distraction by 
utilizing only the thumb of the skier. The disposition of display face 21 
on the side of handle 3 permits the skier to quickly determine both 
overall elapsed times and split interval times when ski pole 1 is held in 
any position between horizontal and vertical. The overall structural 
configuration of handle 3 permits the skier to accurately time his efforts 
during practice or in actual competition with a minimum of distraction. 
The speed of the skier during any specific run is easily determined by 
dividing the total elapsed time by the length of the completed course. 
It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herewith shown 
and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that 
various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts and 
compositions may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the 
invention or scope of the subjoined claims.