Patent GB-1344171-A (GB)
Title: Ski poles
IPC: A63C11/22
Filed: 1971-04-19
Abstract: 1344171 Ski-pole A KEPKA and H KEPKA 19 April 1971 [12 Feb 1970] 22197/71 Heading A6D A safety ski pole comprises a plurality of members forming an integral unit and includes devices for interlocking said members during normal use and force responsive means operatively connected to the interlocking devices for responding to a predeterminde force on either end of the pole to release the interlocking devices so that at least two of the members can move towards each other when said force is applied. As shown in Fig. 1 a ski-pole comprises two telescopically joined tubes 1 and 2 the tube 1 having at its upper end a hand grip 34 with a releasable wrist strap 4 and an end piece 6 which forms a part of the interlocking device and the tube 2 having at its lower end a collapsible tip 5 and a snow basket 30. The tubes 1 and 2 are, in normal use, interlocked by the looped ends 11 of a leaf spring 12 disposed in tube 2, extending into slots in tube 1. In this position the looped ends 11 are locked in an outer position by a spacer 10 mounted on a rod 9 and urged into the locking position by springs 14, 19. The upper end of rod 9 is operatively connected to the end piece 6 so that a predetermined force on the end piece 6 (e.g. as in a fall) will move the spacer 10 out of engagement with the spring loops 11 so that the tube 1 can overcome the effect of leaf spring 12 and telescope over the tube 2. The tip 5 is located on a tube 27 slidable in tube 2 but in normal use locked relative thereto by the looped ends 24 of leaf spring 25 located in tube 27 and engaging in slots in to end of tube 2. The loops 24 are normally kept apart by spacer 22 kept in position by a tensioned member 21 and springs 28, 32. However if and when the tubes 1 and 2 telescope the member 21 slackens and the spring 28 forces the spacer 22 out of its locking position thus permitting the loops 24 to be forced inwards and the tip 5 to telescope within the tube 2. The springs &c. are so arranged that a certain threshold end force can be applied to the ski-pole without it collapsing. Means can be provided to positively lock the interlocking devices against collapse of the pole. This may be in the form of extensions on the member 6 positively engaging, when gripped by the hand of a skier, parts on the grip 34 so that the member 6 cannot be moved to disengage the interlocking devices or by positive inter-engaging locking means operated either by rotation of the member 6 or by the rotation of a separate lever associated with the grip 34. The wrist strap 4 is attached to the grip 34 by means which prevent it from being disengaged therefrom in normal use of the pole but which will allow the strap to become disengaged should a sufficient force be applied to it in an upward direction relative to the pole. The joint between concave and may be coated with a plastics material. Various arrangements are made to prevent the parts of the ski-pole not operating due to icing or being blocked by snow. The member 6 may be formed integrally with the grip 34 but still moveable relative thereto and may be formed of foam material with an outer skin or it may be hollow and filled with gas. tubes 1 and 2 may have a suitable covering sleeve 15 and the point 31 of the tip 5 may be The member 6 is also preferably formed as a hand grip for gripping over the top thereof. In another embodiment, Fig. 12a (not shown) the loops 11 and spring 12 are replaced by a pair of bolt like members interconnected by springs. In a further embodiment, Fig. 13a (not shown) the tubes are prevented from telescoping under normal use by a scissors - like arrangement inside the tube 1 and which normally engages the end of tube 2 but which with a predetermined force on the end of the pole, will collapse inwardly to allow the tubes to telescope. In a further embodiment, Fig. 14 (not shown), instead of tubes 1 and 2 being telescopically jointed they are hinged together by a ball or universal joint and in normal use the ball joint is locked by a pin passing through the centre thereof, which pin is displaceable out of the joint as a result of a predetermined force on the end of the pole so as to permit the tubes 1 and 2 to hinge one relative to the other.  In another embodiment, Figs. 18 to 20 (not shown) instead of the interlocking mechanism being operated by a force on the end member 6 it is controlled by a pivotted lever forming a part of the grip 34 such that all the time the lever is gripped to the grip 34 the interlocking mechanism operates to prevent the members of the ski-pole collapsing but when the lever is released the interlocking mechanism is unlocked and a force on the end of the ski-pole will cause it to collapse.