Patent Publication Number: US-2003227167-A1

Title: Ski pole

Description:
[0001] The present invention relates to a pole, particularly for alpine sports, and more particularly used in on-piste skiing.  
       [0002] The poles that currently exist on the market are produced from lightweight materials, such as aluminum alloys or glass- or carbon-fiber-reinforced resins. Although the majority of poles aimed at the general public have a tube with a circular section, competition poles have a tube in which the cross section changes between the handle and the tip. The sections chosen are therefore no longer round.  
       STATE OF THE ART  
       [0003] Document WO-93/11.839 discloses poles in which the tube comprises an inner reinforcement and retains an ovoid section.  
       [0004] Document DE-17.28.575 discloses ski poles that can have various types of profiled sections (ovoid, lozenge-shaped, rectangular, hexagonal, etc.).  
       [0005] Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,050 discloses a cane for indoor use in which a portion of the tube has an oval or elliptical section used for gripping.  
       [0006] Documents U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,611,571 and 5,505,492 disclose ski poles that comprise a tube in which the section changes longitudinally over defined portions. The tube has a circular upper portion, a central portion in the form of a water droplet, and a circular lower portion. These poles are presented as having greater strength and as being aerodynamic.  
       [0007] Document EP-0,761,262 discloses a pole that has a substantially triangular section, with the apex of the triangle oriented toward the front of the pole and a substantially planar face oriented toward the rear of the pole.  
       [0008] Also, document U.S. Pat. No. 1,782,173 discloses a ski pole that comprises a tube, a handle at the upper end of the tube and a tip at the lower end of the tube. The tube has a substantially circular profiled section over a lower portion located above the lower end of the tube, and also over an upper portion located below the upper end of the tube. The tube has a substantially triangular profiled section that changes progressively over a central portion located between the upper portion and the lower portion. The apex of the triangle is oriented toward the front of the pole.  
       [0009] However, these poles of the prior art have a major defect in that they are not ergonomic when the skier is in a position in which he is seeking speed. Moreover, if a pole made from an entirely carbon material breaks, the user recovering the pieces runs the risk of injuring himself with the shattered parts and the points that stick out of the tube structure.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010] A first problem that the invention proposes to solve is that of obtaining a ski pole that is particularly resistant to bending in all directions located in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube. A second problem lies in the production of a pole that is resistant to compression in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tube. A third problem is that of providing a ski pole that is particularly ergonomic and suitable for positioning directly against the skier&#39;s body. A fourth consists in visibly presenting an inscription that is positioned on a ski pole. A fifth problem consists of preventing the user running the risk of injury when he breaks his pole.  
       [0011] An alpine sports pole comprises a tube, a handle at the upper end of the tube and a tip at the lower end of the tube. The handle has a first gripping zone, more particularly for positioning the phalanges of a skier&#39;s hand, and a second gripping zone, more particularly for positioning the palm of the skier&#39;s hand. The first gripping zone of the handle defines the front of the pole and the second gripping zone of the handle defines the rear of the pole. The tube has a substantially circular profiled section over an upper portion located below the upper end of the tube and over a lower portion located above the lower end of the tube, and also a profiled section that changes progressively over a central portion located between the upper portion and the lower portion.  
       [0012] According to a first aspect of the invention, the central portion of the tube has a profiled section substantially in the form of a polygon having a single side oriented toward the front of the pole.  
       [0013] In other words, the side of the polygon forms a substantially planar zone that is oriented toward the front of the pole, i.e. toward the front relative to the phalanges of the skier&#39;s fingers and, consequently, toward the front relative to the skier&#39;s face and torso.  
       [0014] The first advantage of this substantially planar surface arrangement is that the substantially planar zone of the tube of the pole will be entirely pressed against the skier&#39;s body under his armpits when he naturally pivots his wrists in order to place both his hands on a level with his shoulders. The position of the pole is thus much more restful for the skier. This position of the pole is obtained practically instinctively, which gains time during a descent. This planar surface at the front of the pole even provides guiding for the optimum placement of the skier&#39;s body in terms of the desired aerodynamics.  
       [0015] The second advantage is that the side oriented toward the front of the pole may have a space for receiving an inscription, particularly the manufacturer&#39;s trademark or a logo or advertising or the like. This inscription will be highly visible when the skier leans on his poles at the start of a race.  
       [0016] In order to improve the resistance of the pole to bending in the direction from front to back, i.e. in terms of depth, the distance between the front of the pole and the rear of the pole at the level of the profiled section of the central portion of the tube may be greater than the diameter of the substantially circular profiled sections of the upper portion and/or of the substantially circular profiled section of the lower portion of the tube. Preferably, and in order to improve the resistance of the pole to bending in all directions located in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube, and also the resistance to compression, the dimensions of the profiled section of the central portion of the tube may be selected such that this same profiled section can encompass the substantially circular profiled sections of the upper portion and/or the substantially circular profiled sections of the lower portion of the tube.  
       [0017] In order to obtain a particularly attractive pole, just one or a number of the sides of the polygon of the profiled section may advantageously be slightly arcuate. “Slightly arcuate” is understood to mean a portion of an arc in which the curvature is between an entirely planar surface and a curvature corresponding to the diameter of the substantially circular profiled section of the upper portion and of the lower portion. For esthetic reasons, by way of example, the side oriented toward the front of the pole, possibly slightly arcuate, may be chosen.  
       [0018] In terms of the aerodynamics of the pole and also in order for there to be a lack of projecting angles, just one or a number of the apices of the polygon may be rounded.  
       [0019] Particularly advantageously, and to promote simpler manufacturing processes, the polygon may be a triangle. The triangle may, for example, be an isosceles triangle. The lateral sides of the isosceles triangle may have a length greater than the length of the side oriented toward the front of the pole.  
       [0020] Preferably, the pole may comprise a hollow longitudinal tube with a circumferential wall that in cross section from the inside toward the outside, respectively, at least one layer of a first material based on carbon fibers, at least one layer of a second material based on aramide fibers, and at least one layer of a third material based on carbon fibers.  
       [0021] In other words, the aramide fibers maintain the integrity of the pole should the inner carbon-fiber layer or the outer carbon-fiber layer break. The carbon fibers are held by the aramide fibers in order to prevent them emerging from the structure and causing the user puncture wounds and cuts.  
       [0022] In cross section from the inside toward the outside, respectively, the wall may comprise a first crossworked fabric based on carbon fibers, a unidirectional fabric based on carbon fibers, a fabric based on aramide fibers, and a second crossworked fabric based on carbon fibers. The fabric based on aramide fibers may advantageously be a unidirectional fabric or a crossworked fabric.  
       [0023] The first crossworked fabric based on carbon fibers may have a surface density substantially between 200 g/m 2  and 500 g/m 2 . This surface density may preferably be substantially equal to 350 g/m 2 . The unidirectional fabric based on carbon fibers may have a surface density substantially between 1000 g/m 2  and 2000 g/m 2 . This surface density may preferably be substantially equal to 1600 g/m 2 . The fabric based on aramide fibers may have a surface density substantially between 50 g/m 2  and 400 g/m 2 . This surface density may be preferably substantially equal to 200 g/m 2 . The second crossworked fabric based on carbon fibers may have a surface density substantially between 200 g/m 2  and 600 g/m 2 . This surface density may preferably be substantially equal to 400 g/m 2 . 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
     [0024] The invention will be properly understood and its various advantages and different characteristics will become more apparent during the following description of the non-limiting illustrative embodiment, with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawings, in which:  
     [0025]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the underside of a slalom pole;  
     [0026]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the underside of a giant slalom or super giant slalom pole;  
     [0027]FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the underside of a downhill pole;  
     [0028]FIG. 4 shows a side view of the slalom pole according to FIG. 1;  
     [0029]FIG. 5 shows a side view of the giant slalom or super giant slalom pole according to FIG. 2;  
     [0030]FIG. 6 shows a side view of the downhill pole according to FIG. 3;  
     [0031]FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view in cross section in plan VII-VII of the poles of FIGS. 4, 5, and  6 ;  
     [0032]FIG. 8 shows an enlarged view in cross section in plane VIII-VIII of the poles of FIGS. 4, 5, and  6 ;  
     [0033]FIG. 9 shows an enlarged view in cross section in plane IX-IX of the poles of FIGS. 4, 5, and  6 ;  
     [0034]FIG. 10 shows an enlarged view in cross section in plane X-X of the poles of FIGS. 4, 5, and  6 ;  
     [0035]FIG. 11 shows an enlarged diagrammatic view in cross section of the central portion of a pole pressed against a skier&#39;s body; and  
     [0036]FIG. 12 shows a view in cross section of a pole, showing the various layers that constitute the tube wall. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0037] A slalom pole  1  (see FIGS. 1 and 4), a giant or super giant slalom pole  2  (see FIGS. 2 and 5), and a downhill pole  3  (see FIGS. 3 and 6) all comprise a handle  4 , a tube  6 , and a tip  7 . The handle  4  is slipped onto the upper end  8  of the tube  6 . The tip is provided or attached to the lower end  9  of the tube  6 . A basket  11  is provided in the region of the lower end  9  of the tube  6 . Available proposed lengths for the various types of pole  1 ,  2 , and  3  range between 1.10 m and 1.40 m.  
     [0038] The handle  4  is formed by a first gripping zone  12  located to the front of the handle  4 . This first gripping zone  12  has a series of four hollows and bosses for placement of the four fingers of the skier&#39;s hand. The handle  4  is formed by a second gripping zone  13  located to the rear of the handle  4 . This second gripping zone  13  is substantially smooth and is for placement of the palm of the skier&#39;s hand. The first gripping zone  12  of the handle  4  defines the forward direction (arrow F) of the pole  1 ,  2 , and  3 , and thus the front of the overall tube  6 . The second gripping zone  13  defines the rearward direction (arrow R) of the pole  1 ,  2 , and  3 , and thus the rear of the overall tube  6 .  
     [0039] The tube  6  of the slalom pole  1  is rectilinear. The tube  6  of the giant or super giant slalom pole  2  and of the downhill pole  3  comprise an upper inflection point  14  and a lower inflection point  16  curving the tube  6  in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the forward direction F and the rearward direction R. These two inflection points  14  and  16  give giant slalom, super giant slalom and downhill poles  2  and  3  their well-known characteristic shape.  
     [0040] The tube  6  is composed of:  
     [0041] an upper portion  17  located below the handle  4  and under the upper end  8 , i.e. substantially between the sectional plane X-X (FIGS.  4  to  6 ) and the upper end  8 ;  
     [0042] a lower portion  18  located above the basket  11  and above the lower end  9 , i.e. between this lower end  9  and the sectional plane VII-VII (FIGS.  4  to  6 ); and  
     [0043] a central portion  19  located between the upper portion  17  and the lower portion  18 , i.e. between the sectional plane VII-VII and the sectional plane IX-IX (FIGS.  4  to  6 ).  
     [0044] In the case of the tube  6  of the giant or super giant slalom pole  2  and of the downhill pole  3 , the central portion  19  may be defined as being between the two inflection points  14  and  16 .  
     [0045] The upper portion  17  of the tube  6  has a profiled section  21  that is substantially circular (cf. FIG. 10). By way of example, the diameter of the upper portion  17  is constant, and, for example, substantially equal to 14 mm. The length of the upper portion  17  is, for example, substantially equal to 400 mm in the case of a 1.4-m pole, and is shorter in the case of smaller poles. The lower portion  18  of the tube  6  has a profiled section  22  that is substantially circular (cf. FIG. 7). By way of example, the diameter of the lower portion  18  is constant, and, for example, equal to 9.8 mm. The length of the lower portion  18  is, for example, substantially equal to 200 mm in the case of a 1.40-m pole, and is shorter in the case of smaller poles.  
     [0046] The central portion  19  of the tube  6  has a profiled section  23  that is polygonal. With a polygon, the surface is thus increased relative to the circular profiled section, which allows the compression strength to be increased. In the case of a slalom pole  1 , the length of the central portion  19  is, for example, substantially equal to 50 mm. In the case of a giant slalom and super giant slalom pole  2 , the length of the central portion  19  is, for example, substantially equal to 380 mm. In the case of a downhill pole  3 , the length of the central portion  19  is, for example, substantially equal to 500 mm.  
     [0047] Between the central portion  19  and the upper portion  17 , i.e. substantially between the sectional plane IX-IX and the sectional plane X-X (FIGS. 4, 5, and  6 ), the profiled section changes progressively from the polygonal profiled section  23  to the circular profiled section  21  over an upper intermediate portion. Between the lower portion  18  and the central portion  19 , i.e. substantially between the sectional plane VII-VII and the sectional plane VIII-VIII (FIGS. 4, 5, and  6 ), the profiled section changes progressively from the circular profiled section  22  to the polygonal profiled section  23  over a lower intermediate portion. The length of the upper intermediate portion between the central portion  19  and the upper portion  17  is, for example, substantially between 150 mm and 200 mm. The length of the lower intermediate portion between the lower portion  18  and the central portion  19  is, for example, substantially equal to 500 mm.  
     [0048] The polygonal profiled section  23  chosen in this case is triangular, with three apices  24 ,  26 , and  27 , and three rectilinear sides  28 ,  29 , and  31  forming the three planar faces of the profiled section  23 . According to the present invention, one of the planar sides  28  of the triangle  23  is oriented toward the front (arrow F) of the pole  1 ,  2 , and  3 . This planar front side  28  thus forms a space oriented toward the front F and receives an inscription  32  that is particularly visible to all. This flat space and the inscription  32  to a certain extent extend over the upper intermediate portion and over the lower intermediate portion. Despite their transition profiled section, the upper intermediate portion and the lower intermediate portion still have a profiled section with a side oriented toward the front F. The length of the space is, for example, substantially between 200 mm and 350 mm. During downhill or giant slalom or super giant slalom or slalom, this front side  28  of the tube  6  is often pressed against the skier&#39;s body  33 .  
     [0049] In an advantageous embodiment, this triangle  23  is an isosceles triangle. The lateral side  29  has a length substantially equal to the lateral side  31 , these two lateral sides  29  and  31  having a length greater than that of the front side  28 . The apices  24 ,  26 , and  27  are slightly rounded.  
     [0050] The distance H between the front side  28  and the apex  27  oriented toward the rear R of the profiled section  23  is greater than the diameter D of the substantially circular profiled section  21  of the upper portion  17  of the tube  6  and the diameter of the substantially circular profiled section  22  of the lower portion  18  of the tube  6 . By way of example, the greatest diameter D is that of the upper portion  17 , and it is equal to 14 mm and the distance H is equal to 18 mm. With such dimensions, greater resistance to bending is obtained in the front F-rear R direction.  
     [0051] The distance L between the two apices  24  and  26  delimiting the planar front side  28 , and the distance H are chosen such that the diameter D of the substantially circular profiled section  21  of the upper portion  17  of the tube  6  is smaller and encompassed (cf. FIG. 11) in the triangular profiled section  23 .  
     [0052] In a variant embodiment, the front side  28  is substantially arcuate, in “non-markedly or slight” proportions. The curvature of the arcuate portion is at least equal to 0, which corresponds to the planar rectilinear side  34 . This curvature of the arcuate portion is at most equal to the half-circle having the value given for the diameter D of the substantially circular profiled section  21  of the upper portion  17  of the tube  6 .  
     [0053] By way of illustrative embodiment, the structure of the hollow tube of a pole  36  will be as follows, considered in cross section (cf. FIG. 2) from the inside toward the outside:  
     [0054] a first crossworked, carbon fabric  37  of 350 g/m 2 ;  
     [0055] a unidirectional carbon fabric  38  of 1600 g/m 2 ;  
     [0056] a draping in the form of a unidirectional aramide fabric or a crossworked aramide fabric  39 , for example made from Kevlar™ of 200 g/m 2 ; and  
     [0057] a second crossworked carbon fabric  41  of 400 g/m 2 .  
     [0058] In the unidirectional carbon fabric  38 , the fibers are oriented along the longitudinal axis of the pole  36 . A second, supplementary unidirectional carbon fabric (not shown) may be placed between the Kevlar™ draping  39  and the second crossworked carbon fabric  41 .  
     [0059] This composite structure offers all the advantages of an entirely carbon pole, with its flexural stiffness, its compression strength and its low weight. This composite structure also provides all the intrinsic properties of aramide, with its good impact strength and a break limit that is much higher than its elastic limit. The addition of a layer of aramide  39  with a low gsm substance guarantees localization of the break zone, which is revealed by one or more folds, and prevents total breakage of the pole  36 . This aramide layer  39  makes it possible to avoid the formation of sharp needles of carbon fibers, these latter adhering to the aramide fibers.  
     [0060] The outer surface of the pole  36  will also be covered by an assembly  42  with size, lacquer and varnish of substantially 80 g/m 2 .  
     [0061] The profiled section of the pole  36  will be like that of the poles described in the previous embodiments, with a single side  43  oriented toward the front F of the pole  36 .  
     [0062] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated. A number of modifications may be made without thereby departing from the context defined by the scope of the set of claims.  
     [0063] The poles in question may be telescopic poles, snow shoeing poles, Nordic-skiing poles, ski-hiking poles, walking sticks and canes, etc.