Patent Publication Number: US-11382395-B2

Title: Grip device for a pole

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Taiwanese Utility Model Patent Application No. 109203841, filed on Apr. 1, 2020. 
     FIELD 
     The disclosure relates to a grip device, and more particularly to a grip device for a pole. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A conventional grip device for a pole such as a pole for skiing, trekking, or hiking, is generally equipped with a wrist strap. The wrist strap is used for tying on a wrist of a user so as to ensure a firm grip without putting too much stress and strain on the user&#39;s hand, and further to prevent the pole from being lost when the user&#39;s grip on the pole handle becomes loose. 
     The abovementioned conventional grip device is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,610, which includes a grip body, and a wrist strap that is fixed to the grip body. One disadvantage of the conventional grip device is that when the user falls down, or when the pole is stuck into the ground or snow, the user might receive wrist or hand injuries from the pole because the pole is still strapped to his/her wrist. 
     SUMMARY 
     Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a grip device fora pole that can alleviate the drawback of the prior art. 
     According to the disclosure, the grip device includes a grip and a wrist strap unit. The grip has a connecting part that defines a connecting space therein. The connecting part has an upper portion, a lower portion, an opening, and a protruding portion. The upper portion is located over the connecting space. The lower portion is located under the connecting space. The opening is located between the upper portion and the lower portion, and communicates with the connecting space and the external environment. The protruding portion is connected to the lower portion, is disposed in the connecting space, and is adjacent to the opening. 
     The wrist strap unit includes a connecting member and a wrist strap. The connecting member engages removably the connecting space, and has a head part and a tail part. The head part and the tail part are respectively distal from and adjacent to the opening of the connecting part of the grip. The tail part is pivotable, with the head part serving as a pivot, between a locked position and an unlocked position. At the locked position, the tail part is adjacent to the lower portion of the connecting part of the grip so that the connecting member is retained in the connecting space by the protruding portion of the connecting part. At the unlocked position, the tail part is away from the lower portion and the protruding portion of the connecting part so that the connecting member is permitted to be separated from the connecting part. The wrist strap is connected to the tail part of the connecting member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a fragmentary side view of a pole mounted with a first embodiment of a grip device according to the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmentary rear view of the pole mounted with the first embodiment, wherein a wrist strap unit is not shown; 
         FIG. 3  is a fragmentary, partly sectional view illustrating a tail part of a connecting member of the wrist strap unit of the first embodiment being pivotable between a locked position (solid lines) and an unlocked position (phantom lines); 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmentary, partly sectional view illustrating an engaging segment of an engaging member being resiliently deformed by a head part of the connecting member; and 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary, partly sectional view of a second embodiment of the grip device for the pole according to the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a first embodiment of a grip device  101  according to the disclosure is adapted for use in a pole  100 . The pole  100  includes the grip device  101  and a pole body  102 . The first embodiment includes a grip  1 , a rod  2 , and a wrist strap unit  3 . 
     Referring further to  FIG. 3 , the grip  1  has a holding part  11  that is adapted to be connected to the pole body  102  and that is for being held by a user, and a connecting part  12  that defines a connecting space  13  therein, and that is connected to a top of the holding part  11 . 
     The connecting part  12  has an upper portion  121 , a lower portion  122 , two side portions  123 , an opening  124 , a linking portion  125 , a protruding portion  126 , and an engaging member  127 . The upper portion  121  is located over the connecting space  13  of the grip  1 . The lower portion  122  is located under the connecting space  13 , and is formed with a groove  128  that has an open end communicating with the external environment, and that is spaced apart from the connecting space  13 . The side portions  123  are connected between the upper portion  121  and the lower portion  122 , and are respectively located at two opposite sides of the connecting space  13 . The opening  124  is located between the upper portion  121  and the lower portion  122  and between the side portions  123 , and communicates with the connecting space  13  and the external environment. In addition, the opening  124  is located at a rear side of the connecting part  12 , with the curve between the thumb and the forefinger located at a rear side of the grip device  101  and facing a front side of the grip device  101  when the user&#39;s hand properly grips onto the grip device  101 . The linking portion  125  is connected between the upper portion  121  and the lower portion  122  and between the side portions  123 , and is located on a side of the connecting space  13  opposite to the opening  124 . The protruding portion  126  is connected to the lower portion  122 , is disposed in the connecting space  13 , and is adjacent to the opening  124 . Specifically, the protruding portion  126  is a protrusion protruding from the lower portion  122  into the connecting space  13 . The engaging member  127  has a fixed segment  127   a  extending from the linking portion  125  into the connecting space  13  between the upper portion  121  and the lower portion  122 , and an engaging segment  127   b  extending from the fixed segment  127   a.    
     The connecting space  13  of the grip  1  has a connecting zone  131  that is defined between the engaging member  127  and the lower portion  122  of the connecting part  12  of the grip  1 , and a working zone  132  that is defined between the engaging member  127  and the upper portion  121  of the connecting part  12 . The engaging segment  127   b  of the engaging member  127  is resiliently deformable relative to the fixed segment  127   a  of the engaging member  127  when an external force is exerted thereon. 
     In the first embodiment, the connecting part  12  of the grip  1  includes a grip body  14  that has the side portions  123  and that is integrally molded with the holding part  11  of the grip  1 , and a mounting body  15  that has the upper portion  121 , the lower portion  122 , the linking portion  125 , the protruding portion  126  and the engaging member  127 , and that is mounted to the grip body  14 . However, in other embodiments, the grip body  14 , the mounting body  15  and the holding part  11  may be molded as one piece. 
     The rod  2  is mounted in the groove  128  of the lower portion  122  of the connecting part  12  of the grip  1 , and has two opposite ends that respectively extend into the side portions  123  of the connecting part  12 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the wrist strap unit  3  includes a connecting member  32  and a wrist strap  31 . The connecting member  32  engages removably the connecting space  13  of the grip  1 , and has a head part  321  and a tail part  322  that are respectively distal from and adjacent to the opening  124  of the connecting part  12  of the grip  1 . The head part  321  is inserted removably into the connecting zone  131  of the connecting space  13 , is engaged separably with the engaging segment  127   b  of the engaging member  127  of the connecting part  12 , and has a round cross section. The engaging segment  127   b  has a surface that is in separable contact with the head part  321 , that is arc-shaped (see  FIG. 3 ), and that has a curvature equal to that of an outer surface of the head part  321 . Therefore, the tail part  322  is pivotable, with the head part  321  serving as a pivot, between a locked position (see solid lines of the connecting member  32  in  FIG. 3 ), where the tail part  322  is adjacent to the lower portion  122  of the connecting part  12  of the grip  1  so that the connecting member  32  is retained in the connecting space  13  by the protruding portion  126  of the connecting part  12 , and an unlocked position (see phantom lines in  FIG. 3 ), where the tail part  322  is away from the lower portion  122  and the protruding portion  126  of the connecting part  12  so that the connecting member  32  is permitted to be separated from the connecting part  12 . Specifically, in the first embodiment, when the tail part  322  is at the locked position, the protruding portion  126  blocks a rear side of the tail part  322  so as to restrain the connecting member  32 . Moreover, in the first embodiment, when the tail part  322  is at the unlocked position, the engaging segment  127   b  is resiliently deformed by the head part  321  in a manner that the connecting zone  131  is enlarged and the working zone  132  of the connecting space  13  is shrunk (see  FIG. 4 ) upon exertion of a pulling force on the connecting part  32 , so that the head part  321  is permitted to be disengaged from the engaging segment  127   b,  and be withdrawn from the connecting space  13 . 
     The wrist strap  31  of the wrist strap unit  3  is connected to the tail part  322  of the connecting member  32  of the wrist strap unit  3 , and has a connecting segment  311  and an adjusting segment  312 . The connecting segment  311  is connected to the connecting member  32 . The adjusting segment  312  has an end connected to the connecting segment  311 , and an opposite end connected directly to the grip  1  so that the adjusting segment  312  cooperates with the connecting segment  311  and the grip  1  to form a loop  313  that is closed. Specifically, the opposite end of the adjusting segment  312  extends into the groove  128  of the lower portion  122  of the connecting part  12 , passes through a gap defined between the rod  2  and a closed end of the groove  128  which is opposite to the open end of the groove  128 , and extends out of the groove  128 . The opposite end of the adjusting segment  312  is operable to move relative to the grip  1  so as to adjust a size of the loop  313 . Furthermore, the adjusting segment  312  has a limiting end  312   a  that has a thickness larger than a width of the gap between the rod  2  and the closed end of the groove  128  so as to prevent the adjusting segment  312  from falling out of the groove  128 . Therefore, the wrist strap  31  is prevented from being separated from the grip  1 . It should be noted that, in the first embodiment, the limiting end  312   a  is formed by folding and sewing the opposite end of the adjusting segment  312  that extends out of the groove  128 . 
     In practice, by virtue of the connecting member  32  of the wrist strap unit  3  engaging removably the connecting space  13  that is defined by the connecting part  12  of the grip  1 , and the adjusting segment  312  of the wrist strap  31  of the wrist strap unit  3  being secured to the grip  1 , the wrist strap  31  and the grip  1  form the closed loop  313 , and the user can adjust the size of the loop  313  by moving the opposite end of the adjusting segment  312  relative to the grip  1 . Therefore, the user can adjust the size of the loop  313  to tie around his/her wrist, and hold the holding part  11  with the corresponding hand to use the pole  100 . In normal use, the hand used to hold the pole  100  and the wrist tied by the wrist strap  31  are both closer to the ground than the opening  124  of the connecting part  12 , so the tail part  322  of the connecting member  32  is generally at the locked position. Even if the tail part  322  of the connecting member  32  is displaced to the unlocked position, exertion of a relatively great pulling force on the connecting part  32  is still needed to resiliently deform the engaging segment  127   b  of the engaging member  127  and to remove the connecting member  32  from the connecting space  13 . That is to say, in normal use, the connecting member  32  can be retained in the connecting space  13  (i.e., the connecting member  32  engages the connecting part  12 ) by virtue of the engaging member  127  and the protrusion portion  126  of the connecting part  12 . Hence, the wrist strap unit  3  is able to offer reliable connection between the grip  1  and the hand and wrist of the user. 
     However, if the user loses his/her grip on the holding part  11  of the grip  1  when the user falls down, or when the pole  100  is stuck into the ground or snow, the hand used to hold the pole  100  and the wrist tied by the wrist strap  31  of the wrist strap unit  3  will move upward relative to the opening  124  of the connecting part  12  of the grip  1  such that the tail part  322  of the connecting member  32  of the wrist strap unit  3  is drawn by the wrist strap  31  to the unlocked position. In the meantime, the user will exert a relatively great pulling force on the connecting part  32  to deform the engaging segment  127   b  of the engaging member  127  of the connecting part  12  and to remove the connecting member  32  from the connecting space  13 , which leads to separation of the connecting member  32  and the connecting part  12 , and further leads to separation of the connecting segment  311  of the wrist strap  31  and the grip  1 . As a result, the hand and the wrist of the user are no longer strapped to the pole  100 , and thus injuries to the user&#39;s hand or wrist can be prevented by disengaging the tie between the user and the pole  100 . 
     Moreover, when the connecting member  32  of the wrist strap unit  3  is separated from the connecting part  12 , the user can exert a force on the connecting member  32  to urge the head part  321  of the connecting member  32  to resiliently deform the engaging segment  127   b  of the engaging member  127  so as to insert the head part  321  into the connecting zone  131  of the connecting space  13  such that the connecting member  32  is connected to the connecting part  12  again. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a second embodiment of the grip device  101  according to the disclosure is similar to the first embodiment. A distinctive difference between the first embodiment and the second embodiment is omission of the engaging member  127  of the connecting part  12  of the grip  1  in the second embodiment. 
     In the second embodiment, the upper portion  121  of the connecting part  12  of the grip  1  is resiliently deformable relative to the linking portion  125  of the connecting part  12 . The head part  321  of the connecting member  32  of the wrist strap unit  3  is inserted removably into the connecting space  13  of the grip  1 , and is engaged separably with the upper portion  121  of the connecting part  12 . The tail part  322  of the connecting member  32  is pivotable, with the head part  321  serving as the pivot, between the locked position (see solid lines of the connecting member  32  in  FIG. 5 ), and the unlocked position (see phantom lines in  FIG. 5 ). When the tail part  322  is at the unlocked position, the upper portion  121  is resiliently deformed by the head part  321  upon exertion of a pulling force on the connecting part  32 , so that the head part  321  is permitted to be disengaged from the upper portion  121 . Therefore, the second embodiment is able to achieve the same improvements as the first embodiment. 
     In summary, the tail part  322  of the connecting member  32  of the wrist strap unit  3  is pivotable between the locked position and the unlocked position when the connecting member  32  engages the connecting space  13  of the grip  1 . In addition, the connecting member  32  is permitted to be separated from the connecting part  12  by exertion of a relatively great pulling force thereon when the tail part  322  is at the unlocked position. Therefore, by virtue of the connecting member  32  and the connecting part  12  of each of the embodiments of the grip device  101  for the pole  100  according to the disclosure, the hand and the wrist of the user are no longer strapped to the pole  100  when the user of the pole  100  falls down, or when the pole  100  is stuck by the external environment. Consequently, the user can avoid danger and injuries caused by using the pole  100 , and the purpose of the disclosure can certainly be fulfilled. 
     In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments maybe practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects, and that one or more features or specific details from one embodiment may be practiced together with one or more features or specific details from another embodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of the disclosure. 
     While the disclosure has been described in connection with what are considered the exemplary embodiments, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.