Patent Publication Number: US-2021178247-A1

Title: Ski Pole Accessory

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to ski poles, and, more specifically, to a ski pole accessory for enhancing a ski pole. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Ski poles are typically formed with an elongated shaft that has a handgrip at one end and a tip at the other end. Skies use the ski poles for various reasons, such as improving or controlling balance, propulsion, rhythm, accuracy, timing, and support. Skiers also use the ski poles for generating excitement on ski slopes and for distinguishing a respective skier from other skiers. For example, using ski poles in fast-speed slope runs visually enhances and highlights for ordinary observers the quickness and exhilaration of the turns. As skiing speeds vary based on individual ability and environment, ranging for example between 10 miles per hour and upwards of 150 miles per hour, visual enhancement of the skier is considered by many highly important when selecting each component of skiing equipment, and especially when selecting the ski pole. 
     Thus, there is a need for providing a ski pole accessory that enhances a ski pole and that prevents or reduces the above and other problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a ski pole accessory includes at least one pole connector, a supporting base, and a plurality of strings. The supporting base has at least one securing element connected to the at least one pole connector. The supporting base further has a supporting length that extends along at least a majority of a pole length of a ski pole when the supporting base is attached to the ski pole. Each string of the plurality of strings is individually connected to and extending from the supporting base. The plurality of strings extends along at least a majority of the supporting length, with each string being offset from an adjacent string along the supporting base. 
     According to one implementation of this embodiment, each string of the plurality of strings has a free-moving end that extends generally parallel to the supporting base in a vertical orientation. The free-moving end extends generally perpendicular to the supporting base in a horizontal orientation. According to another implementation of this embodiment, the free-moving end moves relative to the supporting base as a function of gravity. According to yet another implementation of this embodiment, the free-moving end moves relative to the supporting base when exposed to a wind force. 
     According to yet another implementation of this embodiment, the plurality of strings has free-moving ends that taper in length across the supporting length of the supporting base. According to yet another implementation of this embodiment, the plurality of strings includes a first outermost string and a second outermost string between which a plurality of innermost strings are positioned. According to a configuration of this implementation, the first outermost string has a length of about 152 millimeters. According to another configuration of this implementation, the second outermost string has a length of about 610 millimeters. According to yet another configuration of this implementation, each string of the plurality of strings has a width of about 5 millimeters. According to yet another configuration of this implementation, the supporting length of the supporting base is about 610 millimeters. According to yet another configuration of this implementation, the supporting base has a supporting width of about 26 millimeters. 
     According to yet another implementation of this embodiment, the plurality of strings is made from a pleather material. According to yet another implementation of this embodiment, the plurality of strings includes a variety of colors. According to an alternative configuration of this implementation, the variety of colors is selected from a group consisting of gold, silver, black, and white. 
     According to yet another implementation of this embodiment, the at least one connector is frictionally attachable to the ski pole. According to yet another implementation of this embodiment, the at least one pole connector includes a loop that is stretchable around the ski pole when fixing the at least one pole connector to the ski pole. 
     According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a ski pole system includes a ski pole having a handgrip separated from a tip by a shaft. The ski pole further has a plurality of hooks fixed at respective positions along the shaft. The ski pole system further has a supporting base that is attached to the shaft of the ski pole in a parallel orientation. The ski pole accessory has a plurality of strings with each string being individually connected to and extending from the supporting base. The plurality of strings extends along the supporting base such that each string is offset from an adjacent string. 
     According to one implementation of this another embodiment, the ski pole further has a plurality of hooks fixed at respective positions along the shaft, and the ski pole accessory further having a plurality of pole connectors fixed at respective positions along the supporting base. Each pole connector of the plurality of pole connectors is coupled to a respective hook of the plurality of hooks for attaching the ski pole accessory to the ski pole. According to one configuration of this implementation, each pole connector has a loop that stretches around the shaft, the loop being secured to a respective hook of the plurality of hooks. 
     According to another implementation of this another embodiment, the plurality of strings includes a first outermost string, a second outermost string, and a plurality of innermost strings. The first outermost string has a shorter length than the second outermost string, and each of the plurality of innermost strings has a respective free-moving end. The respective free-moving end terminates on an imaginary line drawn between (a) a free-moving end of the first outermost string and (b) a free-moving end of the second outermost string. 
     Additional aspects of the disclosure will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view illustrating a ski pole system in a horizontal orientation. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view illustrating the ski pole system of  FIG. 1  in a vertical orientation. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view illustrating a pole connector in an uncoupled position. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view illustrating the pole connector of  FIG. 3  in a looped, coupled position. 
     
    
    
     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. There are shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, representative embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the disclosure to the embodiments illustrated. To that extent, elements and limitations that are disclosed, for example, in the Abstract, Summary, and Detailed Description sections, but not explicitly set forth in the claims, should not be incorporated into the claims, singly or collectively, by implication, inference or otherwise. For purposes of the present detailed description, unless specifically disclaimed or logically prohibited: the singular includes the plural and vice versa; and the words “including” or “comprising” or “having” means “including without limitation.” Moreover, words of approximation, such as “about,” “almost,” “substantially,” “approximately,” “generally,” and the like, can be used herein in the sense of “at, near, or nearly at,” or “within 3-5% of,” or “within acceptable manufacturing tolerances,” or any logical combination thereof, for example. 
     Referring generally to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a ski pole accessory  100  is attached to a ski pole  102  to form a ski pole system  103 . According to this illustrative embodiment, and referring more specifically to  FIG. 1 , the ski pole accessory  100  includes three pole connectors  104 , a supporting base  106 , and a plurality of strings  108 . A string, as used herein, refers to a flexible elongated structure such as a streamer. 
     In other embodiments, the ski pole accessory  100  includes a different number of pole connectors  104 , e.g., a single pole connector  104  or any other number of pole connectors considered beneficial for the respective embodiment. In  FIG. 1 , the pole connector  104  is generally illustrated in the form of one exemplary connector in which a looped connector is secured to itself, around the ski pole  102 , via a hook. In  FIG. 2 , an alternative embodiment shows another exemplary pole connector  204  that is in the form of a zipped tie tied to the ski pole  102 . As further described below and illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , according to yet another exemplary embodiment a pole connector  304  is in the form of yet another connector configuration. Referring back to the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the configuration with three pole connectors  104  provides an advantageous stable attachment between the ski pole accessory  100  and the ski pole  102 . 
     The supporting base  106  of the ski pole accessory  100  is generally elongated, having a length SL (also referred to as a supporting length) that extends along at least a majority of a length PL (also referred to as a pole length) of the ski pole  102 . The supporting length SL extends along the pole length PL when the supporting base  106  is attached to the ski pole  102 . According to the illustrated embodiment, the supporting length SL is approximately 75% the pole length PL. 
     The supporting base  106  further has a width SW (also referred to as a supporting width) that extends generally perpendicular to the pole length PL when the ski pole accessory  100  is attached to the ski pole  102 . Thus, the supporting length SL is generally in a parallel orientation relative to the ski pole  102 , and more specifically, relative to a shaft  108  of the ski pole  102  that separates a handgrip  110  from a tip  112 . 
     The plurality of strings  108  has each string individually connected to and extending from the supporting base  106 , which collectively can form a streamer. The plurality of strings  108  extends along at least a majority of the supporting length SL of the supporting base  106 . For example, according to the illustrated embodiment the plurality of strings  108  extends along the entirety of the supporting length SL. 
     Each string  108  is offset from an adjacent string  108  along the supporting base  106 , and has a free-moving end  114  that is opposite to an attached end  116  near the supporting base  106 . Each string  108  is free-flowing such that, in response to gravity, its free-moving end  114  extends generally parallel to the supporting base  106  in a vertical orientation (as illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). Each string  108  extends generally perpendicular to the supporting base  106  in a horizontal orientation (as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). The free-moving end  114  flows freely based on one or more environmental and skiing factors, including, for example, gravity, wind force, skiing speed, skier posture, etc. 
     According to the exemplary illustrated embodiment, the free-moving ends  114  of the strings  108  have a tapered effect in length across the supporting length SL of the supporting base  106 . Specifically, the strings  108  include a first outermost string  108   a , a second outermost string  108   b , and a plurality of innermost strings  108   c . The first outermost string  108   a  has a shorter length  1 L than a length  2 L of the second outermost string  108   b . Each of the plurality of innermost strings  108   c  has a respective free-moving end that terminates on an imaginary tapered line TL drawn between a free-moving end  114   a  of the first outermost string  108   a  and a free-moving end  114   b  of the second outermost string  108   b.    
     According to a specific example, the first outermost string  108   a  has a length of about 152 millimeters (about 5.984 inches), the second outermost string  108   b  has a length of about 610 millimeters (about 24.016 inches), and the width of each string  108  is about 5 millimeters (0.197 inches). The width of each string  108  is parallel to the supporting length SL and perpendicular to the length of the respective string  108 . Each of these dimensions is implemented individually or in combination with each other. 
     According to another example, the length ratio between the second outermost string  108   b  and first outermost string  108   a  is about 4:1, the ratio of the length of the first outermost string  108   a  to the width of each string  108  is about 30:1, and the ratio of the length of the second outermost string  108   b  to the width of each string  108  is about 122:1. Each of these ratios is implemented individually or in combination with each other. 
     According to yet another example, the supporting length SL of the supporting base  106  is about 610 millimeters (about 24.016 inches) and the supporting width SW is about 26 millimeters (about 1.024 inches). According to yet another example, the ratio between the supporting length SL and the supporting width is about 24:1. The dimensions and ratios disclosed above with respect to the strings  108  and the supporting base  106  are implemented individually or in combination with each other. 
     The plurality of strings  108  are made from one or more materials and include one or more colors. Collectively, the strings  108  can form or resemble a streamer. For example, according to one embodiment the plurality of strings  108  can be made from a pleather material that includes a variety of colors, including gold, silver, black and white. According to one example, all the strings  108  include a single color. According to another example, one or more strings  108  include a first color and one or more strings  108  include a second color. According to yet another example, at least on string  108  includes at least two colors. 
     The selected material is beneficially selected to provide the free flowing aspect of the strings  108 , while simultaneously enduring environmental elements and providing water-resistant or waterproof protection. Accordingly, the strings can be composed of other suitable materials including pleather, leather, plastic, feathers, weatherproof or synthetic paper, and the like. The selected colors are beneficial to enhancing the ski pole  102 , facilitating a dazzling effect as the skier speeds and slaloms down the ski slope. 
     Referring generally to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an exemplary pole connector is illustrated in the form of another configuration  304  that has a loop  318 , which extends from a main body  320 . The loop  318  is stretchable to wrap (or “loop”) around an object, such as the shaft  108  of the ski pole  102  (illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). When wrapped around the object (as illustrated in  FIG. 4 ), the loop  318  is secured to a hook  322  that is positioned on the main body  320  and opposite to the loop  318  (as more clearly illustrated in  FIG. 3 ). 
     The pole connector  304  wraps around the ski pole  102  and maintains its general position based on a frictional contact between the loop  318  and the shaft  108 . For increased frictional resistance, the loop  318  is made from a gripping material consisting of silicone. Silicone is beneficial in achieving the stretching of the loop  318 , as well as providing the desired frictional resistance for preventing undesired movement of the pole connector  304  relative to the ski pole  102 . According to other examples, other materials are selected that provide similar stretching and frictional resistance to silicone. 
     According to yet another alternative example, the ski pole  102  includes respective hooks for receiving pole connectors of the ski pole accessory  100 . In other words, instead of or in addition to the hook  322  of the pole connector  304  disclosed above, the ski pole  102  includes its own hooks that are either permanently or removably affixed at respective positions along the shaft  108 . 
     When skiing on a ski slope, a skier using the ski pole system  103  displays a unique, entertaining, and useful ski pole accessory  100  that not only dazzles with its free-flowing strings  108 , but also potentially protects the skier from at least some environmental factors (such as snow, water, rain, wind, etc.). Additionally, depending on the skier, the ski pole accessory  100  potentially provides an enhanced aerodynamic shape and look that facilitates improved balance and support while skiing. The aerodynamic shape provided by the ski pole accessory  100  continually and automatically (or naturally) changes as the skier proceeds down the ski slope, based on environmental factors, skier speed, and/or skier posture. 
     Beneficially yet, the ski pole accessory  100  does not interfere with the skier&#39;s movement or standing when the skier is in a stopped position. The strings  108  fall naturally down (due to gravity) along the ski pole  102  (as illustrated in  FIG. 2 ) to minimize any such potential interference. Thus, somewhat similar to wings of a bird, the ski pole accessory  100  helps enhance the utility and entertainment of an otherwise traditional ski pole that is used without the ski pole accessory  100 . 
     Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims. Moreover, the present concepts expressly include any and all combinations and sub-combinations of the preceding elements and aspects. The present disclosure is not limited to the specific illustrated example but extends to alternative embodiments other shapes and/or configurations in accordance with the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art applied consistent with the presently disclosed principles.