Abstract:
A ski pole basket is formed to leave an imprint in the snow in the shape of a print. In embodiments, the ski pole basket has a profile of a selected animal footprint. In various embodiments, ski pole baskets disclosed herein may be used for recreation, ski instruction, finding party members while skiing, or other uses. Ski pole baskets may be secured to a typical ski pole by various means. Various types, shapes, and/or sizes of ski pole baskets may be attached and/or interchanged according to a user&#39;s personal preferences or specific uses.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to implements for snow skiing and related activities. In particular, the present disclosure relates to baskets for ski poles. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Various types of skiing activities have incorporated the use of ski poles for hundreds and perhaps thousands of years. Among other things, a skier may utilize ski poles for self-propulsion or for balance. An alpine skier may additionally use ski poles to time turns as the skier moves downhill. 
         [0005]    Most ski poles comprise a shaft, a grip at a top end of the shaft, and a basket at or near a bottom end of the shaft. The basket may typically function to prevent or inhibit the pole from sinking into snow beyond a certain point. 
         [0006]    Commonly, use of a ski pole may involve the skier planting the pole into the snow. In Nordic skiing, the skier may push off the ground with the planted pole to propel the skier forward. In alpine skiing, a pole plant can initiate a turn. 
         [0007]    The size and/or shape of the ski pole basket may be selected for the current snow conditions and for the type of skiing activity. For example, an alpine ski racer typically uses relatively small-diameter, conical ski pole baskets due to weight and aerodynamic considerations. An alpine or Nordic skier in deep snow may choose to use relatively larger-diameter ski pole baskets because a basket having a greater surface area may be less likely to sink down in snow than a smaller ski pole basket. 
         [0008]    Some ski poles are constructed to allow the skier to easily remove the pole basket and replace it with another basket that is more suitable to the snow conditions. In some examples, a ski pole basket is attached to a pole by threading. A skier may remove the basket, and subsequently install another basket, by twisting the basket relative to the pole. Some ski pole baskets are secured to ski poles by a friction fit over a tapered section of the ski pole as a type of collet. Other baskets are fastened to the ski pole with an adhesive. Yet other pole baskets may be attached to a ski pole by various combinations of the foregoing. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    In one embodiment, a ski pole basket is disclosed. The ski pole basket has a disk and an attachment collar on the disk. The disk has a shape of an animal footprint. The attachment collar is for attaching the ski pole basket to a ski pole. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, a method of skiing is disclosed. The method includes striking a ground surface with a ski pole basket having an animal footprint shape, making an impression of the animal footprint shape into the ground surface, and lifting the ski pole basket from the ground surface. 
         [0011]    The present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description, and any preferred or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only so that this disclosure will be thorough, and fully convey the full scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  depicts ski poles having animal print ski pole baskets according to embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2A  depicts a bottom view of an embodiment of the present disclosure comprising a bobcat print profile; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2B  depicts a back view of an embodiment of the present disclosure comprising a bobcat print profile; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2C  depicts a front view of an embodiment of the present disclosure comprising a bobcat print profile; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3A  depicts a bottom view of an embodiment of the present disclosure comprising a mountain lion print profile; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3B  depicts a back view of an embodiment of the present disclosure comprising a mountain lion print profile; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3C  depicts a front view of an embodiment of the present disclosure comprising a mountain lion print profile; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4A  depicts a bottom view of an embodiment of the present disclosure comprising a mule deer print profile; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4B  depicts a back view of an embodiment of the present disclosure comprising a mule deer print profile; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4C  depicts a front view of an embodiment of the present disclosure comprising a mule deer print profile; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5A  depicts a bottom view of an embodiment of the present disclosure comprising a goose print profile 
           [0024]      FIG. 5B  depicts a back view of an embodiment of the present disclosure comprising a goose print profile; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 5C  depicts a front view of an embodiment of the present disclosure comprising a goose print profile. 
       
    
    
       [0026]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    In the following description, reference is made to exemplary embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the concepts disclosed herein, and it is to be understood that modifications to the various disclosed embodiments may be made, and other embodiments may be utilized, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
         [0028]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “one example,” or “an example” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” “one example,” or “an example” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable combinations and/or sub-combinations in one or more embodiments or examples. 
         [0029]    Various embodiments of the present disclosure comprise a ski pole basket adapted to leave impressions in the snow that resemble various animal hoof prints, paw prints, footprints, and the like. According to various embodiments, an impression of a footprint may include an outer profile of a footprint, inner features of a footprint, or combinations thereof. As used herein, the term “footprint” may refer to an impression formed in or on a surface that resembles a print made by a foot, a paw, a hoof, or other like appendages. As used herein, the term “footprint” may further refer generally to the shape of a foot, a paw, a hoof, or other like appendages. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises basket  100 . Basket  100  comprises disk  110  having collar  120  and outer perimeter  130 . In embodiments, collar  120  is adapted to attach basket  100  to a ski pole  150 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2A-2C , outer perimeter  130  has a shape of a bobcat paw print outer profile. Basket  100  further comprises downward protrusions  140  having shapes that match the profiles of the pads and/or additional internal features of a bobcat paw print. In embodiments, protrusions  140  match the shapes of pads of a bobcat paw print. According to one embodiment, protrusions  140  extend downward from disk  110  approximately one-eighth (⅛) of an inch. According to various embodiments, downward protrusions  140  match the shape of digits, pads, or other like internal features of different species of paw prints, hoof prints, or foot prints. In other embodiments, protrusions comprise other depths according to a selected impression depth. 
         [0032]    In embodiments, collar  120  is adapted to attach basket  100  to a ski pole  150 . In one embodiment, a friction fit is formed between collar  120  and a tapered section of a ski pole  150 . In another embodiment, a threaded connection is made when the basket  100  is twisted onto a ski pole  150 , where corresponding threads are on the ski pole  150  and collar  120 . In another embodiment, an adhesive secures basket  100  to a ski pole  150 . In various embodiments, basket  100  may attach to a ski pole  150  via various other attachment means as discussed herein, and/or as known in the art at the time of filing, and/or as developed after the time of filing. In some embodiments, collar  120  is roughly at the center of disk  110 , thereby roughly centering basket  100  around a ski pole  150 . In other embodiments, basket  100  is eccentric to the ski pole  150 . In other embodiments, collar  120  is located on disk  110  according to specific needs and/or anticipated uses. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3A-3C , one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a ski pole basket adapted to leave impressions in the snow that resemble paw prints of a mountain lion. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4A-4C , one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a ski pole basket adapted to leave impressions in the snow that resemble hoof prints of a mule deer. For example, as depicted in  FIGS. 4A-4C , in one embodiment of a ski pole basket, the collar is placed approximately one-eighth of the total basket length from the back of the ski pole basket. Such collar placement may be preferred for a cross-country ski pole. Other various collar placements and arrangements may be selected for other embodiments according to particular circumstances and anticipated uses of the ski pole basket. 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5A-5C , one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a ski pole basket adapted to leave impressions in the snow that resemble footprints of a goose. 
         [0036]    According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a ski pole basket may be manufactured from various materials, including molded plastic, for example high density polyethylene, or other materials as discussed herein, and/or as known in the art at the time of filing, and/or as developed after the time of filing. 
         [0037]    According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, ski pole baskets may be manufactured in various sizes. Sizes may be correlated to approximate the sizes of the various animals prints mimicked. For example, referring to  FIGS. 3A-3C , a ski pole basket  100  having a shape of a mountain lion footprint may have a diameter that is more suitable to be used by an adult and/or in relatively deep snow, where having large ski pole baskets may be advantageous. Alternatively, referring to  FIGS. 2A-2C , a ski pole basket  100  having the shape of a bobcat footprint may have a diameter that is suitable for children or for skiing activities where smaller ski pole baskets may be advantageous. Alternatively, referring to  FIGS. 4A-4C , a ski pole basket  100  having the shape of a mule deer footprint may have a diameter that is suitable for skiing activities where a smaller ski pole basket may be advantageous (for example, cross-country skiing). 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIG. 2B , according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, disk  110  comprises a surface curvature as depicted, resulting in a downward-facing concave surface. The radius and/or size of the curvature of disk  110  may depend on the specific intended uses of the ski pole baskets  100 . 
         [0039]    In operation, a skier may use an animal print ski pole basket in the same manner as a typical ski pole basket. As the skier carries out a pole plant by penetrating the ski pole into snow, the ski pole basket may leave an outline of the print in the snow. 
         [0040]    According to embodiments, one potential use of a ski pole basket of the present disclosure includes using ski pole baskets having various animal print shapes to track one or members of a group. For example, certain skiers may want to follow the path of another member of their party. If those skiers knew that the member they were following had ski pole baskets that left distinctive impressions (for example, mountain lion prints) in the snow, they may be able to more easily follow the person&#39;s path. In many circumstances, a person using ski pole baskets that create animal prints may likely create unique and identifiable tracks. 
         [0041]    In other embodiments, ski pole baskets of the present disclosure may be utilized as a teaching aid for children learning how to ski with poles. A child may find entertainment in creating animal print impressions in the snow and/or following the print impressions created by an instructor or parent and may thus be more likely to participate in learning exercises. 
         [0042]    Although the present disclosure is described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure, including embodiments that do not provide all of the benefits and features set forth herein, which are also within the scope of this disclosure. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.