FR2639244A1 - DEVICE FOR CONNECTING A HANDLE, PARTICULARLY A SKI STICK TO THE HAND OF A USER - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for connecting a handle, in particular a ski pole, to the hand of a user, comprising a connecting member 24 and a holding means 16, one of which is mounted on the handle 2 and the other on a flexible element 25 such as a strap or a glove which can be made integral with the hand and which are adapted to cooperate so as to releasably connect the handle to the flexible element.

Description

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  DEVICE FOR CONNECTING A HANDLE IN PARTICULAR

  FROM A SKI STICK TO A USER'S HAND

  The present invention relates to a connecting device

  of a handle in particular of a ski pole in the hand of a user.

  Currently, the handles of ski poles are provided at their upper parts with a wrist strap. The user passes his hand through this strap from bottom to top and takes in his hand the handle and the two strands of the strap so

  - t that the loop formed by the latter passes over the wrist.

  The object of the present invention is to delete this strap and proposes to directly connect the handle in particular

  a ski pole in the user's hand.

  The present invention firstly relates to a -5 device for connecting a handle, in particular a ski pole to

a user's hand.

  According to the invention, this device comprises a connecting member and a holding means, one of which is mounted on the handle and the other is mounted on a flexible element which can be made integral with the hand and which are adapted to cooperate way

  releasably connecting the handle to the flexible element.

  The connection device according to the invention can

  present different execution variants.

  The connecting member and the holding means are preferably arranged so that, when they cooperate, the flexible element and the handle are, in the area of the connection,

resting against each other.

  The connecting device can advantageously make a connection between the flexible element secured to the hand and the handle

  in the area of the hand extending between the thumb and forefinger.

  The connection device may further comprise a safety means allowing the release of the connection member as soon as an effort between this connection member and the holding means

reaches a specific value.

  The connecting member may comprise a protruding tongue and the holding means may comprise a means

  for hooking this tongue, provided with an operating member.

  This attachment means can be kept in engagement with the tongue under the effect of a spring. It may include a support member movable in the direction of a support surface, the tongue engaging

  between this support member and this support surface.

  Said attachment means could comprise a hook engaging in an opening in the tongue, this hook or the tongue being able to have a bearing surface of one on

  the other inclined with respect to the hanging direction.

  The holding means can also include a

  guide in which the tongue engages and which ensures a position-

the latter.

  The present invention also relates to a flexible element intended to be made integral with the hand and having a part covering the zone of the latter extending between the thumb and the index finger. According to the invention, this part is provided with a projecting connecting member intended to cooperate with a holding means mounted on a handle, in particular of a stick.

  ski in order to releasably link this handle by hand.

  Said connecting member can be formed by a tongue. The connecting member may comprise a projecting ring in the shape of a U. The flexible element may consist of a glove,

  a mitt or mitten which may have reinforcing pieces

  cement on which the connecting member is fixed.

  The flexible element can be constituted by a strap going around the hand passing between the thumb and the index finger and going around the wrist. This strap can have two

  ends respectively provided with adjustable hooking means.

  The present invention also relates to a handle

ski pole.

  This handle is provided, in its upper part, with a releasable holding means intended to cooperate with a connecting member mounted on a flexible element which can be made integral

from the hand.

  The upper part of said handle can advantageously

  probably have an axial recess into which a lateral passage opens, the retaining means being mounted in this recess and the retaining member being capable of passing through this passage

  lateral to cooperate with the holding means in the recess.

  The holding means may comprise a means of hooking the connecting member, this hooking means being

provided with an operating member.

  The holding means may comprise a hook intended

  to come into engagement with the link member.

  This hook can be movable towards a surface

  of the handle under the effect of a spring.

  The holding means may comprise a support member movable in the direction of a surface of the handle, the connecting member being intended to extend between this support member and this surface

  so as to be pinched between them.

  Said support member or said hook can be kept engaged with the connecting member by means of a lever.

maneuver the blocker.

  The entrance to said lateral passage can be provided for various

  lying towards the outside and is intended to position

  the part of the connecting member adjacent to the flexible element.

  The present invention will be better understood from the study of several devices for attaching ski pole handles to the hand of a user, described by way of non-limiting examples and illustrated by the drawing in which:

  - Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section in eleva-

  tion of a first fixing device according to the invention, in the locked position, of a ski pole handle in the hand of a user, FIG. 2 represents a view corresponding to the

  Figure 1, the fixing device being in the unlocked position

  lage - Figure 3 shows a top view of the handle shown in Figure 1;

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  - Figure 4 shows a horizontal section of the handle shown in Figure 1, the fixing device being in the locked position;

  - Figure 5 shows a longitudinal section in elevation

  tion of a second fixing device according to the invention, in the locked position, of a ski pole handle in the hand of a user, - Figure 6 shows a view corresponding to the

  Figure 5, the fixing device being in the unlocked position

  lage; - Figure 7 shows a top view of the handle shown in Figure 5; - Figure 8 shows a horizontal section of the handle shown in Figure 5, the fixing device being in the locked position;

  - Figure 9 shows a longitudinal section in elevation

  tion of a third fixing device according to the invention, in the locked position, of a ski pole handle in the hand of a user, - Figure 10 shows a view corresponding to Figure 9, the device fixing being in unlocked position; - Figure 11 shows a top view of the handle shown in Figure 9; Figure 12 shows a horizontal section of the handle shown in Figure 9, the fixing device being in the locked position; - Figures 13 to 17 show different embodiments of the flexible element of the fixing device according

  the invention, intended to be secured to the hand of a user

  sator. Referring to Figures 1 and 4, we will describe a first connecting device generally identified by the reference 1 of a handle 2 of a ski pole 3 by hand 4

of a user.

  In the example, the handle 2 has a convex central part 5 and, on its front face, four hollow parts 6 for the four main fingers of the hand, as well as upper and lower annular flanges 7 and 8. This handle 2 has in addition, from its lower end, an orifice

  blind longitudinal 9 in which the upper end is engaged

  of the vertical rod 10 of the stick 3.

  In the upper part of the handle 2, there is a recess 11 open upwards into which a lateral passage 12 formed from rear to front opens, just below the upper annular flange 7. In the example, the recess 11

  and the lateral passage 12 have two vertical walls longitu-

  dinales 13 and 14 as well as a horizontal bottom 15.

  The connecting device 1 comprises a holding means 16 which is disposed in the recess 11 of the handle 2 and which is carried by the latter. This holding means comprises a support member formed by a plate 17 which extends above and at a distance

  of the bottom 15 and the front end of which is articulated on a transverse axis

  versal 18, the ends of which are carried by the walls 13 and 14 of the recess 11. A leaf spring 19 mounted in the front part of the recess 11 acts on the plate 17 in the direction which

away from the bottom 15.

  The holding means 16 also comprises an operating member 20 in the form of a lever which is arranged above the plate 17. This operating member 20 is articulated on a transverse axis 21 whose ends are carried by the walls 13 and 14 of the recess 11 of the handle 2, this transverse axis 21 being located behind the transverse axis 18 carrying the plate 17. The actuator 20 has two arms 22 and 23 located

substantially 90.

  The actuator 20 is dimensioned such that when its arm 22 extends horizontally forward and bears on the front edge of the recess 11, its end going beyond this edge, its arm 23 extends downward and maintains the support member 17 in a position substantially parallel to the bottom 15 of the recess 11, its support point being

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  slightly behind the transverse axis of articulation 21. This

  position visible in Figure 1 is a locking position.

  When the arm 22 is pivoted upwards outside

  laughing of the recess 11, the arm 23 extends forwards and the support member 17 is distant from the bottom 15 under the effect of the spring 19 by pivoting upwards around its transverse axis 18. This

  position visible in Figure 2 is an unlocked position.

  The connecting device 1 further comprises a connecting member 24 which is integral with a flexible element 25 which is integral with the hand 4 and which extends between the thumb and the index finger of this hand. The connecting member 24 is constituted in the example by a projecting tongue which extends from the zone separating

the thumb of the index finger of the hand 4.

  To releasably connect the handle 2 to the hand 4 carrying the flexible element 25, the user places the operating member 20 so that the holding means 16 is in its aforementioned unlocking position. As shown in FIG. 2, it engages the tongue 24 through the rear lateral passage 12 and into the recess 11 of the handle 2, between the lower face 2n of the support member 17 and the bottom 15 of the recess 11, the palm of his hand going towards the central part of the handle 2. When the zone of the flexible element 25 surrounding the tongue 24 is in abutment against the surface of the handle 2 surrounding the passage 12, it brings the means holding 16 in its above-mentioned locking position by lowering the arm 22 of its operating member 20 forwards. In this locking position visible in FIG. 1, the tongue 24 is pinched between the underside of the member support 17 and the bottom 15 of the recess 11. The user

  can then take in his hand the central part of the handle 2.

  i If it releases this socket, the handle 2 remains hooked and suspended

  his hand through the connecting member 24.

  To ensure good support, the underside of the support member 17 is provided, in the example, with teeth 17a which

grip tab 24.

  To separate the handle 2 from the hand 4, the user raises the arm 22 of the operating member 20 to bring the holding means 16 into its aforementioned unlocking position, the

  tongue 24 thus being released.

  Referring to Figures 5 to 8, we will now describe a second connecting device generally identified by the reference 26 which is intended to connect a handle 27 of a

  ski pole 28 in hand 29 of a user.

  The handle 27, which moreover is similar to the handle 2 of the previous example, comprises at its upper part

  a recess 30 open upwards which has two longitu-

  dinales 31 and 32 as well as a horizontal bottom 33. The rear lateral passage 34 which gives access to the recess 30 is divergent towards the outside. The connecting device 26 comprises, in this example, a holding means composed of a longitudinal lever 35 which is articulated around a transverse axis 36 whose ends are fixed in the walls 31 and 32 of the recess 30. This lever 35 has an operating arm 37 which extends forward beyond the front edge of the recess 30 and an arm 38 which extends rearward which has a projecting finger at its rear end

  39 of V-shaped longitudinal section which extends downwards.

  A leaf spring 40 carried by the rear part of the upper flange 41 of the handle 27 acts on the upper face of the arm 38 of the lever 35 so that the lower end of the finger

  39 is in abutment against the bottom 33 of the recess 30.

  The connecting device 26 also comprises a connecting member 42 which is integral with a flexible element 43 carried by hand 29. This connecting member 42 is protruding and extends

  from the area between the thumb and index finger of the hand 29.

  It carries at its end a U-shaped ring which has a

transverse front leg 44.

  When the user wants to hang the handle 27

  to the flexible element 43 secured to his hand 29, he presses on the end

  front half of the arm 37 of the lever 35 so as to raise the finger 39 from the rear end of the rear arm 38 of this lever. This unlocking position is visible in Figure 6. It engages forward the connecting member 42 in the lateral passage 34

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  of the handle 27 until this connecting member, which has a complementary shape, is in contact with the walls of the lateral passage 34, the front transverse branch 44 of the connecting member 42 being inside the 'recess 30, between the lever 35 and the bottom 33 of this recess 30. It then releases the lever 35 and the latter, under the effect of the spring 40, pivots so that its rear finger 39 engages behind the transverse branch 44 of the connecting member 42. This unlocking position

  from the handle 27 to the flexible element 43 fixed to the hand 29 of the utility

  1] 0 reader is visible in figure 5.

  The rear face of the finger 39 of the hook 35 being inclined forwards and downwards, the user can also engage the connecting member 42 in the passage 34 and exert a pressure forward so that the branch transverse 44 of the connecting member 35 passes under the finger 39 and hangs behind the latter as described above, the rear arm 38 of the lever making an upward movement then downward under the effect

of spring 40.

  To separate the handle 27 from his hand 29, the user proceeds in reverse. It presses on the front arm 37 of the lever 35. The transverse branch 44 of the connecting member 42 being released, it extracts this connecting member from the passage 39 of the

handle 27.

  The front face of the finger 39 being inclined backwards and downwards, when the force between the connecting member 42 and the lever 35 reaches a determined value, the transverse branch 44 makes the finger 39 pivot upwards. against the spring and the 2Q hand can thus be separated from the handle 27. This

bonding constitutes security.

  Referring to Figures 9 to 12, we will now describe a third connecting device generally identified by the reference 45 of a handle 46 of a ski pole

47 by hand 48 by a user.

  In this example, the handle 46 is elongate and its upper end 49 is slightly bent forward and has a recess 50 having two vertical longitudinal walls 51 and 52, into which a rear passage 53 diverges outward and formed in the area connecting the part

  vertical and the curved part 49 forward of the handle 46.

  The connecting device 45 comprises, in this example, a holding means 54 which is of structure comparable to that of the holding means 16 of the example described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. This holding means 54 in fact comprises a hook 55 which extends above the bottom 58 of the recess 50 and which corresponds to the support member 17. Its front end is hingedly mounted on a transverse axis 56 whose ends are carried by the walls 51 and 52 of the recess 50 and its rear end

  has a finger 57 which extends downwards and which is suscep-

  tible to come into abutment against the bottom 58 of the recess 50. A leaf spring 59 carried by the bottom 58 of the recess 50 acts on

  the lever 55 so as to pivot the latter upwards.

  The holding means 54 also comprises an operating member 60 mounted in an articulated manner on an axis 61, the

  ends are carried by the walls 51 and 52 of the recess 50.

  This operating member 60, which corresponds to the operating member, comprises two arms 62 and 63, the arm 62 constituting an operating arm and the arm 63 constituting a support arm acting on the upper face of the hook 55, the arm 63 carrying at this

  effect a roller 64 with transverse axis.

  The connecting device 45 further comprises a connecting member 65 which is carried by a flexible element 66 secured to the hand 48 and which is of the same structure as the connecting member 42 of the example described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. It in fact comprises a projecting part corresponding to the passage 53 for access to the recess 50 of the handle 46 and its front end

  has a front transverse branch 67.

  When the user wishes to hang the handle 46 on the flexible element 66 solidly with his hand 48, he raises the 3rd arm 62 of the operating member 60 to raise the roller 64 carried by his other arm 63. Under the effect of the spring 59, the hook 55 pivots upwards. This unlocking position is visible in Figure 10. The user then engages the connecting member carried by the flexible element 66 secured to his hand 48, in the lateral passage 53 until bringing it to bear in the latter , the transverse branch 67 being inside the recess 50 below the hook 55. It lowers the lever 62 of the operating member 60, thus lowering the roller 64 which acts on the upper face of the hook 55 to bring his rear finger 57 behind the front transverse branch 67 of the connecting member 65, until it rests on the bottom 58 of the recess 50. This position

  lock is visible in figure 9.

  In addition, the operating member 60 has an oblong orifice 68 through which extends its transverse axis 61. This operating member 60 carries a leaf spring 69 which acts on the transverse axis 61 in the direction which applies the roller 64 which bears on the upper face of the hook 55. This structure constitutes, as in the example described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 8, a safety such that as soon as a force between the connecting member 65

  and the hook 55 reaches a determined value, the branch trans-

  67 of the connecting member 65 acts on the finger 57 of the hook, rotates the latter upwards and moves the operating member 60 upwards against the spring 69, causing

  thus the release of the connecting member 65.

  Referring to Figure 13, we will now describe more precisely the strap 25 of the fastening device 1 described

with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

  This strap is disposed on a glove 70 worn by the hand of the user and extends across the palm and on the back of the glove 70 as well as around his wrist, so that it covers the area separating thumb 71 and index 72 and that it bypasses thumb 71. It includes for this purpose three branches 73, 74 and 75 connected together. Its branch 74 which envelops the wrist has two ends 76 and 77 which are connected by a loop 78 in order to be able to adjust the pressure exerted by the strap 25 on the glove 70 and consequently on the user's hand. The branch 73 has, in its zone extending between the thumb 71 and the index finger 72, the connecting member 24 projecting. In a particular variant, the projecting connecting member 24 can be formed by double folding

  thickness and sewn from branch 73 of strap 25.

  In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the strap 25a is fixed in different places on the outer face of the glove 70a by means of reinforcing pieces 79 attached and sewn onto the glove. There is in particular provided a reinforcement piece 79 which covers the area extending between the thumb 71a and the index 72a of the glove 70a, this reinforcement piece 79 having an opening 80 which is crossed by the connecting member

24a protruding.

  In the variant shown in FIG. 15, it can be seen that the strap 25b is, in its part extending over the palm and the back of the glove 70b, completely integrated into the structure of the latter, this glove having a covering part and reinforcement 81 which has a slot 82 for the passage of the member

projecting link 24b.

  Referring to Figure 16, we see that we have represented

  felt a flexible element-25c which comprises a plate 83 which covers the palm of the glove 70c and which has a curved edge 84 covering the edge of this glove. This plate 83 has a projecting extension which extends between the thumb 71c and the index 72c of the glove 70c and which forms the connecting member 24c. At the foot of this connecting member 24c, the plate 83 is fixed to the glove 70c by a rivet 85. This plate 83 also has slots 86 through which extends a retaining strap 87 which passes around the wrist of the glove 70c, this strap 87 having adjustment means

  of its length not visible in the figure.

  Of course, the flexible elements 43 and 66 carrying the connecting members 42 and 65 of the preceding examples described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8 and 9 to 12, can have the structures of the flexible element 25 described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 16. Figure 17 shows in particular the flexible element 43 formed by a strap which has the same structure as the strap described with reference to Figure 13. This strap 43 carries the connecting member 42 in its zone extending between 71d thumb and index finger

72d of the glove 70d.

  Generally, the connecting members 24, 42 and 65 can be integrated, attached or fixed by any means on the flexible elements which carry them. They can in particular be made of canvas, plastic or rubbery material, possibly reinforced, or of metal. They can be riveted, sewn, staples, overmolded on the flexible elements which carry them, or present

  fixing slots for the passage of flexible elements.

  The present invention is not limited to the examples described above. Many variations are possible without leaving

  of the framework defined by the appended claims.

Claims (25)

  1. Device for connecting a handle, in particular a ski pole to the hand of a user, characterized in that it comprises a connecting member (24) and a holding means (16), one of which is mounted on the handle (2) and the other is mounted on a flexible element (25) which can be made integral with the hand and which are adapted to cooperate so as to connect so   releasable handle with flexible element.   2. Connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting member (24) and the holding means (16) are arranged so that, when they cooperate, the flexible element and the handle are, in the area of   the link, pressing one against the other.   3. Connecting device according to one of claims   1 and 2, characterized in that it makes a connection between the flexible element (25) integral with the hand and the handle (2) in   the area of the hand extending between the thumb and forefinger.   4. Connecting device according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that it comprises   security means (40) allowing the release of the connecting member (42) as soon as an effort between this connecting member (42)   and the holding means (35) reaches a determined value.   5. Connection device according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the organ   of connection comprises a projecting tongue (24) and that the holding means comprises a means of hooking (17) of this tongue, provided with an operating member (20).   6. Connecting device according to claim 5, characterized in that the attachment means (35) is maintained   engaged with the tongue (42) under the effect of a spring (40).   7. Connecting device according to one of claims   and 6, characterized in that the hooking means comprises a support member (17) movable in the direction of a support surface (15), the tongue (24) engaging between this support member and this bearing surface.   8. Connecting device according to one of claims   and 6, characterized in that said hooking means comprises a hook (35) intended to engage in an opening made in the tab (44).   9. Connecting device according to claim 8, characterized in that the hook or the tongue has a bearing surface of one on the other inclined relative to the hanging direction.   10. Connection device according to any one of   Claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the means for   support includes a guide (34) in which the tongue engages   and which ensures positioning of the latter.   11. Flexible element intended to be made integral with the hand and having a part covering the zone of the latter extending between the thumb and the index finger, characterized in that this part is provided with a connecting member in projection (24) intended to cooperate with a holding means (16) mounted on a handle (2) in particular of a ski pole in order to connect   releasably this handle in hand.   12. Flexible element according to claim 11, charac-   terrified by the fact that said connecting member is formed by a tongue (24).   13. flexible element according to claim 11, charac-   terrified by the fact that the connecting member is formed by a ring protruding U-shaped (44).   14. Flexible element according to any one of the claims.   cations 11 to 13, characterized in that it consists of   a glove (7n), a mitt or a mitten.   15. Flexible element according to claim 14, charac-   terrified by the fact that the glove has reinforcing parts   (81) on which the connecting member is fixed.   16. Flexible element according to any one of the res-   dications 11 to 13, characterized in that it is constituted by a strap (25) which goes around the hand passing between   thumb and index finger and around the wrist.   17. Flexible element according to claim 16, cara-   ctérisé by the fact that the strap has two ends provided   respectively adjustable hooking means (78).   18. Ski pole handle, characterized in that it is provided, in its upper part, with a releasable holding means (16) intended to cooperate with a connecting member (24) mounted on a flexible element ( 25) can be made integral with the hand.   19. Handle according to claim 18, characterized in that its upper part has a recess (11) into which opens a lateral passage (12), the holding means (16) being mounted in this recess and the connecting member (24) being capable of passing through this lateral passage to cooperate with   the means for holding in the recess.   20. Handle according to one of claims 18 and 19,   characterized by the fact that the holding means comprises a hooking means (17) for the connecting member (24), this hooking means   being provided with an operating member (20).   21. Handle according to any one of claims   18 to 20, characterized in that the holding means comprises   a hook (35) intended to come into engagement with the connecting member.   22. Handle according to claim 21, characterized in that the hook is movable towards a surface   (33) of the handle under the effect of a spring (40).   23. Handle according to any one of claims   18 to 20, characterized in that the holding means comprises a support member (17) movable towards a surface (15) of the handle, the connecting member (24) being intended to extend between this support member (17) and this surface (15) so to be pinched between these.   24. Handle according to any one of claims   18 to 23, characterized in that the said support member or the said hook can be kept in engagement with the connecting member   thanks to an operating lever (20) blocking it.   25. Handle according to claim 19, characterized in that the entry of said passage (24) is divergent towards the outside and is intended to position the part   (42) of the connecting member adjacent to the flexible element (43).