Systems and Methods for Integrated Pole Structure and Function |
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申请号 | US15131363 | 申请日 | 2016-04-18 | 公开(公告)号 | US20160310827A1 | 公开(公告)日 | 2016-10-27 |
申请人 | Joe Spataro; Bill Belcourt; Kasey Jarvis; Brendan Perkins; | 发明人 | Joe Spataro; Bill Belcourt; Kasey Jarvis; Brendan Perkins; | ||||
摘要 | A pole system comprising a continuous elongated frame forming both structural and functional geometries relating to the handle and shaft portions. The continuous elongated frame may include an internal cavity and a variable wall thickness along the lengthwise dimension. The handle portion of the continuous elongated frame includes a cap region, grip region, and a retention region. The independent regions of the handle portion may include substantially different cross sectional shapes to facilitate the corresponding functional characteristics. For example, the grip region may include an ergonomic tapered oval cross sectional shape to facilitate optimal engagement with a user's hand. The shaft portion of the continuous elongated frame is disposed between the handle portion and the bottom end of the continuous elongated frame. The tip is either integrated as a portion of the continuous elongated frame or translatably coupled via a lower pole member. | ||||||
权利要求 | What is claimed is: |
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说明书全文 | The invention generally relates to the manufacturing and design of ski and trekking poles. In particular, the present invention relates to systems and methods for integrating structural and functional pole geometry. This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/152,084 filed Apr. 24, 2015, the contents of which are incorporated by reference. Poles are used for a variety of activities, including skiing, trekking, hiking, snowshoeing, etc. The term “ski pole” is used interchangeably to refer to a pole that may be used for any purpose. Likewise, the term “pole” may refer to one or two poles to provide support for use during particular modes of movement. For example, hikers and trekkers commonly use poles to minimize knee impact by supporting a portion of their body weight on the poles rather than on their legs. Likewise, skiers use poles for intermittent support and assistance in particular types of turns. In addition, traditional style cross-country skiers drive their poles downward to generate additional forward momentum. Poles are also used for various unconventional purposes such as supporting tents, marking accidents, operating a binding, etc. The primary function of a pole is therefore to transfer support from a surface to a user's hand during operation. Poles generally include handle, shaft, and tips. The handle portion is shaped and configured to ergonomically accommodate a user's hand including various grips, geometries, and materials. The shaft is shaped and configured to facilitate structural lengthwise support of the pole between the handle and tip including various cross sectional shapes. In addition, the shaft may include various functional coupling structures to facilitate collapsibility while maintaining the necessary structural strengths. For example, the shaft may include components for lockable telescopic couplings, releasable segmentation couplings, releasable foldable couplings, etc. The tip is shaped and configured to establish a point of support on the surface over which the user is travelling. The tip may also include various components and geometries to optimize the supportive coupling between the tip and the surface. The overall weight of the pole system is an important performance characteristic because a user must repeatedly translate the pole from one location to another during operation. In addition, if the pole is not in use, the user must store and transport the pole so that it is available. The weight of the pole system directly corresponds to the minimum structural strengths at various locations. For example, the pole system must include certain tensile, torsion, and compression strengths to prevent fracture during operation. Therefore, the weight of the pole system directly corresponds to the structure necessary to create the minimum structural strengths of the system. Conventional poles that incorporate numerous functional performance features are often heavier as a result of the necessary components corresponding to the functional features. For example, collapsibility generally requires multiple components between segments of the pole which facilitate releasable mechanisms. Likewise, optimal ergonomic tapered handle portions require multiple grips and structures which must be coupled to the shaft. Unfortunately, the incorporation of additional components to achieve the functional performance features generally increases the weight and complexity of the overall pole system in order to achieve the necessary structural strengths. Therefore, there is a need in the industry for an improved pole system that integrates the structural and functional pole components to minimize weight, complexity and/or manufacturing costs. The present invention relates to the manufacturing and design of ski and trekking poles. In particular, the present invention relates to systems and methods for integrating structural and functional pole geometry. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a pole system comprising a continuous elongated frame forming both structural and functional geometries relating to the handle and shaft portions. The continuous elongated frame may include an internal cavity and a variable wall thickness along the lengthwise dimension. The handle portion of the continuous elongated frame includes a cap region, a grip region, and a retention region. The independent regions of the handle portion may include substantially different cross sectional shapes to facilitate the corresponding functional characteristics. For example, the grip region may include an ergonomic tapered oval cross sectional shape to facilitate optimal engagement with a user's hand. The shaft portion of the continuous elongated frame is disposed between the handle portion and the bottom end of the continuous elongated frame. In one embodiment, the tip is integrated as a portion of the continuous elongated frame. In a second embodiment, the tip is disposed on a lower pole member that is translatably coupled to the continuous elongated frame via a coupler. The lower pole member may further include a first and second pole segment that are translatably intercoupled. Embodiments of the present invention represent a significant advance in the field of pole systems by integrating functional features with necessary structural strength while maintaining minimal weight. Conventional lightweight pole systems incorporate multiple components or segments to enable functional performance features such as collapsibility, handle taper, etc. Each of the components must then be assembled and coupled with the lightweight structural elements of the pole. For example, a conventional pole system may include a carbon fiber shaft coupled to a plastic handle with multiple layers of rubber grip material. Embodiments of the present invention incorporate a substantially single-composition continuous elongated frame that forms both functional regions and the lightweight structural regions of the pole system. The integration of the necessary geometries for the functional and structural regions eliminates or reduces the manufacturing complexity of coupling structural components (ie. tubular shafts) with functional components (i.e. handles, grips, etc.). The novel integration of structural and functional components creates a synergistic strength increase and weight decrease above the conventional combination of lightweight functional components. For example, integrating the functional grip geometry with the structural shaft creates a cross-sectionally shaped structure that is significantly lighter and stronger than a conventional combination of slide-on-grip (function) and narrow elongated pole (structure) components. These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth or will become more fully apparent in the description that follows and in the appended claims. The features and advantages may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Furthermore, the features and advantages of the invention may be learned by the practice of the invention or will be obvious from the description, as set forth hereinafter. The following description of the invention can be understood in light of the Figures, which illustrate specific aspects of the invention and are a part of the specification. Together with the following description, the Figures demonstrate and explain the principles of the invention. In the Figures, the physical dimensions may be exaggerated for clarity. The same reference numerals in different drawings represent the same element, and thus their descriptions will be omitted. The present invention relates to the manufacturing and design of ski and trekking poles. In particular, the present invention relates to systems and methods for integrating structural and functional pole geometry. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a pole system comprising a continuous elongated frame forming both structural and functional geometries relating to the handle and shaft portions. The continuous elongated frame may include an internal cavity and a variable wall thickness along the lengthwise dimension. The handle portion of the continuous elongated frame includes a cap region, a grip region, and a retention region. The independent regions of the handle portion may include substantially different cross sectional shapes to facilitate the corresponding functional characteristics. For example, the grip region may include an ergonomic tapered oval cross sectional shape to facilitate optimal engagement with a user's hand. The shaft portion of the continuous elongated frame is disposed between the handle portion and the bottom end of the continuous elongated frame. In one embodiment the tip is integrated as a portion of the continuous elongated frame. In a second embodiment, the tip is disposed on a lower pole member that is translatably coupled to the continuous elongated frame via a coupler. The lower pole member may further include a first and second pole segment that are translatably intercoupled. Also, while embodiments are described in reference to recreational poles it will be appreciated that the teachings of the present invention are applicable to other areas including but not limited to industrial poles. The following terms are defined as follows: Continuous elongated frame—a frame structure that comprises a single structure rather than a multi-segment intercoupled structure. A continuous frame may be hollow or solid and have varying external and internal geometries, recesses, and/or holes. Various manufacturing processes may be used to create a continuous frame, including but not limited to injection molding, fiber over-mold wrapping, etc. A general pole system includes a handle portion, shaft portion, and tip. These components will be described in further detail below in reference to the figures but are described generally for reference and terminology. The handle portions and tip are positioned on opposite lengthwise ends of the system with the shaft portion disposed between. The handle portion is configured to receive and engage with a user's hand via various functional geometries and regions. The handle portion may include a cap region, grip region, and retention region. The regions of the handle portion may include various three dimensional shapes and contours to achieve particular functionalities corresponding to the pole system operation. For example, the grip region may include a thickness, cross-sectional shape, and lengthwise curvature to enable the ergonomic engagement between a user's hand and the pole system. Likewise, the cap and retention regions may include various three dimensional shapes and contours to achieve additional functionalities, including retaining a user's hand on the grip region. The shaft portion is disposed between the handle portion and the tip. The shaft portion primarily includes an elongated structure configured to minimize overall weight while providing lengthwise spacing between the handle and tips. The shaft portion may optionally include a second grip region and second retention region for engaging with a user's hand. The shaft portion may be coupled directly to the tip ( Reference is initially made to The continuous elongated frame 110 further includes a handle portion 120 and a shaft portion 130. The continuous elongated frame 110 may optionally include a hollow internal cavity and an outer wall thickness. The outer wall thickness may be defined as a thickness between the hollow internal cavity and an exterior surface of the continuous elongated frame 110. The outer wall thickness may be variable across the length of the continuous elongated frame. For example, the outer wall thickness may be greater at regions of high operational stress and lower at regions of low operational stress. One embodiment of the handle portion 120 of the pole system 100 is illustrated in A second embodiment of a pole system 200 is illustrated in Reference is next made to Reference is next made to Reference is next made to Reference is next made to It should be noted that various alternative system designs may be practiced in accordance with the present invention, including one or more portions or concepts of the embodiment illustrated in |