Pole assembly with magnetic strap attachment and modular handle connection

A pole assembly comprising:

• a handle assembly comprising:
• a handle body extending between a proximal portion and a distal portion of the handle assembly, wherein the handle body is sized for gripping by a user,
• a first magnetizable material embedded in the proximal portion and oriented with a first polarity facing upward;
• and
• a strap assembly comprising:
• a strap body configured to wrap around a user's hand and wrist,
• a cap connected to the strap body, the cap including a second magnetizable material oriented with a second polarity opposite to the first polarity,
• wherein the first magnetizable material and the second magnetizable materials are configured to magnetically attract and releasably secure the cap to said proximal portion when the cap is positioned in proximity to the handle assembly, and wherein the magnetic attraction is configured to be overcome by upward pulling force applied to the strap assembly to release the cap from the handle assembly.

A method of releasably attaching and releasing a pole strap assembly from a pole handle assembly, the method comprising:

• wearing a strap assembly around a hand and wrist of a user, the strap assembly comprising a strap body and a cap, the cap housing a first magnetizable material;
• magnetically coupling the cap to a proximal portion of a handle assembly by positioning the cap proximate the proximal portion, the proximal portion housing a second magnetizable material oriented with a polarity opposite the first magnetizable material, such that the first and second magnetizable materials magnetically attract one another and releasably secure the cap to the proximal portion of the handle assembly with a holding force;
• and
• selectively releasing the cap from the proximal portion by applying a pulling force to the strap assembly sufficient to overcome the holding force, whereby the cap separates from the handle assembly while the strap assembly remains secured around the hand and wrist of the user;
• wherein selectively releasing the cap comprises an automatic emergency release occurring when a rearward or downward force applied to a pole shaft coupled to the handle assembly during a fall event exceeds the holding force between the first and second magnetizable materials, causing the cap to automatically separate from the proximal portion of the handle assembly and release the strap assembly from the pole shaft without requiring any deliberate user action, thereby reducing risk of injury to the user's wrist, arm, or shoulder.

A pole assembly comprising:

• a handle assembly comprising a handle body extending between a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the handle body is sized for gripping by a user, and wherein a first magnetizable material is embedded in the proximal portion and oriented with a first polarity facing upward;
• a strap assembly comprising a strap body configured to be worn around a user's hand and wrist independently of any glove, and a cap body configured to seat over and around the proximal portion of the handle assembly, the cap body housing a second magnetizable material oriented with a second polarity opposite to the first polarity, wherein the cap body has a tapered interior wall configured to maintain a close-clearance fit with the proximal portion such that the composite holding force retaining the cap body on the proximal portion comprises both the magnetic attraction between the first and second magnetizable materials and a mechanical engagement component arising from the tapered wall geometry and axial engagement depth of the cap body over the proximal portion;
• a magnetic key assembly configured to connect a lower portion of the strap assembly to a receptacle of the distal portion, the magnetic key assembly comprising a key component housing a lock bolt slidable between a locked and an unlocked position, a key magnetizable material embedded in the receptacle configured to magnetically urge the lock bolt into the locked position when the key component is received in the receptacle, and an unlocking magnetizable material within the key component configured to attract the lock bolt toward the unlocked position under magnetic interference from an external magnetizable source;
• a safety release joint interconnecting the key component to the strap assembly configured to provide a breakaway connection under excessive force;
• and
• wherein the magnetic key assembly is configured to be intentionally released by bringing the first magnetizable material of a second pole assembly's handle assembly into proximity with the receptacle, such that magnetic interference from said first magnetizable material reduces the urging force of the key magnetizable material on the lock bolt sufficiently to allow the unlocking magnetizable material to attract the lock bolt into the unlocked position.