US 7,802,581 B2Granted

Buffer for trekking or nordic-walking poles

AssigneeLekisport AG

InventorEberhard Heim

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

The invention describes a buffer (2) for a stick (1), in particular for a walking stick or a trekking or Nordic-Walking pole. The buffer (2) has means (10) for being attached to a stick tube (Ia), in particular in the form of a recess, at its upper end (4) and a rolling surface (5) at its lower end. In this case, the rolling surface (5) is of substantially flat or only slightly convex design in a transverse direction (22) in relation to the rolling motion but in a longitudinal direction (21) which is perpendicular thereto is convexly curved in such a way that it forms a rolling surface on a base surface (3) during the pushing-off movement with the stick when the user of the stick (1) moves. In the case of a buffer (2) of this type, an excellent degree of suitability and adhesive action for a very wide variety of base surfaces and at the same time quiet and problem-free use on hard base surfaces can be achieved by the buffer (2) being formed from an elastomeric material at least in the region of the rolling surface (5), and by at least one elastically mounted, hard, inelastic retaining element (9) being arranged in the elastomeric material.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A buffer for a pole,

wherein the buffer, at a top end, has a fastening element for fastening on a pole shaft in the form of a recess, and,
at a bottom end, has a rolling surface, and
wherein the rolling surface is of essentially planar or only slightly convexly curved design in a transverse direction, as seen in relation to the rolling movement, but in a longitudinal direction, perpendicularly thereto, is curved convexly such that, as a user of the pole is moving, it forms a rolling surface as the pole is pushed off an underlying surface, wherein the rolling surface has a profile with cleats formed by channels,
wherein the buffer consists of a single piece of elastomeric material with a hardness of 50-70 Shore A,
and wherein at least two elastically mounted, hard, non-elastic retaining elements are arranged in the elastomeric material and on at least two top cleat surfaces of the profile
wherein the retaining element comprises an anchoring element which is embedded in the elastomeric material, wherein, on a side which is directed toward the rolling surface, the anchoring element has a flange which is not embedded in the elastomeric material and surrounds a recess in which a tip element is incorporated and fastened,
wherein the tip element projects beyond the rolling surface by 0.5-3 mm,
wherein the anchoring element is embedded in the elastomeric material with an anchoring depth of 5-10 mm,
and wherein the anchoring depth in the elastomeric material is larger than the depth of the channels
wherein, in the region of the anchoring element which is embedded in the elastomeric material, the anchoring element has a plurality of encircling anchoring lamellae, and the encircling anchoring lamellae are of conical design in the direction away from the rolling surface and of stepped design in the direction toward the rolling surface.

7 more elements

A buffer for a pole,

wherein the buffer, at a top end, has a fastening element for fastening on a pole shaft in the form of a recess, and,
at a bottom end, has a rolling surface, and
wherein the rolling surface is of essentially planar or only slightly convexly curved design in a transverse direction, as seen in relation to a rolling movement, but in a longitudinal direction, perpendicularly thereto, is curved convexly such that, as a user of the pole is moving, it forms a rolling surface as the pole is pushed off an underlying surface, wherein the rolling surface has a profile with cleats formed by channels,
wherein the buffer comprises a hard body element, which is fastened on the pole shaft, and an elastomeric sole element, which, forming the rolling surface, is fastened at the bottom end of the body element, wherein the sole element consists of a single piece of elastomeric material with a hardness of 50-70 Shore A,
and wherein at least two elastically mounted, hard, non-elastic retaining elements are arranged in the elastomeric material of the sole element and on at least two top cleat surfaces of the profile
wherein the retaining element comprises an anchoring element which is embedded in the elastomeric material of the sole element, wherein, on a side which is directed toward the rolling surface, the anchoring element has a flange which is not embedded in the elastomeric material and surrounds a recess in which a tip element is incorporated and fastened,
wherein the tip element projects beyond the rolling surface by 0.5-3 mm,
wherein the anchoring element is embedded in the elastomeric material of the sole element with an anchoring depth of 5-10 mm,
and wherein the anchoring depth in the elastomeric material of the sole element is larger than the depth of the channels
wherein, in the region of the anchoring element which is embedded in the elastomeric material of the sole element, the anchoring element has a plurality of encircling anchoring lamellae, and the encircling anchoring lamellae are of conical design in the direction away from the rolling surface and of stepped design in the direction toward the rolling surface.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.