Asymmetrical basket for alpine ski poles and alpine ski pole provided with said basket.

Abstract

 Basket for alpine ski poles (20), comprising a substantially cylindrical central body (11) with an internal cavity, extending in the vertical direction (Z-Z), and a disk element (12) which is joined to the central body (11), the said disk element (12) being formed by a first flange (112a) with substantially semi-circumferential form and a second flange (112b) with a substantially semi-elliptical form, said flanges being arranged opposite each other relative to the longitudinal direction (X-X).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an asymmetrical basket for downhill ski poles and a downhill ski pole provided with said basket.

[0002] It is known in the technical sector of downhill or alpine skiing that the skier uses ski poles in order to keep his/her balance while skiing.

[0003] It is also known that, with the technological evolution of skis, resulting in particular in the production of so-called "carving" skis, the skiing style has also changed with the skier leaning over more towards the ground when performing turns.

[0004] With this inclination the basket of the ski pole also makes greater contact with the snow, resulting in a reaction which disturbs the skier when performing turns, greater friction on the snow causing slowing down which may become critical - in particular during time trials - and the formation of snow spray which creates a nuisance for other skiers on the piste.

[0005] The technical problem which is posed, therefore, is to provide a basket for alpine ski poles and an alpine ski pole which is able to overcome the aforementioned technical drawbacks.

[0006] In connection with this problem it is also required that the basket should have small dimensions, be easy and inexpensive to produce and assemble and be able to be installed easily on any ski pole using normal standardized and/or automated connection means.

[0007] These results are achieved according to the present invention by a basket for alpine ski poles, comprising a substantially cylindrical central body with an internal cavity, extending in the vertical direction, and a disk element which is fixed to the central body, according to the characteristic features of Claim 1.

[0008] Further details may be obtained from the following description of a non-limiting example of embodiment of the subject of the present invention provided with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1:

shows a cross-section, along the plane I-I indicated in Fig. 3, of the basket according to the present invention applied to a ski pole;

Figure 2:

shows a cross-section along the plane II-II indicated in Fig. 1; and

Figure 3:

shows a cross-section along the plane III-III indicated in Fig. 1.

[0009] As shown in Fig. 1 and assuming solely for the sake of convenience of the description and without a limiting meaning a set of three reference axes in a longitudinal direction X-X, transverse direction Y-Y vertical direction Z-Z coinciding with the long axis of a ski pole respectively, the basket 10 according to the invention comprises essentially:

• a substantially cylindrical central body 11 with an internal cavity, extending in the vertical direction Z-Z, having an internal diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the shaft 21 of a ski pole 20 so as to ensure stable relative engagement by means of friction between the ski pole 21 and the basket 10 itself, the basket being advantageously prevented above from sliding in the vertical direction by a further mechanical stop 11a;
• a disk element 12 which is joined to the central body 11, said disk element 12 preferably having a bottom inner concavity and a top outer convexity.

[0010] According to the invention it is envisaged that the disk element 12 is formed by a first flange 112a with a substantially semi-circumferential form and a second flange 112b which is substantially elliptical, said flanges being arranged opposite each other relative to the longitudinal direction X-X.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment it is envisaged that the ratio between the minor axis A1 and the major axis A2 of the elliptical part of the basket is between 1.50 and 1.75 and preferably between 1.58 and 1.65; moreover it is envisaged that the ratio between the radius R1 of the semi-circumferential part and the minor axis A1 of the semi-elliptical part is between 0.60 and 0.85, and preferably between 0.70 and 0.80.

[0012] Conveniently, the basket 10 has two recesses 13 in a diametrically opposite position along the longitudinal direction X-X, joining together the two flanges 112a and 112b, said recesses having the dual function of ensuring sufficient relative elasticity of the two flanges 112a and 112b in order to prevent breakages and allowing the two ski poles of a pair to be joined together for transportation thereof.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 2, the basket 10 according to the present invention is mounted on the ski pole shaft 21, angularly oriented with respect to the said shaft 21, so that the semi-elliptical flange is arranged on the same side as the recesses 22a on the grip 22, thus ensuring that during skiing this flange is directed towards and touches the snow.

[0014] It is therefore clear how the basket according to the invention and an alpine ski pole according to the invention are able to overcome the technical problems posed, reducing in particular the reaction of the ski pole on the snow which disturbs the skier when performing a turn, the friction on the snow and the consequent slowing down of the speed, as well as the formation of snow spray which creates a nuisance for other skiers on the piste. Although described in connection with certain constructional forms and certain preferred examples of embodiment, it is understood that many variants may be applied to the configuration of the basket in particular with regard to the form of the flanges, the relative joining arrangements and the like without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the present patent defined solely by the following claims.

Claims

1. Basket for alpine ski poles (20), comprising a substantially cylindrical central body (11) with an internal cavity, extending in the vertical direction (Z-Z), and a disk element (12) which is joined to the central body (11), characterized in that said disk element (12) is formed by a first flange (112a) with a substantially semi-circumferential form and a second flange (112b) with a substantially semi-elliptical form, said flanges being arranged opposite each other relative to the longitudinal direction (X-X).

2. Basket according to Claim 1, characterized in that the ratio between the minor axis (A1) and the major axis (A2) of the semi-elliptical flange of the basket is between 1.50 and 1.75.

3. Basket according to Claim 2, characterized in that the ratio between the minor axis (A1) and the major axis (A2) of the semi-elliptical flange is preferably between 1.58 and 1.65.

4. Basket according to Claim 1, characterized in that the ratio between the radius (R1) of the semi-circumferential flange and the minor axis (A1) of the semi-elliptical flange is between 0.60 and 0.85.

5. Basket according to Claim 1, characterized in that the ratio between the radius (R1) of the semi-circumferential flange and the minor axis (A1) of the semi-elliptical flange is preferably between 0.70 and 0.80.

6. Basket according to Claim 1, characterized in that it has two recesses (13) in a diametrically opposite position along the longitudinal direction (X-X), joining together the two flanges (112a,112b) of the disk element (12).

7. Alpine ski pole comprising a shaft (21) and a grip (22) with recesses (22a), characterized in that it comprises a basket (10) for resting on the snow according to Claim 1.

8. Ski pole according to Claim 4, characterized in that said basket is angularly oriented with respect to the shaft (21) of the ski pole with the semi-elliptical flange (112b) directed on the same side as the recesses (22a) of the grip (22).

9. Ski pole according to Claim 1, characterized in that the ratio between the minor axis (A1) and the major axis (A2) of the semi-elliptical flange (112b) of the basket (10) is between 1.50 and 1.75.

10. Ski pole according to Claim 1, characterized in that the ratio between the radius (R1) of the semi-circumferential flange and the minor axis (A1) of the semi-elliptical flange is preferably between 0.70 and 0.80.

Drawing