Stick

Abstract

 The invention relates to a stick. Especially for stick-assisted walking, roller skiing or roller skating, said stick (1) comprising a shaft element (2) and a spike (4) mounted on the bottom end of the shaft element. The stick of the invention is characterized in that the shaft element (2) has its bottom end provided with an elastically flexible pad (5), said spike (4) being embedded thereinside.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a stick, especially for stick-assisted walking, roller skiing or roller skating, said stick comprising a shaft element and a spike mounted on the bottom end of the shaft element.

[0002] In prior art sticks intended for stick-assisted walking, roller skiing or roller skating are provided with a spike-equipped sleeve fixed to the bottom end of the shaft, which is nevertheless uncomfortable in use as it jolts the arm upon hitting the stick against hard tarmac. Furthermore, the spike wears rapidly and loses its grip quite quickly.

[0003] Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel type of stick, especially for stick-assisted walking, roller skiing or roller skating, which eliminates or at least substantially alleviates the drawbacks of currently available sticks. In order to achieve this object, a stick of the invention is characterized in that the shaft element has its bottom end provided with an elastically flexible pad, said spike being embedded thereinside.

[0004] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, whose only figure shows in a schematic perspective view a bottom end for a stick of the invention.

[0005] In a conventional manner, the stick of the invention comprises a shaft element 2 which has its bottom end provided with a sleeve element 3 fitted with a spike 4. According to the invention, the stick has its bottom end provided with an elastically flexible pad 5, made for example in rubber material, which surrounds the spike 4 present within the sleeve 3 in such a manner that the spike 4 is embedded inside the pad 5. The pad 5 is asymmetrical relative to an axial line 7 defined by the shaft element 2 and provided with a lip member 8 extending backward from said axial line, which yields upon hitting the stick against tarmac. Thus, as the thrust continues, the spike 4 emerges and the grip of the spike and the friction effect of. e.g. the rubber-made pad 5 provide a highly effective hold. The pad 5 has preferably a curved-surface sole portion and is preferably provided with at least one crosswise groove 6. The spike 4 is conveniently located in line with one such groove 6. The curved-surface sole of the pad has a lengthwise dimension which is multiple, preferably more than 5 times, with respect to the diameter of the shaft element or pole stick 2. Especially in stick-assisted walking, the weight of the pad 5 is not a handicap but, instead, an advantage since an appropriate weight rhythms the pendulum motion of the stick and provides a proper feel or resistance for the workout of the arm muscles. A further benefit in terms of safety gained in roller skating and roller skiing is that the stick can be used for braking.

Claims

1. A stick, especially for stick-assisted walking, roller skiing or roller skating, said stick (1) comprising a shaft element (2) which has its bottom end provided with an elastically flexible pad (5) and a spike (4), characterized in that the spike (4) is embedded inside the curved-sole pad (5); that the spike (4) is located essentially on an axial line (7) defined by the shaft element (2); that the pad (5) is located asymmetrically relative to said axial line (7); that the pad (5) is provided with a lip-shaped flexible projection (8) extending backward from the stick axial line (7) defined by the shaft element (2),which yields upon hitting the stick against a hard surface and, as the thrust continues, the spike (4) emerges, the grip of the spike together with the friction effect of the pad (5) establishing a reliable contact with the surface.

2. A stick as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the pad (5) has its sole provided with at least one crosswise groove (6), and that the spike (4) is located in line with said at least one groove (6).

Drawing