Collapsible ski pole

Claim 2

A collapsible rod comprising a plurality of tubular rod sections including first and second end rod sections, said tubular sections being assembled end to end with each section in telescopic interfitting engagement with an adjacent section, a locking slide mounted on and exterior of said first end rod sections, means connecting said slide and said first end section for limiting axial movement of said slide relative to said first end section between first and second axially spaced limit positions, a flexible cord for tethering said sections, said cord being disposed within said tubular sections, means connecting one end of said cord to said second end rod section, means connecting the opposite end of said cord to said slide, said slide being in said first limit position and said cord beinG under tension so as to hold said sections in said end to end assembled relation, said second limit position being spaced from said first limit position by an amount such that when said slide is moved to said second limit position said cord will become slack enough to permit said sections to be disengaged from one another and folded into a bundle.

Claim 3

A rod according to claim 1 wherein said first end section is provided with a handle and said second end section terminates in a point.

Claim 4

A rod according to claim 2 wherein said slide is a sleeve surrounding said first end section and said means connecting said slide and said first end section comprises a cam on said sleeve and a cam slot in said first end section, said cam being disposed in said slot, said slot having a first portion extending generally lengthwise of said first end section and a second portion extending generally circumferentially of said first end section, said second portion being disposed so as to determine said first limit position and being shaped so as to oppose movement of said cam and said slide relative to said first end section so long as said cord is under tension.

Claim 5

A rod according to claim 3 wherein the said first portion of said slot extends from said second portion toward said second end section.

Claim 6

A rod according to claim 4 wherein said connecting means includes a second like cam slot in said first end section, said cam slots being displaced 180* from one another with respect to the axis of said first end section, and further wherein a second cam is disposed in said second cam slot.

Claim 7

A rod according to claim 5 wherein said sleeve is tubular and has a diametrically extending pin affixed thereto, said cams comprising portions of said pin.

Claim 8

A rod according to claim 6 wherein said cord is attached to said slide by way of said pin.

Claim 9

A folding ski pole comprising first and second end rod sections each having a tubular end and at least one intermediate rod section having tubular ends, said tubular ends being shaped so that said rod sections may be assembled end-to-end in interfitting telescopic relation with one another, a handle with a strap affixed to said first end rod section at the end opposite the tubular end thereof, said second end rod section terminating in a pointed head at the end opposite to the tubular end thereof and also having a basket affixed thereto, a flexible cord for tethering said rod sections, one end of said cord being anchored within said second end rod section and extending lengthwise through said at least one intermediate rod section, means carried by said first end section and connected to the other end of said cord for taking up slack in said cord to draw all of said rod sections together in end-to-end assembled relation, said means comprising an operating member mounted exterior of and slidably surrounding said first end rod section, said member being slidable axially and circumferentially relative to said first end rod section, means connecting the other end of said cord to said operating member, and means coupling said operating member and said first end rod section for limiting movement of said operating member between a first limit position in which said cord is slack and said rod sections are separable and foldable into a bundle and a second limit position in which said cord is placed under tension sufficient to hold said rod sections in said end-to-end assembled relation.

Claim 10

A folding ski pole comprising first and second end rod sections each having a tubular end and at least one intermediate rod section having tubular ends, said tubular ends being shaped so that said rod sections may be assembled end-to-end in interfitting telescopic relation with one another, a handle with a strap affixed to said first end rod section at the end opposite the tubular end thereof, said second end rod section terminating in a pointed head at the end opposite to the tubular end thereof and also having a basket affixed thereto, a flexible cord for tethering said rod sections, one end of said cord being anchored within said second end rod section and extending lengthwise through said at least one intermediate rod section, means carried by said first end section and connected to the other end of said cord for taking up slack in said cord to draw all of said rod sections together in end-to-end assembled relation, said means comprising an operating member mounted exterior of and slidably surrounding said first end rod section, said member being slidable axially and circumferentially relative to said first end rod section, means connecting the other end of said cord to said operating member, and means coupling said operating member and said first end rod section for limiting movement of said operating member between a first limit position in which said cord is slack and said rod sections are separable and foldable into a bundle and a second limit position in which said cord is placed under tension sufficient to hold said rod sections in said end-to-end assembled relation.

Claim 11

A folding ski pole according to claim 8 wherein said coupling means is adapted to releasably lock said operating member in said second limit position under the influence of the tension of said cord.

Claim 12

A folding ski pole according to claim 8 wherein said coupling means comprises a cam on said operating member and a cam track on said first end rod section, said cam disposed so as to ride along said track and said track shaped so as to determine said first and second limit positions.

Claim 13

A collapsible rod comprising a plurality of tubUlar rod sections including first and second end rod sections, said first end section being provided with a handle and said second end section terminating in a point, said tubular sections being assembled end to end with each section in telescopic interfitting engagement with an adjacent section, a locking tubular slide surrounding said first end rod section, means connecting said slide and said first end section for limiting axial movement of said slide relative to said first end section between first and second axially spaced limit positions, said connecting means comprising a pin affixed to and extending across the interior of said tubular slide and first and second slots in said first end section, said pin also being disposed in said first and second slots, a flexible cord for tethering said sections, said cord extending along and within said tubular sections and having one end thereof connected to said second end section and the opposite end thereof connected to said slide, said slots being displaced 180* from one another with respect to the axis of said first end section, each of said slots having a first portion extending generally lengthwise of said first end section and a second portion extending generally circumferentially of said first end section, said second portions of said slots being disposed so as to determine said first limit position and being shaped so as to oppose movement of said pin and said slide relative to said first end section so long as said cord is under tension, said first portions of said slots being disposed so as to determined said second limit portion, said slide being in said first limit position and said cord being under tension so as to hold said sections in said end to end assembled relation, said second limit position being spaced from said first limit position by an amount such that when said slide is moved to said second limit position said cord will become slack enough to permit said sections to be disengaged from one another and folded into a bundle.

Claim 14

A collapsible rod comprising a plurality of tubUlar rod sections including first and second end rod sections, said first end section being provided with a handle and said second end section terminating in a point, said tubular sections being assembled end to end with each section in telescopic interfitting engagement with an adjacent section, a locking tubular slide surrounding said first end rod section, means connecting said slide and said first end section for limiting axial movement of said slide relative to said first end section between first and second axially spaced limit positions, said connecting means comprising a pin affixed to and extending across the interior of said tubular slide and first and second slots in said first end section, said pin also being disposed in said first and second slots, a flexible cord for tethering said sections, said cord extending along and within said tubular sections and having one end thereof connected to said second end section and the opposite end thereof connected to said slide, said slots being displaced 180* from one another with respect to the axis of said first end section, each of said slots having a first portion extending generally lengthwise of said first end section and a second portion extending generally circumferentially of said first end section, said second portions of said slots being disposed so as to determine said first limit position and being shaped so as to oppose movement of said pin and said slide relative to said first end section so long as said cord is under tension, said first portions of said slots being disposed so as to determined said second limit portion, said slide being in said first limit position and said cord being under tension so as to hold said sections in said end to end assembled relation, said second limit position being spaced from said first limit position by an amount such that when said slide is moved to said second limit position said cord will become slack enough to permit said sections to be disengaged from one another and folded into a bundle.

Claim 15

A rod according to claim 11 wherein said cord is attached to said slide by way of said pin.