Footrest for a Ski Pole

A common form of cable-supported lift for carrying skiers up a slope is a chair in which the skier sits wearing skis with his legs hanging free and unsupported below the chair. In such a lift a tiring strain is placed on the skier's legs and knees, and the seat cuts into the under side of the upper leg. It is the object of the present invention to relieve the strain and discomfort on the skier's legs.

According to the invention an attachment for a skier's ski pole is provided which comprises a footrest crosspiece normally extending in a position transverse the lower end of the pole to a length adequate to support boots, with or without skis, at each side of the pole, with means extending from the middle of the crosspiece and encircling the pole for securing the crosspiece to the pole. Preferably the crosspiece is rotatable from its transverse position to a position parallel to the pole for use in skiing. Further the ski pole is provided with a hook device for engaging a safety bar member on the lift so as to support the pole and footrest on the lift.

FIG. 1A is an isometric view of the upper end of a ski pole with a support hook according to the invention;

FIG. 1B is an isometric view of the lower end of the ski pole with a footrest crosspiece;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the center of the crosspiece at twice the scale of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the support hook, partly broken away;

FIG. 4 is a section on line 4--4 of FIG. 2, partly broken away; and

FIG. 5 is a section on line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

The upper and lower ends respectively of a ski pole are shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The pole has the customary hand grip 2, tubular shaft 3, and basket 4. At the upper end of the pole is a pole attachment device including a hook 6 adapted to hang the pole from a horizontal member L on the lift, and body 7 for clamping the hook to the pole. At the lower end of the pole is another pole attachment comprising a footrest crosspiece 8 shown extending transversely of the pole, the footrest having portions 9 at either side of the pole for supporting the boots of a skier sitting on the lift, with or without skis. The footrest is preferably of a strong, lightweight material such as aluminum or a glass filled resin such as nylon. The hook attachment body 7 is of nylon or similar strong, lightweight plastic.

As shown in FIGS. 1B and 2, the crosspiece has a U-shaped securing member 11 of spring metal with upper and lower leafs 12 extending at an angle of approximately 75 degrees to a base 13. Each leaf has an circular opening 14 encircling the tubular shaft 3 of the pole. The spring of the member causes the edges of the openings to bite the shaft 3 of the pole. Squeezing the two leafs together with thumb and finger releases the bite allowing the crosspiece to be adjusted up and down the shaft according to the height of the skier.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the base 13 of the spring member is attached to the crosspiece by a plunger 15 with a head 16. The plunger has a rectangular shank portion 22 sliding in a rectangular passage 17 through the hub 18 of the crosspiece 9. As shown in FIG. 2 the rectangular shank portion 22 of the plunger is normally engaged in a rectangular passage 17 in the base 13, as well as in a rectangular opening 23 in the base 13. The plunger acts as a spring detent to prevent rotation of the crosspiece relative to the base and pole. Between the rectangular shank portion 22 and its head 16 the plunger has a cylindrical portion 24 and a second rectangular portion 26 normally seated in the rectangular opening 23 in the base 13 (FIG. 5). The plunger is connected to a button 19 urged outwardly by a spring 21. Depressing the button disengages the second rectangular portion 26 from the base opening 23, replacing it with the cylindrical portion 24, and allowing pivotal rotation of the rectangular opening 23 of the crosspiece base around the cylindrical portion 26. The crosspiece can then be rotated between a retracted position parallel to the pole shaft where it will not interfere with normal skiing use of the pole and the transverse position used to support the skier's feet.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 3, the hook support body 7 comprises two halves separable for attaching the body to the ski pole, and a metal strap 26 tightened by a screw 27 to clamp the halves securely on the shaft. Alternatively the halves 7A and 7B may be bolted together. The hook for hanging the ski pole on the lift member L is formed of heavy wire doubled at its outer, hook shaped end 29, and extending inwardly to two free ends 31 with outwardly bent tips 32. The tips spring yieldingly into openings 33 in two flanges 34 depending from the body allowing the hook to be swung from its operative position shown in solid line in FIGS. 1A and 3, to the retracted position shown in phantom in FIG. 3 for use of the pole in skiing. A boss 36 in the path of the free hook ends 31 acts as a detent to latch the hook in either position.

For use in a typical ski lift seat with a safety bar member in front of the skier, the hook is swung to its outer position and the pole is hung on the safety bar member after the footrest has been swung to transverse position. The pole and crosspiece will then support the skiers legs comfortably.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention includes all modifications and equivalents falling within the appended claims.