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WO2008149299A1 - Bâton amélioré pour le sport - Google Patents

Bâton amélioré pour le sport Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008149299A1
WO2008149299A1 PCT/IB2008/052185 IB2008052185W WO2008149299A1 WO 2008149299 A1 WO2008149299 A1 WO 2008149299A1 IB 2008052185 W IB2008052185 W IB 2008052185W WO 2008149299 A1 WO2008149299 A1 WO 2008149299A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
shaft
tube
tubes
pole
prepreg
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2008/052185
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Roberto Gazzara
Mauro Pinaffo
Mauro Pezzato
Michele Pozzobon
Stephen J. Davis
Original Assignee
Prince Sports Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Prince Sports Inc. filed Critical Prince Sports Inc.
Publication of WO2008149299A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008149299A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
    • A63C11/00—Accessories for skiing or snowboarding
    • A63C11/22—Ski-sticks
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2225/00—Miscellaneous features of sport apparatus, devices or equipment
    • A63B2225/01—Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B60/00—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
    • A63B60/50—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like with through-holes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B60/00—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
    • A63B60/54—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like with means for damping vibrations

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an improved sports pole, which is particularly useful for sports activities, such as alpine skiing, nordic skiing, nordic walking, trekking and the like.
  • the performance of a sports pole is determined by a number of factors such as weight, bending flex, strength, impact strength, and shock absorption.
  • a traditional sports pole is a single tubular structure with a tapered circular cross section and a hollow interior.
  • the wall thickness can vary along its length to provide specific performance needs.
  • a sports pole is a critical feature in determining performance. The lighter the pole weight, the easier the pole is to maneuver. This is especially true for nordic style poles, which are very long, and are swung forward and backward to propel the skier forward. The pole weight is an important factor also for sports activities like nordic walking or trekking.
  • a sports pole may be made from a number of materials such as aluminum, steel, titanium, and light weight composite materials.
  • Fiber reinforced composite materials offer a lighter weight alternative.
  • a popular high performance material for modern pole design is carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin (CFE) because it has the highest strength and stiffness to weight ratio with respect to any realistically affordable material.
  • CFE carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin
  • CFE can produce a very light weight pole with excellent strength as well as providing a variety of stiffnesses, since carbon fiber based materials can be tailored to provide different stiffnesses in different directions and locations along the length of the pole.
  • a pole made from carbon fiber composite can be susceptible to catastrophic failure resulting from excessive compressive forces, which cause buckling of the thin walled tubes.
  • a popular method to produce a fiber reinforced pole is using a pultrusion process because it is automated and can produce a more economical product.
  • the disadvantages of a pultrusion process consists in that it is limited to fiber angles that are aligned with the axis of the pole and a constant cross section along its length.
  • a more versatile method is to form a composite pole using external pressure. This is accomplished by rolling the material over a mandrel, then wrapping a polymeric shrink tape that exerts pressure to consolidate the laminate while being heated in an oven to cure the thermoset resin. In this method a variety of fiber angles can be used to improve strength and stiffness.
  • the cross section of the pole can vary as well as the wall thickness.
  • Sports poles may be manufactured also with a bladder molding method, which comprises forming the pole shaft using internal inflation to compress and consolidate the composite material in a mold cavity to produce varying cross sections and non- straight shapes.
  • stiffness of a pole is a further important factor in determining performance.
  • a sports pole is, in fact, subjected to a multitude of stress conditions. There are bending loads in a multitude of directions, impact loads and vibrational loads. Furthermore, there are high stress concentrations where the shaft connects to the grip portion.
  • the pole can result heavier than desired or uncomfortable to use.
  • the effect of extra mass near the tip portion of the pole remarkably affects its swing weight, since the tip region of the shaft is at the greatest distance from the point of rotation of the swing.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 3,265.401 to Spier describes a ski pole with an internal vane structure to improve strength and prevent the pole from denting.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,346 to Unger describes a ski pole produced using a pultrusion process whereby a reinforcement element is formed inside the tubular structure to provide stability in more than one direction.
  • a sports pole Another desirable feature in a sports pole is comfort.
  • the axial stiffness of a pole is important in determining the user's comfort when the pole is planted on snow, ice or grounds.
  • Uncomfortable shock waves to the hands and arms may in fact arise, since said shock waves can travel directly up the axis of the pole. All types of shocks and vibrations are magnified with poles of a lighter weight, which do not have the sufficient mass or inertia to absorb the shocks or damp the vibrations.
  • a sports pole generally presents a large frontal area to the direction of travel.
  • the aerodynamic drag of the long pole can be significant.
  • a high rate of speed can produce a high drag on the ski pole.
  • pole designs to enhance aerodynamics There exist limited examples of pole designs to enhance aerodynamics.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,571 to Manninen, et. al. describes a cross-country ski pole with a cross section that varies toward the tip to improve the aerodynamics and weight distribution of the pole.
  • lateral stability is compromised with this design because of the thin profile needed for improved aerodynamics.
  • the sports pole allows the fulfillment of this need.
  • the sports pole according to the invention, comprises a shaft that is formed of at least a hollow tube having at least one, and preferably a series, of openings that extend through the shaft, said openings being hereinafter referred to as "ports".
  • Each port has a peripheral wall that extends between opposed wall portions of the shaft, to which the opposite ends of each port are bonded.
  • Each port is preferably shaped to act as a structure comprising two opposing arches, which provide additional strength, stiffness, comfort, and aesthetic benefits.
  • the shaft of the sports pole, according to the invention is preferably made of composite materials but other materials can be selected alone or in combination, such as metal, plastic or wood can be used.
  • the sports pole may be formed by several manufacturing methods.
  • One preferred method which is particularly suitable for single tube poles, consists of forming holes to accommodate the ports in a primary prepreg tube prior to molding by punching or other suitable means.
  • carbon fibers may be cut in the process, the primary tube retains strength due to the fact that, after molding, tubular insert members are bonded to the hole edges and extend across the primary tube to form the ports of the shaft.
  • the holes may be formed by separating fibers in the prepreg wall, in which case fibers will not be cut.
  • An alternative method is to replace a single tube portion with a multiple, e.g., double tube design while maintaining the same or similar geometric exterior shape of the pole.
  • the tubes are bonded for most of their lengths and they can be separated at various locations to form the ports of the shaft.
  • This multi-tube construction provides a shaft structure with an internal wall between the tubes, which adds strength and stiffness advantages
  • the sports pole may be easily and efficiently manufactured, at low cost with regard to both materials and labor.
  • the sports pole is of durable and reliable construction and may be provided with specific stiffness zones at various orientations and locations along the length of the shaft, with superior performances in terms of strength and fatigue resistance.
  • the sports pole according to the invention, has improved shock absorption and vibration damping characteristics, improved aerodynamics, a unique look and improved aesthetics.
  • figure 1 is an isometric view of the sports pole, according to the invention
  • figure 2 shows an isometric view and a sectional view of a shaft portion of the sports pole, according to the invention, in one embodiment
  • - figures 3-6 show some steps of a manufacturing method for providing the sports pole, according to the invention, in the embodiment shown in figure 2
  • figures 7-8 show optional steps of the manufacturing method illustrated in figures 3-6 refer
  • figure 9 shows an isometric view of the shaft of the sports pole, according to the invention, in a further embodiment
  • figure 10 shows an isometric view and sectional views of a shaft portion of the sports pole of figure 9
  • - figure 1 IA-I IB show respectively an isometric view and a sectional view of the shaft of the sports pole, according to the invention, in a further embodiment
  • figure 12 shows an isometric view of the shaft of the sports pole, according to the invention, in a further embodiment
  • figure 12 shows an isometric view of the shaft of the sports pole, according to the invention, in a further
  • the present invention relates to a sports pole 1, which comprises a shaft 10 having a handle end 12, about which a handle 120 is normally attached, and a tip end 14, which normally enters in contact with the ground and to which a basket 140 may be attached.
  • the shaft 10 is formed of at least a hollow tube that preferably tapers towards the tip end 14.
  • One or more ports 20 are formed in the shaft 10.
  • Each port 20 extends between opposed walls of the shaft 10, so as to cross its entire section.
  • Each port 20 is defined by a peripheral wall 22 that extends parallel to an axis 201, which is preferably perpendicular to the main longitudinal axis 103 of the shaft 10 and which is preferably parallel or perpendicular to the direction of travel of the user, when the sports pole 1 is normally handled.
  • Each port 20 may vary in size and is preferably oval in shape, with the longer axis or dimension of the oval shape in line with the longitudinal axis 103 of the shaft 10.
  • the ports 20 are preferably in the shape of double opposing arches, so as to allow greater bending flexibility than in traditional poles.
  • the double arch configuration in fact, allows the shaft to deflect, while retaining its cross sectional shape, since the ports 20 can deform and resiliency return to their original shape.
  • the cylindrical walls 22 that define the ports 20 provide a truss like reinforcement to the shaft structure. This feature prevents the cross section of the shaft 10 from collapsing, which significantly improves the strength of the shaft structure. Ports 20 improve comfort by absorbing shock and damping vibrations due to the resilient deformation of the opposed arches constituting each port.
  • the ports 20 also reduce the wind resistance of the shaft 10 and create a unique appearance to the sports pole 1.
  • the shaft 10 is made of relatively rigid materials with limited flexibility, for example composite materials and/or metal materials.
  • the shaft 10 is formed of a single, primary hollow tube 11, with a plurality of ports 20 extending through it.
  • the ports 20 are preferably formed by hollow insert members 39 having ends 54 bonded to the wall portions of the tube 11 surrounding the ports 20.
  • the tube 11 is preferably made of multiple plies (not shown) of aligned carbon filaments held together with an epoxy binder, i.e., so-called "graphite" material.
  • the fibers in the various plies are parallel to one another, but the various plies preferably have varying fiber orientations.
  • a long fiber reinforced prepreg type material is used.
  • Traditional lightweight composite structures have been made by preparing an intermediate material known as a "prepreg” which will be used to mold the final structure.
  • a prepreg is formed by embedding the fibers, such as carbon, glass, and others, in resin. This is typically done using a prepreg machine, which applies the non-cured resin over the fibers so they are all wetted out.
  • the resin is at an "B Stage” meaning that only heat and pressure are required to complete the cross linking and harden and cure the resin.
  • Thermoset resins like epoxy are popular because they are available in liquid form at room temperature, which facilitates the embedding process.
  • a thermoset is created by a chemical reaction of two components, forming a material in a nonreversible process. Usually, the two components are available in liquid form, and after mixing together, will remain a liquid for a period of time before the cross-linking process begins.
  • each prepreg layer comprises an epoxy resin combined with unidirectional parallel fibers from the class of fibers including but not limited to carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers, and boron fibers.
  • the prepreg is cut into strips at various angles and the strips are then stacked in an alternating fashion such that the fibers of each layer are different to the adjacent layers. For example, one layer may be +45 degrees, the next layer -45 degrees.
  • This layup which comprises various plies of prepreg material, is then rolled up into a tube.
  • the method comprises a step of providing a suitable prepreg tube 15, which is preferably formed in the manner just described above, with the various composite plies oriented at the desired angles.
  • holes 32 are formed through opposing walls of the prepreg tube 15, perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the prepreg tube 15.
  • the holes 32 may be stamped through the walls. More preferably, a tool is used to separate the carbon fibers from one another, without cutting the fibers.
  • the holes, at this stage, need not have the final desired shape.
  • inflatable bladders 34-35 preferably made of nylon, are inserted through the prepreg tube 15, such that their facing walls 36-37 are aligned with the openings 32.
  • a hollow insert member 39 is inserted through each of the holes 32, between the facing walls 36-37.
  • the plugs 39 separate the bladders 34-35.
  • the ends 54 of the insert members 39 preferably extend beyond the outer surfaces of the prepreg tube 15, as shown in Figs. 5-6.
  • the insert members 39 are preferably tubes of prepreg material. However, they may be made of other materials, such as metal, wood or plastic.
  • a mold pin 41 is preferably inserted through each of them to form the internal geometry of the ports 20. This may occur prior to mold packing, or during the mold packing process.
  • the tube 11 is then packed into a mold, which forms the shape of the shaft 10. If the mold and tube are longer than the final desired dimension of the sports pole 1 , a final cut to length operation can be performed on the shaft 10 after molding. Air fittings (not shown) are applied to the interior of the bladder on each end of the tube 15.
  • the mold (not shown) is then closed over the tube 15 and placed in a heated platen press (not shown).
  • the tube 15 is internally pressurized by the bladders 34-35, which compresses the prepreg material and forces the tube 15 to assume the shape of the mold. At the same time, the heat cures the epoxy resin.
  • the bladders also compress the peripheral walls of the insert members 39, so that the inwardly facing surface 390 of each member 39 conforms to the shape of the mold pin 41, which is preferably oval.
  • the pins 41 are typically removed first, followed by the top portion of the mold. Particular attention is needed if removing the top portion with the pins 41 intact to ensure that this is done in a linear fashion.
  • the shaft 10 so formed can be removed from the bottom portion of the mold.
  • This portion would then be placed in another mold where the bladder molded portion forming the ports would be fused to it.
  • the shaft 10 is comprised of an upper portion 10a, which may be previously molded using a traditional method.
  • a suitable prepreg tube 15a is then formed with holes 32a, in a similar manner as described previously.
  • inflatable bladders 34a-35a are inserted through the tube 15a
  • insert members 39a are inserted through the holes 32a between the facing walls 36a-37a of the bladders, in a similar manner as described previously.
  • the ends of the insert members 39a preferably extend beyond the outer surfaces of the prepreg tube 15a.
  • the insert members 39a are preferably tubes of prepreg material but they may be made of other materials such as metal, wood or plastic.
  • a mold pin (not shown) may be inserted through each insert member 39a to form the internal geometry of the ports. This may occur prior to mold packing, or during the mold packing process.
  • the upper portion 10a is connected to the prepreg portion 15a by means of an overlap joint
  • the assembly is then packed into a mold which forms the shape of the lower portion of the shaft 10.
  • Air fittings (not shown) are applied to the ends of each bladder 34a-35a.
  • the mold (not shown) is then closed over the tube 15a and a portion of the pre-molded upper portion 10a and placed in a heated platen press (not shown).
  • the tube 15a While the mold is being heated, the tube 15a is internally pressurized, which compresses the prepreg material and forces the tube 15a to assume the shape of the mold as well as bond to the upper portion 10a. At the same time, the heat cures the epoxy resin.
  • the bladders 34a-35a also compress the peripheral walls of the insert members 39a, so that the inwardly facing surface of each insert member 39a conforms to the shape of the mold pins, defining the peripheral wall of the ports. At the same time, the heat and pressure cause the ends of each insert members 39a to bond to the wall of the prepreg tube 15a.
  • the shaft 10 having a single tube structure may be fully realized in metal material.
  • a method (not shown) to produce said single tube structure with ports out of metal is to start with a metal tube such as aluminum, titanium, steel, or magnesium, for example, and deform the tube in local areas to create dimples or craters in the surface of the tube on opposing sides.
  • the centers of these dimples can be removed leaving a circular aperture through the tube. Hollow members can then be positioned through these circular apertures and fixed to the edges of this dimple area of the primary tube using a welding process to create a 3D structure.
  • the result will be a structure with the primary tube being a single hollow tube with hollow members attached in a transverse manner internal to the primary tube, so as to form the ports of the shaft.
  • the shaft 10 is formed of multiple tubes.
  • First portions of said tubes form the outer wall of the shaft 10 and define an interior 230 of the shaft.
  • Second portions of said tubes extend across the interior 230 and are bonded to one another, at least along most of the length of the shaft 10, so as to form an internal reinforcing wall.
  • Said tubes are separated from one another at selected locations to form ports that act as double opposing arches.
  • Figures 9-1 IB show a portion of a sports pole 10 with multiple ports 20, in which two hollow tubes 23 form the structure of the shaft 10.
  • the hollow tubes 23 are joined together to form an internal wall 24, which is preferably located along the main longitudinal axis of the shaft 10. Both of the hollow tubes 23 should be about the same size and, when molded, form a "D" shape. At the locations of the ports 20, the hollow tubes 23 are separated from one another to form the peripheral wall 22 defining each port 20. It is advisable to have a radius (i.e. rounded edges
  • Figure 10 shows also an isometric view of the shaft 10 isolated to one port 20, in which the two hollow tubes 23 and internal wall 24 may be appreciated. Also shown is the port 20 formed by the curved peripheral wall 22, which may have the shape of a portion of a cylinder.
  • the axis of the port is 90° to the main longitudinal axis of the shaft.
  • the ports 20 are oriented so as to have axes 201 perpendicular to the direction of travel 500 of the user, when the sports pole 1 is used in its natural position of handling. Ports oriented in this manner will create a stiffer shaft 10 for out of plane bending.
  • the ports 20 are oriented, so as to have the axes 201 parallel to the direction of travel 500.
  • Ports oriented in this manner provide the sports pole 1 with improved aerodynamics and provide the means to achieve more flexibility and resiliency of the sports pole 1, in the plane of the swing because the double arch structure can provide more bending flexibility in this direction due to the reduced shaft section dimension either side of the ports.
  • the ports 20 can easily deform and return, providing greater resiliency.
  • the hollow tubes 23 are positioned side-by-side and are fused together along much of their lengths to form the common wall 24 that extends across the diameter of the shaft, i.e., bisects the shaft interior 230.
  • the facing surfaces 22a and 22b of the tubes 23 are separated during molding to form the ports 20.
  • Figure 12 shows an alternative embodiment of the sports pole 1 as assembled with a basket 140 and a handle 120.
  • the shaft pole 10 is designed using a multiple tube construction with allows for ports 20 and 20a to be oriented at different angles.
  • the ports 20 near the tip end 14 of the shaft 10 are in line with the direction of travel 500, in order to provide greater in plane stiffness and reduced wind resistance in this area.
  • the ports 20a near the handle end 12 of the shaft 10 are oriented perpendicular to the direction of travel 500, which will provide improved in plane stiffness. Therefore a sports pole 1 with this type of design would be considered to have a more flexible tip region 14 and a stiffer handle region 12. It is also possible to do the opposite or any combination desired.
  • FIG 13 it is shown a cutaway portion of the shaft 10, which comprises ports 20 and 20a differently oriented with respect to the direction of travel. As it may seen from a cross section taken in a shaft region without ports, four tubes 42,43,44,45 are used to create a tubular arrangement with an internal wall 46 in the form of an "X".
  • FIG 13 it is also shown a cross section in the region of the port 20a, which is oriented perpendicular to the direction of travel. It should be appreciated how the hollow tubes 42 and 43 have remained together as well as hollow tubes 44 and 45. The tubes 42 and 43 are separated respectively from the tubes 45 and 44 during molding to create the port 20a.
  • ports may be differently formed and oriented by separating in different manners two of the tubes 42-45 from the others.
  • the hollow tubes 42 and 45 remain together as well as hollow tubes
  • the hollow tubes 42 and 45 are separated respectively from the tubes 43 and 44.
  • FIG 14 it is shown an isometric cutaway view of a further embodiment of a four tube shaft structure 10.
  • ports parallel and perpendicular to the direction of travel 500 are positioned in a same location.
  • Hollow tubes 47, 48, 49, and 50 form the X-shaped interior wall 46 and are all separated in the same location to form the ports therebetween.
  • This particular embodiment would provide more flexibility and resiliency for both in plane and out of plane conditions at the same location.
  • ports there can be any number of ports and orientations of ports depending on the number of hollow tubes used and how many are separated to form these ports.
  • the ports can be stiff if desired, or resilient allowing more deflection and recovery, or can be designed using different materials or a lay-up of different fiber angles in order to produce the desired performance characteristics of the structure.
  • the structure can be further refined by using more than two tubes.
  • using three tubes allows for apertures to occur in 120 degree offsets, providing specific stiffness tailoring along those directions.
  • Using four tubes provides the possibility of having apertures at ninety degree angles to each other and alternately located along the length of the tubular part to achieve unique performance and aesthetic levels.
  • Another option is to locate the multiple ports in the same location to achieve more of an open truss design.
  • Figure 15 illustrates some examples of the variety of shapes possible to be used for the ports.
  • the quantity, size, and spacing of the ports can vary according to the performance desired.
  • the manufacturing method comprises the step of providing the prepreg tubes 60a, 60b, each tube being approximately half the size of the shaft to be obtained.
  • a polymer bladder 64 is inserted into the middle of each prepreg tube 60a-b and is used to generate internal pressure to consolidate the plies upon the application of heat.
  • the mold packing process consists of taking each prepreg tube and internal bladder and position into a mold cavity and an air fitting (not shown) is attached to the bladders 64.
  • each tube 60a-b Care should be taken for the position of each tube 60a-b, so that the internal wall, formed between the tubes is oriented properly.
  • Pins 700 are then inserted between the tubes 60a-b in order to form the ports 20 during pressurization.
  • the pins 700 are secured into portions of the mold and are easily removable.
  • the mold is pressed closed in a heated platen press (not shown) and air pressure for each tube 60a, 60b should be applied simultaneously to retain the size and position of each tube and the formed wall 24 in between.
  • the pins 700 maintain the prepreg tubes separated during the pressurization of the bladders and the heating of the mold cavity. Simultaneously, the tubes 60a-b will conform around the pins 700 and form the ports 20 during the curing of said tubes. In fact, as the temperature rises in the mold, the viscosity of the epoxy resin decreases and the tubes expand, pressing against each other until expansion is complete and the epoxy resin is cross linked and cured.
  • the prepreg tubes assume the shape of the mold, the mold member keeping the facing walls 71a, 71b of the tubes 60a-b apart, so as to form the port 20. As shown, the tubes 60a-b will form a common wall at seam 72.
  • the mold is then opened, the pins removed, and the part is removed from the mold.
  • Another option is to combine a single tube with a multiple tube construction.
  • a single composite tube can be a portion of the shaft 10 and co-molded with multiple tubes to produce a lower cost alternative to an integral multiple tube construction.
  • a further option is to combine a composite multi-tube portion with another portion in order to form the shaft 10.
  • the forward ends 62 of the prepreg tubes 60a, 60b, each having an inflatable bladder 64, are inserted into one end 65 of a tube 66, which may be made of any material, preferably a metal or composite material.
  • the assembly is placed inside a mold having the same shape of the tube 66, at least at the juncture 70 of the prepreg tubes 60a, 60b and the tube 66.
  • a pin or mold member (not shown) is placed between the prepreg tubes 60a, 60b where a port 20 is to be formed.
  • the mold (not shown) is then closed and heated, as the bladders 64 are inflated, so that the prepreg tubes assume the shape of the mold, the mold member keeping the facing walls 71a, 71b of the tubes 60a, 60b apart, so as to form the port 20.
  • the tubes 60a, 60b will form a common wall at seam 72.
  • the cured shaft 10 is removed from the mold, and the mold member or pin is removed, leaving the port 20.
  • the seam 70 between the graphite portions 60a, 60b of the frame member 74 and the metal tube portion 66 should be flush.
  • a further option is to construct a multi-tube structure, for example with two tubes, having ports by using metal materials only.
  • a preferred method to produce this structure is to start with a metal tube with a "D" shaped cross section.
  • the tube can then be formed with a half arch bends along its length.
  • a similar operation can be done with another metal tube.
  • the two tube halves can then be attached by fixing the flat sides of the D shaped cross section so that each pair of bends forms two opposed half arches oppose.
  • the tubes can thus be welded or bonded together resulting in a structure with an internal reinforcing wall and a double opposing arch shaped ports.
  • ports can be formed using a metal tube with composite ports.
  • the metal tube has holes formed, and the prepreg inserts and placed through opposing holes. Bladders are placed inside the metal tube and pressurized to form the ports.
  • a composite material comprising carbon fiber reinforced epoxy is preferably used to provide a multi-tube shaft, since the objective is to provide reinforcement at the lightest possible weight. Nonetheless, other fibers may be used such as fiberglass, aramid, boron and others. Other thermoset resins may be used such as polyester and vinyl ester. Thermoplastic resins may also be used such as nylon, ABS, PBT and others.
  • the size and spacing of the ports can affect shaft stiffness in a desirable way. These ports can direct the flexpoint of the shaft toward the lower portion of the shaft if desired.
  • An unexpected benefit of the ports in the shaft is that they actually improve the durability and strength of the shaft. This is because they act as arches to distribute the stress and strain in a very efficient manner.
  • the cylindrical internal reinforcement resists compressive loads which tend to buckle the thin walls of the shaft tube.
  • Comfort is also enhanced because the deformation of the ports helps absorb shock and vibration loads from striking the pole on a hard icy surface.
  • Aerodynamics are also enhanced as each port acts like a tiny wind tunnel allowing air to pass through the shaft to reduce the wind resistance of the sports pole.
  • Another advantage of the sports pole, according to the invention consists in that the attachment of the shaft 10 to the basket 140 may be facilitated.
  • the shaft 10 is inserted into a hosel 76 of the basket 140.
  • the tip end 14 of shaft 10 has a port

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Abstract

Un bâton pour le sport comprend un manche, une extrémité et une tige entre ceux-ci. Le bâton pour le sport comprend au moins une partie de bâton formée d'au moins un tube creux possédant au moins un orifice qui s'étend à travers des parties de paroi opposées dudit tube.
PCT/IB2008/052185 2007-06-07 2008-06-04 Bâton amélioré pour le sport WO2008149299A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP07109813.1 2007-06-07
EP07109813 2007-06-07

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008149299A1 true WO2008149299A1 (fr) 2008-12-11

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Citations (7)

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US5505492A (en) * 1994-02-09 1996-04-09 Radius Engineering, Inc. Composite pole and manufacturing process for composite poles of varying non-circular cross-sections and curved center lines
US6085766A (en) * 1998-09-25 2000-07-11 Geary; John A. Geary convertible crutch system
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