Ski pole

Abstract

A hand held pole for skiing or other activities is disclosed. The pole includes a removable handle with a clasp securing it, at its lower end, to a pole shaft. Release of the clasp allows the handle to be adjusted longitudinally on the shaft. Complete removal of the handle allows the access to the interior of the shaft and allows the handle to be used with other shafts. Items may be stored in the shaft or in the handle. The handle includes a removable cap for this purpose. Removal of the cap also allows a grip on the handle to be removed.

1 . A handle for a pole having an elongated shaft with an upper end and a lower end, the handle comprising: 
 a. a tubular body sized to fit over the upper end of the shaft in sliding engagement therewith; and    b. a retention member coupled to the tubular member and engageable with the shaft to reversibly and selectively fix the position of the handle relative to the shaft, the retention member having a switch for releasing the fixation of the handle to the shaft.    
   
   
       2 . The pole of  claim 1 , wherein the retention member comprises a collar and the switch comprises a lever to tighten the collar, said collar surrounding a portion of the retention member to secure it to the shaft.  
   
   
       3 . The pole of  claim 2 , wherein the lever has a cam surface for tightening the collar as the lever is pressed toward a side of the collar.  
   
   
       4 . The pole of  claim 2 , wherein the tubular body includes a lower extension onto which the collar is secured, the lower extension being tightenable with the collar for reversibly fixing its position on the shaft.  
   
   
       5 . The pole of  claim 4 , wherein the lower extension includes at least one tab with a lip at the lower end of the tab to retain the collar from sliding free of the lower extension.  
   
   
       6 . The pole of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable cap at the upper end of the tubular body.  
   
   
       7 . The pole of  claim 6 , further comprising a container within the tubular body for holding articles therein.  
   
   
       8 . The pole of  claim 7 , wherein the container is formed by said tubular body and includes walls and a floor.  
   
   
       9 . The pole of  claim 6 , wherein the cap includes a threaded engagement to the tubular body.  
   
   
       10 . The pole of  claim 6 , wherein the cap includes a cap lever with a rod extending downwardly therefrom and a compressible material on the rod to expand as it is compressed by the rod and lever for engagement with the tubular body.  
   
   
       11 . The pole of  claim 6 , further comprising a grip engaged with an exterior surface of the tubular member, the grip being removable from the tubular member after removal of the cap.  
   
   
       12 . The pole of  claim 11 , wherein the grip is formed of a translucent material.  
   
   
       13 . The pole of  claim 12 , wherein the grip includes a graphic on an inside thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The pole of  claim 11 , wherein the grip includes a contoured external surface.  
   
   
       15 . The pole of  claim 6 , further comprising a strap attachment member coupled between the tubular body and the cap, the strap attachment member being pivotable about the axis of the tubular body.  
   
   
       16 . The pole of  claim 1 , further comprising a grip engaged with an exterior surface of the tubular member.  
   
   
       17 . The pole of  claim 16 , wherein the grip is removable from the tubular member.  
   
   
       18 . The pole of  claim 1 , further comprising a pivotally secured strap attachment member coupled to the top of the tubular body, the strap attachment member being pivotable about the axis of the tubular body.  
   
   
       19 . The pole of  claim 1 , wherein access to an interior of the shaft is provided upon removal of the handle, wherein the handle provides shaft accessory storage access upon removal.  
   
   
       20 . A handle for a pole having an elongated shaft with an upper end and a lower end, the handle comprising: 
 a. a tubular body sized to fit over the upper end of the shaft;    b. a grip secured over an exterior portion of the tubular body; and    c. a grip retainer mechanism coupled to the grip on the tubular body, release of the retainer mechanism allowing the grip to be removed from the tubular body.    
   
   
       21 . The handle of  claim 20 , wherein the grip retainer mechanism comprises a cap attached at a top end of the tubular body, the cap being selectively removable from the top end of the tubular body for removal of the grip.  
   
   
       22 . The handle of  claim 21 , wherein the cap is attached directly to the top of the tubular body.  
   
   
       23 . The handle of  claim 22 , wherein the cap is threadably secured to the top of the tubular body.  
   
   
       24 . The handle of  claim 22 , wherein the cap includes a cap lever with a rod extending downwardly therefrom and a compressible material on the rod to expand as it compressed by the rod and lever for engagement with the tubular body.  
   
   
       25 . The pole of  claim 21 , further comprising a strap attachment member coupled between the tubular body and the cap, the strap attachment member being pivotable about the axis of the tubular body.  
   
   
       26 . The handle of  claim 21 , wherein the cap provides access to a space within the tubular body.  
   
   
       27 . The handle of  claim 26 , wherein the space is contained by a floor within the tubular body and internal sidewalls of the tubular body.  
   
   
       28 . The handle of  claim 20 , wherein the grip retainer mechanism comprises a releasable collar attached at a top end of the tubular body, the collar being selectively removable from the top end of the tubular body for removal of the grip.  
   
   
       29 . The handle of  claim 20 , further comprising a retention member secured to the tubular body, release of the retention member allowing the tubular body to be shifted relative to the shaft.  
   
   
       30 . The handle of  claim 29 , wherein the retention member comprises a collar coupled to a lower projection of the tubular body.  
   
   
       31 . The pole of  claim 20 , wherein the grip is formed of a translucent material.  
   
   
       32 . The pole of  claim 31 , wherein the grip includes a graphic on an inside thereof.  
   
   
       33 . The pole of  claim 20 , wherein the grip includes a contoured external surface.  
   
   
       34 . A handle for a pole having an elongated shaft with an upper end and a lower end, the handle comprising: 
 a. a hollow tubular body sized to be fitted to the upper end of the shaft; and    b. a removable cap providing access to the inside of the tubular body.    
   
   
       35 . The handle of  claim 34 , further comprising a container within the tubular body for storing accessories.  
   
   
       36 . The handle of  claim 34 , wherein the cap is disposed at a top end of the tubular body, accessible without removal of the handle from the shaft.  
   
   
       37 . The handle of  claim 34 , further comprising at least one of the following accessories: tools, global positioning system, mobile phone, radio, music player, avalanche transceiver, blue tooth transmitter, fluid, and an electronic ski detection device; the cap providing access to at least one of the accessories.