Previously known from utility model FI-4881 is a strap fixed in the rod of a tool and by means of which the efficiency of the handgrip can be improved on using tools. The strap fixing points in the tool rod/handle are outside the grip area of the hand sideline.

The disadvantage of such a strap assembly is that in the tool rod modifications must be done, even holes, for fixing the strap. These holes or similar modifications in the stick weaken the firmness of stick. Fixing arranged in this way does not offer any possibility of easy adjustment of strap fixing point in the equipment. The fixings must also be firm, since the strap ends are also fixed to these points in the rod.

Handle and strap assemblies of ski-sticks are known, among other things, from published application EP 1105194, published application DE 4029688 Al and patent US 5,248, 163.

Presented in all these publications is as handle part a handle sleeve fixed in the stick tube head for instance by hot-setting adhesive, which is pushed on the stick tube head as deep as possible without any obstacles. In the stick sleeve there are fixing means for the strap, both ends of which are fixed in t he handle. Stick sleeves are produced with different diameters and with round or oval cross-sections. The stick sleeves must have an inside diameter and inside hole form fitting to the appropriate tube.

A handle of this kind is not easy to remove from neither from the stick sleeve nor other rods in tools, since a connection made by hot-setting adhesive requires heating before it is worth to try removing. Due to the impact of heat handle parts of different material come out from their bonding and make the use of them difficult. The handle sleeve must have a quite a accurate inside measure in regard to the stick or the tube, so that the fixing would work. It is impossible to mount a round or oval sleeve handle with a cross-sectional area on a not at all greater tube or around a tube with a much smaller inside diameter. Furthermore, such a handle can be fixed only in one axial position in a stick or in a handle sleeve. In addition, in most ski-stick cases the strap twines out from a bad spot in the handle or even from the stick top so that it is not advantageously located in regard to the motion between hand and handle and to power transmission. In known solutions it has been necessary to arrange fixing for the strap ends, and in most cases it has also been necessary to arrange an adjustment in the fixing as long as the strap.

The intention with the invention is to achieve a new hand strap assembly, easy to fix in a tool rod or in the tube of ski-and hiking-sticks and easy to remove from and to move on the stick or tube. The hand strap assembly as per the invention is characterized in that the strap fixing component is like an open sleeve or an open part fitted to twine around the stick circle at least substantially halfway over the stick circle measure and that at least one strap portion in the strap assembly is fitted to twine around the stick at the fixing component body.

The advantage of the hand strap assembly as per the invention is that the new type of fixing component needs no exact fit between fixing component and stick. Sticks and tubes can deviate rather much from the round or oval form and yet the hand strap assembly as per the invention fits on them. The difference of diameter between the fixing component to be mounted and the tube can be at least + 1 mm and still the fixing component can be reliably fitted on the stick. The strap running around the user's hand twines undamaged around the stick and out from openings fitted in the fixing component, which guide the strap and are more advantageously directed in proper direction. The strap twining around stick tightens the fixing component against the stick in use and also by other strap-closing ways it is even possible to make the strap tighten the fixing component against the stick continuously.

In ski-and hiking-stick applications the fixing component is easily adjusted for different heights and it is also possible to arrange separate locking for the fixing component to v. ensure the firmness of component against great axial forces. Furthermore, the fixing component is most advantageously designed to correspond to the palm close-fitting handle.

In the following the invention is disclosed with reference to the enclosed drawing, where Figure 1 shows a hand strap assembly fixed in a tool rod, a ski-stick or a spinning rod.

Figure 2 shows another hand strap assembly fixed in a tool rod or a spinning rod.

Figure 3 shows a third hand strap assembly fixed in a tool rod or a spinning rod.

Figure 4 shows a hand strap assembly fixed in a ski-stick tube.

Figure 5 shows another hand strap assembly fixed in a ski-stick tube.

Figure 6 shows another adjusting system of the fixing component.

Figure 7 shows fixing of strap in a tube.

Figure 8 shows another fixing of strap in a tube.

In figure 1 a hand strap assembly as per the invention is fixed in rod 1 of a tool, as a hammer, an axe, a billhook, and comprising an open sleeve-like fixing component body 2, the open body of which is fitted to run around the rod circle turning at least substantially halfway over the circle measure. On the opposite side of fixing component 2 there is for a better handgrip another body part 2', which also with some of its parts turns substantially halfway over the circle measure of rod 1. Hand strap 3 is fitted to twine around rod 1 as well as around part 2'and guided to the inside of body 2, so that it can on both sides of the rod come out from the diagonally directed openings of part 2. Part 2'is to its measures fitted so that it tightens even by itself around the rod and does not tend to get loose, since it reaches farther than halfway on the circle around the rod. Likewise, part 2 tightens around rod 1 and the fixing component remains wholly in rod. Strap tightening and handgrip in use only increase the firmness of parts 2 and 2'in the rod. Most suitably parts 2, 2'are of plastic. Their inner face or pieces can be wholly of a rubber/plastic mixture, whereby the inner face friction coefficient gets great. In the figure by means of line segments the thumb location area P is shown during grip and the palm location area K. The strap travel around the palm is customary and so is the length adjustment of strap most suitably arranged for instance with a buckle on the palm backside area or across it, elsewhere around the wrist in the palm base. Furthermore, the fixing component is most suitably designed to correspond to the palm close-fitting handle.

Figure 2 shows a simple sleeve-like open part 5 that tightens on handle bulge 4 on stick 1.

The assembly is easily removed and mounted, for instance on rods of common tools, whereby a strap backup reducing the stress of hand and intensifying working strokes is achieved and can be used in many places, for instance in a hammer. Most suitably part 5 is made of metal.

Figure 3 shows a simple part 6 bent of wire, which is easily pressed on handle 4 surface and remains in place. Strap 3 twines around stick 1 and is directed from the wire underside in an advantageous direction.

Figure 4 shows tube 1 of a ski-and hiking-stick, in which fixing component part 2 is attached fixing component part 2 has an extension 11 that plugs tube 1 end and at the same time prevents fixing component part 2 from sliding downward in stick tube 1 during use. In order to get a better grip also this has another body part 2', around which on the outside and also, if there is enough thickness in part 2', along a channel formed in part 2', strap 3 twines round stick 1. Tip 8 of part 2'is guided to a locking slot in plug 11. The part pushing as longer from plug 11 into the tube, supports also the tube end under the stress of the parts of the fixing component body. T rap 3 can be arranged inside part 2 against stick 1 into a narrow space so that by strong tightening by the strap running out from the opening, a tension remains for the stick in part s 2 and 2'. The strap can also be of such a structure that it slides well in the outlet, but in the other direction, inward, it tends to lock in the opening or because of wedging shapes, hooks formed close to it or of narrow structure.

An auxiliary strap runs from fixing component 2, for which there is an outlet in fixing component 2 and for locking strap end 7 to the body of fixing component 2 a slot 12 is formed inside the body of the fixing component so that into the slot the strap end bulge can be put. Strap 7 can also be a two-piece or uniform link, whereby the two strap parts must be attached to the body. Then strap 7 can also twine around stick tube 1 and come out from the body part through two slots or even with strap 3 from same openings. Then also this strap, for its part, supports part 2 attachment to tube 1 and strap parts twining over thumb fork can be fixed to strap 3 in two points in the base areas of the back of the hand and the thumb.

Figure 5 shows another fixing component arrangement of a ski-or hiking-stick, the fixing component body 2 and 2'of which can be locked at different height positions in stick tube \-.

1. The end of stick tube is plugged by part 11. The end of bent locking arm 9 is inside plug 11. There is also for locking stick 9 a channel inside fixing component 2 body and by means of locking screw 10 fixing component body 2 can still be locked separately in stick tube 1 for the sake of security in addition to the locking by tension of already mentioned parts. The greatest load of the ski-and hiking-stick fixing component is downward, so locking according to figure 5 strengthens the attachment of fixing component especially against this stress. The thumb grip area is illustrated by line segment P and the palm grip by line segment K. The distance of adjustment is S.

Locking stick 9 can also be partly or completely replaced by an adjustable strap, which from its one end is firmly attached to part 11 or to body part 2, and as perforated from its other end it attaches to the bracket (peg, hook) of these parts or by a locking screw.

In these solutions strap 3 comes to the palm or thumb area in the most advantageous direction and is as to its attachment to the stick in right position on the front side of or above the thumb. The palm grip can freely be detached from the hand le formed by the fixing component body and still strap 3 take s care that the tool or stick remains in right position between opened palm and thumb. In one embodiment of the assembly the strap outlets could also be so located that the attachment of strap to rod or stick falls between palm front edge and thumb.

Figure 6 shows the locking of fixing component 2, 2' by means of auxiliary strap 7, 7', which strap is tightened to plug 11 by means of wedge piece 12 so that strap 7'restricts fixing component 2, 2' on stick tube 1 to a height position determined by strap part 7'. By means of different tightening length chosen by strap part 7'the fixing component body can be locked into wanted positions.

Figure 7 shows a part like part 6 in figure 3, which attaches directly to stick tube 1. Strap assembly 3 is fixed to stick tube 1 and handle 4 is a separate part, which is gripped by hand.

Part 6 remains in place in the open space between plug 11 and handle 4. Taking strap 3 around tube 1 locks the strap assembly into tube 1.

Figure 8 shows a part like part 5 in figure 2, which is fitted direct around tube 1. The real \-. grip on stick is taken from handle 4. Also in this case locking of part 5 into tube 1 is secured by taking strap 3 around tube 1.

Parts 2,2', 5 and 6 are made of somewhat flexible material so that in free space they are to their inside measure smaller than the actual stick or tube, onto which they are tightened. It is possible to place different friction-increasing coatings or means on the surfaces of the hand strap assembly and the stick or between them.