The present invention relates to ski poles used in conjunction with snow boards, and more specifically, to the use and construction of such ski poles which are collapsible, and which are mounted on the surface of the snow board when not in use.

DESCRIPTION RELATIVE TO THE PRIOR ART Snow boards have grown in popularity, and are widely used in venues where only traditional skis have been formerly used. Snow boards suffer one disadvantage as compared to skis, at least as currently used; because they are typically not used with ski poles, it is difficult, or impossible, for snowboarders to traverse level, or nearly level, terrain. Skiers use ski poles under such circumstances, pushing themselves on their poles, or"skating"on their skis.

Snowboarders enjoy the freedom of not carrying ski poles, and cannot"skate"on a single ski. As a result, the technique currently used by snowboarders is to remove the snow board and carry it across level areas.

The current invention is a solution to the level terrain problem by providing the snow board with collapsible ski poles mounted on the board. As a variant, the present invention may be provided as a kit to provide mounts to hold collapsible ski poles, with or without the poles, to be installed on pre-existing snow boards. The poles can be

removed from the board and extended to their full size for use when desired. At other times, they are replaced on the snow board until needed again.

A method is also disclosed for the use of these ski poles in propelling the snow board user across a level, or slightly inclined terrain. The technique is substantially different from the techniques used with traditional skis, as will be discussed further.; SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide ski poles and mountings for use with snow boards.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a single-snow-board ski, having an upper surface; and one or more bindings attached to the upper surface of the ski are provided with two ski pole mountings attached to the upper surface of the ski; and two collapsible ski poles, one mountable in one of the ski pole mountings, and the other mountable in the other ski pole mounting.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, each ski pole mounting has a tubular mounting body containing a longitudinal opening disposed along the upper part of the mounting body, said body composed of a compliant material which grips the collapsible ski pole when said pole is inserted in the mounting.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, each mounting is made up of a mounting lower base, rigidly attached to the ski body, and a mounting upper base, which is removeably attached to the mounting lower base, and upon which one of the tubular mounting bodies is attached.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention, each collapsible ski pole has an extended position and a collapsed position, and each pole includes a handle, a hollow upper shaft, and a nested segment. This segment has an upper end and a lower end, and

the upper end is slidingly inserted into the hollow upper shaft. Also provided are locking means to lock the nested segment within the upper shaft. As a result, each collapsible ski may be locked in the collapsed position, and may further be locked in the extended position.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the invention, the locking means contains an eccentric split washer mounted in proximity to the upper end of the nested segment, the washer having a flat portion and an opening opposite the split. The washer has two positions. In the first, the washer is aligned with the nested segment. In the second, the washer is in a jammed position, so that the washer extends beyond the cross-section of the nested segment.

In accordance with a final aspect of the invention, the board has a major axis and two ends, and each mount has a major axis. The major axis of each mount is then aligned at an angle to the major axis of the snow board, allowing more room for the ski pole. Each such mounting is located between one of the bindings and one of the ends of the board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These, and further features of the invention, may be better understood with reference to the accompanying specification and drawings depicting the preferred embodiment, in which: Figure 1 depicts a perspective view of a skier, mounted on a snow board fitted with the ski pole holders, and using the ski poles to propel himself.

Figure 2 depicts a perspective view of a snow boarder in place on the snow board with the holders attached, and using the collapsible ski poles in collapsed position.

Figure 2a depicts a side elevation view of a collapsible ski pole in collapsed position.

Figure 2b depicts a side elevation view of a collapsible ski pole in extended position.

Figure 3a depicts a perspective view of a holder assembly mounted on the snow board.

Figure 3b depicts a perspective view of a holder mounted directly on the snow board.

Figure 4a depicts the eccentric washer assembly of the ski pole shaft in the concentric position.

Figure 4b depicts the eccentric washer assembly of the ski pole shaft in the eccentric position; and Figure 5 depicts a perspective view of the snow board with the holders and collapsible ski poles mounted.

Figure 6 depicts the skier at the beginning of a traverse, using the current invention.

Figure 7 depicts the skier in a further stage of the traverse, using the current invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS.

The invention may be understood by first referring to Figure 5. The snow board 1 is shown with bindings 30 mounted in a position typical for this type of board. Two ski pole holders 13, are affixed to the board, each one located between a binding and an end of the board. A collapsible ski pole 20, is contained within each ski pole holder. It is seen that there is a significant amount of space between each end of the board and the nearest binding, allowing for the mounting of the ski pole holders in a variety of ways.

As shown in Figure 5, the ski pole holders are mounted diagonally with respect to the long axis of the snow board, thus allowing for a longer ski pole to be used and still be contained within the top surface of the snow board without extending beyond the sides.

Thus, the diagonal mounting arrangement provides for a safer implementation of the invention.

Referring now to Figure 1, a snow boarder or skier is mounted on the snow board 1, with his feet in the bindings, and holding the collapsible ski poles 20, which appear in this drawing in the extended position. This figure shows how the poles are used to propel the snow board on level terrain, with the snow boarder in a slightly crouched position, and leaning forward to thrust the ski poles into the surface beneath him.

Referring now to Figure 2a the pole in this embodiment includes a handle 5. The body of the pole includes shank 17, and, as seen in Figure 2b, nested segment 22. The nested segment 22 extends within the shank in the collapsed position, as shown in Figure 2a, and may be withdrawn to extend to it full length, as shown in Figure 2b. In either position the tip 7 is exposed at the end opposite the handle 5.

It should be noted that a number of collapsible, or foldable ski poles have been the subject of US patents, and any of these may be used in conjunction with the mounts of this invention. As an example, US No. 5,651, 565 describes an appropriate ski pole for use with the current invention. However, the preferred embodiment uses a shaft and segment version with an eccentric-washer locking mechanism, which has been found to be the most practical for this application.

Referring now to Figure 4a, the end of the nested segment 22, opposite the tip 7 is shown. The end in Figure 4a is normally contained within the shaft 17, but may be withdrawn completely from the shaft as shown. At this end, an eccentric washer 24 is mounted on an axis not aligned with the long axis of the segment. The washer contains a flat surface 26, and is split, as shown in reference number 28, allowing the washer to

contract. The outer surface of the washer is roughened, or otherwise contains a high- friction surface. In Figure 4a, the washer is aligned with the nested segment.

When the washer is further rotated, as shown in Figure 4b, however, it extends past the surface of the segment 22. When the segment is inserted within the shaft 17, rotating the washer will cause it to jam within the shaft, and lock in position.

In practice the segment is usually inserted into the shaft in either a fully extended state, or in a fully collapsed state, as shown in figures 2a and 2b. In either state, the eccentric washer is retained within the shaft. When the shaft is twisted relative to the nested segment, the washer, having a high-friction surface, is rotated by means of its contact with the inside of the shaft. As a result, the washer will jam, or lock within the shaft in one position of rotation, and unlock in the other. This is true regardless of how far the nested segment is inserted into the shaft.

There are many forms of such a collapsible ski pole in the prior art. The version shown in Figure 2 is referred to as a telescoping style. Other styles in the prior art include folding ski poles, which are formed into two or more segments attached to each other by hinges, so that the pole folds up like an accordion.

The critical characteristic of the ski pole for the current application is that it be easy to extend and collapse; and that, when extended, it remain extended until the user desires to collapse it. While in use, the collapsible ski pole must not collapse simply from pressure exerted by the user at the handle and toward the tip, since such pressure is normally exerted while the ski pole is in use. Thus, some kind of positive locking mechanism is required in the collapsible pole. Locking is accomplished in various versions in the telescoping segment prior art by various means, including detents which operate by rotating the segments relative to each other; and threaded segments which

attach to each other by engaging the threads. Similar techniques are used in the folding versions of the poles.

The holders are mounted in the positions shown in Figures 1 and 5, either by attaching them directly to the snow board, or by using removable mountings. One such mounting is shown in Figure 3a. Referring to Figure 3a, the mounting consists of a base mount 10 which is rigidly affixed to the snow board 1. The holder 13 is seen to include a tubular member with longitudinal slot 18. The collapsed ski pole is inserted into the tube, which is made of a compliant material, such as rubber, plastic, or spring steel. The dimension of the tubular member is such that cross-sectional dimension of the pole segments at their widest point are greater than the internal diameter of the tube, so that the tube must expand somewhat to allow the ski pole to be inserted. The compliant material from which the mount is made will then exert a restoring force on the shaft of the ski pole, positively capturing the ski pole within the tubular member, so that it does not slide longitudinally when so captured.

The tubular member 13 is attached to upper base member 12 by welding, by adhesives, or other means of permanently affixing. The upper base member fits atop mount base 11, completely covering the mount base when in place. The upper base member is removeably affixed to the base mount by quick-disconnect means, such as detents. As shown in Figure 3a, an extending detent ball in the upper base member (not shown) mates with the detent recess 11 in the base mount, so that a reliable attachment results. Other means of affixing the upper base member to the base mount include screws, cotter pins, and similar fasteners.

In the embodiment depicted by these drawings, it is assumed that the two base mounts, forward and rear, will be permanently affixed to the snow board during the life

of the board. If the user so desires, the upper base members may be removed and re- connected quickly and repeatedly.

In an alternate embodiment, as shown in Figure 3b, the mount may be directly and permanently attached to the surface of the board 1. In this embodiment, the mount may be attached with screws, or other fasteners, or it may be affixed with adhesive, which has the advantage of simplicity, and does not require damaging the board by drilling holes for mounting screws.

METHOD OF PROPULSION USING THE SKI POLES The use of the collapsible ski poles is substantially different than use of traditional ski poles, and requires a different technique in propelling the skier across the snow.

Unlike the use of traditional ski poles, ski poles used to propel snow boards require much less force to propel the skier, since the snow board has a much larger surface area than traditional skis, and the pressure of the snow board on the snow is a small fraction of the pressure of traditional skis on the snow under similar circumstances. Thus, the friction between the skis and the snow is substantially reduced.

The present method of propulsion is not effective on steep grades, both because the low friction causes the board to slide backwards down the grade, and because the short length of the ski poles of the current invention makes it difficult to apply the forces required to traverse up steeper grades.

The first obvious difference is the size of the ski poles of the current invention.

Traditional ski poles are usually selected so that the handles extend to the user's armpits when the opposite end is touching the ground. For use with snow-boards, poles, when fully extended, are typically thirty inches long.

In the snow-board of the current invention, the user holds the ski poles by cupping his hands 32 over the top of the handles. In the initial position, as shown in Figure 5, the skier is standing with his weight somewhat behind the center 35 of the board, the skier's body twisted to be facing the front 37 of the board, and the ski poles 36 substantially upright, and in front of the user's front foot 38.. The cupped position of the hands above the ski poles is noted. The knees 40 are slightly bent, leaving the skier in a crouched position.

In Figure 6, as the board moves forward, the skier's position has changed, so that the board is now closer to the ski poles 36, which are no longer upright. The skier's weight has further shifted so that it is forward of the midpoint 35 of the snow board. The skier has achieved this position by moving his hips 42 forward, and applying a slight pressure on the ski handles with the palms of the hands.

In Figure 7, the skier is in a third position, wherein the board has moved still closer to the ski poles 36, and the skier's weight has shifted further forward of the center point 35 of the snow board. This position is achieved by maintaining the pressure on the handles of the ski poles, and continuing to move the hips forward.

The skier now reaches forward and re-plants the ski poles in the position of Figure 5, and moves his hips back to the position shown in Figure 5, and repeats the steps just described. Throughout the traverse, the skier remains in a substantially crouched position.

Some practice is needed to coordinate the motions of the planting of the ski poles and the movement of the hips, but the result is a smooth, low effort traverse of the snow.

It is not necessary to provide a variety of ski pole sizes for skiers of different heights, because taller skiers simply assume a more crouched position than shorter skiers, which is desirable in any event to low the skier's center of gravity.

It will be apparent that improvements and modifications may be made within the purview of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention, and within the purview of the following claims.