J Europaisches Patentamt
`
`European Patent Office
`
`(12)
`
`Office europeen des brevets
`
`(id
`EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
`
`EP000822346A1
`
`EP 0 822 346 A1
`
`(43) Date of publication：
`04.02.1998 Bulletin 1998/06
`
`(21) Application number: 97110927.7
`
`(22) Date of filing: 02.07.1997
`
`(51) Int. C l6 ： F16B 7/14, F16B2/18
`
`(84) Designated Contracting States:
`AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC
`NL PT SE
`Designated Extension States:
`AL LT LV RO SI
`
`(30) Priority: 02.08.1996 IT Ml961695
`
`(71) Applicant: Pronzati, Lorenzo
`20010 Vanzago (Milano) (IT)
`
`(72) Inventor: Pronzati, Lorenzo
`20010 Vanzago (Milano) (IT)
`
`(74) Representative:
`Petruzziello, Aldo et al
`Racheli & C. s.r.l.
`Viale San Michele del Carso, 4
`20144 Milano (IT)
`
`(54)
`
`Stick of variable length and relative locking device
`
`A stick of variable length, comprising at least
`(57)
`one upper tubular element (2) provided with an end grip
`and at least one lower tubular element (3), the tubular
`elements (2, 3) being inserted one inside the other with
`the possibility of axial sliding, the upper tubular element
`(2) having a longitudinal slit (4), at its free end, to be
`able to clamp on the lower tubular element (3), prevent­
`ing axial sliding. At the join between the tubular ele­
`ments (2, 3) a
`locking device (10)
`is provided
`comprising a hollow cylindrical body (11) housing said
`tubular element (2) and having a longitudinal slit (13),
`delimited by opposite protrusions (14, 15) through
`
`which passes a pivot (16) to which a lever (32) with a
`cam (31) is connected to draw said projections (14,15)
`together or apart, and thus clamp or loosen said cylin­
`drical body (11) on the tube (2), in which said lever (32)
`is separate from said cam (31) and can make a free
`rotation with respect to it, without drawing it into rotation,
`in order to facilitate opening of the device, allowing initial
`raising of the lever (32) with minimum effort.
`The invention also concerns the locking device in
`itself.
`
`Printed by Xerox (UK) Business Services
`2.15.8/ 3.4
`
`TTI
`Exhibit 1033 - Page 1
`
`

`

`1
`
`EPO 822 346 A1
`
`2
`
`Description
`
`Further characteristics of the invention will be
`clearer from the detailed description that follows, refer­
`ring to a purely exemplary and therefore non-limiting
`embodiment, illustrated in the appended drawing, in
`which:
`
`Figure 1 is a plan view of a locking device according
`to the invention mounted on a ski stick and shown in
`the closed position;
`
`Figure 2 is similar view to that in Figure 1, rotated
`downward 90°;
`
`Figure 3 is a view of the locking device alone, seen
`from the opposite side to that in Figure 1 and shown
`in the open position;
`
`Figure 4 is longitudinal section taken along the line
`IV-IV in Figure 7;
`
`Figure 5 is an end view of the locking device in the
`open position, taken from the lefthand side of Fig­
`ure 3;
`
`Figure 6 is a view like that in Figure 5 in the closed
`position;
`
`Figure 7 is a median cross section of the locking
`device in the closed position, taken for example
`along the plane VII-VII of Figure 2;
`
`Figure 8 is an end view like that in Figures 5 and 6,
`showing the maneuvering lever in three different
`positions;
`
`Figure 9 is a sectional exploded view of the lever
`and the relative cam；
`
`Figure 10 is a sectional view like that in Figure 9,
`with the lever and the cam in the assembled condi­
`tion and in two different angular positions.
`
`With reference to these figures, and in particular to
`Figures 1 and 2, a partial view of a ski stick 1 is shown,
`comprising an upper tubular element 2, bearing at its
`distal end a grip (not shown) and a lower tubular ele­
`ment 3, ending in a point and a disk (not shown). The
`lower tubular element 3 has a slightly smaller diameter
`than the upper element 2, so that it can slide telescopi­
`cally inside the latter (see Fig. 4). Furthermore, in the
`upper tubular element 2, coinciding with the end there of
`proximal to the tubular element 3, a longitudinal slit 4 is
`provided, which allows its diameter to be narrowed fol­
`lowing external pressure, and thus clamped on the tubu­
`lar element 3, so that axial sliding is prevented.
`The locking device according to the invention, indi­
`cated as whole with reference numeral 10 is situated at
`the join between the two tubes 2 and 3.
`
`10
`
`20
`
`25
`
`The present invention relates to a stick of adjusta­
`ble variable length and a relative locking device.
`Although the invention can be applied to any type of 5
`stick for sports, medical, ecological and other uses, for
`simplicity's sake specific reference will be made herein
`to ski sticks.
`Various types of ski sticks are known whose length
`can be adjusted to adapt to the height of the user.
`Among the systems proposed, the most widely
`used is that of providing for telescopic sliding of two
`tubes one inside the other, and locking by means of a
`special clamp that is tightened on the outer tube.
`EP-A-641 578 describes such a clamp which is par- 15
`ticularly advantageous in that it has a somewhat flat­
`tened profile and has no projecting parts when the
`clamp is in the closed position. This clamp substantially
`comprises a hollow cylindrical body, open on one side,
`where the cam end of a closing lever is hinged.
`Such a clamp, though being technically valid, has
`shown some drawbacks during the opening stage. In
`fact, since the control lever of this device acts as the
`clamp closing cam, at the end of the stroke it is pressed
`against the outer surface of the cylindrical body of the
`clamp and/or tube of the stick, so that a certain initial
`force must be exerted to lift this lever and cause the
`clamp to open. This operation is sometimes rather diffi­
`cult to carry out, especially for weaker individuals, par­
`ticularly in low temperature situations.
`The object of the invention is to improve the locking
`device according to the above mentioned patent EP-A-
`641 578, eliminating the drawbacks described above
`and allowing easy opening of the device, with minimum
`effort.
`Another object of the invention is to allow improved
`closure of the locking device.
`These objects are achieved, according to the inven­
`tion, with the characteristics listed in the appended inde­
`pendent claims.
`Preferred embodiments of the invention are appar­
`ent from the dependent claims.
`Basically, according to the invention, the clamp
`operating cam is freed from the maneuvering lever,
`allowing a certain angular play between lever and cam.
`In this way, when the locking device is in the closing
`position, the lever can be raised without the slightest
`effort, causing it to move through the above mentioned
`angle, so that there is good grip for subsequent open­
`ing, also drawing the cam into rotation.
`Furthermore, the fact of having freed the cam from
`the maneuvering lever, makes it unnecessary to go past
`dead center to keep the lever in the closed position, as
`was the case with conventional devices.
`Lastly, the sides of the operating lever can be pro-
`vided with two teeth which enter the corresponding
`seats provided in the body of the clamp, causing a click
`which indicates perfect closure of the device.
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`so
`
`55
`
`2
`
`TTI
`Exhibit 1033 - Page 2
`
`

`

`3
`
`EPO 822 346 A1
`
`4
`
`The device 10 comprises a hollow cylindrical body
`11, which is disposed around the terminal section 9 of
`the tubular element 2 and has an inner annular ridge 12,
`against which the end of the tube 2 abuts (see in partic­
`ular Figure 4). The hollow cylindrical body 11 has a lon­
`gitudinal cut or slot 13, delimited by two opposite
`longitudinal projections 14,15 in said body 11.
`Coaxial through holes able to house a pivot 16 are
`provided in said projecting parts 14,15 (see in particular
`Figure 7). The pivot 16 is essentially composed of a
`screw 17, which screws into a nut 18, so as to be able to
`regulate the length of the pivot. The screw 17 has a
`head 19, which abuts on the outer side of the projection
`15, whilst the nut 18 is housed completely in the corre­
`sponding hole 20 provided in the projection 14, which
`has a greater diameter than the hole 21 provided in the
`projection 15 for passage of the screw 17. At the end of
`the nut 18 a hole 22 is also provided, for fixing of the
`cam and the maneuvering lever of the device, as will be
`described better below.
`In fact, on the outer side of the projection 14 a cam
`surface 30 is provided, shaped in a slightly concave
`manner (see in particular Figure 5), so that when a force
`is applied against said surface 30, the projection 14 is
`pushed against the projection 15 through the elasticity
`of the material making up the body 11, normally plastic,
`thereby causing closure of the clamp and thus clamping
`of the tubes 2,3 without any possibility of reciprocal slid­
`ing.
`
`Said closing or opening force on the cam surface 30
`is exerted by means of a cam 31, operated by a lever
`32, constituting a separate element from the cam 31.
`The lever 32 and the cam 31 are assembled
`together with each other and with said pivot 16, by
`means of a pin 25, which is inserted in the aligned holes
`provided in said elements, involving the entire length of
`the device.
`The lever 32 has a curved course and such a shape
`as to enter a corresponding seat provided in the cylindri­
`cal body, fitting it perfectly without projecting from its
`outer profile. In particular, the lever 32 has a base por­
`tion 33 having the same width as the cylindrical body
`11, and able to position itself, when closed, in a corre­
`sponding seat 34 provided in the body 11, by means of
`a reduction in the thickness of the corresponding sec­
`tion, along the whole length of the body. The remaining
`part 35 of the lever 32, up to the free end, has a smaller
`width than the length of the body 11, and seats in a cor­
`responding rectangular seat 36 with a corresponding
`width, provided in the body 11 and delimited by respec­
`tive opposite vertical walls 37, 38.
`The free end 39 of the lever 32 is bent slightly out­
`ward and is the only part projecting from the profile of
`the clamp, to facilitate gripping during opening, as will
`be better described below.
`Furthermore, near the end 39 of the lever 32 a pair
`of side teeth 40 are provided which engage in corre­
`sponding hollows 41 provided in said opposite side
`
`15
`
`2〇
`
`25
`
`3〇
`
`walls 37,38 of the cylindrical body 11, causing a click of
`the lever during closing.
`The base portion 33 of the lever 32 is fork-shaped,
`so as to enclose between its prongs 44 the cam 31,
`5 which in turn has a central cavity 45, inside which is
`housed the nut 18 of the pivot 16.
`As can be seen better from the sections in Figures
`9 and 10, the shape and assembly of the cam 31 and
`the lever 32 are such as to allow the latter a certain free
`i 〇 angle of rotation, about 30° (see Figure 8), in which the
`movement of the lever is not transferred to the cam.
`This is achieved by making a tooth-shaped profile
`50 in the base of the lever 32, which seats in a corre­
`sponding seat 51, substantially V- shaped with a flat-
`tened base, provided in the cam 31 (Figure 9). The
`width of the seat 51 is greater than the thickness of the
`tooth 50, so that the latter can move inside the seat,
`coming to rest, at the end of the stroke, against the
`respective side walls 52, 53 thereof, following a rotation
`in one direction and the other of the lever 32, as shown
`in Figure 10 with solid and broken lines, respectively.
`Provision of this angular play between the lever 32
`and the cam 31 offers the considerable advantage,
`when the lever is in the closed position, of being able to
`raise the lever sufficiently, without exerting the least
`force, from position A to position B shown with a broken
`line in Figure 8. In position B the lever can be gripped
`much more effectively to move it from the open position
`C, making the can 31 rotate, and thus opening the lock-
`ing device. The angle of rotation between positions B
`and C is indicated as 95° in Figure 8.
`It is only specified that in the neutral stroke to pass
`from position A to position B during opening of the lever
`32, it is necessary only to overcome the resistance of
`the coupling between the teeth 40 and the respective
`notches 41 which is obviously rather weak.
`Freeing the lever 32 from the cam 31 has made it
`possible to achieve a further advantage with respect to
`conventional systems in which the lever and the cam
`4〇 were made in a single body.
`In these known systems, in fact, during closure the
`cam had to pass dead center during closing in order to
`keep the lever in the closed position. With the system
`according to the invention, on the other hand, the lever
`45 32 makes it possible to position the cam 31 in a position
`that corresponds exactly to dead center, thus avoiding a
`lessening, albeit small, of the closing pressure between
`the tubes 2, 3 which normally occurs if dead center is
`passed.
`Moreover, the locking device according to the
`invention makes it possible to adjust the closing pres­
`sure and/or to adapt to tubes of slightly different diame­
`ters, regulating the pre-closing force of the cylindrical
`body 11 by regulating engagement of the screw 17 in
`the nut 18.
`From what has been described the advantages of
`the arrangement proposed by the invention are appar­
`ent. However it is clear that the invention is not limited to
`
`35
`
`so
`
`55
`
`3
`
`TTI
`Exhibit 1033 - Page 3
`
`

`

`5
`
`EPO 822 346 A1
`
`6
`
`the embodiment previously described and illustrated in
`the appended drawings, but is open to numerous
`changes to the details that are within the scope of an
`expert in the field. In particular, the ski stick can be
`divided into more than two tubular elements that can
`slide telescopically one inside the other, providing a
`locking device according to the invention to join adja­
`cent tubular elements. According to a preferred embod­
`iment, the ski stick comprises three tubular elements
`and two locking devices.
`It is also apparent that the invention protects the
`locking device in itself, applied to clamping of any two
`tubular telescopic elements, forming, for example, an
`orthopedic stick, a stick for window cleaning, or other.
`
`5
`
`i 〇
`
`(32).
`
`3. An adjustable stick according to claim 1 or 2 , char­
`acterized in that said angle of free rotation of the
`lever (32) with respect to the cam (31) is about 30°.
`
`4. An adjustable stick according to any one of the pre­
`ceding claims, characterized in that said lever (32)
`seats in a corresponding seat (34, 36) of the body
`(11), so as not to project therefrom, reciprocal click
`hooking means (40, 41) being provided respec­
`tively on the lever (32) and in the body (11) to indi­
`cate that closure of the device has occurred.
`
`Claims
`
`1. A stick of variable length, comprising at least two
`tubular elements:
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`an upper tubular element (2) ending in a grip,
`
`a lower tubular element (3),
`joined
`said
`tubular elements
`(2,3) being
`together telescopically and being able to slide
`one inside the other, wherein the element (2)
`can be clamped on the element (3) to prevent
`axial sliding, and
`
`at least one locking device (10) comprising a
`hollow cylindrical body (11), able to house the
`region of joining between said tubular elements
`(2,3), and having a longitudinal slit (13) extend­
`ing for its whole length and delimited by oppo­
`site projections (14, 15) of the body (11),
`through which passes a pivot (16), to which is
`fixed a lever (32) with a cam profile (31), able to
`exert a pushing action during closure which
`tends
`to bring said projections
`(14, 15)
`together, and thus to clamp said hollow cylindri­
`cal body (11) on the tubes (2 and 3), and exert
`an opposite action during opening,
`characterized in that said lever (32) is separate
`from said cam (31) and can rotate freely
`through a certain angle with respect to it, with­
`out drawing it into rotation, so that during open­
`ing the lever (32) can be raised from the profile
`of the body (11) with minimum effort, to be
`brought into a position that facilitates gripping
`by the user.
`
`2. An adjustable stick according to claim 1, character­
`ized in that said lever (32) has at its base portion, a
`tooth-shaped profile (50) seating loosely in a cavity
`(51) in the cam (31), abutting against one or the
`other of the side walls (52, 53) of said cavity (51)
`through rotation in one direction or the other of the
`lever (32), thus causing a neutral stroke of the lever
`
`15 5. A stick of adjustable length, characterized in that
`said lever (32), in the closed position, places said
`cam (31) in a position corresponding exactly to
`dead center.
`
`2〇 6. A stick of adjustable length according to any one of
`the preceding claims, characterized in that said
`lever (32) has a fork-shaped base portion, which
`encloses between its prongs said cam (31) which
`has a central cavity (45) housing one end of said
`pivot (16), the lever (32), the cam (31) and the pivot
`(16) having aligned holes for fixing of the whole by
`means of a pin (25), extending the entire length of
`the hollow cylindrical body (11).
`
`25
`
`3〇 7. A stick of adjustable length according to any one of
`the preceding claims, characterized in that said
`pivot (16) is adjustable in length to regulate the
`clamping pressure of the locking device.
`
`35 8. A stick of adjustable length according to any one of
`the preceding claims, characterized in that said hol­
`low cylindrical body (11) has, at one end, an inner
`annular ridge (12), forming a stopping surface for
`the end of said upper tubular element (2).
`
`40
`
`45
`
`5〇
`
`55
`
`4
`
`9. A stick according to any one of the preceding
`claims, characterized in that it comprises at least
`one intermediate tubular element between said
`upper tubular element (2) and said lower tubular
`element (3), respective locking devices (10) being
`provided between said intermediate element and
`said upper (2) and lower (3) elements.
`
`10. A locking device for a cylindrical element (2,3),
`comprising hollow cylindrical body (11) suitable for
`housing said cylindrical element (2, 3) and having a
`longitudinal slit (13), delimited by opposite projec­
`tions (14,15) of said cylindrical body (11), said pro­
`jections (14, 15) being passed through horizontally
`by a pivot (16), at one end of which is connected a
`lever (32) with a cam (31), acting against a cam sur­
`face (30) provided on the outer wall of said projec­
`tion (14) to draw the projections (14,15) together or
`
`TTI
`Exhibit 1033 - Page 4
`
`

`

`7
`
`EPO 822 346 A1
`
`8
`
`apart, and thus to clamp said hollow cylindrical
`body (11) on the cylindrical element (2, 3), or
`loosen said cylindrical body (11), characterized in
`that said lever (32) is a separate element from the
`cam (31) and can rotate freely with respect thereto
`through a predetermined angle, which causes a
`neutral stroke of the lever (32), during which said
`cam (31) is not drawn into rotation.
`
`11. A locking device according to claim 10, character­
`ized in that said lever (32) has, at its base portion, a
`tooth-shaped profile (50) seating loosely in a seat
`(51) of said cam (31) so that following rotation of the
`lever (32) in one direction or the other, said tooth
`(50) abuts against one or the other of the side walls
`(52, 53) of said seat (51), causing a neutral stroke
`of about 30°.
`
`12. A locking device according to any one of claims 9 to
`11, characterized in that said lever (32) seats in the
`closed position in a seat (34, 36) in said hollow
`cylindrical body (11), without projecting from the
`outer profile thereof, click means (40,41) being pro­
`vided for hooking of said lever (31) and said hollow
`cylindrical body (11) to indicate that closure of the
`lever has taken place.
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`

`

`EP 0 822 346 At
`EPO 822 346 A1
`
`FIG.3
`
`
`
`|
`
`Pdf
`
`\KKEChCRFRKhbNV
`
`SS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG.4
`
`6
`
`TTI
`TTI
`Exhibit 1033 - Page 6
`Exhibit 1033 - Page 6
`
`

`

`EPO 822 346 A1
`
`EP 0 822 346 A1
`
`7
`7
`
`TTI
`TTI
`Exhibit 1033 - Page 7
`Exhibit 1033 - Page 7
`
`

`

`EPO 822 346 A1
`
`# European Patent
`
`Office
`
`EUROPEAN SEARCH REPORT
`
`Application Number
`
`EP 97 11 0927
`
`Category
`
`D,A
`
`DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT
`Citation of document with indication, where appropriate,
`_________ of relevant passaaes___________________
`
`Relevant
`to claim
`
`CLASSIFICATION OF THE
`APPLICATION (lnt.CI.6)
`
`EP 0 641 578 A (PRONZATI GIUSEPPE GIPRON
`SPA)
`* the whole document *
`
`1,7
`
`F16B7/14
`F16B2/18
`
`DE 84 28 699 U (SCHLI刚 E ，W0LFRAM)
`* claims； figures *
`
`WO 92 00834 A (BOSCH GMBH ROBERT)
`* abstract； figures *
`
`1， 2 , 6 ， 10
`
`1 , 6, 8
`
`TECHNICAL FIELDS
`SEARCHED
`(lnt.CI.6)
`
`F16B
`
`TTI
`Exhibit 1033 - Page 8
`
`The present search report has been drawn up for all claims
`
`Place of search
`
`THE HAGUE
`
`Date of completion of the search
`
`Examiner
`
`26 November 1997
`
`Areso y Salinas, J
`
`CATEGORY OF CITED DOCUMENTS
`
`X : particularly relevant if taken alone
`Y : particularly relevant if combined with another
`document of the same category
`A : technological background
`0 : non-written disclosure
`P : intermediate document
`
`T : theory or principle underlying the invention
`E : earlier patent document, but published on, or
`after the filing date
`D : document cited in the application
`L : document cited for other reasons
`
`& : member of the same patent family, corresponding
`document
`
`(一.00s d - s s c o o 0 915 cod O d 3
`
`