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Exercise pole for athletesRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, Involving User Translation Or Physical Simulation Thereof, Occupant Propelled Support Frame Having Movement Facilitating Feature For Foot TravelExercise pole for athletes description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070249472, Exercise pole for athletes. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention lies in the field of gymnastic exercise apparatus, and relates to an exercise stick for athletes such as walkers, roller skaters or on-road cross-country skiers, according to the introductory part of the first patent claim. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The recent type of sport called "Nordic walking" was initially developed as a summer training method for top athletes in the field of marathon, biathlon and Nordic combination. Its popularity has increased greatly in the last years. Today, Nordic walking is performed by a broad public spectrum as an all-season fitness sport. Nordic walking is however not only suitable for fitness exercise, but also for rehabilitation after injuries, operations or disease. [0003] Nordic walking is a walking or running with the application of special sticks, which are held in each hand of the athlete. Accordingly, the technique of Nordic walking is equivalent to the execution of movement during cross-country skiing. Nordic walking encourages the physiological, diagonal course of movement on walking, by way of the conscious use of the sticks. One advantage compared to conventional walking or running lies in the fact that the muscle system of the arm and of the upper part of the body are also exercised. Furthermore, the body consumes more energy than with conventional walking or running at the same speed. [0004] The sticks which have been used for Nordic walking up to now are typically manufactured of carbon- and glass fibers (30% carbon composite pole) which ensures a low intrinsic weight, an extreme load capability and a long life duration. In contrast to sticks with a metal core, no disturbing and burdening vibrations are transmitted onto the wrist joints, elbow joints and shoulder joints with the application of such sticks. The optimal stick length is 70% of the body size. Specially designed hand loops at the upper stick end ensure a strain-free application of the sticks over longer periods of exercise. The lower end of the stick should permit a push-off. The lower end of the sticks may be selectively provided with a rubber cushion--for smooth ground such as roads, asphalt, stone--or with a metal tip--for wooded ground and fields, in order to take into account the varying nature of the ground. [0005] Despite the above-described equipping possibilities for the lower end of the stick, known Nordic walking sticks still have the disadvantage that they slip on the ground and render a push-off impossible. This is particularly the case with hard, smooth ground. The slipping of the sticks disturbs the walking rhythm. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] It is therefore the object of the invention to further develop the known Nordic walking sticks to the extent that they permit an efficient push-off, and a rhythmic, flowing walking or running on any ground. [0007] The object is achieved by the stick according to the invention, as is defined in patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims. [0008] The known Nordic walking sticks are finally always directed to the winter sport of cross country skiing, with which the stick is periodically carried over the snow and inserted into the snow. The invention departs from this traditional cross country stick in a radical way and manner. It is based on the idea of providing the lower stick end with one or more wheels. Thus the exercise stick according to the invention may remain in constant contact with the ground. It is no longer necessary to lift it and insert it into the ground with each step. The path of the lower end of the stick is practically a pure translation instead of an up and down hopping movement, as is typical for known sticks. In order to permit a push-off, at least one wheel on the exercise stick according to the invention is provided with a reverse movement block--or with a coupling connected to direction or with a freewheel, which permits a rotation of the wheel in the forwards direction, but blocks it in the reverse direction. [0009] Accordingly, the exercise stick according to the invention, for athletes, such as walkers, roller skaters or on-road cross country skiers, who travel in the running direction on the ground, comprises an elongate stick body. At least one wheel is attached at one end of the stick body, which permits a directed rolling travel of the exercise stick on the ground. At least one wheel is provided with a reverse movement block which permits a rotation of the wheel in the running direction, but blocks it in the opposite running direction. [0010] The term "wheel" in this document is to be understood as any means permitting a directed rolling travel. Any forms of disks, rolling parts or rollers are included in this term. [0011] A slipping-away of the exercise stick to the rear on pushing-off is to be avoided. For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous on the one hand to give the lower end of the stick a certain weight, and on the other hand to design the running surface of the wheels in a manner such that their static friction coefficient with respect to different conceivable ground is as high as possible. By way of this, an as large as possible static friction force is ensured between the wheel and the ground, which as is known, is a product of the normal force and the static friction coefficient. [0012] The invention revolutionizes Nordic walking by way of making it more effective and at the same time gentler. The course of the movement of the athlete is smoother and more flowing thanks to the exercise stick according to the invention. The exercise effect may be increased or dosed by way of attaching additional weights on the sticks and/or the arms. In contrast to conventional sticks, such additional weights, although resulting in a higher energy consumption, only lead to a small increase in the loading of the joints, since indeed the weight is partly carried by the wheels. The danger of injury for following walkers or runners, which exist with the conventional stick due to the tip of the stick, is eliminated with the stick according to the invention. The constant ground contact gives the athlete increased safety. All these advantages, but in particular the last mentioned one, are of particular value if the exercise stick according to the invention is used for rehabilitation. [0013] The invention in this document is discussed mainly on account of the application example of Nordic walking. But of course the exercise stick according to the invention may also be applied to other summer sports, such as for skating or on-road cross-country skiing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] Preferred embodiment examples of the invention are described in a detailed manner by way of the drawings. Thereby, there are shown in: [0015] FIG. 1 (a) an upper part, and (b) a lower part of the exercise stick according to the invention, in perspective views, [0016] FIG. 2 various arrangements of wheels with the exercise stick according to the invention, in schematic perspective views, [0017] FIG. 3 a cross section through a reverse movement block on the exercise stick according to the invention, (a) in the freewheel condition as well as (b) in the blocking condition, and [0018] FIG. 4 a lower part of a further embodiment of the exercise stick according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0019] One embodiment of the exercise stick 1 according to the invention is represented in perspective views in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 1 (a) shows an upper part and FIG. 1 (b) a lower part of the exercise stick 1. An actual stick body 2 is preferably composed of several, e.g. three segments 21 to 23 which in each case mutually engage in a telescopic manner, in order to permit a length adjustment. The mutual position of the segments 21 to 23 may be fixed in a stepless manner by way of locking rings 24, 25 provided with threads. Alternatively, the exercise stick 1 may also comprise other means for the length adjustment and for fixation, such as is known from the state of the art. The stick body 2 could e.g. be composed of two segments and be provided with a collapsing mechanism which permits the two segments to be folded and thus the reduction of the length of the exercise stick 1. In the condition of use, the two segments are connected to one another in a rigid but releasable manner by way of suitable locking means. Continue reading about Exercise pole for athletes... Full patent description for Exercise pole for athletes Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Exercise pole for athletes patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Exercise pole for athletes or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Rehab cycle crank Next Patent Application: Exercise arm assembly for exercise machine Industry Class: Exercise devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Exercise pole for athletes patent info. 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