Trekking Pole Tip Cover

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of outdoor equipment, and more particularly to a trekking pole tip cover for a walking or trekking pole.

Trekking poles are an essential tool for hiking, trekking, and walking activities. These poles are typically equipped with relatively sharp metallic tips at their lower ends, which provide traction on a variety of terrains such as ice or snow, rocky paths, or muddy trails. However, such sharp tips can suffer significant wear and tear due to continuous contact with harsh ground surfaces and may erode over time, or potentially cause inadvertent damage to other equipment or personal injury when being transported or stored.

Tip covers are often used for trekking poles on various surfaces where a sharp pole tip will wear quickly, or on delicate terrain like mossy trails. They also serve to protect the tip from wear and tear during transport. While existing tip covers may have tread patterns for improved grip, they may not be suitable for some surfaces and may have limited traction on uneven ground.

The described techniques relate to improved methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses that support a trekking pole tip cover for a walking or trekking pole. The described apparatuses include a tip for an ambulatory stability pole having an anterior side and a posterior side. The tip may include a single base member extending for a first dimension along a first direction that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the ambulatory stability pole, and a plurality of extension members extending from the single base member along the first direction, where the plurality of extension members terminate in contact regions, where the contact regions of the plurality of extension members define a first plane that is inclined relative to a second plane that is orthogonal to the first direction. The plurality of extension members may include one or more first extension members that are located proximate to the rear side of the tip, the one or more first extension members having a second dimension along the first direction, and one or more second extension members that are located proximate to the front side of the tip, the one or more second extension members having a third dimension along the first direction, wherein the second dimension is greater than the third dimension.

The described apparatuses include a tip for an ambulatory stability pole that includes a single base member extending for a first dimension along a first direction that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the ambulatory stability pole, and a plurality of extension members extending from the single base member along the first direction and being separated from each other by slits, the plurality of extension members terminating in contact regions. The tip may include a cavity between the plurality of extension members that extends to a depth that is deeper than each of the slits separating the plurality of extension members.

Trekking poles, a vital accessory in numerous outdoor activities such as hiking, walking, or mountaineering, typically include metallic (e.g., carbide) tips at their lower ends for traction and stability. However, these sharp and pointed tips can potentially lead to abrasion, potential damage to other equipment, or even injury when not in active use, while themselves suffering from significant wear and tear over time.

Tip covers are often used for trekking poles on various surfaces where a sharp pole tip will wear quickly, or on delicate terrain like mossy trails. They also serve to protect the tip from wear and tear during transport. While existing tip covers may have tread patterns for improved grip, they may not be suitable for some surfaces and may have limited traction on uneven ground, which may result in the pole tip sliding or providing an unstable feel to the user.

According to various aspects described herein, a trekking pole tip cover is described having improved characteristics on various surfaces and an improved user feel. Features of the described tip cover include a ground-engaging surface with multiple contact points, separated by slits to allow for flexibility and adaptability to a range of surface types. According to various aspects, a central cavity in the arrangement of the contact points serves to enhance the tip cover's traction capabilities. The described tip cover may increase traction on diverse terrain, reducing the risk of slippage and subsequently increasing the safety and confidence of the user.

Aspects of the disclosure are initially described in the context of a trekking pole tip cover. Aspects of the disclosure are then described with reference to example trekking pole tip covers. Aspects of the disclosure are further illustrated by and described with reference to apparatus diagrams that relate to a trekking pole tip cover. Although described with reference to trekking poles, the tip covers discussed herein may be applicable to other ambulatory aids such as walkers, canes, and the like.

This description provides examples, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the principles described herein. Rather, the description herein provides those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing various aspects of the principles described herein. As can be understood by one skilled in the art, various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the application.

It should be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that one or more aspects of the disclosure may be implemented to additionally or alternatively solve other problems than those described herein. Furthermore, aspects of the disclosure may provide technical improvements to “conventional” systems, processes, or apparatuses as described herein. However, the description and appended drawings only include example technical improvements resulting from implementing aspects of the disclosure, and accordingly do not represent all of the technical improvements provided within the scope of the claims.

show views of a trekking pole tip cover. The trekking pole tip coverhas a base memberat a first end (e.g., top end) and multiple extension membersextending from the base member to a second end (e.g., bottom end). The extension membersmay be separated from each other by slits, which may extend from the second end towards the first end, terminating where base memberbegins (e.g., where the extension membersare no longer separated from each other by the slits). The trekking pole tip covermay have a front side in the direction of the arrow on y-axis, and a rear side opposite the front side.

shows an isometric bottom view of trekking pole tip cover. As seen in, each of the extension membersmay terminate in a contact region. Each of the contact regions(e.g., contact regions-,-,-,-, and-) may be flat or have a convex shape providing a contact area for the trekking pole tip coveron a walking surface. In the illustrated example, the trekking pole tip coverhas five extension members(e.g., extension members-,-,-,-, and-), which are separated from each other by five slits(e.g., slits-,-,-,-, and-).

According to various aspects, trekking pole tip covermay have a cavitybetween the extension members. In some cases, the cavitymay be the same depth as slits, while in other cases cavitymay be deeper (e.g., a middle of the cavity may extend farther from the second end towards the first end) than the slits. A combination of the cavityin the middle of the extension membersand the slitsmay provide secure footing by allowing some flexibility for the extension membersto adapt to walking gait and terrain. For example, the trekking pole tip covermay be formed of a pliable material such as an elastomeric material (e.g., a rubber material). The elastomeric material may be, for example, an unsaturated rubber, a saturated rubber, a thermoplastic elastomer, or a polysulfide rubber. For example, the elastomeric material may have an elasticity modulus of less than 10 MPa.

In some cases, the extension membersof trekking pole tip covermay be radially symmetrical, and may include a quantity of extension members (e.g., four, five, six, seven, eight, more than eight) and slitsthat have the same dimensions. In some cases, the extension membersmay have radial dihedral symmetry (e.g., the extension members may be radially symmetrical and may also have dihedral symmetry around one or more lines of reflection).

In other examples, as is shown in, the extension membersmay lack radial symmetry. For example,shows an example where different extension membershave different sizes. In the example shown in, the trekking pole tip coverhas symmetry in a plane defined by a y-axisand a z-axis(e.g., a y-z plane). In this example, the posterior extension member (extension member-) extends to both sides of the y-z plane bisecting the trekking pole tip over, and may be the largest extension member. Also in this example, extension members-and-are the same size and shape (e.g., mirrored) as each other, and may be mirrors of each other about the y-z plane, while extension members-and-(e.g., anterior extension members) may also have the same size and shape (e.g., mirrored) as each other, and may be mirrors of each other about the y-z plane. In some cases, where one extension member (e.g., extension member-) is larger than other extension members, the slitsbordering the larger extension member may be deeper than the other slits. In the example shown in, the larger extension member-is at the rear side of the trekking pole tip coverwhile extension members-and-are at the front side. In some cases, having the larger extension memberat a rear side of the trekking pole tip covermay provide a more solid initial contact region as the user plants the trekking pole, which may contribute to a more solid feel for the user.

shows an isometric top view of trekking pole tip cover. Visible in the view shown inis a cavityat a top side of the trekking pole tip coverfor receiving a pole tip of a trekking pole.also shows base memberand extension members-,-, and-, with slit-between extension members-and-, and slit-between extension members-and-

The view inshows that extension member-, located at the rear side of the trekking pole tip cover, is larger than the other extension members, and may extend to both sides of the y-z plane bisecting the trekking pole tip cover.

shows a side view of trekking pole tip cover. In the side view shown in, the positive y-axisextends in a direction corresponding to the front side of the trekking pole tip cover, and the x-axisextends out of the page.

shows an ambulatory stability pole(e.g., trekking pole) inserted into the cavityin the top of the trekking pole tip cover. The ambulatory stability polemay be an elongated pole, and may have a longitudinal axis. Base membermay extend for a first dimensionalong a direction that is parallel to the longitudinal axisof the ambulatory stability pole. The extension membersmay extend from the base memberalong the direction, and may each have a contact region. The extension membersmay be separated by slits, such that base memberextends from the top of the trekking pole tip coverto the slits.

As shown in, the contact regionsof the extension membersmay define an inclined contact area for the trekking pole tip cover. For example, the contact regionsmay define a planethat is angled relative to a plane that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axisof the ambulatory stability pole. The incline angle may allow the contact regionsto provide a more positive feel when planted as a more limited quantity of the contact regions(e.g., contact region-) may initially contact the ground when positioned forward to be planted, while a greater quantity of the contact regionsmay then contact the ground as the ambulatory stability polerotates forward according to walking motionafter the initial contact of the trekking pole tip coverwith the ground.

Althoughillustrates all contact regionsof the extension membersdefining the planethat is angled relative to a plane that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axisof the ambulatory stability pole, in some cases a subset of the contact regionsmay be on the plane. For example, the planemay be defined by the contact regions on the rear side and the front side (e.g., contact regions-,-, and-for the illustrated example with five extension members). In such examples, some of the contact regions(e.g., contact regions in-between the front side and the rear side of the trekking pole tip cover) may not be on the plane, but instead may be lower than planeto provide divergence in how the contact regions initially contact the ground as the top of ambulatory stability poleis rotated forward according to walking motion.

illustrates cavitybetween extension members, and illustrates that trekking pole tip covermay have a holebetween cavityand cavity. In some cases, holemay allow ambulatory stability poleto be inserted easier, and a tip (e.g., metal or carbide tip) of ambulatory stability polemay extend through holeinto cavitywhen ambulatory stability poleis inserted in cavity.

shows a cross-sectional view of trekking pole tip cover. The cross-section formay be in the y-z-plane bisecting trekking pole tip cover, and shows that extension member-may extend to both sides of the y-z plane (e.g., the cross-section along the y-z plane may bisect extension member-). However, the front extension members-and-(not shown), may be on either side of the y-z plane, separated by slit-

The cross-sectional view inillustrates the cavitybetween extension members, and holebetween cavityand cavity. In the trekking pole tip coverillustrated in, the depth of slit-is the same as the depth of cavity, although in some cases cavitymay be deeper than some or all of slits. The holdmay allow water to drain from cavity, and may allow a tip portion of the ambulatory stability poleto pass through to extend partially into cavity.

In some examples, a washer(e.g., metal washer) may be placed at the bottom of cavityand may provide a rigid surface that engages with a region around the tip portion of the ambulatory stability poleto provide a secure engagement that helps to prevent the tip portion of the ambulatory stability polefrom extending too far into the cavity, particularly through repetitive deformation of the bottom of cavityof trekking pole tip coverwhile in use.

show examples of contact region patternsof a trekking pole tip cover, in accordance with various aspects.

shows a first example contact region pattern-. Contact region pattern-includes six (6) contact regions, each separated from other contact regionsby slits. In contact region pattern-, contact regionsare each the same shape (e.g., circular), and may be the same size. In addition, contact region pattern-has a cavity-between contact regions. Contact region pattern-has radial symmetry about an axisthat may be a central axis of trekking pole tip cover, as well as bilateral symmetry about a plane(e.g., y-z plane). Thus, contact region pattern-may have radial dihedral symmetry as well. The contact regions for contact region pattern-may define an inclined plane (e.g., a plane that is angled relative to a plane that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the ambulatory stability pole, as shown in).

shows a second example contact region pattern-. Contact region pattern-includes six (6) non-circular contact regions, each separated from other contact regionsby slits. In contact region pattern-, contact regionsare each the same shape (e.g., rotated or mirrored from each other), and may be the same size. In addition, contact region pattern-has a cavity-between contact regions. Contact region pattern-has radial symmetry about an axisthat may be a central axis of trekking pole tip cover, as well as bilateral symmetry about a plane(e.g., y-z plane). Thus, contact region pattern-may have radial dihedral symmetry as well. The contact regions for contact region pattern-may define an inclined plane (e.g., a plane that is angled relative to a plane that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the ambulatory stability pole, as shown in).

shows a third example contact region pattern-. Contact region pattern-includes five (5) contact regions(e.g., contact regions-,-,-,-, and-), each separated from other contact regionsby slits. Some of contact regions(e.g., contact region-) may be larger than others of the contact regions. In addition, contact region pattern-has a cavity-between contact regions. Contact region pattern-lacks radial or dihedral symmetry, but may have bilateral symmetry about a plane(e.g., y-z plane). The contact regions for contact region pattern-may define an inclined plane (e.g., a plane that is angled relative to a plane that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the ambulatory stability pole, as shown in), with the contact region-extending the furthest and being toward the back side of the trekking pole tip cover, such that it contacts the ground first when a user plants the trekking pole.

shows an isometric bottom view of an example trekking pole tip cover.shows that the contact regionsof trekking pole tip covermay be oblong or non-circular. For example, as shown in, contact region-may be oblong or have multiple lobes (e.g., bow-tie shaped). In other cases, one or more contact regionsmay be oval or triangular shaped (e.g., a rounded triangular shape).

shows that some extension membersmay have projecting pointsextending from a side. For example, inextension members-,-,-, and-have projecting pointsextending from a front side of the extension member. Projecting pointsmay extend to be at a height of the contact regions, and thus may contact the ground as the trekking pole tip coveris rotated through the walking motion (e.g., walking motion). Projecting pointsmay have an angular or semi-circular shape when viewed from the side, and may have a triangular shape when viewed from the bottom.

As shown in, contact regionsand projecting pointsmay take the appearance of an animal paw, and thus trekking pole tip covermay leave an imprint similar to an animal track in soft ground including imprints corresponding to contact regions(e.g., pads) and projecting points(e.g., claws) of the trekking pole tip cover. The contact regionsand projecting pointsmay be shaped to leave imprints similar to various animal species such as bobcats, bears, wolves, and the like.

It should be noted that these are examples of implementations, and that the elements may be rearranged or otherwise modified such that other implementations are possible. In some examples, aspects from two or more of the examples may be combined. For example, aspects of each of the examples may include elements of the other examples, or other techniques described herein. Thus, aspects of the disclosure may provide for improved performance of a trekking pole tip cover. The description set forth herein, in connection with the appended drawings, describes example configurations and does not represent all the examples that may be implemented or that are within the scope of the claims. The term “exemplary” used herein means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and not “preferred” or “advantageous over other examples.” The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of the described techniques. These techniques, however, may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the described examples.

As used herein, including in the claims, “or” as used in a list of items (for example, a list of items prefaced by a phrase such as “at least one of” or “one or more of”) indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, a list of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Also, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions. For example, an exemplary step that is described as “based on condition A” may be based on both a condition A and a condition B without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall be construed in the same manner as the phrase “based at least in part on.”

In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.

The description herein is provided to enable a person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein, but is to be accorded the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.