Technical Field:

The invention relates to improvements in ski poles (also known as sticks) used by skiers for balance and propulsion in skiing.

Background Art:

Ski poles are equipment used during skiing. While standing on the skis, the user performs the balance and propulsion function with one pole in each hand. The invention of the description includes a number of improvements made on the ski poles mentioned herein.

Although skiing is a fun sport, dangerous accidents such as falls and collisions are frequently encountered. The majority of accidents are caused by inexperience. When the ski slope is crowded, skiers may not notice other skiers, which can lead to collisions. Accidents that occur during skiing can have serious consequences such as injury.

In the known state of the art, ski poles can be brightly colored and phosphorescent in order to be recognizable. However, even this does not help the ski poles to be recognizable in bad climatic conditions such as foggy weather.

In the known state of the art, neither ski poles nor skis have any indication of the direction in which the skier will move. At the same time, athletes warn other athletes by shouting, which is not enough in a crowded or noisy environment. Failure of athletes to warn each other can result in collisions. In the 2016/07898 utility model document encountered in the literature search, a ski pole consisting of fiber rope, resin and plastic coating, which is claimed to be light and robust, is described. The said ski pole does not contain any of the light source, audible warning and signal features included in the invention of the description.

Consequently, there is a need for a new ski pole which surpasses the state of the art by overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks thereof.

Summary of the Invention:

The present invention is a ski pole that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art, and also involves further advantages.

The object of the invention is to provide a ski pole with additional equipment and features to enable athletes to recognize each other during skiing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ski pole with a light source that emits light to ensure the athlete's recognizability.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new ski pole with a signaling feature to indicate the direction in which the athlete will turn.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new ski pole with a horn feature so that the athlete can audibly warn other athletes around him/her.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new ski pole having a light source configured to be detachably mounted on the ski pole.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new ski pole with a light source compatible with camera mount bracket for mounting GoPro cameras and similar equipment on the ski pole. Brief Description of the Figures:

The invention will now be described by referring to the attached figures, whereby the features of the invention will be understood more clearly. However, it is not intended to limit the invention to these particular embodiments. On the contrary, it is aimed to involve all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the attached claims. It should be noted that the details shown herein are only for illustrating the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and for providing the most useful and clear description of both the illustration of methods, and the principles and conceptual features of the present invention. In these drawings,

Figure - 1 Representative view of the ski pole according to the invention.

Figure - 2 Representative view showing a different model of the ski pole according to the invention.

Figure - 3 Detail view of the ski pole handle according to the invention.

Figure - 4 Detail view of the camera mount bracket attached to the tip of the ski pole according to the invention.

The drawings, which are for ensuring a better understanding of the present invention, are numbered as shown in the attached figures, and the list and description of the said numbers is given below.

Reference Numerals:

10-Ski poles

11. Handle

12. Shaft

13.Tip

14. Light source 15. Battery

16. Motherboard

17.Signal button

18. Horn button

19. Buzzer

20. Mount bracket

21. Camera mount bracket

Detailed Description of the Invention:

In this detailed description, a ski pole of the present invention is described by way of non-limiting examples in order to provide a better understanding of the subject-matter. The description describes a ski pole that is used by skiers for balance and propulsion in skiing and has improvements to provide audible and visual warnings.

Ski poles (10) consist of a handle (11 ) on the upper part of a shaft (12), which the user grasps with his/her hands, and a tip (13) on the lower part of the shaft (12), which allows the user to perform balance and propulsion functions by sticking into the ground.

The distinctive character of the ski pole (10) according to the invention is that it has a light source (14). The light on the ski pole (10) allows the athlete to be recognized in low visibility weather conditions. The light source (14) on the ski pole (10) can be a LED or bulb type source. It is preferably configured to be embedded in the shaft (12). (Figure 1 )

A battery is required to power the light source (14). This battery (15) is positioned in the handle (11 ) according to the invention. Optionally, however, the light source (14) can also be powered by a cell or battery (15) within the light source itself. Although there is no limitation on this, the battery described in the invention (15) covers both cases. The alternative embodiment of the invention includes a horn feature. For this purpose, a buzzer (19) is provided on the handle (11 ) or shaft (12). The abovementioned buzzer (19) is controlled by a horn button (18) located on the handle (11 ). When the horn button (18) is pressed, a motherboard (16) activates the buzzer (19) with the energy supplied from the battery (15), and a high-pitched sound is emitted from the buzzer (19) to warn the surrounding athletes.

The alternative embodiment of the invention includes a signal feature. The athlete uses this signal feature to warn the users around him/her when he/she turns left or right. If the user wants to turn right, he/she presses the signal button (17) on the ski baton (10) handle (11 ) in his/her right hand. When the signal button (17) is pressed, the mainboard (16) enables the light source (14) to operate by flashing as in vehicle turn signals. The aforementioned flashing function is programmed into the mainboard (16) beforehand. The user only needs to press the signal button (17) once more to turn off the signal.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the light source (14) can be glued, fastened or squeezed onto the shaft (12). At the same time, it is possible to attach and detach it optionally and to use it in the required climate or environmental conditions. Figure 2 and figure 3 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention described herein. In the figure, the light source (14) is attached with a mount bracket (20). This mount bracket (20) is a rubberized apparatus which allows the light source (14) to be easily attached to the shaft (12). However, the mount bracket (20) must not be limited to a rubberized device. All apparatus which can be mounted with mount bracket, which can be tightened by rotation, which contain latch or clip type fasteners, which can be mounted to the shaft by locking or claw fitting methods can be used in the invention to mount the light source (14) to the shaft (12). In the invention, the light source (14) may alternatively be manufactured in accordance with the camera mount bracket (21 ) for mounting the camera known as GoPro or any other type of camera on the ski pole (10). Camera mount brackets (21 ) are already available and sold parts for ski poles (10). In the invention, the light source (14) can be manufactured in such a way that it can be directly attached to the camera mount bracket (21 ).

In the use of the light source (14) of the invention in combination with the mount bracket (20, 21 ), the light sources (14) contain batteries that provide the energy requirement.

In another alternative embodiment of the invention, a solar panel may comprise a converter that converts solar energy into storable energy. In this way, the electrical energy obtained from solar energy can be stored in the battery (15) according to the invention. This stored energy can be used for signaling, lighting and horn features. Solar panels can be located in specific sections on the shaft (12) or the handle (11 ).

In the invention, the light source (14) can be controlled via an on-off button. It is also possible to operate via a motherboard (16) programmed to have different color, duration, flashing functions. The motherboard (16) also functions as a sound board, enabling horn sounds with different melodies and volume. There are no limitations on visual and audible warnings. All different light and sound warnings are to be protected within the scope of the invention.