Illuminated ski pole discs

• US 7,192,058 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Snow Stamps, LLC
• Original Assignee: Snow Stamps, LLC
• Inventors: Fleming, Larry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHRIVER II, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US11/239,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20060163866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 280/824, 280/809, 280/816, 280/819, 280/821, 135/66, 135/910, 135/65, 362/102, 362/109, 362/157, 362/184, 362/249, 362/800
• US Class Current: 280/824
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 11/24 Rings for ski-sticks
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/14 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A ski pole disc is provided for attachment to a ski pole. The ski pole disc includes a body extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ski pole and having a hole in a central portion thereof to receive the ski pole. An electronic circuit is positioned in the body, and the body is configured to allow illumination generated by the electronic circuit to be visible through the body.

Claims

1. A ski pole disc for attachment to a ski pole, the ski pole disc comprising:

a body extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ski pole and having a hole in a central portion thereof to receive the ski pole;

an electronic circuit positioned in the body,

wherein the body is configured to allow illumination generated by the electronic circuit to be visible through the body, and

the body comprises a housing, which comprises;

a bottom housing element having a top surface and a bottom surface and having a hole in a central portion thereof to receive the ski pole; and

a top housing element having a top surface and a bottom surface and having a hole in a central portion thereof to receive the ski pole,

wherein the top housing element cooperates with the bottom housing element to house the electronic circuit.

2. The ski pole disc of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit comprises a motion-activated circuit, and the illumination is initiated in response to a signal from the motion-activated circuit.

3. The ski pole disc of claim 2, further comprising a sound generation circuit, and the generation of sound by the sound generation circuit is initiated in response to a signal from the motion-activated circuit.

4. The ski pole disc of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit comprises a temperature detection circuit, and the illumination is initiated in response to a signal from the temperature detection circuit.

5. The ski pole disc of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit comprises a light-level detection circuit, and the illumination is initiated in response to a signal from the light-level detection circuit.

6. The ski pole disc of claim 1, further comprising a sound generation circuit.

7. The ski pole disc of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit is sealed within the body to prevent contact with water.

8. The ski pole disc of claim 1, wherein the bottom housing element and the top housing element have respective edge portions that are substantially the same size and shape, and the edge portions are sealed together to prevent water from entering the housing.

9. The ski pole disc of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an inner surface substantially perpendicular to the ski pole and having a plurality of recessed portions configured to hold elements of the electronic circuit.

10. The ski pole disc of claim 1, wherein the bottom housing element is configured to allow the illumination generated by the electronic circuit to be visible through the bottom housing element.

11. The ski pole disc of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a resistance layer attached to the housing and extending beyond the housing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ski pole.

12. The ski pole disc of claim 11, wherein the top housing element and the resistance layer are configured to allow the illumination generated by the electronic circuit to be visible through the top housing element and the resistance layer.

13. The ski pole disc of claim 11, wherein the resistance layer and the housing both are formed of plastic, and the resistance layer is formed of a softer plastic than the housing.

14. The ski pole disc of claim 11, wherein the resistance layer is formed on the top surface of the top housing element by injection molding.

15. The ski pole disc of claim 11, wherein the resistance layer is formed on the bottom surface of the bottom housing element by injection molding.

16. The ski pole disc of claim 11, wherein the resistance layer is formed around the housing by injection molding to at least partially cover the top surface of the top housing element and the bottom surface of the bottom housing element.

17. The ski pole disc of claim 11, wherein the resistance layer is configured to form an image in the snow that imparts information to a person viewing the formed image.

18. The ski pole disc of claim 11, wherein the resistance layer is configured to impart information to a person viewing a top surface of the resistance layer.

19. The ski pole disc of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit comprises:

at least one light-emitting device; and

a processor configured to control the light-emitting device.

20. The ski pole disc of claim 19, wherein the electronic circuit further comprises a motion-activated circuit, and the light-emitting device is activated in response to a signal from the motion-activated circuit.

21. The ski pole disc of claim 20, wherein the electronic circuit comprises a plurality of light-emitting devices, and the processor activates the light-emitting devices in a predetermined sequence.

22. The ski pole disc of claim 19, wherein the light-emitting device is a light emitting diode (LED).

23. The ski pole disc of claim 19, wherein the electronic circuit further comprises a power source connected to provide power to the light-emitting device and the processor.

24. The ski pole disc of claim 23, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

25. The ski pole disc of claim 23, wherein the power source comprises a plurality of batteries arranged around a periphery of the housing.

26. The ski pole disc of claim 23, wherein the power source comprises a plurality of batteries arranged in a stack.

27. The ski pole disc of claim 23, wherein the power source comprises a solar cell connected to recharge the power source.

28. A ski pole disc for attachment to a ski pole, the ski pole disc comprising:

a body extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ski pole and having a hole in a central portion thereof to receive the ski pole;

an electronic circuit positioned in the body,

wherein the body is configured to allow illumination generated by the electronic circuit to be visible through the body, and

wherein the electronic circuit comprises;

at least one light-emitting device; and

a processor configured to control the light-emitting device,

wherein the electronic circuit is formed on a plurality of printed circuit boards arranged around a periphery of the body.

29. The ski pole disc of claim 28, wherein each of the printed circuit boards has a plurality of light-emitting devices arranged thereon.

30. The ski pole disc of claim 29, wherein the plurality of light-emitting devices arranged on each of the printed circuit boards includes a variety of colors.

31. The ski pole disc of claim 28, wherein the electronic circuit further comprises a motion-activated circuit, and the light-emitting device is activated in response to a signal from the motion-activated circuit.

32. The ski pole disc of claim 28, wherein the electronic circuit comprises a plurality of light-emitting devices, and the processor activates the light-emitting devices in a predetermined sequence.

33. The ski pole disc of claim 28, wherein the light-emitting device is a light emitting diode (LED).

34. The ski pole disc of claim 28, wherein the electronic circuit further comprises a power source connected to provide power to the light-emitting device and the processor.

35. The ski pole disc of claim 34, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

36. The ski pole disc of claim 34, wherein the power source comprises a plurality of batteries arranged around a periphery of the body.

37. The ski pole disc of claim 34, wherein the power source comprises a plurality of batteries arranged in a stack.

38. The ski pole disc of claim 34, wherein the power source comprises a solar cell connected to recharge the power source.