Handgrip strap leg spreading device

Abstract

A strap leg separating device for maintaining a distance between a first strap leg and a second strap leg of a strap attached to a handgrip of a sport or ski pole. In a preferred embodiment, a handgrip is provided that integrates the feature of maintaining a distance between a first strap leg segment and a second strap leg segment of a strap into the handgrip design and manufacture. A first strap leg receiving member supports and directs a segment of the first strap leg along a first axis and a second strap leg receiving member supports and directs a segment of the second strap leg along a second axis at an angle to the first axis. Alternately, a strap leg separating device may be provided for retrofit to a sport pole for maintaining a distance between the first strap leg and the second strap leg of a strap.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A strap leg separating device for maintaining a distance between a first strap leg segment and a second strap leg segment of a strap attached to a handgrip of a sport pole, the strap leg separating device comprising: 
 a body including a first strap leg receiving member having a first receiving member axis extending from a primary axis of the handgrip, the first strap leg receiving member including a length extending along the first receiving member axis, the first strap leg receiving member configured to receive and maintain a segment of the first leg of the strap along the first receiving member axis; and    the body also including a second strap leg receiving member having a second receiving member axis extending from the primary axis at an angle to the first receiving member axis, the second strap leg receiving member including a length extending along the second receiving member axis, the second strap leg receiving member configured to receive and maintain a segment of the first leg of the strap along the second receiving member axis.    
     
     
         2 . The strap leg separating device of  claim 1  further comprising the second strap leg receiving member extending along the second receiving member axis which lies substantially perpendicular to the first receiving member axis.  
     
     
         3 . The strap leg separating device of  claim 1  wherein the first strap leg receiving member further comprises a height and a width, the first strap leg receiving member configured to receive the first strap leg with the width of the strap leg proportional to the width of the first strap leg receiving member and a thickness of the strap leg proportional to the height of the first strap leg receiving member.  
     
     
         4 . The strap leg separating device of  claim 1  further comprising a length of the first strap leg receiving member oriented in a first plane along the first receiving member axis extending from the primary axis and a length of the second strap leg receiving member oriented in a second plane along the second receiving member axis extending from the primary axis.  
     
     
         5 . The strap leg separating device of  claim 1  wherein the first strap leg receiving member further comprises a first strap leg receiving aperture formed in the body of the strap leg separating device.  
     
     
         6 . The strap leg separating device of  claim 1  wherein the second strap leg receiving member further comprises a second strap leg receiving aperture formed in the body of the strap leg separating device.  
     
     
         7 . The strap leg separating device of  claim 1  wherein the first strap leg receiving member further comprises a first biased arm connected to the body, a gap formed between the first biased arm and the body for receiving and retaining the first strap leg segment between the first biased arm and the body.  
     
     
         8 . The strap leg separating device of  claim 1  wherein the second strap leg receiving member further comprises a second biased arm connected to the body, a gap formed between the second biased arm and the body for receiving and retaining the second strap leg segment between the second biased arm and the body.  
     
     
         9 . The strap leg separating device of  claim 7  wherein the first biased arm further comprises the first biased arm including a retainer lip.  
     
     
         10 . The strap leg separating device of  claim 8  wherein the second strap leg receiving member further comprises the second biased arm including a retainer lip.  
     
     
         11 . A handgrip for a sport pole comprising: 
 a handle including a strap leg separating element connected to the handle, the strap leg separating element including a first strap leg receiving member having a first receiving member axis extending from a primary axis of the handgrip, the first strap leg receiving member including a length extending along the first receiving member axis in a first plane, the first strap leg receiving member configured to receive and maintain a segment of a length of the first leg of the strap along the first plane;    a second strap leg receiving member having a second receiving member axis extending from the primary axis, the second strap leg receiving member also including a length extending along the second receiving member axis in a second plane, the second strap leg receiving member configured to receive and maintain a segment of a length of the first leg of the strap along the second plane; and    a strap including a first leg including a first end at least partially disposed within first strap leg receiving aperture and a second leg including a second end at least partially disposed within the strap leg receiving aperture, the first leg attached to the second leg forming a loop.    
     
     
         12 . The handgrip for a sport pole of  claim 11  wherein the handle further comprises a strap leg separating element formed integrally with the handle.  
     
     
         13 . The handgrip for a sport pole of  claim 11  further comprising the length of the second strap leg receiving member extending along the second receiving member axis in a second plane which lies substantially perpendicular to the first plane.  
     
     
         14 . The handgrip for a sport pole of  claim 11  wherein the first strap leg receiving member further comprises a height and a width, the first strap leg receiving member configured to receive the first strap leg with the width of the strap leg proportional to the width of the first strap leg receiving member and a thickness of the strap leg proportional to the height of the first strap leg receiving member.  
     
     
         15 . The handgrip for a sport pole of  claim 11  further comprising a length of the first strap leg receiving member oriented in a first plane along the first receiving member axis extending from the primary axis and a length of the second strap leg receiving member oriented in a second plane along the second receiving member axis extending from the primary axis.  
     
     
         16 . The handgrip for a sport pole of  claim 11  wherein the first strap leg receiving member further comprises a first strap leg receiving aperture formed in the body of the handle.  
     
     
         17 . The handgrip for a sport pole of  claim 11  wherein the second strap leg receiving member further comprises a second strap leg receiving aperture formed in the body of the handle.  
     
     
         19 . The handgrip for a sport pole of  claim 11  wherein the first strap leg receiving member further comprises a projecting element connected to and extending from the handle along the first receiving member axis extending from the primary axis of the handgrip, the projecting element including an aperture having a length extending along the first receiving member axis, the projecting element aperture configured to receive and maintain a segment of a length of the first leg of the strap along the first plane.  
     
     
         20 . A sport pole comprising: 
 a shaft including a first end including a terrain engagement tip and a second end;    a handgrip attached to the second end of the shaft, the handgrip including a handle including a strap leg separating element connected to the handle, the strap leg separating element including a first strap leg receiving member having a first receiving member axis extending from a primary axis of the handgrip, the first strap leg receiving member including a length extending along the first receiving member axis in a first plane, the first strap leg receiving member configured to receive and maintain a segment of a length of the first leg of the strap along the first plane;    a second strap leg receiving member having a second receiving member axis extending from the primary axis, the second strap leg receiving member also including a length extending along the second receiving member axis in a second plane, the second strap leg receiving member configured to receive and maintain a segment of a length of the first leg of the strap along the second plane; and    a strap including a first leg including a first end at least partially disposed within first strap leg receiving aperture and a second leg including a second end at least partially disposed within the strap leg receiving aperture, the first leg attached to the second leg forming a loop.