Pole Straps Spreader Device

Abstract

A spreader device that attaches to the straps of a ski pole or similar pole holding the straps apart so that it is easy for a user to grasp or release the grip of the pole. It is constructed of rubber, plastic, or metal with resilient, spring-like characteristics. The device has two removable parts that may be used together or alone, and will fit the straps of most poles. It is very simple in design and inexpensive to manufacture, so it can be made available at a very affordable price.

1 . A device for spreading the two straps of a ski pole or similar type pole wherein said device attaches directly to said straps and has openings of predetermined shape and size whereby it can be easily slipped on to said straps for installation and when attached does not interfere with the adjustment of the loop between said straps. 
   
   
       2 . A spreader device of  claim 1  wherein said openings are of predetermined shape and size to fit a wide range of straps produced by different manufacturers. 
   
   
       3 . A spreader device of  claim 1  comprising two parts, one designated as the upper spreader wherein said upper spreader attaches to the upper end of said straps near the top of the ski pole and the other part designated as the lower spreader attaches to the lower end of said straps where they are fastened together by a buckle. 
   
   
       4 . The spreader device of  claim 3  comprising only one of said two parts designated as the upper spreader, whereby it functions alone to spread said straps. 
   
   
       5 . The spreader device of  claim 3  comprising only one of said two parts designated as the lower spreader, whereby it functions alone to spread said straps. 
   
   
       6 . The spreader device of  claim 3  wherein said upper and lower spreaders are made of plastic, rubber, or metal which has resilient spring-like characteristics, whereby said spreaders can flex when the ski pole is grasped and return to their original shape when said pole is released. 
   
   
       7 . The spreader device of  claim 3  wherein said upper and lower spreaders may be stamped from sheet material or in the case of plastic may be injection molded, whereby producing a useful product in large numbers that can be offered at a low price. 
   
   
       8 . The spreader device of  claim 3  wherein said upper spreader has the general shape of a flat plate, said plate having two pairs of slots of predetermined shape and location whereby one of said straps without a buckle can be easily slipped through and securely held within one pair of said slots, and whereby the other one of said straps with a buckle can be easily slipped through and securely held within the other pair of said slots, whereby causing said straps to be spread apart. 
   
   
       9 . The spreader device of  claim 8  wherein said pair of slots for holding the strap without a buckle is located at one end of said plate, oriented at an angle of about 45 degrees with the longitudinal axis of said plate, and the other pair of said slots for holding the strap with a buckle is located at the other end of said plate, oriented at an opposite angle of about 45 degree with the longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       10 . The spreader device of  claim 8  wherein said upper spreader may have the general shape of a curved plate in lieu of a flat plate, whereby having a more streamlined appearance. 
   
   
       11 . The spreader device of  claim 3  wherein said lower spreader has the general shape of a flat plate, said plate having two parallel slots of predetermined size and shape on one end whereby one of said straps without a buckle can be easily slipped through and securely held within said slots, and said plate also having an oversized notch of predetermined size and shape on the opposing end whereby the buckle on the other one of said straps can pass through said notch without restraint when the loop in the buckled straps is cinched up or loosened. 
   
   
       12 . The spreader device of  claim 11  wherein the pair of slots for holding said strap without a buckle is located on one end of said plate and oriented at an angle of about 90 degrees with the longitudinal axis of the said plate, and the notch for passing said buckle on the other strap is located on the opposite end of said plate and oriented an angle of about 90 degrees with the longitudinal axis of said plate. 
   
   
       13 . The spreader device of  claim 11  wherein said flat plate of the lower spreader has an indention in one of its edges that rests next to the grip of the ski pole, said indentation being concave in shape and of predetermined size and shape, whereby said grip will be cradled within said indentation providing a streamlined appearance. 
   
   
       14 . A method of attaching a ski pole straps spreader comprising two parts wherein one of said parts which is attached to said straps near the top of the pole and designated as the upper spreader is installed first, and the other of said parts which is attached to said straps where they are buckled together and designated as the lower spreader is installed next, whereby said spreaders so installed cause said straps to be spread. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the upper spreader is installed by passing one of said straps without a buckle down through an inside slot and up through an outside slot in one end of said upper spreader, then allowing the strap to hang down vertically to be in position to be inserted in said lower spreader. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the upper spreader is installed by passing one of said straps with a buckle down through an inside slot and up through an outside slot in one end of said upper spreader then allowing said strap to hang free to subsequently be buckled to the end of the other strap. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein after the upper spreader is in place near the top of the pole, the lower spreader is installed by passing one of said straps without a buckle down around an outside edge and threaded up through the outside slot and down through the inside slot of said lower spreader, then passing the other one of said straps with a buckle down through a notch in the opposite edge and buckling the two straps together. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein only the upper spreader is attached to said straps near the top of said pole, whereby it acts alone to spread said straps. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein only the lower spreader is attached to said straps where they are buckled together, whereby it acts alone to spread said straps.