Flexible colored pole for alpine ski racing

Abstract

A flexible slalom ski course pole has a fixed base to be driven into the snow and a flexible post extending above the snow. The base and post are connected by an intermediate hinge located a short distance above the snow so the post can bend relative the base and later move back into its initial vertical position, when impacted by a skier during a race. The hinge is associated with a protective sleeve which is provided in addition to or as a part of the hinge, and is disposed around the post adjacent the snow. The sleeve and post have first and second colors which are distinct so their contrast allows the skier to easily recognize the pole and the point it is inserted in the snow, and the gate judges to accurately appreciate proper passage of the skier around the pole.

1 . A colored flexible hinged pole ( 10 ,  10 ′,  10 ″,  10 ″′;  10 - 1 ;  10 - 2 ;  10 - 3  . . .  10 -n) particularly for slalom alpine ski racing, comprising:
 a lower fixed part or fixed base ( 11 ), which is designed to be plunged and driven into the snow pack (MN) of the ski slope (PS); and 
 an upper flexible part or upper flexible pole or post ( 12 ), which vertically extends above the snow pack (MN),
 said lower fixed base ( 11 ) and said upper flexible post ( 12 ) being connected by an intermediate hinge ( 13 ), which is located adjacent and above the snow pack, for allowing the flexible post ( 12 ) that extends above the snow pack to bend relative to the fixed base ( 11 ) in the snow pack, and to later move back to the initial vertical position, when impacted by a skier, 
 said hinge ( 13 ) being associated with a sleeve ( 14 ), which is disposed around the flexible post ( 12 ) in the corresponding bottom area, adjacent to the snow pack, 
 wherein said sleeve ( 14 ) and said flexible post ( 12 ) have first (C 1 ) and second (C 2 ) chromatically distinct colors, such that, also due to the chromatic contrast between said first (C 1 ) and said second (C 2 ) colors, the skier (SC) is allowed to easily and readily appreciate the position of the bottom of the flexible pole ( 10 ,  12 ) on the snow pack of the ski slope, and the gate judge is allowed to appreciate and accurately ascertain the passage of the skier (SC), and his/her skis, around said pole ( 10 ,  12 ). 
 
 
     
     
         2 . The colored flexible hinged pole ( 10 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve ( 14 ) is part of the structure of said hinge ( 13 ), thereby connecting together said fixed base ( 11 ) and said flexible post ( 12 ), or is provided in addition to the hinge ( 13 ) and is only designed to protect it. 
     
     
         3 . The colored flexible hinged pole as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first color and said second color is a vivid, well-visible color, particularly yellow, red, blue, orange, light blue, green, yellow or brown. 
     
     
         4 . The colored flexible hinged pole as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first color (C 1 ) and said second color (C 2 ) define a color pair ((C 1 -C 2 ) 1 , (C 1 -C 2 ) 2 , (C 1 -C 2 ) 3 , (C 1 -C 2 ) 4 , . . . , (C 1 -C 2 ) n ) that can be selected from a group comprising the following color pairs: red-blue, green-blue, green-red, light blue-blue, light blue-red, orange-blue, orange-red, yellow-blue, yellow-red, brown-blue, brown-red. 
     
     
         5 . The colored flexible hinged pole as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one (C 1 , C 2 ) of said first color and said second color is a fluorescent or phosphorescent color or has similar properties. 
     
     
         6 . The colored flexible hinged pole as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an appreciable chromatic contrast exists between said first color and said second color. 
     
     
         7 . A set of colored flexible hinged and colored poles ( 10 - 1 ,  10 - 2 , . . .  10 -n), each as claimed in  claim 1 , for use in slalom alpine ski racing.