Adjustable length ski pole/clamp

Abstract

An adjustable length ski pole includes two telescopically fitted together ski pole halves, and a clamp disposed about the joint between the two pole halves. The clamp includes a resilient tubular member having an annular sidewall which defines a cylindrical bore, where the sidewall is formed with a longitudinally extending gap to allow the tubular member to be selectively biased to reduce the gap width and thus the diameter of the bore, or to enlarge the gap width and thus the diameter of the bore. The gap defines first and second opposing sidewall edges having coaxial first and second openings respectively. The clamp also includes a pin anchored at one end in the first opening to extend with the other end through the second opening, and a lever arm pivotally attached at one end to the other end of the pin, to move between a clamped position, in which the lever arm lies in contact with the ski pole to bias the first and second sidewall edges towards one another, and an unclamped position, in which the lever arm is pivoted away from the ski pole to allow the gap to widen. The sidewall edge includes a camming surface and the lever arm includes a camming knuckle formed at said one end to contact the camming surface and force the second sidewall edge toward the first sidewall edge when the lever arm is pivoted to the clamped position, to thereby secure the two pole halves in a fixed position relative to one another.