If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
A strap is a strap
A Finnish court has ruled that a strap is a strap - or
that a Yoko strap is not an Exel strap. Exel had sued Karhu for a violation of its patent, but since the idea of separate openings for wrist, thumb and th other four fingers cannot be considered a patented property, it was sufficient for the Yoko pole to differ on a number of features (of the tigthening and locking system) to be an independent design. I´m glad I´m not a lawyer:-) Anders |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
A strap is a strap
I thought that the TOKO 232 system was a Salomon patent and that Toko was
suing Exel on the use of the thumb loop on the C1 grip.... at least that was what I got off the EU patent office website last season... -Ira "Anders Lustig" wrote in message om... A Finnish court has ruled that a strap is a strap - or that a Yoko strap is not an Exel strap. Exel had sued Karhu for a violation of its patent, but since the idea of separate openings for wrist, thumb and th other four fingers cannot be considered a patented property, it was sufficient for the Yoko pole to differ on a number of features (of the tigthening and locking system) to be an independent design. I´m glad I´m not a lawyer:-) Anders |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
A strap is a strap
"Ira Edwards" wrote in message ...
I thought that the TOKO 232 system was a Salomon patent and that Toko was suing Exel on the use of the thumb loop on the C1 grip.... at least that was what I got off the EU patent office website last season... I thought Salomon had patents only on ski bindings and stuff (and nothing to do with poles, grips or straps! I also thought that Toko is a Swiss brand of ski waxes, and Yoko the Finnish brand of cycling, motorcycling and skiing gloves and stuff and, in co-operation with Karhu, of Nordic skiing poles! (Curiously, Karhu is the Finnish importer of Toko waxes...) I can understand that _Y_oko would have met Exel´s act of suing them by suing Exel in return, but what is this Yoko---Toko? Is it on the N.A. market only - because "Yoko" wasn´t available as a brand name, or because someone thought that there would be a synergy effect with a known ski wax brand? Anders (who is glad he is not a marketing person, either) |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
A strap is a strap
Here's how I understand the story (and I think this will explain most of Anders questions below): Yoko is (was?) a Finnish makers of gloves (yoko yoko is the Finnish word for baseball - a game Finns love). The original Yoko ski gloves were first developed for Motocross. Yoko then developed the 232 system and thereby got into the pole business. The 232 comes from the id number of the famous Finnish fireman (and athlete) who developed the system. He is know all through Finland as "232". Since Yoko was not in the pole business they hired Karhu to manufacture the shafts. Toko and Yoko have always had a very close working relationship. (Which probably explains why Karhu imported Toko to Finland). Toko has now taken over Yoko's ski glove and pole business. I don't knows if Yoko still makes baseball and motorcycle equipment. For the past three years I have been known as "Toko Yoko Man" which most people thought meant I was a Japanese superhero. Now that I'm just "Toko Man" people are still confused. But yes, Toko is a Swiss company. They have a small factory located in the Swiss Alps where they research and manufacture all their wax. Toko is owned by a big conglomerate that also owns Mammut climbing gear. (I have a nifty jacket from them with built-in avalanche transponder! When that avalanche hits Eastern Mass. I'll be ready). Rob Bradlee Toko Tech Team I also thought that Toko is a Swiss brand of ski waxes, and Yoko the Finnish brand of cycling, motorcycling and skiing gloves and stuff and, in co-operation with Karhu, of Nordic skiing poles! (Curiously, Karhu is the Finnish importer of Toko waxes...) I can understand that _Y_oko would have met Exels act of suing them by suing Exel in return, but what is this Yoko---Toko? Is it on the N.A. market only - because "Yoko" wasnt available as a brand name, or because someone thought that there would be a synergy effect with a known ski wax brand? Anders (who is glad he is not a marketing person, either) ===== Rob Bradlee Java, C++, Perl, XML, OOAD, Linux, and Unix Training |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
A strap is a strap
Anders Lustig wrote:
I also thought that Toko is a Swiss brand of ski waxes, and Yoko the Finnish brand of cycling, motorcycling and skiing gloves and stuff and, in co-operation with Karhu, of Nordic skiing poles! Toko bought Yoko! |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
A strap is a strap
|
#7
|
|||
|
|||
A strap is a strap
On Thu, 18 Dec 2003, Rob Bradlee wrote: But yes, Toko is a Swiss company. They have a small factory located in the Swiss Alps where they research and manufacture all their wax. Small is right. Several years ago I was visiting a friend who lived in Switzerland then (not coincidentally just in time for Engadin). We were going over and through the mountains on twisty 2-lane roads to get somewhere for some skiing when I saw a small building with the Toko logo on the front. I thought it must just be one of several since it couldn't possibly be the WHOLE COMPANY. But that was it. Maybe the sales and marketing folks are somewhere other than the factory. Hmm... I should dig through my photo archives. I might have stopped to take a picture of it. Don't remember now. -Mitch |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
A strap is a strap
Anders Lustig wrote:
I also thought that Toko is a Swiss brand of ski waxes, and Yoko the Finnish brand of cycling, motorcycling and skiing gloves and stuff and, in co-operation with Karhu, of Nordic skiing poles! (Curiously, Karhu is the Finnish importer of Toko waxes...) I can understand that _Y_oko would have met Exel´s act of suing them by suing Exel in return, but what is this Yoko---Toko? Is it on the N.A. market only - because "Yoko" wasn´t available as a brand name, or because someone thought that there would be a synergy effect with a known ski wax brand? I saw this year that all of a sudden there are Toko gloves and poles which look exactly same as Yoko did till now. They also use same thing to "connect" glow to ski pole etc. Besides that most of skiers who were on Yoko last year have now Toko glowes. For me it looks like Toko bought Yoko or something like that. They were somehow connected before when I was still around, but this year it looks to me it's only one company. And I will repeat Yoko and Toko few more times and I won't know what I'm talking about anymore -- Primoz Support - IP/VoIP Connectivity & Routing ------------------------------------------------------------------- Primoz Jeroncic tel: +386 1 562 31 40 | Borovec 2 fax: +386 1 562 18 55 | 1 + 1 = 3 1236 Trzin | for larger values of 1 Slovenija http://flea.softnet.si/ ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
A strap is a strap
|
#10
|
|||
|
|||
A strap is a strap
Rob Bradlee wrote:
conglomerate that also owns Mammut climbing gear. (I have a nifty jacket from them with built-in avalanche transponder! When that avalanche hits Eastern Mass. I'll be ready). Which I almost bought last year but got heart attack when I saw price (a bit more then 600euros without avalanche transponder and without fleece) so they drove me straight to hospital and I didn't have time to buy that jacket Not to mention my wife would kill me if I would accidentaly survive that heart attack -- Primoz Support - IP/VoIP Connectivity & Routing ------------------------------------------------------------------- Primoz Jeroncic tel: +386 1 562 31 40 | Borovec 2 fax: +386 1 562 18 55 | 1 + 1 = 3 1236 Trzin | for larger values of 1 Slovenija http://flea.softnet.si/ ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Strap binding durability? | Paul | Snowboarding | 9 | January 27th 04 10:11 PM |
technie toe strap | some dude | Snowboarding | 0 | January 11th 04 06:45 PM |