US3826378A

US3826378A - Ski rack

Info

Publication number: US3826378A
Application number: US00206646A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Novak
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-12-10
Filing date: 1971-12-10
Publication date: 1974-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 1991-07-30
Also published as: CA972716A

Abstract

A rotary ski rack for high density storage of multiple pairs of skis and ski poles. The rack is so arranged and configurated that each pair of skis and the associated pair of ski poles are stored in the same sector of the rack and the skis lock the associated poles in the rack.

Description

D United States Patent 1 91 1111 3,826,378 Novak July 30, 1974 SK! RACK 950,003 2/1910 [76] inventor: Warren D. Novak, 325 Douglas Rd., pp q 10514 2,963,165 12/1960 3,394,790 7/1968 [22] 1971 3,722,652 3/1973 Busch et a]. 211/60 s1 [21] Appl. No.: 206,646

Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frasier U S. I I l l A torney, Agtnl, 0r Firm-WOOd, HfirlOfl & EVtmS 511 my A471; s 1 00- A47b gag/9g 58 Field of Search 21 1/60 SK, [57] ABSTRACT 211/64, 63, 70 62, 65, 60 R, 60 T, 4 8 A rotary ski rack for high density storage of multiple pairs of skis and skipoles. The rack is so arranged and [56] R fere ce Cited configurated that each pair of skis and the associated UNITED STATES PATENTS pair of ski poles are stored in the same sector of the 323 977 8/1885 Togus 21 1/62 rack and the skis lock the associated poles in the rack. 505,326 9/1893 Meadows 211/64 28 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENIEBmamau 3.826.378 sum 10F 2 INVENTOR.

SKI RACK This invention relates to the storage of ski equipment and more particularly to a rotary rack for storing both skis and ski poles.

Skis and ski poles are used in pairs and except in very rare situations in combinations of one pair of skis matched to one pair of poles. At any ski area there are generally the same numbers of pairs of skis and poles as there are individuals using them.

Around ski lodges and ski chalets, one of the nuisance problems is that of storing all of the skiers equipment. The equipment cannot be conveniently stored out of doors because it is generally relatively expensive and is subject to theft. Indoors it requires whole walls of storage space, usually in an entrance hall to the lodge or chalet.- Many lodges or chalets have a concrete or flagstone floored entrance hall which serves solely as a place to accommodate the storage of skis. There they customarily line the walls and are subject to being knocked over, falling on the floor, and creating a general traffic hazard.

In addition to the problem of storing skis indoors,

there is also a problem of temporarily storing skis outdoors, particularly around commercial lodges. There hundreds and even thousands of guests may simultaneously use a single dining facility or area. When this occurs, all of their skis are generally left outside strewn around the building; some in fixed bar type racks, some resting against the building, and some sticking out of the snow. Not only is the arrangement unsightly, but it creates a general traffic hazard. Additionally, this he]- ter-skelter storage of skis around the exterior of buildings both in and out of racksoften results in a skier picking up the wrong pair of skis or poles and leaving in its stead his own often less expensive equipment.

It has been a primary objective of this invention to eliminate or minimize some of these ski storage problems by providing a new and improved ski rack and pole storage facility which is more convenient to use and which enables more skis and poles to be stored in a small area than has heretofore been possible.

Another objective of this invention has been to provide a new and improved ski and ski pole storage rack which concentrates the storage of skis in a very small area and eliminates the need for storage racks lining the entrance hall walls of ski lodges and ski chalets.

Still another objective of this invention has been to provide a new and improved ski and ski pole storage facility which may be conveniently used both indoors and outdoors for the storage of a multiplicity of skis and ski poles.

These objectives are accomplished and this invention is predicated upon the concept of a rotary ski rack in which matching pairs of skis or ski poles are stored in the same radial sector 'of the rack. The arrangement is such that a pair of skis stored in the rack locks the matching pair of ski poles in the same sector such that the poles cannot be removed without first removing the skis. This arrangement easily avoids and eliminates the problem of skiers inadvertently picking up the wrong pair of ski poles when they withdraw their skis from the rack.

Another aspect of this invention is predicated upon the concept of high density storage of ski poles in a rotary rack by utilization of a pair of storage discs located at different vertical levels to receive the baskets of the associated pair of poles. Attached to each ski pole at a distance of approximately 3 or 4 inches from the lower end, there is a basket which is approximately 4 to 6 inches in diameter. This basket functions to prevent a pole during use by a skier from being inserted into the snow to a depth greater than the distance of the basket from the tip of the pole. Because of the large diameter of the baskets, the baskets cannot all be located in the same horizontal plane while at the same time being located in the same radial sector of the rack as the skis with which they are associated unless the skis are spaced apart a greater distance than is otherwise desirable or necessary. This problem has been overcome, though, by storing the poles in an inverted position with the baskets of alternate pairs of poles resting upon the tops of discs located at differentvertical elevations. This storage technique eliminates the problem of the baskets of one pair of poles interfering with the insertion of the baskets of the next adjacent pair of poles into the adjacent sector.

The ski storage rack which accomplishes these objectives and incorporates these inventive concepts comprises a stationary base from which a center post extends upwardly. Mounted over this vertical post is a pipe or sleeve having a rotatable disc fixedly attached to its lower end. This disc rotates on nylon rollers which roll over the top surfaceof the base plate. In addition to the rotatable bottom plate, there are four other vertically spaced discs fixedly attached to the vertical pipe or sleeve such that these additional discs rotate with the sleeve and the bottom disc. The uppermost one of the four additional discs is of the same diameter as the bottom discand has radial notches which accommodate and support the toe ends of pairs of skis, the lower or heel end of which are supported in recesses in the top surface of the bottom rotatable disc. Adjacent to the top disc, but spaced vertically from it, are two smaller diameter discs which are ski pole supporting discs. These discs have radial slots located in thesame vertical planes as the notches in the top disc such that they accommodate ski poles in the same radial sector of the rack as the skis are supported. The last of the additional discs is located approximately midway up the pole and has radial slots to accommodate the lower ends of ski poles extendingdownwardly from the upper two ski pole supporting discs. This last lower disc prevents the pole shafts from swinging outwardly when the rack is rotated very quickly.

The primary advantage of this rack is the very high density of ski and ski pole storage which it accommodates. Specifically, and as an example, one preferred embodiment of this invention accommodates 14 pairs of skis and their corresponding pairs of ski poles in a floor area requiring only a 2-foot diameter circle.

To retain the skis in the rack, the preferred embodiment of this invention incorporates a pivoted locking lever associated with each of the ski receiving slots of the upper disc. Each lever is frictionally retained in either of two positions by a bent spring washer. The frictional force used to retain the lever in either of the two positions is just sufficient to permit the lever to be moved easily with finger tip pressure while at the same time being sufficient to positively hold the lever in a horizontal or locked position over the slot against the force of gravity. To unlock the skis, this lever is moved in a downward direction from the horizontal or 9 oclock position to the vertical or 6 oclock position. This movement is against fixed stops built into the lever it- 3 self so that pivotal movement is limited to 90 and thereby prevented from interfering with removal of adjacent pairs of skis. In the upward movement to the locked position, the fixed stop causes the lever to be arrested in the horizontal position where it is an effective block against removal of the pair of skis which it is intended to hold in the rack. This locking lever arrangement has the advantage of being very easily operated by a single hand which is very desirable in a ski rack. Quite often skiers have something in one of their hands when they withdraw the skis from the rack; either gloves or lift passes, or other articles of wearing apparel. This rack enables a pair of skis to be located, positioned, unlocked, and removed with a single hand.

Another advantage of this rack is its convenience and the ease with which skis and poles may be inserted and removed. Because of the ease of insertion and removal of equipment, skiers use the rack rather than leaving their equipment in a convenient but unsightly disarray.

This and other objects and advantages of this invention will be more readily apparent from the following description of the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially broken away of a rotary ski rack incorporating the invention of this application.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 isa cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken line 44 of FIG. 1. 7

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line 6--6 of FIG. I.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken on line 7--7 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a locking lever utilized to lock a single pair of skis in the upper disc.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken on line 1 l-11 of FIG. 6.

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a skirack 10 incorporating the invention of this application. This preferred embodiment of the rack is operable to hold 14 pairs of skis 11, 11 and 14 pairs of ski poles 12, 12. For purposes of clarifying the drawings, the skis l1, l1 and ski poles 12, 12 are shown in phantom in FIG. 1.

The rack 10 comprises a base plate 13 in which there is fixedly and nonrotatably mounted a central post 14. As may be seen most clearly in FIG. 10, this central post 14 is externally threaded at its lower end and is threaded into an internally threaded hub 15. The hub is fixedly secured to the base plate 13 by counter sunk screws 16.

A pipe or sleeve 17 serves as the vertical column of the rack. It is rotatably fitted over the post 14 and has its lower'end resting upon and supported by a nylon or Teflon bushing 18.

There are five

discs

19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 fixedly secured to the rotatable column '17 so that the discs and column rotate together. The'lowermost or bottom disc 19 and the uppermost or top disc 20 and ski-supporting discs while the three

intermediate discs

21, 22, 23 are pole-supporting discs. In other words, the top and bottom discs function to support pairs of skis and the three other discs serve only to support the same number of pairs of ski poles. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the upper and lower discs 2t), 19 support fourteen pairs of skis and the intermediate discs support fourteen pairs of ski poles.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 7, and 11, it will be seen that the base plate 13 is circular and has six equidistantly spaced apertures 25 located adjacentits outer edge. There is'a shallow recess 26 intersecting the top of each of the apertures 25 in a diametral plane through the center of the base plate. As may be seen most clearly in FIG. 11, the shallow recesses 26 support shafts 27 which in turn support nylon rollers 28. Roller bearings are located between each of the shafts 27 and the rollers 28. The diameter of the rollers 28 is such that the top surfaces of the rollers extend substantially above the top surface of the base plate 13 and support the lower disc 19 for rotation about the axis of the sleeve 17.

The lower ski supporting disc 19 is fixedly secured to the rotatable column 17 by a collar 30 and set screw 31. The collar 30 is bolted to the top surface of the disc 19 by counter sunk screws 32.

Adjacent to the periphery of the lower disc 19, there are 14 equidistantly spaced rectangular recesses 35 in the top surface of the disc. These recesses are adapted to receive the heels of pairs of skis 11 supported in the rack. Each of these recesses 35 isintersected by a pair of drain holes 36 which extend from the recesses downwardly through the discs so as to enable melted snow and ice to run off theskis into the recesses and out of the recesses downwardly to the floor. The upper outer edge of the base plate 13 is preferably beveled, as indicated at 37 so as to drain the water and moisture flowing out of the recesses 35 away from the rollers 28 and supporting shafts 27. Thus, the melted water is conducted away from the movable components of the base plate so that it cannot contaminate the main roller bearings.

To assist a person in the insertion of the heels 38 of a pair of skis into the recesses 35 and to help guide the heels into the recesses, there is a rib 39 extending radially inwardly from each of the recesses 35. Each of these ribs has a vertical surface 40 which intersects and is coplanar with the inside edge 41 of one of the recesses 35. This surface 40 serves as an abutment against which the heels 38 of a pair of skis may be placed and then simply lowered into the recess. Since the heels of the skis are approximately 3 feet from the point at which a person generally holds the skis, this guide surface'40 on a rib 39 enables a person to insert the heels of a pair of skis in the rack without having to bend over and physically place the heels of the skis into the recess The tips or the upper ends of each pair of skis are received and locked in peripheral recesses 43 in the upper disc 20. There are many recesses 43 in the periphery of the disc 20 as there are top surface recesses 35 in the bottom disc 19. The recesses 43 are located in the same vertical and radial plane of the stand such that each of the recesses 43 is located immediately above a recess 35.

Therecesses 43 in the upper disc and recesses 35 in the lower disc are slightly larger than the largest ski which may be expected to be inserted into the rack. In the preferred embodiment the width of the recess is approximately one-fourth inch wider than the widest slalom ski. When so sized, the rack accommodates not only wide slalom skis but even the extremely narrow cross country skis.

The upper disc is fixedly secured to the sleeve 17 by a collar or hub 44 fixedly attached to the bottom surface of the disc. A set screw 45 extends radially through the collar 44 into contact with the sleeve and retains the disc 19 in a vertically adjusted position on the sleeve.

One advantage of this ski rack is the fact that it accepts for storage skis with extreme variations in length. The top disc 20 as well as all of the other ski and pole support discs on the sleeve 17 are adjustable by means of set screws 45 to any vertical position. The top disc 20 is preferably set to a height which represents the minimum length of all rack.

To enable skis to be retained in the recesses 43 of the upper disc 19, there is a locking lever 46 operatively associated with each of the recesses 43. Each lever has an end hub 47 from which there extends aretaining bar 48. On its outer surface this bar 48 has a finger plate 49. A fixed stop 50 extends inwardly from the retainer 48 and is engageable with the bottom surface of the plate 20.

As may be seen most clearly in FIGS. 8 and 9, each locking lever is pivoted on a screw 51 provided with one flat washer 52 and one bent spring washer 53. The screw is drawn down until just the right amount of friction load is applied to the lever. This frictional force is sufficient to permit the lever to be moved easily with finger tip pressure but at the same time is sufficient to positively hold the lever in the upper horizontal position against the force of gravity.

To release the skis, this lever is moved in a downward direction from the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 8 or from the 9 oclock position to the 6 oclock position as shown in phantom in FIG. 8. The downward movement is terminated by abutment of the fixed stop 50 with the bottom surface of the disc 20 so that the rotational movement is limited to 90. The lever thus cannot be rotated too far into a position in which it interfers with the removal of the next adjacent pair of skis from its associated recess. After a pair of skis is inserted into a slot 43, the associated lever 46 is rotated upwardly until the stop 50 again contacts the bottom surface of the disc 20 and causes the movement to be arrested with the lever in the horizontal position illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 8. In this position the lever effectively blocks movement of a pair of skis from the slot 43 which is then covered by the lever.

It is to be noted that downward movement of the lever is utilized to unlock the skis from the rack. In establishing a height for the ski locking upper disc 20 in its mounting position on the center sleeve 17 such that it accommodates the widest variety of ski lengths, the disc is generally set to a height at which it just accommodates the shorter skis which then fit into the rack with the curved top or shovel of the skis located immediately above the upper surface of the disc 20. If the locking levers were to open in the upward direction, they could not be moved more than a few degrees beskis to be accommodated in the 6. fore interfering with the outward curl of the tops of these shorter skis.

To support the pairs of ski poles associated with each pair of skis, there are two discs 21 and 22. Each disc has radial slots in it adapted to receive the associated pairs of ski poles 12, 12' with the baskets 55 of a pair of poles resting upon the top surface of the disc which supports the poles. The shaft of the poles then extends downwardly through the radial slot into which the pair of poles have been inserted.

It would be possible to utilize a single disc 21 rather than a pair of discs 21, 22 to support the ski poles associated with the skis mounted in the rack; but the density of the load of the rack would then be severely limited because. many more pairs of skis could be placed around the periphery of the rack than pairs of poles could be mounted interiorly of the skis. This is so because the diameter of the baskets is generally the same or greater than the width of the skis; and in order for the poles to be mounted beneath or in the same radial plane but inside the pair of skis with which they are associated, the baskets of the poles require a larger radial sector of the rack than does the pair of skis with which the poles are associated' This problem has been overcome, though, and the density with which the rack may be loaded has been increased by supporting alternate pairs of poles upon the two different vertically spaced discs 21, 22.

The disc 22 (FIG. 4) is of the same diameter as the disc 21 mounted immediately above it. Both have radial slots extending inwardly from the periphery and of the length to receive a pair of poles. However, the lower disc has twice as many

radial slots

56, 56 as does the upper one. The lower disc 22 has the same number of slots 56, 56' as there are recesses 43 in the upper ski locking disc 20 and the slots are located in the same vertical plane as the ski-receiving recesses 43. The upper disc 21 has just half as many radial slots 58 as there are recesses for skis and the slots are spaced so as to be located in the vertical planes of every other one of the ski-receiving slots 43. Consequently, the upper disc 21 supports one-half the number of pairs of ski poles as pairs of skis-may be supported by the rack. In the preferred embodiment the upper disc 21 supports seven pairs of ski poles. The lower disc supports the same number of ski poles (seven pairs) but has slots 56 located between the ski pole receiving slots 56 through which the shafts of' the poles supported by the upper disc extend.

Referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that alternate ones of the radial slots 56 are intended to support pairs of ski poles with the baskets of those poles resting upon the top surface of the disc 22. Other alternate slots 56 are provided solely for the purpose of enabling shafts of poles supported on the upper disc 21 to extend through the lower disc 22. In this way the same number of pairs of poles may be accommodated in the rack with a pair of poles located in the same radial plane and immediately beneath or inside the pair of skis with which the poles are associated.

When the rack 10 is rotated, the lower ends of the poles l2, l2 tend to swing tangentially (or circumferentially). This swinging of the lower ends of the poles is restrained by the disc 23 which has radial slots 59 vertically aligned with the

radial slots

56, 56 of the disc 22. The shafts of all of the poles supported by the discs 7 21 and 22 extend through the slots 59 so that their ends cannot swing when the rack is quickly rotated.

In operation, skis and poles are placed in the rack by spinning the rack until an empty recess 43 is opposite the operator. This is easily accomplished by rotating the rack through finger contact with skis stored in the rack. It has been found that the fully loaded rack weighs approximately 300 pounds, yet it may be easily rotated by one finger because of the provision of the nylon rollers 28 mounted upon ball bearing hubs which provide low friction and quiet operation. The finger pressure acting against the skis applies tangential force to the skis. This tangential force is transmitted through the skis to one of the solid side walls on either side of the locking notch 43 in the upper disc 20, depending upon the direction of the rotation chosen by the operator. Since the tangentialforce has virtually no radial component applied to the lever 46, the lever can be made from relatively light material such as one of the butyrate plastics or from die cast aluminum. It also may be very lightly frictionally loaded by the washer spring 53 and need not be latched against radial force.

When the ski rack has rotated to a position in which an empty ski receiving slot or recess 43 is located in front of the operator, he first inserts his ski poles into the radial slot 58 of the upper disc if there is a radial slot in that disc located in the same radial plane as the slot 43 into which he intends to insert his skis. If there is no such radial slot 58 in the upper disc 21, he inserts the poles into the appropriate slot of the lower disc 22. When inserted into the

slot

58 or 56, the ski poles automatically hang downwardly and into an appropriate slot 59 in the disc 23 such that the poles cannot swing freely when the rack is quickly rotated.

The operator then places the heel ends 38 of his skis 11 (which are then in bottom-to-bottom contact) against the vertical surface 40 of the rib 39 and lowers the heels into the recess 35 of the lower plate 19. The tip ends of the skis may then be placed in the recess 43 and the lever pivoted upwardly from the 6 oclock position to the 9 oclock position. The stop 50 on the lever precludes its being pivoted too far or in the wrong direction.

The primary advantage of this rack over all prior art ski storage racks is the high storage density of both skis and poleswhich it facilitates. This rack enableslarge numbers of pairs of skis and poles to be stored in a very small floor space without any danger of the skis being knocked over and damaged and without creating a traffic hazard in the area.

This rack also has the advantage of automatically pairing a pair of skis with a pair of poles. In this way it is very nearly impossible for a person to carry off the wrong pair of poles with the correct pair of skis. This is a particularly advantageous feature when it is considered that so many ski poles look alike and may easily and accidentally be substituted for another like appearing pair.

it will be readily appreciated that this rack may be used both indoors and outdoors and that it may be conveniently used as a locking device by simply mounting a key lock on the end of each of the levers 46. While this modification is anticipated, it has not been illustrated'and described in detail since this feature per se forms no part of the invention of this application.

Another advantage of this rack resides in its ability to accommodate skis of wide variations in width. Since the rack does not rely upon spring clips or rubber stops or other similar locking devices to hold the skis in the rack, there is no tight tolerance restriction upon the width of the

recesses

43 and 35 into which the skis are placed. The same size rack which accommodates very wide downhill slalom type skis easily accommodates even the extremely narrow cross country skis.

Because all of the ski and pole supporting discs of the rack are attached to the central column or sleeve 17 by set screws which extend through hubs attached to the discs, the rack is adjustable and may be set to accommodate differing heights of skis and poles. in large commercial lodges some racks may be adjusted to accommodate childrens skis while others are adjusted to accommodate only adult skis.

Since the two ski pole supporting discs 21, 22 are smaller in diameter than the upper ski tip receiving discs 20 and since the pole receiving discs are located vertically beneath the upper ski receiving discs 20, it is impossible to withdraw the poles by reaching behind the skis and lifting them straight up. in key lockable type racks, this feature enables a single key to lock both the skis and the poles. In non-key lockable type racks, this feature precludes inadvertent or accidental. removal of the wrong ski poles.

Another salient feature of this rack is its inherent stability. Even when the base plate 13 is made from a light-weight material (as, for example, plastic or aluminum) the width of the base provides sufficient stability that it need not be bolted to the floor or stabilized with a screw adjusted or spring loaded plate bearing against the ceiling. in very small size racks, though, in which the diameter is very small (as, for example, a rack for holding five or six pairs of skis) it may be necessary to provide a spring loaded or screw adjusted ceiling bearing plate. r

if the base plate 13 is made from cast metal (as, for example, cast iron or aluminum) it is preferable to mount it up above the floor on small rubber pads or adjustable feet so as to allow accumulated water to evaporate without rusting or oxidizing the base while at the same time allowing it to accommodate itself to a relatively uneven floor.

The rack heretofore described is primarily intended fonadult size skis and would not without modification accommodate 2- or 3-foot-length childrens skis. It is contemplated, though, that a rack which is used in a private home or chalet may have two small sectors of discs fastened at vertically spaced locations on the central column at a height of about 2 to 3 feet up from the base 13. These sectors would accommodate very short skis and poles in the rack and thus permit small children to remove and replace their skis without assistance from their parents. In a commercial ski lodge which accommodates several racks, though, in lieu of sectors to accommodate verysmall skis or childrens skis in the same rack with the adult skis, it is anticipated that a scaled down junior rack would be used alongside the standard adult size racks.

Another modification of the rack which may be incorporated in commercial lodge installations is a position and rack identification. In such situations it is contemplated that each of the racks will be identified by a specific rack designation (as, for example, A, B, C) attached to the top of the column 17 and each of the individual ski positions will be individually designated (as, for example, by a number). Thus, the skier could remember that he had placed his equipment at location B-7, for example. The logical place for the individual ski location numbers is on the latching lever 46 which the skier must move to latch his skis in the rack. With the skis in place and the lever horizontal, the number will be in the read right direction; but when the skis are removed and the lever placed in the vertical or open position, the number will not be as easily read. However, with the skis removed, the back of the notch 43 is completelyexposed and the lever number may be then repeated.

It has been found that the rack which has been described in detail hereinabove also serves the additional function of a clothes rack for wet ski gloves and hats. Such equipment may easily be placed over the tips of skis supported in the rack at which location it helps to identify a particular persons skis by the color or shape of his wearing apparel.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention described hereinabove has been with reference to a rack which accommodates l4 pairs of skis and 14 pairs of poles, it will readily be apparent that the size and number of pairs of skis and poles which may be-accommodated may be easily varied without departing from the spirit of this invention. This particular preferred embodiment is approximately 2 feet in diameter. A 3-foot diameter rack would hold approximately 21 pairs of skis and poles while a 4-foot rack would hold 28 pairs of skis and poles. Conversely, the rack may be reduced in size to hold fewer numbers of skis and poles. For example, a rack holding eight pairs of skis and poles may be about 14 inches in diameter but unless the base is made quite heavy will require a ceiling support to provide the stability which will not be afforded by a 14- inch base.

While only a single preferred embodiment of this invention has been illustrated in the drawings, numerous changes and modifications have been described hereinabove which incorporate the principles and concepts of the invention without departing from its scope. Numerous other changes and modifications will readily be appreciated by persons skilled in this art which may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention. Accordingly, I do not intend to be limited except by the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, l claim:

1. A ski rack for supporting and storing multiple pairs of skis and ski poles, which rack comprises a rotatable column,

ski support means fixed to said column for rotation therewith, said ski support means being operable to store a multiplicity of pairs of skis with the skis of each pair in bottom-to-bottom contacting relation, each of said pairs of skis having the bottom surfaces located in a vertical tangential plane of said column when stored in said ski support means, and

ski pole support means fixed to said column for rotation therewith, said ski pole support means being radially and inwardly spaced from said ski support means and operable to support a pair of ski poles behind and in approximately the same vertical radial plane as a pair of skis supported on said ski support means so that a pair of poles cannot be removed from said ski pole support means except after removal of the skis stored in the same vertical radial plane of the rack.

2. The ski rack of claim 1 in which said ski support means and said ski pole support means are adjusta'bly secured to said column so as to enable the support means to be adjusted to accommodate differing lengths of skis and ski poles.

3. The ski rack of claim 1 in which said ski support means comprises a lower ski support plate for receiving and supporting the heels of pairs of skis stored in said rack, said rack further including a stationary base plate and roller means located between said base plate and said lower ski support plate, said roller means supporting said lower ski support plate for rotation on said base plate.

4. The ski rack of claim 1 in which said ski support means comprises an upper ski support, plate for receiving and supporting the tips of skis stored in said rack, said upper ski support plate having a plurality of recesses equidistantly spaced about the periphery of said plate, said recesses being equal in number to the number of pairs of skis storable in said rack, and

a plurality of locking means mounted on said plate and operatively associated with said recesses for maintaining a pair of skis locked in each of said recesses.

5. The ski rack of claim 4 in which each of said locking means comprises a lever pivotally mounted upon said upper ski support plate on one side of a recess, said lever being movable between a horizontal locked position and a downwardly extending vertical unlocked position.

6. The ski rack of claim 5 in which each of said locking means is frictionally maintained in a locked or an unlocked position by a resilient spring means.

7. The ski rack of claim 6 in which each of said locking means further comprises a threaded screw and a bent spring washer, each of said levers being pivotally supported upon said screw, said screw being threaded into said upper ski support plate, each of said levers being frictionally held in an adjusted position by said bent spring washer, said washer being located under said screw head and over said lever.

8. A ski rack for supporting and storing multiple pairs of skis and ski poles, which rack comprises a rotatable column,

ski support means fixed to said column for rotation therewith, said ski support means being operable to store a multiplicity of pairs of skis with the skis of each pair in bottom-to-bottom contacting relation, each of said pairs of skis being located in a vertical tangential plane of said column when stored in said ski support means,

ski pole support means fixed to said column for rotation therewith, said ski pole support means being operable to support a pair of ski poles behind and in approximately the same vertical radial plane as a pair of skis supported on said ski support means so that a pair of poles cannot be removed from said ski pole support means except after removal of the skis stored in the same vertical radial plane of the rack,

said ski pole support means comprising a pair of vertically spaced ski pole support plates fixed to said column for rotation therewith, one of said pair of vertically spaced ski pole support plates being an uppermost ski pole support plate and the other of said pair of vertically spaced ski pole support plates being a lowermost one of said ski pole support plates,

the uppermost one of said ski pole support plates having a multiplicity of ski pole receiving slots therein equal in number to one half the number of pairs of skis supportable by said ski support means, said slots of said upper ski pole support plates being located in alternate ones of said ski supporting vertical radial planes of said column, and

said lowermost one of said ski pole support plates having a multiplicity of ski pole receiving slots therein equal in number to the number of pairs of skis supportable by said ski support means, said slots of said lower ski pole support plate being located in each of said ski supporting vertical radial planes of said column.

9. The ski rack of claim 8 in which said ski pole support means comprises a third support plate secured to said column for rotation therewith, said third ski pole support plate being located below said pair of ski pole support plates and having a multiplicity of ski pole receiving slots equal in number to the number of pairs of skis supportable by said skisupport means, said slots of said third ski pole support plate being located in each of said ski supporting vertical radial planes of said column.

10. A ski rack for supporting and storing multiple pairs of skis and ski poles, which rack comprises a central column,

a lower ski support plate fixed to said column, said lower plate having multiple ski receiving seats therein for the reception of the heels of pairs of skis mounted in said rack,

an upper ski support plate fixed to said column,

multiple locking means on said upper plate for securing the tips of skis to said plate for rotation therewith, each of said locking means being located in the vertical plane of one of said seats of said lower plate so that a single seat and locking means cooperate to support a single pair of skis arranged in bottom-to-bottom contacting relationship with the bottom surfaces of the skis located in a plane which is generally perpendicular to a radial plane of said column, and

ski pole support means mounted upon said column, said ski pole supporting means being radially and inwardly spaced from said multiple locking means on said upper plate and operable to support a pair of ski poles behind and in approximately the same vertical radial plane of a pair of skis supported in said rack.

11. The ski rack of claim 10 in which said rack further includes a stationary base plate and roller means located between said base plate and said lower ski support plate, said roller means supporting said lower ski support plate for rotation on said base plate.

12. The ski rack of claim 10 in which said upper ski support plate has a plurality of recesses equidistantly spaced about the periphery of said plate, said recesses being equal in number to the number of pairs of skis storable in said rack, and

said multiple locking means being mounted on said plate and operatively associated with said recesses for maintaining a pair of skis locked in each of said recesses.

13. The ski rack of claim 12 in which each of said locking means comprises a lever pivotally mounted upon said upper ski support plate on one side of a recess, said lever being movable between a horizontal locked position and a downwardly extending vertical unlocked position.

14. The ski rack of claim 13 in which each of said locking means is frictionally maintained in a locked or an unlocked position by a resilient spring means.

15. The ski rack of claim 14 in which each of said locking means further comprises a threaded screw and a bent spring washer, each of said levers being pivotally supported upon said screw, said screw being threaded into said upper ski support plate, each of said levers being frictionally held in an adjusted position by said bent spring washer, said washer being located under said screw head and over said lever.

16. A ski rack for supporting and'storing multiple pairs of skis and ski poles, which rack comprises a central column,

an upper ski support plate fixed to said column,

multiple locking means on said upper plate for securing the tips of skis to said plate for rotation therewith, each of said locking means being located in the vertical plane of one of said seats of said lower plate so that a single seat and locking means cooperate to support a single pair of skis arranged in bottom-to-bottom contacting relationship,

ski pole support means mounted upon said column, said ski pole supporting means being operable to support a pair of ski poles behind and in approximately the same vertical radial plane of a pair of skis supported in said rack,

said ski pole support means comprising a pair of vertically spaced ski poie support plates fixed to said column, one of said pair of vertically spaced ski pole support plates being an uppermost ski pole support plate and the other of said pair of vertically spaced ski pole support plates being a lowermost one of said ski pole support plates,

the uppermost one of said ski pole support plates having a multiplicity of ski pole receiving slots therein equal in number to one half the number of pairs of skis supportable by said ski support plates, said slots of said upper ski pole support plates being I located in alternate ones of the vertical planes of said seats of said lower ski support plate, and

said lowermost one of said ski pole support plates having a multiplicity of ski pole receiving slots therein equal in number to the number of pairs of skis supportable by said ski support plates, said slots of said lower ski pole support plate being located in each of the vertical planes of said seats of said lower ski support plate.

17. The ski rack of claim 16 in which said ski pole support means comprises a third ski pole support plate secured to said column, said third ski pole support plate being located below said pair of ski pole support plates and having a multiplicity of ski pole receiving slots equal in number to the number of pairs of skis supportable by said ski support plates, said slots of said third ski pole support plate being located in each of said vertical planes of said seats of said lower ski support plate.

18. The ski rack of claim 16 in which said ski support plates and said ski pole support plates are adjustably secured to said column so as to enable the plate to be adjusted to accommodate differing lengths of skis and ski poles.

19. A ski rack for supporting and storing multiple pairs of skis and ski poles, which rack comprises a rotatable column,

means supporting said column for rotation,

lower ski supporting means fixed to said column for rotation therewith, said lower ski supporting means having multiple ski receiving seats therein for the reception of the heels of pairs of skis mounted in said rack,

an upper ski supporting means fixed to said column for rotation therewith, multiple locking means on said upper supporting means for securing the tips of skis to said upper supporting means for rotation therewith, each of said locking means being located in the vertical plane of one of said seats of said lower supporting means so that a single seat and locking means cooperate to support a single pair of skis arranged in bottom-to-bottom contacting relationship, with the bottom surfaces of the skis located in a plane which is generally normal to a radial plane through said column, and

ski pole supporting means mounted for rotation with said column, said ski pole supporting means being radially and inwardly spaced from said multiple locking means on said upper supporting means and operable to support a pair of ski poles behind and in approximately the same vertical radial plane of a pair of skis supported in said rack.

20. The ski rack of claim 19 in which said upper and lower ski support means and said ski pole support means are adjustably secured to said column so as to enable the ski and ski pole support means to be adjusted to accommodate differing lengths of skis and ski poles.

21. The ski rack of claim 19 in which said rack further includes a stationary base plate and roller means located between said base plate and said lower ski support means, said roller means supporting said lower ski support means for rotation on said base plate.

22. The ski rack of claim 19 in which said upper ski support means comprises an upper ski support plate having a plurality of recesses equidistantly spaced about the periphery of said plate, said recesses being equal in number to the number of pairs of skis storable in said rack, and

23. The ski rack of claim 22 in which each of said locking means comprises a lever pivotally mounted upon said upper ski support plate on one side of a recess, said lever being movable between a horizontal locked position and a downwardly extending vertical unlocked position.

24. The ski rack of claim 23 in which each of said locking means is frictionally maintained in a locked or an unlocked position by a resilient spring means.

25. The ski rack of claim 24 in which each of said 6 locking means further comprises a threaded screw and a bent spring washer, each of said levers being pivotally supported upon said screw, said screw being threaded into said upper ski support plate, each of said levers being frictionally held in an adjusted position by said bent spring washer, said washer being located under said screw head and over said lever.

26. A ski rack for supporting and storing multiple pairs of skis and ski poles, which rack comprises a rotatable column,

means supporting said column for rotation,

an upper ski supporting means fixed to said column for rotation therewith, multiple locking means on said upper supporting means for securing the tips of skis to said upper supporting means for rotation therewith, each of said locking means being located in the vertical 7 plane of one of said seats of said lower supporting means so that a single seat and locking means cooperate to support a single pair of skis arranged in bottom-to-bottom contacting relationship, ski pole supporting means mounted for rotation with said column, said ski pole supporting means being operable to support a pair of ski poles behind and in approximately the same vertical radial plane of a pair of skis supported in said rack,

27. The ski rack of claim 26 in which said ski pole support means comprises a third support plate secured to said column for rotation therewith, said third ski pole support plate being located below said pair of ski pole support plates and having a multiplicity of ski pole receiving slots equal in number to the number of pairs of skis-supportable by said ski support means, said slots of said third ski pole support plate being located in each of said ski supporting vertical radial planes of said column.

28. A ski rack for supporting and storing multiple pairs of skis and ski poles, which rack comprises a rotatable column,

means supporting said column for rotation,

a lower ski supporting plate fixed to said column for rotation therewith, said lower plate having multiple bottom surfaces of the skis located in a plane which is generally perpendicular to a radial plane of said column, and

ski pole supporting means mounted for rotation with said column, said ski pole supporting means being radially and inwardly spaced from said multiple locking means on said upper plate and operable to support a pair of ski poles behind and in approximately the same vertical radial plane of a pair of skis supported in said rack.

Claims

1. A ski rack for supporting and storing multiple pairs of skis and ski poles, which rack comprises a rotatable column, ski support means fixed to said column for rotation therewith, said ski support means being operable to store a multiplicity of pairs of skis with the skis of each pair in bottom-to-bottom contacting relation, each of said pairs of skis having the bottom surfaces located in a vertical tangential plane of said column when stored in said ski support means, and ski pole support means fixed to said column for rotation therewith, said ski pole support means being radially and inwardly spaced from said ski support means and operable to support a pair of ski poles behind and in approximaTely the same vertical radial plane as a pair of skis supported on said ski support means so that a pair of poles cannot be removed from said ski pole support means except after removal of the skis stored in the same vertical radial plane of the rack.

2. The ski rack of claim 1 in which said ski support means and said ski pole support means are adjustably secured to said column so as to enable the support means to be adjusted to accommodate differing lengths of skis and ski poles.

4. The ski rack of claim 1 in which said ski support means comprises an upper ski support plate for receiving and supporting the tips of skis stored in said rack, said upper ski support plate having a plurality of recesses equidistantly spaced about the periphery of said plate, said recesses being equal in number to the number of pairs of skis storable in said rack, and a plurality of locking means mounted on said plate and operatively associated with said recesses for maintaining a pair of skis locked in each of said recesses.

8. A ski rack for supporting and storing multiple pairs of skis and ski poles, which rack comprises a rotatable column, ski support means fixed to said column for rotation therewith, said ski support means being operable to store a multiplicity of pairs of skis with the skis of each pair in bottom-to-bottom contacting relation, each of said pairs of skis being located in a vertical tangential plane of said column when stored in said ski support means, ski pole support means fixed to said column for rotation therewith, said ski pole support means being operable to support a pair of ski poles behind and in approximately the same vertical radial plane as a pair of skis supported on said ski support means so that a pair of poles cannot be removed from said ski pole support means except after removal of the skis stored in the same vertical radial plane of the rack, said ski pole support means comprising a pair of vertically spaced ski pole support plates fixed to said column for rotation therewith, one of said pair of vertically spaced ski pole support plates being an uppermost ski pole support plate and the other of said pair of vertically spaced ski pole support plates being a lowermost one of said ski pole support plates, the uppermost one of said ski pole support plates having a multiplicity of ski pole receiving slots therein equal in number to one half the number of pairs of skis supportable by said ski support means, said slots of said upper ski pole support plates being located in alternate ones of said ski supporting vertical radial planes of said column, and said lowermost one of said ski pole support plates having a multiplicity of ski pole receiving slots therein equal in number to the number of pairs oF skis supportable by said ski support means, said slots of said lower ski pole support plate being located in each of said ski supporting vertical radial planes of said column.

9. The ski rack of claim 8 in which said ski pole support means comprises a third support plate secured to said column for rotation therewith, said third ski pole support plate being located below said pair of ski pole support plates and having a multiplicity of ski pole receiving slots equal in number to the number of pairs of skis supportable by said ski support means, said slots of said third ski pole support plate being located in each of said ski supporting vertical radial planes of said column.

10. A ski rack for supporting and storing multiple pairs of skis and ski poles, which rack comprises a central column, a lower ski support plate fixed to said column, said lower plate having multiple ski receiving seats therein for the reception of the heels of pairs of skis mounted in said rack, an upper ski support plate fixed to said column, multiple locking means on said upper plate for securing the tips of skis to said plate for rotation therewith, each of said locking means being located in the vertical plane of one of said seats of said lower plate so that a single seat and locking means cooperate to support a single pair of skis arranged in bottom-to-bottom contacting relationship with the bottom surfaces of the skis located in a plane which is generally perpendicular to a radial plane of said column, and ski pole support means mounted upon said column, said ski pole supporting means being radially and inwardly spaced from said multiple locking means on said upper plate and operable to support a pair of ski poles behind and in approximately the same vertical radial plane of a pair of skis supported in said rack.

12. The ski rack of claim 10 in which said upper ski support plate has a plurality of recesses equidistantly spaced about the periphery of said plate, said recesses being equal in number to the number of pairs of skis storable in said rack, and said multiple locking means being mounted on said plate and operatively associated with said recesses for maintaining a pair of skis locked in each of said recesses.

16. A ski rack for supporting and storing multiple pairs of skis and ski poles, which rack comprises a central column, a lower ski support plate fixed to said column, said lower plate having multiple ski receiving seats therein for the reception of the heels of pairs of skis mounted in said rack, an upper ski support plate fixed to said column, multiple locking means on said upper plate for securing the tips of skis to said plate for rotation therewith, each of said locking means being located in the vertical plane of one of said seats of said lower plate so that a single seat and locking means cooperate to support a singlE pair of skis arranged in bottom-to-bottom contacting relationship, ski pole support means mounted upon said column, said ski pole supporting means being operable to support a pair of ski poles behind and in approximately the same vertical radial plane of a pair of skis supported in said rack, said ski pole support means comprising a pair of vertically spaced ski pole support plates fixed to said column, one of said pair of vertically spaced ski pole support plates being an uppermost ski pole support plate and the other of said pair of vertically spaced ski pole support plates being a lowermost one of said ski pole support plates, the uppermost one of said ski pole support plates having a multiplicity of ski pole receiving slots therein equal in number to one half the number of pairs of skis supportable by said ski support plates, said slots of said upper ski pole support plates being located in alternate ones of the vertical planes of said seats of said lower ski support plate, and said lowermost one of said ski pole support plates having a multiplicity of ski pole receiving slots therein equal in number to the number of pairs of skis supportable by said ski support plates, said slots of said lower ski pole support plate being located in each of the vertical planes of said seats of said lower ski support plate.

19. A ski rack for supporting and storing multiple pairs of skis and ski poles, which rack comprises a rotatable column, means supporting said column for rotation, lower ski supporting means fixed to said column for rotation therewith, said lower ski supporting means having multiple ski receiving seats therein for the reception of the heels of pairs of skis mounted in said rack, an upper ski supporting means fixed to said column for rotation therewith, multiple locking means on said upper supporting means for securing the tips of skis to said upper supporting means for rotation therewith, each of said locking means being located in the vertical plane of one of said seats of said lower supporting means so that a single seat and locking means cooperate to support a single pair of skis arranged in bottom-to-bottom contacting relationship, with the bottom surfaces of the skis located in a plane which is generally normal to a radial plane through said column, and ski pole supporting means mounted for rotation with said column, said ski pole supporting means being radially and inwardly spaced from said multiple locking means on said upper supporting means and operable to support a pair of ski poles behind and in approximately the same vertical radial plane of a pair of skis supported in said rack.

22. The ski rack of claim 19 in which said upper ski support means Comprises an upper ski support plate having a plurality of recesses equidistantly spaced about the periphery of said plate, said recesses being equal in number to the number of pairs of skis storable in said rack, and a plurality of locking means mounted on said plate and operatively associated with said recesses for maintaining a pair of skis locked in each of said recesses.

25. The ski rack of claim 24 in which each of said locking means further comprises a threaded screw and a bent spring washer, each of said levers being pivotally supported upon said screw, said screw being threaded into said upper ski support plate, each of said levers being frictionally held in an adjusted position by said bent spring washer, said washer being located under said screw head and over said lever.

26. A ski rack for supporting and storing multiple pairs of skis and ski poles, which rack comprises a rotatable column, means supporting said column for rotation, lower ski supporting means fixed to said column for rotation therewith, said lower ski supporting means having multiple ski receiving seats therein for the reception of the heels of pairs of skis mounted in said rack, an upper ski supporting means fixed to said column for rotation therewith, multiple locking means on said upper supporting means for securing the tips of skis to said upper supporting means for rotation therewith, each of said locking means being located in the vertical plane of one of said seats of said lower supporting means so that a single seat and locking means cooperate to support a single pair of skis arranged in bottom-to-bottom contacting relationship, ski pole supporting means mounted for rotation with said column, said ski pole supporting means being operable to support a pair of ski poles behind and in approximately the same vertical radial plane of a pair of skis supported in said rack, said ski pole support means comprising a pair of vertically spaced ski pole support plates fixed to said column for rotation therewith, one of said pair of vertically spaced ski pole support plates being an uppermost ski pole support plate and the other of said pair of vertically spaced ski pole support plates being a lowermost one of said ski pole support plates, the uppermost one of said ski pole support plates having a multiplicity of ski pole receiving slots therein equal in number to one half the number of pairs of skis supportable by said ski support means, said slots of said upper ski pole support plates being located in alternate ones of said ski supporting vertical radial planes of said column, and said lowermost one of said ski pole support plates having a multiplicity of ski pole receiving slots therein equal in number to the number of pairs of skis supportable by said ski support means, said slots of said lower ski pole support plate being located in each of said ski supporting vertical radial planes of said column.

27. The ski rack of claim 26 in which said ski pole support means comprises a third support plate secured to said column for rotation therewith, said third ski pole support plate being located below said pair of ski pole support plates and having a multiplicity of ski pole receiving slots equal in number to the number of pairs of skis supportable by said ski support means, said slots of said third ski pole support plate being located in each of said ski supporting vertical radial planes of said column.

28. A ski rack for supporting and storing multiple pairs of skis and ski poles, which rack comprises a roTatable column, means supporting said column for rotation, a lower ski supporting plate fixed to said column for rotation therewith, said lower plate having multiple ski receiving seats therein for the reception of the heels of pairs of skis mounted in said rack, an upper ski supporting plate fixed to said column for rotation therewith, multiple locking means on said upper plate for securing the tips of skis to said plate for rotation therewith, each of said locking means being located in the vertical plane of one of said seats of said lower plate so that a single seat and locking means cooperate to support a single pair of skis arranged in bottom-to-bottom contacting relationship with the bottom surfaces of the skis located in a plane which is generally perpendicular to a radial plane of said column, and ski pole supporting means mounted for rotation with said column, said ski pole supporting means being radially and inwardly spaced from said multiple locking means on said upper plate and operable to support a pair of ski poles behind and in approximately the same vertical radial plane of a pair of skis supported in said rack.