AU593099B2

AU593099B2 - Pocketable ski and stock carrying device

Info

Publication number: AU593099B2
Application number: AU72182/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Lindsey Ritchie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-04-28
Filing date: 1987-04-28
Publication date: 1990-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 2007-04-27
Also published as: AU7218287A

Description

593099 Form COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952-69 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: 72182/87 27.4.87 Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: 4 4 R pelated Art #4 4 If I_ 4 (4t Sectkj 0 49 ae /oj~ Na-me of Applicant: Address of Applicant:

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,1 Actual Inventor: t c dress for Service: LINDSEY RITCHIE 4 2 Darren Court, Cheltenham, Victoria, Australia LINDSEY RITCHIE WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS EDTwD. WATEiS SOm, 50 QUEEN STREET, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 3000.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: POCKETABLE SKI AND STOCK CARRYING DEVICE statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me

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-2- SKI CARRY HARNESS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a ski carry harness. More particularly, the harness is adapted to be readily worn by a skier and permits skis to be carried accross the wearer's back.

In part, the sport of skiing entails the need to carry skis to and from the ski slopes. Further occasions arise during a ski run where it is necessary for a skier to remove the skies and carry same. Conventionally, skis and stocks are carried by the skier balancing both over one shoulder.

However in doing so one hand must be utilised to stop the equipment from falling off the shoulder. This is particularly inconvenient where additional equipment is also carried or when yourng children need to be physically assisted in walking through the snow. Similarly where the skier is a child it is difficult for that child to achieve the aforementioned balance.

One attempt at minimizing this problem is disclosed in U.S.

Patent No.3,504,405 to Elliot-Smith. In that patent a ski carry harness is disclosed which comprises a rigid frame having a traverse member carrying a central stop and a spaced pair of clamps. In use a ski and stock are laid across the tranverse member between the stop and one of the clamps. The clamp is then slid along the tranverse member forcing the ski and stock against the stop. When properly positioned the clamps are locked in place.

At least in Australia, this arrangment is not known to have been adopted. The use of a weigty rigid frame and complex clamping arrangment means it is totally unsuitable for convenient and all-round use. In particular, such a carrier would be dangerous if worn whilst skiing or preparing for skiing. The rigid frame could impinge upon the wearer in any fall. The carrier would also constitute added weight to be born by a skier during skiing. Further such arrangment in use only allows the skis and stocks to be carried longitudinally of the wearers body thereby restricting the motion of the head and ability of the body to bend and crouch.

r i v- 1 Accordingly it is an object of the invention of simply and cheaply providing a ski carry harness which is simple to utilize and when not in use can be easily stored on the person without interfering with the persons actions.

It is a further object of the invention that the carrier when in use with skis and stocks does not substantially restrict the movements of the wearer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly there is provided a ski carry harness comprising an elongate member having holding means to releasably engage and hold ski equipment substantially longitudinal of the elongate member, a first shoulder strap attached to a first end portion of the elongate member and to an intermediate portion of the elongate member, and a second shoulder strap attached to the first end portion and to a second end portion distant from the first end portion and the intermediate portion the arrangement of the straps so as to permit in use one strap to be placed about one shoulder whilst the other strap is placed about the other shoulder and that the ski equipment being carried is oblique across the back of the wearer.

y' g -3- Ac-tg-ly it is an object of the invontion- ply and cheaply provide a ski carry harness which is imple to utilize and when not in use can be easily st red on the person without interfering with the persons ac- ons.

It is a further object of the inventi n that the carrier when in use with skis and stocks does no substantially restrict the movements of the wearer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly there is provide a ski carry harness comprising an elongate member having/holding means to releasably engage and hold ski equipment /ubstantially longitudinal of the elongate member, a firt shoulder strap attached to a first end portion of the elo gate member and to an intermediate portion S.o" of the elongate ember, and a second should strap attached to 15 the first end/portion and a second end portion distant from The defined relationship of the first and second straps is such that in use the elongate member and thus ski and stocks tend to be offset obliqely across the back of the wearer minimising the possibility of either interfering with the wearer's head and downward movements.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 0 The holding means may be any lightweight non rigid system.

Typically it comprises a plurality of bindings longitudinally spaced along the elongate member. Such bindings may be ties or velcro type openable loops. The latter alternative is particularly preferred as the loops can *be readily 00 .0 fastened to the desired size to securely hold the skis and/ 0 i or stocks. In this case a pair of such loops positioned ad- S jacent each end of the elongate member has been found to be a particularly effective restraint.

The elongate member is preferably formed of flexible material e.g. nylon webbing. In this embodiment the flexible nature of the elongate member facilitates ready and compact pocket size storage on the user when it is not in us. Further this avoids the harness digging into the wearer and presenting a potential hazard should the wearer stumble.

SIf rigid material is adopted it is preferable to fabricate he elongate member of a plurality if rigid members loosely Io e Tr~N -4- 14 C C i 1I t j connected to one another at respective ends.

Typically the straps are also of flexible material such as nylon webbing to allow easy and compact storage. The straps should be provided with means to adjust their length. Conventional buckles have proved very suitable for this purpose.

As previously indicated, the first strap has it's other end attached to an intermediate portion of the elongate member whilst the other end of the second strap is attached to the elongate member at a point distant from both the first end i0 and the intermediate portion. Preferably the distance from S the first end to the distant position is about twice the distance between the first end and the intermediate portion.

As such in use the first strap tends to loop snugly under the armpit of the wearer whilst the second strap crosses do-

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wnwardly well under the armpit and towards the lower part of the wearer's back. This arrangment tends to orientate the skis and/or stocks obliquely across the wearer's back permitting the wearer greater mobility than hitherto experienced.

20 20 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The carry harness the subject of this invention is now further illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of the harness of the invention.

rear view of the harness of Figure 1.

Figure 2 is a rearont view of the harness of Figure 1 when in Figure 3 is a front view of the harness of Figure i when in use, Figure 4 is a first rear perspective view of the harness of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a second perspective view of the harness of Figure 3.

In Figures 1 2 a harness is shown comprising an elongate strip I of flexible material to which straps 2 3 are attached by stitching.

Strap 2 comprises an upper strap 4 and lower strap 5 which are adjustably interconnected by buckle 6. The end 7 bf strap 2 is stitched to an intermediate portion 8 of the

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elongate strip 1.

Strap 3, like strap 2 has an upper strap 9 and lower strap adjustably interconnected by a buckle 11. However, the end 12 of the lower strap 10 is fastened to the elongate 9 member adjacent its lowest portion 13.

d The elongate strip 1 has a pair of spaced releasable loops 14 15. Each of these loops has two arms 16 17 with bands of velcro 18 arranged such that in use these bands overlap and fasten together. As seen in Figures 1 2, loop 14 is closed and loop 15 is open.

The carry harness functions as follows. The elongate strip 1 is placed flat on the ground and loops 14 15 if closed are opened so arms 16 17 are also flat. The skis and/or stocks are placed along elongate strip 1 and respective arms 9 11 16 17 are wrapped therearound so velcro bandis are fastenf ed together.

Thie user then places one arm between the first strap 2 and the elongate member 1, and the other arm between the second strap 3 and the elongate member 1. Theses straps are then adjusted using buckles 6 11 to position the carrier comfortably upon the wearer's back.

It will be apparent from Figures 3,4 5, that the carrier is biased to an oblique position across the wearer's back by the respective attachment of end 7 and end 12 distant -123 from one another. This bias permits free movement of the wearer's head than otherwise possible. Similiarly, as the lower portions of the skis and/or stor~ks are offset, the wearer has more scope for natural movement.

Whilst the foregoing description has been in terms of application of the harness to skis and stocks, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that it may be useful for carrying other enlongate articles. Accordingly the harness of the invention is not restricted to use solely with skis and/or stocks.

Claims

2. A ski carry harness according to claim 1, wherein the holding means comprise a plurality of bindings longitudinally separated along the elongate member.
3. A ski carry harness according to claim 1, wherein the holding means comprises openable loops which operably envelope and hold the ski equipment.
4. A ski carry harness according to claim 3, wherein each of the openable loops is formed by a pair of flexible strips having ends adapted to releasably engage one another. A ski carry harness according to claim 1, wherein the elongate member is formed of flexible material.
6. A ski carry harness according to claim 1, wherein the first shoulder strap has an adjustable length.
7. A ski carry harness according to claim 1, wherein the second shoulder strap has an adjustable length.
8. A ski carl -7- ry harness according to claim 1, wherein the distance of the second end portion from the first end portion is approximately twice the distance from the intermediate portion to the first end portion. DATED this 1st day of November 1989 I I 21 tl LINDSEY RITCHIE WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS QUEEN STREET MELBOURNE VICTORIA AUSTRALIA *0 0 L 80d C I C C C Cr IAS:EH (1.16) Ilks