EP0043784A1 - Ski carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

A carrier for a pair of skis comprises on each ski, in the region of the center of gravity of the ski assembly (i.e. the combination of ski and binding) a stirrup-shaped or bail-shaped handle which is movable between a retracted position in which the handle overlies the upper surface of the ski in the region of the center of gravity of the assembly and below the ski boot, and a position in which the handle extends outwardly beyond a longitudinal edge of the ski. A pair of skis can be carried in a balanced manner by gripping both handles thereof although the device also enables balanced carrying of a single ski.

Description

The present invention relates to a ski-carrying handle, making it possible to carry with one hand a pair of skis or a ski alone.

The transport of skis by a person over a certain distance, for example to the place of departure of the tracks, remains currently inconvenient, not because of the weight of the skis, but rather because of the absence of a point of grip allowing to hold the skis in a balanced way.

• - Pour son utilisation, le dispositif doit être d'abord mis en place et serré autour des skis, en recherchant la position qui correspond au centre de gravité des skis ; ces opérations demandent un certain temps.
• - A l'arrivée sur les pistes de ski, le dispositif de portage qui n'a plus d'utilité encombre le skieur.
• - Les dispositifs actuellement connus ne sont pas conçus pour porter un seul ski, ce qui aurait pourtant un grand intérêt, en particulier pour les enfants ne pouvant que difficilement soulever et porter une paire de skis en raison de son poids ; il reste aussi intéressant de pouvoir porter individuellement un ski d'adulte, par exemple pour amener le ski en un lieu où il doit être réparé ou réglé.

The devices imagined so far for holding and carrying skis consist of a handle and one or two straps intended to be tightened around a pair of skis. The use of this kind of carrying device has various drawbacks:

• - For its use, the device must first be put in place and tightened around the skis, looking for the position which corresponds to the center of gravity of the skis; these operations take some time.
• - On arrival on the ski slopes, the carrying device which is no longer useful clutters the skier.
• - The devices currently known are not designed to carry a single ski, which would however be of great interest, in particular for children who can only with difficulty lift and carry a pair of skis because of its weight; it also remains interesting to be able to wear an adult ski individually, for example to bring the ski to a place where it must be repaired or adjusted.

The present invention aims to remedy the drawbacks and inadequacies of current devices, by providing a simple and light device facilitating the transport of a pair of skis or a ski alone by a person, adult or child, this device requiring no operation. of installation before use, thanks to a design "integrated into the structure of the skis and / or their bindings", and causing no discomfort when it is not used to carry the ski (s).

To this end, the device which is the subject of the invention comprises, for each ski of a pair of skis, a handle fixed to the ski near the center of gravity of the "ski and binding" assembly, that is to say say between the front stop and the heel of the ski binding, said handle being movable between a retracted position under the ski boot, when not in use, and a deployed position, in which it protrudes on one side of the ski, to allow the latter to be worn, alone or at the same time as the other ski of the pair.

Thus, the ski carrier device according to the invention has the particularity of belonging to the ski, on which it is fixed to the center of gravity, which allows an extremely simple and rational use guaranteeing a balanced carrying. In addition, this device comprises a handle for each ski, making it possible to carry either a single ski or two joined skis.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the device comprises, for each ski, a stirrup-shaped handle articulated near the center of gravity of the "ski and binding" assembly, along an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the ski and situated on one of the sides of this ski, said handle being able to pivot about 180 °, about its articulation axis, between its retracted position above the ski and its deployed position of use , in which it protrudes on one side of the ski.

When the skis are normally used, the pivoting handle of each is folded over the ski, and it is thus placed under the skier's shoe. Advantageously, the two parallel branches of the stirrup constituting this handle are housed, in the folded position, in transverse grooves of a plate serving as a support for the user's shoe.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the articulation of the handle on the side of the ski is carried out by providing that the two branches of the stirrup constituting this handle are bent near their free ends, the bent end portions of these branches cooperating with at least one hinge fixed on one of the sides of the ski. Whatever its construction details, this articulation makes it possible to bring the handle into its position of use, apart on the side of the ski; by bringing the two skis of the same pair symmetrically, the handles of which are thus deployed, the pair of skis can be held, lifted and transported with one hand, as if it were for example a suitcase, the two skis being suspended under the corresponding handles. The positioning of each handle at the center of gravity of the corresponding "ski and binding" assembly makes it possible, of course, to carry the pair of skis in a balanced manner, approximately horizontally, without the front or rear of the skis tends to tilt towards the ground under the effect of weight. Since this positioning coincides with the region of the binding of the ski, it is possible to conceive embodiments in which the articulation of the handle is ensured by extensions of elements integrated into the binding of the ski.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the device comprises, for each ski, a stirrup-shaped handle, the two parallel branches of which are slidably mounted, in the plane of the ski and in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ski, in a guide plate fixed above the ski, at the center of gravity of the "ski. and binding" assembly, said handle being retracted inside its guide plate in the non-use position, and laterally exit from this plate in the use position. The pivoting principle of the first embodiment is therefore replaced here by a sliding principle, always allowing the handle to be retracted across the width of the ski, under the skier's shoe (the guide plate located between the front stop and the heel), or deploy the handle on the side of the ski.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the ski-carrier device which is the subject of the invention, means are provided for returning and holding each handle in the retracted position and / or in the position of use.

In the. case of a pivoting handle in the shape of a stirrup, these means consist of a curved conformation of the parts, belonging to each hinge, into which the bent end parts of the two arms of the handle are introduced, the latter having a certain elasticity .

In the case of a sliding handle in the shape of a stirrup, the return means can be constituted by two coil springs, mounted respectively around the two arms of the handle, inside the guide plate; these springs recall the handle in its retracted position, while allowing it to be pulled out in the deployed position.

• Figure 1 est une vue générale, en perspective, montant une paire de skis équipés de la poignée objet de l'invention, cette paire de skis étant représentée portée par une personne ;
• Figure 2 est une vue partielle, en plan par dessus, d'un ski équipé de la poignée porte-ski selon l'invention, dans sa réalisation pivotante, cette poignée étant représentée en position repliée- ;
• Figure 3 est une vue de côté correspondant à la figure 2 ;
• Figure 4 est une vue en coupe transversale du même ski, montrant la position repliée et la position d'utilisation de la poignée, l'autre ski de la paire étant aussi indiqué mais seulement de façon très schématique ;
• Figure 5 illustre une variante de la charnière, permettant le maintien de la poignée pivotante en position repliée ou en position d'utilisation ;
• Figure 6 est une vue en plan par dessus, similaire à figure 2, illustrant encore une autre variante de cette poignée pivotante ;
• Figure 7 est une vue en coupe, suivant 7-7 de figure 6 ;
• Figure 8 est une vue de côté, suivant la flèche F de figure 6, de la plaque d'appui servant aussi de charnière dans cette variante ;
• Figure 9 est une vue partielle ,de c8té,d'un ski équipé de la poignée selon l'invention, dans sa réalisation coulissante ;
• Figure 10 est une vue en perspective correspondant à figure 9, la poignée étant représentée en position escamotée ;
• Figure 11 et 12 sont des vues en plan par dessus, très schématiques, respectivement avec la poignée escamotée et avec la poignée déployée.

In any case, the invention will be clearly understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing representing, by way of non-limiting examples, some embodiments of this ski-carrying handle:

• Figure 1 is a general perspective view, mounting a pair of skis equipped with the handle object of the invention, this pair of skis being shown carried by a person;
• Figure 2 is a partial plan view from above of a ski equipped with the ski carrier handle according to the invention, in its pivoting embodiment, this handle being shown in the folded position;
• Figure 3 is a side view corresponding to Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the same ski, showing the folded position and the position of use of the handle, the other ski of the pair also being indicated but only very schematically;
• Figure 5 illustrates a variant of the hinge, allowing the pivoting handle to be held in the folded position or in the use position;
• Figure 6 is a plan view from above, similar to Figure 2, illustrating yet another variant of this pivoting handle;
• Figure 7 is a sectional view along 7-7 of Figure 6;
• Figure 8 is a side view, along arrow F of Figure 6, of the support plate also serving as a hinge in this variant;
• Figure 9 is a partial view, from c8té, of a ski equipped with the handle according to the invention, in its sliding embodiment;
• Figure 10 is a perspective view corresponding to Figure 9, the handle being shown in the retracted position;
• Figure 11 and 12 are plan views from above, very schematic, respectively with the retracted handle and with the handle deployed.

The device object of the invention, considered in its entirety, consists of two handles 1 in the form of stirrups each of which is, in the first embodiment described here, articulated on a ski 2 of a pair of skis, close the center of gravity of the "ski and binding" assembly, that is to say just behind the front stop 3 of the binding. The articulation of each handle 1 on the corresponding ski 2 is made along an axis 4, parallel to the longitudinal direction of the ski 2 and located on one of the sides of this ski.

In the embodiment shown in detail in FIGS. 2 to 4, the articulation of the handle 1 is produced by means of an elongated piece 5 with a hinge function, fixed by means of screws 6 against the one of the edges 7 of the ski 2. Near its free end, each branch 8 of the stirrup forming the handle 1 is bent first downwards, then towards the other branch 8, finally upwards (taking the position of Figures 2 and 3 as a reference). The two end parts thus bent of the handle 1 are introduced into two curved parts 9 of the hinge 5.

When the handle 1 is in the folded position, its two branches 8 are housed in two transverse grooves 10, formed in the plate 11 made of synthetic material serving as support for the front part of the user's shoe. The central region 12 of the handle 1, that is to say its part connecting the two branches 8, is then placed above the edge 13 of the ski 2 opposite the articulation axis 4. In this position , the whole of the handle 1-does not constitute any discomfort for the practice of skiing; the middle region 12, possibly provided with a sheath 14, can slightly protrude from the ski, so that the user can easily grasp the handle 1 in order to open it.

As shown in Figure 4, to use the handle 1, it is rotated about 180 ° about its hinge axis 4, in the direction of arrow 15, from the folded position considered above. The handle 1 is thus brought into the position shown in phantom, located substantially in the extension of the lower face 16 of the ski 2. If the second ski 2 of the pair and its handle 1, the contours of which are shown diagrammatically, are brought in a symmetrical position, the two lower faces 16 being opposite, the middle regions 12 of the two handles are joined. A person, simultaneously grasping the two handles 1, can thus carry the pair of skis 2 with one hand, this use of the device being illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows that the hinge 5 can have, as a variant, curved parts 9, the front and rear edges of which have a particular curved conformation, as indicated in 17. The elasticity of the handle 1, combined with this curved conformation, makes it possible to recall and maintain the handle either in the folded position or in the position of use.

Figures 6 to 8 show another variant, in which the handle 1 has its articulation axis 4 located not on a edge of the ski 2, but near an edge of the upper face of the ski 2, this handle 1 having always a stirrup shape, with two branches 8 with bent ends and introduced into a hinge 5 'integral with the ski. The hinge 5 'here forms an integral part of the support plate 11', fixed by means of screws 6 '(see FIG. 7) on the ski 2. The part 5' of the plate 11 'constituting the hinge has at its ends a particular conformation, as indicated in 17 '(see FIGS. 6 and especially 8), making it possible to recall the handle in the deployed position of use, in the same way as the edges 17 of FIG.

In FIGS. 9 to 12, another embodiment of the invention is shown, always comprising for each ski 2 a handle 1 in the shape of a stirrup with two branches 8 connected by a middle part 12, but retracting and deploying by a sliding principle and no longer pivoting.

To this end, the two branches 8 of the handle 1 are slidably mounted in two parallel porches, formed in a plate 18 fixed above the ski 2, between the front stop 3 and the heel piece 19 of the binding. The grooves of the plate 18 provide sliding guidance of the handle 1, as indicated by the arrow 20 in FIG. 10, in the plane of the ski 2 and in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of this ski 2. The handle 1 is thus movable between a first position, retracted inside the guide plate 18 (see FIGS. 10 and 11) and a second position, laterally extended from said plate 18 (see FIG. 12). Two coil springs 21, mounted respectively around the two branches 8 of the handle 1 and housed inside the grooves of the plate 18, ensure the return of the handle 1 in its retracted position.

The force of the springs 21 is preferably chosen such that, when the user grasps the handle by its middle part 12, the sole weight of the ski 2 is sufficient to allow the. complete exit of the handle 1, the springs 21 then being compressed to the maximum. Of course, as soon as the user releases the handle 1, the springs 21 return the handle to the retracted position, in which it practically does not protrude on the side of the plate 18.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the sole embodiments of this ski-carrying handle which have been described above, by way of examples; on the contrary, it embraces all the variants designed according to the same principle, whatever the constructive details. It is thus, in particular, that one would not depart from the scope of the invention by replacing the hinge 5 produced in one piece by two shorter hinges, each of which would retain one of the branches 8 of the handle 1. To recall and maintain the handle 1 in the folded position or in the position of use, the solution described with reference to FIG. 5 can be replaced by any equivalent means, such as spring or eccentric mechanism. Furthermore, the hinges can no longer be designed as independent parts, but as extensions of elements belonging to the ski bindings, these extensions being of course always shaped so as to produce an articulation of the handle 1 along a longitudinal axis. 4. Finally, the invention is applicable not only to downhill skis as the drawing suggests, but also to cross-country skis and, more generally, to all types of skis, and it can be envisaged, in its implementation. industrial, either as an accessory to be brought back, or as a device integrated into the bindings or the support plates for shoes.

Claims (9)

1. - Ski carrier device, allowing to carry with one hand a pair of skis or a single ski, characterized in that it comprises, for each ski (2) of a pair of skis, a handle (1 ) fixed on the ski (2) near the center of gravity of the "ski and binding" assembly, that is to say between the front stop (3) and the heel piece (19) of the binding of the ski, said handle (1) being movable between a retracted position under the ski boot, when not in use, and a deployed position in which it protrudes on one side of the ski (2), to allow the latter to be worn, alone or in same time as the other ski (2) of the pair. 2. - ski carrier device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, for each ski (2), a handle (1) in the form of a hinged stirrup near the center of gravity of the assembly "ski and binding ", along an axis (4) parallel to the longitudinal direction of the ski (2) and located on one of the sides of this ski, said handle (1) being able to pivot about 180 ° about its axis articulation (4), between its retracted position above the ski (2) and its position of use, in which it protrudes on one side of the ski (2). 3. - ski carrier device according to claim 2, characterized in that the two parallel branches (8) of the stirrup constituting each handle (1) are housed, in the folded position, in transverse grooves (10) of a plate (11) serving as a support for the user's shoe. 4. - ski carrier device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the two branches (8) of the stirrup constituting each handle (1) are bent near their free ends, the bent end portions of these branches (8 ) cooperating with at least one hinge (5) fixed to one side of the ski (2). 5. - ski carrier device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the articulation of each handle (1), about an axis (4) parallel to the longitudinal direction of the ski (2), is ensured by extensions of elements integrated into the binding of the ski . 6. - Ski carrier device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, for each ski (2), a handle (1) in the shape of a stirrup, the two parallel branches (8) of which are slidably mounted, in the plane of the ski (2) and in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ski, in a guide plate (18) fixed above the ski (2), at the center of gravity of the assembly "ski and binding ", said handle (1) being retracted inside its guide plate (18) in the non-use position, and laterally extended from this plate (18) in the use position. 7. - Ski carrier device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that means (17; 21) are provided to return and maintain each handle (1) in the folded position and / or in the position of use. 8. - A ski carrier device according to all of claims 4 and 7, characterized in that the aforementioned means consist of a curved conformation (17) of the front and rear edges of the parts (9), belonging to each hinge (5 ), into which are introduced the bent end portions of the two arms (8) of the handle (1), the latter have a certain elasticity. 9. - Ski carrier device according to all of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the return means are constituted by two coil springs (21), mounted respectively around the two branches (8) of the handle (1 ), inside the guide plate (18).

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