WO1995019206A1

WO1995019206A1 - Carrying device for skis and method for same

Info

Publication number: WO1995019206A1
Application number: PCT/US1995/000511
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard J. Walter; Victor L. Yerby; Jeffrey Deperalta; Gerald J. Jacob; Saito Mikio
Original assignee: Ski Tote U.S.A.
Priority date: 1994-01-14
Filing date: 1995-01-13
Publication date: 1995-07-20

Abstract

A carrying device for carrying first and second skis and first and second ski poles includes: (a) a body housing (20) having first and second flat sides; (b) a flexible first strap (22) attached to the body housing and having a free end; (c) a first slot (24) adjacent the second flat side of the body housing for receiving the first strap; (d) a first attaching mechanism (26) comprising hook and loop material for attaching the first strap to itself; (e) a flexible second strap (66) attached to the carrying device and having a second free end; (f) a second slot (68) attached to the carrying device for receiving the second strap; and (g) a second attaching mechanism (70) comprising hook and loop material for attaching the second strap to itself. The carrying device further has a combination locking mechanism (106) wherein a cable (110) is attached to the body housing at one end and to a shaft (112) at the other end.

Description

CARRYING DEVICE FOR SKIS AND METHOD FOR SAME

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to carrying devices for skis and ski poles. Skis and ski poles tend to be awkward to carry because they are long and slender but are wide enough that they cannot be easily gripped in a person's hand. As a result, various ski carrying devices have been created. However, such devices are often large and cumbersome making them difficult to carry while skiing. Ski carrying devices also usually lack security and ease and comfort of use.

A skier's personal skis and ski poles are very important to the enjoyment and performance of the sport of skiing. Such items can also be relatively expensive and are easily stolen. For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a ski carrying device which:

(1) makes carrying skis and ski poles comfortable and easy;

(2) simplifies installing skis and ski poles on the carrying device when the skis are installed on the carrying device;

(3) is compact enough to fit in a user's pocket when not in use and to fit on a ski rack for a vehicle when the skis are installed on the carrying device;

(4) prevents theft of skis and ski poles attached to the carrier;

(5) has an easy-to-use mechanism for setting a unique lock combination to secure the skis and ski poles; and (6) is durable and operates in freezing temperatures.

SUMMARY The present invention is directed to a carrying device for skis and ski poles that satisfies the foregoing needs. A carrying device according to the present invention is for carrying first and second skis having first and second flat surfaces. A carrying device having features of the present invention comprises: (a) a body housing having flat sides; (b) a flexible first strap; (c) a first slot adjacent the body housing for receiving the first strap; and (d) a first attaching mechanism integral with the first strap for attaching the strap to itself.

One end of the first strap is attached to the body housing adjacent one of the flat sides. The first strap is sufficiently long so that when the skis are placed against the flat sides of the body housing the first strap can wrap around the skis to the other side of the body housing, thread through the first slot, and then double back past the first slot. The first attaching mechanism can then be activated to hold the skis against the body housing. The ski carrying device can also comprise: (a) a flexible second strap; (b) a second slot attached to the carrying device adjacent the second strap; and (c) a second attaching mechanism on the second strap for attaching the second strap to itself in order to secure ski poles. The second strap is sufficiently long so that it can wrap around the ski poles, thread through the second slot, and double back past the second slot. The second attaching mechanism can then be activated to hold the ski poles in place.

The carrying device can additionally have a handle which can be pivotally attached to the body housing. The carrying device can further have a third attaching mechanism for attaching the first and second straps snugly and compactly to the body when the carrying device is not in use.

The carrying device can comprise a shaft hole in the body housing and a combination lock mechanism which work together to provide security for the skis and ski poles. The combination lock mechanism is attached to the body housing and can include: (a) a cable attached to the body housing at one end; (b) a rigid shaft which fits snugly in the shaft hole and is attached to the other end of the cable; (c) outer dials having combination settings; (d) inner dials which can rotate in phase with the outer dials or rotate independently from the outer dials; (e) a lock pin extending through the inner dials; and (f) a stopper having two positions whereby the stopper can be attached to or detached from the lock pin.

The locking mechanism can have combination-setting, unlocked and locked positions. In the combination-setting position, the stopper is in its detached position and the lock pin extends forward into the shaft hole forcing the inner dials into a position whereby the outer dials can be rotated independently of the inner dials to desired combination settings. In the unlocked position, each of the combination settings on the outer dials is set in the unique setting established when the lock pin was most recently in the combination- setting position, the stopper is in the attached position, and the lock pin extends backward so that the head of the lock pin does not extend into the shaft hole. In the locked position, the rigid shaft is inserted into the shaft hole and the head of the lock pin extends into a notch in the shaft inside the shaft hole, thereby preventing the shaft from being removed from the shaft hole. Also, in the locked position, the stopper is in its attached position and at least one of the inner dials prevents the lock pin from moving backward.

DRAWINGS These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a ski carrying device having features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the ski carrying device of Figure 1 wherein a handle of the carrying device extends downward and flexible first and second straps are folded in a compact position with an end section of the first strap shown in phantom;

Figure 3 is an end view of the carrying device of Figure 1 wherein the handle is pivoted to a position perpendicular to a body housing of the carrying device and the first and second straps are attached to one another;

Figure 4 is an end view of the carrying device of Figure 1 wherein the handle is pivoted to a position which extends upwardly from the body housing and the straps are detached from one another;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the carrying device of Figure 1 with skis and ski poles attached to the carrying device;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the carrying device, skis and ski poles of Figure 5 taken along line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the carrying device of Figure 4 taken along line 7-7 of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a carrying device similar to that shown in Figure 7 wherein a rigid shaft attached to one end of a cable is shown extending into a shaft hole of the body housing;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the carrying device of Figure 7 taken along line 9-9 of Figure 7 without the straps; Figure 10 is an end view of a take-up wheel for the cable of the carrying device of Figure 7;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel of Figure 10 taken along line 11-11 of Figure 10; and Figure 12 is an end view of the carrying device of Figure 2.

DESCRIPTION As shown in Figures 1-8 and 12, a carrying device 10 for carrying a first ski 12 and a second ski 14 is disclosed. The first ski 12 has a first flat surface 16 and the second ski 14 has a second flat surface 18. The first flat surface 16 has a first width 17 and the second flat surface 18 has a second width 19, as shown in Figure 6. The carrying device 10 comprises a body housing 20, a flexible first strap 22, a first slot 24 and a first attaching mechanism 26.

The body housing 20 has a first flat side 28, a second flat side 30 and a lower end 32. Suitable dimensions for the body housing 20 can range from about 4.5 to about 7.5 inches (preferably about 5 inches) in length, about 2 to about 3 inches (preferably about 2.3 inches) in width, and from about .75 to about 1.2 inches (preferably about .75 inches) in depth. The body housing 20 can be made of high impact ABS plastic sold by Chimei Corp. of Taipei, Taiwan.

The first strap 22 has a first end section 34, a second end section or first free end 36, a middle section 38 attached to and between the first end section 34 and the second end section 36, and a first strap surface 40. The first end section 34 is attached to the body housing 20 adjacent the first flat side 28. The first end section 34 can be attached to a first attaching bar 42. The first attaching bar 42 is attached to the body housing 20 by a first lug 44 and a second lug 46 which are integral with the body housing 20. The first and second lugs 44 and 46 are flat on their first and second lug bottom sides 48 and 50, respectively, to prevent the first ski 12 from sliding upwardly when the first ski 12 is mounted on the body housing 20, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The body housing 20 has a flat first ridge 52 along an upper portion of the first flat side 28 between the first lug 44 and the second lug 46, to further prevent the first ski 12 from sliding upwardly along the body housing 20 (see Figure 9). The first end section 34 of the first strap 22 can be folded around the first bar 42 and sewn to itself, as shown by the dotted lines 54 in Figure 1 , in order to attach the first end section 36 to the body housing 20.

A second attaching bar 56 attached to the body housing 20 by a third lug 58 and a fourth lug 60 is also provided. The third and fourth lugs 58 and 60 are flat on their third and fourth lug bottom sides 59 and 61, respectively, to prevent the second ski 14 from sliding upwardly when the second ski 14 is mounted on the body housing 20, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The body housing 20 has a flat second ridge 63 along the upper portion of its second flat side 30 between the third and fourth lugs 58 and 60, to further prevent the second ski 14 from sliding upwardly along the body housing 20 when the second ski 14 is mounted on the device 10 (see Figure 9).

The second attaching bar 56, the third lug 58, the fourth lug 60 and the body housing 20 form the first slot 24 adjacent the second flat side 30 of the body housing 20. The first slot 24 is capable of receiving the first strap 22 by wrapping the first strap 22 around the lower end 32 and threading the first end section 34 through the first slot 24. The first strap 22 can then be doubled back past the first slot 24 outside the first slot 24.

The first attaching mechanism 26 comprises a first hook material section 62 attached to the second end section 36 and a first loop material section 64 attached to the middle section 38 of the first strap 22. The first hook material section 62 and the first loop material section 64 can be made from the hook and loop materials sold by Rip 'N Grip located at 9539 Cozycroft Avenue, Chatsworth, California 91311, or the hook and loop materials sold under the trademark Velcro^® by Velcro U.S.A., Inc. of Manchester, New Hampshire. Both the first hook material section 62 and the first loop material section 64 are attached to and extend outwardly from the first strap surface 40 of the first strap 22. Other ways of attaching the first strap 22 to itself can be used for the first attaching mechanism 26, such as a buckle and strap.

The first strap 22 is sufficiently long so that when the first and second flat surfaces 16 and 18 of the first and second skis 12 and 14 are placed against the first and second flat sides 28 and 30 of the body housing 20, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the lower end 32 of the body housing 20 can be wrapped snugly over the first ski 12, the lower end 32 of the body housing 20, and the second ski 14. The first strap 22 can then be threaded through the first slot 24 and doubled back past the first slot 24 outside the first slot 24. The first strap 22 has enough length so that the first attaching mechanism 26 can then be activated by attaching the first loop material section 64 to the first hook material section 62 to hold the first and second skis 12 and 14 snugly against the body housing 20, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The first strap 22 can be from about 13 to about 17 inches in length, preferably about 14 inches to fit most skis. A suitable width of the first strap 22 can be from about 3.5 to about 5.75 inches, preferably about 5.0 inches.

The first flat surface 16 and the second flat surface 18 are in contact with the first flat side 28 and the second flat side 30, respectively, along most of the first width 17 and the second width 19, respectively. This provides for stability when the skis are attached to the carrying device 10 by the first strap 22.

The carrying device 10 can further comprise a flexible second strap 66, a second slot 68, and a second attaching mechanism 70. The flexible second strap 66 has a third end section 72, a fourth end section or second free end 74, an intermediate section 76 attached to and between the third end section 72 and the fourth end section 74, a second strap surface 78, and a third strap surface 80.

The third end section 72 of the second strap 66 can be attached to the carrying device 10 by looping it around the first attaching bar 42 and sewing it on the first end section 36 of the first strap 22, as shown by the dotted lines 82. Before the second strap 66 is sewn on the first strap 22, a slot loop 84 can be slid over the third end section 72 to attach the slot loop 84 permanently to the second strap 66. The slot loop 84 can be made of a hard material such as steel. The slot loop 84 forms the second slot 68 when the slot loop 84 is attached to the carrying device 10.

A suitable material for the first strap 22 is 600 Denier Polyester fabric (such as that sold under the trademark Cordura^®) with a polyvinyl chloride coating on some surfaces of the strap 22. The fabric surfaces of the first strap 22 without the coating are those that face outward when the skis 12 and 14 are installed, as shown in Figure 5. Such a fabric is sold by John King Inc. of 5434 E. Slauson Avenue, Commerce, California 90040. The second strap 66 can be made of polypropylene available from John Howard Company of 4510 Schaefer Avenue, Chino, California 91710.

The second slot 68 has sufficient size so that the second strap 66 can be threaded through the second slot 68. The second slot 68 is placed on the carrying device 10 so that the second strap 66 can then double back past the second slot 68 outside the second slot 68.

The second attaching mechanism 70 is integral with the second strap surface 78 and comprises a second hook material section 86 and a second loop material section 88 similar to the first hook and loop sections 62 and 64. The second attaching mechanism 70 attaches the fourth end section 74 to the intermediate section 76 by attaching the second hook material section 86 to the second loop material section 88.

As illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the second strap is sufficiently long that it can be wrapped snugly around a first ski pole 90 and a second ski pole 92, threaded through the second slot 68, and doubled back past the second slot 68. The second strap 66 has sufficient remaining length so that the second attaching mechanism 70 can be activated by attaching the second hook material section 86 to the second loop material section 88 after the second strap 66 is doubled back. The first and second ski poles 90 and 92 are thus attached snugly to the carrying device 10. A suitable length of the second strap 66 can range from about 6 to about 8 inches, preferably about 6.75 inches to fit most ski poles. A suitable width of the second strap 66 can be from about 1.75 to about 4 inches, preferably about 2 inches.

The carrying device 10 can also include a third attaching mechanism 94 comprising loop material adjacent the second slot 68 on the third strap surface 80. The third attaching mechanism 94 can be used to provide a compact carrying device 10 when the carrying device 10 is not in use, as shown in Figures 2 and 12. With the first and second straps 22 and 66 extended away from the carrying device 10, such as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 3, a handle 96 of the carrying device 10 can be pivoted to its downward position, as shown in Figure 2. The second strap 66 can then be attached to the first strap 22 by attaching the second hook material section 86 to the first loop material section 64, as shown in Figure 3. The attached first and second straps 22 and 68 can then be wrapped down along the first flat side 28, around the lower end 32 and the handle 96, and up along the second flat side 30. The second end section 36 can then be threaded through the first slot 24 and doubled back past the second flat side 30, around the handle 96 and the lower end 32, and up along the first flat side 28. The first hook material section 62 can then be attached to the third attaching mechanism 94. The result is a compact carrying device 10 that can be placed in a user's pocket. The handle 96 comprises a first vertical bar 98, a second vertical bar 100, a cross bar 102 between and attaching the first and second vertical bars 98 and 100, a first lobe 103, a second lobe 105, a third lobe 111, and a fourth lobe 113. The first and second vertical bars 98 and 100 are each attached to the body housing 20 near an upper end 104 of the body housing 20. The first vertical bar 98 has a first extended end 119 and the second vertical bar 100 has a second extended end 121. The first and second vertical bars 98 and 100 are each pivotally attached to the body housing 20. The handle 96 has a first handle position in which the first and second vertical bars 98 and 100 extend downwardly alongside the body housing 20 and the cross bar 102 extends laterally adjacent to and below the lower end 32 of the body housing 20, as illustrated in Figure 2. The handle 96 has a second handle position in which the first and second vertical bars 98 and 100 extend upwardly away from the body housing 20 so that a user of the carrying device 10 can grip the handle 96 to carry the carrying device 10, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. The handle 96 can be made of high impact plastic sold under the trademark Delrin^® by E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. (Inc.).

The first lobe 103 has a flat first lobe bottom side 107 which is flush with the first lug bottom side 48 when the handle 96 is in its second handle position. The second lobe 105 has a flat second lobe bottom side 109 which is flush with the second lug bottom side 50 when the handle 96 is in its second handle position. When the first ski 12 is mounted on the body housing 20, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the first and second lobe bottom sides 107 and 109 prevent the handle 96 from changing from its second handle position. The third and fourth lobes 111 and 113 similarly have third and fourth lobe bottom sides 115 and 117, respectively, which are flush with the third and fourth lug bottom sides, respectively, thereby stabilizing the handle 96 in its second handle position when the second ski 14 is mounted on the body housing 20, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The first and second extended ends 119 and 121 extend below the upper end 104 of the body housing 20 and below the lobes to further stabilize the handle 96 in its second handle position, when the skis 12 and 14 are mounted on the carrying device 10.

The carrying device 10 can also comprise a shaft hole 108 in the body housing 20 and a combination lock mechanism 106 which work together to provide security for the carrying device 10, the first and second skis 12 and 14, and the first and second ski poles 90 and 92. The combination lock mechanism 106 comprises a cable 110, a rigid shaft 112, a first outer dial 114, a second outer dial 116, a third outer dial 118, a first inner dial 120, a second inner dial 122, a third inner dial 124, a lock pin 126 and a stopper 128.

The cable 110 has a first cable end 130 and a second cable end 132. The cable 110 can be made of hardened steel cable with a soft plastic or rubber coating. Such 5 coated cable is available from Unilocks Corporation of Taipei, Taiwan. The cable 110 can range from about 3 to 5 feet in length.

The first cable end 130 is attached to a cable take-up wheel 134 (see Figures 10 and 11) which is in turn attached to the body housing 20. Thus, the first cable end 130 is attached to the body housing 20 through the take-up wheel 134. The second cable end

10 132 is attached to the rigid shaft 112. The rigid shaft 112 has a shaft notch 136 and the rigid shaft 112 fits snugly in the shaft hole 108. The lock pin 126 has a head 138 which can fit snugly in the shaft notch 136 when the shaft 112 is slid into the shaft notch 108, as shown by a first phantom head 140 of the lock pin 126 in Figure 8. The lock pin 126 extends through the inner dials 120, 122 and 124 inside the body housing 20.

15 The first, second and third outer dials, 114, 116 and 118 each have a plurality of combination settings. One of the combination settings for each outer dial 114, 116 and 118 extends out of the body housing 20, as shown at 142. Each of the outer dials 114, 116 and 118 can be rotated at any time so that a desired combination setting extends out of the body housing 20. Typically, the combination settings are designated by numbers

20 the top portions 14 of the outer dials 114, 116 and 118. However, any other manner of designation can be used.

The first, second and third inner dials 120, 122 and 124, have a first dial position whereby the first, second and third outer dials 114, 116 and 118 are attached to and rotate in phase with the first, second and third inner dials 120, 122 and 124, 5 respectively. The inner dials 120, 122 and 124 have a second dial position whereby the first, second and third outer dials 114, 116 and 118 are detached from and rotate independently from the inner dials 120, 122 and 124. When the inner dials 120, 122 and 124 are in their second dial position each of the outer dials 114, 116 and 118 can be set to a unique combination setting that will unlock the carrying device 10.

30 The stopper 128 has an attached position and a detached position. In the attached position, a protruding portion 144 (see Figure 8) of the stopper 128 extends into a pin notch 146 in the lock pin 126 which prevents the lock pin 126 from sliding to its extreme forward position, as shown by a second phantom head 142 of the lock pin 126. In the detached position, the stopper 128 is detached from the lock pin 126, allowing the lock pin 126 to move to its extreme forward position. The detached position of the stopper 128 is illustrated by the dotted lines 148 and 150 in Figure 7. The stopper 128 is placed in the 5 detached position by pushing the stopper button 151 of the stopper 128 downward so that the stopper 128 is in the position shown by dotted lines 148 in Figure 7. The protruding portion 144 of the stopper 128 then extends into the stopper inset 152 to clear the protruding portion 144 below the base 156 of the locked pin 126. This allows the lock pin 126 to be slid forward all the way across the shaft hole 108, as shown by the second

10 phantom head 142. A stopper spring 154 biases the stopper 128 toward its attached position so that when the stopper button 151 is released the stopper 128 moves to its attached position.

The lock pin 126 has a backward position, a middle position and a forward position. The combination lock mechanism 106 has an unlocked position, a locked position

15 and a combination-setting position. In the combination setting position, the stopper 118 is in its detached position and the lock pin 126 extends to its forward position, as shown by the second phantom head 142 in the shaft hole 108. This forces the inner dials 120, 122 and 124 into their second dial position so that the outer dials 114, 116 and 118 can be rotated independently from the inner dials to desired combination settings. The first,

20 second and third inner dials 120, 122 and 124 are forced by the lock pin 126 out of attachment with the outer dials 114, 116 and 118, respectfully, when the lock mechanism 106 is in its combination-setting position.

In the unlocked position of the lock mechanism 106, the lock pin 126 extends to its backward position so that the shaft 112 can be slid all the way into the shaft hole 108,

25 as shown in Figure 8. The lock pin 126 can be slid into its unlocked position only when the combination setting for each of the first, second and third outer dials 114, 116 and 118 are in the unique unlocking combination setting which was previously set when the lock mechanism 126 was last in the combination-setting position. A pin button 156 extending outside the body housing 20 is attached to the lock pin 126. When the pin button

30 156 is pushed to its extreme backward position, as shown in Figure 8, the lock pin 126 is in its backward position. The shaft 112 can then be inserted into the shaft hole 108. In the locked position, the shaft 112 is inserted into the shaft hole 108 and the lock pin 126 is in its middle position. The head 138 of the lock pin 126 extends inside the shaft notch 136 in the shaft hole 108. This is shown by the second phantom head 140 in Figure 8. In the locked position, the stopper 128 is in the attached position. A pin spring 5 158 biases the lock pin 126 into the middle position. The pin notch 146 provides sufficient space for the protruding portion 144 of the stopper 128 so that the lock pin 126 can be in either the backward or middle position while the stopper 128 is in its attached position. When lock mechanism 106 is in its locked position at least one of the first, second or third inner dials 120, 122 or 124 prevents the lock pin 126 from moving backward into the

10 backward position. This can only be accomplished when at least one of the outer dials 114, 116 and 118 is in a locking combination setting, which is any combination setting other than the unique unlocking combination setting which was established when the lock mechanism 106 was last in its combination-setting position.

A wheel button 160 is attached to a wheel hook 162. The wheel button 160

15 has a release position, as shown in Figure 8, wherein the wheel hook 162 is disengaged from the take-up wheel 134 and the take-up wheel 134 is allowed to rotate freely allowing the cable 110 to be pulled out of the body housing. The wheel button 160 also has a non- release position, as shown in Figure 7, whereby the hook 162 is engaged with the take-up wheel 134 and the take-up wheel 134 will not rotate freely. The cable 110 is then

20 prevented from being pulled out of the body housing 20. The wheel hook 162 is located adjacent the second flat side 30 inside the body housing 20 to allow substantial space on the take-up wheel 134 for the cable 110 to wind up (see Figure 9).

The take-up wheel 134 is spring loaded so that when the cable 110 is pulled out of the body housing 20 and the wheel button is in its release position, the take-up wheel

25 134 will automatically wind the cable 110 on the take-up wheel 134. The spring loaded feature is accomplished through a flat coil spring 164 which compresses as the cable 110 is pulled out of the body housing 20. The coil spring 164 is attached on an inside end 108 of the coil spring 164 to a wheel shaft 166 which is integral with the body housing 20. The coil spring 164 is attached on an outside end 170 of the coil spring 164 to the take-up wheel

30 134.

The carrying device 10 is simple and easy to use. First, the handle 96 is pivoted into its second position so that it extends upwardly away from the body housing 20. The first and second straps 22 and 66 are lifted away from the body housing 20, as in Figure 2 or Figure 3, and the first and second flat surfaces 16 and 18 of the first and second skis 12 and 14, respectively, are placed against the first and second flat sides 28 and 30, respectively, of the body housing 20. The first strap 22 is then wrapped over the first ski 12, the lower end 32, and the second ski 14. The second end section 36 of the first strap 22 is then threaded through the first slot 24 and doubled back past the first slot 24 outside the first slot 24. The first attaching mechanism 26 is then activated by attaching the first hook material section 62 to the first loop material section 64.

Attaching the ski poles 90 and 92 to the carrying device 10 is also simple and easy. The first and second ski poles 90 and 92 are placed side by side. The second strap 66 is then wrapped around the ski poles 90 and 92 from underneath the ski poles 90 and 92. The fourth end section 74 of the second strap 66 is then threaded through the second slot 68 and doubled back past the second slot 68 outside the second slot 68. The second attaching mechanism 70 is then activated by attaching the second hook material section 86 to the second loop material section 88 on the second strap 66. When the user is finished installing the skis and/or ski poles to the carrying device 10, he can grip the handle 96 and carry the carrying device 10, the skis 12 and 14, and/or the ski poles 90 and 92 in one hand.

Use of the combination lock mechanism is also simple and easy. First, the wheel button 160 is slid forward on the body housing 20 and the cable 110 is pulled out of the body housing 20 by pulling on the shaft 112. The cable 110 is then wrapped around a fixed object, such as a tree, a sign post or a bicycle rack, and then around the first and second skis 12 and 14 and the ski poles 90 and 92 until there is no more slack in the cable 110. Alternatively, the cable 110 can be passed through an enclosed opening of the skis 12 and 14 and/or ski poles 90 and 92 (instead of wrapping around the fixed object, the skis and ski poles until there is no more slack in the cable 110). The shaft 112 is then inserted into the shaft hole 108 and the combination lock mechanism 106 is put in its locking position. In other words, with the stopper 128 in its attached position, the pin button 156 is slid forward to its intermediate position on the body housing 20 and at least one of the outer dials 114, 116 or 118 is placed in any combination setting other than the unique setting that was last set while the lock mechanism 106 was in the combination-setting position.

Setting a new combination to place the lock pin 126 in the unlocked position is also simple and easy. The stopper button 151 is pressed downwardly by a pointed object, such as a ball point pen, so that the stopper 128 is in the unattached position. While the stopper 128 is in the unattached position, the pin button 156 is slid forward so that the lock pin 126 is in its forward position. The outer dials are then rotated to the desired unloc¹ ig combination setting. The pin button 156 is then put back to the middle position of the lock pin 126. The stopper button 151 is then released so that the stopper 128 is moved by the stopper spring 154 to its attached position. The new unlocking combination setting is now in set.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A ski carrying device for carrying first and second skis having first and second flat surfaces, respectively, the first and second flat surfaces having first and second widths, respectively, the carrying device comprising: (a) a body housing having first and second flat sides and a lower end;

(b) a flexible first strap having a first end section, a second end section, a middle section attached to and between the first and second end sections, and a first strap surface, the first end section being attached to the body housing adjacent the first flat side;

(c) a first slot adjacent the second flat side of the body housing for

receiving the first strap, the first slot having sufficient size so that the first strap can be

threaded through the first slot, the first slot being placed on the carrying device so that the first strap can be doubled back past the first slot outside the first slot;

(d) a first attaching mechanism attached to the first strap surface for attaching the second end section to the middle section, the first and second flat sides of the body housing being sufficiently wide so that the first and second flat surfaces of the skis can be in contact with the first and second flat sides, respectively, along most of the first and second widths, respectively, the first strap being sufficiently long so that when the first and second flat surfaces of the skis are placed against the first and second flat sides of the body housing, respectively, the first strap can be: (i) wrapped snugly over the first ski, the lower end of the body housing, and the second ski; (ii) threaded through the first slot; and (iii) doubled back past the first slot outside the first slot, and so that the first attaching mechanism can subsequently be activated to hold the skis snugly against the body housing.

2. The ski carrying device of claim 1 further comprising: (a) a flexible second strap having a third end section, a fourth end section, an intermediate section attached to and between the third end section and the fourth end section, a second strap surface, and a third strap surface, the third end section of the second strap being attached to the carrying device; (b) a second slot adjacent the third end section of the second strap, for receiving the second strap, the second slot having sufficient size so that the second strap can be threaded through the second slot, the second slot being placed on the carrying device so that the second strap can double back past the second slot outside the second slot; and

(c) a second attaching mechanism attached to the second strap surface for attaching the fourth end section to the intermediate section, the second strap being sufficiently long so that the second strap can be: (i) wrapped around first and second ski poles; (ii) threaded through the second slot; and (iii) doubled back past the second slot, and so that the second attaching mechanism can subsequently be activated to hold the ski poles on the carrying device.

3. The ski carrying device of claim 2 further comprising a third attaching mechanism adjacent the second strap surface of the second strap for attaching the first and second straps snugly and compactly to the body when the carrying device is not in use.

4. The ski carrying device of claim 1 further comprising a handle having first and second vertical bars and a cross bar attaching the vertical bars, the first and second vertical bars each being attached to the body housing near an upper end of the body housing.

5. The ski carrying device of claim 4 wherein the handle has first and second handle positions and the vertical bars are pivotally attached to the body housing, wherein, in the first handle position, the first and second vertical bars extend downwardly alongside the body housing and the cross bar extends laterally adjacent the lower end of the body housing, and wherein, in the second handle position, the first and second vertical bars extend upwardly away from the body housing so that a user of the carrying device can grip the handle to carry the carrying device.

6. The ski carrying device of claim 1 wherein the body housing has first and second lugs adjacent to and extending outwardly from the first flat side and third and fourth lugs adjacent to and extending outwardly from the second flat side, the lugs each being flat on one side so that the first and second skis are prevented from sliding when the skis are installed on the first and second flat sides.

7. The ski carrying device of claim 5 wherein the body housing has first

and second lugs adjacent to and extending outwardly from the first flat side and third and fourth lugs adjacent to and extending outwardly from the second flat side, the lugs each having flat lug bottom sides so that the first and second skis are prevented from sliding when the skis are installed on the first and second flat sides of the body housing.

8. The carrying device of claim 7 wherein the handle has first, second, third and fourth lobes extending outwardly from the handle adjacent the first, second, third and fourth lugs, respectively, when the handle is in the second handle position, the lobes each being flat on one side flush with the flat lug bottom sides of the adjacent lugs so that the handle is prevented from moving from the second handle position when the skis are installed on the carrying device.

9. The carrying device of claim 8 wherein the first and second vertical bars have first and second extended ends, respectively, for preventing the handle from moving from the second handle position when the skis are mounted on the carrying device.

10. The carrying device of claim 1 wherein the first attaching mechanism comprises a first hook material section made of hook material and a first loop material section made of loop material.

11. The carrying device of claim 2 wherein the second attaching mechanism comprises a second hook material section made of hook material and a second loop material section made of loop material.

12. A security device comprising:

(a) a body housing having a shaft hole;

(b) a combination lock mechanism attached to the body housing, the lock mechanism including:

(i) a cable having first and second cable ends, the first cable end being attached to the body housing;

(ii) a rigid shaft attached to the second cable end and having a shaft notch, the shaft fitting snugly in the shaft hole; (iii) first and second outer dials each having a plurality of combination settings;

(iv) first and second inner dials having:

(A) a first dial position whereby the first and second outer dials are attached to and rotate in phase with the first and second inner dials, respectively; and

(B) a second dial position whereby the first and second outer dials are detached from and rotate independently from the first and second inner dials; (v) a lock pin extending through the inner dials inside the body housing, the lock pin having a head, a backward position, a middle position, and a forward position;

(vi) a stopper having: (A) an attached position whereby the stopper is attached to the lock pin preventing the lock pin from moving into its forward position; and

(B) a detached position whereby the stopper is detached from the lock pin allowing the lock pin to move into its forward position; the combination lock mechanism having a combination-setting position, an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein, in the combination-setting position: the stopper is in its detached position; and the lock pin is in its forward position thereby forcing the inner dials into their second dial position so that each of the outer dials can be rotated to a desired unlocking combination setting; wherein, in the unlocked position: each of the combination settings on the outer dials is set in the unlocking combination setting established when the mechanism was last in the combination-setting position; the lock pin is in its backward position so that the head of the lock pin is outside the shaft hole; and the stopper is in the attached position; wherein, in the locked position: the shaft is inserted into the shaft hole; the lock pin is in its middle position so that the head of the lock pin extends into the shaft notch inside the shaft hole thereby preventing the shaft from being removed from the shaft hole; the inner dials are in their first dial position; at least one of the outer dials is in a locking combination setting other than the unlocking setting thereby preventing the lock pin from moving to its backward position; and the stopper is in the attached position.

13. The carrying device of claim 12 further comprising a pin button extending out of the body housing and attached to the lock pin for sliding the lock pin into its backward, middle and forward positions.

14. The carrying device of claim 12 further comprising a take-up wheel inside the body housing for winding the cable, the take-up wheel being attached to the body housing and the cable.

15. The carrying device of claim 14 further comprising a take-up wheel inside the body housing, the take-up wheel being spring-loaded so that the cable is automatically wound on the take-up wheel when a wheel hook is disengaged from the take- up wheel.

16. A method for setting a combination lock for a carrying device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a carrying device comprising:

(i) a body housing having a shaft hole; and (ii) a combination lock mechanism attached to the body housing, the lock mechanism including:

(A) a cable having first and second cable ends, the first cable end being attached to the body housing;

(B) first and second rotatable outer dials each having a plurality of combination settings;

(C) first and second inner dials selectively attachable to and detachable from the first and second outer dials, respectively;

(D) a lock pin extending through the inner dials inside the body housing; and (E) a stopper selectively attachable to and detachable from the lock pin;

(F) a pin button extending out of the body housing and attached to the lock pin; (b) detaching the stopper from the lock pin;

(c) sliding the pin button forward so that the lock pin slides forward into the shaft hole while the stopper is detached from the lock pin thereby detaching the first and second inner dials from the first and second outer dials, respectively;

(d) rotating each of the outer dials independently from the inner dials to desired combination settings;

(e) sliding the pin button backward thereby forcing the lock pin backward so that the first and second inner dials are attached to the first and second outer dials, respectively, and the combination lock is set to a desired unlocking combination setting.

17. A method for attaching first and second skis having first and second flat surfaces, respectively, to a carrying device, the method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a carrying device comprising:

(i) a body housing having first and second flat sides and a lower end;

(ii) a flexible first strap attached to the body housing adjacent the first flat side, the first strap having a first free end;

(iii) a first slot adjacent the second flat side for receiving the first strap; and

(iv) a first attaching mechanism for attaching the first strap to itself; (b) placing the first flat surface of the first ski against the first flat side;

(c) placing the second flat surface of the second ski against the second flat side;

(d) wrapping the first strap snugly over the first ski, the lower end of the body housing, and the second ski;

(e) threading the first strap through the first slot;

(f) pulling the first strap back past and outside the first slot so the first strap doubles back on itself; and

(g) attaching the first free end of the first strap to itself by activating the first attaching mechanism.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein step (c) occurs before step (b).

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the carrying device of step (a) further has: (i) a flexible second strap attached to the carrying device, the second strap having a second free end; (ii) a second slot attached to the carrying device; and (vii) a second attaching mechanism for attaching the second strap to itself, the method further comprising the steps of:

(a) placing first and second ski poles together near the second strap;

(b) wrapping the second strap around the first and second ski poles;

(c) threading the second strap through the second slot; (d) pulling the second strap back past and outside the second slot so the second strap doubles back on itself; and

(e) attaching the second free end of the second strap to itself by activating the second attaching mechanism.

20. A ski carrying device for carrying first and second skis having first and second flat surfaces, respectively, the carrying device comprising:

(a) a body housing having first and second flat sides, a lower end, and an upper end; (b) a flexible first strap having a first end section, a second end section, a middle section attached to and between the first and second end sections, and a first strap surface, the first end section being attached to the body housing adjacent the first flat side;

(c) a first slot adjacent the second flat side of the body housing for receiving the first strap, the first slot having sufficient size so that the first strap can be threaded through the first slot, the first slot being placed on the carrying device so that the first strap can be doubled back past the first slot outside the first slot;

(d) a first attaching mechanism attached to the first strap surface for attaching the second end section to the middle section; and

(e) a handle having first and second vertical bars and a cross bar attaching the vertical bars, the first and second vertical bars each being attached to the body housing, the handle having first and second handle positions wherein, in the first handle position, the first and second vertical bars extend downwardly alongside the body housing and the cross bar extends laterally adjacent the body housing so that the carrying device can be compact when not in use, and wherein, in the second handle position, the first and second vertical bars extend upwardly away from the upper end of the body housing so that a user of the carrying device can grip the handle to carry the carrying device; the first strap being sufficiently long so that when the first and second flat surfaces of the skis are placed against the first and second flat sides of the body housing, respectively, the first strap can be: (i) wrapped snugly over the first ski, the lower end of the body housing, and the second ski; (ii) threaded through the first slot; and (iii) doubled back past the first slot outside the first slot, and so that the first attaching mechanism can subsequently be activated to hold the skis snugly against the body housing.

21. The ski carrying device of claim 20 further comprising: (a) a flexible second strap having a third end section, a fourth end section, an intermediate section attached to and between the third end section and the fourth end section, a second strap surface, and a third strap surface, the third end section of the second strap being attached to the carrying device;

(b) a second slot adjacent the third end section of the second strap, for receiving the fourth end section, the second slot having sufficient size so that the second strap can be threaded through the second slot, the second slot being placed on the carrying device so that the second strap can double back past the second slot outside the second slot; and

22. A ski carrying device for carrying first and second skis having first and second flat surfaces, respectively, and for carrying first and second ski poles, the carrying device comprising:

(a) a body housing having first and second flat sides and a lower end; (b) a flexible first strap having a first end section, a second end section, a middle section attached to and between the first and second end sections, and a first strap surface, the first end section being attached to the body housing adjacent the first flat side;

(d) a first attaching mechanism attached to the first strap surface for attaching the second end section to the middle section; (e) a flexible second strap having a third end section, a fourth end section, an intermediate section attached to and between the third end section and the fourth end section, a second strap surface, and a third strap surface, the third end section of the second strap being attached to the carrying device;

(f) a second slot adjacent the third end section of the second strap for receiving the second strap, the second slot having sufficient size so that the second strap can be threaded through the second slot, the second slot being placed on the carrying device so that the second strap can double back past the second slot outside the second slot; and

(g) a second attaching mechanism attached to the second strap surface for attaching the fourth end section to the intermediate section, the first strap being sufficiently long so that when the first and second flat surfaces of the skis are placed against the first and second flat sides of the body housing, respectively, the first strap can be: (i) wrapped snugly over the first ski, the lower end of the body housing, and the second ski; (ii) threaded through the first slot; and (iii) doubled back past the first slot outside the first slot, and so that the first attaching mechanism can subsequently be activated to hold the skis snugly against the body housing, the second strap being sufficiently long so that the second strap can be: (i) wrapped around the first and second ski poles; (ii) threaded through the second slot; and (iii) doubled back past the second slot, and so that the second attaching mechanism can subsequently be activated to hold the ski poles on the carrying device.

23. The ski carrying device of claim 22 further comprising a handle having first and second vertical bars and a cross bar attaching the vertical bars, the first and second vertical bars each being attached to the body housing.

24. The ski carrying device of claim 23 wherein the handle has first and second handle positions wherein, in the first handle position, the first and second vertical bars extend downwardly alongside the body housing and the cross bar extends laterally adjacent the lower end of the body housing, and wherein, in the second handle position, the first and second vertical bars extend outwardly away from the body housing so that a user of the carrying device can grip the handle to carry the carrying device.

25. The carrying device of claim 22 wherein the first attaching mechanism comprises a first hook material section made of hook material and a first loop material section made of loop material and the second attaching mechanism comprises a second hook material section made of hook material and a second loop material section made of loop material.

26. A ski carrying device for carrying first and second skis having first and second flat surfaces, respectively, the carrying device comprising:

(a) a body housing having first and second flat sides, a lower end, and a shaft hole; (b) a flexible first strap having a first end section, a second end section, a middle section attached to and between the first and second end sections, and a first strap surface, the first end section being attached to the body housing adjacent the first flat side;

(d) a first attaching mechanism attached to the first strap surface for attaching the second end section to the middle section, (e) a combination lock mechanism attached to the body housing, the lock mechanism including:

(ii) a rigid shaft attached to the second cable end and having a shaft notch, the shaft fitting snugly in the shaft hole;

(iii) first and second outer dials each having a plurality of combination settings;

(iv) a lock pin inside the body housing, the lock pin having a backward position whereby the lock pin does not extend into the shaft hole and a middle position whereby the lock pin extends into the shaft hole, the combination lock mechanism having an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein, in the unlocked position each of the combination settings on the outer dials is set in an unlocking combination setting and the lock pin is in its backward position so that the lock pin does not extend into the shaft hole; wherein, in the locked position the shaft is inserted into the shaft hole, the lock pin is in its middle position so that the lock pin extends into the shaft notch inside the shaft hole thereby preventing the shaft from being removed from the shaft hole, and at least one of the outer dials is in a locking combination setting other than the unlocking

combination setting thereby preventing the lock pin from moving to its backward position, the first strap being sufficiently long so that when the first and second flat surfaces of the skis are placed against the first and second flat sides of the body housing, respectively, the first strap can be: (i) wrapped snugly over the first ski, the lower end of the body housing, and the second ski; (ii) threaded through the first slot; and (iii) doubled back past the first slot outside the first slot, and so that the first attaching mechanism can subsequently be activated to hold the skis snugly against the body housing.

27. The ski carrying device of claim 26 further comprising:

(a) a flexible second strap having a third end section, a fourth end section, an intermediate section attached to and between the third end section and the fourth end section, a second strap surface, and a third strap surface, the third section of the second strap being attached to the carrying device; (b) a second slot adjacent the third end section of the second strap, for receiving the second strap, the second slot having sufficient size so that the second strap can be threaded through the second slot, the second slot being placed on the carrying device so that the second strap can double back past the second slot outside the second slot; and (c) a second attaching mechanism attached to the second strap surface for attaching the fourth and section to the intermediate section, the second strap being sufficiently long so that the second strap can be: (i) wrapped around first and second ski poles; (ii) threaded through the second slot; and (iii) doubled back past the second slot, and so that the second attaching mechanism can subsequently be activated to hold the ski poles on the carrying device.