WO1998047583A1

WO1998047583A1 - Portable ski rest

Info

Publication number: WO1998047583A1
Application number: PCT/CA1998/000388
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jerry Fijalkowski
Original assignee: Jerry Fijalkowski
Priority date: 1997-04-23
Filing date: 1998-04-23
Publication date: 1998-10-29
Also published as: AU7023298A

Abstract

A ski rest assembly is provided for attachment to a ski pole in order to support the weight of a skier's ski while the skier is seated in a chairlift. The ski rest assembly comprises a ski rest which is attachable to a lower end of the ski pole. The ski rest includes a support member which is attachable to the ski pole. A pivot pin extends from the support member for receiving a support arm which is pivotally mounted onto the pivot pin. The arm is pivotable between a first position, where the arm is substantially transverse to the ski pole for supporting a ski, to a second unobstructive standby position wherein the arm is generally parallel to the ski pole. The support member has two diagonally spaced apart shoulders formed thereon. The pivot pin is located between these two shoulders. The two shoulders simultaneously engage the arm in the first position to counterbalance the weight of the ski applied to the arm so that a shear force is not applied to the pivot pin. One of the shoulders engages the arm in the second position to prevent the arm from pivoting beyond the second position. Biasing means are provided for urging the arm to the second position and maintaining the arm in the second position. The ski rest assembly also includes a bracket member which is attachable to an upper portion of the ski pole. The bracket member has a flange for hooking onto a safety bar of the chairlift so that the ski pole can be anchored onto a safety bar during use of the ski rest, thus transferring the load forces from the support member onto the safety bar.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

PORTABLE SKI REST

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to ski rests for supporting the weight of skier's skis, boots and legs when a skier is seated in a chairlift. Particularly the invention relates to such ski rests which are attachable to a ski pole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional chairlifts have included a safety bar having a reverse T-shaped foot rest extending downwardly therefrom, for many years, at ski hills operated in North America and across the world. However, due to safety concerns arising from a large number of accidents attributed to such ski rests, in recent years, many ski hill operators have removed these conventional ski rests from their chairlifts leaving only a safety bar for retaining passengers onto the chairlift. Consequently, skiers have been left without a ski rest to alleviate stress on their legs during their often lengthy journey up the ski hill in the chairlift.

Due to the significant weight of the assembly comprising the skis, bindings and boots borne by the skier, he or she must endure significant discomfort and fatigue in their leg muscles in having to support the entire weight of this assembly. In addition, skiers are subject to increased stress on their joints in the absence of an appropriate ski resting surface to absorb the weight of the skiing assembly. This detracts from the skier's enjoyment and the amount of time that he or she may devote to the actual skiing activity due to the fatigue sustained by the leg muscles during the skier's journey on the chairlift.

To address these problems, several portable ski rest devices have been proposed. For example, U.S. patent No. 4,940,255 shows a foot resting device which includes a belt which must be worn around the skier's waist. The foot rest is attachable to the belt by means of a strap which extends downwardly from the belt portion. A pouch for storing the foot rest is attached to the belt portion. U.S. patent No. 4,013,318 shows another portable foot rest device comprising a foot rest which is suspended from the chair portion of the chairlift by a suspension member which is attachable to the chair. Such proposed devices are inconvenient in use because the device must be manually operated each time the device is transferred between use and storage modes. Also, these devices are bulky and therefore burdensome for the skier to carry during normal skiing. Since these assemblies include several parts which must be disassembled during non-use, it is possible for pieces to go astray. Another problem posed by such bulky devices is the possibility of entanglement of the device with the chairlift. Due to the likelihood that these devices could cause accidents, many ski hill operators would not permit their use.

Another attempted solution to the problem caused by the absence of foot rests on chairlifts has been to modify the basket portion located at the bottom of the ski pole so that the skier can rest his or her skis on the basket portions of his or her respective ski poles. In these cases a bracket member is attached to an upper portion of the ski pole for engagement with the seat of the chairlift in order to provide an anchor for the ski pole for ski resting purposes. This attempted solution to the problem is shown in U.S. patents No. 4,299,409; 4,341,400 and 4,582,341. These devices would be ineffective due to the small surface area provided for resting one ' s skis . In order for these devices to be effective as a ski rest, it would necessary to include a basket portion of excessive width on each ski pole. This is very impractical for skiing purposes. Despite attempts to provide a surface having a high coefficient of kinetic friction, it is difficult for a skier to avoid slippage of his or her skis off of this type of foot rest. The stress sustained to a skier's knees as a result of such slippage is significant enough to cause injury.

U.S. patent No. 5,261,699 shows a ski rest which is attachable to a ski pole for supporting the weight of a ski. A bracket member is attachable to an upper portion of the ski pole for anchoring the ski pole to the safety bar of the chairlift. The ski rest member is actuable from a transverse ski resting position to a position wherein the foot rest is parallel to the ski pole in order to minimize any obstruction during skiing. This device is inconvenient in use because it requires the skier to manually actuate the foot rest portion between the transverse position and the parallel positions and vice-versa.

U.S. patent No. 4,358,131 shows a similar device for attachment to a ski pole having arm members for supporting the ski which are actuable between a transverse ski supporting position and an unobstructive parallel position. A spring is provided for biasing the arm to the parallel position in order to avoid the need to manually operate the arm member between the transverse and parallel positions. However, the design of this apparatus is inadequate because no structure is provided to prevent a shear force from being applied to the pivot pin of the device when the arm supports the weight of the ski. This device includes no more than a simple hinge for supporting the substantial weight of the skier's leg and ski assembly. As a result, this ski rest device is not durable and is subject to an unacceptable rate of breakage and failure. Furthermore, the structure of this device is such that the arm will be biased to a parallel position or to a position where the arm moves past the parallel position to rest against the ski pole. In this case, without the provision of a ramp means it is difficult for the skier to actuate the arm back to the transverse position without the arm becoming jammed upon contact of the ski with the arm. This leads to the impractical outcome of the skier having to manually actuate the foot rest to the transverse position from the parallel position. Another problem arising from this assembly arises from the accumulation of snow or ice around the pivot pin and the spring since these are not enclosed. In situations where such accumulation occurs it becomes very difficult if not impossible to actuate the arm between the parallel and transverse positions.

There is therefore a need for a ski rest apparatus for attachment to a ski pole which has a pivotable arm member mounted on a pivot pin located on a support member, the arm being actuable between a transverse supporting position and a compact parallel position while being biased to the parallel position. There is also a need for such a ski rest having means for absorbing the weight of a ski applied to the arm thereby preventing a shear force from being applied to the pivot pin. There exists a further need for such device wherein the arm has ramp means so that the support member can be easily actuated from the parallel position to the transverse position upon contact of the support member with a ski. There is a still further need for such a device having means for preventing an accumulation of snow or ice from interfering with the pivoting of the arm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a ski rest assembly for attachment to a ski pole. The ski rest assembly comprises a support member which is attachable to the ski pole. A pivot pin is attached to the support member and a support arm is mounted on the pivot pin. The arm is pivotable on the pivot pin between a first position which is substantially transverse to the ski pole and a second position which is generally parallel to the ski pole. When the arm is in the first position, the support member is adapted to absorb any weight applied to the arm in order to prevent a shear force from being applied to the pivot pin.

According to one aspect of the present invention a ski rest is provided for attachment to a ski pole. The ski rest comprises a support member for attachment to the ski pole, the support member including a pivot pin positioned transversely to the ski pole when the support member is attached to the ski pole. The ski rest has an elongate arm for supporting the ski. The arm has a first distal end portion and a second distal end portion remote from the first distal end portion. The arm is pivotally mounted on the pivot pin at a position on the arm adjacent to but spaced from the first distal end portion. The arm is pivotable from a first position wherein the arm is positioned substantially transversely to the ski pole to a second position where the arm is positioned generally parallel to the ski pole. The ski rest has a first shoulder and a second shoulder formed on the support member. The first and second shoulders are spaced apart with the pivot pin being located between and spaced apart from the first and second shoulders. The first shoulder is located to engage the first distal end portion of the arm when the arm is in the first position and to engage the second distal end portion of the arm when the arm is in the second position. The second shoulder is located to engage the second distal end portion of the arm when the arm is in the first position so that a force applied to the arm when in the first position is counterbalanced by the first and second shoulders thereby preventing a shear force from being applied to the pivot pin. The ski rest also has retaining means for retaining the arm in the second position but allowing the arm to be actuated to the first position, the retaining means being coupled to the arm. According to another aspect of the invention, a ski rest assembly is provided for attachment to a ski pole and for engagement with a safety bar of a chairlift. The ski rest assembly includes a support member for attachment to the ski pole, the support member including a pivot pin positioned transversely to the ski pole when the support member is attached to the ski pole. The support member has first and second shoulders formed thereon, the first and second shoulders being spaced apart diagonally and being located on opposite sides of the pivot pin so that the pivot pin is located between the first and second shoulders. The ski rest assembly includes an elongate arm for supporting the ski, the arm having a first distal end portion and a second distal end portion remote from the first distal end portion. The arm is pivotally mounted on the pivot pin at a position adjacent to but spaced from the first distal end of the arm for pivoting movement between a first position wherein the arm is substantially transverse to the ski pole and a second position where the arm is generally parallel to the ski pole. The arm is positioned to simultaneously engage the first and second shoulders when the arm is in the first position and to engage the first shoulder when the arm is in the second position. The ski rest assembly includes retaining means for retaining the arm in the second position but allowing the arm to be actuated to the first position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment in a first operating position;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment in a second operating position; and Figure 4 is a front elevational view of a first moulded half of a ski rest of the preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Ski rest assembly 1 comprises a ski rest 2 which is attachable to a lower end 80 of a ski pole 67. The ski rest assembly further comprises a bracket member 3 which is attachable to an upper portion 77 of the ski pole.

The ski rest 2 comprises a support member 5 having a first molded half 7 and a second molded half 8. The first molded half defines an inner groove 93 while the second molded half defines an inner groove 94 which mirrors the inner groove 93 of the first molded half. The inner grooves 93, 94 are adapted to abut the lower end 80 of the ski pole when the ski rest 2 is attached to the lower end of the ski pole. Since, the lower portion of conventional ski poles are tapered such that the cross section of the lower portion 80 is diminished at a constant rate towards the bottom of the ski pole, the inner grooves 93, 94 likewise are tapered in order to be complimentary in shape to the portion of the lower end of the ski pole to which the ski rest 2 is attached. An alternate embodiment of the present invention the ski rest may be constructed to be attachable to a bottom portion of a ski pole which has a constant cross-sectional configuration. As such, the grooves of the inner surfaces of the molded halves in such an embodiment are of uniform shape which is complimentary to the shape of the lower portion of the ski pole for abutment therewith.

Threaded bolts 10, 12 are used to fasten the molded halves together onto the lower portion of the ski pole. Tapped bores 14, 16 are formed through the second molded half 8 of the support member for accepting bolts 10 and 12 respectively. Corresponding tapped bores (not shown) for accepting bolts 10 and 12 are formed on an inner surface of the first molded half of the support member 5. Hence, bolts 10, 12 function to fasten the ski rest to the lower portion of the ski pole. Other means for fastening the two molded half members of the support member together onto the ski pole which are known in the art may be used in alternate embodiments. It is not strictly necessary that support member consist of two separate molded halves. In an alternate embodiment, it is possible to include a unitary support member which defines a central bore for accepting the ski pole provided that means are provided for tightening the support member onto the ski pole.

The bracket member 3 includes a first half 97 and a second half 99. The first half 97 defines an inner groove 103 formed on an inner surface thereof for abutment with the upper portion 77 of the ski pole while the second half 99 defines an inner groove 104 formed on an inner surface thereof for abutment with the ski pole. The first and second halves of the bracket member are fastened together onto the upper end of the ski pole by means of threaded screws 105, 107. Tapped bores 110 and 112 are formed through the first half of the bracket member 3 for accepting screws 105, 107. Tapped bores 115 and 120 are formed in the second half of the bracket member for accepting the bolt members in order to fasten the first and second halves of the bracket member together onto the upper end 77 of the ski pole.

The first half 97 of the bracket member 3 defines recesses 47, 48 located adjacent to tapped bores 110 and 112 respectively. A flange 102 is formed on the first half of the bracket member for engagement with the safety bar 118 as depicted in Figure 2. A ridge 108 for strengthening the flange 102 is supported on an upper surface 18 of the flange 102.

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the ski rest 2. The first molded half 7 of the ski rest defines a well 22 formed in an outer surface thereof. The well 22 forms a depression in the outer surface of the first moulded half 7 and does not extend through the inner surface of the first moulded half 7. A pivot pin 20 is located on the first molded half 7 in the well 22. The pivot pin extends outwardly from the well to define a longitudinal axis which is substantially perpendicular to the ski pole when the support member 5 is attached to the ski pole 67. Preferably, the pivot pin 20 defines a longitudinal tapped bore 23 for accepting a threaded bolt 75, as discussed in more detail below. Preferably, the pivot pin 20 is integrally formed on the first moulded half but it is also possible to fasten the pivot pin into the well 22 using any of many fastening means known in the art.

A first shoulder 60 is formed on the first moulded half 7 at a position spaced apart from the pivot pin 20. The first shoulder 60 has a first engagement surface 62 which is best depicted in Figure 1. The first engagement surface 62 is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis defined by the ski pole 67. A second engagement surface 63 is defined by the first shoulder 60 adjacent to the first engagement surface 62. The second engagement surface 63 is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ski pole. Preferably, the first engagement surface 62 is slightly angled with its uppermost end being slightly inclined towards the pivot pin 20. A second shoulder 65 is formed on the first moulded half 7 at a position spaced apart from pivot pin 20 such that the pivot pin is located between the first shoulder 60 and the second shoulder 65. The first and second shoulders are spaced apart diagonally from each other on the first moulded half 7.

The second shoulder 65 defines a first engagement surface 70 which is perpendicular to the first engagement surface 62 of the first shoulder 60. The^' first engagement surface 70 is therefore also substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ski pole when support member 5 is attached to the ski pole 67. The second shoulder 65 also has a second engagement surface 68 which extends diagonally downwardly from first engagement surface 70.

The ski rest 2 includes a support arm 45. The support arm defines a transverse bore 43 formed therethrough for accepting the pivot pin 20. Bore 43 is sized so that the arm is pivotally mounted on the pivot pin. The arm has a first end 52 and a second end 53. The bore 43 is located in the arm near the first end 52 of the arm. The arm has a mid-section 57 which surrounds the bore 53. A first distal end portion 50 extends between the mid-section 57 and the first end 52 while a second distal end portion 55 remote from the first distal end portion extends between the mid- section 57 and the second end 53 of the arm 45. An arcuate ramp section 90 is formed on the second distal end potion 55 adjacent to the second end 53. A friction pad 85 is located on a top surface 32 of the second distal end portion of the arm. The friction pad does not extend over the ramp portion 90. The top surface 32 of the arm defines an indentation 27 into which the friction pad 85 is placed. The friction pad is proportioned to protrude slightly from the top surface 32 so that the friction pad may be depressed to become flush with upper surface 32 when the weight of a ski is applied to the friction pad 85. The friction pad is preferably made of rubber. However various types of plastic or other high friction materials known in the art are acceptable in alternate embodiments . In alternate embodiments it is also possible to provide grooves on the friction pad or a pattern of grooves in order to increase the co-efficient of kinetic friction of the friction pad.

A torsion spring 25 is mounted on the pivot pin 20 so that the torsion spring 25 is disposed around the pivot pin. Torsion spring 25 is located between the arm and the first moulded half 7 when the arm 45 is mounted on the pivot pin. The spring 25 has a first end 30 which is received in an opening 38 formed in the well 22, as depicted in figure 4. A second end 35 of the spring 25 is received in a transverse opening 40 formed in the mid- section 57 of the arm 45. A threaded bolt 75 is used to fasten the arm 45 to the support member 5. Bolt 75 cooperates with the tapped bore 23 in order to fasten the arm to the support member. The bolt 75 is preferably made of steel and functions to form a steel inner core of the pivot pin thereby providing for increased rigidity of the working parts and thereby permitting extremely close tolerances between the moving parts. A washer 72 is located between the bolt 75 and the arm 45. The arm is fastened to the support member such that the arm is spaced apart from the ski pole with the first molded half 7 of the support member being located between the arm and the ski pole. In alternate embodiments, other fastening means known in the art may be employed to fasten the arm 45 to the pivot pin in such a manner that the arm 45 is pivotable on the pivot pin 20.

When the arm 45 is fastened to the pivot pin 20 by bolt 75 with the washer 72 in place, the well 22 defines an enclosure between the arm 45 and the first moulded half 7. Thus the moving parts of the ski rest assembly are protected in the enclosure thereby limiting any possibility of interference to the pivoting of the arm 45 due to accumulation of snow or ice.

In its operation, the arm 45 of the ski rest 2 is pivotable between a first position, depicted in Figure 2, where the arm is positioned substantially transversely to the ski pole 67, to support a ski 88, and a second position, depicted in Figure 3, where the arm is positioned generally parallel to the ski pole in order to prevent any obstruction from occurring during normal skiing by a skier using the ski rest assembly 1. The arm is urged to the second position by means of the torsion spring 25 which functions as a biasing means. The torsion spring 25 also functions as retaining means for retaining the arm 45 in the second position while allowing the arm to be urged to the first position upon an application of a downward force onto the upper surface 32 of the arm 45.

When in the second position, the first distal end portion 55 of the arm 45 engages the first engagement surface 62 of the first shoulder 60 and the first distal end portion 50 engages the second engagement surface 68 of the second shoulder 65, as shown in Figure 3. The first shoulder 60 and the second shoulder 65 thereby limit the pivoting of the arm beyond the second position. When the arm is in engagement with the first engagement surface 62 of shoulder 60, a small acute angle is defined between the arm 45 and the ski pole 67 such that the arm is generally parallel to the ski pole. The degree of the angle formed between the arm and the ski pole depends on the level of inclination of the first engagement surface 62 and on the inclination of the second engagement surface 68 of the second shoulder 65. In alternate embodiments it is possible to alter the inclination of the engagement surfaces 62,68 in order to predetermine the angle which is to be defined between the arm and the ski pole in the second position.

The orientation of the arm relative to the ski pole when in the second position, combined with the formation of the ramp portion 90 adjacent to the second end 53 of the arm 45 makes it very easy for the arm to be actuated from the second position to the first position upon the application of a ski to the second end of the arm as depicted in Figure 3. The provision of ramp portion 90 combined with the orientation of the arm relative to the ski pole in the second position prevents the arm from becoming jammed when a skier applies his or her ski to the second end of the arm 45, as depicted in Figure 3. As discussed above, the arm 45 is actuated to the first position upon the application of the bottom surface of a ski 88 to the ramp portion 90 of arm 45. In the first position, the second distal end portion 55 of the arm engages engagement surface 70 of the second shoulder 65 while the first distal end portion 60 of the arm simultaneously engages the second engagement surface 63 of the first shoulder 60. Since engagement surface 70 is parallel to second engagement surface 63, the weight of the ski on the arm is counterbalanced by the equal and opposite forces, applied to engagement surface 70 and second engagement surface 63, by the second distal end portion 55 and the first distal end portion 50 of the arm 45 respectively. As a result, the force applied to the arm 45 is absorbed by the shoulders 60, 65 thereby preventing any shear forces from being applied to the pivot pin 20. This results in increased durability of the ski rest with additional reinforcement being provided to the pivot pin by steel bolt 75 thereby allowing the ski rest 2 to be constructed of lightweight material.

In order to operate the ski rest assembly 1 when the ski rest is actuated to the first position, the user then hooks the flange 102 onto the safety bar. In this manner the ski pole may then be anchored to the safety bar 118 using the bracket member 3 as the flange portion 102 engages the safety bar. This removes the necessity for the skier to manually hold onto his or her ski poles when using the ski rest thereby making use of the assembly more comfortable and easy to operate.

Friction pad 85 prevents the ski 88 from slipping off of the top surface 32 of the arm when the arm is in the first position. It is necessary to include the friction pad 85 in order to secure a positive grip of the ski on the support arm 45. Since the arm 45 is fastened to the support member 5 such that the arm is spaced apart from the ski pole 67, the arm 45 pivots between the first and second positions on a plane which is parallel but spaced-apart from the longitudinal axis of the ski pole. This construction allows for the prevention of ice and snow from building up between the arm 45 and ski pole 67 in the pivoting plane of the arm.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A ski rest for attachment to an elongate ski pole comprising: a support member for attachment to the ski pole, the support member including a pivot pin positioned transversely to the ski pole when the support member is attached to the ski pole; an elongate arm for supporting the ski, the arm having a first end and a first distal end portion adjacent to the first end, the arm further including a second end and a second distal end portion remote from the first distal end portion, the second distal end portion being adjacent to the second end, the arm being pivotally mounted on the pivot pin at a position on the arm adjacent to but spaced from the first end, the arm being pivotable between a first position wherein the arm is positioned substantially transversely to the ski pole, and a second position wherein the arm is positioned generally parallel to the ski pole; a first shoulder and a second shoulder formed on the support member, the first and second shoulders being spaced apart, the pivot pin being located between and spaced apart from said first and said second shoulders, the first shoulder being located to engage the first distal end portion of the arm when the arm is in the first position, the second shoulder being located to engage the second distal end portion of the arm when the arm is in the first position so that a downward force applied to the arm in a dirction parallel to the ski pole, when the arm is in the first position, is counterbalanced by said first and second shoulders thereby preventing a shear force from being applied to the pivot pin; retaining means for retaining the arm in the second position but allowing the arm to be pivoted to the first position, the retaining means being coupled to the arm and to the support member.

2. A ski rest according to claim 1, further comprising biasing means for urging the arm to the second position, the biasing means being located between said arm and said support member and being coupled to said arm and to said support member.

3. A ski rest according to claim 1 wherein the first shoulder includes first and second engagement surfaces, the first engagement surface being substantially transverse to the ski pole for engaging the first distal end portion of the arm when the arm is in the first position, the second engagement surface being generally parallel to the ski pole for engaging the second distal end of the arm when the arm is in the second position.

4. A ski rest according to claim 3 wherein the second shoulder includes a first engagement surface for engaging the second distal end of the arm when the arm is in the first position, said engagement surface being substantially transverse to the ski pole, said second shoulder further including a second engagement surface for engaging the first distal end portion when the arm is in the second position.

5. A ski rest according to claim 1 wherein the arm has an upper surface and a lower surface, said arm including adhesion means for frictionally preventing the ski from slipping off the arm, the adhesion means being formed on said upper surface.

6. A ski rest according to claim 2 wherein said support member defines a well formed therein, said pivot pin, said retaining means and said biasing means being located in said well.

7. A ski rest according to claim 6 wherein the support member includes two moulded half members, each of the molded half members having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of each molded half member defining a groove being complimentary in shape to the ski pole for abutment therewith, the support member including fastening means for fastening the two molded half members together onto the ski pole so that the inner surface of each molded half member abuts with the ski pole along said groove, said well being formed in one of said moulded half members .

8. A ski rest according to claim 2 wherein the retaining means is a torsion spring mounted on the pivot pin, the support member defining a transverse opening formed thereon adjacent to said arm, the arm defining a transverse opening formed thereon, the torsion spring having a first end portion for engaging the transverse opening of the arm, and a second end portion for engaging the transverse opening of the support member.

9. A ski rest according to claim 8 wherein said biasing means is said torsion spring, said torsion spring being located is said well.

10. A ski rest according to claim 5 wherein the adhesion means is a rubber pad located on the upper surface of the arm.

11. A ski rest according to claim 3 wherein the second engagement surface is angled relative to the ski pole so that a small acute angle is defined between the arm and the ski pole when the arm engages the second engagement surface in the second position.

12. A ski rest according to claim 1 wherein the second distal end portion of the arm defines an arcuate ramp located adjacent to the second end of the arm.

13. A ski rest assembly for attachment to a ski pole and for engagement with a safety bar of a chairlift comprising: a support member for attachment to the ski pole, the support member including a pivot pin positioned transversely to the ski pole when the support member is attached to the ski pole, the support member having first and second shoulders formed thereon, the first and second shoulders being spaced apart diagonally and being located on opposite sides of the pivot pin so that the pivot pin is located between the first and second shoulders and spaced apart from each of the first and second shoulders; an elongate arm for supporting the ski, the arm having a first distal end portion and a second distal end portion remote from the first distal end portion, the arm being pivotally mounted on the pivot pin at a position near the first distal end portion of said arm for pivoting movement between a first position wherein the arm is substantially transverse to the ski pole and a second position wherein the arm is generally parallel to the ski pole, the arm being positioned to simultaneously engage the first and second shoulders when the arm is in the first position and to engage the first shoulder when the arm is in the second position; retaining means for retaining the arm in the second position but allowing the arm to be actuated to the first position.

14. A ski rest assembly according to claim 13 including biasing means for urging the arm to the second position, the biasing means being coupled to said arm.

15. A ski rest assembly according to claim 14 wherein the biasing means is a torsion spring having first and second ends, the torsion spring being mounted on the pivot pin so that the first end engages said support member and the second end engages said arm.

16. A ski rest assembly according to claim 13 further comprising a bracket member for attachment to the ski pole at a position spaced from the support member, the bracket member having a ridge for engaging the safety bar of the chairlift.

17. A ski rest assembly according to claim 16 wherein the bracket member includes two separate moulded halves, each of the moulded halves defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of each moulded half defining a groove for abutting said ski pole, the groove of each molded half being complimentary in shape to said ski pole, the bracket member including fastening means for fastening the two moulded halves together onto said ski pole.

18. A ski rest assembly according to claim 13 wherein the first shoulder has a first engagement surface being substantially transverse to the ski pole for engaging the first distal end portion of the arm when the arm is in the first position, the first shoulder having a second engagement surface being generally parallel to the ski pole for engaging the second distal end of the arm when the arm is in the second position.

19. A ski rest assembly according to claim 18 wherein the second shoulder has a first engagement surface for engaging the arm in the first position, said first engagement surface being substantially parallel to the first engagement surface of the first shoulder, said second shoulder having a second engagement surface for engaging the first distal end portion when the arm is in the second position.

20. A ski rest assembly according to claim 13 wherein the second distal end portion of the arm has a distal end, said second distal end defining an arcuate ramp.