Abstract:
A device for enlarging the opening of the loop of a ski strap including a base being in bended contact with the ski strap while possessing rigidity for enlarging the opening. A plurality or retention strips are pivotally mounted on the base. The base includes openings for receiving male projections affixed to the retention strips such that the retention strips overlap the base in a locked relationship on the ski strap.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates in general to ski equipment and, more particularly, to a device for widening the opening of a ski strap. 
     2. Summary of the Prior Art 
     As is well known, ski poles are fitted with ski straps which hang downward in a looped configuration. The wrist strap on ski poles are commonly fabricated from flexible materials which tend to narrow the opening as the strap hangs downward from the pole. A skier ordinarily will insert his hands in and out of a ski strap on numerous occasions during the course of a ski session. The flattened opening of the ski strap can interfere with the convenient and safe insertion and withdrawal of the bulky gloved hand of the skier during the course of skiing. The difficulty involved in using known straps can diminish the enjoyment of the sport and is a particularly a problem for inexperienced and young skiers. Accordingly, it is desirable in skiing to provide a device by which the permanent size and width of the opening of the ski strap is optimized during skiing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an objective of the invention to provide a ski strap device for maintaining the loop of a ski strap in a more opened configuration for allowing a skier to easily insert and withdraw his gloved hand in and out of the strap. The invention herein employs a ski strap device which is capable of being permanently affixed in a convenient manner to any conventional ski strap. The material forming the device of the invention is bendable, but is more rigid than known ski straps formed from leather, nylon, and the like. The rigidity of the device herein disclosed insures that the strap is maintained in an opened configuration for the convenience of the skier when inserting or withdrawing his hands. The ski strap device of the application includes retention means which facilitates rapid attachment of the device to the ski strap with permanence and without interfering with the function of the ski strap itself during skiing. The device is inexpensive to manufacture and demonstrates an extended lifetime of use after being attached. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a ski strap mounted on a ski pole and having the strap device of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the ski strap device of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an end elevational sectional view taken along lines  3 — 3  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial view of the hinge portion ski strap device shown in FIG. 3; and 
     FIG. 5 is an end elevational view, with parts in section, of the ski strap device in a closed position when attached to a ski strap. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 to  5 , there is illustrated the ski strap device of the invention, generally designated by reference numeral  2 . As seen in FIG. 1, the ski strap device  2  is intended to be attached to the loop of a ski strap  4  hanging from a grip  6  of a conventional ski pole  8 . As is well known, ski straps are conventionally fabricated from a flexible material, such as, for example, leather, nylon, and the like. As will be apparent from the following description, the ski strap device  2  when attached to the ski strap  4  in accordance with the invention will establish an area of the increased rigidity for maintaining the opening  4 ′ of the ski strap  4  in a wider opened configuration for ease of insertion and withdrawal of the gloved hand of a skier. 
     In FIGS. 2-5, the ski strap device  2  has a one-piece construction made from a molded plastic as illustrated or some other suitable material, such as a rubber or metal (not shown). The material of ski strap device is selected to have the flexibility to bend in conformance to the contour of the ski strap  6 , but possess a greater rigidity than the material of strap  6  to cause the opening  4 ′ to widen and maintain a permanent enlarged opening for insertion and withdrawal of the gloved hand of the skier. In its unattached shape shown in FIGS. 2-4, the ski strap device  2  includes a flexible base  10  having a generally flat configuration when unattached to ski strap  4 . A plurality of outwardly extending, retention strips  12  are connected in spaced parallel relationship along one edge of flat base  10 . Although four retention strips are shown in FIG. 2, it is within the scope of the invention to employ other numbers of retention strips  12 , if desired. 
     The retention strips  12  have a generally elongated, rectangular shape as seen in FIG. 2 with flat bottom faces  14  and generally flat upper faces  16  having partially domes areas  18 . The outer ends  20  of the retention strips  12  are provided with openings  22 . Male projections  24  having a hooked, offset end  26  are respectively formed on upper face  16  and are disposed adjacent openings  22 . The inner end  28  of each retention strip  12  includes an upright wall  30  disposed adjacent a hinge  32  of the ski strap device  2 . As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hinge  32  is formed by a thin strip  34  connecting the inner end  28  of the retention strip  12  to the edge portion  36  of the base  10 . A best seen in FIG. 3, the upper surface  38  of the thin strips  34  are provided with cut-out areas  40  to permit the retention strips  12  to be pivoted with ease into overlapping relationship with base  10  as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. 
     A plurality of upright walls  41  are formed on base  10  immediately adjacent hinges  32 . The opposite edge portion  42  to edge portion  36  of base  10  is formed as raised edge areas having an inner vertical wall  42 ′ and four spaced locking pads  44 . Each locking pad  44  has a longitudinal axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of a respective retention strip  12 . The locking pads  42  have openings  46  to receive the male projection  24  of a respective retention strip  12  when inserted (FIG.  5 ). As seen in FIG. 3 and 5, the lower portion of opening  46  includes a notched area  48  which engages the hook end  26  of projection  24  and attaches the retention strip  12  to the locking pad  44  to permanently to secure device  2  to the ski strap  6 . In its locked configuration in FIG. 5, the walls  30  of the retention strips  12  engage the inner surface of the upright walls  41  of the bases  10  for better strength and securement. As seen in FIG. 5, the secured retention strips  12  form an opening  54  with base  10  to permit the adjacent portion  56  (FIG. 1) of the ski strap  6  to be sandwiched between base  10  and a respective retention strip  12 . 
     As further seen in FIG. 1, the device is attached by placing the base  10  on an inner surface of the ski strap  6 . The base  10  assumes a curved shape in contact with the strap  6 , but possesses rigidity to widen the opening  4 ′ normally occurring in a conventional strap. Although the device  2  may be placed at other locations on the strap  6 , the positioning of the base  10  adjacent the bottom of the strap loop as shown in FIG. 1 produces particular satisfactory results. The retention strips  12  are simply pivoted in the direction indicated by arrows in FIG. 1 to be locked as previously described. The convex portions of the retention strip aid in capture of the strap portion  56  between the retention strips  12  and base  10 . The inner surface of base  10  is smooth and provides no obstruction or discomfort to the skier in use.