Abstract:
A single ski apparatus is provided with a miniski, in addition to the single ski. The miniski is removably supported on an elevated platform which is atop a structure, the bottom of which is mounted on the single ski.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field Of The Invention 
     This invention relates to an apparatus for the sport of skiing. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved apparatus for skiing with a single ski. 
     2. Description Of The Prior Art 
     In an effort to get greater pleasure from the sport of skiing, ski enthusiasts have developed various kinds of equipment which can vary radically from the conventional pair of skis used in downhill skiing. One such variation involves the elimination of one ski altogether. In utilizing just a single ski, provision must be made for placing both feet on the ski while affording the skier some degree of control and, more importantly, safety. Further, the equipment must be designed to permit the user the ability not only to keep both feet in place while skiing, but also to be able to get on and off the ski, start and stop, all while maintaining his or her balance. 
     The prior art schemes by and large involve the placement of two identical bindings placed on a single ski. While safety bindings permit the user to quickly remove a ski boot, it is difficult to balance oneself on such equipment. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a single ski apparatus which affords the user improved balancing capability. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a single ski apparatus which affords the user improved control performance. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a single ski apparatus that is safe to use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These objects as well as others not enumerated here are achieved by the invention by the provision of an elevated ski-binding-assembly, which, at its top, is provided with a platform. To the structure, at its bottom, is rigidly attachable a single ski of conventional construction, and of conventional full length. Atop the platform, a miniski or slide plate is removably supported. The platform top supports plural ski-bindings, each one of the separated two-piece (toe-piece, heel-piece; or front-piece, rear-piece) type. The first such ski-binding is of conventional automatic-ejection or automatic-release type, but it is attached to the platform top, rather than to its conventionally intended device, namely a ski. The first ski-binding accepts one of the skier&#39;s boots; the boot and skier&#39;s foot is removable from the binding at the will of the skier who need merely overcome the restraint of the ejection mechanism. 
     The second ski-binding is unique to the present invention, in that it receives, removably so the miniski The second ski-binding is positioned side-by-side to the first, and is shaped so as to conform with the front and rear ends or tips of the miniski. Several variations or embodiments of the second ski-binding are disclosed; in each of these, the mini-ski is readily removable at the will of the skier, who needs to overcome merely the restraint of a spring mechanism in one embodiment, and no restraint at all in another embodiment. 
     More than that, whether the mini-ski be within, or out of the second ski-binding, at will the skier is able to lift ski-boot and foot out of the miniski. This is because the miniski supports a third ski-binding, which receives, removably so, that latter ski-boot. The third ski-binding is, per se, of conventional construction. Thus, the skier at will is able to remove both boots, and both feet, from all ski-apparatus, and use the ski-boots as walking shoes. 
     As a further development or variation of the invention, the toe-piece of the second ski-binding is attached to a swivel mechanism which in turn is supported for swivel movement, by and atop the platform. The swivel mechanism, per se, is the toe-piece of still another conventional ski-binding of the automatic release or automatic ejection type. The swivel mechanism, as an additional safety feature, serves to automatically eject the miniski. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete understanding of the present invention, as well as other objects and advantages thereof not enumerated, will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, especially when considered in light of the accompanying drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the binding assembly structure, depicting its platform; 
     FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the slide plate or miniski; 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the slide plate or miniski; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a shoe element (toe piece or heel-piece of the second ski-binding) according to the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is an elevation view of a safety swivel shoe or swivel mechanism; and 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a shoe element (toe-piece or heel-piece of the second ski-binding) according to the invention similar to that of FIG. 5, but adding to it a bullet retainer pin element; and 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the bullet retainer pin element. 
     Further to the just given drawing listing, FIGS. 3/4 are intended to be incorporated in several variations to be described, and are necessarily incorporated in the embodiment actually illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. That illustrated embodiment further incorporates the in FIG. 7/FIG. 8 illustrated version of shoe element with bullet retainer, and the in FIG. 6 illustrated safety swivel shoe. The FIG. 5 illustrated version of the shoe element may be utilized in the FIGS. 1 and 2 embodiment; the in FIG. 7/FIG. 8 illustrated shoe element is a version more advanced than that of FIG. 5. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The structure of the single-ski/miniski apparatus can be best explained by reference to FIG. 1. The ski binding is designated generally by reference numeral 10. A conventional Alpine ski 12 forms the base for the structure 10. A binding assembly structure 14 is positioned on the ski 12 at the longitudinal center 16 of the ski 12. The structural elements of the binding assembly 14 are visible in FIG. 1: a base plate 18, an elevation strut 20, and a platform 22. The binding assembly 14 is attached to the ski 12 at the base plate 18. The elevation strut 20 serves as a support for the platform 22. 
     The platform 22 is shown in a top view in FIG. 2. A conventional binding 24 is positioned on one side of the platform 22. It has a toe engagement portion 26 and a heel engagement portion 28. This hardware is available off-the-shelf at ski supply shops. The ski-binding 24 is the first ski-binding in the meaning of the specification introduction. 
     A slide plate on miniski 30, resting in between two shoe elements 32 and 34, respectively, is located adjacent the conventional binding 24 on the platform 22. The shoe elements 32 and 34 constitute the second ski-binding; they are spaced apart a sufficient distance to permit the slide plate 30 to be inserted and removed with any upward, forward, or backward motion. This assumes that the FIG. 5 version of shoe elements 32, 34 appears in FIG. 2. Actually, FIG. 2 depicts the FIG. 7/FIG. 8 version, which merely impose a slight spring-like restraint to ready removal. 
     The slide plate 30 is illustrated in an elevation view in FIG. 3. The slide plate 30 has a toe end 36 and a heel end 38. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the toe end 36 and the heel end 38 are turned slightly upward. Further, the slide plate 30 has an adjustable ski boot binding 40. The adjustable ski boot binding 40 constitutes the third ski-binding; it consists of a toe engagement portion 42 and a heel engagement portion 44. The slide plate 30 is again illustrated in a top view in FIG. 4. 
     A shoe element 32, 34 is illustrated in a perspective view in FIG. 5. A base 46 functions as a mounting surface for the shoe element 32, 34 and is placed on the platform 22 of the binding assembly 14. Fingers 48 rise upwardly from the base 46 of the shoe element 32, 34. 
     A variation of the shoe element 32, 34 is illustrated in FIG. 6. A shoe element 50 is shown attached to a swivel release binding 52. A further modification of the shoe element 32, 34 is the inclusion of a bullet retainer pin element 54 as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. Ideally, the shoe element 50 illustrated in FIG. 6 would serve to engage the toe end 36 of the slide plate 30 and a second shoe element 34 having the bullet retainer pin element 54 would engage the heel end 38 of the slide plate 30. The locking strength of the pin 59 would depend on the geometry of the pin and the strength of the spring. The bullet retainer pin element 54 may be provided on both the toe shoe element 32 and the heel shoe element 34. 
     The use of the ski binding 10 is fairly straightforward for those skiers having at least some skiing experience. The conventional binding 24 requires no explanation; it is here that the skier&#39;s boot (not shown) is first engaged. The slide plate 30 functions as a mini-ski and allows one to retain his or her balance before pushing off or when one has stopped. The other boot (not shown) is removably inserted into the slide plate 30 using the toe engagement portion 32 and the heel engagement portion 44 of the adjustable ski boot binding 40. Before the skier pushes off, the foot engaged in the slide plate 30 is lifted and maneuvered until the slide plate 30 is inserted between the shoe element 32 and the shoe element 34. At any time, the skier can remove the slide plate 30 by lifting it out and away from the shoe elements 32 and 34. 
     Release performance similar to that of a conventional binding can be obtained with the slide plate 30 by using the shoe element 50 in combination with a swivel release 52, as illustrated in FIG. 6, for binding the toe end 36 of the slide plate 30. Furthermore, for more advanced skiers, a bullet retainer pin elements 54 can be provided in a finger 48 of the shoe elements 32 and 34 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7. 
     In FIG. 2, the conventional binding 24 is shown on one side of the platform 22 with the slide plate or mini-ski 30 on the other. Obviously, these may be interchanged. Also, it is not necessary that the bindings be placed side-by-side. Tandem or offset arrangements are also possible. 
     While there has been described what is believed to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such embodiments that fall within the true scope of the invention.