Abstract:
The present invention relates to a novel ski carrying harness apparatus that is worn over a head and over a shoulder of a skier to assist the skier in carrying a pair of skis. The apparatus uses a small ski loop connected to a larger body loop assembly to encircle and support a portion of a ski binding of one of a pair of skis and then the apparatus is used to lift and carry the pair of skis suspended from a point near the waist of the skier.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not applicable  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable  
         REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX  
         [0003]    Not Applicable  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    At modern ski areas, the skiers often must personally carry their skis from one place to another such as from a parking lot to a base lodge. For years, skiers have been known to hoist and sling their skis over a shoulder. Over many years, a number of devices have been developed and used to assist the skier in carrying their skis.  
           [0005]    The present invention relates to a novel apparatus that is worn over a head and over a shoulder of a skier to assist the skier in carrying a pair of skis from one location to another. Preferably, the skis that are to be carried have been interlocked together into a single unit (running surface to running surface) with their respective ski brakes interlocked in a fashion well known to skiers. The invention may also be used advantageously with skis that have been connected together into a single unit by other means such as short straps utilizing hook and loop joining portions or other means known in the art.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    A principal objective of this invention is to provide a skier with a novel ski carrying harness apparatus to carry a pair of interlocked skis. The invention has a small ski loop of webbing to encircle and support an appropriate anchor point on or near a rear binding of one of a pair of interlocked skis, the ski loop is connected to a body loop assembly that is worn over a head and a shoulder of the skier and the apparatus is then used to lift and carry the pair of skis suspended from a point near or below the waist of the skier. Preferably and optimally, the anchor point is a portion of the rear ski binding, but the anchor point could also be a portion of a ski brake mechanism, a portion of a front binding, or an accessory anchor attached to the pair of skis near and behind one of the rear ski bindings and toward the ski tails.  
           [0007]    Preferably, the body loop assembly has adjustment means to adapt the circumference of the body loop assembly to fit as needed around the skier&#39;s body so that when the apparatus is worn, the ski loop reaches down to a point below the hip and preferably to about mid-thigh.  
           [0008]    Preferably, the apparatus is worn under an outer layer of the skier&#39;s clothing with the body loop assembly looped over the skier&#39;s head, over a shoulder, diagonally across the skier&#39;s body and with the ski loop extending out from under the clothing below the skier&#39;s waist. While wearing a properly adjusted apparatus, the skier to lift and carry a pair of skis first crouches down and places the ski loop around an anchor point on a pair of interlocked skis and then the skier straightens up and together with the apparatus lifts and suspends the skis to be carried. When skis are not being carried, the apparatus may be completely stowed under the skier&#39;s clothing by removably fastening together cooperating hook and loop closure pads that are secured at cooperating locations on the body loop assembly.  
           [0009]    The invention provides greater safety to the skier by allowing the skis to be carried closer to the ground. The carriage closer to the ground results in the skier&#39;s center of gravity being lower. This lower center of gravity is of particular advantage when the skier is walking across a slippery parking lot or other surface. When using the apparatus, the skis will be principally suspended from the apparatus and the skier will grip the skis with a hand somewhere between their tips and their front bindings. The gripping hand allows the skier to guide the tips of the skis and to keep close control over the skis. The improved control provided by the apparatus helps the skier to avoid striking other skiers or objects with the carried skis.  
           [0010]    A further object of the invention is to provide a ski carrying harness apparatus that effectively allows skiers of all ages to carry their own skis. The apparatus allows the skier to lift the skis using the skier&#39;s legs rather than the skier&#39;s arms and to carry the skis primarily suspended from a point near the waist rather than over a shoulder or elsewhere higher on the skier&#39;s body.  
           [0011]    A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that is simple and lightweight and that can be comfortably worn by a skier throughout the ski day thereby giving the skier immediate access to the harness for use as needed throughout the day to carry skis over a short or long distance. Preferably, when not in use carrying skis, the apparatus will be worn and fully concealed under the skier&#39;s outer clothing.  
           [0012]    A further object of the invention is to provide a harness apparatus to a skier that will separate and pull easily off from the skier if the skier snags the apparatus on something such as a portion of a ski lift or a door knob.  
           [0013]    A further object of the invention is to provide a harness apparatus that provides a simple connection to the skis to be carried and that allows the skier to use his or her legs to lift the skis rather than his or her arms. After connecting the ski loop to the skis, the skier simply straightens upright and thereby lifts the skis. Preferably, during use, the skier will use a hand or arm to control and guide the lifted skis as desired.  
           [0014]    In the preferred embodiment, the ski carrying harness apparatus has numerous wide, flat surfaces of webbing that provide numerous useful surfaces for the placement thereon or incorporation therein of trademarks, or logos, or other information by imprinting, by sewing, by weaving, or by other suitable affixing means or suitable incorporating means known in the art.  
           [0015]    A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that is simple to manufacture and can be made available to the skiing public at a moderate cost.  
           [0016]    Additional and various other objects and advantages attained by the invention will become more apparent as the specification is read and the accompanying figures are reviewed. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ski carrying harness apparatus showing a preferred embodiment with a body loop assembly open;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a partial side sectional view of the ski carrying harness apparatus showing an upper end of a lower adjustable support threaded through a rear connector and attached to a rear slide and the rear slide mounted on the lower adjustable support, a shoulder pad support threaded through a shoulder pad, a first end of the shoulder pad support threaded through the rear connector folded back and secured to the shoulder pad support, a second end of the shoulder pad support threaded through a front connector folded back and secured to the shoulder pad support, an upper end of an upper front adjustable support threaded through the front connector and attached to a front slide and the front slide mounted on the upper front adjustable support;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a partial side sectional view of the ski carrying harness apparatus showing a lower end of a lower front support secured to the lower adjustable support between a lower end of the lower adjustable support and the lower adjustable support;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a partial top sectional view of the ski carrying harness apparatus showing the lower end of the lower front support secured to the lower adjustable support between the lower end of the lower adjustable support and the lower adjustable support;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a ski carrying harness apparatus showing the preferred embodiment with the body loop assembly closed;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 a partial bottom view of the ski carrying harness apparatus showing the shoulder pad support threaded through the shoulder pad, the first end of the shoulder pad support threaded through the rear connector folded back and secured to the shoulder pad support, and the second end of the shoulder pad support threaded through the front connector folded back and secured to the shoulder pad support;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a ski carrying harness apparatus showing an alternative body loop assembly open;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 is a partial side sectional view of the second embodiment of the ski carrying harness apparatus showing a lower end of a lower front support secured to a lower support between a lower end of the lower support and the lower support;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the ski carrying harness apparatus showing the alternative body loop assembly closed;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a ski carrying harness apparatus;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 11 is a partial side sectional view of the third embodiment of the ski carrying harness apparatus showing an upper end of a body support secured to the body support between a lower end of the body support and the body support;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a ski carrying harness apparatus;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 13 is a partial side sectional view of the fourth embodiment of the ski carrying harness apparatus showing a lower end of a top support secured to a lower adjustable support between a lower end of the lower adjustable support and the lower adjustable support;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a ski carrying harness apparatus showing an alternative body loop assembly open;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the fifth embodiment of the ski carrying harness apparatus showing the alternative body loop assembly closed;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 16 is a partial top sectional view showing a ski loop encircling an accessory anchor;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 17 is a partial side sectional view showing the ski loop of FIG. 16 encircling the accessory anchor; and  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the ski carrying harness apparatus showing the apparatus being worn by a skier with a pair of skis supported by the apparatus and a hand of the skier. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0035]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 2,  3 ,  4 ,  5 , and  6 , the present invention is novel and provides a ski carrying harness apparatus  20 . The ski carrying harness apparatus  20  comprises a ski loop  22  connected to a body loop assembly  30 . In the preferred embodiment, the body loop assembly  30  comprises a lower adjustable support  32  having an upper end  34  and a lower end  36 . The lower end  36  is threaded through the ski loop  22  and folded back onto the lower adjustable support  32  and the lower adjustable support is secured to the ski loop by stitching  38 . The upper end  34  is threaded through a rear connector  40  and attached to a rear slide  42 . The rear slide  42  is slidably mounted on the lower adjustable support  32  to enable adjustment of the length of the lower adjustable support.  
         [0036]    A shoulder pad support  44  is threaded through a shoulder pad  46 . A first end  48  of the shoulder pad support  44  is threaded through the rear connector  40  folded back and secured to the shoulder pad support by stitching  38 . A second end  50  of the shoulder pad support  44  is threaded through a front connector  52  folded back and secured to the shoulder pad support by stitching  38 .  
         [0037]    An upper front adjustable support  54  has an upper end  56  and a lower end  58 . The upper end  56  is threaded through the front connector  52  and attached to a front slide  60 . The front slide  60  is slidably mounted on the upper front adjustable support  54  to enable adjustment of the length of the upper front adjustable support. A first loop pad  62  is secured to the upper front adjustable support  54  at the lower end  58  of the upper front adjustable support. A second loop pad  64  is secured to the upper front adjustable support  54  adjacent to the first loop pad  62  and located along the upper front adjustable support above the first loop pad. A lower front support  66  has an upper end  68  and a lower end  70 . The lower end  70  is secured to the lower adjustable support  32  between the lower end  36  of the lower adjustable support and the lower adjustable support by stitching  38 . A first hook pad  72  is secured to the lower front support  66  at the upper end  68  of the lower front support. A second hook pad  74  is secured to the lower adjustable support  32  adjacent to the ski loop  22  and along the lower adjustable support above the ski loop. The first hook pad  72  is removably fastened to the first loop pad  62  to close the body loop assembly  30  as shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0038]    When the apparatus  20  is not in use, the apparatus can be made more compact and stowed under the skier&#39;s outer clothing by removably fastening the second hook pad  74  to the second loop pad  64 .  
         [0039]    In a second embodiment  120  of a ski carrying harness apparatus as shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and  9 , the apparatus  20  is modified by the replacement of the body loop assembly  30  with an alternative body loop assembly  130 . The alternative body loop assembly  130  comprises a lower support  132  having an upper end  134  and a lower end  136 . The lower end  136  is threaded through the ski loop  22  and folded back onto the lower support  132  and the lower support is secured to the ski loop by stitching  38 . A first loop pad  62  is secured to the lower support  132  at the upper end  134 . A second loop pad  64  is secured to the lower support  132  adjacent to the first loop pad  62  and located along the lower support above the first loop pad.  
         [0040]    The alternative body loop assembly  130  further comprises a lower front support  66  having an upper end  68  and a lower end  70 . The lower end  70  is secured to the lower support  132  between the lower end  136  of the lower support and the lower support by stitching  38 . A first hook pad  72  is secured to the lower front support  66  at the upper end  68  of the lower front support. A second hook pad  74  is secured to the lower support  132  adjacent to the ski loop  22  and along the lower support above the ski loop. The first hook pad  72  is removably fastened to the first loop pad  62  to close the body loop assembly  130  as shown in FIG. 9.  
         [0041]    When the second embodiment  120  is not in use, the embodiment can be made more compact and stowed under the skier&#39;s outer clothing by removably fastening the second hook pad  74  to the second loop pad  64 .  
         [0042]    In a third embodiment  220  of a ski carrying harness apparatus as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the apparatus  20  is modified by the replacement of the body loop assembly  30  with an alternative body loop assembly  230 . The alternative body loop assembly  230  comprises a body support  232  having an upper end  234  and a lower end  236 . The lower end  236  is threaded through the ski loop  22  and folded back onto the body support  232  and the body support is secured to the ski loop by stitching  38 . A first loop pad  238  is secured to the body support  232  between the upper end  234  and a midpoint of the body support. The upper end  234  is secured to the body support  232  between the lower end  236  and the body support by stitching  38  thereby closing the body loop assembly  230 . A first hook pad  240  is secured to the body support  232  adjacent to the ski loop  22  and along the body support above the ski loop.  
         [0043]    When the third embodiment  220  is not in use, the embodiment can be made more compact and stowed under the skier&#39;s outer clothing by removably fastening the first hook pad  240  to the first loop pad  238 .  
         [0044]    In a fourth embodiment  320  of a ski carrying harness apparatus as shown in FIGS. 6, 12, and  13 , the apparatus  20  is modified by the replacement of the body loop assembly  30  with an alternative body loop assembly  330 . The alternative body loop assembly  330  comprises a lower adjustable support  32  having an upper end  34  and a lower end  36 . The lower end  36  is threaded through the ski loop  22  and folded back onto the lower adjustable support  32  and the lower adjustable support is secured to the ski loop by stitching  38 . The upper end  34  is threaded through a rear connector  40  and attached to a rear slide  42 . The rear slide  42  is slidably mounted on the lower adjustable support  32  to enable adjustment of the length of the lower adjustable support.  
         [0045]    A shoulder pad support  44  is threaded through a shoulder pad  46 . A first end  48  of the shoulder pad support  44  is threaded through the rear connector  40  folded back and secured to the shoulder pad support by stitching  38 . A second end  50  of the shoulder pad support  44  is threaded through a front connector  52  folded back and secured to the shoulder pad support by stitching  38 . A top support  354  has an upper end  356  and a lower end  358 . The upper end  356  is threaded through the front connector  52  and attached to a front slide  60 . The front slide  60  is slidably mounted on the top support  354  to enable adjustment of the length of the top support. A first loop pad  238  is secured to the top support  354  between the lower end  358  and a midpoint of the top support. The lower end  358  is secured to the lower adjustable support  32  between the lower end  36  of the lower adjustable support and the lower adjustable support by stitching  38  thereby closing the body loop assembly  330 . A first hook pad  240  is secured to the lower adjustable support  32  adjacent to the ski loop  22  and along the lower adjustable support above the ski loop.  
         [0046]    When the fourth embodiment  320  is not in use, the embodiment can be made more compact and stowed under the skier&#39;s outer clothing by removably fastening the first hook pad  240  to the first loop pad  238 .  
         [0047]    In a fifth embodiment  420  of a ski carrying harness apparatus as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the apparatus  20  is modified by the replacement of the ski loop  22  with an alternative ski loop  428  and by the replacement of the body loop assembly  30  with an alternative body loop assembly  430 . The fifth embodiment  420  comprises a main support  422  having a lower end  424  and an upper end  426 . A first loop pad  62  is located at and secured to the upper end  426 . A first hook pad  72  is located at and secured to the lower end  424 . An alternative ski loop  428  is formed by crossing a first intermediate portion of the main support  422  over a second intermediate portion of the main support at a crossover intersection  432 . The first and second intermediate portions of the main support  422  at the crossover intersection  432  are secured to each other preferably by stitching  38 . Alternatively, instead of stitching, the first and second intermediate portions may be joined by means known in the art such as by a rivet or by an interlocking snap having a first interlocking piece on the first intermediate portion and a second interlocking piece on the second intermediate portion. A second loop pad  64  is secured to the main support  422  adjacent to the first loop pad  62  and located along the main support above the first loop pad. A second hook pad  74  is secured to the main support  422  adjacent the alternative ski loop  428  and along the main support above the alternative ski loop. The first hook pad  72  is removably fastened to the first loop pad  62  to form and close an alternative body loop assembly  430 .  
         [0048]    When the fifth embodiment  420  is not in use, the embodiment can be made more compact and stowed under the skier&#39;s outer clothing by removably fastening the second hook pad  74  to the second loop pad  64 .  
         [0049]    In a sixth embodiment of a ski carrying harness apparatus not illustrated, the fifth embodiment is modified by eliminating the first hook pad  72  and the first loop pad  62  and by joining the ends of the main support  422  to one another by stitching or other means known in the art thereby closing the body loop assembly.  
         [0050]    As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, an accessory anchor  500  having a tailward protruding knob can be affixed to a ski  600  adjacent and behind a rear ski binding to provide an alternative anchor point for the ski loop  22  to encircle and support. The anchor  500  can be made from a suitable plastic or metal or composite material. The anchor  500  can be affixed to the ski  600  by mechanical means such as a screw or a bolt or by a suitable adhesive known in the art.  
         [0051]    In the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 18, the apparatus  20  is worn over the head and over the shoulder of the skier and the ski loop  22  encircles and supports a portion  800  of a rear binding and the skis are carried suspended above the ground by the apparatus and a first hand of the skier. To reach the carriage position shown in FIG. 18, the skier may first hold his or her pair of interlocked skis upright and resting on their tails near the skier&#39;s foot on the side of the skier on which the ski loop  22  hangs down, the skier then may crouch down slightly by bending the knees to reach the ski loop downward to a lower point where the skier may place the ski loop around the portion  800  of the rear binding. The skier then rises back up and the ski loop  22  rises and in turn the skis are lifted off the ground.  
         [0052]    In use, the skier may choose to place the ski loop  22  around other appropriate anchor points that may be present on a pair of skis, anchor points that may include a portion or portions of one or another or both ski brakes, a portion or portions of one or another or both front bindings, or an accessory anchor  500  attached to one of the skis.  
         [0053]    The loop pads  62 ,  64 , and  238  and the hook pads  72 ,  74 , and  240  can be hook and loop closures such as Velcro@ closures or other similar type closures. The closing of the body loop assemblies  30 ,  130 , and  430  with hook and loop closures provides respectively a closure release feature to the apparatus  20 , the apparatus  120 , and the apparatus  420 . If the apparatus  20 , the apparatus  120 , or the apparatus  420  as each is respectively being worn by a skier snags something such as a ski lift or a door knob, the first hook pad  72  will pull apart from the first loop pad  62  and the respective apparatus will come off the skier and help lessen the risk of the skier being dragged or otherwise pulled as a result of a portion of the apparatus becoming entangled with something unintended.  
         [0054]    Preferably, the hook and loop closure provided by first hook pad  72  to first loop pad  62  is sized to provide adequate holding power to keep the respective body loop assemblies  30 ,  130 , and  430  closed with only the weight of a pair of skis suspended by the respective apparatuses  20 ,  120 , and  420 . Experimentation has revealed that providing an area of contact interface of approximately 1 inch by 5 inches between the first hook pad  72  and the first loop pad  62  provides adequate holding power.  
         [0055]    Preferably, the ski loop  22  and the supports  32 ,  44 ,  54 ,  66 ,  132 ,  232 ,  354 , and  422  are fabricated from a suitable polypropylene or nylon webbing or other suitable strap material known in the art. Preferably, the ski loop  22  is a closed loop that is made from a length of approximately {fraction (1/2)} inch wide webbing having two ends that are butted and joined together by stitching. Preferably, the supports  32 ,  54 ,  66 ,  132 ,  232 ,  354 , and  422  are made from lengths of approximately 1 inch wide webbing. Preferably, the support  44  is made from a length of webbing of approximately 2 inch wide webbing.  
         [0056]    The connectors  40  and  52  and the slides  42  and  60  are made of a suitably strong plastic, aluminum, composite material, or other suitable material. The connectors  40  and  52  discussed throughout and shown in the figures could be replaced by rectangular fittings or other suitable closed-loop connecting links known in the art.  
         [0057]    The preceding description and exposition of the invention is presented for purposes of illustration and enabling disclosure. It is neither intended to be exhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications or variations in the invention in light of the above teachings that are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art are considered within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted to the breath to which they fairly, legitimately and equitably are entitled.