Pack with integrated ski and snowboard cuff system

A pack (10) for selectively carrying either relatively wide elongate articles, or relatively narrow elongate articles. The pack includes a bag (14) for carrying smaller articles internally. Near the top forward edge of the bag, shoulder straps (16a, 16b) are attached, extending downwardly to attachment points adjacent the lower sides of the bag. A waistband (22) extends forwardly from each side of the pack. The waistband extends continuously around the rearwardly facing surface of the pack, forming webs (28, 30) that are attached to cuffs (32, 34). The cuffs are tapered, each having a slot (36,38) formed at its wider end where the cuff attaches to the bag. Similar cuffs (54, 56) are attached at their wider ends at opposite sides of the bag, near its top, and webs (46, 48) are attached to these cuffs. When the pack is used to carry a wider article, the cuffs overlap the surface of the article and the webs are connected with quick release buckles 40, under tension, providing a compressive force against the cuffs to hold the article against the bag. When carrying one or more relatively narrow elongate articles such as skis, one or more of the cuffs is wrapped around the article(s) and the web attached to that cuff is passed through the slot of the cuff before being connected to the other web. Thus, either a snowboard or skis can be carried in a stable manner and rigidly held in place on the pack.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention generally relates to back pack apparatus for carrying 
articles, and more specifically, to a back pack that includes webbing to 
secure a snowboard, skis, or other equipment to be carried by a person. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Wilderness travel on foot may require that a person cover both bare ground 
and snow-covered terrain. Over snow, a person will typically want to use 
either skis, a snowboard, or showshoes. However, such implements must be 
carried when not traveling on snow. Back country skiers/snowboarders also 
may at times need to pack into a site over bare terrain on which skis or a 
snowboard are not usable, but then will want to ski or snowboard down 
slopes that are covered with snow. Also, it is sometimes necessary to use 
snowshoes to climb up a slope and then switch to skis or a snowboard to 
ski down the slope. However, the skis or snowboard must be carried while 
on snowshoes or afoot, and the snowshoes must be carried when on the skis 
or snowboard. 
Although skis or a snowboard can be carried by hand when traveling on foot 
or snowshoes, it is clearly preferable to carry them on a back pack, 
leaving the hands free for other purposes. A pack used for this purpose 
will also preferably include a bag or rucksack for carrying food, 
clothing, and other articles. Simply lashing the skis or snowboard to the 
back surface of a pack with simple straps is generally not an acceptable 
solution. Skis in particular, because of their length, can be difficult to 
secure when carried on a pack, so that they are stable and do not shift 
about or otherwise interfere with walking or climbing. A snowboard is 
relatively wide, compared to skis, and therefore, is often attached to a 
pack in a different manner than skis, using straps that are longer, and 
which attach to a pack in different locations than straps used to attach 
skis to a pack. It would be preferable to employ the same system for 
selectively attaching either skis or a snowboard to a pack. Also, any 
system used for carrying skis or a snowboard on a pack should enable the 
user to quickly couple skis or a snowboard to the pack and also quickly 
release them when they are needed. 
The prior art includes several examples of packs designed to carry skis 
that are secured to a pack using simple straps. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 
4,982,883 discloses a fanny pack with a shoulder harness for carrying skis 
and poles. The skis and poles are rigidly secured at two positions to the 
center of the fanny pack belt and are lashed to one of the shoulder 
harness straps using buckled straps that loop over the skis and the poles. 
The skis and poles are angled toward one side of the shoulder harness, 
clear of the back of the user's head. Relatively small compartments for 
carrying other items are attached to the waist belt, on each side of the 
positions where the skis and poles are attached. However, since the skis 
are mounted directly on the back surface of the fanny pack belt rather 
than on the back surface of a pack bag, it appears that they will be drawn 
too tightly into the small of the user's back and may rub on the user's 
shoulders and/or buttocks. 
A more conventional rucksack with shoulder straps is disclosed in European 
Patent Publication No. 612,489A1. In this disclosure, a pair of skis are 
strapped together with their bottom surfaces contacting each other and are 
held to the back surface of the pack by a looped strap extending 
rearwardly from the bottom of the pack bag, and by a pair of elastic 
straps attached to the top of the bag that are coupled around the skis 
with a quick release buckle. This arrangement does not appear to provide 
the stability required for coupling the skis to the pack, and the skis are 
likely to shift about relative to the bag and the user's back. 
FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,364 (Krieger et al.) shows a fanny pack with 
shoulder straps that are coupled to a snowboard. A waist strap extends 
around the fanny pack and the snowboard, compressing the bottom surface of 
the snowboard against the fanny pack. A web extends between the two 
shoulder straps at the user's back, and the ends of two straps pass 
through the shoulder straps and web and loop around the snowboard, before 
being buckled together, to compress the snowboard against the web and the 
shoulder straps. While this design seems to work well for a carrying a 
snowboard, it appears to be less useful for carrying skis. 
Other prior art schemes for carrying skis or snowboards do not include a 
pack bag or compartments for carrying other items. For example, U.S. Pat. 
No. 4,673,118 shows a ski carrying pack that includes shoulder straps, 
which cross in an X at the middle of the user's back. Where the shoulder 
straps cross, a flexible wrapping strip is attached. This strip, which has 
two portions, is wrapped about a pair of skis secured with their bottom 
surfaces in contact, and two straps that are attached to the wrapping 
strip secure the strip around the skis using a fabric hook and loop 
fastening system. This scheme does not fully support the skis, since they 
are mounted to the shoulder strap at only one point instead of at two 
spaced-apart points. Accordingly, the skis can shift about the single 
mounting point, possibly striking the user in the head and generally 
interfering with travel. 
Based on the foregoing discussion of related prior art, it will be apparent 
that a pack is needed that enables a user to selectively carry either skis 
or a snowboard. Further, the skis or snowboard should be held on the pack 
in a manner that ensures they are stable and do not cause discomfort to 
the user when carried on the pack. The pack should preferably include a 
bag sufficiently large to carry other articles. None of the prior art 
solutions for carrying skis or a snowboard seems to meet all of these 
needs. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accord with the present invention, a pack for carrying an elongate 
article includes a panel of material forming a back of the pack and having 
opposite sides, a top, and a bottom. A pair of shoulder straps are 
attached to the panel, at points disposed adjacent its top and bottom. The 
pack also includes a waistband having two straps that are attached to a 
lower portion of the panel, with ends that extend forwardly of the panel. 
These ends are releasably coupled together to secure the waistband around 
a user's waist. A plurality of tapered cuffs are included on the pack, 
each having a wide end attached to the panel and a relatively narrower 
free end. The plurality of tapered cuffs include a first and a second 
tapered cuff disposed adjacent to the bottom of the panel and extending 
from opposite sides thereof. A slot opening is formed adjacent the wide 
end of at least one of the first and second tapered cuffs. Similarly, a 
third and a fourth tapered cuff are disposed adjacent to the top of the 
panel, extending from opposite sides thereof. Also, a slot opening is 
formed adjacent the wide end of at least one of the third and fourth 
tapered cuffs. 
A plurality of compression webs extend in overlying relationship to the 
plurality of tapered cuffs. These compression webs include a first and a 
second compression web, each extending from the sides of the panel 
adjacent to the bottom of the panel and connected to the waistband. The 
first and second compression webs are releasably coupled together under 
tension to apply a compression force to the first and second tapered 
cuffs. In a like manner, a third and a fourth compression web are each 
attached to a corresponding one of the third and fourth tapered cuffs. The 
third and fourth compression webs are also releasably coupled together 
under tension to apply a compression force to the third and fourth tapered 
cuffs. The elongate article is thus held between the panel and the 
plurality of tapered cuffs, and the compression force applied by the 
plurality of compression webs secures the plurality of tapered cuffs 
around the elongate article to hold it in place on the pack. 
One of the first and second tapered cuffs is adapted to wrap around and 
encircle the elongate article. The corresponding first or second 
compressor web is also adapted to wrap around and encircle the elongate 
article and the tapered cuff that is wrapped around it, pass through the 
slot, and couple to the other of the first and second compressor webs 
under tension, to apply the compression force. If two elongate articles 
are carried separately, the other of the first and second tapered cuffs 
and corresponding compressor web is adapted to wrap around the second 
elongate article in a similar manner. The first and second compressor webs 
are connected under tension to apply the compression force to the first 
and second tapered cuffs lo secure and hold the second elongate article. 
The same technique is used for one or both of the third and fourth tapered 
cuffs, and the corresponding compressor webs are similarly adapted to hold 
the elongate article (or two such articles) at the top portion of the 
pack. 
Preferably, the elongate article comprises one of a snowboard and skis, but 
other elongate articles can also be carried by the pack. For example, 
snowshoes can be carried on the pack. 
In one form of the invention, the first and second compressor webs comprise 
continuous extensions of the waistband. The plurality of tapered cuffs 
preferably comprise a material selected for its flexibility, strength, and 
its relatively high coefficient of friction. This material is exposed at 
least on inwardly facing surfaces of the plurality of tapered cuffs that 
contact the elongate article while it is being carried on the pack, 
thereby gripping the elongate article to prevent it from shifting about. 
The first and second compressor webs preferably include a quick release 
connector for coupling them together with an adjustable tension, as do the 
third and fourth compressor webs. 
One embodiment of the present invention also includes a bag for carrying 
other articles. In this case, the panel is a part of the bag. To provide 
strength and define a shape to the bag, an internal frame may be disposed 
within the bag. The elongate article may be carried aligned with the sides 
of the panel or may extend diagonally across the panel. If skis are 
carried, they may form a cross, so that each extends diagonally across the 
panel in opposite directions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
A pack 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention is 
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 1, pack 10 is configured to carry a 
snowboard 12, which is a relatively wide article, whereas in FIG. 2, the 
pack is configured to transport skis 60. One of the features of pack 10 is 
its versatility in carrying either wide articles such as snowboard 12 and 
substantially narrower articles such as skis 60 so that in either case, 
the articles are well supported and rigidly attached to the pack. 
The following description of the preferred embodiment of pack 10 generally 
applies to both FIGS. 1 and 2. Pack 10 includes a relatively shallow bag 
14 having a zippered closure (not shown) extending around the top of the 
bag from just above waistband pads 24 that are attached along the sides, 
near the bottom of the bag. The bag can thus be used to carry objects that 
are inserted therein. Most of bag 10 is fabricated from a high denier 
NYLON.TM. fabric. However, a rearwardly facing surface 26 of bag 14, which 
is disposed between side panels 78, is fabricated of a strong, flexible 
material having a relatively high coefficient of friction. Preferably this 
material is a coated NYLON fabric sold under the trademark HYON. 
When worn by a person 15, pack 10 is supported on the person's body by a 
left shoulder strap 16a and a right shoulder strap 16b. The shoulder 
straps connect to buckles 20, which are attached to the top forward edge 
of bag 14, and each includes an underlying pad 18 to distribute the load 
applied by pack 10 to the shoulders of the person wearing the pack. The 
lower end of shoulder straps 16a and 16b are connected to waistband pads 
24, at opposite sides of the bag, along the top edges of the pads and 
adjacent to the front surface of the bag (i.e., the surface closest to the 
back of person 15). 
A waistband 22 extends forwardly of the pack from both sides, wrapping 
around the person's waist and including two portions that connect with a 
buckle (not shown) in front. The length of waistband 22 is adjustable 
within this buckle, in a generally conventional manner, and once adjusted, 
is held in place by the friction of the waistband where it passes through 
the coupled portions of the buckle. Buckles of this sort are well known to 
those of ordinary skill in this art, and need not be shown to disclose the 
present invention. 
Underlying the forward portion of waistband 22 on each side are the pads 
24. The pads each extend from the forward sides of bag 14, and are 
approximately four inches in length, providing padding for supporting pack 
10 on the hips of the person wearing the pack. The load of pack 10 is thus 
distributed between shoulder straps 16a and 16b, and waistband 22. 
Although not shown, bag 14 is supported by an internal frame have a padded 
forward surface. This internal frame includes a lightweight and flexible 
sheet that is covered with a high denier NYLON.TM. fabric. Padding (not 
shown) is provided on the front of the bag that contacts the user's back 
and shoulders, cushioning the internal frame. 
Waistband 22 extends back around rearwardly facing surface 26 of bag 14, 
continuously extending to form webs 28 and 30, which are used for 
providing a compressive force to hold articles in place that are strapped 
to rearwardly facing surface 26. Ends 28a and 30a of webs 28 and 30, 
respectively, are folded over and sewn to prevent any unraveling of the 
NYLON.TM. material comprising the web and waistband. Web 28 (and the left 
part of waistband 22) is attached by a cross stitch patch area 44 to an 
underlying cuff 32, where the waistband transitions to web 28. A similar 
cross stitch patch area 43 attaches web 30 (and the right portion of 
waistband 22) to an underlying cuff 34 (see FIG. 2). 
Cuff 32 and cuff 34 are each generally tapered in shape, each having a wide 
end that is attached to one side of bag 14, adjacent its bottom. 
Specifically, the wide end of cuff 32 is attached along the left side of 
bag 14, and the wide end of cuff 34 is attached along the right side of 
the bag. A slot 36 is formed through cuff 32 immediately adjacent to where 
it attaches to bag 14. Similarly, a slot 38 is formed in cuff 34, at its 
wide end, immediately adjacent to where it attaches to that side of bag 
14. Cuffs 32 and 34 extend generally toward each other across rearwardly 
facing surface 26 of bag 14, and as shown in FIG. 1, overlap the surface 
of snowboard 12, compressing it against rearwardly facing surface 26 of 
bag 14. When connected together, the tension of webs 28 and 30 pulls cuffs 
32 and 34 toward each other and applies a compressive force directed 
against the cuffs so that they in turn compress a relatively wide article 
such as snowboard 12 against rearwardly facing surface 26. Cuffs 32 and 34 
are fabricated from a strong, flexible material having a characteristic 
high coefficient of friction so that the inner surface of the cuffs tend 
to "grab" when pressed against the surface of the article being carried on 
the pack. In a preferred embodiment, HYON material is used for 
fabricating the cuffs, although other materials of comparable strength, 
flexibility, and coefficient of friction could be used for this purpose. 
To apply the compressive force to underlying cuffs 32 and 34, webs 28 and 
30 are coupled together with a buckle 40 and a mating pronged insert 42, 
which is designed to engage buckle 40 and to snap in place therein. These 
two components thus form a quick release connector. Web 28 is threaded 
through pronged insert 42, and web 30 is threaded through buckle 40. 
However, either web can be threaded through the buckle or pronged insert 
with equivalent results. Buckle 40 and pronged insert 42 are generally 
conventional in design, and quick release connectors of this type are 
readily available, as will be well known to those of ordinary skill in 
this art. Like most such quick release connectors, buckle 40 and pronged 
insert 42 enable the length of web 28 and web 30 that is threaded therein 
to be adjusted so that the user can pull out the slack in the webs and 
apply an appropriate amount of tension, either before or after coupling 
pronged insert 42 within buckle 40. To apply the desired tension, the user 
simply grasps ends 28a and 30a of webs 28 and 30, respectively, and pulls 
in opposite directions. Further details of buckle 40 and pronged insert 42 
are disclosed below. 
Attached at the left side of bag 14, adjacent to its top, is the wide end 
of a cuff 54 that is generally tapered in shape, and has a slot 58. A 
similarly shaped cuff 56 is attached at its wide end to the right side of 
bag 14, adjacent to the top of the bag, and has a slot 59. Cuffs 54 and 56 
extend across the rearwardly facing surface of bag 14 toward each other, 
and overlap the surface of a wide article such as snowboard 12, when it is 
attached to pack 10. A web 46 is attached to the outer surface of cuff 54 
by a cross stitch patch 52, while a web 48 is attached to the outer 
surface of cuff 56 by a cross stitch patch 50. An end 46a of web 46 is 
folded over and stitched to prevent fraying; similarly, a free end 48a of 
web 48 is folded over and stitched. 
When connected under tension, a force is applied by webs 46 and 48 to cuffs 
54 and 56, drawing the cuffs toward each other and applying a compressive 
force against rearwardly facing surface 26 of bag 14. To couple webs 46 
and 48 together under tension, and to apply the required compression force 
against underlying cuffs 54 and 56, another quick release connector is 
employed. Web 46 is thus threaded through pronged insert 42 of this 
connector, and web 48 is threaded through buckle 40, which are then 
coupled together, as described above. The buckle and pronged insert can be 
threaded on the opposite webs with equivalent results (as shown in FIGS. 3 
and 4). 
By grasping ends 46a and 48a in each hand and pulling in opposite 
directions, the required tension can be applied to webs 46 and 48, after 
they are coupled together with buckle 40 and pronged insert 42 engaged. 
This action takes out the slack in the webs. Webs 28 and 30 and webs 46 
and 48 might be referred to as "compressor webs" to more clearly indicate 
their function in providing a compressive force against the underlying 
cuffs. Cuffs 54 and 56 are preferably fabricated from HYON.TM. or other 
equivalent strong, flexible material having a relatively high coefficient 
of friction. 
Although the compressive force and resulting friction of cuffs 54 and 56 
and cuffs 32 and 34 against the surface of a wide article such as 
snowboard 12 should be sufficient to retain an article rigidly attached to 
the rearwardly facing surface of pack 14, it should also be noted that the 
bindings on snowboard 12 are disposed above cuffs 32 and 34, and above 
cuffs 54 and 56, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The bindings thus tend to 
prevent the snowboard from sliding downwardly through the cuffs. 
Pack 10 enables an elongate and relatively wide, flat article such as 
snowboard 12 (or snowshoes) to be readily carried and retains the article 
in a stable position, preventing it from shifting about or coming detached 
from the pack. Buckles 40 and pronged inserts 42 are readily released from 
each other, enabling the snowboard or other article to be quickly removed 
from the pack. When necessary to again carry the article on the pack, the 
buckle and pronged insert can again be quickly reconnected. 
Skis 60 and other such articles are relatively narrower than snowboard 12. 
Accordingly, pack 10 enables a different configuration of the cuffs and 
the webs to be used for holding such narrow articles rigidly in place on 
bag 14. Skis 60 or other narrow articles can be carried diagonally across 
the rearwardly facing surface of the bag as shown in FIG. 2, or may be 
carried vertically, positioned on either or both the left half or right 
half of rearwardly facing surface 26. Furthermore, although skis 60 are 
shown coupled together, with their bases toward each other as is typically 
done when carrying such articles, the skis can be split apart, and one 
carried on the left rearwardly facing surface of the pack, with the other 
carried on the right rearwardly facing surface of the pack. Or, the skis 
can be crossed in an "X" configuration and each attached diagonally across 
rearwardly facing surface 26. These and other modifications will be 
apparent from the following description of the configuration shown in FIG. 
2, and further details shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. 
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate how cuff 54 and web 46 are wrapped around 
relatively narrow elongate articles such as skis 60 so that web 46 applies 
a compressive force tending to hold the articles in place against 
rearwardly facing surface 26. Additional details of the cuffs are shown in 
these Figures. For example, the Figures show that an edge binding 74 is 
applied along the raw edges of each cuff to provide a finished appearance 
and prevent the cuffs from fraying. 
The wrapped configuration of cuff 54 shown in these Figures is exemplary. A 
similar wrapped configuration of cuff 34 and web 30 is used at the lower 
right portion of pack 10, as illustrated in FIG. 2, to more rigidly attach 
skis 60 to pack 10 at that point. It will also be apparent that cuff 56 
and web 48 can also be wrapped around a narrow elongate article in a 
similar fashion, as can cuff 32 and web 28. 
In FIG. 3, cuff 54 extends over the edges of skis 60, passes the adjacent 
surface of the skis, and then wraps under the skis. Web 46 overlies cuff 
54 and also wraps around the skis and the cuff, then passes through slot 
58 and extends back over cross stitched patch 52, where web 46 is attached 
to cuff 54. The web is threaded around a pin 72 in buckle 40 and is held 
in place within the buckle due to the friction of the web surfaces against 
pin 72 and against each other. On the sides of buckle 40, prongs 70 are 
exposed (as best seen in FIG. 4), and when depressed, release pronged 
insert 42 from within buckle 40, allowing the two parts of the quick 
release connector to be detached from each other. 
Since cuff 54 is looped around skis 60, more of its inner surface area 
comes into contact with the surface and edges of the skis. The coefficient 
of friction of the material comprising the cuff and the compression force 
provided by the web against the opposed sides and edges of the skis tends 
to rigidly hold the skis against rearwardly facing surface 26 of bag 14, 
which also has a relatively high coefficient of friction. The same benefit 
applies when any of the other cuffs and webs are looped around skis 60 or 
any other relatively narrow elongate article(s) being carried on pack 10. 
Since the user can quickly connect and disconnect buckles 40 and pronged 
inserts 42, skis 60 or other elongate relatively narrow articles can be 
immediately released and reattached to pack 10. Once attached in place, 
such articles are held in a stable and rigid manner so that they do not 
interfere with user when walking or climbing. 
In FIG. 2, it will be apparent that heel bindings 64 are disposed 
immediately above cuffs 32 and 34, and extend above the top surface of the 
cuffs. Similarly, toe bindings 66 on skis 60 are disposed immediately 
below cuffs 54 and 56, and extend outside the enclosing surface of the 
cuffs. Accordingly, it will be apparent that these bindings tend to 
prevent any upward or downward movement of the skis relative to the cuffs, 
also thereby contributing to the rigid and stable support provided by the 
pack when carrying skis 60. It is also contemplated that ski poles 76 can 
be positioned against opposite outwardly facing surfaces of skis 60 and 
also encompassed within the wrap of the cuffs and webs so that they are 
also rigidly held in place with the skis when being carried on pack 10. 
Certain features of pack 10 are more clearly visible in FIG. 2 than in the 
other Figures. Specifically, pack 10 includes a top loop 62 that can be 
used for attaching articles to the top surface of the pack, but more 
importantly, is provided for enabling the user to lift the pack when it is 
sitting on the ground by inserting the finger's of the user's hand through 
the loop. A further feature of pack 10 is provided by a pair of parallel 
straps 80 and 82 that are stitched to rearwardly facing surface 26 at 
spaced-apart intervals, thereby providing a series of connected loops 
through which other straps (not shown) can be used to attach smaller 
objects to bag 14. Pack 10 is thus versatile in its ability to carry a 
wide variety of articles both internally and attached to the rearwardly 
facing surface of the bag. 
Most users will prefer to carry skis, a snowboard, or other elongate 
articles on a pack that includes a bag. However, it is also contemplated 
that rearwardly facing surface 26 need not be a back surface of a bag, but 
may instead be a correspondingly shaped padded panel to which the shoulder 
straps, waistband, cuffs, and webs are coupled. Thus, in this alternative 
embodiment, bag 14 would not be included, but substantially all other 
aspects of the embodiment described above that are not dependent upon 
having a bag that carries objects would still apply. 
Although the present invention has been described in connection with the 
preferred form of practicing it, it will be understood by those of 
ordinary skill in the art that many modifications can be made thereto 
within the scope of the claims that follow. Accordingly, it is not 
intended that the scope of the invention in any way be limited by the 
above description, but that it be determined entirely by reference to the 
claims that follow.