IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SKI STOCK BASKETS

Abstract: Ski stock basket including a body having a pair of substantially parallel elongate slots (11) and an aperture (12) interposed between said pair of slots (11). The arrangement is such that a ski shaft (20) may be inserted through a respective slot (11) from either a ski tip end (22) or from a ski tip opposite end (18) and a ski stock shaft (23) inserted through said aperture (12) whereby there may be provided a portable assembly of a pair of skis and a pair of ski stocks having said ski stock baskets (10) attached to each lower end thereof wherein the respective ends of each ski (20) may be retained in position in a respective slot (11) of an associated ski stock basket (10). The invention also includes within its scope the above mentioned portable assembly as well as a method of attachment of a pair of skis and a pair of ski stocks so as to form a portable assembly.

Description: "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SKI STOCK BASKETS" This invention relates to ' an improved ski stock basket and a portable assembly comprising a pair of skis and a pair of ski stocks releasably attached together for carrying or transportation purposes incorporating the ski stock baskets of the invention. Hitherto conventional ski stock baskets have normally been of a round or annular shape having a centrally located aperture for receiving the shaft of an associated ski stock. In this context conventional ski stock baskets have usually been an integral part of a ski stock and the purpose of the ski stock basket is to prevent the stock or pole from penetrating too deeply into the snow or other surface when the ski stock is in use. When it was desired by a person to carry his ski equipment incorporating a pair of ski stocks and a pair of skis from one location to another much difficulty was normally experienced in carrying this equipment because of the bulk and awkward shape of the respective components. Thus usually there was no secure method of attachment of the ski stocks to the skis to facilitate transportation by the skier. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method and means whereby the abovementioned problem may be alleviated. In one aspect the invention includes a portable assembly including: a pair of skis; a pair of ski stocks having ski stock baskets attached to their lower ends, each ski stock basket including; a body; a pair of substantially parallel elongate slots included in said body; and an aperture interposed between said pair of slots; each aperture of each ski stock basket having retained therein an associated ski stock shaft; and wherein each end of each of said pair of skis is retained in position in a respective slot of said ski stock baskets. In another aspect ' the invention provides a ski stock basket including: a body; a pair of substantially parallel elongate slots included in said body; and an aperture in said body interposed between said pair of slots; the construction and arrangement being such that a ski shaft may be inserted through a respective slot from either a ski tip end or from a ski tip opposite end and a sk stock shaft inserted throug said aperture whereby there may be provided a portable assembly of a pair of skis and a pair of ski stocks having said ski " stock baskets attached to each lower end thereof wherein the respective ends of each ski ma be retained in position in a respective slot of an associate ski stock basket. In yet another aspect the invention provides a method of attachment of a pair of skis and a pair of ski stocks so as to form a portable assembly, said ski stocks ha at each of their lower ends a ski stock basket including: a body; a pair of substantially parallel elongate slots include in said body; and an aperture in said body interposed betwee said pair of slots wherein said aperture accommodates the shaft of a respective ski stock, said method including the steps of: ~~~ (.a) inserting a ski tip end of one ski through one slot of one ski basket attached to a first ski stock; (b) inserting a ski tip end of the other ski through the other slot of said one ski basket; (c) pulling said first ski stock along the lengths of said skis so as to clamp the adjacent ends, of said skis together whereby they become wedged or clamped in their respective slots; (d) engaging the other of said ski baskets attache to the second of said ski stocks with the opp<osi.te ends of said skis; and Ce)_ pulling said second ski stock along the lengths of said skis so as to clamp said opposite ends together whereby they become wedged or clamped in their respective slots. The body of the ski stock basket may be of any appropriate shape and thus ' it may be substantially planar or alternatively be substantially curved or be provided with a substantially shallow dish-like shape. However, the former construction is preferred. Suitably the body will have reinforcing ribs surrounding the pair of slots and aperture. In relation to the portable assembly and method aspects of the invention, preferably each one of the pair of skis is accommodated in a common ski stock basket so that the ski tip ends are adjacent to each other. Suitably each upper end of each of the ski stocks is mutually adjacent to each other on the same side of the pair of skis so that they intersect with each other. Preferably there is provided releasable attachment means at the point of intersection which may comprise use of a binding strap or binding straps of the skis as hereinafter described. Alternatively the safety straps of the ski stocks may be utilized for this purpose. Alternatively any type of male- ~~ female or plug-socket type of interconnection between the adjoining shafts of the ski stocks may be utilized. Reference will now be made to a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the accompanying drawings wherein: FIG 1 is a plan view of a ski stock basket constructed in accordance with the invention; FIG 2 is a side view of the ski stock basket shown in FIG 1; FIG 3 is a plan view of another ski stock basket constructed in accordance with the invention; FIG 4 is a side view of the ski stock basket shown OMPI in FIG 3; FIG 5 is a plan view of yet another ski stock baske constructed in accordance with the invention; FIG 6 is a plan view of the ski stock basket shown in FIG 5; FIGS 7 - 10 are views illustrating the above descri method of the invention shown on a sequential basis; and FIG 11 is a view showing the releasable attachment between mutually adjacent stocks in relation to the portable assembly of the invention. In the drawings there are shown ski stock baskets 1 having a body which includes a pair of elongate slots 11, a centrally located aperture 12, a boss or reinforcing member 13 surrounding aperture 12, reinforcing ribs 14, peripheral recesses 15 and 15A, and internal apertures 16. The basket 10 may be substantially planar as shown in FIGS 4 and 6, or be of a shallow dish-like shape as shown ■ in FIG 2. The location and shape of ribs 14, peripheral recesses 15 and 15A, apertures 16 and internal slots 18 may be varied into any number of different arrangements as shown in FIGS 1 - 6. The two slots 11 are located a suitable distance apart and may be parallel or near parallel to each other. The apertures 11 are contained within the body of the ski basket 10, and are of a specific size so as to allow for the free passage through of the majority of ski tips 22 and ski ends 18, whilst at the same time providing for an independent clamping action on the increasing thickness of each ski 20 against the top surface 21 and bottom ski surface 21A as the ski stock baskets are moved in from each end of the ski towar the position of the bindings 27 as shown by the arrows in FIG 8. The centre section of the ski stock basket 10 betwe the apertures 11 is wide enough for a suitably reinforced bos 13 through which the end of the ski stock shaft is located an OMPI also acts as a partition between the two skis when clamped together so they cannot damage each other and to facilitate the passage of the thickness of a ski stock shaft 23 with nominal clearance. The skis are suitably clamped together sideways with the bindings 27 facing outwards and the bottom surfaces facing inwards towards each other, thus offering maximum protection from external damage. The clamping action achieved also allows the skis 20 to retain basically their natural "arched" shape rather than deforming them flat against each other. The length of the apertures 11 is suitably greater than the widths of the skis at the clamping position, so consequently a small gap 19 is left above or below the edges of the skis; this in no way adversely affects the clamping qualities of the ski stock baskets. The location and shape of the holes 16, edge recesses 15 and 15A, and stiffening ribs 14 would be such as that of attaining optimum strength and efficiency for the ski stock basket. The ski stock baskets will be used suitably, as integral parts of the ski stocks and therefore when a pair of skis 20 are correctly clamped together, the ski stock shafts 23 will overlap each other above the centre section of the skis on the same side of the skis as shown in FIGS 7 - 9. By looping one or both of the ankle safety straps 27 normally attached to the heel of the bindings 26 on the skis 20 or a suitable alternative to the ankle safety straps, over the top of the stocks and skis and around the heel of the binding 26 on the other ski, .the upward pivoting movement of the stocks is restricted and it is possible to use one or both of the ski stock shafts as a handle grip to easily lift up and carry the skis and stocks without their coming apart or slipping as shown in FIG 10. The small gap 19 above the ski edges allows for any required compensating pivoting movement of the ski stocks or ski stock baskets and the natural flex character- istics of the ski stock baskets allows the opposing ski stock shafts to readily bypass each ' other without any undue effect on the clamping performance, ' When the fully assembled ski stocks are used in their ski carrying capacity and in the event of no binding or safety strap being utilized in conjunction with the skis or stocks, a simple catch or locking device 28 or any other suitable alternative restraint is attached to one or both of the ski stock shafts 13 in an appropriate position so as to locate the shafts 23 together at a suitable cross-over point and therefore restrict the upward movement of the shafts to enable their use as a carrying handle. The locking device or restraint would be manufactured in plastics material or metal or any other suitable material. In another embodiment of the invention there may be provided a method of attachment of a pair of skis and a pair of ski stocks so as to form a portable assembly wherein each ski stock may have attached thereto at their lower ends the above described ski stock basket. In this technique a ski tip end of one ski may be inserted through one elongate slot of a respective ski stock basket of one stock and the ski tip end of the other ski inserted through one elongate slot of a respective ski stock basket attached to the other stock. The skis may then be placed face to face and -the ski stock baskets of each stock may be drawn .over their respectiv ski shafts wherein the ski tip opposite ends of each ski shaft are drawn through each remaining slot of each respectiv ski stock basket with the ski ends therefore being retained in their associated slots as described above and the intersec ion of the ski stock shafts forming an appropriate carrying location. Suitably this technique is carried out with both skis lying on the ground. The ski stock baskets of the invention may be manufactured in plastics material or metal or rubber or wood or any other suitable material. There is also shown OMPI carrying handles 24 and wrist safety strap 25 of stocks 23 O PI

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A ski stock basket including: a body-; a pair of substantially parallel elongate slots included ' in said body; and 5 an aperture in said body interposed between said pa of slots; the construction and arrangement being such that a ski shaft may be inserted through a respective slot from either a ski tip end or from a ski tip- opposite end and a Q ski stock shaft inserted through said aperture whereby there may be provided a portable assembly of a pair of skis and a pair of ski stocks having said ski stock baskets, attached each lower end thereof wherein the respective ends of each s may be retained in position in a respective slot of an 5 associated ski stock basket. 2. A ski stock basket as claimed in claim 1 wherein said aperture is provided with a peripheral rib surrounding the aperture. 3. A ski stock basket as claimed in claim 1 or 2 where 0 the body is substantially planar and comprises a plurality o strengthening ribs surrounding each elongate slot and said aperture. 4. A ski stock basket as claimed in claim 1 or 2 where the body is substantially curved or is provided with a subst 5 antially shallow dish-like shape. 5. A portable assembly including: a pair of skis; a pair of ski stocks having ski stock baskets attac to their lower ends, each ski stock basket including a body; 0 a pair of substantially parallel elongate slots included in said body; and an aperture interposed between said pair of slots; each aperture of each ski stock basket having retaine therein an associated ski stock shaft; and wherein each end of said pair of skis is retained in position in a respective 5 slot of said ski stock baskets. 6. A portable assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein the respective ski tip ends of each ski located ' adjacent to each other in a common ski stock basket. 7. A portable assembly as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein mutually adjacent upper ends of said pair of ski stocks intersect with each other and there is provided releasable attachment means at the point of intersection. 8. A portable assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein a binding strap or * binding straps of one or each ski are looped around the respective shafts of the pair of ski stocks and secured in position so as to ' restrict any upward pivoting movement of said pair of ski stocks. 9. * A method of attachment of a pair of skis and a pair of ski stocks so as to form a portable assembly, said ski stocks having at each of their lower ends a ski stock basket including: a body; a pair of substantially parallel elongate slots included in said body; and an aperture in said body interposed between said pair of slots wherein said aperture accommodates the shaft of a respective ski stock, said method including the steps of: (a) inserting a ski tip.end of one ski through one slot of one ski basket attached to a first ski stock; (b) inserting a ski tip end of the other ski through the other slot of said one ski basket; (c) pulling said first ski stock along the lengths of said skis so as to clamp the adjacent ends of said skis together whereby they become wedged or clamped in their respective slots; (d) engaging the other of said ski baskets attached to the second of said ski stocks with the opposite ends of said skis whereby said opposite ends engage in an associated slot; and - JREΛ OMPI Cel pulling said second ski stock along the lengt of said skis so as to clamp said opposite ends together whereby they become wedged ' or clamped in their respective slots. 5 10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein initially before step Ca] the skis are stood upright and said one ski basket engages with adjacent ski tip ends of said skis. 11. A method as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein the shafts of each of the ski stocks intersect with each other Q on the same side of the pair of skis and said shafts are releasably attached to each other at their point of intersection. 12. A method of attachment of a pair of skis and a pai of ski stocks so as to form a portable assembly, said ski 5 stocks having at each of 'their lower ends a ski stock basket including: a body; a pair of substantially parallel elongate slots included in said body; and 0 an aperture in said body interposed between said pair of slots wherein said aperture accommodates the shaft of a respective ski stock, said method including the steps of: (a) inserting a ski tip end of one ski through 5 one slot of one ski basket attached to a first ski stock; (b) inserting a ski tip end of the other ski ■ through one slot of the other ski basket attached to a second ski stock; (c) drawing the ski tip opposite ends of each ski 0 through the remaining slots located in said first and second ski stocks so as to clamp each ad-joining end of the mutually adjacent ski shafts in their respective slots. 13. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the skis before step (a) are laid on the ground. 14. A method as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein the OMPI shafts of each of the ski stocks intersect with each other on the same side of the pair of skis and said shafts are releasably attached to each other * at their point of intersection.

Inventors: MACKENZIE A
Applicants: MACKENZIE A
Application year: 1981
Main classification: A63C11
IPC codes: A63C11