Abstract:
A training device is provided. The training device includes a harness having a belt, handle, and a storage compartment. The storage compartment provides storage for a leash or the like that a trainer uses to instruct a student. The present invention also provides garments. The garments include a belt and handle for use with training in activities where it would be beneficial to grasp a student during training.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to ski training devices and, more particularly, a ski trainer that combines a handle and leash with a storage compartment.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Learning how to ski can take several years of practice. Typically, one becomes a better skier the younger one begins. However, teaching youngsters (a.k.a. students) to ski is difficult for most parents, guardians, or ski instructors (a.ka. teachers). In particular, teachers want to control students when they first begin learning how to ski, but wants to provide increased freedom as the student progresses.  
         [0003]     One type of harness, more typically associated with skating, includes a harness that had a fixed handle or handles across the back of the student. The handle allows the teacher to hold the student during training exercises and prevents the student from falling or traveling to fast. Further, because the teacher is in close proximity to the student, the teacher can provide specific instructions to the student. Finally, the harness allows the teacher to more easily lift the student into a chair lift. Harnesses of this type are more completely explained in U.S. Pat. No. 5,619,955, issued on Apr. 15, 1997, to Nelson, titled H ARNESS  G RIPPING  A ID FOR  T ANDEM  R IDERS ; U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,792, issued on Oct. 3, 2000, to Gee, titled S HOULDER  H ARNESS WITH  S UPPORT  H ANDLE ; U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,699, issued on Jan. 15, 2002, to Veitch, titled C HILD  S PORT  A CTIVITY  T RAINING  D EVICE ; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,478, issued on Mar. 26, 2002, to Giancaspro, titled T RAINING  H ARNESS , all incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0004]     Although the harness and handle provides some ability to control and teach a student skiing technique, its use is limited as the young skier typically outgrows the harness and handle arrangement. Thus, most ski training aids involve a control leash. The leash is connected at one end to the student, and the teacher holds the other end. Using the leash, the instructor can control the student&#39;s speed and provide pressure (via pulling on the leash or leashes) to assist the student in turning and stopping. Leashes of this type are described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,424,040, issued on Jan. 3, 1984, to Buchheister et al., titled S KI  T RAINING  H ALTER , incorporated herein by reference. While using the leash allows superior teaching to the handle, above, it is more difficult to assist youngsters into and out of chair lifts and the like using the leash.  
         [0005]     Thus, it would be desirous to provide a ski training device or the like having both a handle and a leash.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention provides a ski trainer. The ski trainer includes a harness for a student to wear. The trainer includes a handle and a backpack or storage pouch attached to the harness. The handle can be used to grasp and lift or assist a student. The storage pouch contains detachable leashes that provide the instructor the ability to teach the student.  
         [0007]     The present invention further provides specialized garments. The specialized garments include a belt and handle assembly. An instructor would use the handle to grasp a student when it would be useful in training a student.  
         [0008]     The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0009]     The present invention will be apparent upon considering the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Like reference number in the drawings are generally used to describe like components.  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of a ski training device consistent with the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  shows a hook and pile material;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  shows a snap;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  shows a zipper;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  shows a storage compartment from  FIG. 1  in more detail;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  shows a hydration system that may be stored in storage compartment of  FIG. 5 ; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  shows an embodiment of a garment consistent with the present invention; 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a multiple use ski trainer  100  will be further described. While described with specific regard to ski training, one of ordinary skill in the art will now recognize that the present invention could be used for alternative sporting activities, such as, for example, swimming, skating, and the like. Although some alternative examples will be provided, those examples should be considered exemplary and not limiting.  
         [0018]     As shown ski trainer  100  includes a harness  102 . Harness  102  comprises a belt  104 , a pair of shoulder straps  106 , and one or more cross supports  108  between shoulder straps  106 . Belt  104  is releasable coupled using buckle  110  or other releasable connector. Buckle  110  is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,464, issued on Apr. 24, 1979, to Tracy, titled B UCKLE  and U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,555, issued on Oct. 23, 1979, to Bakker et al., titled B UCKLE , both of which are incorporated herein by reference. Shoulder straps  106  may also include a buckle  110  to snap closed on the front side  120  of trainer  100 . Buckles  110  are optional and could be replaced with a solid, adjustable belt and solid, adjustable shoulder straps, but it is believed buckle  110  facilitates donning and removing trainer  100 .  
         [0019]     Buckle  110  could be replaced with other releasable connectors, such as, for example, corresponding strips of hook material  202  and pile material  204 , similar to VELCRO®, or snaps having corresponding male parts  302  and a female parts  304 , or a zipper  402  (See  FIGS. 2, 3 , and  4 ). Of course, various combinations of the releasable devices could be employed.  
         [0020]     Finally, a leash  112  is releasably coupled to loops  114  on the front of ski trainer  100 . Leash  112  is shown ending in a snap  116  that releasably latches to loops  114 , but leash  112  could be coupled using any of the coupling devices identified above as well, such as, for example, buckle, hook and pile material, or a male and female snap. Instead of being releasably coupled, leash  112  could be permanently coupled using adhesives, stitches, thermal bonding or the like. Leash  112  could be a single loop of material between the connections or two separate stands of material as desired.  
         [0021]     As best seen in  FIG. 5 , a handle  502  is coupled to the back side of trainer  100 . Handle  502  could be coupled using a number of methodologies, but it is believed stitching provides the best strength. Handle  502  could, however, be coupled to belt  104  using adhesives, hook and pile strips, thermal bonding, or the like (as shown in the FIGS. referenced above). A storage pouch  504  also is coupled to ski trainer  100 . Storage pouch  504  provides storage for leash  112 , but could be used for a number of alternatives, which will be explained further below. Pouch  504  could have a closure device, such as, for example, flap  506  to allow access to the inside  508  of pouch  504 . Flap  506  may be releasably coupled using the attachment mechanisms described above, or using a drawstring  510 .  
         [0022]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , pouch  504  is relatively smallish to provide a storage compartment for leash  112 . But pouch  504  could be a full backpack type of storage compartment. Generally, the size of pouch  504  would be based, in part, on the size of the student being taught. Larger students could have larger pouches  504  capable of holding, for example, gloves, hats, and the like. Larger pouches  504 , more like a backpack, could hold, for example, a personal hydration system  600 , shown in  FIG. 6 . Personal hydration system  600  typically will include a bladder  602  stored in pouch  504  to hold water, a mouth piece  604  to allow a user to drink, a tube  606  running between bladder  602  and mouth piece  604 , and a pressure value  606 . Pressure value  606  would only allow liquid to flow when pressure is applied. Such pressure could be from the mouth of the student or pressure from a sucking action. U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,457, issued on Oct. 6, 1998, to Croft, titled H YDRATION  System, incorporated herein by reference, describes one type of personal hydration system  600 .  
         [0023]     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the backside of a garment  700  is shown. In this case garment  700  is a vest, but as one of ordinary skill in the art would understand on reading the disclosure, garment  700  could be any number of styles, such as, for example, a jacket, a wetsuit, a life preserver, or the like. Garment  700  could be a pullover or jacket style garment. Jacket style is intended to indicate a garment that is put on like a jacket and has a closure system on the front, similar to a zipper, snaps, VELCRO®, laces, or the like.  
         [0024]     Wrapped around a portion of a waist  702  of garment  700  are tubes  704 . Tubes  704  could be attached to garment  700  using any conventional means, but tubes  704  are shown stitched to garment  700  using a stitch  706 . Running through tubes  704  would be belt  104 . Belt  104  would have buckle  110  as explained above and not re-explained herein. A gap  708  exists between opposing portions of tubes  704  exposing a portion of belt  104  on the backside of garment  700 . Handle  504  extends from gap  708  to allow use of garment  700  for ski training, as explained above, or other activities, such as, for example, if garment  700  was a wetsuit or life preserver, handle  504  could be used to assist in teaching swimming.  
         [0025]     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.