Patent Publication Number: US-9884702-B1

Title: Ski equipment case

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a case for carrying ski equipment. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a collapsible case which is adjustable for carrying ski equipment, including skis, snow boards, and ski poles of various sizes, and allowing easy packing and unpacking thereof. 
     BACKGROUND 
     While the first time or occasional skier might rent skis when needed, those who have caught the skiing bug prefer to own their own skis. For the avid skier, however, the reality quickly sets in that owning your own skis means transporting them to whatever ski location you visit. 
     There are various snow ski cases/carriers available in the market. Most of the cases available in the market are bulky and inflexible to adjustments for various sizes of the skis available. As a result, when a skier changes his ski set when upgrading to a higher level, he is compelled to change his case also and spend more money. 
     A solution to this problem is a typical ‘big’ case, which is meant for skis measuring up to about 215 cm. An average skier generally chooses a ski with a length, which is approximately the distance between his head and foot, and is increased and decreased slightly according to experience level. Therefore, the length of the ski will rarely exceed 215 cm. From a desire to provide standardized cases, which is sized for all skis, many case manufacturers create a one-size-fits all case that is manufactured to accommodate skis up to the maximum length. As a result, the skier may end up carrying a case which has extra space that may never be needed and thus must carry a case having unneeded length and unnecessary weight. This becomes quite cumbersome for the skier while travelling. Considering that avid skiers often do a great deal of travelling, carrying a case/bag, which is larger than required does not make much sense. 
     Another issue with the ski cases in the market is that even after taking their skis out of the case, the skier has to make space for the bulky big case which still requires the same amount of space whether holding the skis or not. 
     Another problem with the cases available in the market is that they open at the end and require skis to be inserted and taken out of the case axially. With the significant length of the skis, it is difficult to maneuver the skis out of the case and into it. Considering that the skis may be six feet long, removing the skis from the end of the case may require more than twelve feet of space! Thus when travelling in tight quarters, it might not even be possible to remove and repack one&#39;s skis without needing to go outside. 
     To overcome the problem associated with the bulkiness of the case, manufacturers have tried to make cases out of fabric and other textile materials. But these tend to wear out quickly and are prone to entangle while travelling especially on baggage conveyances. Further, the fabric case, though light and flexible, often provides insufficient protection to the skis. Therefore, the skiers generally prefer a hard ski case, and must deal with all of the drawbacks mentioned above. 
     Other cases available in the market have too many parts, which are loose and there is a risk of losing them. Further, many require that the skis and poles be arranged in a bundle before they can be inserted in the case. 
     While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present disclosure as disclosed hereafter. 
     In the present disclosure, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge or otherwise constitutes prior art under the applicable statutory provisions; or is known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which the present disclosure is concerned. 
     While certain aspects of conventional technologies have been discussed to facilitate the present disclosure, no technical aspects are disclaimed and it is contemplated that the claims may encompass one or more of the conventional technical aspects discussed herein. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     An aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure is to carry ski equipment such as snow skis, snow boards, ski poles and the like of varying sizes in a case which is collapsible and sturdy. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a case suitable for carrying lengthy skiing equipment comprising an inner box and an outer box which are each made in two halves, an upper and a lower half, and are open at one of the ends. The two halves of each box are hinged together on one of the longitudinal edges connecting the upper halves to the lower halves of each box to enable movement between an open position and a closed position of the case. The case includes means for slidably engaging the boxes such that the inner box slides and telescopes into and out of the outer box between an initial compact position where the inner box is nearly completely enclosed within the outer box and other extended, ski-storing positions where the inner box protrudes beyond the open end of the outer box. The case also includes means for locking the inner box to the outer box at the compact position as well as at the various ski storing positions. 
     It is yet another aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure to provide a ski equipment case that allows equipment to be placed directly into the interior cavity thereof, without requiring axial insertion therein. Accordingly, the upper and lower halves of the outer box and inner box open like a briefcase, to allow the skis to be directly inserted and secured in the interior cavity. 
     The present disclosure describes a ski equipment case suitable for carrying lengthy ski equipment such as snow skis, a snowboard and ski poles. The case comprises a pair of an inner box and an outer box, each having an upper half and lower half that are connected by a hinge so that the two halves can move relative to each other between an open and closed position of the case. The inner box slides within the outer box between a compact position wherein the inner box is completely within the outer box and various elongated positions to allow for various sized ski equipment. The case also includes locking means to fix the inner box and outer box at various positions. 
     The present disclosure addresses at least one of the foregoing disadvantages. However, it is contemplated that the present disclosure may prove useful in addressing other problems and deficiencies in a number of technical areas. Therefore, the claims should not necessarily be construed as limited to addressing any of the particular problems or deficiencies discussed hereinabove. To the accomplishment of the above, this disclosure may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows. 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a case suitable for carrying ski equipment, in a closed position. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the case suitable for carrying snow skis in a ski-storing position, the case in an opened position. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the case suitable wherein a pair of skis and ski poles are secured therein. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a case wherein a snowboard is secured therein. 
         FIG. 5A  is a diagrammatic back view illustrating an embodiment of a case suitable for carrying snow skis in a ski-storing position when closed. 
         FIG. 5B  is a diagrammatic back view illustrating an embodiment of the case in  FIG. 5A , which has been adjusted to a reduced length for carrying shorter ski equipment. 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the case, with parts broken away, illustrating the nesting of the outer box and inner box, and operation of a screw/knob for positionally fixing the inner box and outer box of the case. 
     
    
    
     The present disclosure now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show various example embodiments. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure is thorough, complete and fully conveys the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  illustrate a case  100  suitable for carrying skiing equipment. The case  100  has an inner box  120  and an outer box  110 . The outer box  110  has an open end  111  and a closed end  112 . The inner box  120  is similar in shape to the outer box  110  but has a slightly smaller cross sectional profile so that it can slide within outer box  110  completely thorough the open end  111  of outer box  110 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the inner box  120  also has an open end  121  and a closed end  122 . The open end  121  of the inner box  120  extends into the outer box  110  from its open  111  so as to form a single interior cavity between the outer box  110  and inner box  120 , fully between the closed ends  112 ,  122 , suitable for accommodating elongated ski equipment therein. 
     Further, each of the boxes  110  and  120  is bisected by a horizontal plane into two halves. Outer box  110  has an upper half  110 U and a lower half  110 L. Similarly, inner box  120  has an upper half  120 U and a lower half  120 L. 
     Each of the halves  110 U and  110 L of the outer box  110  have a front panel  113 , a rear panel  115 , a main panel  117 , and an end panel  119 , which together define an interior volume of said half  110 U,  110 L. Similarly, each half  120 U,  120 L of the inner box  120  has a front panel  123 , a rear panel,  125 , a main panel  127 , and an end panel  129 , which together define an interior volume of said half  120 U,  120 L. Note that the end panels  119 ,  129  are located at the closed ends  112 ,  122  of each respective half  110 U,  110 L,  120 U,  120 L of the outer box  110  and inner box  120 . Referring momentarily to  FIG. 3 , each of panels  123 ,  125 , and  129  of the inner box  120  has a free longitudinal edge  123 A,  125 A, and  129 A. Referring momentarily to  FIG. 4 , each of the panels  113 ,  115 , and  119  of the outer box  110  has a free longitudinal edge  113 A,  115 A, and  119 A. 
     The case  100  has hinges  130 A and  130 B. The upper half  110 U,  120 U of each of the boxes  110 ,  120  is hinged to the lower half  110 L,  120 L of the corresponding box at the free longitudinal edges  115 A,  125 A of each of the rear panels  115 ,  125  of the halves using hinge  130 A and  130 B, respectively. Note that the hinges  130 A are preferably nested, extending parallel, on the same horizontal plane, and with their folding axis as close together as possible, to facilitate the outer box  110  and inner box  120  opening and closing together. Referring to  FIG. 6 , the free longitudinal edges  115 A of the halves  110 L,  110 U of the outer box  110  preferably have a hinge slot  130 X, for accommodating the hinge  130 B of the inner box  120 , allowing it to protrude outwardly into said hinge slot  130 X when the case  100  is in the closed position shown. In addition, the free longitudinal edges  125 A of the halves  120 U,  120 L preferably have a hinge recess  13 OY, for facilitating attachment of the hinge  130 B of the inner box  120 . In particular, the hinge  130 B of the inner box  120  is preferably an elongated, thin, flexible member that has two hinge ends  130 BE that are each attached within the hinge recess  13 OY of one of the free longitudinal edges  125 A of one of the halves  120 U,  120 L. The hinge  130 A of the outer box  110  is preferably external, connecting the rear panels  115  just outside of the outer box  110 , as seen in  FIG. 6 . 
     The hinges  130 A,  130 B allow the case to open like a briefcase as seen in  FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 . In particular, the hinges  130 A,  130 B allow the case to pivot open, whereby full access is provided to the interior volume of the case  100 , along the free longitudinal edges  113 A,  115 A,  119 A of the outer box  110  and the free longitudinal edges  123 A,  125 A,  129 A of the inner box  120 . 
     Case  100  includes means for slidably engaging the outer and inner boxes so that the inner box  120  can slide outwardly of the outer box  110  between an initial compact position seen in  FIG. 5B  and a plurality of extended ski storing positions, including as seen in  FIG. 5A . In general, the open end of the inner box  120  extends through the open end  121  of the inner box  120  and extends into the outer box  110  toward the fixed end of the outer box, thus moving the fixed end of the inner box toward the fixed end  112  of the outer box as the case  100  retracts toward the initial compact position. Various mechanisms may be provided to facilitate the slidable movement, and maintain structural integrity between the outer box  110  and inner box  120  including mating tracks, rails, and grooves between the outer box  110  and inner box  120 . Since such arrangements for the sake of providing telescopic functionality are well known by those skilled in the art, detailing such mechanisms is beyond the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Case  100  includes means for locking the inner box  120  to the outer box  110  at various relative positions. Locking means may be a detent mechanism or a screw arrangement. As shown in  FIG. 2 , locking means is in the form of detent means such as a knob or screw  210 . Locking screw  210  is provided near the open end portion of the upper half  120 U of the inner box  120 . The screw  210  may operate frictionally—tightening against the outer box  110 , or aligned locking holes  211  may be provided on the corresponding portions of the outer box  110  at predetermined locations, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The predetermined locations for the aligned locking holes are chosen so that when the screw  210  locks the two boxes by engaging in the holes, the boxes are at the compact position or one of the predetermined ski storing positions.  FIG. 6  shows an end sectional view of the case  100  illustrating the screw  210  extending through the rear wall  125  of the upper half  120 U of the inner box  120 , and the operation of the screw  210  and potential locking into the aligned locking holes  211  in the rear wall  115  of the upper half  120 U of the outer box  110 . The screw  210  is mounted on the inner box and engages with the outer box when screwed in after the inner box has been slid to a desired position within the outer box  110 . In addition, a secondary screw  210 A may be provided in the front wall  123  of the upper half  120 U of the inner box  120  for additional stability. The aligned locking holes  211 A may be provided in the front wall  113  of the upper half  110 U of the outer box  110 . 
     It may be apparent that when the engaging means is in the form of a track slide arrangement, the locking means may be provided in the form of a detent means on the track slide arrangement to enable the locking of the rail to the grove at the various predetermined positions of the case  100 . 
       FIGS. 2-4  illustrate the case  100  having adaptations for storing different types of ski equipment. In particular, the case  100  has ski brackets  170 A,  170 B and ski straps  320 A,  320 B, secured to the lower halves  110 L,  120 L for accommodating and securing to ski equipment. In particular, the ski brackets are each secured to the main panel  117 ,  127  of the lower halves  110 L,  120 L, near their end panels  119 , and  129 . The ski brackets  170 A,  170 B may include ski bracket slots  171  for directly accommodating skis and their expected contours. 
     The case  100  also includes means for retaining the skis in the case  100 , which may include the straps  320 A, and  320 B. As shown in  FIG. 3 , skis  400  may be laid on their sides with opposite ski tips facing each other and straps  320 A and  320 B may be used to secure each ski to the sides of the case  100  either at the middle of skis and/or at each end of the skis to keep them in place while the case is being carried. The case  100  also includes a soft material provided on at least some portion of the inner surface. Preferably, hard foam of substantial thickness is provided on the inner surface of the case at the closed ends of the two boxes to provide cushioning to the delicate parts of the ski such as tips and tails. It may be apparent that although the invention has been described with specific reference to snow skis, the case described herein may be used for other skiing equipment such as a snowboard  410  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , wherein the brackets  170 A,  170 B are not used for securing the snowboard  410 , but the straps  320 A,  320 B provide the primary means for securing the snowboard  410 . The case also includes means for securing ski poles and other accessories. In particular, the case has pole brackets  330 A,  330 B mounted to the main panel  115 ,  125  of the upper halves  110 U,  120 U of the outer box  110  and inner box  120 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , ski poles  450  are secured within the pole brackets  330 A,  330 B. 
     The case  100  also includes means for securely holding the upper halves  110 U,  120 U to the lower halves  110 L,  120 L in the closed position. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5A  both the inner and outer boxes may be provided with a latching mechanisms  220 , each comprising an upper latching mechanism component  220 A attached to the upper halve  110 U,  120 U, and a lower latching component  220 B attached to the lower halve  110 L,  120 L, so that the case  100  can be securely locked in the closed position. 
     The case  100  also includes means for holding and carrying the case. Ergonomic handles may be provided on the outer surface of the case such as handles  140 A and  140 B shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 5A . 
     The case  100  also includes means for moving the case  100  along the ground. As shown in  FIG. 1 , one end of the case  100  has wheels  150  for moving the case along the ground while holding the case  100  using the handle  140 B from the other end. 
       FIG. 5A  shows the case  100  fully extended to maximum length in a closed position. The locking screw  210  may be operated to unlock the inner and outer boxes and the inner box may be slid in to the outer box as shown in  FIG. 5B . Once, the desired length is achieved, the locking screw  210  may be locked again. 
     It is understood that when an element is referred hereinabove as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. 
     Moreover, any components or materials can be formed from a same, structurally continuous piece or separately fabricated and connected. 
     It is further understood that, although ordinal terms, such as, “first,” “second,” “third,” are used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, “a first element,” “component,” “region,” “layer” or “section” discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings herein. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, are used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It is understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device can be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
     Example embodiments are described herein with reference to cross section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, example embodiments described herein should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions as illustrated herein, but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, a region illustrated or described as flat may, typically, have rough and/or nonlinear features. Moreover, sharp angles that are illustrated may be rounded. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region and are not intended to limit the scope of the present claims. 
     In conclusion, herein is presented a case for carrying sports equipments such as snow skis, boards and the like which is adjustable to various sizes, is strong sturdy and collapsible. The disclosure is illustrated by example in the drawing figures, and throughout the written description. It should be understood that numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present disclosure.