Patent Publication Number: US-4836571-A

Title: Length-adjustable toy ski

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the invention 
     The present invention relates to a toy ski for use particularly by children. It relates more generally to a length-adjustable short ski-like article for mounting on a boot. 
     2. Description of the prior art 
     Toy skis are already known for mounting on boots but they are made in predetermined non-adjustable lengths so that they can fit only on boots of corresponding lengths. In other words, these skis are not adjustable as to length and this is a great inconvenience. Also, conventional laces or buckled leather straps are used to mount the skis on the boots, which is another difficulty with young children, particularly in cold weather. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One object of the invention is to provide a toy of the above type which is adjustable as to length so that it can be mounted on boots of different lengths. More particularly, the ski of the invention has a sole-receiving portion and a heel-receiving portion. Means extending lengthwise of the portions, interconnect them in assembled condition and allow them to slide with respect to one another so that the same article can be made to fit on boots having different lengths. The ski also has a mechanism that releasably locks the two portions together when the desired length has been obtained. 
     In the preferred embodiment hereinafter described, the interconnecting means are elongated tongue-and-groove joints projecting downwardly from; the sole and heel portions. Some of the joints have straight tongues and grooves while the remaining joints have essentially dove-tailed tongues and grooves, particularly an inverted T shape. 
     Preferably also, the two ski portions each has its own platform with the heel platform overlapping the sole platform and the latter being formed with transverse locking notches spaced from one another lengthwise. The releasably locking mechanism than comprises a resilient tongue provided at the sole end of the heel platform, and at least one rib solid with and projecting from one face of the resilient tongue, being oriented and sized to engage in one of the grooves to lock the platforms together, and thus the two ski portions in the desired ski length. 
     Advantageously, the ski-like article further comprises a member supporting the back of the boot and means mounting one end of this support member to the rear end of the sole platform for pivotal movement of the member about a horizontal axis extending across the sole support end. 
     As mentioned previously, the means attaching the ski-like article to the boot should comprise elastic bands including VELCRO® locks, on the sole portion and on the support member, for attaching the sole portion over the vamp of the boot and for attaching the support member over the top of the boot, respectively. 
     Other features and advantages of the invention will be revealed by the description that follows of a preferred embodiment having reference to the appended drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ski-like article made according to the invention and shown mounted on a boot illustrated in phantom lines; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the article of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view; 
     FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross section of the article taken along line IV--IV of FIG. 3 and IV--IV of FIG. 5, and 
     FIG. 5 is a transverse cross section taken along line V--V of FIG. 3. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown, the ski-like article 1 has a front or sole-receiving portion 3 formed by a sole platform 5 (FIG. 3) merging with lateral upright flanges 7 of which the upper part may bend slightly inwardly, as best shown in FIG. 1. The platform 5 also merges with a nose 9 slightly inclined upwardly. A rear or heel-receiving portion 11 is likewise formed by a heel platform 13 of which the forward end overlaps the sole platform 5 (figure 4). The heel platform merges with lateral upright flanges 15 located inside the sole portion 3. Flanges 7 and 15 are held in contact during relative sliding displacement of the sole and heel portions 3 and 11, by short tabs 17 (FIGS. 4 and 5) of the sole portion 5. 
     As mentioned above, means that extend lengthwise of portions 3 and 11 interconnect them to hold them in assembled condition as well as to allow them to slide one in respect to the other. In this manner, the article 1 may be adjusted in length to fit the length of the boot on which it is proposed to mount it. In the shown embodiment, such means comprise joints 19, 19&#39;, of cooperating tongues and grooves that project downwardly from the platform 5, 13 (FIG. 5). The two outward joints and the central joint 19 are straight tongue-and-groove joints and serve to guide the sliding displacement of the sole and heel portions 5, 13. They may conveniently be slightly tapered. The intermediate joints 19&#39; may be said to be essentially dove-tailed and serve additionally to hole the two portions 5, 13, in assembled condition. In the form shown, joints 19&#39; have grooves and tongues of inverted T shape. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the sole platform 5 is formed with transverse locking notches 21 spaced from one another lengthwise of platform 5, that is along its longitudinal axis 23, and also on either side of the groove 25 of the central joint 19. The means responsible for releasably locking the sole and heel portions 3 and 11 together, once the desired length of the ski-like article has been obtained, comprise of resilient tongue 27 provided at the forward or sole end of the heel platform 13 and short ribs 29 (FIG. 4) solid with and projecting from one face of the tongue 27. These ribs 29 are sized and oriented so that they easily fit into the notches 21 so as to prevent relative sliding displacement of the sole and heel portions, particularly of course when the ski article is attached to a child&#39;s boot. While one such rib 29 is sufficient, it is preferable to use two, or four as shown. The ribs should be rounded for easier movement from one notch 21 to the next; the resiliency of the tongue 27 ensuring that they be safely lodged in the notches 21 when properly positioned. 
     In order to support the back of the top 34 of the boot by connecting it to the heel portion, there is provided a support member 31 hinged, at its lower end, to the rear end of the heel portion 11 by a pivot joint 33. This support member is arcuate to follow the contour of the back of the top 34 of the boot and has curved lateral ears 35 at its upper end provided with belt slots 37. It is pivotable, through its pivot joint 33, about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis 23. 
     The ski-like article is attached to the boot over its vamp 40 by elastic bands 39, each having a loop 41, at one end, winding around a downward leg 43 of one of the flanges 7 and extending through a slot 44 between the flanges 7 and its leg 43, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The other ends of the bands 39 have cooperating parts of a known VELCRO® lock. A similar resilient band and VELCRO® lock arrangement 45 is provided for attaching the support member 31 to the top 34 of the boot, allowing the member to flex, when the child bends. 
     Alternatively the skin-like article may be attached to the boot by means of VELCRO® straps having a bead-shaped end used for locking them into the slots 44.