Patent Publication Number: US-3874202-A

Title: Ski support and lock

Description:
United States Patent 11 1 1111 3, &#39;Effenheim 1 Apr. 1, 1975 1 SKI SUPPORT AND LOCK 262,303 9/1949 Switzerland 58/ [76] Inventor: Raymond H. Effenheim, 6551 W.  
  Carolawn Dr., Brown Deer, Wis. Primary ExaminerRobert L. Wolfe 53209 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Andrus, Sceales, Starke &amp; 22 Filed: July 13, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 378,959  
 [57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl 70/58, 211/60 SK, 280/ 11.37 A A ski lock includes a support member providing sev- [51] Int. Cl E05b 73/00 eral openings having configurations for receiving the [58] Field of Search 70/14, 57, 58, 59; rigid portions of skis and ski poles while one or more 280/1137 R, 11.37 B, 11.37 D, 11.37 H, locking bars are pivotally connected to the support 1 1.37 C, l 1.37 K, 11.37 A; 21 1/60 SK member for rotation in a plane substantially parallel to the outer surfaces of the support member. A look hav- [56] References Cited ing a latching pin is removably positioned within selec- UNITED STATES PATENTS tively aligned openings within the support member 2 384 850 9/1945 Poor 280/11 37 C and the securing members for confining the ski mem- 313301573 7/1967 sielo frIIIIIIIIIII II: 280/11Z37 K therein While a flexible tether is Preferably 3,568,902 3/1971 Highberger 211/60 SK x nected to the pp member and the lock FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 5 Claims 9 Drawing Figuresv 72,124 5/1947 Norway 280/1 1.37 A  
  2? 9 C.- ln 38 A5- 25 0 4 1 22 7 z. 1 1 45 A \x 1\i\r\\ \I\\\\\ 32 30 7\/ I I l I SKI SUPPORT AND LOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a ski lock and more particularly to an apparatus for releasably securing skis and ski poles to discourage the theft thereof.  
  Many devices have been devised for holding and securing ski equipment members such as ski poles and skis so as to make them inaccessible for removal by vandals and/or thieves. Several known devices wrap a flexible cable about the loosely held ski equipment and an adjacent binding post so that the free ends of the cable may be secured by a lock. Other ski locks have employed support members and hinged members for enclosing the ski equipment therebetween but generally either have not firmly secured the ski equipment in locked position thus permitting the equipment to be damaged through movement or have employed a memher which rotates away from the plane of the selected openings frequently interfering with the removal of the ski equipment.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a ski lock and specifically to a securing apparatus for rigidly confining ski equipment members.  
  The ski member securing apparatus provides a durable support member having one or more outer surfaces each providing one or more openings therein corresponding to the configuration of a rigid self-supporting portion of the ski equipment members. One or more securing members are pivotally connected to the support member for rotatable movement in a plane sub stantially parallel to one of the outer surfaces of the support member for enclosing the openings. A latch is provided for releasably engaging the support member and the securing members for securing the rotating surfaces adjacent to the corresponding outer surfaces thereby confining the ski equipment members within the openings.  
  The support member is preferably formed from a durable, light weight material and is constructed of sufficient thickness so as not to be readily damaged or destroyed. The securing members each include a locking bar having sufficient thickness to discourage the breaking thereof and which are pivotally connected to the support members by durable pivot pins. The support member and the locking bar may be formed from a light weight metal, such as aluminum, or of a strong plastic while the pivot pin is generally constructed of a metal which may be hot or cold formed to provide locking tabs at outer ends thereof for rotatably securing the securing members to the support member.  
  Applicant has thus provided a ski lock which is relatively economical to fabricate and simple to utilize particularly since the securing members are generally rotatable within a plane which is substantially parallel to the outer surfaces of the support member. Such rotation permits the securing members, or locking bars, to be selectively positioned in a lower, out-of-the-way location to permit easy access to the openings for the ready placement of the rigid selfsupporting portions of the ski equipment members therein without interference,.with the securing members, such as sometimes experienced with hinged closure members which pivot in in front of the openings.  
  The openings within the support member are specially designed to correspond to the substantial configuration of the rigid self-supporting portions of the ski equipment members for firmly securing the skis and ski poles. Specifically, rectangular openings are provided to retain the skis while semi-circular shaped openings are provided to retain the ski poles with both types of openings containing abutting surfaces which firmly abut the ski equipment members. Utilization of the present invention thus makes it possible for both the skis and ski poles to be securely confined within a single unitary support member by only a single securing member or locking bar although it is frequently desirable to use several securing members in combination with one or more outer surfaces of the support memher.  
  In one form of the invention, an anchoring pin is positioned to span the opposite sidewalls of an anchor opening within the support member. A flexible tethering member such as a chain, cable, rope or the like is secured to the anchoring pin and is releasably connected to the latch, the latter preferably including a U- shaped locking pin of a padlock. Another form of the invention utilizes a flexible tethering member which is connected to the pivot pin which pivotably secures one or more securing members and is further connected to the latch. When utilizing the ski lock as a carrier, the flexible tethering member can be secured about a fixed object such as a tree, locking post or the like to prevent removal ofthe ski members and lock. In any event, the tethering member is generally connected to the locking pin to retain the lock in close proximity to the support member.  
  In one aspect of the invention, two or more securing members or locking bars may conveniently be located on opposite outer sidewalls of the support member. Latch openings are thus provided within the support member and the latching bars which may be selectively aligned to receive a single locking pin thus securing a plurality of securing members by only a single padlock.  
  In one embodiment of the invention, a pair of securing members are pivotally mounted on the same outer surface of the support member and rotate within a single plane. The two rotatable securing members each provide outer ends which are tapered or recessed to mutually overlap with each overlapping portion providing a latch opening which are selectively aligned with a latch opening within the support element for receiving the latching pin.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The drawing furnished herewith illustrates the best modes presently contemplated by the inventor and clearly discloses the above advantages and features, well as others which will be readily understood from the detailed description thereof.  
 In the drawings:  
  FIG. 1 is an clevational view of a ski equipment securing apparatus mounted to a fixed support and containing skis and ski poles;  
  FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the securing apparatus of FIG. I taken along the lines 22 but without the skis and poles;  
  FIG. 3 is a detailed elevational view of the securing apparatus of FIG. I but without the skis and poles and showing the securing member in an opened position;  
  FIG. 4 is an embodiment of a ski ment securing FIG. 5 is an ment securing FIG. 6 is an ment securing FIG. 7 is an ment securing apparatus: FIG. 8 is an alternative ment securing apparatus;  
 FIG. 9 is an alternative ment apparatus.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing and particularly FIGS. 1-, 2 and 3, the illustrated embodiment of the invention includes a ski equipment securing apparatus 1 which is fixedly secured to a stationary mounting member 2 by a pair of bolts 3. The mounting member 2 may, in turn, be connected or attached to a ski rack 4 or alternatively to the side of a ski lodge, a tree or other convenient location to prevent removal by vandals, thieves or the like.  
  The ski equipment securing apparatus 1 includes a support member 5 having a pair of oppositely disposed outer surfaces 6 and 7. The support member 5 further includes a pair of openings 8 and 9 located within the outer surface 6 and openings 10 and 11 located within the outer surface 7. The openings 8 and I0 are semicircular shaped and contain a base or abutting portions I2 and 13, respectively, for rigidly confining the stick or shaft portion of the ski poles. The openings 9 and II are reetangularly shaped and contain a base or abutting alternative apparatus; alternative apparatus; alternative apparatus; alternative equipembodimcnt of a ski equipembodiment of a ski equipcmbodiment of a ski equipcmbodiment of a ski equipembodiment of a ski equipportions I4 and 15, respectively, for rigidly confining the rigid, rectangular portions of the skis. Specifically, the opening 9 contains oppositely disposed sidewalls I6 and 17 adjacent to the abutting portion 14 and the opening I] contains oppositely disposed sidewalls I8 and 19 adjacent to the abutting portion 15.  
  The support member 5 further provides an outer end 20 which contains a latch opening 21 and an oppositely disposed outer end 22 into which the mounting bolts 3 are secured and providing a pivotal opening 23.  
  The support member 5 further provides an anchor opening 24 having a pair of oppositely disposed sidewalls 25 and 26 between which is secured an anchoring pin 27.  
  A pair of securing members 28 and 29 each consist of a rectangular locking bar having sufficient dimensions for securely enclosing the openings 8, 9, l0 and II by the selective positioning thereof and are rotatably connected to the outer surfaces 6 and 7, respec tively, of the support member 5. Specifically, the securing member 28 includes a first end 30 having a pivotal opening 3] and a second end 32 having a latch opening 33 while the securing member 29 includes a first end 34 having a pivotal opening 35,and a second end 36 having a latch opening 37.  
  The securing members 28 and 29 are rotatably secured to the support member 5 by a pivot pin 38 which is positioned within the aligned pivotal openings 23, 31 and and further includes locking lugs 39 for maintaining the members 28 and 29 in secure rotatable rela tionship with respect to the support member 5. The securing members 28 and 29 therefore each provide a rotating surface 40 and 41, respectively, which rotates about the pivot pin 38 within planes which are substantially parallel to the corresponding outer surfaces 6 and 7 and the corresponding abutting surfaces l2, l3, l4 and 15 within the support member 5. I  
  In operation, the securing members 28 and 29 are selectively rotated about the pivot pin 38 to a lower, opened positioned as illustrated in FIG. 3 thereby permitting the placement of skis 42 within the openings 9 and 11 and poles 43 within the openings 8 and 10 without interference with the locking bars 28 and 29. The securing members 28 and 29 are thereafter selectively rotated so that the respective rotating surfaces 40 and 41 aredisposed in engaging relationship to the outer surfaces 6 and 7, respectively, thereby enclosing the openings 8, 9, l0 and 11 to rigidly confine the ski equipment members therein.  
  With the securing members 28 and 29 rotated into an enclosing position as illustrated in FIG. 2, the latch openings 21, 33, and 37 become aligned to permit the insertion of a latching pin 44 therein. The placement of pin 44 within the aligned latch openings thus securely restrains the securing members 28 and 29 from movement with respect to the support member 5 thus securely enclosing the openings 8, 9, l0 and 11. The latching pin 44 is part of a U-shaped locking member 45 which is secured from removal from the aligned openings 21, 33 and 37 by a lock 46 thereby preventing removal of the enclosed poles 43 and skis 42.  
  A flexible tethering member 47 is securely connected to the anchoring pin 27 and removably connected to the locking member 45. The tethering member 47 may consist of a cable, chain, rope or any other suitable device effective for retaining the lock 46 in close proximity to the support member 5 when removed from active locking engagement. The tethering member 47 may also be secured about a fixed object such as a tree, post or the like when the ski lock 1 is being utilized as a carrier.  
  FIGS. 4-9 set forth alternative embodiments of applicants ski equipment securing apparatus and identical numbers are being retained for identical or similarly functioning elements which were previously discussed with respect to FIGS. 1-3 and further discussion thereof is deemed unnecessary for a clear understanding of applicants invention. With reference to the embodiment in FIG. 4, the ski pole openings 8 and 10 are located adjacent to the pivot pin 38 while the ski openings 9 and II are located adjacent to the latching pin 44. The end 20 of support member 5 is substantially reduced in thickness to provide access to the openings 9 and II when the locking member 45 is removed which results in the elimination of the sidewalls I7 and 19. Thus, the latching pin 44 is effective when secured within the aligned latch openings 21, 33 and 37 to enclose the openings 9 and 11 along with the securing members 28 and 29, respectively.  
  With reference to the embodiment in FIG. 5, the ski lock is somewhat similar to the lock described in FIG. 2 except that openings 9 and 11 both open to the same side of support members 5 within the outer surface 7. The securing member 29 in FIG. 5 is therefore effective for enclosing all three openings 9, l0 and 11 to secure two skis and one ski pole therein while the securing member28 remains effective for enclosing the opening 8.  
  With reference to the embodiment in FIG. 6, the openings 9 and II are disposed on opposite sides of support member 5 while openings are not provided for the retention of ski poles 43. The tethering member 27 is permanently connected to the pivot pin 38 specifically at 48 so that the pivot pin 38 serves the dual purpose of pivotally securing the securing members 28 and 29 to the support member 5 and anchoring the flexible tethering member 47.  
  With reference to the embodiment of FIG. 7, only one securing member 29 is employed to enclose the openings 8. 9, l and 11. Specifically, the openings 8, 9, l0 and I1 open outwardly to the same side of the support member 5 and are located within the outer surface 7 so that all may be enclosed by the selective rotation and positioning of the securing member 29.  
  With reference to the embodiment of FIG. 8, the stipport member 5 contains the ski pole retaining openings 8 and 10 which are both selectively enclosed by only one securing member 28.  
  With reference to the embodiment in FIG. 9, the openings 9 and 11 open toward the same side of support member 5 and are located within the outer surface 7. A pair of securing members 49 and 50 are each pivotally connected to the support member 5 by pivot pins 51 and 52, respectively, Specifically, securing member 50 is pivotally connected at end 20 of support member 5 and provides a pivotal surface 53 which rotates in a plane substantially parallel to outer surface 7 and abutting surface within opening 11. In like mannner, the securing member 51 is pivotally connected at end 22 of the support member 5 and provides a pivotal surface 54 which rotates in a plane substantially parallel to outer surface 7 and abutting surface 14 within opening 9. An outer end 55 of securing member 49 is recessed at 56 and provides a latch opening 57 while an outer end 58 of securing member 50 is recessed at 59 and provides a latch opening 60. The recesses 56 and 59 are designed to overlap so that the latch openings 57 and 60 become aligned with the centrally located latch opening 21 within the support member 5. When enclosing the openings 9 and II by the securing members 49 and 50, a latching pin 44 is positioned therein the aligned latch openings 21, 57 and 60 to thereby secure the skis 42 within the enclosed openings9 and 11.  
  While the embodiment set forth in FIGS. l3 illustrates a permanent connection of the ski equipment securing apparatus 1 to a fixed support 2 by the bolts 3, the securing apparatus 1 may also serve as a portable carrier which can be selectively secured to fixed objects by the flexible tethering member 47 which may also serve as a carrying handle.  
  It is therefore evident that various embodiments may be constructed employing applicants invention which would be within the letter and spirit of the claims presented hereinafter.  
  Various modes ofcarrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims, particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.  
 I claim:  
  I. An apparatus for securing first and second ski equipment members, comprising a support member having a first outer surface providing a first opening and a second outer surface providing a second opening with said first and second surfaces located on opposite sides of said support member and said first and second openings receiving said first and second ski equipment members, respectively, first and second securing members having first and second rotating surfaces, respectively, pivotally connected to said support member, said first rotating surface rotatable in a plane substantially parallel to said first outer surface and said second rotating surface rotatable in a plane substantially parallel to said second outer surface, and latching means releasably engaging said support member and said first and second securing members for selectively securing said first and second rotating surfaces in spaced relationship to said first and second outer surfaces, respectively, for confining said first and second ski equipment members within said first and second openings, respectively.  
  2. An apparatus for securing first and second ski equipment members, comprising a support member having a first outer surface providing a first opening and a second outer surface providing a second opening with said first and second surfaces located on opposite sides of said support member and said first and second openings receiving said first and second ski equipment members, respectively, first and second securing members having first and second rotating surfaces, respectively, said support member and said first and second securing members each having aligned pivotal openings, a pin positioned within said pivotal openings for pivotally connecting said first and second securing members to said support member, said first rotating surface rotatable in a plane substantially parallel to said first outer surface and said second rotating surface ro tatable in a plane substantially parallel to said second outer surface, and latching means releasably engaging said support member and said first and second securing members for selectively securing said first and second rotating surfaces in spaced relationship to said first and second outer surfaces, respectively, for confining said first and second ski equipment members within said first and second openings, respectively.  
  3. An apparatus for securing first and second ski equipment members, comprising a support member having a first outer surface providing a first opening and a second outer surface providing a second opening with said first and second surfaces located on opposite sides of said support member and said first and second openings receiving said first and second ski equipment members respectively, first and second securing members having first and second rotating surfaces, respectively, pivotally connected to said support member, said first rotating surface rotatable in a plane substantially parallel to said first outer surface and said second rotating surface rotatable in a plane substantially parallel to said second outer surface, said support member and said first and second securing members each contain selectively aligned latch openings, and latching means including a latching pin releasably positioned within said latch openings to releasably engage said support member and said first and second securing members for selectively securing said first and second rotating surfaces in spaced relationship to said first and second outer surfaces, respectively, for confining said first and second ski equipment members within said first and second openings, respectively.  
  4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first and second outer surfaces and said first and second rotating surfaces each contain a latch opening, and said latching means includes a latching pin releasably positioned within said latch openings, and including a flexible tethsides of said anchor opening and spanning said anchor opening, and a flexible tethering member connected to said anchoring pin and releasably connected to said