Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a ski training harness for children, which has a pair of retractable leashes. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Ski training harnesses for children are known in the art. These harnesses typically have a strap which attaches to the harness, allowing an adult skiing behind a child to control the child&#39;s downhill speed and direction. 
         [0005]    However, ski training harnesses in common use have several disadvantages. For example, some harnesses have a strap that attaches to the harness at the upper back portion, rather than at the waist. These are less suitable for small children because when an adult tugs on the straps they often cause the child to fall backwards. Other harnesses have strap attachment points only at the left and right sides of the waist. This is fine for teaching children to ski, but is not useful for teaching a child to snowboard. Also, the straps of the ski harnesses described to date are of a fixed length. This presents issues with respect to both convenience and safety when the strap is not in use, such as when the child is preparing to get on a chair-lift or gondola. At that point the strap, which is typically 10-20 feet long, either must be rolled up or disconnected from the harness, and held by either the child or an adult assistant. In either case, much care must be taken to ensure that the strap not be allowed to drop or become unrolled as either event can cause a serious safety hazard. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,424040 describes a ski training halter adapted for positioning on a person below his or her waist and to extend across the person&#39;s front, lower abdominal region to the respective left and right hip regions of the student&#39;s body. The training halter also includes portions adapted to be positioned around the upper portions of the student&#39;s thighs and interconnected with the portions extending across the student&#39;s lower abdominal and hip regions. Adjustable and detachable fasteners are provided to maintain the training halter in proper, taut position on the person&#39;s body, and elongated reins are detachably connected to the training halter and extended to a location rearwardly of the person where another person can be positioned safely on skis to hold the reins and use them to exert restraining and turning forces on the training halter. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,795 describes a method for teaching children to ski using a wide torso encircling band and two pairs of reins of different length. At an early stage of learning, the instructor straddles the child and uses short reins to directly control the speed and direction of the child and the pair of ski slowly. At a later stage of learning, the instructor backs away from the child and uses the long reins to directly control the child&#39;s speed and indirectly control the child&#39;s direction. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,191 describes a harness for use by adults or children in learning certain sporting activities such as snow skiing wherein handles are conveniently disposed for gripping by individuals helping a user of the harness. The harness is provided with unique means for positively positioning the harness on a user for optimal control. 
         [0009]    Retractable pet leashes provide for variable attachment, in distance, between a pet and the owner. These devices typically have a wind-up spool disposed in a housing with a thumb-actuated brake for controlling the amount of leash to be dispensed. 
         [0010]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,320 describes a hand-held apparatus which dispenses, retracts and locks an animal leash in a desired position. The apparatus includes a spool housing sized to store a length of cord and a handle portion adapted to be grasped in the hand of a user. The spool housing rotably mounts a spool having the length of cord wrapped thereabout with the distal end of the cord being attachable to an animal collar. A coil spring is mounted between the spool and spool housing to continuously bias the length of cord in a retracted position about the spool. A high strength locking mechanism adapted to selectively apply friction to the spool and positively prevent the cord from being dispensed or retracted from the spool is provided which is actuable by way of a trigger lever formed on the handle portion of the housing. A cam actuator stop is additionally provided to maintain the locking mechanism in a locked orientation. 
         [0011]    Also, U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,260 describes a retractable pet leash that can alternatively be held in a user&#39;s hand or secured to a belt worn around the user&#39;s waist. The leash is retractable inside an enclosure designed to conform generally to the shape of a user&#39;s hip or waist. The retractor retracts a first length of leash that has a first connector coupled to its distal end. The first connector can be coupled to a second connector that is coupled to a handle portion of a second length of leash. The connectors allow the user to disconnect the second length of leash from the retractor. 
         [0012]    There exists a continuing need for a ski training harness having retractable leashes which may be safely and conveniently secured to the harness when not in use. Ideally, given the increased popularity of snowboarding, the ski training harness also should be adapted such that it is equally useful in teaching children to snowboard. The present invention substantially fulfills this need. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The present invention is directed to a ski training harness comprising: (a) an adjustable, releasable waist strap extending horizontally around the waist of a child, the waist strap comprising closure means at each of its two terminal ends for securing the waist strap to a child; (b) a pair of adjustable, removable shoulder straps connected to the waist strap at a front and rear location relative to a child and adapted to extend over a child&#39;s shoulders; (c) a back strap interconnecting the shoulder straps at the back of a child, wherein the back strap comprises a handle adapted to allow an adult wearing ski gloves to easily grasp the handle; (d) an adjustable, releasable chest strap interconnecting the shoulder straps at the chest of a child; (e) a pair of adjustable leg straps having opposite ends connected to the waist strap at a front and rear location relative to a child, wherein each of the leg straps is adapted to enclose a child&#39;s leg; (f) a pair of retractable leashes connected to the waist strap at a left-side and right-side location relative to a child, wherein each of the retractable leashes comprises a handle adapted to allow an adult wearing ski gloves to easily grasp the leash handle, a portion of each of said leashes extending from each of said handles; and (g) means for securing the pair of leash handles to the waist strap. 
         [0014]    The present invention also is directed to a ski training harness comprising: (a) an adjustable, releasable waist strap extending horizontally around the waist of a child, the waist strap comprising closure means at each of its two terminal ends for securing the waist strap to a child; (b) a pair of adjustable leg straps having opposite ends connected to the waist strap at a front and rear location relative to a child, wherein each of the leg straps is adapted to enclose a child&#39;s leg; (c) a pair of retractable leashes connected to the waist strap at a front and rear location relative to a child, wherein each of the retractable leashes comprises a handle adapted to allow an adult wearing ski gloves to easily grasp the leash handle, a portion of each of said leashes extending from each of said handles; and (d) means for securing the pair of leash handles to the waist strap. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a ski training harness of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the present invention, illustrating a retractable leash secured in a holster. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a leash handle and retractable leash of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the present invention, illustrating the shoulder straps, and the interconnecting chest strap and back strap. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the waist portion of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the leg strap portion of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0023]    In the following description of the invention similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
         [0024]    As used herein the term “ski training harness” refers to ski training harnesses, snowboard training harnesses and harnesses suitable for both skiing and snowboarding training. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]      FIG. 1  shows ski training harness  10  having waist strap  20 , leg straps  30 , shoulder straps  40 , back strap  50 , chest strap  60 , retractable leash handles  70  and holsters  80 . Retractable leashes  75  are contained in leash handles  70 , and are not shown in  FIG. 1 . Waist strap  20  is adjustable and has buckle-type fastener  22 , which allows waist strap  20  to be secured around the waist of a child. Leash rings  24  are provided at the front, left-side, right-side and back portions of waist strap  20 . Leash rings  24  allow a user to clip retractable leashes  75  to waist strap  20 . The left-side and right-side leash rings  24  are used when connecting retractable leashes  75  to the waist strap  20  of a skier. Alternatively, the front and back leash rings  24  are used when connecting retractable leashes  75  to the waist strap  20  of a snowboarder. 
         [0026]    Shoulder straps  40  extend over the shoulders of a child. Shoulder straps  40  are adjustable and are attached to waist strap  20  with buckle-type fasteners  42  at the front and rear portions of waist strap  20 . Back strap  50  interconnects shoulder straps  40  along the upper portion of the back of a child, and contains back strap handle  55 . Back strap handle  55  allows an adult to grasp the shoulder strap and lift a child into a standing position or to stabilize a standing child. Back strap handle  55  includes an opening large enough for an adult wearing ski gloves or mittens to easily grasp the handle. Chest strap  60  interconnects should straps  40  at the chest of a child. Chest strap  60  is adjustable and releaseable, and includes buckle-type fastener  62 . 
         [0027]    Shoulder straps  40  are releaseable from waist strap  20 . Therefore, as the child becomes more skilled at skiing and/or snowboarding, the ski harness may be used without shoulder straps  40 . 
         [0028]    Leg straps  30  fit around the upper portion of a child&#39;s legs. Leg straps  30  are adjustable, and are attached to waist strap  20  with buckle-type fasteners  32  at the front portion and with leg straps ring  26  (see  FIG. 4 ) at the rear portion of waist strap  20 . 
         [0029]    Holsters  80  are secured to the left-side and right-side portions of waist strap  20 , and may be used to safely and conveniently store retractable leash handles  70  when not in use. For example, retractable leash handles  70  may be stored in holsters  80  when a child wearing ski harness  10  is preparing to get on a ski chair-lift or gondola. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of waist strap  20  having leash rings  24  and holster  80 . Leash handle  70  is stored within holster  80 . Retractable leash  75  is shown in its retracted position and is attached to waist strap  20  using leash clip  78 , which is located at the terminal portion of retractable leash  75 , and leash ring  24 . Holster  80  includes buckle-type fastener  82  for securing leash handle  70  within holster  80 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of leash handle  70  having retractable leash  75  in a partially extended position and thumb actuated brake  76 . Thumb actuated brake  76  allows leash  75  to be locked at fixed extension lengths relative to leash handle  70 .  FIG. 3  also shows leash clip  78 , which is located at the terminal portion of retractable leash  75 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  shows a front view of shoulder straps  40 , back strap  50 , which interconnects shoulder straps  40  along the upper portion of the back of a child, and chest strap  60 , which interconnects should straps  40  at the chest of a child. Chest strap  60  is adjustable and releaseable, and includes buckle-type fastener  62 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  shows a rear view of shoulder straps  40 , back strap  50 , which interconnects shoulder straps  40  along the upper portion of the back of a child, and back strap handle  55 .  FIG. 5  also shows buckle-type fasteners  42 , which connect shoulder straps  40  to waist strap  20 , as well as back leash ring  24 , leg strap ring  26  and leg straps  30 . Back leash rings  24  is used, along with front leash ring  24  (see  FIG. 1 ) when connecting retractable leashes  75  to the waist strap  20  of a snowboarder. Leg strap ring  26  is used for securing leg straps  30  to the back portion of waist strap  20 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  shows the front portion of waist strap  20 . Waist strap  20  includes, along its front portion, buckle-type fastener  22 , leash rings  24 .  FIG. 6  also show buckle-type fasteners  42 , which connect shoulder straps  40  (see  FIG. 1 ) to waist strap  20  at the front portion of waist strap  20 . One of leash rings  24  located on the front of waist strap  20  is used, along with back leash ring  24  (see  FIG. 5 ), when connecting retractable leashes  75  to the waist strap  20  of a snowboarder. 
         [0035]      FIG. 7  shows a front view of leg straps  30  while not showing waist strap  20  to which it is attached. Leg straps  30  are attached to waist strap  20  with buckle-type fasteners  32  at the front portion and with leg straps ring  26  at the rear portion of waist strap  20 . 
         [0036]    In the embodiments of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1-7  and described above, buckle-type fasteners are used for securing strap ends to one another. Thus, waist strap  20  contains buckle-type fastener  22 , leg straps  30  contain buckle-type fasteners  32 , shoulder straps  40  contain buckle-type fasteners  42 , chest strap  60  contains buckle-type fastener  62  and holsters  80  contain buckle-type fasteners  82 . Of course, any mechanical fastener which facilitates connecting strap ends to one another may be used in place of buckle-type fasteners. Such alternative mechanical fasteners include, for example, hook-and-loop fasteners, clips, buttons or any combination thereof. 
         [0037]    While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Modifications may be made by persons skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings, without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims. 
         [0038]    All of the U.S. patents referred to in this specification are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety to the extent not inconsistent with the present description.

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