U.S. patent application number 12/689581 was filed with the patent office on 2011-07-21 for carrier for skis, snowboards, skateboards, surfboards and other recreational equipment.
This patent application is currently assigned to Bird Brain, Inc.. Invention is credited to Courtney A. King.
Application Number | 20110174857 12/689581 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44276833 |
Filed Date | 2011-07-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110174857 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
King; Courtney A. |
July 21, 2011 |
CARRIER FOR SKIS, SNOWBOARDS, SKATEBOARDS, SURFBOARDS AND OTHER
RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT
Abstract
A carrier for recreational equipment, such as skis, snowboards,
skateboards, surfboards, etc., comprising: An elongate main strap
having opposite ends and an upper surface defined between the
opposite ends, the upper surface bearing indicia thereon; at least
one securement strap extends generally transversely of the main
strap proximate each of the opposite ends thereof, the securement
straps capable of being selectively formed into closed loops; an
elongate shoulder strap having opposite terminal ends, each such
terminal end secured to one of the securement straps or the main
strap. When recreational equipment is being carried in the carrier,
the main strap overlies a surface of the recreational equipment so
that indicia on the upper surface of the main strap is visible.
Inventors: |
King; Courtney A.;
(Ypsilanti, MI) |
Assignee: |
Bird Brain, Inc.
Ypsilanti
MI
|
Family ID: |
44276833 |
Appl. No.: |
12/689581 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/602 ;
224/250; 224/258 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C 11/025 20130101;
A45F 3/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/602 ;
224/250; 224/258 |
International
Class: |
A45F 3/14 20060101
A45F003/14 |
Claims
1. A carrier for recreational equipment, such as skis, snowboards,
skateboards, surfboards, etc., the carrier comprising: an elongate
main strap having opposite ends and an upper surface defined
between said opposite ends, the upper surface bearing indicia
thereon; at least one securement strap extending generally
transversely of said main strap proximate each of the opposite ends
thereof, said securement straps capable of being selectively formed
into closed loops; an elongate shoulder strap having opposite
terminal ends, each such terminal end secured to one of the
securement straps or the main strap; and wherein, when recreational
equipment is being carried in the carrier, the main strap overlies
a surface of the recreational equipment so that indicia on the
upper surface of the main strap is visible.
2. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the length of the shoulder strap
between the opposite terminal ends thereof is adjustable.
3. The carrier of claim 2, wherein the shoulder strap is comprised
of at least two separate strap sections, each such strap section
comprising one of said terminal ends and a free end opposite
thereof, and wherein the opposite free end of one strap section is
adjustably connected to the opposite free end of the other strap
section so that the length of the shoulder strap between the
opposite terminal ends thereof is adjustable.
4. The carrier of claim 3, wherein the opposite free ends of the
strap sections are adjustably connected by a pair of rings.
5. The carrier of claim 1, wherein each securement strap has a
single free end comprising one portion of a hook and loop type
fastener, the complementary portion being provided proximate the
main strap, and whereby the free end of each securement strap is
capable of selective securement to the complementary portion to
thereby define the closed loop of sufficient dimensions to encircle
one of a pair of skis, a skateboard, a snowboard, a surfboard, or
the like.
6. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the opposite terminal ends of
the shoulder strap are secured to the securement straps, such that
the shoulder strap is disposed generally parallel to the main
strap.
7. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the opposite terminal ends of
the shoulder strap are each secured to the main strap.
8. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the securement straps each
define opposite free ends which extend generally transversely of
said main strap in opposite directions, each pair of opposite free
ends capable of being selectively connected to form closed
loops.
9. The carrier of claim 8, wherein each pair of opposite free ends
of the securement straps comprise complementary portions of a hook
and loop type fastener, whereby each pair of free ends are capable
of being selectively connected to form closed loops.
10. A carrier for skis, snowboards, skateboards, surfboards, etc.,
the carrier comprising: a flexible, elongate main strap having
opposite ends and an indicia-bearing surface defined between said
opposite ends; at least one flexible, elongate securement strap
secured proximate each of the opposite ends of the main strap, said
securement straps each capable of being formed into closed loops of
sufficient dimensions to encircle at least one of a pair of skis, a
skateboard, a snowboard, or a surfboard; a carrying strap having
opposite terminal ends each of which is secured to one of the
elongate securement straps or the main strap; and wherein, when the
securement straps are formed into closed loops encircling at least
one of a pair of skis, a skateboard, a snowboard, or a surfboard,
the main strap overlies a surface of the pair of skis, skateboard,
snowboard, surfboard or the like so that indicia on the
indicia-bearing surface of the main strap is visible.
11. The carrier of claim 10, wherein the length of the shoulder
strap between the opposite terminal ends thereof is adjustable.
12. The carrier of claim 11, wherein the carrying strap is
comprised of at least two separate strap sections, each such strap
section comprising one of said terminal ends and a free end
opposite thereof, and wherein the opposite free end of one strap
section is adjustably connected to the opposite free end of the
other strap section so that the length of the shoulder strap
between the opposite terminal ends thereof is adjustable.
13. The carrier of claim 12, wherein the opposite free ends of the
strap sections are adjustably connected by a pair of rings.
14. The carrier of claim 10, wherein each securement strap has a
single free end comprising one portion of a hook and loop type
fastener, the complementary portion being provided proximate the
main strap, and whereby the free end of each securement strap is
capable of selective securement to the complementary portion to
thereby define the closed loop of sufficient dimensions to encircle
one of a pair of skis, a skateboard, a snowboard, a surfboard, or
the like.
15. The carrier of claim 10, wherein the opposite terminal ends of
the carrying strap are each secured to the securement straps, such
that the carrying strap is disposed generally parallel to the main
strap.
16. The carrier of claim 10, wherein the opposite terminal ends of
the carrying strap are each secured to the main strap.
17. The carrier of claim 10, wherein the securement straps each
define opposite free ends which extend generally transversely of
said main strap in opposite directions, each pair of opposite free
ends capable of being selectively connected to form closed
loops.
18. The carrier of claim 17, wherein each pair of opposite free
ends of the securement straps comprise complementary portions of a
hook and loop type fastener, whereby each pair of free ends are
capable of being selectively connected to form closed loops.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a carrier for recreational
equipment such as snow skis, water skis, snowboards, skateboards
and the like, and more particularly to such a carrier featuring a
dedicated surface for bearing indicia such as advertising,
decorative graphics, etc.
BACKGROUND
[0002] It can be cumbersome to carry recreational equipment such as
skis, water skis, snowboards, skateboards, surfboards, etc. To
address this problem, numerous carrying devices have been
heretofore developed. Of these, the ski carrier of U.S. Pat. No.
4,114,838 exemplifies a simple solution in the form of a shoulder
strap having affixed to the opposite terminal ends thereof
perpendicularly-oriented end straps. The end straps include hook
and loop style fasteners to facilitate their securement about a
pair of skis. Once the end straps are so fastened, a user can carry
the skis by the shoulder strap.
[0003] While the foregoing and other solutions to the problem of
carrying such recreational articles have proven satisfactory, they
could be improved upon.
SUMMARY
[0004] The present invention improves upon the prior art by
providing a carrier for recreational equipment, such as skis,
snowboards, skateboards, surfboards, etc., the carrier comprising:
An elongate main strap having opposite ends and an upper surface
defined between said opposite ends, the upper surface bearing
indicia thereon; at least one securement strap extending generally
transversely of said main strap proximate each of the opposite ends
thereof, said securement straps capable of being selectively formed
into closed loops; an elongate shoulder strap having opposite
terminal ends, each such terminal end secured to one of the
securement straps or the main strap; and wherein, when recreational
equipment is being carried in the carrier, the main strap overlies
a surface of the recreational equipment so that indicia on the
upper surface of the main strap is visible.
[0005] According to one embodiment, the length of the shoulder
strap between the opposite terminal ends thereof is adjustable.
Further according to this embodiment, the shoulder strap may be
comprised of at least two separate strap sections, each such strap
section comprising one of said terminal ends and a free end
opposite thereof, and wherein the opposite free end of one strap
section is adjustably connected to the opposite free end of the
other strap section so that the length of the shoulder strap
between the opposite terminal ends thereof is adjustable. In one
embodiment, the opposite free ends of the strap sections may be
adjustably connected by a pair of rings.
[0006] Per another feature of the invention, each securement strap
has a single free end comprising one portion of a hook and loop
type fastener, the complementary portion being provided proximate
the main strap, and whereby the free end of each securement Strap
is capable of selective securement to the complementary portion to
thereby define the closed loop of sufficient dimensions to encircle
one of a pair of skis, a skateboard, a snowboard, a surfboard, or
the like.
[0007] According to a further feature, the opposite terminal ends
of the shoulder strap may be secured to the securement straps, such
that the shoulder strap is disposed generally parallel to the main
strap. Alternatively, the opposite terminal ends of the shoulder
strap may each be secured to the main strap.
[0008] Per one embodiment, the securement straps each define
opposite free ends which extend generally transversely of said main
strap in opposite directions, each pair of opposite free ends
capable of being selectively connected to form closed loops.
According to one feature, each pair of opposite free ends of the
securement straps may comprise complementary portions of a hook and
loop type fastener, whereby each pair of free ends are capable of
being selectively connected to form closed loops.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The present invention will be appreciated from the following
description and accompanying drawings, of which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inventive carrier
according to an exemplary embodiment thereof;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of one embodiment of means for
adjustably connecting separate strap sections of the shoulder
strap;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inventive carrier
according to an alternative embodiment thereof;
[0013] FIG. 4 depicts the inventive carrier in an exemplary
operational environment in which it is employed to carry a pair of
skis; and
[0014] FIG. 5 depicts the inventive carrier in another exemplary
operational environment in which it is employed to carry a
snowboard.
WRITTEN DESCRIPTION
[0015] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that
may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The accompanying
drawings are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be
exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components.
Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed
herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a
representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to
variously employ the present invention.
[0016] Referring now to the drawings, there is disclosed a carrier
for recreational equipment such as skis, snowboards, skateboards,
surfboards, etc. As shown particularly in FIG. 1, the carrier
according to an exemplary embodiment generally comprises an
elongate main strap 10 having opposite ends 10a, 10b and an upper
surface 11 defined between the opposite ends. The upper surface 11
is capable of bearing indicia 12 thereon, such as advertising,
graphics, etc.
[0017] At least one elongate securement strap 13a, 13b is secured
to and extends generally transversely of the main strap 10
proximate each of the opposite ends 10a, 10b thereof. Each
securement strap 13a, 13b is capable of being formed into closed
loops of sufficient dimensions to encircle at least one of a pair
of skis, a skateboard, a snowboard, a surfboard, etc., such as
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. As will be appreciated, the securement
straps 13a, 13b may be dimensioned to form closed loops of
dimensions sufficient to accommodate only a specific type of
recreational equipment (e.g., a pair of skis, a snowboard, etc.)
or, in the alternative, may be of sufficient length (or even of
adjustable length) so as to permit the selective formation of
closed loops of varying dimensions to thereby permit the carrier to
be adapted to carry a variety of recreational equipment.
[0018] It is contemplated that the number and manner of forming the
securement straps into closed loops may be varied. According to the
embodiment of FIG. 1, for instance, a single securement strap 13a,
13b is provided proximate each of the opposite ends 10a, 10b of the
main strap 10, and each securement strap has a single free end 13c,
13d, respectively, comprising one portion 15 of a hook and loop
type fastener, the complementary portion 16 being provided
proximate the main strap 10.
[0019] According to an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, the
securement straps 13a', 13b' each define opposite free ends 13c',
13e' and 13d', 13f', respectively, which opposite free ends extend
generally transversely of the main strap 10 in opposite directions.
As with the foregoing embodiment, each pair of opposite free ends
13c', 13e' and 13d', 13f' of the securement straps comprise
complementary portions 15', 16' of a hook and loop type fastener,
whereby each pair of opposite free ends 13c', 13e' and 13d', 13f'
are capable of being selectively connected to form closed
loops.
[0020] Of course, other conventional fastening means, including, by
way of non-limiting example, snaps, D-rings, buckles, etc. may be
substituted for the hook and loop type fasteners of the foregoing
embodiments.
[0021] With reference again being had to FIG. 1, an elongate
shoulder strap 14 includes opposite terminal ends 14a, 14b, each of
which is secured to one of the elongated securement straps 13a,
13b, as shown, or to the main strap 10.
[0022] The components of the carrier as heretofore described may be
made of any suitable material including, by way of non-limiting
example, fabric such as nylon, canvas, etc. Preferably, though not
necessarily, the material of the carrier is suitably flexible to
permit the carrier to be folded into a relatively compact condition
for easy stowage and/or transportation when not in use.
[0023] As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the securement straps
13a,13b or 13a'',13b'', respectively, are formed into closed loops
encircling at least one of a pair of skis (FIG. 4), a skateboard, a
snowboard (FIG. 5), a surfboard, or other item of recreational
equipment, the main strap 10 or 10'' overlies a surface of the
recreational equipment so that indicia 12 or 12'' provided on the
upper surface 11 or 11'' of the main strap 10 or 10'' is visible
(such as, for instance, to an observer located behind the user when
the carrier is worn over the shoulder, such as shown in FIGS. 4 and
5).
[0024] The shoulder strap 14 may constitute an element of fixed
length (such as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 or, optionally, the may be
adjustable. To this latter end, the shoulder strap 14 is comprised
of at least two separate strap sections 14c, 14d, each such strap
section comprising one of said terminal ends 14a, 14b and a free
end 14e, 14f oppositely thereof. According to this optional
embodiment, the opposite free end 14e or 14f of one strap section
14c or 14d is adjustably connected to the opposite free end 14e or
14f of the other strap section 14c or 14d so that the length of the
carrying strap between the opposite terminal ends 14a, 14b thereof
is adjustable.
[0025] As desired, the adjustable connection between the opposite
free ends 14e, 14f of the strap sections 14c, 14d may be
accomplished by a pair of rings 20, such as the conventional
"D"-rings shown in FIG. 1, via an adjustable buckle 25 of
conventional construction, such as shown in FIG. 2, via the
provision of complementary hook and loop type fastening means
proximate the opposite free ends 14e, 14f (not shown), or any other
conventional means known to those skilled in the art.
[0026] The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the
invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and
variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be
acquired from practice of the innovation. The embodiments are shown
and described in order to explain the principals of the innovation
and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to
utilize the innovation in various embodiments and with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have
been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the
art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many
modifications are possible without materially departing from the
novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited.
Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included
within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions,
modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design,
operating conditions and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments
without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.
* * * * *