U.S. patent number 3,714,803 [Application Number 05/093,220] was granted by the patent office on 1973-02-06 for ski lock.
Invention is credited to Norman Chenenko.
United States Patent |
3,714,803 |
Chenenko |
February 6, 1973 |
SKI LOCK
Abstract
A ski lock adapted to be mounted on one of a pair of skis and
being normally in the unlocked position and adapted to be altered
to a locked condition whereby the pair of skis is affixed to a
support. Retractable means are mounted in a housing and are adapted
to be partially extended through an opening in the housing. A
two-piece fastener is provided with one part of the fastener on the
exterior of the housing and the other part of the fastener
connected to the retractable means. There are means in the housing
to facilitate the extension and retraction of the retractable means
which is attachable to the support and the other ski with the
two-part fastener in locked engagement thereby locking the skis to
the support to minimize the danger of the skis being stolen until
it is desirable to utilize the skis whereupon the parts of the
fastener are unlocked and disengaged.
Inventors: |
Chenenko; Norman (Oceanside,
NY) |
Family
ID: |
22237805 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/093,220 |
Filed: |
November 27, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
70/58;
280/814 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C
11/007 (20130101); Y10T 70/5009 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
A63C
11/00 (20060101); E05b 073/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;70/14,15,57,58,49,50
;280/11.37R,11.37K,11.3 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wolfe; Robert L.
Claims
I claim:
1. A ski lock mounted on one of a pair of skis and being normally
in the unlocked position and adapted to be altered to a locked
condition whereby said pair of skis is affixed to a support, the
lock comprising:
a housing having means thereon for attachment to said one ski;
a chain having one end mounted in said housing;
an opening in the exterior of said housing to permit passage of
said chain therethrough;
a two-piece fastener including locking means with one part of said
fastener on the exterior of said housing and the other part of said
fastener connected to the other end of said chain;
a spindle rotatably mounted inside said housing;
a spring in said housing;
said chain and spring being associated with said spindle so that
when said chain is pulled outwardly from the opening in said
housing, said spindle will rotate in one direction and a load will
be placed on said spring and when said chain is released, said
spring will automatically return to its relaxed position and rotate
said spindle in the opposite direction and draw said chain back
into said housing;
said chain being attachable to the support and said other ski with
the parts of said fastener in locked engagement thereby locking
said skis to said support to minimize the danger of said skis being
stolen until it is desirable to utilize the skis when the parts of
the fastener are unlocked and disengaged to permit the chain to be
automatically returned by said spring into said housing; and
the lock assembly adapted to be entirely mounted on said ski to
eliminate the necessity of any additional disconnected components
to operate the lock and locking means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The recreational attraction of skiing at the present time is well
known to those familiar with the sport. Each year an
ever-increasing number of people are indulging in this sport. In
recent years, particularly with the large number of people
congregated about populous ski areas, a significant problem has
arisen. This problem involves stolen property, particularly the
loss of skis and ski poles, for the average skier.
The thievery or misappropriation of the skis and poles generally
occurs when the skier takes a break during a day. Often it is to go
indoors for some reason such as for food or drink. In that
instance, he must leave his skis outside the building. Many skiing
areas provide a bar against which the skis and poles may be rested
while the skier is inside the building. Thereafter, when the skier
returns to pick up his skis, more and more frequently he is finding
that they have been taken from where he has left them.
This problem has given rise to many attempts to provide a
satisfactory means for protecting the skier from loss of his skis
and poles in this manner. For example, many skiers are carrying a
chain and lock arrangement around with them in their pocket so that
they can lock the bindings of the skis to the poles and the support
bar when they go indoors. This solution facilitates the locking
function; however, it is quite unwieldy for a skier to carry a
heavy chain and lock around on his person during the day. It is
quite an inconvenience.
Another solution which has been attempted is a provision of a
sophisticated locking mechanism in the ski pole itself, or
alternatively, an expensive and sophisticated interlocking plate
arrangement on the pair of skis. These particular solutions are
quite expensive and complicated to operate. Additionally, the
location suggested for these types of locking mechanisms in respect
to the skis and poles creates a different problem for the skier.
This is in regard to distribution of weight of the skier's
equipment. Any imbalance in the weight distribution with respect to
the skis and poles could naturally adversely affect the skill and
control of the skier during down-hill travel. For similar reasons,
the skier is not pleased with the prospect of having to carry a
heavy chain and lock around in his clothing which also might affect
his balance during travel down the ski slope.
With the above in mind, it is readily apparent that an inexpensive
lock which may be inconspicuously mounted on the skis without
substantially affecting the weight distribution of the skier and
which may be quickly and efficiently shifted between the locked and
unlocked positions in order to easily protect the skis and
associated poles from theft when not in use would be extremely
advantageous to skiers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A ski lock is provided which is adapted to be mounted on one of a
pair of skis and is normally in the unlocked position. A lock is
adapted to be altered to a locked condition whereby the pair of
skis is affixed to a support. The lock includes a housing mounted
to one of the skis with retractable means mounted in the housing
which are adapted to be partially extended through an opening in
the housing. A two-piece fastener is provided with one part of the
fastener on the exterior of the housing and the other part of the
fastener connected to the retractable means. Means are positioned
in the housing to facilitate the extension and retraction of the
retractable means. The retractable means are attachable to the
support and to the other ski with the two-part fastener in locked
engagement to thereby lock the skis to the support to minimize the
danger of said skis being stolen until it is desirable to utilize
the skis whereupon the parts of the fastener are unlocked and
disengaged.
Among the primary objectives of the invention is to provide a low
cost and efficiently operable locking mechanism which may be
mounted on a ski in a position and manner where it will not
interfere with normal activity of the skier. Additionally, it must
be a locking mechanism which may quickly and efficiently be
operated to lock the skis, and if desired, the poles to a support
means such as a rest bar in a ski area and which may be also easily
unlocked and quickly and efficiently stored when it is desirable
once again to utilize the skis. Additionally, it should be kept in
mind that the locking mechanism should be unitary in construction
so that no additional parts such as loose lock members, keys or
chains need be employed in either locking or unlocking the ski
lock. A compact one-piece system is provided.
With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the
attached drawing embodying the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ski lock of the invention
showing the lock mounted to a ski in the locked position so as to
lock a pair of skis and accompanying poles to a support bar;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top view of the ski lock of the
invention mounted on a ski in the unlocked condition; and
FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation view thereof taken along the plane
of line 3--3 of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown in FIG. 1, the ski lock 20 is adapted to be mounted in a
convenient manner to one ski 21 of a pair of skis. The companion
ski 22 may or may not have a receptacle 23 to receive a portion of
lock 20 as will be discussed in detail below. With certain types of
bindings, a receptacle 23 is not needed. In other instances, a
receptacle 23 could be effectively utilized in order to lock ski 22
with ski 21 to a support bar 24 as shown in FIG. 1. Additionally,
the poles 25 and 26 which the skier would utilize with his pair of
skis may also be locked to support bar 24 with skis 21 and 22 by
means of ski lock 20 as shown in FIG. 1 and as will be discussed in
detail below.
Ski lock 20 includes a base plate 27 and a hollow cup 28 affixed to
base plate 27 which together form housing 29 containing an interior
chamber 30 to house the moving components of ski lock 20.
Base plate 27 of housing 29 is mounted to ski 21 in a convenient
manner such as by screws or bolts 31. The preferable place for
mounting of lock 20 is adjacent to and in front of binding 32 of
ski 21. In this location, the lock is positioned approximately at
the center of weight of the skier during actual travel down the ski
slope. Consequently, there would be little or no effect on the
efficiency of the skier. In any event, the housing of lock 20 can
be constructed of light-weight material such as plastic which would
also greatly reduce the weight factor of the lock upon the ski. If
desired, a balancing weight can be positioned on ski 22 to maintain
the uniform distribution of weight upon the respective pair of
skis. The weight would be positioned at approximately the same
location on ski 22 as lock 20 is positioned on ski 21. It could be
made doubly functional in that it could provide the receptacle mean
23 which operates with lock 20 during the locking function. As
stated above, the preferable location for the lock would be
adjacent to and in front of the binding of the ski, however, it may
be positioned at any other convenient location along the length of
ski 21.
Housing 20 also contains a fixed central shaft 33 and a spindle 34
mounted on fixed shaft 33 and rotatable with respect thereto.
Spindle 34 has a lower cup-shaped portion 35 which provides a
chamber for a fixed coiled negater spring 36. Other well known
return spring devices may also be utilized in a similar manner.
Spring 36 is caged in position by means of the cup 35 of spindle 34
and the top face of the inner portion of base plate 27. The inner
end 37 of spring 36 is mounted in fixed shaft 33 in any convenient
manner. For example, in FIG. 3, inner end 37 is positioned in a
corresponding slot in shaft 33. The outer end 38 of spring 36 is
fixed to the side wall of cup portion 35 of spindle 34.
Consequently, if spindle 34 is rotated in one direction, a load
will be placed on negater spring 36 as it is more tightly coiled.
Upon release of spindle 34, spring 36 will tend to return to its
original position and will therefore rotate spindle 34 in an
opposing direction.
The upper portion of spindle 34 contains two cylindrical flanges 39
and 40 which form a recess therebetween to receive a retractable
chain 41. Chain 41 may be of the type having metal links, as shown,
or may be a length of flexible metal cable or rope or any other
well known material commonly utilized for the same purpose. It is
fastened at its inner end 42 to spindle 34. It is then wound
concentrically on spindle 34 between flanges 39 and 40. The
opposite end 43 of chain 41 extends through opening 44 in housing
29 and has affixed thereto in a convenient manner half 45 of
fastener or combination lock 46. The other half 47 of combination
lock 46 is mounted permanently in a convenient manner to housing 29
such as by means of loop 48 extending from housing 29.
As stated above, lock 20 is preferably mounted adjacent to and in
front of binding 32 of ski 21. The entire lock assembly is
contained within or attached to housing 20. In the unlocked
position, all of the moving elements are contained within housing
20 with the exception of combination lock 46 and the outward end 43
of chain 41.
In operation, when it is desired to lock the skis and possibly the
poles to assure their safety while they are being left for a period
of time, reference is made once again to FIG. 1. The skis 21 and 23
as shown are positioned against support or rest bar 24 along with
poles 25 and 26. Part 45 of fastener or combination lock 46 is
grasped and chain 41 is pulled from housing 20. This is facilitated
by rotation of spindle 34 as chain 41 is unwound therefrom.
Naturally, as discussed above, as chain 41 is pulled from housing
20, the rotation of spindle 34 places a load upon spring 36 by more
tightly winding the coiled spring. As shown, the chain is passed
around support bar 24, through the two hand loops of poles 25 and
26 and then through a receptacle member 23 permanently mounted on
ski 22. In some instances, there are equivalent locations on the
mounted binding of ski 22 which will work equally as well as a
separate receptacle 23. It should be kept in mind that the
provision of receptacle 23 may also be utilized as a counterweight
for the added weight present in the form of lock 20. Alternatively,
if desired, a separate counterweight may be mounted on ski 22 to
balance the weight added to ski 21 by lock 20. Half 45 of fastener
46 and chain 41 being withdrawn from the housing 29 should pass
around support bar 24 and then through the hand loops of poles 25
and 26. Half 45 is then mated with half 47 of fastener or
combination lock 46 and the locking function is accomplished. The
skis and poles are locked to support bar 24 and cannot be removed
from that location without knowing the combination of fastener 46
or breaking the chain or lock. It should also be kept in mind that
other locks may be employed in place of combination lock 46. For
instance, a key type lock may be utilized if desired. However, the
combination lock shown is the preferred embodiment since no
additional elements such as a key is required for the entire lock
assembly.
Naturally, when the skis are to be once again utilized, combination
fastener 46 is unlocked and half 45 is released. Loaded spring 36
acting as a biasing means will then rotate spindle 34 in the
opposite direction thereby winding chain 41 back upon spindle 34
within housing 29. This will continue until substantially all of
chain 41 is once again contained within housing 29 and spring 36 is
in substantially the relaxed position. To assure that half 45 is
not drawn into housing 29 where access to it would be difficult for
subsequent use, half 45 of fastener 46 has a larger diameter than
opening 44 in the housing.
In this manner, a compact low cost ski lock is provided with a
minimum amount of component parts and which may be easily and
inconspicuously mounted on a ski and which may be quickly and
efficiently utilized to lock and unlock the skis and, if desirable,
a corresponding pair of poles to a support means.
Thus, the above objectives of the invention, among others, are most
effectively attained.
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