Ski-carrier strap device

Abstract

A strap device convertible from a waist belt to a ski-carrier and vice versa, comprises a single strap which is continuous in its length from one end to the other. A buckle member of mating buckle means, such as a hook and eye buckle, is attached to one end of the strap, and two length adjustment slides are attached to the strap for sliding positional adjustment along the length thereof. The other end of the strap is attached to the length adjustment slide nearest that end thereby forming a first loop of adjustable size. A second buckle member of the mating buckle means is positioned with the other length adjustment slide for movement therewith and is adapted to releasably engage the buckle member on the first-mentioned end of the strap to form a second loop of adjustable size. A third buckle member is slidably attached to the portion of the strap that forms the first loop, for free sliding movement therealong within the confines of such loop. In using the strap to carry a pair of skis, the second loop is formed and fastened around the pair of skis so as to hold the skis together in parallel relationship as a unitary bundle and to present the first loop as a handle for lifting and carrying the ski bundle. The first loop is normally placed over a shoulder of the skier, so that the pair of skis is carried in a convenient position at the skier's side, either horizontally or vertically. The strap device is reconvertible to a waist belt by unbuckling the second loop, adjusting the size of the first loop, and attaching the first-mentioned buckle member to the third buckle member.

Parent Case Text

RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is a divisional of my allowed copending application Ser. No. 367,446, filed June 6, 1973, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,841,542 entitled "Ski-Carrier Strap Device".

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field

The invention is concerned with devices used by skiers to carry their skis.

2. Prior Art

A ski-carrier is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,530,695 which comprises a central strap having buckle straps pivotally connected, respectively, to opposite ends of the central strap. Each buckle strap is looped and fastened around a pair of skis at mutually spaced positions along the length of the pair of skis. The central portion of the strap then serves as a handle for lifting and carrying the skis. The strap can also be used as a belt when not being used to carry skis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved strap device for carrying a pair of skis, wherein a single strap with buckle members and a length adjustment slide is adapted to form two loops, one of which loops can encircle and be fastened around the pair of skis near the midpoint thereof and the other can be slung over a shoulder of the skier for convenient carrying of the skis in either horizontal or vertical position as desired. There is only a single point of suspension between skis and skier in contradistinction to the usual two point suspension.

The strap device of this invention utilizes a length of suitable strap material, such as fabric webbing, having a buckle member of a mating buckle means, such as a hook and eye buckle, attached to one end thereof. A length adjustment slide is attached to the strap for sliding positional adjustment along the length thereof. The other end of the strap is attached to the length adjustment slide so that the portion of the strap between that end thereof and the length adjustment slide forms a first loop of adjustable size. A second buckle member of the mating buckle means is positioned with the length adjustment slide for movement therewith and is adapted to releasably engage the buckle member on the first-mentioned end of the strap, whereby the portion of the strap between the length adjustment slide and the first-mentioned end thereof forms a second loop of adjustable size.

In a somewhat different arrangement of the device according to the invention, two length adjustment slides are attached to the strap for sliding positional adjustment along the length thereof. The buckle member is attached to one end of the strap as described above. The other end of the strap is attached to the length adjustment slide nearest to it, thereby forming a first loop of adjustable size. The second buckle member is positioned with the other length adjustment slide and is adapted to releasably engage the buckle member on the first-mentioned end of the strap, whereby the portion of the strap between the other length adjustment slide and the first-mentioned end thereof forms a second loop of adjustable size.

In both of the above mentioned embodiments, a third buckle member of the mating buckle means is slidably attached to the portion of the strap that forms the first loop, for free sliding movement therealong within the confines of such loop. The third buckle member is adapted to releasably engage the first-mentioned buckle member to form the strap device into a waist belt of adjustable size.

The device is used as a ski-carrier by forming and fastening the second loop around a pair of skis so as to hold the skis together in parallel relationship as a unitary bundle and to present the first loop as a handle for lifting and carrying the ski bundle. The first loop is normally placed over a shoulder of the skier, so that the pair of skis is carried in a convenient position at the skier's side, either horizontally or vertically. The strap is reconvertible thereafter to a waist belt by disconnecting the second loop, adjusting the size of the first loop, and attaching the first-mentioned buckle member to the third buckle member.

THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings represent the best modes presently contemplated for carrying out the invention, although it is recognized that the inventive concepts here taught can be utilized in a variety of specific forms within the scope of the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view showing a skier carrying a pair of skis and a pair of ski poles in horizontal position by means of the strap device of the invention;

FIG. 2, a similar view showing the skier wearing the strap device as a waist belt;

FIG. 3, a perspective view of the strap device per se buckled as a waist belt, intermediate parts of the strap being broken out for convenience of illustration;

FIG. 4, a similar view of the strap device buckled as a skicarrier;

FIG. 5, an elevational view of the strap device unbuckled and extended lengthwise, intermediate parts of the strap being broken out.

FIG. 6, a top plan view of the strap device as shown in FIG. 5 and additionally illustrating in broken lines how it is looped and buckled as a waist belt;

FIG. 7, a similar view of the strap device with the shoulder loop extended and illustrating in broken lines how the device is looped and buckled as a ski carrier; and

FIG. 8, a fragmentary view corresponding to the lower part of FIG. 4 but showing a somewhat different length adjustment slide arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

In its illustrated form, the device of the invention comprises a single strap 10 which is continuous in its length from one end to the other end thereof. A buckle member 11, shown as the eye member of a hook and eye buckle, is attached to one end portion 10a of the strap. The end portion 10b of the strap is attached to the center bar 12 of a length adjustment slide 13, which is, in turn, slidably attached to the strap so that it can be moved therealong to adjust effective strap length.

The part of strap 10 between slide 13 and strap end portion 10a forms a loop 14 of size dependent upon the position of slide 13. As shown in FIGS. 1-7, a second buckle member 15, shown as the hook member of a hook and eye buckle, is anchored at length adjustment slide 13 by the end portion 10b of strap 10 which is looped about center bar 12 of slide 13. Buckle member 15 could, of course, be anchored at or to slide 13 in various other ways; for example, it could be attached directly to slide 13, as by welding, or slide 13 could be constructed such that buckle 15 is an integral part thereof. All that is required, is for buckle member 15 to be positioned adjacent slide 13 so as to be moveable therewith along strap 10.

The second buckle member 15 is adapted to releasably engage the first-mentioned buckle member 11 to thereby form a second loop 16 of adjustable size. In the arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, the sizes of loops 14 and 16 are dependent on the position of slide 13. As slide 13 is moved, the size of one of the loops increases and the size of the other decreases.

A somewhat different arrangement of the buckle is shown in FIG. 8, wherein the sizes of the respective loops 14 and 16 are, to a limited extent, independent of each other. In this arrangement, the end portion 10b of strap 10 is connected to slide 13 to form a loop 14 as described above for the arrangement of FIGS. 1-7. However, in the arrangement of FIG. 8, a second slide 17 is attached to strap 10 for sliding movement along that portion thereof that lies between the first slide 13 and the other end portion 10a of the strap. The second buckle member 15 is anchored at or to the second slide 17, so that the size of loop 16 can be adjusted without affecting the size of loop 14, and conversely, the size of loop 14 can be adjusted without affecting the size of loop 16.

In both arrangements, a third buckle member 18 is slidably attached to the portion of strap 10 which forms loop 14, for free sliding movement therealong within the confines of loop 14. Buckle member 18 is used when the device is formed into a waist belt as will be further described hereinafter.

Use of the device as a ski-carrier is shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, wherein the first-mentioned buckle member 11, which is attached to end portion 10a of strap 10, is releasably engaged with the second buckle member 15 to form loop 16. As shown in FIG. 1, loop 16 is formed and fastened around a pair of skis so as to hold the skis together in parallel relationship as a unitary bundle 19. Loop 14 is then presented as a handle for lifting and carrying the ski bundle. Ski poles 20 are conveniently carried along with the skis 19 in customary manner. In FIG. 1, loop 14 is shown placed over the skier's shoulder so that the ski bundle 19 is carried in a horizontal position at the skier's side. The skis could as well be carried in a vertical position.

Use of the device as a waist belt is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. For such use following its use as a ski carrier, loop 14 is adjusted to increase the total length of the device, and buckle member 11 is attached to buckle member 18 for buckling the belt about the waist of the skier.

Whereas the invention is here specifically illustrated and described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that this merely represents the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention and that variations may be made without departing from the claimed inventive concepts taught herein.

Claims

I claim:

1. A strap device convertible from a waist belt to a ski-carrier and vice versa, comprising a single strap continuous in length from one end to the other; a pair of mating buckle members with one buckle member thereof attached to one end portion of said strap; two length adjustment slide means attached to said strap for sliding positional adjustment along the length thereof; means attaching the other end portion of said strap to said slide means nearest that end to form a first loop of adjustable size; the second buckle member of said pair being positioned with the other of said slide means for movement with at least a part thereof therewith, said one buckle member being adapted to releasably engage said second buckle member to form a second loop of adjustable size; and a third buckle member adapted to mate with said one buckle member and being slidably attached to said strap within the extent of the first loop for sliding movement thereon, said device being capable of use as a ski-carrier by forming one of said loops around a pair of skis, which are positioned together in parallel relationship as a unitary bundle, and to present the other loop as a handle for lifting and carrying the ski bundle, and said device being capable of use as a waist belt thereafter by disconnecting said one buckle member and said second buckle member and by engaging said one buckle member with said third buckle member.

2. A strap device as defined by claim 1 wherein the mating buckle members are of hook and eye formation.