Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENIION
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In carrying ski equipment, particularly over the long
distances from parking lot to ski lift, it is desira~le to be
able to tie the equipment together to form a compact bundle that
can be carried in one hand by means of a handle. Conventional
ties are only suitable for holding skis together, are bulky and
awkward to use and, because ofangular metal parts, are difficult
and, indeed, dangerous to carry while skiing. The present
invention provides a tie which readily assembles to securely
strap any size skis and poles together, which is rapidly release,
and which is easily and safely carried about when not in use.
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rhe tie co~npri,cs an ~long~e, ~lcxible tape ha~ing opposite
free end segments which matingly ~ngage adjacent por~tions of
a central sec3ment Oli the same tape side via coupling surfaces
formed of filam~ntary loops and hooks. The free end segments
are threaded tlixough respective ones of a pair of eyes
operable on the opposite tape side, are bent back, cinched
tightly and coupled to the central segmen~ to form a figure
eight, the loops of which separately enclose the skis and
~;~ poles. A pair o~ ties can be used to secure the opposite ends
of an assembly of a pair of skis and a pair of poles. When
not in use, each tie can be simply wrapped around a ski pole
and secured thcreon by its own coupling surfaces, or safely
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carried unobtrusively in one's pocket. When the s~is are
; stored, the ties can be used in single loop fashion to secure
them togethér ~ithout affecting the can~er of the skis.
In one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a tie for securing together a pair of skis and a pair
i! ~ of ski poles, comprising:
i!: an elongate flexible tape having opposite free end
segments and a central segment therebetween, each free end
, segment and a respective portion of said central segment adjacent
thereto having, on a first side of said tape, interengagable
surface portidns including a first surface portion provided with
a multiplicity of male hook-shaped filamentary members and a
second surface portion provided with a multiplicity of female
loop-shaped filamentary members releasably interengagable with
said male filamentary members; and
first and second eyes for receiving therethrough
respective ones of said free end segments located on said central
segment between said free end segments and spaced one from the
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other on a second side of said tape to define a flexible spacer
segment therebetween, each eye being longitudinally spaced from
at least part of the adjacent inter-engagable surface portion of
said central segment and from a respective free end segment to
define first and second free end tape segments whereby first ..
and second enclosures for said skis and said ski poles,
respectively, can be formed by threading said free end segments : .
through said first and second eyes, respectively, for retention -:~
by engagement of their filamentary surfaces;with the filamentary
10 surfaces of respective adjacent portions of said central ' .
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; segment, said first and second enclosures being spaced apart
by s:aid spacer segmfent. :-
BR~F DESCRII?TIOi~ OE THE DRAWINGS
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' FIGURE 1 i5 a perspective view o~ a tie according
to the present invention;
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~ FIGURE 2 is a perspective view partly in cross-sefction 1.
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of the junctur.e ~etween s~rap portions in accordance with an
~20~ ternntlve em~od.iment;
: :FIfGURE 3 is a perspective view of the strap of
Fig;ure l~ormed into a figure eight configuration; . . ~.
FIGURE ~ is a perspective view of a pair of skis ...
nd :a:pair~o s~;i poles strapped tc~gether with ties of this
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invention; and . . :~
FIGU~E 5 is a view 011 line 5-5 of Figure 4.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to Figure 1, in one embodiment, a
tie 10 of the present invention is in the form of an elongate ~ -
strip of flexible tape material which can be of cloth, polymer -
yarn, plastic or the like, and is exemplified by a nylon tape.
The strip includes a central segment 12 and two free end seg-
ment 14 and 16 integrally connected thereto. The upper surface
of each end segment 14 and 16 is provided with means which
10 couple with conjugate means on the upper surface of the ;
central segment 12. In the present illustration, the upper
surface of each end segment 14 and 16 consists of a multipli- ;
city of small filamentary hook members of curled or crinkled
configuration constituting a sort of mat surface. The upper
surface of the central segment 12 is formed of a mating
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surface consisting of a multiplicity of small loops made of -
filamentary material, the material being stiff enough so
that the loops project outwardly from the face of the tape. ~-
The two types of surfaces display the property that when
they are broughtinto juxtaposition, a number of the individual
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filamentary hook members become intertwined with the outwardly
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projecting loops and thereby retain the parts in coupled or
fastened relation. Preferably, the interengaging surfaces
are those incorporated in fastening tapes sold commercially
under the trademark "VELCRO" by Velcro Corp., New York, Mew
York. In this regard, one or more of the following "VELCRO"
U. S. Patents can be of interest: 2,717,437, 3,000,084,
3,009,235, 3,076,244, 3,130,111, 3,147,528, 3,154,837,
3,192,589 and 3,387,345.
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The surfaces may be readily separated from one
another by peeling apart,but when fastened, they strongly
resist longitudinal movement. For convenience of reference,
the surfaces of the end segments 14 and 16, with their
individual filamentary hook members forming mats, may be - ;
referred to as male surfaces, while the surface of the
central segment 12 with its multiplicity of loops of
filamentary material may be referred to as a femalesurface.
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10~ Referring further to Figure 1, the present tie
also includes a pair of eyes 18 and 20, each formed of
metal~ or plastic loops. Each eye 18 and 20 is connected
to~the central segment 12 so as to be operable on the
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;side of the tape opposite the filamentary material; i.e.,
the~eyes 18~ and 20 serve as loops for the end segments 14
and 16 whereby *he end segments 14 and 16 can be doubled -~
back, cinched tightly and coupled to~the central segment 12 -
to form the loops of a figure eight. The eyes 18 and 20 are
located intermedlate the end segments 14 and 16 spaced
~longitudinally therefrom and from at least a portion of the
adjacent mating surfaces therefor of the central region 12.
In~the~embodiment illuotrated, the eyes 18 and 20 are located
closely~adjacent~one to the other on the same half of the
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; central segment~and~at approximately one-third of the total
length of the tie. By such configuration, loops of the
appropriate different sizes can be formed, as will be described
hereinafter, for securement of skis and ski poles, respectively
~ and to each other.
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The eyes 18 and 20 are secured to the tie by - . :
suitable means, such as passing the tie therethrough and :
forming retaining loops 22 and 24 by stitching such as at
26 and 28. Additionally, a reinforcing strip of the same
type surface, i.e., female, is secured by stitching 30 to .
the central segment 12 bridging the location of the eyes 18
and 20 to add strength at the eye junctures.
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In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the end
segments 14 and 16 are joined to the central segment 12
by stitching 32 and 34. Referring now to Figure 2, an . : .
alternative embodiment is illustrated wherein the surfaces ~ :.
of the end segments, such as 14', are joined to the central ` :
segment 12' by means of heat-sealing adhesive 36, as known,
applied to a top surface portion of the central segment 12' .~:
from which the filamentary female surface has been removed :
(or which is originally manufactu~.ed with a bare surface). -
It will be appreciated that a reverse configuration can be .
used and that the other junctions which are illustrated in
Figure 1 as stitched c.an also be connected by the use of
; heat-sealing adhesive or the like. . .
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Referring now to Figure 3, to form a figure eight : .
configuration, each end segment 14 and 16 is threaded through .
an eye 18 and 20, respectively, and doubled back so that its
male surface matingly confronts the adj.acent female surface . :
of the central segment 12. :.
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Referring to Figure 4, there is illustrated the : :
manner of securement of a pair of skis 38 and 40 and ski
poles 42 and 44. The end segment 14 of the short end of the
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tie 10 is wrapped around the poles 42 and 44, threaded through
its eye 18, doubled back, cinched tightly, and secured against -
an adjacent female portion of the central segment 12. In like
manner, the end segment 16 of the long end of the tie 10 is --
wrapped around one end of the skis 38 and 40, threaded through
its eye 20, doubled back,cinched tightly, and secured against
an adjacent female portion of the central segment 12. In
similar manner, the opposite ends of the ski poles 42 and 44
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and skis 38 and 40 are secured by a second tie 10'.
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The length of tape segment 12 between the eye-retaining
loops 22 and 24 constitutes a spacer segment 46 separating the
skis and poles. Its length is such as to cause the baskets 43
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and 45 of the poles 42 and 44, respectively, to pull tightly
against the edge of the skis 38 and 40, flexing about its rubber
or leather axle. The result is a firm securement of the poles
to the skls. Additionally, the length of the eye-retaining loop
24 should be sufficient so that the eye 20 for the long end of
the tie~is located along a side of one of the skis when the
20~ -pacer~segment 46 is positioned over the center of the two skis
38~and~40~and~the tie 10 is tightly cinched.
Referring additionally to Figure 5, I have found that
for a wide variety of pole basket shapes and skis, a suitable
dimension for the spaeer segment 46 is about 1/2 inch as
ndicated at 52. Also, as shown at 54, a desirable length
for the eye-retaining loop 24 is at least 3/4 inch.
-x.
For a particular embodiment, the length of the
female segment of the long end of the tie is about 7-1/2
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inches, that of the female segment of the short end is about
3-3/4 inches, and that of each male free end segment 14 and
16 is about 2-1/4 inch. Tapes 1/2 inch to 2 inches wide can
be used. The result is a compact, rigidly secured bundle
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which can be gripped centrally by the poles, e.g. at 47, and ;
carried. When it is desired to untie the equipment, the ties
10 and 10~ are merely peeled apart and can then be wrapped
around the tops of the poles 42 or 44 or else are easily
carried in a pocket.
Additionally, when it is desired to store the
skis 38 and 40, the ties can be used as simple straps,
securing the skis 38 and 40 together at their ends, e.g.
at 48 and 50, thereby preserving the camber of ~the skis.
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