Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
` BOOT CARRIER ~2~30~
This invention provides a boot carrier. More specifically, this
invention contemplates a novel boot carrier for carrying ski bouts
or the like.
US. Patent Number 3,775,794 by Fisher illustrates a ski boot
holder which uses rigid holding means rather Han holding means that
are flexible in nature. US. Patent Number 2,679,937 by Fluster if-
lust rates a boot hanger and carrier wherein the carrier is flexible
comprising straps engaging the boots around the instep and heel port
lion in an inverted manner so that the boots may be carried or hung or
10 whatever. US. Patent Number 2,428,074 by Hanson discloses a hanger
or carrier similar to that shown in the Fluster patent. US. Patent
Number 3,412,866 by Binding discloses a ski boot jack and carrier
wherein the boots are gripped in a rigid structure as shown in Fig. 2
of the drawings. None of the foregoing prior art teach or suggest the
particular boot carrier of this invention.
This invention accomplishes its desired objects by providing a
novel boot carrier for carrying ski boots or the like comprising a
handle means including a pair of opposed ends, and a rope means having
two rope ends that are secured to the handle means such as to define a
20 closed loop. The boot carrier additionally comprises a generally hollow
conduit spacer means including a pair of opposed open ends and a struck
lure defining two pairs of spacer apertures. Each spacer aperture with-
in each pair of spacer aperture is diametrical with respect to each
other. The rope means slid ably passes through the two pairs of spacer
apertures. An elastic cord means is provided having a pair of cord ends
-2-
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and is adapted for being positioned around the top of the boots.
The bout carrier finally comprises a means secured to the cord ends
and to the spacer means such that tension on the elastic cord means
causes friction where the rope means passes through the two pairs of
spacer means in order to cause a tightening effect on the rope means.
It is an object of the invention to provide a novel boot carrier
which is capable of easily being assembled and disassembled and stored.
Still further objects of the invention reside in the provision of
a boot carrier which can be easily transported, and is relatively in-
expensive to manufacture.
These together with the various ancillary objects and features will
become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by
this invention, preferred embodiments being shown in the accompanying
drawings, by way of example only, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention secured to a pair of
ski boots for carrying the same.
FIG. 2 is a front elevation Al view of the boot carrier.
FIG. 3 is a side elevation Al view of the boot carrier;
FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged vertical sectional view taken in
direction by the arrows and along the plane of line 4-4 in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged vertical sectional view taken in
direction of the arrows and along the plane of line 5-5 in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a rope tightening end
cap;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of an end cap for the
handle; and
FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the end of the
elastic cord which is wrapped with a metal ring in order to prevent the
end from passing through the aperture of the rope tightening end cap.
1 2 3
Referring in detail now to the drawings, wherein like reference
numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, there
is seen a boo carrier, generally illustrated as 10, for carrying ski
boots, 12, or the like. Boot carrier 10 comprises a hollow cylinder-
eel handle 14, having a pair of handle apertures 16-16 and a pair of
end handle caps 18-18 that removably lodge on the opposed ends of the
handle 14. Rope 20 has a pair of opposed ends 22-22 (see FIG. 4) that
pass through the handle apertures 16-16 to define a closed loop and
is knotted on the ends thereof in order to secure the same within the
handle 14. Rope 20 can be removed prom the handle 14 by reliving the
end handle caps 18-18 from the opposed ends of the handle 14 and reach-
in into the inside of the handle 14 to withdraw the knotted ends 22
in order that the same can be unknotted to pass through handle aver-
lures 16-16. However, I find it desirable that end caps 18-18 be held
permanently in place by either frictional fit or by gluing, with the
desire that they stay in place and are not easily removed.
A generally hollow conduit spacer 24 is provided and includes a
pair of open ends 26-26 (see FIG. 5) and two pairs of spacer apertures
28-28, 28-28. Each spacer aperture 28 within each pair 28-28 is die-
metrically situated with respect to each other. A pair of rope tight-
eying end caps, each generally illustrated as 30 (see FIG. 6), provides
a means to cause a tightening effect on the rope 20 when the rope 20
passes through the two pairs of spacer apertures 28-28, 28-28. Each rope
tightening end cap 30 has an inside cylindrical sleeve 32 with a pair of
diametrically opposed cap apertures 34-34. A cap flange 36 is integrally
I
bound to the cylindrical sleeve 32 and includes a flange hole 38
where through the cord ends 42 of an elastic cord 40 pass. The cord
ends 42 are bent into a cord loop, and a ring 44 fastens over each
of the cord loops of the cord ends 42 in order to prevent the same
from passing out and through the flange hole 38 of the cap flange 30.
The cylindrical sleeve 32 of the end cap 30 rotatable and slid ably
lodges within the pair of opposed open ends 26-26 of the conduit spacer
24 such that when the cap flanges 36-36 are flanged against the air-
cumferential perimeter of the open ends 26-26 of the conduit spacer 24,
the cap apertures 34-34 are in registry with their respective spacer
apertures 28-28. The rope 20 slid ably passes through the two pairs of
spacer apertures 28-28, 28-28 and the respective cap apertures 34-34
of the pair of end caps 30-30 (see FIG. 5) in order that outward ten-
soon or force on the elastic cord 40 pulls the pair of end caps 30-30
outward. This causes friction where the rope 20 passes through the
cap apertures 34-34 and respective spacer apertures 28-28 (see FIG. S
again) which results in a tightening effect on the rope 20, thus in-
creasing the amount of tension needed to pull the rope 20 through the
conduit spacer 24.
With continuing reference to the drawings for operation of the in-
mention, spacer 24 and handle 14 are held together in one hand. Then
the lower loop of rope 20 is placed under the boots 12, preferably by
placing the boots on the rope 20 with the other hand.
Spacer 24 is then brought down to the boot instep, and the elastic
cord is placed over the boot tops. Handle 14 is grasped and the ski
Jo
boots 12 are lifted. Spacer 24 is steadfastly held in place on rope
20 by the outward tension or force on the elastic cord 40 due partially
from the weight of the boots 12 which slid ably pulls within open ends
26-26, the pair of end caps 30-30 outward. This outward motion of the
end caps 30-30 causes friction in apertures 28-28 and 34-34, where
the rope 20 passes there through, resulting in a tightening effect on
the rope 20 and an increase in the amount of tension needed to pull the
rope 20 through the spacer 24. Actually, outward tension is applied
to the end caps 30-30 as soon as the elastic cord 40 is placed around
the boot tops, since the elastic cord 40 is being stretched while in
this position. Thus, the end caps 30-30 tighten on the rope 20 even
prior to the boots being lifted. When it is desired to remove the boots
12 from within the boot carrier 10, the boots 12 are placed on the
ground in order to remove some of the tension from the elastic cord
40 which enables spacer apertures 28-28 to be partially registered with
cap apertures 34-34 of both end caps 30-30 once elastic Ford 40 is no-
moved there is total registration. Rope 20 may now be easily slid
through apertures 28-28 and 34-34 in order to remove the boots 12 from
the boot carrier 10.
Thus, by the practice of this invention, there is provided a light
weight boot carrier 10 (weighs less than 4 oz.) that can be put on or
taken off boots 12 in seconds, that fits all types of ski boots 12 or
the like, and that holds the boots 12 in their upright position so they
can be set down anytime and anywhere.
While the present invention has been described herein with reference
to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modifications, various
changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure, and
it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of the in-
mention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features
30 without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth.
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