Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Be it known that I, L,ANE T. P,ECKER, a citi~en of the
Dominion of Canada and a resident of the City of Coeur
d'Alene in Kootenai County and the State of Idaho, whose Post
Office address is 3315 Fairway Court, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
83814, have made an ;nvention entitled
CARRYING BAG F()R SKIS, BOOI`S THF.RF,ON AND POLE~
for which the followin~ disclosure contains a correct and
full description of the invention and of the best mode known
to the inventor of taking advantage of the same.
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My invention relates genera11y tG carrying-type
containers for ski equipment an-l more particularly to a
flexihle bag that covers the medial portion of a pair of skis
with boots thereon and ski poles therebetween.
The sport of skiing has deve10ped through most of the
wor]d, in areas where it may be practiced, to a high degree
of both popularity and sophistication. With this
development, equipment for skiing has correspondingly
sustained a similar developmental pattern with resulting
complexity and h;gher equipment cost. This historicity has
created a need for more functional carriers and protectors
for skis and associated equipment. The instant invention
seeks to fulfill this need by providing a flexible bag that
covers, aids carrying and provides security for skis, boots
and poles.
The particular elongate configuration of skis makes
their containment and transport difficult and this difficulty
increases if a container is to provide carrying means and
also is to contain other ski related equipment. Secondarily,
2Q if skis are to be contained for storage or transport, it is
quite desirflble that the equipment be readily removable from
the containment means so as not unnecessarily to take time
from skiing activities. It is also desirable that the
containment means be storable, with or without sk;s and
associated apparatus, in some secure fashion to prevent
theft, as the increased sophistication of skiing gear with
its attendant increased cost, has increased the potentiality
of theft. The instant invention resolves these problems.
Modern skiing equipment generally includes not only
skis, but also boot harnesses on the skis, semi-rigid boots
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of quite speciali~ed nature and configuration adapted to
releasably fit in the boot harnesses, and ski poles. Various
carriers Eor some or all of these items, both singly and in
combinations, have heretofore become known. In general, ski
boots have been carried in containers that are separate and
distinct from containers for skis themselves, and ski poles
have sometimes been carried in individual carriers, but more
commonly in carriers designed principally for carriage of
skis. These known carriers, that do not associate all three
articles in a single containment and carriage device, are
readily distinguishable from the instant invention which does
provide simultaneous containment and carriage for all three
items.
There also heretofore have been developed carriers for
containment of an associated array of skis, boots and poles.
These carriers, however, have generally been of a rigid
nature and adapted particularly for air transport of skis and
sk;ing apparatus by professional skiers. Such known devices
generally have not positioned a pair of skis in side by side
relationsh;p for carriage and have not provided means for
carrying slci boots in operative attached position on
harnesses of the skis, as does the instant invention which
allows compact containment and maintenance of all of these
items in relationship for potential use without further
assemb]age.
My carrier bag further provides a releasably attached
elongate strap which allows it to be supported o~er a skier's
shoulder or pulled on the ground behind a skier, especially
by releasing one end of the strap from the bag. Prior
dev;ces in general have not provided for either shoulder-type
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carriage or skid-type transport over a supporting surface.
Aside from lack of a strap, prior containment and carriage
devices often would not, by reason of their construction,
a110w such skiddirlg-type transport at all.
My bag also provides a security device both for skiing
apparatus carried in it and for the bag itself. The bag
provides peripheral fastening through which the elongate
strap may be laced to secure the bag from access. The strap
may be passed through or around some suitable object, such as
a tree, post or part of a structure, and locked thereto so
that neither the bag nor its contents may be surreptitiously
removed from their pre-established position. The bag may be
similarly fastened to some object after removal of ski gear
and during periods of empty storage or transport. Prior art
lS devices in general have not provided means of securing either
the bag itself or the bag and items carried therein from
theft or pilferage, though the possibilities of these
activities are ever present and have increased substantial1y
in the present day, not only because of the increased cost
and value of ski equipment, but also because of general
deterioration of moral values and respect for the law in
modern cu1ture. It should be noted that the object to which
the bag is secured may well be an automotive vehicle to allow
use of my container bag as a security means during vehicular
transport of ski equipment to and from skiing areas.
In creating such a device, it is:
~ principal object of my invention to provide a flexible
carrying bag that defines a medial elongate releasably
closable open;ng for placement of a pair of skis in side by
side array, with ski boots operatively positioned in binders
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provided therefore on such skis.
A further object of my invention to provide such a bag
that has a rigid bottom skid pla~e and an elongate strap,
carrying a metal cable within its as a shoulder support and
as a tether for pulling the bag in a skidding fashion over a
supporting surface.
A further object of my invention is to provide such a
carrier bag that provides plural fasteners about its outer
surface, to allow the elongate strap to be threaded
therethrough and fastened to itself and about some stationary
object to secure the bag and objects which it may contain
from pilferage.
A still further object of my invention is to provide
such a bag that may carry ski poles in adjacent, parallel
array adjacently above skis and between boots.
A still further object of my invention is to provide
separable releasably positionable auxiliary covers for the
forward and rearward parts of skis and poles projecting from
the bag.
A still further object of my invention is to provide
such a device that is of new and novel design, of rugged and
durable nature, of simple and economic manufacture and
otherwise well suited to the uses and purposes for which ;t
is intended.
In the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof
and wherein like numbers of reference refer to sim;lar parts
throughout:
Figure 1 is an isometric view showing my bag in place to
cover the medial portion of a pair of skis, with boots
carried thereon, and auxiliary covers for the projecting end
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portions of the slcis and ski poles.
Figure 2 i9 an orthographic side view of my bag in
a c]osed contai.nment mode and fastened to a post, showing its
various parts, their configuration and relationship from this
aspect.
Figure 3 is an orthographic top view of the bag of
Figure 2, with the bag strap partially removed for clarity of
of illustration.
Figure 4 is a vertical medial cross-sectiona] view
through the bag of Figure 1, showing the manner of
containment of skis and boots within the bag as well as
constructional details of the bag.
Figure 5 is an isometric view of a pair of skis with
supported boots positioned in an opened bag.
Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the
elastical.ly biased seam structure of the overl.apping edge of
a si,de of the bag, taken on the line 6-6 of Fi,gure 5 in the
direction indicated by the arrows.
My invention generally provi,des bag 10, with associated
strap 11, to cover the medial portion of skis 13 with boots
1~ in place in harnesses thereon and poles 15 optional.ly
supported therebetween. Auxiliary covers 12 cover the
projecting end portions of ski.s and poles.
Bag 10 comprises a peripherally defined, somewhat
bulbousl.y configured container, of the genera~ shape of a
laterally adjacent pair of ski boots, formed by structurally
interconnecting bottom 16 and si.milar sides 17 having
overl.apping portions 18 which aid in maintaining closure.
Sides 17 are of somewhat semi-circular shape to cooperate
with rectilinear bottom 16 and bag top portion 19 to form the
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geometrical configuration inclicated and illustrated. The
various bag elements are joined in edge to edge relationship,
where necessary, by known mechanical joining means such as
sewn overlapping seams.
The sides l7 cooperate to define elongate vertically
orientated medial opening 20, in the instance illustrated
releasably closable by the adjacent overlapping portions 18
of the bag sides. Additionally, the peripheral edge of each
overlapping side portion 18 is folded back upon itself and
fastened with seam 22 to define an elongate channel carrying
elongate elastic e]ement 21 to cause the seam structure,
and inwardly adjacent bag portion, to gather together by
reason of the bias created by the elastic e]ement in the
seam. Since this peripheral portion of each bag side extends
over the tops of boots to be carried in the bag, and somewhat
downwardly on the other side of the boots, the general
geometry of the bag tends to maintain side closure, which is
enhanced by the elastic bias, to maintain closure yet readily
allow opening by appropriate manual manipulation. Additional
strap fasteners 35 also aid in holding the lower portions of
the bag sides together. These strap fasteners 35 preferably
are provided at least in the lower end portion of the
overlapping bag side at each bag end, immediately above a
pair of skis carried in the bag. The fasteners 35 may be
fastened at both ends by Velcro carried by adjacent surfaces
of both bag and strap or one strap end may be permanently
fastened to the bag as by sewing, riveting or the like.
Preferably the bag structure is formed of a flexible
fabric-type material, with a nylon canvas being the material
of choice. With such fabric material, the edges that need be
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joiDed are preferably joined by sewn overlapped seam~. It
may be desirable to provide the bag with interior insulation
(not shown) and if this is done, the insulation material is
joined by adhesion or sram;ng to the bag structure itself or
;ncorporated within layers of bag material to maintain the
integrity of the bag structure and its ease of use.
The lower adiacent portions of each overlapping part 18
of bag sides 17 define sim;lar horizontally extending ski
slots 24 to allow the passage of a pair of skis therethrough,
when the skis be oriented in side by side relationship and
supported medially on bag bottom 16. Vertical medial opening
20 defined between sides 17 communicates with the ski slots
24 to allow positioning of a pair of skis in the slots by
insert;on through the open;ng. The area between the lower
surfaces of sk;s 13 and bag bottom 16 may, if des;red, be
filled with some pl;able, resiliently deformable material
(not shown) to space carried skis from the bottom element and
aid in positionally ma;ntain;ng and protecting them.
The upper medial portions of the outer surface of sides
17 each structurally carry s;milar handles 53 which may be
moved together over the top portion 19 of the bag to
cooperate to provide means for hand carriage of the bag and
also to aid in maintaining bag closure. These handles are
formed of strap-like material, preferably with a flexible
metallic cable included as an integral part to provide
strength and prevent severance of the handles. The handles
are preferably formed as an endless band, as illustrated,
with the medial portion extending about the bag and beneath
its bottom portion and the handles constituting projecting
looped end portions. These handles are not remarkable and
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may be of other types heretofore known for s;mi1ar purposes
in bags and luggage generally.
Bottom ]6 of bag 10, on the forepart of its external
surface, carries rigid skid plate 26, which extends laterally
across this bag portion. The skid plate 26 serves as a
surface to initially contact a supporting surface over which
the bag may be pulled by skidding and because of this purpose
the plate should be of a reasonably rigid and durable nature.
The ideal material for the skid plate is a llghter metal such
as aluminum or one of the more rigid, durable polymeric or
resinous plastic materials. Preferably peripheral edges 28
of the skid plate are rounded and the plate is somewhat
angulated, as ;llustrated, to aid skidding motion. The skid
plate is positionally maintained on the undersurface of the
bottom 16 of the bag by mechanic~l fastening. In the
instance illustrated, a secondary fastening plate 29 of
configuration somewhat similar to the skid plate is
maintained on the ins;de of the bag with plural rivets 28
mechanically interconnecting the plates with the bag bottom
therebetween. The only requirement of this joinder, however,
is a mechanical interconnection of the bag bottom and skid
p]ate, and this might be accomplished by adhesive materials
or other known methods.
The lower medial portions of bag ends 54 structurally
carry end fasteners 29 to aid interconnection of strap 11
with this portion of the bag. The fasteners 29 in the
instance illustrated are straps formed as loops by
having their end portions mechanically fastened to the bag
structure by sewing and rivet-type fasteners. This
particular type of fastening structure is neither essential
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in nature nor remarkable in novelty and other simi]ar
fasten;ng structures such as rings carried in loops of strap
material (not shown) may serve the same purpose. In fact
these fasteners are optional and not necessary to my
invention as the carrying strap may be otherwise fastened.
The exact dimensioning and configuration of bag 10 is
not critical, but these attributes should be appropriate to
allow the bag to at least cover the medial portion of a pa;r
of skis, including the area of boot harnesses with a pa;r of
boots positionally maintained in those harnesses. Preferably
the carrier bag is not much larger than required to
accomplish this purpose, though obviously it cou]d be of
sufficient size ànd appropriate configuration to cover an
entire pair of skis from end to end, if desired. I have
found, however, that a smaller type container, such as that
illustrated, is more convenient and efficient of use and less
expensive of manufacture. With the bulbous bag configuration
illustrated, there common1y will be little unoccupied volume
when the bag carries its normal contents. l'he configuration
and dimensioning of the bag may be expanded to allow carriage
of auxiliary items in pockets or otherwise without departing
from the my invention, should this be desired.
Side strap fasteners 33, of appropriate size and shape
to carry strap 11 therein, are defined on the outer surface
of each bag sides. These fasteners, in the illustrations,
take the form of short straps on the lower portion of bag
sides 17, extending between the spaced portions of the handle
strap and fastened at each end to the handle strap to form a
loop therebetween. These fasteners might also take other
forms, such as rings fastened by straps or the like, and yet
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remain within the scope of n.y ir.vent;on. The purpose of
these fasteners is to allow the bag strap to be laced
therethrough to provide a secured closure for the bag when it
is not being carr-ied and also allow its attachment to some
fixed object to aid in preventing theft of the bag, its
contents, or both. This purpose migllt be fulfi:lled by
various other arrays of fasteners on other portions of the
bag than those illustrated, and such other d-ifferent arrays
and positionings are within the contemplation of my
]O invention. These var;ants are not illustrated in detail as
they are obvious equivalents of the fasteners illustrated.
As shown in Figure 4, additional boot fastening strap 34
optionally may be provided on the inside of the bag to extend
between opposed lower end portions of inner surface of si.de
portion 17 to fasten the side member about boots to be
covered. This strap is not necessary but aids ease of use,
which is additionally enhanced ;f the belt's length be
adjustable as by means of buckle fastening means 34a in the
medial portion of the strap.
Ski poles 15 optionally may be carried partially within
bag 10 when positioned between boots 14 and skis 13, in an
orientation parallel to the skis and with end portions
extending from the carrying bag through the opposed ski slots
24. This mode of containment requires no particular
speci.ali.zed structures and all.ows the poles to project
through ski s]ots 24 together with skis in those sl.ots.
Strap 11 provides a length of fl.exible material 40
carrying at least one metallic cable 41 within its structure,
preferably in a covered fashion. Other strap type fasteners
carried on the bag preferably are of similar construction to
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aid in preventing severance and to provide strength. Strap
1] provides connectors 42 at each of its ends to interconnect
with fastening loops 29 carried by hag 10 and additional
medial fastening devices 39, in the illustrated form
S comprising grommets, for convenient security fastening of the
bag. At least one end connector is releasably
interconnectable with its associated fastening loop 29
by means of some re]easable connecting device, such as the
snap illustrated.
]o The length of strap 40 is such as to provide a carrying
strap that may be placed over the shoulder of a user with an
interconnected bag supported at a convenient position for
carr;age, which commonly requires a strap length of about six
to seven feet. The cross-sectional dimension of strap 40
must be regulated in relationship to the size of fasteners
on the bag so that the strap may be passed through those
fasteners. To well serve its purpose, strap 40 ;s formed of
a flexible mater;al such as woven fabric belting and cable 41
is formed of a reasonably strong, durable material that still
has some flex;bility, such as a twisted stranded steel
cable, to aid in prevènting the breaking or cutting of the
cable to allow pilferage of my bag or its contents when
secured by the strap.
Auxiliary covers 12 each comprise elongate tubular
bodies 43 with one closed or closable outer end 44. These
covers are formed of fle~ible fabric material and are of
appropriate configuration and dimension to cover the end
parts of a pair of skis and ski poles projecting beyond bag
10 when positioned to be carried in the bag. Preferably
these auxiliary covers are provided with at least one band of
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e1astic material to create some frictional engagemerlt about
at 1east a portion of appaJatUs to be covered to aid
posit;onal ma-intenance. The auxiliary covers may be
releasably fastened to the bag ln at areas of adjacency (not
shown) if desired. In the instance shown, the auxi]iary
covers are formed as a flat sheet and fastened in tubular
configuration by plural hook and loop type strap fasteners
52. The preferred material for the auxiliary covers is a
woven fabric s;milar to that from which bag 10 is formed,
such as nylon canvas.
Though auxiliary covers 12 might be releasably attached
to bag 10, it has been found more convenient to make these
members as separate unattached structures, as they may not be
used at all times of bag use. The auxiliary covers are of
such nature that they may be desirable for use with my bag,
though they are not essential or necessary to use of my bag.
Having thus]y described my invention, its use may be
understood.
A typical pair of skis 13, defining tips 45, medial. body
porti.ons 46 carrying boot bi.nders 47, and rearward portions
48, are illustrated especial.ly in Figures 1 and 5 of the
drawings. Similarly illustrated are ski poles 15, each
having traditional. tip structure 49 at a first end of
elongate tubular body 50 and handles 51 at the second end of
that body. Ski boots 14 of present day commerce may be of
the many and various types, configurations and dimensions,
but none of their various accidental. parameters are of any
particular consequence to my invention and in general, my
invention is configured to be operative with most of the
vari.ous ski boots that are commonly produced and used i.n
14
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present day ski activities.
To use my invention, a bag is formed according to the
.foregoing specification. If opening 20 be in a closed mode,
the fasteners maintaining closure of that opening are
manually manipu~ated to an open condition and the bag is
positioned on some supportative surface, such as a table,
floor or the earth. If ski boots 14 are not positioned in
boot binders 47 of skis 40 to be carried in my bag, the boots
are so positioned and the binders appropriately manipulated
to releasably attach the boots to the skis. The skis with
boots in place in their binders are then moved by a user,
normally one at a time, downwardly through openi.ng 20 defined
in the bag, by appropriate manual manipulation of both ski-
boot combinations and the bag, until the ski-boot
combinations come to rest with the skis carri.ed in ski slots
24 and the boots are positioned so as to be containable
wi.thin bag 10 when that bag be closed. With the bag
structure in this condition the bag sides are manipulated to
their closed overlapping condition and the opposed portions
of fasteners 35 are manually manipulated to bring them into
alignment and fastened to maintain closure of opening 20 for
containment of the apparatus within the bag.
Normall.y, strap 11 will have been positioned with each
of its ends interconnected to end fasteners 29 carried by the
bag and i.f this be so, the bag is ready for shoulder carriage
by means of the strap. If it be desired to pull the bag and
contents over some supporting surface, especially such as
a snow surface, the strap may be used with both ends
connected to the bag or one end may be released from its
interconnecting fastener and the strap then used as a longer
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tether.
Tf it be desired to carry ski poles in association with
my bag, those poles are positioned with the medial portions
of their bodies 50 within the bag, on skis therein and
between the boots carried on such skis. When so positioned,
the poles will be immediately adjacent to and varallel with
the pair of skis carried in bag, as shown in dotted outline
in Figure 1 of the drawings.
If it be desired to cover the end portions of skis,
poles, or both projecti.ng beyond the bag, this may be
accomplished by manuall.y moving auxiliary covers 12 over each
of those projecti.ng portions. The auxiliary covers, once
positioned, will be maintained by tensive resistance to their
lengthwise motion relative to the skis and poles because of
the elastic elements in their structure.
If it be desired to secure my bag and its contents
agai.nst thievery or similar activity, strap 11 is released at
one end and that released end is passed in order through a
plurality of fasteners 29 and 33 and through the handle loops
in a lace-like manner. The end of strap 11 is then passed
through or about some stati.onary object, and preferably
through an orifi.ce there;n that is completely peripherally
enclosed, and the rel.easable end of the strap is then
fastened again to some other portion of the strap, to the
bag, or both, by means of a locking devlce, such as padlock
55. Fasteners 29, 33 are spaced on the bag so that when
strap 11 ;s passed alternately through those fasteners, and
the strap ma;nta-.ned in a reasonably taut condition, the bag
cannot be effectively opened. When my invention be so
configured, it is not generally possible to open the bag
16
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sufficiently to allow skis or boots to be removed through
opening 20 and the entire bag structure wil1 be securely
attached to an object -to or about which it is fastened. It
should be noted that the bag may be attached to an automotive
ski carrier or other portion oF an automobile structure in
its secured mode to prevent theft or pilferage of the bag and
its contents dur;ng automotive transportation.
If strap ll be removable from my bag at both of its
ends, the strap may be established through fasteners in the
bag in the same fashion as described and both ends of the
strap then padlocked together or each strap end locked to the
strap or bag by separate l,ocks, after attachment to or about
some stationary object. If ski poles are to be fastened
against pilferage, they may have to be positioned so that
strap ll may be passed through an encl,osed orifice defined by
those poles, depending upon the ski pole configuration.
The foregoing description of my invention is necessarily
of a detailed nature so that a specific embodiment of it may
be set forth as required, but it is to be understood that
various modifications of detail and accidental features,
rearrangement and multiplication of parts might be resorted
to without departing from its spirit, essence or scope.
