THE SLING-BELT (BANDOULIERE)

THE SLING-BELT

Abrégé anglais

The Sling-Belt is a device enabling an individual to transport a snowboard or
a pair of skis, worn
diagonally across their back. This design allows for unimpeded use of the arms
and thus facilitates
navigation under relevant conditions. The device consists of a primary strap
comprised of
ergonomically shaped padding in addition to webbing, the latter having
buckling elements attached
thereto, and, when buckled and adjusted, this strap forms a loop that is worn
diagonally across the
torso. Additionally, the primary strap has a plurality of secondary straps
attached transversely thereto.
These are drawn around the snowboard or skis, fastened, again using buckles,
and tightened, such that
the equipment is firmly attached. There is a further, adjustable, tertiary
strap, connected transversely to
the main strap, again using a buckle, that improves stability and comfort. The
device is worn around the
waist, as like a belt, when not in use.

Revendications

CLAIMS
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is claimed are defined as
follows:
1. In a device for transporting a snowboard, with bindings distally attached
thereto, or a pair of
skis with separate heel and toe bindings, attached thereto, a main carrying
strap, comprised of
fixedly attached segments of webbing and padding, having proximally attached
to the
extremities thereof, the respective, complimentary elements of a buckling
mechanism, designed
to be engaged, to form a longitudinally adjustable, closed loop;
a plurality of secondary segments of webbing, distally, and transversely
attached to said main
strap, having proximally attached to their respective extremities, the
complimentary elements
of a buckling mechanism, designed to be engaged, to form a longitudinally
adjustable, closed
loop;
a tertiary segment of webbing, attached at one of its extremities, to said
main strap, having
proximally attached to the opposite extremity thereof, one element of a
buckling mechanism,
and designed to be engaged to the complimentary element of the same buckling
mechanism,
where this is fixedly attached, to said main strap at a separate point,
distally located on said
main strap;
2. A device as in claim 1, in which the segments of padding are ergonomically
shaped, having
rounded extremities and these taper into a narrower medial section.
3. A device as in claim 1, in which the segments of webbing are made of nylon,
polyester,
polypropylene or some other suitable material.
4. A device as in claim 1, in which the buckling mechanisms are made of nylon,
acetyl plastic, or
some other suitable material.
5. A device as in claim 1, in which the slides are made of nylon, acetyl
plastic, or some other
suitable material.
6. A device as in claim 1, in which the d-rings are made of nylon, acetyl
plastic, or some other
suitable material.
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Description

CA 02646243 2008-12-02
SPECIFICATION
This invention relates to a device, consisting of a main carrying strap and a
plurality of secondary
straps, enabling an individual to attach and transport a snowboard or a pair
of skis worn, diagonally
across the torso.
Devices equally adaptable to the transportation of a snowboard or a pair of
skis are known. These
devices typically comprise a flexible main strap, which includes a further
plurality of attachments, such
as: pouches, pockets, clasps, or additional straps, where these are fastened
to the snowboard or skis.
The main strap is then worn over a shoulder, with the equipment either
parallel, or perpendicular to the
ground. Such devices are not without their limitations. Equipment carried
using a strap on a shoulder,
where the load is parallel to the ground, has a tendency to both pivot on the
shoulder, and to slip off of
the shoulder potentially causing damage to the equipment or injury.
Additionally, when the load
consists of skis or a snowboard, which are generally lengthy, relative to the
user's outstretched arm, it is
difficult to reach and engage door handles, and pass through such doorways,
without the potential of
the equipment being scratched or damaged. Carrying equipment in this way,
where the load is
perpendicular to the ground, is more effective, but still involves risks. The
shoulder strap, and
equipment, can still slip off of the shoulder easily causing injury or damage.
Transporting equipment
using a strap worn over a shoulder, in this way, therefore requires the active
use of a hand to stabilize
the load or possibly support it. A solution to these problems involves
carrying the equipment diagonally
across the back. There is a device that proposes to facilitate the
transportation of skis in this manner,
such that it limits the use of hands. There is not, however, a device, to
date, with the exception of the
sling-belt, that is designed to be equally adaptable to either a pair of skis
or a snowboard, such that this
load can be worn diagonally across the body, allowing the wearer unimpeded use
of the arms.
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CA 02646243 2008-12-02
The disadvantages common in the use of any of the aforementioned devices can
be overcome by resort
to the sling-belt, since this device is equally adaptable to the
transportation of either a pair skis or a
snowboard in such a way that it allows unimpeded use of the arms. This
approach to the task of
transporting such equipment limits the risk of damage and injury. When worn as
intended, diagonally
across the torso, the weight of the load is more centrally positioned on the
body greatly reducing the
risk that the strap would slip off the shoulder. As well, this approach does
not require the active use of
shoulder muscle, to maintain the strap elevated and prevent it from easily
slipping off of the shoulder,
thus reducing fatigue. Furthermore, the user may, for example: outstretch
their arms for improved
balance, grasp handrails where available, grasp and engage door handles and
pass through doorways
easily. The user can further make use of poles while transporting the
equipment, where this facilitates
navigation.
In the drawings which illustrate the device, Figure 1 is a plan view of the
device, Figure 2 is a
perspective view of the device, Figure 3 is an front elevational view of the
device, Figure 4 is a rear
elevational view of the device, Figure 5 is a plan view of a d-ring, Figure 6
is a plan view of a slide.
The device illustrated consists of a main strap, which is comprised of two
identical segments of
webbing, 1 and 2, attached to two identical, ergonomically shaped, segments of
padding, 3 and 4, and
these are connected proximally, by a longitudinally adjustable looped segment.
This segment consists
of two separate segments of webbing, segments 5 and 6, where segment 5 is
fixedly attached at one
extremity to segment of padding 4, and passes through the plurality of
openings in a nylon slide 7.
Segment 6 is a looped segment, which passes through the proximal opening, of
one of the plurality of
openings, of a nylon slide 8, before looping back on itself, where it is
fixedly attached at its two
extremities to segment of padding 3. Segment 5 is looped through the relative,
proximal opening in the
nylon slide 8, attached to segment 6, and is then looped back on itself where
it again passes through the
plurality of openings, of the nylon slide 7 attached thereto. Buckle
mechanisms 9 and 10 are attached to
webbing segments 1 and 2, and when buckled together, the strap is worn across
the torso, with
ergonomically shaped segments of padding 4 and 3 wrapping around the hip and
over the shoulder, of
the user, respectively. The strap is designed to be adjusted longitudinally,
primarily, by pulling on the d-
rings 19 and 20 attached to the ends of the webbing protruding from the
buckling mechanisms 9 and
10, attached to webbing segments 1 and 2, when these have been buckled
together, but can be further
adjusted by way of the webbing segment 5.
The snowboard or skis are affixed to the strap by way of two additional
segments of webbing 11 and
12, each having respective buckling mechanisms 13 and 14, and 15 and 16.
webbing segments 11 and
12 are attached transversely, to the proximal ends of segments of padding 3
and 4. The segments 11 and
12 are drawn around the snowboard or skis and buckled, using their relative
buckling mechanisms 13
and 14, and 15 and 16. They are tightened, to the equipment, by pulling on the
d-rings 21 and 22, and
23, and 24 attached to the ends of the webbing protruding from the buckling
mechanisms 13 and 14,
and 15 and 16, attached to webbing segments 11 and 12, respectively.
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CA 02646243 2008-12-02
Either webbing segment 11 or 12, or both are intended to be draw around the
equipment and fastened,
using their relative buckling mechanisms, in such a way that the equipment is
properly supported, such
that it is prevented from moving lengthwise, downward, along the strap, when
this is worn diagonally
across the torso, to a degree that such movement would render the device
ineffective. This can be done
in several ways. When attaching a snowboard, the webbing segments 11 and 12,
are intended to pass
through the respective, proximal binding, of the pair of bindings attached to
the snowboard, and are
buckled using their respective buckling mechanisms, and tightened. In the case
where only one of the
respective segments of webbing, 11 or 12, can effectively pass through the
relative, proximal binding of
the snowboard, due to the configuration of the attached bindings, the second
segment of webbing is
simply drawn around the snowboard, buckled using the relative buckling
mechanisms, and tightened.
In this way, the snowboard is both firmly attached to the strap, and
supported, to prevent lengthwise
movement, downward along the strap to a degree that such movement would render
the device
ineffective. When attaching a pair of skis, where possible, the webbing
segments 11 and 12, pass,
below the heel, and toe sections, of the bindings on the pair of skis,
respectively, and are buckled using
their respective buckling mechanisms, and tightened. In the case where only
one of the segments 11 or
12, can effectively pass below either the heel, or toe section, of the
bindings, of the pair of skis, due to
the distance between the heel and toe sections of the attached bindings, the
second segment of webbing
is simply drawn around the pair of skis, buckled using the relative buckling
mechanisms, and tightened.
In this way, the pair of skis are both firmly attached to the strap, and
supported, to prevent lengthwise
movement, downward along the strap to a degree that such movement would render
the device
ineffective.
A further segment of webbing 17, with attached buckling mechanism 18, is
attached, transversely, to
webbing segment 5. When the strap is being used to transport a snowboard or a
pair of skis, webbing
segment 17, wraps around the user's torso, and buckles to buckling mechanism
25, attached to webbing
segment 2. Webbing segment 17 can then be drawn tight, to improve the
stability of the strap.
Furthermore, webbing segment 17, when in use, improves the overall comfort of
the device as it
reduces possible tension on the neck of the user resulting from the weight of
the load.
When the strap is not in use, transporting a snowboard or a pair of skis, it
is designed to be
conveniently worn around the waist as like a belt. In this configuration, the
webbing segments 1 and 2
are buckled together using buckling mechanisms 9 and 10 and drawn tight by
pulling on the d-rings 19
and 20 attached to the ends of the webbing protruding from buckling mechanisms
9 and 10, and the
ergonomically shaped padded segments 3 and 4 rest either on, or above, the
hips. Additionally, webbing
segments 11 and 12 are also intended to be buckled using buckling mechanisms
13 and 14, and 15 and
16 respectively, and drawn tight, so as not to hang loosely where they might
be a distraction the user or
potentially become caught on something, where this could lead to damage or
injury. As well webbing
segment 17 is intended to be passed through looped webbing segment 26 on
segment of padding 4, be
buckled to buckling mechanism 25 and drawn tight, again, so as not to hang
loosely where it might be a
distraction the user or potentially become caught on something, where this
could lead to damage or
injury.
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Dessin représentatif