초록 ▼

An apparatus and method for controlling snow skis and ski poles optimized for carrying selected quantities of pairs of skis and ski poles. The apparatus is characterized by a single, elongated tube with a hingedly attached lockable cap. Pairs of skis and ski poles are strapped together as a compact

An apparatus and method for controlling snow skis and ski poles optimized for carrying selected quantities of pairs of skis and ski poles. The apparatus is characterized by a single, elongated tube with a hingedly attached lockable cap. Pairs of skis and ski poles are strapped together as a compact unit for convenient insertion in the small cross-sectioned tube. The tube cross-section incorporates large radius corners for increased crush-resistance.

대표청구항 ▼

A light weight apparatus for containing snow skis and ski poles, comprising: (a) a rigid, unitary, elongated tube of sufficient length to contain skis, said tube formed by, a first flat surface having a length, L, and width, WL, an opposing, parallel second flat surface having the same dimensions as

A light weight apparatus for containing snow skis and ski poles, comprising: (a) a rigid, unitary, elongated tube of sufficient length to contain skis, said tube formed by, a first flat surface having a length, L, and width, WL, an opposing, parallel second flat surface having the same dimensions as said first flat surface, a third flat surface oriented perpendicular to said first and second flat surfaces having the same length as said first and second flat surfaces, but having a shorter width, WS, than said first and second flat surfaces, a fourth flat surface having the same dimensions as said third flat surface which opposes said third flat surface, and four curved surfaces, each curved surface having a radius of curvature, R, for joining said flat surfaces, the elongated tube thereby having a substantially rectangular cross-section but having said curved surfaces at the corners of said cross-section, the geometrical dimensions of the cross-section of said elongated tube being defined by the relationships [Figure] (1) where n=the number of strapped pairs of skis to be inserted into the ski container, [Figure] (2) said elongated tube having a closed first end for containing said skis and an open second end for allowing the introduction of said skis; (b) an end cap hingedly attached to the opposite second end of said elongated tube; (c) carrying means being attached to one of said flat surfaces for aiding in the carrying of said apparatus; (d) locking means connected to said end cap and elongated tube for securing said end cap to a closed position relative to said elongated tube; and (e) means for strapping a pair of said skis and a pair of ski poles together as a single strapped unit for convenient insertion into and removal from said elongated tube, each ski having a flat portion and a tip formed on the forward portion of the ski and curved from the flat portion, said flat portion terminating in a tail end, each ski further having a toe binding and a heel binding each rigidly attached to said flat portion, the skis in each strapped unit being held closely adjacent to each other and oriented so that the bindings face each other and so that the tip of one ski is adjacent the tail of the other paired ski, each pair of ski poles being located adjacent each other on one side of the skis between the edges of the skis, each said strapped unit thereby being adapted to be insertable within said elongated tube with said ski poles adjacent the first flat surface of said tube and the flat surface of each ski being parallel to the third and fourth flat surfaces of said tube. A method for manufacturing an apparatus for containing snow skis and ski poles, comprising the steps of: (a) blowmolding an elongated tube of sufficient length to contain skis, said tube defined by, a first flat surface having a length, L, and width, WL, an opposing, parallel second flat surface having the same dimensions as said first flat surface, a third flat surface oriented perpendicular to said first and second flat surfaces having the same length as said first and second flat surfaces, but having a shorter width, WS, than said first and second flat surfaces, a fourth flat surface having the same dimensions as said third flat surface which opposes said third flat surface, and four curved surfaces, each curved surface having a radius of curvature, R, for joining said flat surfaces, the elongated tube thereby having a substantially rectangular cross-section but having said curved surfaces at the corners of said cross-section, the geometrical dimensions of the cross-section of said elongated tube being defined by the relationships [Figure] (1) where n=the number of strapped pairs of skis to be inserted into the ski container, [Figure] (2) said elongated tube having a closed first end and a closed second end; (b) detaching one of said end portions after the blowmolding process is completed; (c) hinging said detached end portion to the elongated tube; (d) attaching carrying means to one of said flat surfaces for aiding in the carrying of said apparatus; (e) connecting locking means to said elongated tube for securing said end cap to a closed position relative to said elongated tube; and (f) providing means for strapping a pair of said skis and a pair of ski poles together as a single strapped unit for convenient insertion into and removal from said elongated tube each ski having a flat portion and a tip formed on the forward portion of the ski and curved from the flat portion, said flat portion terminating in a tail end, each ski further having a toe binding and a heel binding each rigidly attached to 40 said flat portion, the skis in each strapped unit being held closely adjacent to each other and oriented so that the bindings face each other and so that the tip of one ski is adjacent the tail of the other paired ski, each pair of ski poles being located adjacent each other on one side of the skis between the edges of the skis, each said strapped unit thereby being adapted to be insertable within said elongated tube with said ski poles adjacent the first flat surface of said tube and the flat surface of each ski being parallel to the third and fourth flat surfaces of said tube.