Patent Application
20110303712
Skiers, once on a ski lift, are required to carry or hold their ski poles. Sometimes skiers are able to sit on top of their ski poles when there is extra room on the ski lift. It is especially important for a skier to maintain control of his ski poles while on the ski lift. A dropped pole results in, at best, a long retrieval process and, at worst, the pole may fall in an unreachable, or out of bounds area resulting in a lost pole. Additionally, dropped poles create hazards for other skiers and snowboarders and can create dangerous conditions for the skier, ski patrol, and mountain ski resort lift operators who attempt to retrieve these dropped poles.
A method and apparatus for a ski pole holder for attachment to a ski lift chair comprising a retaining bracket configured to hold at least one ski pole and mounting hardware configured to attach the ski pole holder to the ski lift chair.
A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the following illustrative figures. In the following figures, like reference numbers refer to similar elements and steps throughout the figures.
Elements and steps in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been rendered according to any particular sequence. For example, steps that may be performed concurrently or in different order are illustrated in the figures to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The present invention may be described in terms of various functional components and parts. In one embodiment, a ski pole holder 100 may be attached to a ski lift chair. The ski pole holder 100 may hold or stabilize at least one ski pole in a confined area without any intervention from a skier other than the skier placing the pole into the ski pole holder 100. The ski pole holder 100 may allow the ski pole to make minor movements while placed in the ski pole holder, but the ski pole remains contained in the ski pole holder 100 without user intervention. The ski pole holder 100 is capable of supporting and carrying the ski poles for the duration of a ski lift ride. Once the skier no longer needs to retain the ski pole in the ski pole holder 100, the ski pole holder 100 facilitates easy removal of the ski pole.
In one embodiment, the ski pole holder 100 comprises a retaining bracket 102 and a mounting hardware 104. The retaining bracket 102 holds or stabilizes at least one ski pole. The mounting hardware 104 securely attaches the retaining bracket to the ski lift chair.
The retaining bracket 102 holds one or more ski poles so that the ski poles do not fall off the ski lift. The retaining bracket 102 may be configured in any suitable manner to hold the ski poles to prevent them from falling off the chair lift, and may engage the ski pole in any appropriate manner. For example, the retaining bracket 102 may include hooks, receptacles, clamps, carabiners, or other suitable connector to be selectively and detachably connected to the shaft, wrist strap, grip, or other portion of the ski pole. Referring to
The exemplary retaining bracket 102 may be configured to support a ski pole while a skier is riding a lift. The retaining bracket 102 may comprise any appropriate support, such as a flat surface, a convex or concave upper surface, one or more slats or a grating, and/or a hard or a resilient surface. The retaining bracket 102 may comprise any suitable element for supporting the poles such as by supporting the handles. The retaining bracket 102 may further comprise any suitable retaining portions configured in any suitable manner to retain the ski poles in position relative to the retaining bracket 102. For example, the retaining bracket 102 may comprise arms, hooks, ridges, walls, connectors, clamps, catches, or other suitable elements adapted to maintain the position at least a portion of the ski pole relative to the retaining bracket 102.
In the present exemplary embodiment, the retaining bracket 102 may comprise a body 106. The body 106 may comprise a pair of spaced apart members 108 and an end 110 that are configured to define a slot 112. The slot 112 may extend from an open end 114 to the end 110. While the pair of spaced apart members 108 are shown in a substantially parallel orientation, they may be placed in any suitable configuration that can be contemplated to accommodate a conventional ski pole.
The pair of members 108 may be configured to define a support surface 116, an inner surface 118, and an outer surface 120. The slot 112 may extend from the open end 114 through the middle of the retaining bracket 102 towards the end 110. The slot 112 may be wide enough for a conventional ski pole shaft to pass through, but narrower than a conventional ski pole handle. The inner surface 118 provides contact to the ski poles to limit lateral/side-to-side movement. In another embodiment, the orientation of the members 108 may further define a substantially circular hole large enough to accommodate the ski pole shall, but small enough so the handle does not pass through. Further, in this embodiment, the slot 112 extends from the open end 116 to the hole. In another embodiment, the orientation of the members 108 may only define a substantially circular hole and does not define the slot 112.
In the present exemplary embodiment the retaining bracket 102 may comprise a retaining portion 122 extending upwardly from the spaced apart members 108. The retaining portion 122 may be configured to define a retaining surface 124. The retaining surface 124 may be configured to provide additional surface contact to the ski pole handles in order to retain the ski poles within the slot. The height of the retaining portion 122 may be selected to retain the ski pole handles below the top of the retaining portion 122. In the present embodiment, the retaining portion comprises a pair of arms.
The retaining bracket 102 may support the weight of at least one ski pole on the support surface 116, and the retaining surface 124 may maintain the position of the ski poles relative to the retaining bracket 102. Thus, the ski pole holder 100 supports the ski pole in the event of any anticipated jolts, bounces, or other movement associated with the ski lift that might otherwise cause the ski poles to inadvertently escape from retention by the retaining bracket 102.
Thus, when the ski pole shaft is disposed within the slot 112, the ski pole may slide down and through the slot 112 until the bottom of the handle rests on and is supported by the support surface 116. The ski pole is further maintained in the slot 112 by the handle resting against the retaining surface 124, and the ski pole is limited in movement by contact with the inner surface 118. In one embodiment, the members 108 have a height of approximately 2.25″ and the retaining portion 122 extends 2.75″ above the members 108.
In another embodiment, the body 106 may be situated at an upward angle. Thus, the pair of members 108 slope upwards from the end 110 and the open end 114 is at a higher elevation than the end 110. In this embodiment, the retaining portion 122 comprises the members 108 and the retaining surface 124 is integrated into the support surface 116. In operation, the ski poles are placed through the open end 114 into the slot 112 and are held in the ski pole holder 100 by gravity and friction.
Referring to
A ski pole may be placed in the ski pole holder 100 by elevating the pole handles above the tops of the members 108 and sliding the shafts of the ski poles into the open end 114 of the slot 112. When the ski pole shafts are well within the slot 112, the handles may be dropped into the retaining bracket 102. The poles are retained within the slot 112 by the inner surface 118 and the retaining surface 124 inhibiting escape of the poles by engaging the ski pole handles. The ski pole handles place the weight of the ski poles onto the retaining bracket 102, and the retaining bracket 102 holds or stabilizes the ski poles in the slot 112. To remove the ski poles, the skier lifts the ski poles out and up so that the handles are above the top of the retaining portion 122. The ski pole shafts may then be removed from the slot 112.
The retaining bracket 102 may be adapted in any suitable manner to retain the ski poles and perform other functions as well. In one embodiment, the retaining bracket 102 further comprises a container 202 for holding various articles such as cell phones, food, beverages, sunglasses, cameras, sunblock or sunscreen, or other items. The container 202 may comprise any suitable container of any suitable shape and that the container 202 may be situated in any suitable manner.
For example, referring to
With continued reference to
In another embodiment, the retaining bracket 102 is extended to accommodate a plurality of ski poles. For example, referring to
The ski pole holder may also comprise multiple retaining brackets 102 coupled together in order to accommodate multiple skiers with multiple pairs of ski poles. For example, referring now to
In another embodiment, a lighting element may be integrated into the ski pole holder 100. The lighting element may comprise any suitable lighting element. For example, in one embodiment the lighting element may comprise a series of LEDs and a means of powering the LEDs. The LEDs may be powered by power source, for example, a battery or a solar cell.
In another embodiment, the ski pole holder is configured to display an object such as an advertisement or message. With continued reference to
In one embodiment, the ski pole holder 100, 200 further comprises a pocket with a removable insert configured to display an object such as an advertisement. The pocket may further comprise a clear cover for the pocket, forming a compartment for storing an item to be displayed. For example, a clear plastic cover may be placed over the pocket that is cut out from the body of the retaining bracket. The removable insert may comprise an advertisement or other relevant information. The removable insert may be easily changed. In one embodiment, the pocket is configured to be substantially weatherproof. In another embodiment, a digital or video screen may be placed in the pocket or otherwise attached to the ski pole holder 100, 200. In another embodiment a headphone plug may be included to play audio from a radio, video, or other source. The headphone plug may play audio from the digital or video screen. In another embodiment, a thermometer configured to display the current temperature may be placed in the pocket.
The retaining bracket 102 may be constructed out of any suitable material. For example. The retaining bracket 102 may be constructed out of plastic, metal, wood, or composite material. The material may comprise a semi-rigid material designed to flex or stretch, or it may comprise a rigid material. In one embodiment, the retaining bracket 102 comprises a polyurethane structure. The polyurethane structure may be configured to be molded as a single piece or multiple pieces by any conventional molding process such as injection molding. The polyurethane stricture may be configured to withstand extreme temperatures ranging from a high temperature of 255 degrees (F.) to a low temperature of minus 50 degrees (F.). The polyurethane may comprise any suitable color and may comprise multiple colors and may be glow-in-the-dark to help facilitate night skiing.
The ski pole holder 100, 200 further comprises mounting hardware 104 for attaching the retaining bracket to the ski lift chair. The mounting hardware 104 may comprise any suitable mechanism for attaching the retaining bracket to the ski lift chair. For example, the mounting hardware 104 may comprise a collar, a clamp, a bolt, a screw, a weld joint, an adhesive, or a combination thereof. The mounting hardware 104 may be configured to support the weight of the ski poles and other articles that may be placed in the ski pole holder 100, 200. The mounting hardware 104 is further configured to hold the retaining bracket 102 in a steady position and does not allow the ski pole holder 102 to rotate. The mounting hardware 104 is able to mount to a variety of shape and sizes. For example, in one embodiment, the mounting hardware 104 capable of attaching the ski pole holder 100,200 to a round or square shaped tube ranging from approximately ½ inch to 2 inches in diameter on the ski lift chair. Furthermore, the mounting hardware may comprise tamper proof or tamper resistant components so that a skier cannot remove the ski pole holder 100,200 from the chair.
In one embodiment, the mounting hardware 104 may be attached to the retaining bracket using a high strength adhesive or epoxy. In another embodiment, the mounting hardware 104 may be molded into the retaining bracket 102. In yet another embodiment, the mounting hardware 104 may be attached to the retaining bracket 102 using a suitable fastener such as one or more bolts or one or more screws.
Referring to
Referring to
In one embodiment, the retaining bracket 102 features a portion molded to fit the mounting hardware or, in another embodiment, a portion of the retaining bracket 102 may be cut away so that the mounting hardware may be recessed into the retaining bracket 102. Referring again to
In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be made, however, without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims. The specification and figures are illustrative, rather than restrictive, and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined by the claims and their legal equivalents rather than by merely the examples described.
For example, the steps recited in any method or process claims may be executed in any order and, unless otherwise noted, are not limited to the specific order presented in the claims. Additionally, the components and/or elements recited in any apparatus claims may be assembled or otherwise operationally configured in a variety of permutations and are accordingly not limited to the specific configuration recited in the claims.
Benefits, other advantages and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to particular embodiments; however, any benefit, advantage, solution to problem or any element that may cause any particular benefit, advantage or solution to occur or to become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required or essential features or components of any or all the claims.
As used herein, the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprising”, “having”, “including”, “includes” or any variation thereof, are intended to reference a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, composition or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements recited, but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, composition or apparatus. Other combinations and/or modifications of the above-described structures, arrangements, applications, proportions, elements, materials or components used in the practice of the present invention, in addition to those not specifically recited, may be varied or otherwise particularly adapted to specific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters or other operating requirements without departing from the general principles of the same.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/322,764, titled “Ski Pole Retainer” filed Apr. 9, 2010, and incorporates the disclosure of such application by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61322764 | Apr 2010 | US |
