Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
A problem for many skiers is transporting their skis from their accommodation or vehicle, to the ski slopes and back again. This generally requires people to carry heavy skis, whilst walking in cumbersome ski boots. Children in particular find this difficult, requiring adults to also carry their skis.
Problems associated with the practice of carrying skis include:
In the process of researching the invention to which this application relates, 2 other designs for devices to transport skis were identified. These 2 designs were published by the World Intellectual Property Organisation, with the following International Publication Numbers: WO 2004/087269 A1 and WO 2010/056140 A3.
Whilst the function of these existing devices for transporting skis is similar, there are several problems with their designs, which the invention to which this application relates attempts to address. These problems include the following:
The invention to which this application relates, is intended to facilitate the transportation of skis, making it easier for skiers to transport their skis by hand, to and from the ski slopes. The invention allows the skier to attach wheels to their skis, allowing the skis to be pushed or pulled along the surface of the ground.
The invention is intended to address the problems associated with carrying skis, identified in the Background of the Invention, in the following ways:
The invention is intended to address the problems associated with existing devices for transporting skis, identified in the Background of the Invention, in the following ways:
FIG. 1—Illustrates a front view of the strap with the wheels, prior to the wheels being inserted into the strap.
FIG. 2—Illustrates a front view of the strap with the wheels inserted
FIG. 3—Illustrates a rear view of the strap
FIG. 4—End view of the strap
FIG. 5—View of the strap with the wheels inserted and attached to the ends of skis
FIG. 6—Illustration of the skis being pushed and pulled with the wheels attached using the strap
The invention to which this application relates, is a method of attaching a pair of wheels to the tail end of skis, thereby enabling the skis to be rolled over the ground.
The invention is a webbing strap that receives a pair of wheels, which are then fastened around the end of the skis. When the wheels are inserted into the strap, and the strap is fastened around the end of the skis, a form of trolley is produced, that allows the skis to be pushed or pulled along the ground.
The assembly comprises of two lengths of nylon webbing band (
The wheels (
Reciprocating lengths of hook and loop material (e.g. Velcro) are stitched or glued to the ends of opposite sides of the strap (
The internal surface of the strap (
Once the wheels have been inserted into the strap (
The result of this assembly is to allow the skis (
The invention to which this application relates has two significant advantages over existing devices for transporting skis. Firstly, the simplicity of the design; and secondly, the reduced bulk of the device.
The simplicity of the design of using the strap to attach wheels to skis, presents many advantages. It provides the opportunity for people of all ages, including children, to fit the wheels to the skis and transport them independently, thereby significantly reducing the physical strain of carrying skis. The low production costs would make the product more affordable, especially to families. The potential for malfunctions or damage to the ski transport device is also reduced, due to the simplicity of the components.
Existing designs offer a bulkier form of transportation for skis, which could present an encumbrance to the skier whilst on the slopes. This design enables the wheels to be easily stored in the pocket, once the skier has arrived at the slopes. Existing designs would require significant storage capacity for the ski transporting device, upon arrival at the ski slope. This is particularly relevant for a family group, where for example 4 devices may have been used.
The compact nature of the invention to which this application relates, also enables the strap and wheels to remain attached to the skis in situations where existing devices for transporting skis could not. For example, whilst transporting the skis on the roof of a vehicle the device would not need to be removed, so the skis could be transported with the wheels attached to and from the vehicle, without repeated fitting and removal of the device.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4018807 | Feb 2011 | GB | national |
001895079-001 | Jul 2011 | EP | regional |
001895079-002 | Jul 2011 | EP | regional |