# US 2013/0157237 A1 · Ski Teaching Apparatus and Method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0157237 A1 - Document ID: US20130157237A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/444,337 - Filed: 2012-04-11 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-18 - Assignees: Joshua Thomas Davis - Inventors: Joshua Thomas Davis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130157237A1 ## CPC - A63C 5/16: Devices enabling skis to be used whilst held in a particular configuration with respect to each other, e.g. for training purposes - A63B 69/18: for skiing - A63B 2208/12: specially adapted for children - A63C: SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE (water skis B63B32/00, B63B34/00) - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A ski instructional apparatus and method for teaching young children that allows for dry land training of a student on skis. The apparatus includes a pole that the student straddles. The pole has a cross piece that extends behind the students legs and beneath the buttocks and handlebars for the student to hold onto. Pulling the pole forward causes the cross piece to push the student from behind so little or none of the student's arm strength is needed to pull the student on skis along a dry surface. The tips of the skis are connected by a tether and a line attached to the tether is connected to the pole. The arrangement allows the instructor to move the student forward and, at the same time, to move the ski tips one towards the other or allow the tips to move apart by respectively raising or lowering the pole. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Ski teaching apparatus especially for teaching young children to ski, the apparatus comprising: a) a tether attachable between the tips of skis worn by a student skier, the tether preventing the ski tips from flaring outwardly beyond a given orientation; b) a pole having a first end for straddling by the student skier; c) a handle on the pole forward of the crosspiece for gripping by the student skier; d) the pole having a second end that is gripped and pulled forward by a ski instructor for moving forward a student skier straddling the pole; e) means associated with the pole for converting a forward pulling action of the ski instructor to a force pushing the student skier from behind; and f) a line connected to a midpoint of the tether such that i) putting tension on the line causes the tether to draw the ski tips inward one towards the other and ii) slacking the line slacks the tether allowing the ski tips to move apart one from the other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Ski instructional apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the means converting a forward pulling action of the ski instructor to a force pushing the student skier from behind comprises a cross piece at the first end of the pole that is positioned behind the legs and below the buttocks of the student skier straddling the pole. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Ski instructional apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including clamps attachable to each of the ski tips, the tether connected to and extending between the clamps. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Ski instructional apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the line has an end attachable to the pole second end such that raising the pole second end tenses the line and lowering the pole second end slacks the line. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) Ski instructional apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the poll second end has a hole there through and an end of the line extends through the hole and is knotted to prevent the line from pulling back through the hole. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Ski instructional apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the handle is removably attachable to the pole. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) Ski instructional apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the cross piece is removably attachable to the pole. ### Claim 8 Ski instructional apparatus especially for teaching young children to ski comprising: a) a tether attachable between the tips of skis worn by a student skier, the tether preventing the ski tips from flaring outwardly beyond a given orientation; b) a pole having a first end for straddling by the student skier; c) a cross piece at the first end that is located behind the legs and below the buttocks of a student skier straddling the pole first end, the cross piece providing means for converting a forward puling action of the ski instructor to a force pushing the student skier from behind; d) a handle on the pole forward of the crosspiece for gripping by the student skier; and f) a line connected to a midpoint of the tether such that i) putting tension on the line causes the tether to draw the ski tips inward one towards the other and ii) slacking the line slacks the tether allowing the ski tips to move apart one from the other. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A ski instructional apparatus as in claim 8 wherein at least one of the cross piece and handle is removably attached to the pole. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A ski apparatus as in claim 9 wherein at least one of the cross piece and handle comprises: a) a split hub of two sections connected at a hinge so the hub can be placed about the pole; b) means on each of the split hub sections remote from the hinge for connecting the two sections to hold them closed and fixed about the pole; and c). a rod extending outwardly from each split hub section. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A ski instructional apparatus as in claim 9 wherein pole is a ski pole. ### Claim 12 A ski instructing method, particularly for teaching a child to ski, the method comprising: a) tethering together the tips of skis worn by a student skier to prevent the ski tips from flaring outwardly beyond a given orientation; b) placing the student skier astride a first end of pole, the pole having a handle for gripping by the student skier; c) moving the pole forward by having an instructor grasp and pull on a second end of the pole; d) converting the forward pulling action of the instructor to a force pushing the student skier from behind; and e) controlling the orientation of the ski tips by pulling on a line attached to a midpoint of the tether to draw the ski tips together and slacking the line to allow the ski tips to flare apart to the given orientation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A ski instructional method as in claim 12 wherein at the given orientation the skis of the student skier are substantially parallel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A ski instructional method as in claim 12 wherein controlling the orientation of the ski tips is accomplished by attaching an end of the line to the second end of the pole so that raising the pole second end pulls on the line and lowering the pole second end slacks the line. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A ski instructional method as in claim 12 wherein converting the forward pulling action of the instructor to a force pushing the student skier from behind is accomplished by fixing a cross piece at the pole first end such that when straddled by the student skier, the cross piece is positioned behind the legs and beneath the buttocks of the student skier;