Snow ski transporting device

#The present invention relates to snow ski carriers and more particularly to an improved snow ski carrier which attaches to and holds together one end portion of the skis with a collapsable wheeled assembly so that the skier can either pull or push the skis upon the wheeled assembly while transporting the skis yet disassemble the assembly, collapsing the wheel base so that the apparatus can be carried in his pocket while skiing.

#Snow skiing is a popular and exhilirating winter sport. The sport has become increasingly popular, attracting larger and larger crowds. To accommodate a large number of skiers, hugh ski areas have been developed, each covering one or more mountain slopes. Ski lifts, gondolas and trams carry skiers from a "base area" to the mountain tops where they ski down the snow covered mountain slopes to the base area where they started. Large ski areas have multiple lifts and thus can accommodate thousands of skiers in a given day. The thousands of skiers require transportation to the ski area because of their usual remoteness from populated cities. Skiers travel to the ski slopes by automobile or by bus. Thus, most ski areas provide large parking lots at the base area.

#Unfortunately, skiers must transport their equipment from the parking lot areas to the bottom of the ski lift. This distance is usually substantial, often as much as a quarter mile, half mile or more. The distance is usually an uphill walk because the base area can often be on the lower side of a mountain where grades are still substantial. The distance that a skier must travel is aggravated by other factors which create sources of fatigue for the skier.

#A better understanding of the invention can be had when the detailed description of a preferred embodiment set forth below is considered in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a partial, perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a side view of the receptacle portion of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

#FIGS. 1-6 show the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral 10. In FIG. 1, there can be seen a pair of snow skis 11, 12 which are held in a aligned position with the bottom surfaces of the skis 11, 12 abutting in a corresponding face-to-face relationship. The ski bottom surfaces are typically flat and unobstructed while the ski tops typically carry bindings (not shown). Ski 11 provides a tail end portion 13 while ski 12 provides a tail end portion 14. In FIG. 1, each ski provides an edge 11E, 12E on each side of the ski. The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a receptacle body 20 of preferably molded plastic construction using, for example, plastic injection. Receptacle body 20 can also be machined from metal such as stainless steel, for example. A pair of receptacle bodies 20 attaches respectively to the upper surfaces 11A, 12A of the skis 11, 12.

#Each receptacle body 20 includes a peripheral flanged area that includes, for example, three flanges 21, 22, 23 which are each provided with an opening 24, 25, 26 respectively. Openings 24-26 would be countersunk openings such as, for example, as shown in FIG. 3 and accommodate fasteners such as countersunk type screws, for example, designated by the numeral 27 in FIG. 1. Screws 27 can be used to attach each receptacle body 20 to its respective ski 11, 12 in similar fashion to the manner in which ski bindings are attached to skis using threaded fasteners such as screws.

#The rear surface 28 of body 20 is substantially flat and provides a surface which abuts the upper surface 11A, 12A of each ski 11, 12. In FIG. 1, it should be thus understood that the skis 11, 12 as shown are in a positioned assembled together with the ski bottoms abutting. This is a common position for skis during transportation wherein the bottoms are affixed together so that the ski bindings and the ski tops are exposed.