Foldable Ski Cover

The present invention relates to bags for carrying and storing skis, and, more particularly, to a bag designed to securely hold a pair of skis in different positions.

Portable, flexible material bags for carrying and storing skis are generally well known. Most such bags permit carrying both skis of a ski pair in a single compartment in a fixed position, i.e., the skis may be carried side-by-side or bottom-to-bottom. Some bags provide compartments which are sufficiently large that the skis are able to move around and shift positions within the compartment. The former type of bag is undesirable since it limits the positioning of the skis therein and cannot be used for applications. The latter type bag provides inadequate protection for the skis.

It has been observed that when hand carrying skis it is desirable that the skis be positioned with their bottoms facing each other. This is also the required position for the skis for mounting on certain ski racks. However, there are also ski racks which require the skis to rest flatly thereon in side-by-side relation. No presently available bag provides adequate protection to the skis by preventing movement of the skis within the bag while at the same time is sufficiently flexible to permit the skis to be disposed in either bottom-to-bottom or side-by-side configuration.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a flexible ski bag which completely encloses the skis and which permits the skis to assume any desired disposition therein, yet which restricts movement of the skis in the bag thereby avoiding damage to the skis.

It is another object of the invention to provide a ski carrying and storing bag which allows the skis to be carried in either side-by-side or bottom-to-bottom positions and to be shifted from one position to the other without removing the skis from the bag.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a two compartment bag whereby a single ski may be stored in each compartment and the skis thereby prevented from contacting and damaging each other.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the bag of the present invention enclosing a pair of skis in bottom-to-bottom relation.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the bag of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the bag of the present invention enclosing a pair of skis in side-by-side relation.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the bag of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 5--5 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 6--6 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the bag of the present invention looking into the open end of the bag.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the bag of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view showing the manner in which the empty bag of FIG. 8 may be folded.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the bag of FIG. 8 in fully folded condition.

The ski carrying and storing bag of the present invention is constructed of a light, waterproof material which is extremely flexible and is readily adapted to receive and enclose a pair of skis and their bindings therein. The bag is designed to store the skis in either bottom-to-bottom or side-by-side position and to permit the skis to be readily shiftable from one position to the other without removing the skis from the bag. In addition, the bag includes two compartments for receiving individual skis in each compartment to protect the skis from each other. When enclosed within the bag the skis are covered and protected from dirt, grit, salt and the like to which the skis may otherwise be exposed during transportation on a vehicle. A particular advantage of the bag of the present invention is that it is designed so that it can be folded into a very small package and easily carried in a pocket.

The bag of the present invention, designated generally as 10, is most clearly seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. Referring to these FIGURES it can be seen that bag 10 consists of an elongated body having three identifiable integral portions. Front portion 12 is elongated and generally tubular and closed at its forward end 14. The front portion 12 is integral with an intermediate portion 16 which is of continuously increasing cross section from its forward, narrow end 18 to its rear, wide end 20. A rear portion 22 is integral with intermediate portion 16 at the latter's wide end 20. Rear portion 22 is elongated and tubular and of greater cross-sectional area than front portion 12. Rear portion 22 is open at its rear end 24. A partition 26, of flexible material, extends longitudinally of the body to divide the bag into two substantially equal compartments 28 and 30. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the bag 10 is of generally oval cross-sectional configuration and is formed in two longitudinally extending halves, an upper half 32 and a lower half 34, which halves are connected together by a continuous longitudinally extending seam 36. The longitudinal edges of partition 26 are preferably secured longitudinally of the body by stitching 37 to body halves 32 and 34. It will be appreciated that the manner of securing the halves 32 and 34 and the partition 26 thereto may vary and any suitable securing technique may be employed.

To use bag 10, one ski is inserted on each side of partition 26 in each of compartments 28 and 30 with the forward end (or curved end) of the skis extending into the front portion 12 of the bag. The bindings on the skis are accommodated by the enlarged cross-sectional area of the bag in rear portion 22. Once the skis are inside the bag they can be shifted to different positions and held in these positions by suitable fasteners to be more fully discussed hereinafter. Regardless of the position of the skis in the bag, due to partition 26, no part of the two skis can touch each other. Bag 10 is intentionally designed to be longer than the skis it is to house. The rear end section 41 of the rear portion 22 is adapted to be folded back on itself to adapt the length of the bag to the length of the skis. Also, by folding the rear end section 41 back on itself, the bag becomes totally enclosed to protect the skis from the elements.

A plurality of fastening means 38, 40 and 42, are distributed along the length of bag 10 to snugly gather and fasten the bag to the skis and thereby to hold the skis securely in position in their respective compartments. Any suitable separable fastening means, such as straps and buckles, tie cords, and the like are functional although the preferred fastening means are velvet pile type fabric fasteners which include interengaging hooks on opposite superposed pieces. Mere pressure exerted on superposed velvet-type fabrics having facing piles is sufficient to engage their respective hooks. Velvet type fabrics hook fasteners suitable for use with bag 10 are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,717,437 and 3,009,235. While the fastening means may be disposed at any number of convenient locations along the length of bag 10 it is particularly preferred to locate one fastening means 38 on front portion 12, a second fastening means 40 at about the point of intersection of the front and intermediate portions, and a third fastening means 42 at the extreme rear end 24. When the preferred velvet type fabric hook fasteners are employed, it will be appreciated that each fastener consists of two mating parts, in effect a male and female fabric section. Thus, for example, fastening means 38 consists of a male velvet fabric tape 38a extending sidewardly from one side of front portion 12 and an oppositely facing female velvet fabric tape 38b (shown in phantom on FIG. 8) on the opposite side of bag 10. In order for tape 38a to reach tape 38b to engage therewith, the bag material between them must be folded or gathered against the skis in the bag. In addition, fastening means 38 includes a second female velvet fabric tape 38c adjacent tape 38a to permit folding the bag in a flat position and storing the bag with tape 38a secured in a closed position. Fastening means 40 is the same fastening means 38 and includes fabric tapes 40a, 40b and 40c. Likewise, fastening means 42 includes a male fabric tape 42a and a female tape 42b, but does not include a second female fabric tape since, when the bag is folded, tapes 42a and 42b are engaged to hold the bag in its folded position (see FIG. 10).

Referring now to FIG. 1, 2 and 5 there is shown the bag 10 enclosing a pair of skis with the skis in bottom-to-bottom configuration. After the individual skis are inserted into their respective compartments 28 and 30, the rear end section 41 is folded back upon itself to enclose the bottom of the bag, and tape 42a is wrapped around the skis to gather the bag material and hold it snugly against the skis and to engage tape 42b. Likewise, tapes 40a and 38a are snugly wrapped around the skis to gather the bag material against the skis and to engage tapes 40b and 38b respectively. The excess bag material 44 between the tapes falls loosely around the skis. The skis may alternatively be placed in the bag in side-by-side relation as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6. Again, after the skis are inserted into their respective compartments 28 and 30, the rear end section 41 is folded back onto itself to enclose the bottom of the bag and fastening tapes 38a, 40a and 42a are wrapped around the skis to engage tapes 38b, 40b and 42b, respectively. It is noteworthy that notwithstanding the configuration of the skis within the bag, the fastening means holds the bag closely adjacent the skis to securely hold the skis in place in their compartments. It is also noteworthy that partition 26 at all times prevents contact between the skis.

To adjust the position of the skis from side-by-side to bottom-to-bottom or vice versa, all that is necessary is to open fastening means 38 and 40 and loosen fastening means 42 and then to shift the skis while they are still in the bag. Next, the bag material is tucked tightly around the skis at the fastening means and the respective fastening means are engaged and/or tightened, as necessary.

As hereinbefore indicated, the bag 10 of the present invention is readily foldable into a very small package for storage in a pocket. FIG. 9 illustrates the manner in which folding is accomplished. First, tapes 38a and 40a are engaged with tapes 38c and 40c. Next, the front end 14 is folded over a few inches onto itself and the folded section folded longitudinally onto the bag a number of times until the entire length of the bag has been folded into a section only a few inches long. Then, the resulting section is folded transversely onto itself and fastened in this folded position by engagement of tapes 42a and 42b, as shown in FIG. 10.

While the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood that numerous modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without actually departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, all modifications and equivalents may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.