Ski Assembly

This invention relates to a ski assembly. More particularly, the invention relates to a ski pole assembly which enables the shifting of the upper body weight of a skier from the legs of the skier to the skis and ski boots of the skier to lessen strain on the legs of the skier.

Skiing has become an extremely popular sport over the years. The sport is enjoyed by virtually all age groups, and the ski season extends for almost the entire year. Due to the popularity of skiing, a major world industry has developed for ski equipment. Over the past few years, ski equipment has advanced significantly to enhance skiing performance and safety. For example, strides have been made in the manufacture of skis, ski boots, braces for the ankles and knees, and ski clothes. Additionally, exercise books and courses have been written and designed specifically for conditioning the skier.

The most important equipment in skiing are the skis and ski boots. Skis and ski boots vary in sizes, styles, and configurations to meet the specific needs of the skier and are constructed to meet the particular demands of the sport. Additionally, ski poles are used by the skier. Ski poles are primarily used (excluding cross country skiing) for getting the skier to and from the ski slope, helping the skier up after a fall, and pushing off when making turns. However, the ski poles are not necessary when skiing down the slope. In fact, in some instances, the use of ski poles has disadvantages. Their use is the source of skiing's most prevalent injury "skier's thumb" injury, i.e. the pushing back of the thumb by the ski pole in a fall.

Skiing generally, and turning techniques particularly, place unusual strain on the skier's legs. Consequent fatigue is painful and decreases skiing time and the enjoyment of the sport. A substantial amount of the strain on the legs is caused by the upper body weight of the skier and the impact of the skis on the ski slope. Convenient exercise do not exist to prepare the skier adequately for the strain on the skier's legs. Because many skiers are this unprepared, resultant fatigue increases injury risk. However, even with proper conditioning, the skier's legs are still subject to a tremendous amount of strain and pressure. The older or less conditioned the skier, the greater the amount of strain on the legs.

While the ski industry has come up with many innovations over the years in ski equipment, the leg strain and resulting fatigue issue has remained unresolved. Until the present invention, there has been no known ski equipment available to the skier for shifting the upper body weight of the skier from the skier's legs to the skis and ski boots so as to lessen the strain on the legs.

The present invention provides a novel and relatively simple ski assembly which may be used with conventional skis, ski boots, and ski poles to reduce strain on the legs of the skier.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the invention to provide a ski pole assembly which will substantially reduce the strain on the legs of the skier.

It is a further primary object of the invention to provide a ski pole assembly which will shift the upper body weight of the skier from the legs of the skier to the skis and ski boots of the skier to preclude the substantial strain on the skier's legs and the resulting fatigue.

It is another object of the invention to provide a ski pole assembly which will provide a shock absorbing effect to the skier's legs from the impact of the skis on the ski slope and thereby reduce the strain on the legs of the skier.

It is another object of the invention to provide a ski pole assembly which will reduce skier fatigue and provide for safer skiing.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a ski pole assembly which will provide greater enjoyment to the skier by reducing fatigue to the skier.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a ski pole assembly which reduces the conventional use of the ski poles and thereby reduces injury caused by the ski poles such as "skier's thumb".

It is a further object of the invention to provide a ski pole assembly which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

The present invention provides a simple and efficient means of shifting the upper body weight of a skier from the legs of the skier to the skis and ski boots of the skier to preclude the substantial strain to the skier's legs. The invention can be used with conventional ski equipment and can be installed by the skier in a matter of minutes. Additionally, the ski pole assembly of this invention can be manufactured as part of the ski equipment.

The ski pole assembly provided by the present invention for shifting the upper body weight of the skier from the skier's legs to the skis and ski boots of the skier comprises the use of a first and second ski pole to which is attached a first spring means including means for connection to the back of a first leg of the skier and a second spring means attached to the second ski pole and including means for connection to the back of a second leg of the skier. Further, a first attachment means is provided for attachment to the back of a first leg of the skier for receiving the first spring means, and a second attachment means is provided for attachment to the back of a second leg of the skier for receiving the second spring means. A first socket means is attached to a first ski boot of the first leg of the skier for receivably holding the tip of the first ski pole, and a second socket means is attached to a second ski boot of the second leg of the skier for receivably holding the tip of the second ski pole. The ski pole assembly is used by attaching the first and second spring means to the first and second attachment means and placing the first and second ski pole tips in the first and second socket means whereby the spring means will stretch in response to the crouching movements of the skier when skiing generating forces in opposition to forces generated by the skier's body weight to shift the skier's upper body weight from the legs of the skier through the spring means and ski poles to the skis and the ski boots of the skier. The shifting of the upper body weight to the skis and ski boots will preclude the substantial strain on the legs of the skier.

The aforesaid and other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a skier and the ski pole assembly of the present invention showing the skier in the standing position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a skier and ski pole assembly of the present invention showing the skier in the skiing position;

FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the skier and the ski pole assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hinge and socket means of the ski pole assembly attached to a ski boot.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the spring means of the ski pole assembly of the present invention; and

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a skier S is shown in the standing position and in the crouched skiing position, respectively, using the ski pole assembly of this invention. The ski pole assembly as illustrated is used with conventional skis 2, ski boots 4, and ski poles 6. The respective parts of the ski pole assembly can be used interchangeably on either of the ski poles, ski boots, and legs of the skier, i.e. there is no right or left leg design. Accordingly, for convenience, the description of the invention will refer to the parts of the invention in the singular.

Generally, the ski pole assembly of this invention comprises spring means 8 attached to ski pole 6, an attachment means 10 removably attached to the back of a leg of the skier, and a socket means 12 attached to the back of the ski boot. Prior to describing a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is pointed out that the parts of the ski pole assembly may be made of any conventional materials capable of withstanding the rigors of skiing. The preferred materials are generally metal and plastics. Additionally, the parts of the ski pole assembly are preferably color coordinated with the various ski equipment and clothing available to the skier.

Spring means 8 is attached to ski pole 6 by any conventional means such as clamp 20 and pin 22. An eye-bolt 24 connects clamp 20 with bracket 26 which holds three, seven pound constant force springs 27, 28, and 29 by any conventional fastening means such as rivets 32, although a conventional bolt and nut construction may be used. The constant force springs are formed from coiled sheets of spring steel having first distal ends contiguous to plastic drums 30 and second distal ends selectively connectable to the skier. The use of six, seven pound constant force springs will provide about 42 pounds of tension and thereby shift from about 36 to 40 pounds of upper body weight to the skis and ski boots through the springs and ski poles, and has been found effective for a skier weighing from about 190 to 220 pounds. The upper body weight is shifted due to the stretching of the springs in response to the movements of the skier as best shown in FIG. 2.

The type of spring means used is not critical to the invention provided that it is capable of bearing upper body weight, and of transferring it to the ski or ski boot, bypassing the leg with the weight. For example, other type spring means may be used such as extension springs, compression springs, elastic straps, etc. Additionally, the number of springs and the pound tension is not critical and may be varied according to the needs of the skier. For example, a skier weighing from about 135 to 150 pounds may only require two five pound springs for each spring means 8.

An S hook 34 is attached to holes 35 in the springs 27 and 28 and a resilient cord 36, e.g. nylon, is attached to S screw 34 and extended through hole 35 in spring 29. A snap hook 38 is attached to the end of cord 36 for attachment to attachment means 10.

It should be understood that S hook 34 and cord 36 may be selectively attached to either all available springs or a lesser number. For example, if six springs are provided, S hook 34 and cord 36 would be attached to only two of the six springs for a lightweight skier; perhaps to three or four springs for a middleweight skier; and to all six springs for a heavyweight skier. The S hook 34 and cord 36 provide the flexibility of being able to select the number of springs to be connected to the skier according to the skier's body weight.

Attachment means 10, as above stated, can be any conventional attachment means such as a ring as shown in the preferred embodiment. The attachment means 10 is attached to the back of each of the skier's legs for connectedly receiving snap hook 38 of spring means 8. Attachment means 10 may be attached by means of a removable strap 39 having any conventional fastening means. Additionally, attachment means 10 may be sewn directly to the ski pants. When the attachment means 10 is sewn directly to the ski pants, sufficient reinforcement is required to avoid pulling the attachment means 10 from the ski pants.

A socket means 12 is connected to the back of ski boot 4 for receiving and holding the tip of ski pole 6. The socket means 12 comprises a hinge 40 and a socket 42 having an opening 44 capable of receiving and holding the tip of ski pole 6 when the ski pole assembly is in use. The socket means 12 may be connected to the ski by any conventional means such as a strap 46. Strap 46 is fitted on the ski boot as best shown in FIG. 4. Additionally, hinge 40 may be connected directly to the ski boot by conventional means such as rivets.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the method of using the ski pole assembly will now be described. At the beginning of the ski day, the skier will put on straps 39 with attachment means 10 on each of his legs, and straps 46 with socket means 12 on each of ski boots 4. Spring means 8 will have previously been attached to ski poles 6. Prior to skiing down the ski slope, the skier connects each of the spring means 8 by snap hook 38 to each of the attachment means 10 and ski poles 6 are inserted into openings 44 of sockets 42. When skiing down the slope, the springs 27, 28, and 29 will stretch in response to the crouching movements of the skier's legs generating forces in opposition to forces generated by the skier's body weight thereby shifting the upper body weight of the skier from the skier's legs through the spring means 8 and ski poles 6 to the skis and ski boots of the skier. The shifting of the upper body weight of the skier to the skis and ski boots will reduce the strain on the skier's legs and reduce fatigue to the skier caused by such strain.

While the ski assembly of the present invention has been described for use by a skier using a pair of skis, it could also be used by a skier using a single ski. For example, a handicapped skier skiing on one leg would find it very helpful to shift body weight from that single leg. Another example of use of a single ski is for "ski boarding". These ski boards resemble surfboards, and are attachable to both of the skier's feet.

The above-described invention provides a novel and simple ski pole assembly which is easy to use and inexpensive to manufacture. While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above, various modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as above-described.