The present invention relates to a device for fastening skis and ski equipment together, according to the preamble of patent claim 1 .

Background

Ski equipment is expensive, and often chosen to match the specific user. At different ski resorts one may rent equipment, but most people bring their own private equipment. When the user is having a break, and enters the warming hut or similar, the equipment is taken off, and left outside. During these breaks the equipment may be mixed up, or stolen.

Moreover, there is a need for locking the equipment together before storage and/or transportation, for instance in common sheds or on car roofs. There are some known solutions to this problem, for instance as mentioned in US RE30,523, US 4143799 and US 3568902. However, none of these solutions provide a practical device which can easily lock the skis either to one unit, or fixed to a wall or the similar.

There is a further advantage that the ski poles can be fastened together with the skis, and moreover that the unit comprises parts being fasten to each other without having to be loosen upon regular use.

Object

The main object of the present invention is to provide a device for locking skis and ski equipment, such as skis and possibly ski poles or other equipment, together to one unit, preferably in such a way that unauthorized persons can not unlock it. Further, there is an object that locked ski equipment should be easily to carry and transport. Another object is that the device comprises parts being fastened to each other, and that they must not be loosened from each other during normal use. There is a further object that the device can be locked to fixed equipment, such as a wall, roof rack or the similar.

The invention

The object is met with a device according to the characterizing part of patent claim 1 .

A device according to present invention comprises two side elements being fastened to a common base, where the side elements are protruding upwards from the base in the same plane. The device further comprises a latch member at the end of the side elements, opposite the base, and where the latch member is arranged in such a way that it may be rotated in relation to the side elements, in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the side elements. The latch member is performed in such a way that it may engage the free ends of the side elements.

The device further comprises a turning element which is either a part of one of the side elements, or fastened to the same base as the side elements and protruding between the side elements in the same plane as them. The latch member is fastened to the free end of the turning element, and preferably fastened in such a way that it may be moved in relation to the base. Alternatively, the turning element is integrated in the side element in such a way that the latch member may be moved in relation to the base.

When the turning element is integrated in one of the side elements, the latch member is preferably fastened in such a way that the free end of the opposite side element may be engaged with and released from the latch member, and preferably, when the turning element is not integrated in one of the side elements, the free ends of both the side elements can be engaged with and released from the latch member when the latch member is moved in relation to the base. The device is preferably performed in such a way that the latch member may be locked in the position where it engages the free end, or the free ends of the side elements, in such a way that the distance from the latch member to the base can not be changed.

Once a device according to present invention should be used, it is unlocked, and the latch member is moved in a direction away from the base in such a way that it disengages the free ends of the side elements, possibly the free end of the side element where the turning element is not integrated. Then, the latch member is rotated around the longitudinal axis of the turning element, in a plane being perpendicular to the plane of the side elements, in such a way that ski equipment may be placed on top of the base, between the side elements. When the desired equipment is put in place, the latch member is rotated back into its original position, and into engagement with the free end(s) of the side element(s), and the device is locked in this position.

Ski equipment being locked in a device according to present invention, is locked between the side elements, the base and the latch member, and the skis are held apart by the turning element in those embodiments where the turning element is not integrated in one of the side elements. The device may be placed between the ski bindings in those cases the bindings are in two parts, or at the narrowest part in those cases where the skis are performed with a wider front- and rear part, in order to avoid that the ski equipment may be pulled out of the device. For some skis it should be used two devices per pair of skis, one above and one below the bindings, this is also an advantage when considering carrying and transportation, as a strap may be fastened to the device.

In an alternative embodiment, the latch member may be locked to one of the side elements in different positions, in such a way that the distance between the base and the latch member, when the device is locked, may be varied. In this way, the latch member may be led towards the skis irrespectively of how broad or narrow the skis are, and prevent that the skis are pulled out of the device. Alternatively, the length of the side elements and/or the turning element may be varied, or they may be assembled of several parts in such a way that the total length of the side elements and/or turning element may be varied. To perform the device in such a way that one may achieve different distances between the base and the latch member when the device is locked, may also be performed in other ways, which will be obvious to a person skilled of the art.

The side elements of a device according to present invention may be pols or bars, but they may also be shaped as a plate. In embodiments where the side elements are shaped as plates, they are extended in the longitudinal direction of skis being placed in the device, and will prevent that the ski equipment may be rotated in the device. This may be an advantage when it is only used one device to fasten a pair of skis together.

The turning element, the latch member and the locking of the device may be performed in many ways, and the embodiment of the different elements are mutually depending of this. In one embodiment, the turning element is performed as a pole protruding from the base, between the side elements, and the turning element has thorough hole(s) in the free end, the latch member of this embodiment is performed with three thorough holes, where the middle hole receives the turning element, and the outer holes receives the free ends of the side elements. When the latch member receives the ends of the side elements, a locking pin, for instance of a padlock, is led through the hole of the turning element, and blocks the latch member from being moved in such a way that the ends of the side elements are released. In order to avoid that the latch member is pulled off the turning element and released from the device, the free end of the turning element is preferably provided with a ball, ring or similar, where the ball, ring or similar has a wider diameter than the hole of the latch member receiving the turning element.

In another embodiment, the end of the turning element is led through an opening of the base, and provided with a thorough hole for receiving a locking pin, such as a padlock. When the latch member should be led out of engagement with the free ends of the side elements, the end of the turning element is released from the locking pin, and the turning element is then led through the base at a length being sufficient to release the free ends. In the same way as above, it is an

advantage that the end of the turning element is provided with a ball, ring or similar to block the end of the turning element from being pulled through the base, in such a way that the locking element is released from the device.

A locking pin as described above, for locking the device may be any

convenient locking pin, for instance a hinge of a padlock, which will be obvious to a person skilled of the art. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, such a locking pin is integrated in the device, for instance as a combination lock. The locking pin may be engaged and disengaged with the thorough hole of the locking element, and be locked. In one embodiment, the end of the turning element is provided with elevations and/or recesses and notches, and constitutes a part of a combination lock. With such an embodiment, the device is only in one part, which is very appropriate.

In a preferred embodiment, the turning element is spring-loaded in such a way that one must use a force to pull the latch member out of engagement with the side elements, and that the latch member will be pulled towards the base of the device in a rotated position.

In the embodiments of the present invention where the turning element is protruding between the side elements from the base of the device, the turning element is preferably provided with a casing or cylinder surrounding the turning element between the base and the latch member. This casing or cylinder has several functions; it protects the skis from scratches and the similar, at the same time as it protects the turning element in such a way that movement is not prevented. The casing is preferably embodied in such a way that it rests towards the base of the device, and that the latch member rests towards the opposite end of the casing. In this way, the casing will limit the distance between latch member and base, as the distance can not be shorter than the length of the casing.

In an alternative embodiment, the casing is fastened to the base, independent of the turning element. In such an embodiment, the end of the turning element may be pulled through the hole of the base because the end will be moving inside the casing. The device should, in such an embodiment, be provided with some form of stop organ, in such a way that the turning element can not be pulled out and released from the device. The casing or cylinder should be of a convenient material, both to be gentle to the skies, but also to accomplish the turning element. In an alternative embodiment the latch member is locked to one or both side elements, while the turning element is not part of the locking.

The device may alternatively be performed to be locked to the surroundings, for instance to a wall bracket or roof rack. In an alternative embodiment the turning element is embodied in such a way that one end is protruding out through the base, as described below, and that end is led down into a correspondingly embodied bracket, and further may for instance, a locking pin be led through the bracket and the end of the turning element at the same time in such a way that the position of the latch member is locked at the same time as the device is locked permanently. This may be performed in many ways which will be obvious to a person skilled of the art.

The device will in the following be described with reference to an example of an embodiment. The example is give for illustration only, and should not be used to interpret the following patent claims limiting.

Example

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in the enclosed figures, where

Figure 1 shows a cut-through embodiment of a device according to the invention, in closed position,

Figure 2 shows the device of Figure 1 , in open position,

Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a device according to the invention, in closed position,

Figure 4 shows the device of Figure 3, in open position,

Figure 5 shows a cut-through alternative embodiment of a device according to the invention, in a closed position, and

Figure 6 shows the embodiment of Figure 5, having an alternative system for locking,

Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment according to the invention, in closed position,

Figure 8 shows the device of Figure 7, in open position,

Figure 9 shows an alternative embodiment of the device shown in Figure 7, in closed position, and

Figure 10 shows the device of Figure 9, in open position The Figures show different embodiments of a device according to the invention. Similar elements are given the same reference numbers in the different embodiments. Figures 1 -6 show a device according to the invention, where two side elements 1 , 2 are parallel and protrude from a common base 3. Between the side elements 1 , 2 a turning element 4 protrudes from the base 3 and towards the end of the side elements, the turning element is preferably parallel with the side elements. At the end of the turning element being distal to the base, it is fastened a long latch member 5, as the latch member 5 is perpendicular to the turning element 4 and parallel to the base 3. The latch member 5 is embodied with two thorough holes 6 at the ends to receive one end of the side elements 1 , 2 each.

In all the shown embodiments, it is possible to rotate the latch member 5, in a plane perpendicular to the side elements. This may, for instance, be done by making the connection between the latch member 5 and the turning element 4 rotating, or that the whole turning element 4 may be rotated in relation to the side elements 1 ,2. This may be solved in many ways which will be obvious to a person skilled of the art, and the design of the rotation itself is thus not described any further.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 -5 the turning element 4 is further performed with a thorough hole 7 for receiving a locking pin, a hinge or similar (not shown) which will lock the device in such a way that the latch member can not be moved. The locking pin, hinge or similar must be sufficiently large to prevent the end of the turning element to be pulled through a hole 8 in the base of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 , 2 and 5, or the latch member to be moved passed the hole 7 of Figures 3 and 4, once the locking pin is engaged in the hole. In an alternative, not shown embodiment, the end of the turning element 4 opposite the latch member, is performed as a part of a lock, for instance a combination lock, in such a way that the turning element can not be pulled through the hole 8 in the base when the lock is fixed. The lock may possibly also be provided with a wire or similar to fasten the locking device to the surroundings.

Figures 1 and 2 show a cut-through embodiment of a device according to the invention. One end of the turning element 4 is led through the base 3 of the device, while the latch member 5 is fastened to the opposite end. Once the device should be opened, the end of the turning element 4 will be drawn through the base 3 as the latch member 5 is moved in relation to the side elements 1 ,2 and the end of the side elements are thus released from the latch member 5, as shown in Figure 2. The latch member 5 is then rotated in relation to the side elements 1 ,2, either by turning the latch member 5 in relation to the turning element, or, more preferred, by turning the whole turning element 4.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 and 2, the turning element 4 is spring- loaded, in such a way that one must work towards the force of a spring to lift the latch member 5 off the side elements 1 ,2, at the same time as a spring 9 pulls the latch member 5 back towards the device both when the latch member should be returned to locked position, but also when the latch member is rotated such that the device is open. The turning element is further provided with a ring 10 at the upper end, in such a way that the user easily can pull the turning element and turn the latch member. The shown embodiment with spring load is just given as an example, spring load may be performed in many ways, which will be obvious to a person skilled of the art. The end of the turning element being led through the base 3 is performed with a thorough hole 7, for receiving a locking pin or similar. Once the locking pin is inserted in the hole 7, the turning element 4 may not be pulled through the base 3, and the latch member 5 can not be lifted off the ends of the side elements 1 ,2. Thus, it is not possible to open the device.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the turning element is further provided with a casing 1 1 , as the casing has a stepwise reduced inner diameter, with the smallest inner diameter towards the latch member. The turning element 4 has correspondingly stepwise reduced outer diameter, as the end having the smallest diameter is led through the end of the casing having the smallest inner diameter. The spring 9 is located between the casing 1 1 and the turning element 4, and abuts the steps of the reduction as shown in the Figures.

Further, the casing 1 1 has another function. When the turning element 4 is pulled upwards to release the side elements 1 ,2 from the latch member 5, the end of the turning element 4 will be pulled through the hole 8 in the base 3, and continue inside the casing 1 1 . Thus, the end of the turning element may not be rotated or pushed out of position, and once the latch member 5 is moved towards the base 3 again, the end of the turning element 4 will slide through the hole 8 of the base. In a preferred embodiment, the casing 1 1 is fastened to the base 3.

In an alternative embodiment, the end of the turning element is performed to be led into another locking means (not shown) and locked. In this way the turning element will be locked in such a way that the latch member can not be lifted off the side elements, and at the same time the turning element will be locked to the other locking means, which again may be fastened to a wall, a car etc.

In another embodiment, the other locking means is a sleeve whose inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the end of the turning element. The sleeve is performed with a thorough hole corresponding to the hole of the turning element, and once the end of the turning element is led into the sleeve, a locking pin or the similar is pushed through the holes of the sleeve and the hole of the turning element, in such a way that they are locked together. The sleeve may be a part of a wall bracket, roof rack of a car or the similar. In Figures 3 and 4 it is shown an alternative embodiment of the invention, as the element 4A corresponding to the turning element of the other embodiments, is fixed, it should not be moved or rotated, but the latch member 5 should be rotated and moved in relation to the element 4A. The latch member 5 is performed with a thorough hole 12, to receive a part of the element 4A and slide along it. At the end remote from the base, the element 4A is provided with a thorough hole 7 being performed to receive a locking pin, hinge or similar (not shown).

The device is opened by removing the locking pin and then moving the latch member 5 along element 4A, away from the base 3 in such a way that the latch member is released from the ends of the side elements 1 ,2. In order to be released from the side elements, the latch member 5 must be moved past the thorough hole 7 of the element 4A, and if a locking pin is inserted, this movement will not be possible, and the device can not be opened. In the shown preferred embodiment the element 4A has a part 13 having a diameter larger than inner diameter of the hole 12 of the latch member 5, in such a way that the latch member will abut this part and prevent that the latch member can loosen from the element 4A. This may, of course, also be performed in other ways which will be obvious to a person skilled of the art.

The element 4A shown in Figures 3 and 4, is provided with an outer casing 1 1 of a protecting material in such a way that the skis will not be scratched when they are placed in the device. At the lower side of the base of the device, the device is provided with a pin 14 corresponding to the end of the turning element 4 shown in Figure 1 and 2, to lock the device to other locking means. This pin may not necessarily be a part of the turning element.

The turning element 4 of the embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6 is performed in such a way that the latch member 5 is fastened to one end of the turning element 4, and the opposite end of the turning element is protruding through the base 3 of the device. In such an embodiment, the whole turning element 4 must be moved and rotated to open the device. The end of the turning element opposite the latch member, is performed with a ring or ball 15 having a diameter larger than the hole 8 of the base 3 of the device. Once the device should be opened, the latch member 5 is moved away from the base in such a way that the turning element 4 is moved through the hole 8 of the base 3, until the latch member 5 is released from the ends of the side elements 1 ,2. Then, the latch member 5 is rotated 90 degrees in such a way that skis etc. may be placed into the device. Once the device should be locked again, the latch member 5 must be rotated back to its original position, and then be moved towards the base 3 in such a way that the ends of the side elements 1 ,2 are engaging the thorough holes 6 at the ends of the latch member. The embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5 may also be supplied with a spring in a corresponding way as the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, which will be obvious to a person skilled of the art.

The turning element 4 shown in Figure 5 is performed with a thorough hole 7 at the end protruding through the base 3, at the same way as shown in Figures 1 and 2, in such a way that the device may be locked. In Figure 6 it is shown an alternative embodiment of the locking of the device, wherein the latch member 5 and an upper part of one or both of the side elements 1 ,2 is performed with

corresponding devices 16 in such a way that they may be locked to each other. In the shown embodiment one of the elements and one end of the turning element is performed with a thorough hole in such a way that a locking pin or the similar may be inserted through both holes, and thus lock the latch member in a given position.

The embodiment of the device shown in Figure 7 and 8 is performed correspondingly to the other devices, having two side elements 1 ,2 being parallel and protruding from a common base 3. Further, it is fastened a long latch member 5 to one end of a turning element 4, wherein the latch member is perpendicular to the turning element and parallel with the base 3. However, in difference from the other embodiments, the turning element 4 is integrated in one of the side elements 2, and the latch member 5 is thus fastened to the side element 2. The latch member may rotate around the longitudinal axis of the side element 2, and the free end of the latch member is performed to engage the free end of the other side element 1 .

In the shown embodiment of Figures 7 and 8, the turning element is integrated in the side element and embodied in such a way that the latch member may be pulled away from the base, as the distance between base and latch member increases. In the shown embodiment this is performed in that one end of the turning element is protruding from the free end of the side element, longitudinal to the side element, wherein the latch member is fastened to this end, and the length of the protruding end may be changed in such a way that the distance from the latch member to the base is changing.

Further, the side element 1 not comprising the turning element 4 is performed with a pin 17, and the free end of the latch member 5 is performed with an inner cavity 18 being designed to engage the pin 17 at the opposite side element. This may of course be opposite, which will be obvious to a person skilled of the art. In the shown embodiment, the turning element 4 is spring-loaded, corresponding to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, in such a way that one must work towards the spring force to release the latch member 5 from the side element 1 , at the same time as a spring 9 pulls the latch member 5 back towards the device both when the latch member should return to locked position, but also when the latch member is rotated in such a way that the device is open.

The embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8 is performed in such a way that the latch member has a arch corresponding to the arch of the base, in such a way that the side elements, the base and the latch member, in closed state, is

symmetrical both length- and crosswise. In a preferred embodiment of the device shown in Figures 7 and 8, the cavity of the latch member 5 and the pin 17 is designed with corresponding locking pins or recesses (not shown) in such a way that they may engage each other and be locked.

In Figures 9 and 10 it is shown an embodiment of the device where the turning element is integrated in one of the side elements corresponding to the embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8. Further, the device is performed in such a way that the distance from base to latch member may be locked in different positions, in such a way that the latch member may be moved towards the skies before the device is locked, and thus the device will fit all kinds of skis, and the skis can not be pulled out of the device sideways. This may be achieved in several ways which will be obvious to a person skilled of the art, and the side elements may for instance be telescopic, or they may be performed by several pieces which may be regulated in relation to each other in such a way that the total length of the side elements are changing.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 9 and 10, the device is performed corresponding to the embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8, as the turning element 4 protrudes out of one side element 2, and the other side element 1 is performed with a pin. The latch member 5 is performed to engage a free end of the pin, and in the embodiment shown in Figures 9 and 10, the latch member is performed with a combination lock 19, where the pin 17 is provided with small protrusions 20 fitting into the combination lock 19. In this way it is achieved a device which easily can fasten ski and ski equipment together, which only comprises one part, and which eventually also may be locked to an external device.

In the shown embodiment, in order to achieve that the device may be locked with varying distance between base 3 and latch member 5, both the pin 17 and the turning element 4 is engaged in cavities 21 , 22 in the corresponding side element, and the length of the part of the pin 17 and turning element 4, respectively, protruding from the side element 1 ,2, is adjustable. In the shown embodiment, the end of the pin 17 being engaged in the cavity 22, is performed with exterior threads being in engagement with internal threads in the cavity 22. The length of the pin protruding out of the side element may easily be varied by revolving the pin a sufficiently number of times. The end of the turning element 4 being engaged in the cavity 21 is performed in such a way that it may freely move back and forth in the cavity, but it can not be redrawn from the cavity. The length of the turning element 4 protruding from the side element 2 is thus adjusted to the length of the pin 17 when the device is locked, in such a way that the length of the pin protruding the side element determines the distance from latch member 5 to base 3 in locked state. It may also be opposite, as the length of the protruding part of the turning element is adjustable, and thus determinant for the distance from base to latch member, or both parts may be adjustable. Other means may be used to achieve the intended function, which will be obvious to a person skilled of the art.

The embodiments described above is for illustration only, and should not in any way be used to limit the invention as it is defined in the following patent claims.