Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a ski suspension with wedge fasteners for holding ski equipment, such as skies, snowboards or ski poles, in the ski suspension.

Background of the invention

Most ski racks/ski suspensions are based on hanging the skis after the tips on two protruding posts ref.: https://www.mira-racks.no/. With this type of ski rack, the skis will move apart and split at the lower parts without the use of straps on the skis.

The invention uses a wedge that presses the skis together in the middle so that they will not split and the skies can be hanged up without using a ski strap.

Disclosure of the state of art

W09611729A1 discloses a support for the orderly suspension of objects in rod, strip or plate form, there are two clamping jaws movable dependently on each other and rotatably secured to a basic component. One of the ends of the clamping jaws projects freely and the other is held so as to rotate transversely to their longitudinal axes. The two axes lie at least approximately in one plane and include an angle with the point directed upwards in the position of use. Thus, the two jaws tend to be pressed together only by the downward pivoting movement. The more the jaws are pulled downward, the greater is the mutual pressure and hence even relatively heavy objects can be securely held.

Objects of the present invention

The object of the ski suspension according to the invention is that there is no need to use ski straps to hold the skies together and that the ski suspension can be used for different types of skis, which have different thickness and weight. The invention is based on wedges which use the weight of the skis to press the wedges and thus the skis against each other below the suspension point so that the skis are held firmly. That way it is possibly to hang up the skis without using ski straps.

The invention also makes it possible to hang different types of skis in the same ski suspension so that the thickness of the ski is not as important as on other ski suspensions. The invention also makes it possible to suspend a single ski or snowboard. Summary of the invention

One or more of said objects are achieved a ski suspension with wedge fasteners for holding elongated ski equipment in the ski suspension, comprising at least one suspension post with one or more downward directed wedge grooves, and one or more wedges with an upper gripping surface and a lower gripping surface, wherein the upper gripping surface and the lower gripping surface are facing a surface of the ski equipment. Each wedge groove is oblique to guide the wedge in the wedge groove in the suspension post to hold the ski equipment in the ski suspension by pressing the wedge down and towards the surface of the ski equipment, wherein the surface of the ski equipment abutting the upper gripping surface pushes the wedge down in the wedge groove, pressing the lower gripping surface towards the surface of the ski equipment and holding the ski equipment together with the upper gripping surface between the suspension post and a support surface.

The upper gripping surface and the lower gripping surface may have a non-slip surface. The non-slip surface can for instance be a serrated surface.

A bottom part of the wedge can have a sloping face to provide easy entry of the ski equipment. The sloping face is preferably in an area below the lower gripping surface.

The ski suspension can be mounted on a rail system for several ski suspensions.

Each wedge may for instance have two parts angled in relation to each other, wherein a first part comprising the upper gripping surface is angled in relation to a second part comprising the lower gripping surface.

In one embodiment may for instance each wedge be designed with an inverted L- shape, wherein the upper gripping surface is on a head of the wedge and the lower gripping surface is on a leg of the wedge.

The support surface for the ski equipment can be a surface of a wall, or the support surface can be a surface on a second suspension post.

The ski suspension can in one embodiment comprise two suspension posts with downward directed wedge grooves, several wedges with an upper gripping surface and a lower gripping surface, wherein the upper gripping surface and the lower gripping surface of two opposing wedges are facing each other, said wedge grooves are oblique to guide the wedges in the wedge grooves in the suspension posts to hold the ski equipment in the ski suspension by pressing the wedges down and towards each other, wherein the surface of the ski equipment abutting the upper gripping surface pushes the wedges down in the wedge grooves, pressing the lower gripping surface towards the surface of the ski equipment and holding the ski equipment in the suspension posts together with the upper gripping surface.

The suspension posts, with the downward directed wedge grooves, can in one embodiment be two outward projecting posts providing an open space for the ski equipment between the suspension posts.

Description of the figures

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following figures, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a ski suspension according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a cross section of the ski suspension of figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view similar to figure 1 and with a pair of skis. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a ski suspension according to the invention.

Description of preferred embodiments of the invention

The invention relates to a ski suspension with wedge fasteners for holding elongated ski equipment 7 in the ski suspension. The ski equipment 7 can for instance be skies, ski poles or snowboards. However, the figures show skies 7, which term is used without limitation in the following detailed description.

The first embodiment of the invention shall now be explained.

The ski suspension comprises suspension posts 1 with downward directed wedge grooves 2. The suspension posts 1 with the downward directed wedge grooves 2 are in the first embodiment two outward projecting posts providing an open space 9 for the skis 7 in between the posts. The suspension posts 1 can be cast in one piece and made for instance of a plastic material. The suspension posts 1 with the wedge grooves 2 contributes to the strength of the construction. The ski suspension further comprises several wedges 3 with an upper gripping surface 4 and a lower gripping surface 5, wherein the upper gripping surface 4 and the lower gripping surface 5 of two opposing wedges 3 are facing each other.

Each part of the suspension posts 1 comprises one or more wedge grooves 2. The wedge grooves 2 are as shown in figure 2 oblique or inclined grooves internally in the suspension posts 1. As seen, the wedge grooves 2 are downward directed oblique grooves. The wedge grooves 2 in the embodiment shown figures 1-3 are four grooves, two in each of the suspension posts 1 , and which controls the wedges 3 so that they press the wedges against the skis 7.

The wedge grooves 2 are oblique to guide the wedges 3 in the wedge grooves 2 in the suspension posts 1 to hold the skis 7 in the ski suspension by pressing the wedges 3 down and towards each other. When the skis 7 are abutting the upper gripping surface 4 and pushes the wedges 3 down in the wedge grooves 2, thus pressing the lower gripping surface 5 towards the skis and holding the skis 7 in the suspension posts 1 together with the upper gripping surface 4.

The wedges 3 which press the skis 7 together can for instance have two parts angled in relation to each other, wherein a first part comprising the upper gripping surface 4 is angled in relation to a second part comprising the lower gripping surface 5. In one embodiment, as shown in the figures, the wedges 3 are made with an inverted L-shape, such that a surface of the skis 7 abut an upper gripping surface 4 of the wedge 3, which in turn presses the wedge 3 down where the lower gripping surface 5 presses the skis 7 together at the lower part.

In the invention shown in the figures, there is four wedges 3 and thus room for two pairs of narrow skis or one pair of wide skis.

Each wedge 3 may as mentioned have an inverted L-shape, wherein the upper gripping surface 4 is on a head of the wedge 3 and the lower gripping surface 5 is on a leg of the wedge 3.

The upper gripping surface 4 of the wedge 3 is hit by the arch of the ski 7 and pushes the wedge 3 down in the wedge groove 2. The upper gripping surface 4 may have a slight arch shape that corresponds to normal ski tops and has a design/ coating that prevents the ski 7 from slipping on the wedge 3. The lower gripping surface 5 of the wedge 3 is pressed down and towards the ski 7, resulting in that the skis 7 are pressed together and held firmly. The lower gripping surface 5 has a design/coating that ensures that the skis 7 do not slip on the wedge 3. The lower gripping surface 5 may have a sloping edge 10 at the lower part of the wedge 3 to make it easier to insert skis between the wedges 3.

The ski suspension with wedge attachment is hung on a vertical wall. The ski suspension can be suspended either by mounting the suspension on a rail or screwing it into the wall through mounting hole 6. As shown in the figures 1-3, two opposite facing wedges 3 are inserted in the wedge grooves 2 in each suspension post 1. The skis 7 are held sole against sole and inserted between the wedges 3 either with the tip up or the back part up, depending on what is preferred on selected skis 7. With the ski pair 7, the wedges 3 are then lifted slightly up so that the space 9 between the wedges 3 becomes larger. The wedge 3 can have a small beveled edge 10 or sloping face so that it is easier to get the skis 7 in place into the ski suspension, wherein the sloping face 10 is in an area below the lower gripping surface 5. After the ski pair 7 has been placed sufficiently into the ski suspension, the weight of the skis is gradually transferred to the upper gripping surface 4.

The upper gripping surface 4 will then press the wedges 3 down in the wedge groove 2, which in turn will press the lower gripping surface 5 towards the center axis of the ski suspension and press the skis 7 together at the bottom edge and prevent the skis from splitting and slipping out of the ski suspension. There can be room for several pairs of skis 7 in a ski suspension depending on the number of wedge grooves 2 and the number of wedges 3 in the ski suspension. It is possible to have different types of design or coating on the upper and lower gripping surface so that special skis with a very smooth design can also be hung up in a gentle way. Special suspensions are also conceivable which can hang single skis, typically when preparing skis. The special suspension can then be made with a single wedge and a gentle surface on the opposite side against which the sole can rest. Special suspensions for snowboarding are also conceivable, which have a simple wedge system and a gentle surface on the opposite side. The ski suspension can be produced in various materials, including plastic, wood or metal.

The second embodiment of the invention shall now be explained. In the second embodiment the elongated ski equipment 7, which can be a single ski or a snowboard, is suspended between the suspension post 1 , with one or more wedges 3 and one or more wedge grooves 2 as disclosed in relation to the first embodiment, and a support surface. The support surface can be a surface of a wall 11, as illustrated by reference number 11 in figure 4. However, the support surface may also be a surface on a second suspension post. There is no need for wedges or wedge grooves in the second suspension post, but a suspension post 1 as previously disclosed may be used.

The ski suspension according the second embodiment thus comprises at least one suspension post 1 with one or more downward directed wedge grooves 2, and one or more wedges 3 with an upper gripping surface 4 and a lower gripping surface 5. The upper gripping surface 4 and the lower gripping surface 5 are facing a surface of the ski equipment 7.

Each wedge groove 2 is as previously disclosed oblique to guide the wedge 3 in the wedge groove 2 in the suspension post 1 to hold the ski equipment 7 in the ski suspension by pressing the wedge 3 down and towards the surface of the ski equipment. The surface of the ski equipment 7 abutting the upper gripping surface 4 pushes the wedge 3 down in the wedge groove 2, pressing the lower gripping surface 5 towards the surface of the ski equipment and holding the ski equipment 7 together with the upper gripping surface 4 between the suspension post 1 and the support surface.

The suspension post 1 in the first embodiment is preferable a suspension post fastened to a wall and protruding out from the wall, i.e. having an I shape. The suspension post in the second embodiment may be fastened in the same manner and protrude out from a wall.

The suspension post in the second embodiment can be designed as a L-shaped bracket, with a first protruding part and a second part with the wedge or wedges facing the wall. The ski or snowboard can thus be accommodated in the provided opening or gap.

The suspension post in the second embodiment can also be designed as a U- shaped bracket, with a first and second protruding part and an intermediate part with the wedge or wedges facing the wall. The ski or snowboard can thus be accommodated in the provided opening or gap.

The wedge 3 may have a flat front face, where an upper part of the flat front face constitutes the upper gripping surface 4 and a lower part of the flat front face constitutes the lower gripping surface 5. Such a design will be of triangular shape, and with an open or solid internal middle section. The oblique wedge groove 2 may further in such a case be a partial open groove or slit permitting the wedge to protrude out from the groove and work in the same manner as disclosed previously. Such a wedge and wedge groove may be used in the first embodiment and/or in the second embodiment.