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United States Patent Application	20110174857
Kind Code	A1
King; Courtney A.	July 21, 2011

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Claims

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1. A carrier for recreational equipment, such as skis, snowboards, skateboards, surfboards, etc., the carrier comprising: an elongate main strap having opposite ends and an upper surface defined between said opposite ends, the upper surface bearing indicia thereon; at least one securement strap extending generally transversely of said main strap proximate each of the opposite ends thereof, said securement straps capable of being selectively formed into closed loops; an elongate shoulder strap having opposite terminal ends, each such terminal end secured to one of the securement straps or the main strap; and wherein, when recreational equipment is being carried in the carrier, the main strap overlies a surface of the recreational equipment so that indicia on the upper surface of the main strap is visible.

2. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the length of the shoulder strap between the opposite terminal ends thereof is adjustable.

3. The carrier of claim 2, wherein the shoulder strap is comprised of at least two separate strap sections, each such strap section comprising one of said terminal ends and a free end opposite thereof, and wherein the opposite free end of one strap section is adjustably connected to the opposite free end of the other strap section so that the length of the shoulder strap between the opposite terminal ends thereof is adjustable.

4. The carrier of claim 3, wherein the opposite free ends of the strap sections are adjustably connected by a pair of rings.

5. The carrier of claim 1, wherein each securement strap has a single free end comprising one portion of a hook and loop type fastener, the complementary portion being provided proximate the main strap, and whereby the free end of each securement strap is capable of selective securement to the complementary portion to thereby define the closed loop of sufficient dimensions to encircle one of a pair of skis, a skateboard, a snowboard, a surfboard, or the like.

6. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the opposite terminal ends of the shoulder strap are secured to the securement straps, such that the shoulder strap is disposed generally parallel to the main strap.

7. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the opposite terminal ends of the shoulder strap are each secured to the main strap.

8. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the securement straps each define opposite free ends which extend generally transversely of said main strap in opposite directions, each pair of opposite free ends capable of being selectively connected to form closed loops.

9. The carrier of claim 8, wherein each pair of opposite free ends of the securement straps comprise complementary portions of a hook and loop type fastener, whereby each pair of free ends are capable of being selectively connected to form closed loops.

10. A carrier for skis, snowboards, skateboards, surfboards, etc., the carrier comprising: a flexible, elongate main strap having opposite ends and an indicia-bearing surface defined between said opposite ends; at least one flexible, elongate securement strap secured proximate each of the opposite ends of the main strap, said securement straps each capable of being formed into closed loops of sufficient dimensions to encircle at least one of a pair of skis, a skateboard, a snowboard, or a surfboard; a carrying strap having opposite terminal ends each of which is secured to one of the elongate securement straps or the main strap; and wherein, when the securement straps are formed into closed loops encircling at least one of a pair of skis, a skateboard, a snowboard, or a surfboard, the main strap overlies a surface of the pair of skis, skateboard, snowboard, surfboard or the like so that indicia on the indicia-bearing surface of the main strap is visible.

11. The carrier of claim 10, wherein the length of the shoulder strap between the opposite terminal ends thereof is adjustable.

12. The carrier of claim 11, wherein the carrying strap is comprised of at least two separate strap sections, each such strap section comprising one of said terminal ends and a free end opposite thereof, and wherein the opposite free end of one strap section is adjustably connected to the opposite free end of the other strap section so that the length of the shoulder strap between the opposite terminal ends thereof is adjustable.

13. The carrier of claim 12, wherein the opposite free ends of the strap sections are adjustably connected by a pair of rings.

14. The carrier of claim 10, wherein each securement strap has a single free end comprising one portion of a hook and loop type fastener, the complementary portion being provided proximate the main strap, and whereby the free end of each securement strap is capable of selective securement to the complementary portion to thereby define the closed loop of sufficient dimensions to encircle one of a pair of skis, a skateboard, a snowboard, a surfboard, or the like.

15. The carrier of claim 10, wherein the opposite terminal ends of the carrying strap are each secured to the securement straps, such that the carrying strap is disposed generally parallel to the main strap.

16. The carrier of claim 10, wherein the opposite terminal ends of the carrying strap are each secured to the main strap.

17. The carrier of claim 10, wherein the securement straps each define opposite free ends which extend generally transversely of said main strap in opposite directions, each pair of opposite free ends capable of being selectively connected to form closed loops.

18. The carrier of claim 17, wherein each pair of opposite free ends of the securement straps comprise complementary portions of a hook and loop type fastener, whereby each pair of free ends are capable of being selectively connected to form closed loops.

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Description

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a carrier for recreational equipment such as snow skis, water skis, snowboards, skateboards and the like, and more particularly to such a carrier featuring a dedicated surface for bearing indicia such as advertising, decorative graphics, etc.

BACKGROUND

[0002] It can be cumbersome to carry recreational equipment such as skis, water skis, snowboards, skateboards, surfboards, etc. To address this problem, numerous carrying devices have been heretofore developed. Of these, the ski carrier of U.S. Pat. No. 4,114,838 exemplifies a simple solution in the form of a shoulder strap having affixed to the opposite terminal ends thereof perpendicularly-oriented end straps. The end straps include hook and loop style fasteners to facilitate their securement about a pair of skis. Once the end straps are so fastened, a user can carry the skis by the shoulder strap.

[0003] While the foregoing and other solutions to the problem of carrying such recreational articles have proven satisfactory, they could be improved upon.

SUMMARY

[0004] The present invention improves upon the prior art by providing a carrier for recreational equipment, such as skis, snowboards, skateboards, surfboards, etc., the carrier comprising: An elongate main strap having opposite ends and an upper surface defined between said opposite ends, the upper surface bearing indicia thereon; at least one securement strap extending generally transversely of said main strap proximate each of the opposite ends thereof, said securement straps capable of being selectively formed into closed loops; an elongate shoulder strap having opposite terminal ends, each such terminal end secured to one of the securement straps or the main strap; and wherein, when recreational equipment is being carried in the carrier, the main strap overlies a surface of the recreational equipment so that indicia on the upper surface of the main strap is visible.

[0005] According to one embodiment, the length of the shoulder strap between the opposite terminal ends thereof is adjustable. Further according to this embodiment, the shoulder strap may be comprised of at least two separate strap sections, each such strap section comprising one of said terminal ends and a free end opposite thereof, and wherein the opposite free end of one strap section is adjustably connected to the opposite free end of the other strap section so that the length of the shoulder strap between the opposite terminal ends thereof is adjustable. In one embodiment, the opposite free ends of the strap sections may be adjustably connected by a pair of rings.

[0006] Per another feature of the invention, each securement strap has a single free end comprising one portion of a hook and loop type fastener, the complementary portion being provided proximate the main strap, and whereby the free end of each securement Strap is capable of selective securement to the complementary portion to thereby define the closed loop of sufficient dimensions to encircle one of a pair of skis, a skateboard, a snowboard, a surfboard, or the like.

[0007] According to a further feature, the opposite terminal ends of the shoulder strap may be secured to the securement straps, such that the shoulder strap is disposed generally parallel to the main strap. Alternatively, the opposite terminal ends of the shoulder strap may each be secured to the main strap.

[0008] Per one embodiment, the securement straps each define opposite free ends which extend generally transversely of said main strap in opposite directions, each pair of opposite free ends capable of being selectively connected to form closed loops. According to one feature, each pair of opposite free ends of the securement straps may comprise complementary portions of a hook and loop type fastener, whereby each pair of free ends are capable of being selectively connected to form closed loops.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The present invention will be appreciated from the following description and accompanying drawings, of which:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inventive carrier according to an exemplary embodiment thereof;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of one embodiment of means for adjustably connecting separate strap sections of the shoulder strap;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inventive carrier according to an alternative embodiment thereof;

[0013] FIG. 4 depicts the inventive carrier in an exemplary operational environment in which it is employed to carry a pair of skis; and

[0014] FIG. 5 depicts the inventive carrier in another exemplary operational environment in which it is employed to carry a snowboard.

WRITTEN DESCRIPTION

[0015] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The accompanying drawings are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

[0016] Referring now to the drawings, there is disclosed a carrier for recreational equipment such as skis, snowboards, skateboards, surfboards, etc. As shown particularly in FIG. 1, the carrier according to an exemplary embodiment generally comprises an elongate main strap 10 having opposite ends 10a, 10b and an upper surface 11 defined between the opposite ends. The upper surface 11 is capable of bearing indicia 12 thereon, such as advertising, graphics, etc.

[0017] At least one elongate securement strap 13a, 13b is secured to and extends generally transversely of the main strap 10 proximate each of the opposite ends 10a, 10b thereof. Each securement strap 13a, 13b is capable of being formed into closed loops of sufficient dimensions to encircle at least one of a pair of skis, a skateboard, a snowboard, a surfboard, etc., such as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. As will be appreciated, the securement straps 13a, 13b may be dimensioned to form closed loops of dimensions sufficient to accommodate only a specific type of recreational equipment (e.g., a pair of skis, a snowboard, etc.) or, in the alternative, may be of sufficient length (or even of adjustable length) so as to permit the selective formation of closed loops of varying dimensions to thereby permit the carrier to be adapted to carry a variety of recreational equipment.

[0018] It is contemplated that the number and manner of forming the securement straps into closed loops may be varied. According to the embodiment of FIG. 1, for instance, a single securement strap 13a, 13b is provided proximate each of the opposite ends 10a, 10b of the main strap 10, and each securement strap has a single free end 13c, 13d, respectively, comprising one portion 15 of a hook and loop type fastener, the complementary portion 16 being provided proximate the main strap 10.

[0019] According to an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, the securement straps 13a', 13b' each define opposite free ends 13c', 13e' and 13d', 13f', respectively, which opposite free ends extend generally transversely of the main strap 10 in opposite directions. As with the foregoing embodiment, each pair of opposite free ends 13c', 13e' and 13d', 13f' of the securement straps comprise complementary portions 15', 16' of a hook and loop type fastener, whereby each pair of opposite free ends 13c', 13e' and 13d', 13f' are capable of being selectively connected to form closed loops.

[0020] Of course, other conventional fastening means, including, by way of non-limiting example, snaps, D-rings, buckles, etc. may be substituted for the hook and loop type fasteners of the foregoing embodiments.

[0021] With reference again being had to FIG. 1, an elongate shoulder strap 14 includes opposite terminal ends 14a, 14b, each of which is secured to one of the elongated securement straps 13a, 13b, as shown, or to the main strap 10.

[0022] The components of the carrier as heretofore described may be made of any suitable material including, by way of non-limiting example, fabric such as nylon, canvas, etc. Preferably, though not necessarily, the material of the carrier is suitably flexible to permit the carrier to be folded into a relatively compact condition for easy stowage and/or transportation when not in use.

[0023] As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the securement straps 13a,13b or 13a'',13b'', respectively, are formed into closed loops encircling at least one of a pair of skis (FIG. 4), a skateboard, a snowboard (FIG. 5), a surfboard, or other item of recreational equipment, the main strap 10 or 10'' overlies a surface of the recreational equipment so that indicia 12 or 12'' provided on the upper surface 11 or 11'' of the main strap 10 or 10'' is visible (such as, for instance, to an observer located behind the user when the carrier is worn over the shoulder, such as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0024] The shoulder strap 14 may constitute an element of fixed length (such as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 or, optionally, the may be adjustable. To this latter end, the shoulder strap 14 is comprised of at least two separate strap sections 14c, 14d, each such strap section comprising one of said terminal ends 14a, 14b and a free end 14e, 14f oppositely thereof. According to this optional embodiment, the opposite free end 14e or 14f of one strap section 14c or 14d is adjustably connected to the opposite free end 14e or 14f of the other strap section 14c or 14d so that the length of the carrying strap between the opposite terminal ends 14a, 14b thereof is adjustable.

[0025] As desired, the adjustable connection between the opposite free ends 14e, 14f of the strap sections 14c, 14d may be accomplished by a pair of rings 20, such as the conventional "D"-rings shown in FIG. 1, via an adjustable buckle 25 of conventional construction, such as shown in FIG. 2, via the provision of complementary hook and loop type fastening means proximate the opposite free ends 14e, 14f (not shown), or any other conventional means known to those skilled in the art.

[0026] The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the innovation. The embodiments are shown and described in order to explain the principals of the innovation and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the innovation in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.

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