Sport Board Carrying Harness

Abstract

The harness is compact enough to allow a user to secure it around his or her waist, or within a small backpack so that it is hands-free when not in use. The harness further allows the user to carry skis, a snowboard, a skateboard or other elongate sports equipment behind the back in hands-free fashion. The harness may further provide the user with one or more handles to carry the sports equipment in one hand, if desired.

Description

This application is filed within one year of, and claims priority to Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/123,092, filed Apr. 3, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to sporting goods and accessories and, more specifically, to a Sport Board Carrying Harness.

2. Description of Related Art

Skiing, snowboarding and skateboarding are extremely popular action sports. Besides requiring coordination, balance and physical strength, these sports all have a common aspect—they each involve the use of fairly bulky equipment. Skiing entails the use of heavy boots, long skis and gangly poles. Snowboarding requires a wide, elongate board having large bindings protruding from its top, as well as large specialty boots. A skateboard is generally smaller than either skis or snowboards, but can still tend to be difficult to handle.

The problem with each of these sports and their equipment stems from the common situation where the user needs to tote his or her equipment to a recreational site prior to actually donning the equipment. In the case of skiing and snowboarding, the user might not only have to carry their gear to the resort, but will further have to carry the equipment when transiting from place to place at the resort. The problem is exacerbated when the user is also wearing bulky cold-weather clothing.

While carrying devices and bags have been available for all of this equipment, each of them has a defect that makes them unsuitable. Carrying bags are very good at protecting the boards and other equipment, but they are so big and bulky that the user must find a locker or basket to store the bag when the user wishes to begin skiing or boarding. Carrying devices can clasp the boards/poles, etc. together to make them easier to handle, but they are not hands-free like a carrying bag can be.

What is needed is an accessory that provides the hands-free convenience for carrying equipment of a carrying bag, yet still be compact enough so that the user can keep the accessory on his or her person while they are skiing, snowboarding or skateboarding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior games and devices, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Sport Board Carrying Harness. The harness should be compact enough to allow a user to secure it around his or her waist, or within a small backpack so that it is hands-free when not in use. The harness should further allow the user to carry skis, a snowboard, a skateboard or other elongate sports equipment behind the back in bands-free fashion. The harness should further provide the user with one or more handles to carry the sports equipment in one hand, if desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the harness of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of user wearing the harness of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a back perspective view of the user of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the harness of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the harness of FIG. 4 strapped around a pair of skis and poles;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the harness of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a user wearing the harness of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the second embodiment of the harness of FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 9 is a side perspective view of the first embodiment of the harness of FIGS. 1-3; and

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the third embodiment of the harness of FIGS. 6 and 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a Sport Board Carrying Harness.

The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the harness 10A of the present invention. The harness 10A has an elongate longitudinal strap 12 terminating in a first buckle-half 14A at one end and a second buckle-half 14B at the opposing end. The longitudinal strap 12 will also have intermediate buckles (or similar devices) to permit the user to adjust the length to accommodate different torso sizes.

The longitudinal strap 12 is sewn or otherwise attached along the midline of a protective pad 16. The pad 16 is made from durable cloth or other material. A first transverse strap 18A is attached to the pad 16 adjacent to a first end of the pad 16. The transverse strap 18A, like the longitudinal strap 12 has means for adjusting its length (i.e. buckles or the like), and further terminates in a pair of buckle-halves 20A, 20B.

A second transverse strap 18B is attached to the pad 16 adjacent to a second end of the pad 16, and has essentially the same features as the first transverse strap 18A. The two transverse straps 18A, 18B are oriented to be perpendicular to the orientation of the longitudinal strap 12 (and protective pad 16). In order to understand how the harness 10A is used, we will now turn to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of user 26 wearing the harness 10A of FIG. 1. The longitudinal strap 12 is wrapped around the user's shoulder and torso and the two buckle halves 14A, 14B are interlocked in order to form buckle 14. The snowboard 24 is held to the harness 10A by the interlocked transverse straps (see FIG. 3), such that the snowboard is securely held and the protective pad 16 is between the user's back and the snowboard 24.

By using the harness WA to carry the snowboard 24, the user 26 has freed his hands from carrying the equipment. The carrying position is comfortable and convenient and gives the user additional safety because a fall on slippery terrain can be more easily avoided because the hands are free. This can be very useful if the user wishes to go “off-piste” or back-country boarding.

FIG. 9 is another view of the first embodiment of the harness 10A of the present invention. FIG. 3 provides another view of this device.

FIG. 3 is a back perspective view of the user 26 of FIG. 2. As shown, the buckle halves of the first transverse strap 18A are interconnected to secure the board 24 to the harness 10A above the top binding. The buckles halves of the second transverse strap 18B are interconnected to secure the board 24 to the harness 10A below the bottom binding. The snowboard 24 is therefore securely held to the user's back. The carrying position of the board 24 can be adjusted easily, and due to the protective pad, will not cause pain to the user or damage to the user's clothing.

In order to release the board 24 for use, the user need simply detach the buckle halves of the longitudinal strap 12 to get the assembly off of his back, and then unclip the buckles holding the transverse straps 18A, 18B together. Since the harness 10A is so compact, the user can easily collapse it and pack it away into a jacket pocket or carrying pouch. If we now turn to FIG. 4, we can examine yet another version of the harness.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the harness 10B of the present invention. This harness 10B is designed to work particularly well with skis and poles. It has a longitudinal strap 12 and a protective pad 16. In this harness 10B, however, the pad 16 is likely to be longer and thinner than the previously-described harness (10A). Another distinction here is that there is a third transverse strap 18C attached to, and extending from the pad 16. Also, the three transverse straps 18A, 18B, 18C are disposed at locations along the pad 16 that are different than in the first-described harness embodiment. The purpose of these variations will become clear by review of FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the harness 10B of FIG. 4 strapped around a pair of skis 26 and ski poles 28. Here, the first transverse strap 18A is clasping the tail end of the skis 26 to the right of the heel binding. Normally, the first transverse strap 18A would not only clasp the skis 26, but also be encircling the poles 28 as well. FIG. 8 provides yet another view of the second embodiment of the harness 10B of the present invention.

The third transverse strap 18C is clasping the tip end of the skis 26 to the left of the toe binding. The second transverse strap 18B, like the first transverse strap 18A is normally utilized, is clasping both the poles 28 and the skis 26.

By clasping the poles 28 to the skis 26 in this manner, not only are they securely held to the harness 10B for carrying on one's back (similar to the depiction of FIGS. 2 and 3), but it further permits the poles to be grasped by the user's hand so that the skis and poles can be carried like a piece of luggage (i.e. at one's side). This provides carrying versatility not previously offered in bags or totes.

Like the first harness embodiment, this version 10B is also compact enough to be rolled up and put in a jacket pocket or within a optional storage/carrying pouch. FIG. 6 shows yet another version of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the harness 10C of the present invention. This harness 10C is designed to be particularly well suited for the hands-free carrying of a skateboard. Here, there is no protective pad, since a skateboard doesn't generally have the sharp edges that exist in skis and snowboards. Furthermore, elimination of the protective pad makes this harness 10C even more compact than the other two versions.

Since there is no protective pad, the longitudinal strap 12 provides the basic structure for the harness 18C. The first, second and third transverse straps 18A, 18B, 18C attach to the longitudinal strap 12. In this version, however, the second and third straps 18B, 18C are actually attached to the longitudinal strap 12 in the same location along the length of the strap 12. This is so that one strap (the third strap 18C) can be used to secure a skateboard to the harness 10C, while the second strap 18B can be strapped around the user's waist like a belt. This arrangement is depicted in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a user wearing the harness 10C of FIG. 6. As shown, the top of the skateboard is flat against the user's back, with the longitudinal strap 12 cinched around his shoulder and under his arm. The second transverse strap 18B has been cinched around his waist to provide superior stability, even to the point where the user can ride a bicycle or run with the skateboard on his back. FIG. 10 is yet another view of this third embodiment of the harness 10C of the present invention.

The depicted version of the harnesses shown herein are made from mesh straps, weather-resistant buckles and woven cloth. In other non-depicted versions, other higher-end materials may be used, such as high tech cloths as well as leather or metals.

While the harnesses described herein are depicted being used with skis, snowboards and skateboards, the inventor has demonstrated their suitable hands-free use for carrying rifles and other firearms, large tools, and other devices.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.

Claims

1. A carrying harness for sport boards such as skis, snowboards, skateboards and the like, comprising:

a longitudinal strap extending from a first closure device half to a second closure device half, said first and second closure device halves cooperatively designed to releasibly interlock to one another;

a first transverse strap defined by a first closure device half at a first end and a second closure device half associated with said first transverse strap, said first transverse strap first and second closure device halves cooperatively designed to realisibly interlock to one another, said first transverse strap attached to said longitudinal strap along said first transverse strap intermediate said longitudinal strap closure device halves and said first transverse strap closure device straps; and

a second transverse strap defined by a first closure device half at a first end and a second closure device half associated with said second transverse strap, said second transverse strap first and second closure device halves cooperatively designed to realisibly interlock to one another, said second transverse strap attached to said longitudinal strap along said second transverse strap intermediate said longitudinal strap closure device halves and said second transverse strap closure device straps.

2. The harness of claim 1, further comprising:

a third transverse strap defined by a first closure device half at a first end and a second closure device half associated with said third transverse strap, said third transverse strap first and second closure device halves cooperatively designed to realisibly interlock to one another, said third transverse strap attached to said longitudinal strap along said third transverse strap intermediate said longitudinal strap closure device halves and said third transverse strap closure device straps.

3. The harness of claim 2, further comprising a protective pad attached to said longitudinal strap.

4. The harness of claim 1, further comprising a protective pad attached to said longitudinal strap.

5. The harness of claim 2, wherein said protective pad extends along said longitudinal strap from approximately said first transverse strap attachment location on said longitudinal strap to approximately said third transverse strap attachment location to said longitudinal strap.

6. The harness of claim 2, wherein said second and third transverse straps attach to said longitudinal strap in approximately the same location, said second and third transverse strap attachment location being in spaced relation to said first transverse strap attachment location.

7. The harness of claim 3, wherein said protective pad extends along said longitudinal strap from approximately said first transverse strap attachment location on said longitudinal strap to approximately said third transverse strap attachment location to said longitudinal strap.

8. The harness of claim 6, wherein said longitudinal strap is made from non-elastic, flexible material having a width, and said protective pad is has a soft, padded core and devices a width that is greater than said strap width.

9. The harness of claim 7, wherein said longitudinal strap is made from non-elastic, flexible material having a width, and said protective pad is has a soft, padded core and devices a width that is greater than said strap width.

10. A sport board carrying harness, comprising:

a longitudinal strap extending from a first closure device half to a second closure device half, said first and second closure device halves cooperatively designed to releasibly interlock to one another;

a first transverse strap defined by a first closure device half at a first end and a second closure device half associated with said first transverse strap, said first transverse strap first and second closure device halves cooperatively designed to realisibly interlock to one another, said first transverse strap attached to said longitudinal strap along said first transverse strap intermediate said longitudinal strap closure device halves and said first transverse strap closure device straps; and

a second transverse strap defined by a first closure device half at a first end and a second closure device half associated with said second transverse strap, said second transverse strap first and second closure device halves cooperatively designed to realisibly interlock to one another, said second transverse strap attached to said longitudinal strap along said second transverse strap intermediate said longitudinal strap closure device halves and said second transverse strap closure device straps.

11. The harness of claim 10, further comprising a protective pad attached to said longitudinal strap.

12. The harness of claim 11, wherein said protective pad extends along said longitudinal strap from approximately said first transverse strap attachment location on said longitudinal strap to approximately said second transverse strap attachment location to said longitudinal strap.

13. The harness of claim 12, further comprising:

a third transverse strap defined by a first closure device half at a first end and a second closure device half associated with said third transverse strap, said third transverse strap first and second closure device halves cooperatively designed to realisibly interlock to one another, said third transverse strap attached to said longitudinal strap along said third transverse strap intermediate said longitudinal strap closure device halves and said third transverse strap closure device straps.

14. The harness of claim 13, wherein said second and third transverse straps attach to said longitudinal strap in approximately the same location, said second and third transverse strap attachment location being in spaced relation to said first transverse strap attachment location.

15. The harness of claim 13, wherein said protective pad extends along said longitudinal strap from approximately said first transverse strap attachment location on said longitudinal strap to approximately said third transverse strap attachment location to said longitudinal strap, said second transverse strap attachment location on said longitudinal strap being intermediate said first transverse strap attachment location and said third transverse strap attachment location.

16. The harness of claim 14, wherein said longitudinal strap is made from non-elastic, flexible material having a width, and said protective pad is has a soft, padded core and devices a width that is greater than said strap width.

17. The harness of claim 15, wherein said longitudinal strap is made from non-elastic, flexible material having a width, and said protective pad is has a soft, padded core and devices a width that is greater than said strap width.