ADAPTIVE SKI SYSTEM FOR CONNECTING TWO SKIS TOGETHER

Abstract

An adaptive ski system can interconnect two skis together while still providing a range of motion of the skis relative to one another. The ski system includes one or two interconnection devices mounted between a pair of skis. The interconnection devices can mount in various locations on the front and/or rear of the skis in any set of mounting holes selected from a plurality of sets of mounting holes. The interconnection devices include a mounting bracket on each ski. A cross bar connects the mounting brackets, thereby interconnecting the skis, such that relative range of motion between the skis both up and down and side-to-side is possible. The interconnection devices quickly connect and disconnect from the skis. The resulting ski system enables a high degree of personal adaption for the needs individual skier.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/635,113, filed Apr. 18, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to skiing systems and, more particularly, to an adaptive ski system for connecting two skis together to assist handicapped, beginner and decreased mobility skiers.

Handicapped skiers, including leg amputees, mentally/developmentally challenged, or have muscle or nerve impairments, face extreme difficulty using a pair of skis successfully. Current systems are usually mounted only on the tips of the skis and are secured by a finger tightened screw that could potentially loosen from the ski, endangering the safety of the skier. These current systems, with limited range of motion and simple design, were developed in the 1940's and are ripe for improvements.

As can be seen, there is a need for an adaptive ski system for assisting handicapped, beginner and decreased mobility skiers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a ski system comprises mounting brackets attached to each of a pair of skis at a forward end thereof; mounting bracket arms extending from the mounting bracket having a hole at an end thereof; swivel ball joints attached to the mounting bracket arms on each of the mounting brackets; and a cross bar connected to the swivel ball joint on each end thereof.

In another aspect of the present invention, a ski system comprises mounting brackets attached to each of a pair of skis at a forward end thereof; mounting bracket arms extending from the mounting bracket having a hole at an end thereof; swivel ball joints attached to the mounting bracket arms on each of the mounting brackets; a cross bar threadably and adjustably connected to the swivel ball joint on each end thereof; and a bolt passing through the holes in the mounting bracket arms, securing the swivel ball joint between the mounting bracket arms.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adaptive ski system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an adaptive ski system according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the adaptive ski system of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of the adaptive ski system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4, showing an exemplary up and down range of motion achieved therewith;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the adaptive ski system of FIG. 1, showing an exemplary side-to-side range of motion achieved therewith; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an adaptive ski system according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an adaptive ski system that can interconnect two skis together while still providing a range of motion of the skis relative to one another. The ski system includes one or two interconnection devices mounted between a pair of skis. The interconnection devices can mount in various locations on the front and/or rear of the skis in any set of mounting holes selected from a plurality of sets of mounting holes. The interconnection devices include a mounting bracket on each ski. A cross bar connects the mounting brackets, thereby interconnecting the skis, such that relative range of motion between the skis both up and down and side-to-side is possible. The cross bar can be a solid member or can include a resiliently extendable member similar to a shock absorber. The interconnection devices quickly connect and disconnect from the skis. The resulting ski system enables a high degree of personal adaption for the needs individual skier.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 7, a pair of skis 30 can include a first set of mounting holes 14 formed along a forward portion of the skis 30. Typically, a second set of mounting holes 14 can be disposed along a rear portion of the skis 30. The mounting holes 14 are disposed to allow positioning of mounting brackets 10 therewith. Screws 12 can pass through the mounting brackets 10 and into the mounting holes 14 to secure the mounting brackets 10 to the skis 30. Threaded inserts 28 can be disposed in the mounting holes 14 to accept the screws 12. Typically, two rows of parallel mounting holes 14 are disposed on each ski 30. The mounting holes 14 allow for variable location of the mounting brackets 10 along the front and/or rear of the skis 30.

A cross bar 26 can be disposed to interconnect the mounting brackets 10, thereby interconnecting the skis 30. Various designs in the cross bar 26 are possible, provided that a relative range of motion of the skis 30 is provided, as described in greater detail below. Typically, the cross bar 26 can include a swivel ball joint 22 that threads into ends of the cross bar 26. A lock nut 24 can be disposed to lock the ball joint 22 relative to the cross bar 26, thereby preventing loosening or tightening thereof. The separation between the skis 30 can be adjusted to some degree depending on the amount the swivel ball joints 22 are threaded into the ends of the cross bar 26.

A bolt 18 can pass through the mounting bracket 10 and through the swivel ball joint 22. Typically, the mounting bracket 10 includes two generally parallel mounting arms 32 with a hole 34 in each. The bolt 18 can pass through the first mounting arm 32, through a first spacer 16, through the swivel ball joint 22, through a second spacer 16 and out through the second mounting arm 32. A nut 20 can secure the bolt 18 in place. The spacers 16 can assist in providing forward and backward relative motion between the skis 30 when the cross bar 26 is in place. Other designs could be used in place of the bolt 18 and nut 20. For example, a quick release pin could be used to make the connection between the mounting bracket 10 and the swivel ball joint 22.

In some embodiments, a resiliently extendable cross bar 26-1 can be disposed on the mounting brackets 10 in a manner similar to the cross bar 26 described above. The resiliently extendable cross bar 26-1 can be mounted in the rear part of the skis and can allow the user to “snow plow”, for example, while providing additional rigidity as compared to using no support in the rear of the ski. The resiliently extendable cross bar 26-1 can operate, for example, similar to a shock absorber, allowing the skis to be resiliently separated (as shown in FIG. 7) while positioning the skis generally parallel in a neutral position.

As shown in FIG. 5, the design of the mounting brackets 10 and the swivel ball joint 22 allows for up and down relative range of motion between the skis 30. The ski system of the present invention allows up to about 30 degrees of up and down relative range of motion, typically about 20 degrees from vertical of each other.

As shown in FIG. 6, the design of the mounting brackets 10 and the swivel ball joint 22 allows for fore to aft relative range of motion between the skis 30. The ski system of the present invention allows up to about 30 degrees of fore to aft relative range of motion, typically about 20 degrees from parallel of each other in the horizontal plane.

The range of motion described above allows the skis 30 to handle a variety of difficult and changing terrain while keeping the skis 30 parallel to each other. This prevents the ski tips from crossing or drifting from a parallel position to each other.

As described above, the ski system of the present invention can be used with a single interconnection at the front end of the skis, as shown in FIG. 2, or can be used with two interconnections, at the front and rear ends of the skis, as shown in FIG. 1.

The components can be made from various suitable materials, such as plastic, metal (including stainless steel, aluminum or the like), composites, and the like.

Variations can be made in design aspects without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, a polymer or polymer metal bracket strip could be permanently mounted to the ski similar to mounting brackets for ski bindings. Slots, teeth or holes could be disposed along its length to allow a polymer or metal arm bracket to be able to be re-positioned quickly and securely, similar to demonstrator ski bindings. The ski arm assembly could be affixed to the ski arm bracket in the same fashion, by a pin or bolt, as previously described.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A ski system comprising:

mounting brackets attached to each of a pair of skis at a forward end thereof;

mounting bracket arms extending from the mounting bracket having a hole at an end thereof;

swivel ball joints attached to the mounting bracket arms on each of the mounting brackets; and

a cross bar connected to the swivel ball joint on each end thereof.

2. The ski system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second set of mounting brackets attached to a rear end of each of the pair of skis;

a second set of mounting bracket arms extending from the second set of mounting brackets, the second set of mounting bracket arms having a second bracket arm hole at an end thereof;

second swivel ball joints attached to each of the second set of mounting bracket arms; and

a second cross bar connected to the second swivel ball joints on each end thereof.

3. The ski system of claim 2, wherein the second cross bar is a resiliently extendable cross bar.

4. The ski system of claim 1, wherein the swivel ball joints are threadably adjustable into the ends of the cross bar.

5. The ski system of claim 4, further comprising a nut for fixing an adjustment of a distance between the skis.

6. The ski system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of mounting holes disposed in the skis, the plurality of mounting holes permitting adjustable positioning of the mounting brackets on the skis.

7. The ski system of claim 1, further comprising thread inserts disposed in the plurality of mounting holes, wherein a screw secures the mounting brackets to selected mounting holes.

8. The ski system of claim 1, further comprising a bolt passing through the holes in the mounting bracket arms, securing the swivel ball joint between the mounting bracket arms.

9. The ski system of claim 8, further comprising spacers disposed between the mounting bracket arms and the swivel ball joint.

10. A ski system comprising:

mounting brackets attached to each of a pair of skis at a forward end thereof;

mounting bracket arms extending from the mounting bracket having a hole at an end thereof;

swivel ball joints attached to the mounting bracket arms on each of the mounting brackets;

a cross bar threadably and adjustably connected to the swivel ball joint on each end thereof; and

a bolt passing through the holes in the mounting bracket arms, securing the swivel ball joint between the mounting bracket arms.

11. The ski system of claim 10, further comprising:

a second set of mounting brackets attached to a rear end of each of the pair of skis;

a second set of mounting bracket arms extending from the second set of mounting brackets, the second set of mounting bracket arms having a second bracket arm hole at an end thereof;

second swivel ball joints attached to each of the second set of mounting bracket arms; and

a second cross bar connected to the second swivel ball joints on each end thereof.

12. The ski system of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of mounting holes disposed in the skis, the plurality of mounting holes permitting adjustable positioning of the mounting brackets on the skis.

13. The ski system of claim 12, further comprising thread inserts disposed in the plurality of mounting holes, wherein a screw secures the mounting brackets to selected mounting holes.