GB2280094A

GB2280094A - Belt for carrying an article, e.g. a pair of skis, on a person

Info

Publication number: GB2280094A
Application number: GB9314982A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Gray
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-07-20
Filing date: 1993-07-20
Publication date: 1995-01-25
Also published as: GB9414604D0; GB9314982D0; GB2280096A; GB2280096B; AU7193194A; WO1995003100A1

Abstract

The belt includes pairs of straps L which, when not is use, can be stowed as shown at the left-hand side of Figure 1 and when in use, are connected as shown at the right-hand side of Figure 1 to loop around an article to be carried, e.g. a pair of skis. An extra strap may be placed about the skis and connected to the belt. <IMAGE>

Description

SPORTS EQUIPMENT The invention relates to sports equipment and more particulariy to a belt adapted to solve the problem of how a sports person should carry the items of sports equipment. The invention is seen to good advantage in the case of skiing where the skier has to manhandle, e.g. shoulder, the long skis. The invention is not limited to this use, however.

It is one object of the invention to provide a belt which can be used to carry an item of sports equipment and which is simple and efficient in use, and economical to manufacture.

In one aspect the invention provides a belt to be worn by sports people, e.g. skiers, the belt being in use disposed generally horizontally, the belt comprising two pairs of engaging means spaced apart along a length portion of the belt, and an attachment comprising two length portions of flexible material, each length portion having engaging means at or towards each end thereof, whereby:: - in a stowed condition, the engaging means at each end of each length portion are engaged with a respective pair of engaging means on the belt, and - in a transporting condition, the adjacent ends of the length portions are engaged with the adjacent engaging means on the belt and the length portions are folded to form a loop and to engage the engaging means at the respective outer ends of the length portions, so that an elongate article having a projecting part can be disposed substantially vertically through the loop portion with the projecting part abutting the upper surface thereof whereby the article is releasably secured to the wearer of the belt.

Extra engaging means are preferably present on the outside surface of at least one end portion of one length portion for engagement with the engaging means on the inner surface of the other length portion thereby to form the loop easily. The extra engaging means can be provided with an outer covering, e.g. a detachable flap.

Preferably the inner engaging means are permanently secured to the belt e.g. by being stitched.

The outer engaging means are readily releasable and may take the form of interlocking teeth or fingers such as VELCRO material (registered trade mark).

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a belt of the invention showing on the left hand the length portions in the stowed condition and on the right hand side in the transporting condition; and Figure 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment of Figure 2 showing the transport of skis.

The belt 1 comprises a length of textile or synthetic material having releasably engageable end portions; as shown there is a buckle 2 and a tongue 3, but the ends may have other inter-engagement means such as the teeth of VELCRO type material. On each side of the belt overlying the side hip portions of the wearer in use is a pair of length portions L, made of flexible material such as plastics, textile or the like. At one end, L1 the adjacent or inner end, each length portion L is stitched or otherwise permanently secured to the belt 1. The other end L2 of each length portion has an area of VELCRO type material on the inside surface and the length portions may be adhered to complementary receiving portions 5 on the belt.

Additionally, the length portions have a portion 6 of VELCRO on the outer surface adjacent the outer end L2.

In use, the skier wears the belt 1 in the usual way, ie. horizontally about the midriff.

When the skier wishes to use the belt to transport skis he detaches the outer end portions L2 of the length portions. The skis are then placed together with their flat lower face abutting and the bindings facing away from each other. The wearer then loops the length portions L about the skis until the VELCRO portions 4 and 6 are engaged. In this condition the skis are secured against movement and the bindings prevent the skis from falling through the loop portion. The connection is simple to make, will support the weight of the skis and is conveniently stowed away when the skis are in use.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. The VELCRO material may be replaced by sliding loops, press studs or the like, the inner ends of the length portions may be otherwise attached to the belt. Further engaging means may be present, e.g. an extra strap having a projecting peg may be placed about the skis to be received in a socket present on the belt between a pair of engaging means. In such a case the peg is preferably rotatable within the socket. The loop may be used to carry articles other than skis and articles may be carried on each side of the belt. The length portions may be an attachment to be releasably or permanently mounted on a preformed belt. The belt may have other features, e.g. hooks for other articles, shoulder straps, and the like.

Claims

1. A belt to be worn by sports people, e.g. skiers, the belt being in use disposed generally horizontally, the belt comprising two pairs of engaging means spaced apart along a length portion of the belt, and an attachment comprising two length portions of flexible material, each length portion having engaging means at or towards each end thereof, whereby:: - in a stowed condition, the engaging means at each end of each length portion are engaged with a respective pair of engaging means on the belt, and - in a transporting condition, the adjacent ends of the length portions are engaged with the adjacent engaging means on the belt and the length portions are folded to form a loop and to engage the engaging means at the respective outer ends of the length portions, so that an elongate article having a projecting part can be disposed substantially vertically through the loop portion with the projecting part abutting the upper surface thereof whereby the article is releasably secured to the wearer of the belt.

2. A belt according to Claim 1, including extra engaging means on the outside surface of at least one end portion of one length portion for engagement with the engaging means on the inner surface of the other length portion thereby to form the loop easily.

3. A belt according to Claim 2, wherein the extra engaging means has an outer covering, e.g. a detachable flap.

4. A belt according to any preceding Claim, wherein the inner engaging means are permanently secured to the belt, e.g. by being stitched.

5. A belt according to any preceding Claim, in which the outer engaging means take the form of interlocking teeth or fingers such as VELCRO material (registered trade mark).