Title:
LOCK FOR SKIS
United States Patent 3636739
Abstract:
A lock is provided for a pair of skis, the lock having a shackle and mating body which define an enclosed free space of generally lateral cross section, the length of the cross section being less than the maximum width of the skis but greater than the minimum ski width, and the width of the cross section being less than twice the maximum thickness of a single ski, but greater than twice the minimum thickness of a single ski.
US Patent References:
Automobile lock
Peterson - March 1939 - 2152565
Cue lock
Morgan - January 1955 - 2700289
Locking means
Campbell - May 1963 - 3091011
Ski lock
Poehlmann - October 1966 - 3277676
Locking apparatus for skis and poles
Braun - July 1968 - 3394790
Automobile lock
Peterson - March 1939 - 2152565
Cue lock
Morgan - January 1955 - 2700289
Locking means
Campbell - May 1963 - 3091011
Ski lock
Poehlmann - October 1966 - 3277676
Locking apparatus for skis and poles
Braun - July 1968 - 3394790
Application Number:
04/824127
Publication Date:
01/25/1972
Filing Date:
05/13/1969
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
211/70.500, 70/53, 70/18, 70/39, 280/814
International Classes:
A63C11/00; E05B73/00; A63C11/02; A47F7/00
Field of Search:
70/58,51,52,14,53,18,19,39 211/6SK 280/11.37C,11.37K,11.37A,11.37KA
Primary Examiner:
Mautz, George F.
Assistant Examiner:
Mccarthy, Edward J.
Claims:
I claim as my invention
1. A lock for use with a pair of skis placed bottom to bottom, each ski having a tip portion and a tail portion each of relatively broad and thin cross section and having a midsectional portion of relatively narrow and thick cross section, and each ski being bowed with a bottom camber, the lock comprising the combination of a lock body and a shackle for lockable connection with the lock body, the shackle rigidly formed in the shape of a squared U and having two parallel legs, the shackle including a central tongue disposed parallel to the shackle legs and having a minimum thickness substantially equal to the distance between the bottoms of the skis along their midportions when the tip and tail portions of the skis are in engagement, the shackle and lock body when locked together defining an enclosed free space into which the tongue extends for lockably retaining the skis, the length of the enclosed free space being less than the maximum but greater than the minimum width of the skis, and the width of the enclosed free space being less than the sum of the maximum thicknesses of the skis but at least as great as the sum of the thicknesses of the skis at the point along the length the skis where the width of the skis is equal to the length of the enclosed free space.
2. A lock for a pair of skis according to claim 1 in which the central tongue has a minimum length at least one-half the minimum width of the skis, and has a maximum length less than the length of the enclosed free space.
3. A lock for a pair of skis according to claim 1 in which the lock body and lock shackle are offset with respect to each other and the lock body includes a bracket member extending therefrom and positioned so that it lockingly bridges the legs of the shackle to define the free space.
1. A lock for use with a pair of skis placed bottom to bottom, each ski having a tip portion and a tail portion each of relatively broad and thin cross section and having a midsectional portion of relatively narrow and thick cross section, and each ski being bowed with a bottom camber, the lock comprising the combination of a lock body and a shackle for lockable connection with the lock body, the shackle rigidly formed in the shape of a squared U and having two parallel legs, the shackle including a central tongue disposed parallel to the shackle legs and having a minimum thickness substantially equal to the distance between the bottoms of the skis along their midportions when the tip and tail portions of the skis are in engagement, the shackle and lock body when locked together defining an enclosed free space into which the tongue extends for lockably retaining the skis, the length of the enclosed free space being less than the maximum but greater than the minimum width of the skis, and the width of the enclosed free space being less than the sum of the maximum thicknesses of the skis but at least as great as the sum of the thicknesses of the skis at the point along the length the skis where the width of the skis is equal to the length of the enclosed free space.
2. A lock for a pair of skis according to claim 1 in which the central tongue has a minimum length at least one-half the minimum width of the skis, and has a maximum length less than the length of the enclosed free space.
3. A lock for a pair of skis according to claim 1 in which the lock body and lock shackle are offset with respect to each other and the lock body includes a bracket member extending therefrom and positioned so that it lockingly bridges the legs of the shackle to define the free space.
Description:
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to locks for skis.
The rise in popularity of the sport of skiing in the United States and elsewhere in recent years has been phenomenal. Unfortunately, the rise in thefts of skis from ski lodges and storage areas has been almost as great. Prior efforts to provide theft-preventing locking devices for skis have met with only limited success. Such prior locks are expensive, do not really restrain the skis against the depredations of a thief, and have had a variety of other disadvantages.
Accordingly, it is the primary aim of this invention to provide a simple, inexpensive, and absolutely foolproof lock for a pair of skis. It is an ancillary object to provide such a lock which secures the skis from theft even if the ski bindings are removed from the skis by a would-be-thief.
It is a further object to provide a lock for skis which is adjustable to fit any size skis and which will lock thereon in a few seconds time.
It is still another object to provide a ski lock which can itself be securely fastened to any of a variety of different sized and shaped ski racks, ski carriers or the like.
It is a still further object to provide a ski lock which can be used to retain ski poles as well as the skis.
It is yet another object to provide an alternate form of ski lock which not only secures the skis but maintains the proper bottom camber of the locked-in skis.
It is a still further object to provide a ski lock which allows for the use of a lock body of virtually any size or shape, such as an ordinary bicycle lock body, thus reducing manufacturing costs.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a typical pair of skis secured to a ski rack by the novel ski lock.
FIG. 2 is a broken elevational view of a pair of skis, showing in greater detail the novel ski lock in place upon the skis.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3--3 in FIG. 2, showing the skis in cross section locked within the shackle and lock body.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3, taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2, but showing an alternate form of the lock which is the subject matter of the invention.
FIG. 5 is s cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4, taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2, but showing an alternate form of lock body.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6--6 in FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a cutaway cross-sectional view, similar to a portion of FIG. 5, showing still another alternate form of lock body used with the invention.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8--8 in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the lock shown in FIG. 3, but without the skis locked therein.
FIG. 10 is a plan view of the lock shown in FIG. 4, but without the skis locked therein.
FIGS. 11 through 14 are plan views, similar to FIG. 10, but showing alternate forms of the lock, without the skis locked therein, and
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of yet another form of lock body that may be used in practicing the invention.
While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it will be understood that I do not intend to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, I intend to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Turning first to FIG. 1, there is shown a typical pair of skis 10 secured by the novel lock 11 to an ordinary ski rack 12.
As is well known, the skis 10 are not merely flat boards with turned-up front ends; rather, properly made skis are relatively narrow and thick in cross section near the ski midsection 13, with the thickest portion occurring slightly to the rear of the midpoint of the ski length. The skis 10 taper to relatively broad and thin cross sections at the ski tips 14 and tails 15. Furthermore, the skis as viewed from the side are formed with a slight bow shape, or bottom camber. As used herein, the term bottom camber refers to the maximum distance between the bottom of a single ski and a planar supporting surface for the ski. Thus, when the matched skis 10 are placed bottom to bottom as shown, the maximum distance 16 between the ski bottoms is, of course, twice the bottom camber of either single ski. It will be shown that the novel lock 11 utilizes these variations in ski width, thickness and shape to securely retain the skis within the lock.
In accordance with the invention, the ski lock consists of a shackle 18 and lock body 19 which are secured to the skis at a particular location along the length of the skis. The lock body may be of any conventional type, such as key or combination. The shackle is shaped in the general form of a squared-off U, and when locked to the lock body, the shackle and body together define an enclosed free space 21 of generally rectangular lateral cross section (see FIGS. 9 and 10). The space 21 is of course occupied by the skis when the lock is in place on the skis.
To secure the skis 10 between the shackle 18 and the lock body 19, the shackle is placed around the skis near their tips 14 and pushed as far as it will go toward the midsection 13 of the skis. The lock is then secured by pushing the lock body 19 onto the shackle 18 until the body and the closed end of the shackle fit snugly against the sides of the skis 10.
It is a feature of the invention that when the lock 11 is so attached to the skis 10, the length 22 of the enclosed free space 21 (FIG. 9) will be less than the maximum width of the skis, but necessarily greater than the minimum width of the skis. Furthermore, the lock shackle is formed so that the width 23 of the enclosed free space 21, extending across the width of two skis, when the skis are locked, is less than twice the maximum thickness of a single ski, but greater than twice the minimum thickness of a single ski.
Thus secured, the skis 10 cannot be removed from the lock 11, even if the ski bindings 24 are ripped from the skis. They cannot be removed by drawing the tip or tips through the lock 11, because the tips 14 are wider than the length 22 of the enclosed space 21. And the skis cannot be removed by drawing the tails 15 through the lock, because the aggregate maximum thickness of the skis 10 between the point of lock attachment and the tail 15 is greater than the width 23 of the enclosed space 21.
If, alternatively, it is desired to place the lock at a location near the tails 15 of the skis, rather than near their tips 14, the lock 11 can be so attached between the midpoint 13 of the skis and the tails 15, with an identically secure result. It may be necessary to remove the ski bindings 24 if they interfere with such location of the lock.
With the lock 11 in place on most conventional skis, the dimension 22 varies from about 21/2 to 31/4 inches (usually about 23/4 inches) and the dimension 23 ranges from about one-half inch to about 2 inches (usually about 11/8 inches).
In applying the form of the lock shown in FIG. 3 to the skis 10, the skis are placed together bottom to bottom as shown, and manually slightly squeezed together at their midpoint 13 to temporarily eliminate the bottom cambers. This facilitates placement of the lock on the skis.
If it is desired to retain the bottom camber in the skis 10 even while they are in the lock 11, an alternate form 26 of the shackle such as is shown in FIG. 4 may be used. In this form of the invention, a tongue 27 projects, preferably from the closed end of the shackle 26, between the skis to thereby divide the enclosed free space 21 into two portions, each occupied by one of the skis (see FIG. 10). In FIG. 10 the width of the enclosed space 21 is made up of two separate widths, 23a and 23b, which are of equal magnitude, and their sum is equal to the width 23 as previously defined.
In the interests of economy, the tongue 27 may be formed of the same material as the shackle 26. For example, the shackle and tongue may be formed from one-fourth inch diameter steel rod.
The tongue 27 is formed so that its maximum thickness 17 (FIG. 4) is not more than approximately twice the bottom camber of a single ski (see distance 16 in FIG. 1) and its minimum thickness 17 is not less than approximately one-fourth (preferably one-half) the bottom camber of a single ski; thus, the distance between the ski bottoms at the point of attachment of the lock to the skis will be substantially occupied by the tongue. In practice, conventional skis involve bottom cambers ranging from about three-eighths inch to about 11/4 inch. As an example, a given ski may have a bottom camber of five-eighths inch, in which event the maximum thickness 17 (FIG. 4) would be not more than approximately 11/4 inch and the minimum thickness 17 would be not less than five thirty-seconds inch.
Preferably, the tongue 27 extends into the space between the skis for more than half the length 22 of the free space 21, or at least sufficiently far thereinto to prevent rotation or movement of the skis 10 within the enclosed space 21 sufficient to permit one or both skis to be removed from the lock. Preferably, the legs of the lock shackle and the tongue are provided with a covering of pliable material 43, such as rubber, cloth or a suitable plastic, to prevent scratching or marring of the locked skis by the lock.
Skis of differing widths may readily be accommodated in the lock 11 inasmuch as the lock body 19 is adjustable along the length of the shackle 18. For example, spaced teeth 29 are provided along the periphery of the legs of the shackle to permit the lock body to be snugly secured against the sides of the skis.
Simple and inexpensive alternate forms of the novel ski lock 11 are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and FIGS. 7 and 8. In these forms of the invention the lock body 31 or 31a has a bracket 32 or 32a made of strip steel or other suitable material secured thereto. The bracket 32 or 32a engages a shackle 33 the same as or similar to those described above. The lock body 31 or 31a lockably connects with one leg 34 of the shackle. The shackle 33 and bracket 32 or 32a when locked together by the lock body 31 or 31a together define the ski-securing enclosed free space 21 described above. Teeth 35 are formed along the shackle leg 34 to accommodate various width skis. By attaching only one leg 34 of the shackle to the lock body 31 or 31a, and thereby enclosing the free space 21 with the bracket 32, 32a, the need for a lock body of special dimensions or shape is eliminated. Thus, any ordinary commercially available lock body, such as a common bicycle lock body, may be used.
An alternate form of bracket attached to the lock body is shown in FIG. 15, in which the bracket 60 secured to the lock body 62 is formed of strip steel or the like and includes an annular member 64 either extruded from the strip steel or separately fabricated and secured thereto (for example tubing or pipe). The annular member 64 has an inside diameter only slightly larger than the diameter of the shackle leg, and prevents bending or deformation of the bracket 60.
Alternate forms of the lock which is the subject of this invention are shown in FIGS. 11 through 14. Here, the shackles 50, 51 are formed with short tongues 52, 53, respectively. Opposing short tongues 54, 55, respectively, are formed upon the lock body 56 or bracket 57. The tapered tongues 52 and 54 (or the squared tongues 53 and 55) cooperatively lock the skis within the lock while maintaining the proper ski camber, as explained above. Also as above, the maximum thickness of the tongue portions, as given by the dimension 58, is not more than approximately twice the maximum camber of a single ski and not less than approximately one-fourth the bottom camber of a single ski.
The minimum length 59 of the tongues is sufficient to prevent rotation or movement of a locked ski great enough to allow removal of the ski from the lock. For example the length 59 should be a minimum of about three-sixteenths inch. In the case of the squared tongues 53 and 55, the length 59 of the tongues should be great enough so that the tongues do not damage the edges of the skis (for example, by engaging the skis at only a single small corner or edge area).
A combination of the tapered and square-shaped tongues may also be used. For instance, the squared tongues 53, 55 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 may be provided with tapered portions at their inner ends. This combination provides both the nondamaging, sure-locking advantages of the squared tongues 53 and 55, and the ease of installation (of the skis in the lock) provided by the tapered tongues 52 and 54.
So that the lock body 19 and shackle 18 may be attached to a ski rack 12 or similar fixed object, a flexible member such as a chain 36 having a ring or 37 at one end is secured to the lock at the other end. The chain may be secured to the lock shackle as shown in the drawings, or to the lock body. The ring 37 is sized large enough to allow the lock shackle and chain to pass through the ring.
In carrying out the invention, the chain is looped around a suitable portion of a ski rack or other stationary object and the ring is passed over the lock shackle, with the chain and ring arrangement being tightened in a slipknot fashion to the ski rack. Then the lock body and shackle are placed around the skis and locked together.
With reference to FIG. 1, the lock and skis are secured to the ski rack 12 by initially removing the shackle from the lock body, looping the chain 36 around a convenient ski rack crossbar 39, threading the shackle through the ring 37, placing the lock shackle and body around the skis, and locking the lock body to the lock shackle. The lock 11 and skis 10 secured therein thus cannot be removed from the crossbar 39 since the combination of the lock and skis is too large to fit through the ring.
To provide convenient storage of the lock when the skis are being used (and are not locked), the lock 11 cannot be removed from the rack 12 if one leg of the shackle 18 is passed through the ring 37 and the lock body 19 is affixed to the shackle.
An alternate method of attaching the lock to the rack 12, if a permanent installation is desired, is to weld or otherwise permanently fix the lock 11 or chain 36 directly to the rack 12. Such permanent installation is particularly advantageous to skiers as well as ski resort operators inasmuch as use of the lock may be rented by individuals who may lock their skis in temporary storage without having to purchase a lock.
One of the features of the invention is that ski poles 40 may also be secured by the lock 11 by threading the chain 36 of the lock through the ski pole straps 41 or baskets 45, as shown in FIG. 1.
This invention relates to locks for skis.
The rise in popularity of the sport of skiing in the United States and elsewhere in recent years has been phenomenal. Unfortunately, the rise in thefts of skis from ski lodges and storage areas has been almost as great. Prior efforts to provide theft-preventing locking devices for skis have met with only limited success. Such prior locks are expensive, do not really restrain the skis against the depredations of a thief, and have had a variety of other disadvantages.
Accordingly, it is the primary aim of this invention to provide a simple, inexpensive, and absolutely foolproof lock for a pair of skis. It is an ancillary object to provide such a lock which secures the skis from theft even if the ski bindings are removed from the skis by a would-be-thief.
It is a further object to provide a lock for skis which is adjustable to fit any size skis and which will lock thereon in a few seconds time.
It is still another object to provide a ski lock which can itself be securely fastened to any of a variety of different sized and shaped ski racks, ski carriers or the like.
It is a still further object to provide a ski lock which can be used to retain ski poles as well as the skis.
It is yet another object to provide an alternate form of ski lock which not only secures the skis but maintains the proper bottom camber of the locked-in skis.
It is a still further object to provide a ski lock which allows for the use of a lock body of virtually any size or shape, such as an ordinary bicycle lock body, thus reducing manufacturing costs.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a typical pair of skis secured to a ski rack by the novel ski lock.
FIG. 2 is a broken elevational view of a pair of skis, showing in greater detail the novel ski lock in place upon the skis.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3--3 in FIG. 2, showing the skis in cross section locked within the shackle and lock body.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3, taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2, but showing an alternate form of the lock which is the subject matter of the invention.
FIG. 5 is s cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4, taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2, but showing an alternate form of lock body.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6--6 in FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a cutaway cross-sectional view, similar to a portion of FIG. 5, showing still another alternate form of lock body used with the invention.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8--8 in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the lock shown in FIG. 3, but without the skis locked therein.
FIG. 10 is a plan view of the lock shown in FIG. 4, but without the skis locked therein.
FIGS. 11 through 14 are plan views, similar to FIG. 10, but showing alternate forms of the lock, without the skis locked therein, and
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of yet another form of lock body that may be used in practicing the invention.
While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it will be understood that I do not intend to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, I intend to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Turning first to FIG. 1, there is shown a typical pair of skis 10 secured by the novel lock 11 to an ordinary ski rack 12.
As is well known, the skis 10 are not merely flat boards with turned-up front ends; rather, properly made skis are relatively narrow and thick in cross section near the ski midsection 13, with the thickest portion occurring slightly to the rear of the midpoint of the ski length. The skis 10 taper to relatively broad and thin cross sections at the ski tips 14 and tails 15. Furthermore, the skis as viewed from the side are formed with a slight bow shape, or bottom camber. As used herein, the term bottom camber refers to the maximum distance between the bottom of a single ski and a planar supporting surface for the ski. Thus, when the matched skis 10 are placed bottom to bottom as shown, the maximum distance 16 between the ski bottoms is, of course, twice the bottom camber of either single ski. It will be shown that the novel lock 11 utilizes these variations in ski width, thickness and shape to securely retain the skis within the lock.
In accordance with the invention, the ski lock consists of a shackle 18 and lock body 19 which are secured to the skis at a particular location along the length of the skis. The lock body may be of any conventional type, such as key or combination. The shackle is shaped in the general form of a squared-off U, and when locked to the lock body, the shackle and body together define an enclosed free space 21 of generally rectangular lateral cross section (see FIGS. 9 and 10). The space 21 is of course occupied by the skis when the lock is in place on the skis.
To secure the skis 10 between the shackle 18 and the lock body 19, the shackle is placed around the skis near their tips 14 and pushed as far as it will go toward the midsection 13 of the skis. The lock is then secured by pushing the lock body 19 onto the shackle 18 until the body and the closed end of the shackle fit snugly against the sides of the skis 10.
It is a feature of the invention that when the lock 11 is so attached to the skis 10, the length 22 of the enclosed free space 21 (FIG. 9) will be less than the maximum width of the skis, but necessarily greater than the minimum width of the skis. Furthermore, the lock shackle is formed so that the width 23 of the enclosed free space 21, extending across the width of two skis, when the skis are locked, is less than twice the maximum thickness of a single ski, but greater than twice the minimum thickness of a single ski.
Thus secured, the skis 10 cannot be removed from the lock 11, even if the ski bindings 24 are ripped from the skis. They cannot be removed by drawing the tip or tips through the lock 11, because the tips 14 are wider than the length 22 of the enclosed space 21. And the skis cannot be removed by drawing the tails 15 through the lock, because the aggregate maximum thickness of the skis 10 between the point of lock attachment and the tail 15 is greater than the width 23 of the enclosed space 21.
If, alternatively, it is desired to place the lock at a location near the tails 15 of the skis, rather than near their tips 14, the lock 11 can be so attached between the midpoint 13 of the skis and the tails 15, with an identically secure result. It may be necessary to remove the ski bindings 24 if they interfere with such location of the lock.
With the lock 11 in place on most conventional skis, the dimension 22 varies from about 21/2 to 31/4 inches (usually about 23/4 inches) and the dimension 23 ranges from about one-half inch to about 2 inches (usually about 11/8 inches).
In applying the form of the lock shown in FIG. 3 to the skis 10, the skis are placed together bottom to bottom as shown, and manually slightly squeezed together at their midpoint 13 to temporarily eliminate the bottom cambers. This facilitates placement of the lock on the skis.
If it is desired to retain the bottom camber in the skis 10 even while they are in the lock 11, an alternate form 26 of the shackle such as is shown in FIG. 4 may be used. In this form of the invention, a tongue 27 projects, preferably from the closed end of the shackle 26, between the skis to thereby divide the enclosed free space 21 into two portions, each occupied by one of the skis (see FIG. 10). In FIG. 10 the width of the enclosed space 21 is made up of two separate widths, 23a and 23b, which are of equal magnitude, and their sum is equal to the width 23 as previously defined.
In the interests of economy, the tongue 27 may be formed of the same material as the shackle 26. For example, the shackle and tongue may be formed from one-fourth inch diameter steel rod.
The tongue 27 is formed so that its maximum thickness 17 (FIG. 4) is not more than approximately twice the bottom camber of a single ski (see distance 16 in FIG. 1) and its minimum thickness 17 is not less than approximately one-fourth (preferably one-half) the bottom camber of a single ski; thus, the distance between the ski bottoms at the point of attachment of the lock to the skis will be substantially occupied by the tongue. In practice, conventional skis involve bottom cambers ranging from about three-eighths inch to about 11/4 inch. As an example, a given ski may have a bottom camber of five-eighths inch, in which event the maximum thickness 17 (FIG. 4) would be not more than approximately 11/4 inch and the minimum thickness 17 would be not less than five thirty-seconds inch.
Preferably, the tongue 27 extends into the space between the skis for more than half the length 22 of the free space 21, or at least sufficiently far thereinto to prevent rotation or movement of the skis 10 within the enclosed space 21 sufficient to permit one or both skis to be removed from the lock. Preferably, the legs of the lock shackle and the tongue are provided with a covering of pliable material 43, such as rubber, cloth or a suitable plastic, to prevent scratching or marring of the locked skis by the lock.
Skis of differing widths may readily be accommodated in the lock 11 inasmuch as the lock body 19 is adjustable along the length of the shackle 18. For example, spaced teeth 29 are provided along the periphery of the legs of the shackle to permit the lock body to be snugly secured against the sides of the skis.
Simple and inexpensive alternate forms of the novel ski lock 11 are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and FIGS. 7 and 8. In these forms of the invention the lock body 31 or 31a has a bracket 32 or 32a made of strip steel or other suitable material secured thereto. The bracket 32 or 32a engages a shackle 33 the same as or similar to those described above. The lock body 31 or 31a lockably connects with one leg 34 of the shackle. The shackle 33 and bracket 32 or 32a when locked together by the lock body 31 or 31a together define the ski-securing enclosed free space 21 described above. Teeth 35 are formed along the shackle leg 34 to accommodate various width skis. By attaching only one leg 34 of the shackle to the lock body 31 or 31a, and thereby enclosing the free space 21 with the bracket 32, 32a, the need for a lock body of special dimensions or shape is eliminated. Thus, any ordinary commercially available lock body, such as a common bicycle lock body, may be used.
An alternate form of bracket attached to the lock body is shown in FIG. 15, in which the bracket 60 secured to the lock body 62 is formed of strip steel or the like and includes an annular member 64 either extruded from the strip steel or separately fabricated and secured thereto (for example tubing or pipe). The annular member 64 has an inside diameter only slightly larger than the diameter of the shackle leg, and prevents bending or deformation of the bracket 60.
Alternate forms of the lock which is the subject of this invention are shown in FIGS. 11 through 14. Here, the shackles 50, 51 are formed with short tongues 52, 53, respectively. Opposing short tongues 54, 55, respectively, are formed upon the lock body 56 or bracket 57. The tapered tongues 52 and 54 (or the squared tongues 53 and 55) cooperatively lock the skis within the lock while maintaining the proper ski camber, as explained above. Also as above, the maximum thickness of the tongue portions, as given by the dimension 58, is not more than approximately twice the maximum camber of a single ski and not less than approximately one-fourth the bottom camber of a single ski.
The minimum length 59 of the tongues is sufficient to prevent rotation or movement of a locked ski great enough to allow removal of the ski from the lock. For example the length 59 should be a minimum of about three-sixteenths inch. In the case of the squared tongues 53 and 55, the length 59 of the tongues should be great enough so that the tongues do not damage the edges of the skis (for example, by engaging the skis at only a single small corner or edge area).
A combination of the tapered and square-shaped tongues may also be used. For instance, the squared tongues 53, 55 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 may be provided with tapered portions at their inner ends. This combination provides both the nondamaging, sure-locking advantages of the squared tongues 53 and 55, and the ease of installation (of the skis in the lock) provided by the tapered tongues 52 and 54.
So that the lock body 19 and shackle 18 may be attached to a ski rack 12 or similar fixed object, a flexible member such as a chain 36 having a ring or 37 at one end is secured to the lock at the other end. The chain may be secured to the lock shackle as shown in the drawings, or to the lock body. The ring 37 is sized large enough to allow the lock shackle and chain to pass through the ring.
In carrying out the invention, the chain is looped around a suitable portion of a ski rack or other stationary object and the ring is passed over the lock shackle, with the chain and ring arrangement being tightened in a slipknot fashion to the ski rack. Then the lock body and shackle are placed around the skis and locked together.
With reference to FIG. 1, the lock and skis are secured to the ski rack 12 by initially removing the shackle from the lock body, looping the chain 36 around a convenient ski rack crossbar 39, threading the shackle through the ring 37, placing the lock shackle and body around the skis, and locking the lock body to the lock shackle. The lock 11 and skis 10 secured therein thus cannot be removed from the crossbar 39 since the combination of the lock and skis is too large to fit through the ring.
To provide convenient storage of the lock when the skis are being used (and are not locked), the lock 11 cannot be removed from the rack 12 if one leg of the shackle 18 is passed through the ring 37 and the lock body 19 is affixed to the shackle.
An alternate method of attaching the lock to the rack 12, if a permanent installation is desired, is to weld or otherwise permanently fix the lock 11 or chain 36 directly to the rack 12. Such permanent installation is particularly advantageous to skiers as well as ski resort operators inasmuch as use of the lock may be rented by individuals who may lock their skis in temporary storage without having to purchase a lock.
One of the features of the invention is that ski poles 40 may also be secured by the lock 11 by threading the chain 36 of the lock through the ski pole straps 41 or baskets 45, as shown in FIG. 1.