Belt buckle and skiing belt assembly

Abstract

A buckle and a ski belt assembly having a flexible belt and a buckle. The strap has a front end, a rear end, and a plurality of apertures between the front end and the rear end. The buckle is coupled to the front end of the strap and includes a frame and front and rear forks extending from front and rear sides of the frame, respectively. A kit includes a ski band assembly for securing a pair of snowboards, and a suspension device for suspending the secured snowboards from a wall. The suspension device has an upper body with a mounting hole, a lower body, and vertical fins extending from the lower body for suspending a fixed snowboard. The lower body is deeper than the upper body. The kit may also include a bumper mountable on the wall for preventing the fixed snowboard from contacting the wall.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to buckles, ski strap assemblies, and suspension devices, and more particularly, to a ski strap assembly and a suspension device for securing and suspending a pair of skis. Background Art

[0002] Ski straps are commonly used to secure and protect a pair of skis by attaching one ski to the other with the bases and edges of the skis separated from each other to protect the gliding surfaces of the skis. The secured skis can be suspended on a wall or carried by a skier.

[0003] Currently available ski straps typically include a stretchable strap that can be tensioned around the skis, and hook-and-loop made of inelastic material for securing and protecting the skis. However, conventional ski straps may not provide sufficient securing and protection for the skis. Summary of the Utility Model

[0004] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a buckle is provided, comprising: a frame; and a front fork and a rear fork extending from a longitudinal front side and a longitudinal rear side of the frame, respectively.

[0005] In some embodiments, the front fork extends forward and outward from the front side of the frame, and the rear fork extends outward from the rear side of the frame and is substantially perpendicular to the frame.

[0006] In some embodiments, the front fork extends forward and outward from the front side of the frame at an angle between 30 degrees and 90 degrees.

[0007] In some embodiments, the front fork extends forward and outward from the front side of the frame at an angle of 30 degrees, 34 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 75 degrees, or 90 degrees.

[0008] In some embodiments, the front fork and the rear fork extend outward from the front side and the rear side of the frame, respectively, and are substantially perpendicular to the frame.

[0009] In some embodiments, the front fork has a height substantially the same as that of the rear fork.

[0010] In some embodiments, the height of the front fork is less than the height of the rear fork.

[0011] In some embodiments, the front fork includes a flat top surface substantially parallel to the frame.

[0012] In some embodiments, at least one of the front fork and the rear fork includes an extended top.

[0013] In some embodiments, the extended top has an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of one of the plurality of holes in the strap.

[0014] In some embodiments, the frame further includes one or more guides for centering the strap.

[0015] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a ski strap assembly including: a flexible strap having a longitudinal front end, a longitudinal rear end, and a plurality of holes distributed between the front and rear ends; and the buckle as described above, which is coupled to the front end of the strap.

[0016] In some embodiments, the strap includes an elastic waterproof material.

[0017] In some embodiments, the strap includes a thermoplastic elastomer.

[0018] In some embodiments, the strap includes MP 1627L3 thermoplastic material.

[0019] In some embodiments, the strap further includes a soft contact area between the first end and the second end of the strap for clamping between a pair of skis.

[0020] In some embodiments, the strap further includes an anti-slip pattern for reducing the surface contact area between the strap and the skis.

[0021] In some embodiments, the ski strap assembly further includes: a removable slider for sliding between the front end and the rear end on the strap to provide additional thickness.

[0022] In some embodiments, the strap further includes reinforcing rings, each reinforcing ring being coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of holes.

[0023] In some embodiments, the strap further includes a region of increased thickness between the first end and the second end of the strap for supporting the rings.

[0024] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for fixing a pair of skis, the method including: winding the flexible strap of the ski strap assembly as described herein around the first ski of the pair of skis along a first direction; extending the rear end of the flexible strap through the frame of the buckle; stretching and tensioning the flexible strap to fit the first hole of the plurality of holes onto the front fork of the buckle; extending the rear end of the flexible strap along a second direction opposite to the first direction, and winding the flexible strap around the other ski of the pair of skis; and stretching and tensioning the flexible strap to fit the second hole of the plurality of holes onto the rear fork of the buckle.

[0025] In some embodiments, the method further includes: fixing the rear end of the flexible strap by fitting a third hole of the plurality of holes onto at least one of the front fork and the rear fork of the buckle.

[0026] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a hanging device is provided, comprising: an upper body having a mounting hole; a lower body; and a protrusion extending from the lower body for hanging one or more objects; the depth of the lower body is greater than the depth of the upper body.

[0027] In some embodiments, the protrusion is a vertical fin extending from the lower body.

[0028] In some embodiments, the top of the protrusion is flush with the top edge of the lower body.

[0029] In some embodiments, the lower body includes an inclined portion that transitions to the upper body.

[0030] In some embodiments, the inclined portion has an angle of 20 degrees, 20.7 degrees, or 21 degrees relative to the top surface of the upper body.

[0031] In some embodiments, the protrusion further includes an anti-slip pattern.

[0032] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a kit is provided, comprising: the above-mentioned ski strap assembly for fixing a pair of skis; and the above-mentioned hanging device for hanging the fixed pair of skis on a wall.

[0033] In some embodiments, the kit further includes: a buffer that can be mounted on the wall to prevent the pair of skis from contacting the wall. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0034] To more fully understand the present disclosure, reference is made to the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0035] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ski strap assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0036] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a perspective view of the buckle of the ski strap assembly shown;

[0037] Figure 3 is Figure 2 a side view of the buckle shown;

[0038] Figure 4 is Figure 2 a top view of the buckle shown;

[0039] Figure 5 is Figure 2 a bottom view of the buckle shown;

[0040] Figure 6 is Figure 2 a front view of the buckle shown;

[0041] Figure 7 isFigure 2 Rear view of the buckle shown;

[0042] Figure 8 yes Figure 1 a perspective view of a first end of a strap of the ski strap assembly shown;

[0043] Figure 9 is with Figure 1 a perspective view of a first end of a strap coupled to a buckle of the ski strap assembly;

[0044] Figure 10 is shown with Figure 1 A top view of a pair of skis secured by a ski strap assembly is shown;

[0045] Figure 11 is shown with Figure 1 A perspective view of a pair of skis secured by the ski strap assembly is shown;

[0046] Figure 12 is a perspective view showing a pair of snowboards secured with a ski strap assembly and suspended against a wall using a suspension device and a bumper, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0047] Figure 13 is a perspective view of a hanging device and screw holes on a wall according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0048] Figure 14 is a perspective view of a buffer according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0049] Figure 15 yes Figure 13 a front view of the suspension shown;

[0050] Figure 16 yes Figure 13 a side view of the suspension arrangement shown;

[0051] Figure 17 yes Figure 13 A top view of the suspension shown;

[0052] Figure 18 yes Figure 13 a bottom view of the suspension shown;

[0053] Figure 19 yes Figure 13 rear view of the suspension shown;

[0054] Figure 20 is a side view of a suspension device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0055] Figure 21 yes Figure 14Front view of the buffer shown;

[0056] Figure 22 is Figure 14 Side view of the buffer shown;

[0057] Figure 23 is Figure 14 Top view of the buffer shown;

[0058] Figure 24 is Figure 14 Bottom view of the buffer shown;

[0059] Figure 25 is Figure 14 Rear view of the buffer shown;

[0060] Figure 26 Isometric view of a ski strap assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0061] Figure 27 Is a perspective view showing a portion of a pair of skis fixed to the ski strap assembly according to one embodiment of the present disclosure and Figure 26 shown;

[0062] Figure 28 Is a perspective view showing a portion of the pair of skis fixed to the ski strap assembly and Figure 26 shown, this figure is enlarged to show the soft contact area of the ski strap;

[0063] Figure 29 Is a perspective view showing a portion of a pair of skis fixed to the ski strap assembly according to one embodiment of the present disclosure and Figure 26 shown;

[0064] Figure 30 Isometric view of a buckle according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0065] Figure 31 Isometric view of a buckle according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0066] Figure 32 Top view of a ski strap assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0067] Figure 33 is Figure 32 Side view of the ski strap assembly shown;

[0068] Figure 34A Isometric view of a buckle according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0069] Figure 34B is Figure 34A Cross-sectional view of the buckle shown;

[0070] Figure 35 is a perspective view of a suspension device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0071] Figure 36 is Figure 35 a perspective view of the suspension device shown;

[0072] Figure 37 is Figure 35 a cross-sectional side view of the suspension device shown;

[0073] Figure 38 is Figure 35 a cross-sectional side view of the suspension device shown;

[0074] Figure 39 is a perspective view of a buffer according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0075] Figure 40 is Figure 39 a perspective view of the buffer shown;

[0076] Figure 41 is Figure 39 a bottom view of the buffer shown;

[0077] Figure 42 is Figure 39 a cross-sectional view of the buffer shown; and

[0078] Figure 43 is Figure 39 a cross-sectional view of the buffer shown. Detailed Embodiments

[0079] A. Ski Belt Assembly

[0080] Now turning to Figure 1 , a ski belt assembly is shown and is generally designated by reference numeral 100. The ski belt assembly 100 can be used to secure a pair of skis and includes a buckle 104 and an elongate belt 102 having a front end 102A and a rear end 102B on its longitudinally opposite sides. The belt 102 also has a plurality of holes 112 distributed between the two ends 102A and 102B. The number and location of the holes 112 can vary according to the implementation.

[0081] The belt 102 can be made of any suitable material, such as an elastic waterproof material, since skis are typically wet and covered with snow. In some embodiments, the belt 102 can be made of a suitable thermoplastic elastomer. In some embodiments, the belt 102 can be made of the MP 1627L3 thermoplastic material provided by Teknor Apex Company of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA.

[0082] In some embodiments, the strap 102 may include a soft-touch portion (discussed in more detail below).

[0083] The strap 102 may have the same width from the first end to the second end. Alternatively, the strap 102 may have an increased width at a portion (e.g., a soft contact portion) located between the first end 102A and the second end 102B so as to be sandwiched between two snowboards (see FIG. Figure 26 , described in more detail below).

[0084] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the buckle 104. Figures 3 to 7 1 are various other views of the same buckle 104. Buckle 104 includes a frame 110, an angled front fork 106, and a rear fork 108. Front fork 106 and rear fork 108 are longitudinally spaced apart from one another and are sized to be inserted into or otherwise extend through aperture 112 of strap 120 to secure ski strap assembly 100.

[0085] In this embodiment, the frame 110 is a rectangular ring; however, the frame can be any other suitable shape. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various alternative embodiments of the frame are readily available, such as a square ring or even a circular ring. The frame 110 has an inner side for contacting or adjacent to a snowboard, and an outer side facing away from the snowboard when the ski strap assembly 100 is used to secure a pair of snowboards together.

[0086] The front fork 106 extends forward and outward from the longitudinal front side of the frame 110. The rear fork 108 extends outward from the longitudinal rear side of the frame 110 (i.e., substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the frame 110), opposite the location where the fork 106 is located. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various alternative embodiments of the forks 106 and 108 are readily available.

[0087] For example, the prongs 106 and 108 may be located anywhere on the frame 110, but a preferred embodiment is that the prongs 106 and 108 may be located around the front and rear ends of the frame 110 so that when the strap is tightened, forces are applied in opposite directions (see FIG. Figure 10 , described in more detail below). The number of prongs can vary depending on the location of the hole 112 on the belt. Preferably, at least two prongs are required.

[0088] A problem with some known buckles having a single prong on the market is that a relatively large force is required to produce a relatively large stretch of the strap in order to pull the strap, wrap it around the ski, and then fit one of the holes into the prong to secure the strap. In particular, during winter, the strap may be more difficult to pull and stretch due to cold or freezing weather. Users or skiers with insufficient strength may not be able to tie the strap tightly enough around the ski. Advantageously, having at least two prongs reduces this required force because the front prong 106 will first fit into and secure one of the holes in the strap 102 when it is half-wrapped around the ski, and then, the rear prong 108 will be inserted into the other of the holes in the strap 102 when it is fully wrapped around a pair of skis (discussed in more detail below with respect to Figure 10 ). A smaller wrap or travel distance is required to fit one of the holes into the prong, and thus a smaller force is required to stretch and pull.

[0089] In some embodiments, four prongs are provided on the frame 110 (as shown in Figure 30 ), two front prongs 106 and two rear prongs 108. The strap also has two rows of parallel holes for fitting into these four prongs. Compared to the two-prong embodiment, using four prongs reduces the tensile force applied to the four holes that engage the four prongs because the force is spread among the four holes. Advantageously, even if one hole accidentally breaks or tears, there is another parallel hole next to it to engage the prong.

[0090] The frame 110 and the prongs 106 and 108 can all be made of any suitable material, such as steel, hard plastic, wood, and / or the like with sufficient strength to resist force without breaking when the strap is tightened and wrapped around the ski.

[0091] In addition, the prongs can have various shapes and sizes, including but not limited to cylindrical, rod-shaped, cubic, etc.

[0092] Optionally, the rear prong 108 can also include a cap portion 109. As shown in Figure 3 , the cap portion 109 has an outer diameter larger than the remainder of the prong 108 and is slightly larger than the diameter of the hole 112 in the strap 102. Advantageously, this embodiment of the rear prong 108 prevents the strap from slipping off when inserted into any one of the holes 112.

[0093] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the front end 102A of the strap 102, in particular, with respect to Figure 9Together shown how the strap 102 is coupled to the buckle 104. The front end 102A of the strap 102 includes a coupling portion 114 for coupling to the frame 110 of the buckle 104. The coupling portion 114 includes a hole 120 at its top and a channel 122 extending laterally therethrough. The rear fork 108 of the buckle 104 fits into the hole 120, and the rear end of the frame 110 of the buckle 104 passes through the channel 112, thereby coupling the buckle 104 and the strap 102 together. Compared with other known buckle and strap designs available in the market (e.g., in a waist belt), advantageously, the rear fork 108 extending through the hole 120 further secures the buckle 104 to the strap 102.

[0094] Now turning to Figure 10 and Figure 11 , which shows how to use the ski strap assembly 100 to fasten and secure a pair of skis 10A and 10B arranged in a bottom-to-bottom manner. Here, the bottom of the ski refers to the side that contacts the ground.

[0095] First, the ski strap assembly 100 is wrapped around or looped around the ski 10A, with the soft contact portion 102C placed on the bottom of the ski such that after the pair of skis 10A and 10B are fixed together, the soft contact portion 102C is sandwiched between the two skis 10A and 10B. Preferably, the soft contact portion 102C is made of a soft material, such as polyurethane or rubber, for protecting the skis 10A and 10B.

[0096] The rear end 102B of the strap 102 is wound around the ski 10A along a first direction, extends through the frame 110 of the buckle 104, and is stretched and tensioned by fitting one of the holes 112 onto the angled front fork 106 of the buckle 104. This travel distance (as Figure 10 shown) is relatively small and smaller compared to winding around the entire pair of skis, so that a large force will not be required to stretch and pull the strap.

[0097] Then, the rear end 102B of the strap 102 extends along a second direction opposite to the first direction, and continues to be stretched and wound around the other ski 10B until it loops back to the buckle 104 and is tensioned by fitting the other hole 112 onto the rear fork 108. Thus, the front fork 106 and the rear fork 108 provide enhanced tensioning of the strap 102 around the skis 10A and 10B. Advantageously, the implementation of the two forks of the buckle makes it easier for the user or skier to stretch the strap 102, wind it around the ski 10, fit one of the holes into the front fork 106, and then fit the other hole into the rear fork 108. Compared with the implementation of one fork of the buckle, generally, the user or skier needs to apply a smaller force and does not require a large stretch of the strap 102 to secure the skis 10.

[0098] Figure 26 shows an alternative and preferred embodiment of a ski strap assembly 400 that is similar to Figure 1 the ski strap assembly 100 shown. Figure 26 A strap 402 is shown therein having a soft contact area 402C located between a first end 402A and a second end 402B of the strap 402, having an increased width compared to the remainder of the strap 402, and having narrower portions toward the first end 402A and the second end 402B. Advantageously, the soft contact area 402C with the increased width prevents problems or difficulties that may arise due to misalignment when the strap 402 is wound around the ski 10.

[0099] For example, as Figure 27 shown, the strap 402 having the soft contact area 402C with the increased width is wound around the ski 10 to form a first layer. The strap portion having a narrower width is wound over the soft contact area 402C to form a second layer. In the case of any misalignment between the two layers (as Figure 28 shown), due to the increased width of the soft contact area 402C, the soft contact area can still provide sufficient support under the narrower width strap portion. Advantageously, the user or skier does not have to worry about perfectly aligning these layers when winding the strap 402 around the ski 10.

[0100] Optionally and depending on the total length of the strap 402, the strap 402 can be further wound around the skis 10A and 10B and fixed to the rear fork 108 again to further secure the skis 10A and 10B.

[0101] Optionally, if there is an extra length of the strap 402 remaining after winding around the ski 10, rather than allowing the second end 402B of the strap 402 to hang loose (as Figure 27 shown), the remaining portion adjacent to the second end 402B of the strap 402 can be folded and fixed to the rear fork 108 by fitting one of the holes onto the rear fork 108 (as Figure 29 shown).

[0102] In the above embodiment (as Figures 26 to 29 shown), the soft contact portion 402C is made of a soft material and has an increased width. Alternatively, the entire strap can be made of a soft material and have the same width (as Figure 1 shown). Generally, the length, position, and width of the soft contact area can vary according to different styles and designs of skis available on the market.

[0103] Optionally, the soft contact areas 102C, 402C may include lines, holes, or protrusions to reduce and limit the surface contact area on the ski 10. For example, the soft contact areas 102C, 402C may include channels to direct water away from the contact area, thereby preventing water accumulation.

[0104] Optionally, a sleeve may be placed on the soft contact areas 102C, 402C to provide additional soft contact protection. The sleeve may be removable from the straps 102, 402 and may also be replaceable. Advantageously, the removable and replaceable sleeve added to the soft contact areas 102C, 402C may provide various options for size, length, thickness, and pattern to accommodate various strap designs and various styles and designs of skis.

[0105] In some embodiments, the front fork 106 may be arranged at any suitable angle between 30 degrees and 90 degrees relative to the frame, such as extending forward and outward, substantially perpendicular to the frame, etc. For example, suitable angles may be 30 degrees, 34 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 75 degrees, 90 degrees, etc. In some embodiments, the front fork 106 may be arranged at any suitable angle between 90 degrees and 150 degrees relative to the frame, such as extending backward and outward.

[0106] In some embodiments, the front fork 106 has the same height as the rear fork 108.

[0107] In some embodiments, the height of the front fork 106 is greater than the height of the rear fork 108.

[0108] In some embodiments where the front fork is perpendicular (at an angle of 90 degrees) to the frame (i.e., at a 90-degree angle; for example, see Figure 31 ) the height of the front fork 106 is less than the height of the rear fork 108. For example, the height of the front fork 106 is 2 / 3, 1 / 2, or 1 / 3 of the height of the rear fork 108. In some other embodiments, the front fork 106 has the same height as the rear fork 108. In still some other embodiments, the rear fork 108 has a height of 8 / 32 inches. In some other embodiments, the front fork 106 has a height of 5 / 32 inches or 6 / 32 inches.

[0109] Advantageously, positioning the front fork 106 lower than the rear fork 108 further helps to reduce the force required to stretch and pull the straps around the ski 10 and to fit one of the holes onto the front fork 106.

[0110] Furthermore, in some embodiments, both the front fork 106 and the second fork 108 have tops that extend outward or otherwise flare (see respectively Figure 31in 106A and 108A). The extended tops 106A and 108A further assist the user or skier in fitting a hole in the strap into forks 106 and 108 and also help hold the hole firmly under the top, preventing the hole from moving upward and slipping off the fork. Since the strap is made of a soft material, the hole can also stretch. When the strap is pulled, the hole is stretched to a slightly larger size while fitting onto the fork. Then, the hole returns to its normal size and fits firmly under top 106A or 108A.

[0111] In addition, in order to fit a hole in the strap firmly onto forks 106 and 108, the height of forks 106 and 108 must be greater than the thickness of the strap. In some embodiments, the thickness of the strap is approximately 5 / 32 inches, which corresponds to the typical size of the gap formed by the camber of the ski board.

[0112] In some embodiments, the rear fork 108 can be arranged at other suitable angles relative to the frame, such as extending forward and outward, backward and outward, etc.

[0113] Figure 32 Another alternative embodiment of the ski strap assembly 500 is shown, similar to Figure 1 the ski strap assembly 100 shown and Figure 26 the ski strap assembly 400 shown. The ski strap assembly 500 includes a strap 502 having a plurality of holes 504, wherein one or more of the holes are reinforced by one or more rings. Advantageously, a set of reinforced holes 504 prevents problems or difficulties that may arise due to the holes 504 being overstretched or broken due to repeated fitting of the forks into the holes 504.

[0114] For example, the rings prevent the forks from contacting the holes 504, thereby providing increased durability and hole life compared to holes 504 without rings. The rings can be made of any suitable material, such as a material that is strong and scratch-resistant to protect the strap 502 as the forks fit firmly into the holes 504. Preferably, the rings are made of metal.

[0115] The rings can sit flush on the surface of the strap 502, be completely aligned with the holes 504, and / or protrude from the surface of the holes 504. For example, the rings are completely aligned with the holes 504. In one embodiment, the rings protrude from the surface of the holes 504 to a height of 1 / 128 inch. In one embodiment, the rings protrude from the surface of the holes 504 to a height of 1 / 64 inch. In one embodiment, the rings protrude from the surface of the holes 504 to a height of 1 / 32 inch.

[0116] As Figure 33As shown, the strap 502 can include a thicker region 502C located between the first end 502A and the second end 502B of the strap 502. This thicker region has an increased thickness compared to the rest of the strap 502, which has thinner portions towards the first end 502A and the second end 502B. Advantageously, the thicker region 502C provides support and stability for the plurality of reinforcement rings 504. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the reinforcement holes 504 is located within the thicker region 502C. Preferably, all of the reinforcement holes 504 are located within the thicker region 502C.

[0117] The thicker region 502C can be thicker than the rest of the strap 502 by any suitable number of inches. For example, the thicker region 502 can be 1 / 128 inch, 1 / 64 inch, 1 / 32 inch, 1 / 16 inch, 1 / 8 inch, 1 / 4 inch, 1 / 2 inch, or 1 inch thicker than the rest of the strap 502. Preferably, the thicker region 502C is 1 / 64 inch thicker than the rest of the strap 502.

[0118] In some embodiments, the corresponding buckle can be as thick as or thicker than the thicker region 502C of the strap 502. For example, the buckle can be 1 / 32 inch thicker than the thicker region 502C.

[0119] The thicker region 502C can include a soft contact portion. The thicker region 502C can include the same material as the rest of the strap 502 or a completely different material. Generally speaking, the thicker region 502C can have any number of positions, lengths, thicknesses, and compositions. The thicker region 502C can include any shape, design, or feature. In some embodiments, the thicker region 502C can include a logo, name, or mark for advertising a company or brand.

[0120] In some embodiments, the buckle 600 can include a frame 604 configured to guide the strap through the loop 602, as Figure 34A and Figure 34B shown. In some embodiments, the guiding frame 604 can be configured to provide space for the strap when the strap is initially passed through the loop 602. When the strap passes through the loop 602, the guiding frame 604 can then be configured to narrow towards the bottom of the buckle 600 so as to center the strap relative to the buckle 600. Advantageously, the guiding frame 604 prevents problems or difficulties that may arise due to misalignment of the strap within the loop 602 when the strap is tensioned.

[0121] In some embodiments, the guiding frame 604 can include one or more guides configured to center the drive belt or tensioning belt, as described above. The guides can be detachable from the buckle 600, or the guides can include structural extensions of the guiding frame 604.

[0122] In Figure 34A andFigure 34B In the illustrated embodiment, the buckle 600 includes a front fork 606 that extends forward and outward from the front side of the guide frame 604 at an angle of 34 degrees relative to the guide frame 604, and a rear fork 608 that extends outward from the rear side of the guide frame 604 (i.e., the rear fork 608 is substantially perpendicular to the guide frame 604). The front fork 606 has a height of 0.53 inches and a flat top surface 610 that is substantially parallel to the guide frame 604. The rear fork 608 has a height of 0.639 inches. Thus, the height of the front fork 606 is slightly less than the height of the rear fork 608.

[0123] B. Suspension Device and Buffer

[0124] Figure 12 A pair of skis 10 are shown, which are fixed by a ski strap assembly 100 and suspended on a wall by a suspension device 200 and a buffer 300. Both the suspension device 200 and the buffer 300 are mounted on the wall. Advantageously, this saves space when storing a pair of skis.

[0125] Figure 12 This is merely an embodiment, and the space or distance between the suspension device 200 and the buffer 300 can vary depending on the size, style, and design of the skis 10. An adjustable multi-track system can be used to allow the distance between the suspension device 200 and the buffer 300 to be adjusted according to the skis 10.

[0126] Figure 13 A perspective view of the suspension device 200 is shown, Figures 15 to 19 and various other views of the same suspension device 200 are shown. The suspension device 200 includes an upper body 202 and a lower body 208. The upper body 202 includes mounting holes 206 for mounting screws to mount the suspension device 200 to a hard surface such as a wall. The lower body 208 includes protrusions 204 such as fins that extend between the fixed skis 10 and below the ski strap assembly 100 (as Figure 12 shown). As Figure 16 shown (also see Figure 20 ), the top edge (or its tip) of the fin 204 can be tilted upward to firmly hook the ski strap assembly 100.

[0127] In some embodiments, the depth of the lower body 208 (from its rear to its front) is greater than the depth of the upper body 202 (best shown in Figure 16 ), and can be used as a buffer to keep the skis 10 a certain distance away from the wall. Advantageously, this prevents the skis 10 from contacting the wall and causing any damage to the wall or the skis, and also prevents water from dripping onto or flowing onto the wall.

[0128] Now turning to Figure 13, the arrow X indicates that a screw (not shown) is inserted through the mounting hole 206 of the suspension device 200 and then into a screw hole 207 on a hard surface such as a wall 203. In Figure 19 a rear view of the suspension device 200 is shown, and there is a recess 209 around the mounting hole 206. As Figure 13 shown, the recess 209 receives the head of an anchor 205 around the screw hole 207 on the wall 203. The depth of the recess 209 is approximately the thickness of the head of the anchor 205 on the wall 203. In some embodiments, the depth of the recess 209 is 1 / 32 inch. In some embodiments, the radius of the recess is 1 / 4 inch. In some embodiments, the radius of the mounting hole 206 is 5 / 8 inch.

[0129] Figure 14 A perspective view of the buffer 300 is shown, Figures 21 to 25 and various other views of the same buffer 300 are shown. The buffer 300 has a body 302 that includes a mounting hole 304 for mating a screw to mount the buffer 300 to a hard surface such as a wall. The buffer 300 prevents the ski 10 from contacting or colliding with the wall, thereby preventing damage or scratching of the ski 10.

[0130] The buffer 300 is preferably mounted on the wall at a position near the tail end of the ski 10 (best shown in Figure 12 ). The buffer 300 prevents the tail end of the ski 10 from contacting the wall and causing any damage to the wall or the ski 10, and prevents water from dripping or flowing onto the wall. Additionally, in some embodiments, the body 302 of the buffer 300 is inclined and has an inclined top surface (best shown in Figure 22 ), which helps to direct water away from the wall.

[0131] Figure 25 A rear side view of the buffer 300 is shown, and the mounting hole 304 surrounded by a recess 305 is shown. Similar to the recess 209 for the suspension device 200, the recess 305 of the buffer also receives an anchor on the wall, and generally, the depth of the recess 305 is approximately the thickness of the anchor on the wall. In some embodiments, the depth of the recess 305 is 1 / 32 inch. In some embodiments, the radius of the recess is 1 / 4 inch. In some embodiments, the radius of the mounting hole 304 is 5 / 8 inch.

[0132] To place a pair of fixed skis 10 (tied by a ski strap assembly 100), the user can place the protrusion or fin 204 of the suspension device 200 between the skis 10 and slide the pair of skis down until the fin 204 contacts the strap 102, and particularly, contacts the soft contact area 102C.

[0133] Preferably, the fin 204 has an upwardly inclined top (see 204A in Figure 20 ), and the lower body 208 has a downwardly inclined top surface (see 208A in Figure 20 ). The upwardly inclined top 204A of the fin 204 helps to engage the suspension device with the ski strap assembly 100 and provides a more secure engagement between the strap and the fin 204, allowing the ski 10 to remain firmly attached to the suspension device 200 and preventing it from slipping off (as shown in Figure 12 ). The downwardly inclined top surface 208A of the lower body 208 helps to direct water away from the wall.

[0134] Optionally, the fin 204 may include anti-slip lines or patterns on its surface, and the contact edge of the strap 102 may include similar anti-slip lines or patterns corresponding to the pattern on the fin 204. Advantageously, this embodiment provides additional security and allows the ski 10 to remain firmly attached to the suspension device 200 and prevents it from slipping off.

[0135] Figure 35 An alternative embodiment and perspective view of the suspension device 700 are shown, similar to the suspension device 200 shown in Figure 13 and Figures 15 to 19 . Figures 35 to 38 Various other views of the same suspension device 700 are shown. The suspension device 700 includes a fin 702 that has a flat top flush with the top edge of the lower body 208 and extends to a point near the bottom end 704 of the lower body 208. The lower body 208 includes an inclined portion that transitions to the upper body 202 at an angle, such as 20 degrees, 20.7 degrees, 21 degrees, etc., relative to the top surface of the remainder of the lower body 208. In some embodiments, the bottom of the fin 704 may be flush with the bottom end 704 of the lower body 208.

[0136] The fin 702 can be any thickness up to and including the thickness of the suspension device 700. In some embodiments, the fin 702 has a thickness of 1 / 16 inch. In some embodiments, the fin 702 has a thickness of 1 / 8 inch. In some embodiments, the fin 702 has a thickness of 1 / 4 inch. In some embodiments, the fin 702 has a thickness of 1 / 2 inch. In some embodiments, the fin 702 has a thickness of 1 inch. Advantageously, this embodiment provides additional stability and support to the suspension device 700 to firmly hook the strap assembly 100.

[0137] Figure 39 An alternative embodiment and perspective view of the buffer 800 are shown, similar to the buffer 300 shown in Figure and ​ . ​Shows various other views of the same buffer 800.

[0138] In some embodiments, the suspension device 700 and the buffer 800 may define one or more cavities 704 (best shown in ​ and ​ ) and one or more cavities 802 (best shown in ​ and ​ ) to respectively require less material to manufacture or produce the suspension device 700 and the buffer 800. Alternatively, the suspension device 700 and the buffer 800 may not include the cavities 704 and 802. Advantageously, the cavities 704 and 802 respectively provide cost and weight savings for the materials used to produce the suspension device 700 and the buffer 800.

[0139] Various embodiments of the ski strap, suspension device, and buffer are described herein. The ski strap, suspension device, and buffer disclosed herein can be used to secure and suspend various types of skis, such as racing skis, carving skis, backcountry skis, park skis, powder skis, all-mountain skis, alpine skis, cross-country skis, etc.

[0140] Those skilled in the art will understand that such various embodiments and / or their features can be customized and / or combined as needed or desired. Additionally, although the embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A buckle, characterized in that: The buckle comprises: framework; and A front fork and a rear fork extend from a longitudinal front side and a longitudinal rear side of the frame, respectively.

2. The buckle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front fork extends forward and outward from the front side of the frame, and the rear fork extends outward from the rear side of the frame and is generally perpendicular to the frame.

3. The buckle according to claim 2, characterized in that: The front fork extends forward and outward from the front side of the frame at an angle between 30 degrees and 90 degrees.

4. The buckle according to claim 2, characterized in that: The front fork extends forward and outward from the front side of the frame at an angle of 30 degrees, 34 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 75 degrees, or 90 degrees.

5. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein: The front fork and the rear fork extend outwardly from the front side and the rear side of the frame, respectively, and are generally perpendicular to the frame.

6. The buckle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The front fork has a height that is substantially the same as that of the rear fork.

7. The buckle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The height of the front fork is smaller than that of the rear fork.

8. The buckle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The front fork includes a flat top surface that is generally parallel to the frame.

9. The buckle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: At least one of the front fork and the rear fork includes an extended top portion.

10. The buckle according to claim 9, characterized in that: The expanded top has an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of one of the plurality of holes in a strap for use with the buckle.

11. The belt buckle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The frame also includes one or more guides for centering the belt.

12. A ski belt assembly, characterized in that: The ski belt assembly comprises: a flexible band having a longitudinal front end, a longitudinal rear end, and a plurality of holes distributed between the front end and the rear end; and The buckle according to any one of claims 1 to 11, coupled to the front end of the belt.

13. The ski strap assembly according to claim 12, wherein: The belt comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

14. The ski strap assembly according to claim 12, wherein: The belt comprises MP 1627L3 thermoplastic material.

15. The ski belt assembly according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein: The belt further comprises: A soft contact area is provided between the front and rear ends of the strap for being sandwiched between a pair of snowboards.

Images