Alpine Ski Carrying Device with Vertical Strap Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing alpine ski and snowboard carrying devices are not lightweight, compact, or easily storable, and they do not allow for secure vertical carrying of equipment, which can hinder balance and require the use of hands, limiting the ability to use ski poles while walking or hiking.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight and compact alpine ski and snowboard carrying device featuring adjustable straps with hook and loop fastening, slider-type buckles, and elongated extension members that support skis or snowboards in a vertical position on the user's back, allowing for easy storage in a pocket and accommodating various equipment sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If traditional ski carrying devices are used, then skis can be carried, but the devices are heavy and bulky, making them difficult to store
Solution Approach 1:
The carrying device is divided into multiple independent strap components (first strap, second strap, third strap, fourth strap) that can be separately adjusted and configured. This segmentation allows the device to be compact when not in use while providing full carrying functionality when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates adjustable straps with slider-type buckles that allow dynamic adjustment of strap lengths to accommodate different ski sizes and user preferences. The adjustable nature enables the device to adapt between a compact storage state and an expanded carrying state.
2Ease of operation
If skis are carried horizontally, then they are easy to transport, but the user loses balance and cannot use ski poles
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions the carrying orientation from horizontal to vertical by routing straps around the user's body (over shoulders, around waist). This dimensional change in carrying posture improves balance and frees the user's hands while maintaining secure ski attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The straps are pre-configured with hook and loop fastening sections that automatically engage when the user steps into the device, preliminarily securing the skis before final adjustment. This preliminary action simplifies the overall carrying configuration process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed-length straps are used, then the device is simple, but it cannot accommodate skis of varying lengths
Solution Approach 1:
Each strap incorporates slider-type buckles that allow continuous adjustment of strap length, transforming the device from a fixed-configuration system to a dynamic, adaptable system that can accommodate skis of various lengths and widths.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable strap system with extension members provides universal compatibility across different ski and snowboard sizes. The same basic device structure can accommodate various equipment dimensions through strap length adjustment, eliminating the need for multiple specialized carriers.
4Strength
If expensive and rigid components are used, then the device is durable, but it becomes cumbersome and difficult to store
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses flexible nylon webbing straps instead of rigid structural components. This flexible material provides sufficient strength for carrying skis while allowing the device to be compactly rolled up and stored in a pocket when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs inexpensive hook and loop fastening sections instead of expensive metal buckles or complex locking mechanisms. These affordable fastening components are durable enough for repeated use while keeping the overall device lightweight and simple.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides secure, balanced carrying of alpine skis or snowboards, keeping hands free for ski poles, preventing slips and falls, and is more convenient and less cumbersome than traditional carrying methods, with components that are less expensive and flexible for easy storage.
Implementation Method 1
secured with hook and loop fastening disposed on opposite distal ends thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A lightweight and compact alpine ski and snowboard carrying device which supports a pair of alpine skis and, in the alternative, a snowboard, in a vertical position along a user's back and which rolls up for storage in a pocket, along with a method for using the present device.