Holster

Abstract

A holster for carrying a pair of skis ( 35 ), said skis being coupled together for example by means of a friction fit between the brake of one ski and the brake of the other, the holster comprising: a support plate ( 1 ), and a member extending, at least in use, from the plane of the plate to define a carrier limb ( 5; 33 ) with which a toe clip of one of said pair of skis ( 35 ) engages and on which top toe clip bears to spread the weight of the skis through the carrier limb to the support plate.

1 . A holster for carrying a pair of skis, said skis being coupled together for example by means of a friction fit between the brake of one ski and the brake of the other, the holster comprising: 
 a support plate, and    a member moveable, with respect to the support plate and extending, at least in use, from the plane of the plate to define a carrier limb with which a toe clip of one of said pair of skis is engageable to suspend said pair of skis from the limb, the engagement of said toe clip with said limb acting to spread the weight of the skis through the carrier limb to the support plate.    
   
   
       2 . A holster according to  claim 1 , wherein said carrier limb is pivotally coupled to said plate.  
   
   
       3 . A holster according to  claim 1 , wherein said comprises a bendable section and a remaining section, said carrier limb being formed by bending said bendable section of support plate out of the plane of the remaining section of the plate.  
   
   
       4 . A holster according to  claim 1 , wherein said carrier limb is coupled to said plate by means of a universal joint.  
   
   
       5 . A holster according to  claim 1 , wherein said carrier limb comprises an elongate strip of material, respective ends of which are insertable through slots formed in said plate, one or more fasteners being provided to resist removal of the ends of said strip through said slots.  
   
   
       6 . A hoister according to  claim 1 , wherein said carrier limb is resiliently flexible to permit flexing of the limb when a pair of skis is carried by means of the holster.  
   
   
       7 . A holster according to  claim 1 , further comprising a retaining member coupled to the plate for securing the skis to the holster.  
   
   
       8 . A holster according to  claim 7 , wherein said retaining member is securable to said skis to secure the skis in place on the holster.  
   
   
       9 . A holster according to  claim 8 , wherein said retaining member is attachable to the plate to secure the skis in place on the holster.  
   
   
       10 . A holster according to  claim 7 , wherein the retaining member comprises a resiliently extendable portion, and a means to facilitate manipulation of the retaining member by a user.  
   
   
       11 . A holster according to  claim 1 , wherein the plate is configured to be mountable on a belt that is wearable by a user or directly to an item of clothing worn by a user.  
   
   
       12 . A holster according to  claim 1 , wherein said pair of skis, when mounted in said holster, are inclined such that tips of said skis are at an angle of no more than 55 degrees from the horizontal.  
   
   
       13 . A holster according to  claim 12 , wherein the tips of said pair of skis, when mounted in said holster are inclined at an angle of 40 to 50 degrees from the horizontal.  
   
   
       14 . A holster according to  claim 12 , wherein the tips of said pair of skis, when mounted in said holster are inclined at an angle of substantially 45 degrees from the horizontal.  
   
   
       15 . A holster according to  claim 1 , wherein said plate is of metal or plastics.  
   
   
       16 . A holster according to  claim 1 , wherein a pair of skis supported in said holster are enabled for hands-free carrying by a user.  
   
   
       17 . A holster for carrying a pair of skis that are coupled together with running faces abutting, the holster comprising: 
 a support plate attachable to a belt worn by a user;    a member moveable with respect to the support, plate and extending, at least in use, from the plane of the plate to define a carrier limb with which a toe clip of one of said pair of skis engages to suspend said pair of skis from the limb, the engagement of said toe clip with said limb acting to spread the weight of the skis through the carrier limb to the support plate; and    a resilient retaining member coupled to said support plate, the retaining member being extendable over a pair of skis hung from said limb and securable to a toe clip of said skis or to a hook provided on said support plate to securely attach the skis to the holster.    
   
   
       18 . A method of carrying a pair of skis that have been coupled together with running faces abutting, the method comprising: 
 providing a holster comprising a support plate, and a member moveable with respect to the support plate and extending, at least in use, from the plane of the plate to define a carrier limb with which a toe clip of one of said pair of skis is engageable to suspend said pair of skis from the limb;    attaching the holster to a user such that the holster is located in the vicinity of the user's waist; and    suspending said coupled pair of skis from the carrier limb of the holster.    
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the holster additionally comprises a resilient extendable retaining member coupled to said support plate, the method additionally comprising extending the retaining member over the pair of skis suspended from said carrier limb, and coupling the retaining member to the skis to secure them to the holster.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the holster additionally comprises a resilient extendable retaining member coupled to said support plate and a hook, the method additionally comprising extending the retaining member over the pair of skis suspended from said carrier limb, and coupling the retaining member to the hook to secure the skis to the holster.