Snow sport bag

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the invention disclosed herein include a bag to store and provide easy transport of a pair (or multiple pairs) of skis or a snowboard(s) along with poles, boots, helmets, goggles and other ski or snowboard gear. Such embodiments provide a quick, efficient, and compact system for carrying sporting gear. Bags disclosed herein can include a shell having back surface for facing a user, a front surface, two opposing sides, a bottom surface, at least one shoulder strap, and an upper end. The upper end defines an upper opening sized to receive a pair of skis and accompanying bindings in a lengthwise direction. The bag defines a bottom opening in the bottom surface sized to receive the pair of skis in a lengthwise direction. The backpack can include a collapsible sleeve configured to extend from the defined bottom opening. The bag can also include a releasable flap attached to the bottom surface of the bag member and configured to cover the defined bottom opening and be released from covering the defined bottom opening to contain the collapsible sleeve in a collapsed position within the bag. The centrally carried skis then provide a balanced and efficient means of carrying winter sports equipment.

1 . A backpack for skiing equipment, the backpack comprising:
 a bag member including a back surface for facing a user, a front surface, two opposing sides, a bottom surface, at least one shoulder strap, and an upper end, the upper end defining an upper opening sized to receive at least one pair of skis and accompanying bindings in a lengthwise direction, the bag member defining a bottom opening in the bottom surface, the defined bottom opening sized to receive the at least one pair of skis in a lengthwise direction;   a collapsible sleeve attached to the bag member, the collapsible sleeve configured to extend from the defined bottom opening in the bottom surface of the bag member such that the collapsible sleeve extends away from the bag member, the collapsible sleeve sized to receive a lengthwise portion of the at least one pair of skis when the collapsible sleeve is extended away from the bag member;   a releasable flap attached to the bottom surface of the bag member, the releasable flap configured to cover the defined bottom opening in the bottom surface of the bag member and configured to be released from covering the defined bottom opening in the bottom surface of the bag member, the releasable flap configured to contain the collapsible sleeve in a collapsed position within the bag member when covering the defined bottom opening in the bottom surface; and   the bag member generally configured to carry the at least one pair of skis with a first portion of the at least one pair of skis within the collapsible sleeve when extended from the bag member, a second portion of the at least one pair of skis within the bag member, and a third portion of the at least one pair of skis extending beyond the upper end of the bag member.   
     
     
         2 . The backpack of  claim 1 , further comprising a magnetic fastening mechanism that releasably connects the releasable flap to the bottom surface. 
     
     
         3 . The backpack of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a zipper mechanism at the bottom surface, the zipper mechanism configured to securely connect the releasable flap to the bottom surface to prevent quick release of the releasable flap.   
     
     
         4 . The backpack of  claim 1 , further comprising a fastening mechanism attached to the upper end of the bag member, the fastening mechanism configured to secure the at least one pair of skis within the bag member. 
     
     
         5 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible sleeve includes a closed end that prevents passage of the at least one pair of skis beyond a length that the collapsible sleeve is able to extend away from the bag member. 
     
     
         6 . The backpack of  claim 5 , wherein the collapsible sleeve includes a length adjustment mechanism that permits adjustment of the length that the collapsible sleeve is able to extend away from the bag member. 
     
     
         7 . The backpack of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first footwear compartment positioned at a first opposing side of the two opposing sides; and   a second footwear compartment positioned at a second opposing side of the two opposing sides.   
     
     
         8 . The backpack of  claim 7 , wherein the bag member includes a rigid support structure with at least one removable rigid support member. 
     
     
         9 . The backpack of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a helmet strap storage compartment; and   a helmet strap attached to the bag member at a location within the helmet strap storage compartment, the helmet strap configured to extend from helmet strap storage compartment to strap a helmet to the front surface of the bag member.   
     
     
         10 . The backpack of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one shoulder strap is removably secured to the bag member. 
     
     
         11 . A ski bag for transporting skis, the ski bag comprising:
 a backpack having a top portion and a bottom portion;   at least one compartment for containing equipment;   at least one shoulder strap for carrying the backpack;   an internal sleeve extending from the top portion of the backpack to the bottom portion of the backpack, the internal sleeve sized for receiving a pair of skis including bindings, the internal sleeve defining a top opening at the top portion of the backpack;   an external sleeve extendible from the bottom portion of the backpack and configured to form an extension of the internal sleeve;   the internal sleeve and external sleeve forming a continuous sleeve for receiving the pair of skis when passing from the top portion of the backpack into the internal sleeve and continuing into the external sleeve such that the continuous sleeve contains a lengthwise portion of the pair of skis, with a remaining lengthwise portion of the pair of skis protruding from the top portion of the backpack; and   the bottom portion of the backpack including a releasable flap for containing the external sleeve within the backpack in a collapsed configuration, the releasable flap configured to release in response to a contact force.   
     
     
         12 . The ski bag of  claim 11 , further comprising a fastening mechanism attached to the top portion of the backpack, the fastening mechanism configured to secure the pair of skis within the internal sleeve such that when the pair of skis is secured within the backpack and the backpack is positioned vertically and resting on ski ends in the external sleeve, the backpack remains in an elevated position. 
     
     
         13 . The ski bag of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a magnetic fastening mechanism that releasably connects the releasable flap to the bottom portion and;   a zipper mechanism that securely attaches the releasable flap to the bottom portion to prevent quick release of the releasable flap.   
     
     
         14 . A bag for skiing equipment, the bag comprising:
 a shell including a back surface, a front surface, two opposing sides, a bottom surface, at least one shoulder strap, and an upper portion;   the upper portion of the shell defining an upper opening sized to receive a ski and accompanying bindings in a lengthwise direction;   the shell defining a bottom opening in the bottom surface, the defined bottom opening sized to permit passage of a lengthwise portion of the ski and accompanying bindings, the bottom opening including a mechanism that prevents full passage of the accompanying bindings; and   the bag generally configured to carry the ski with a first portion of the ski passed through the defined bottom opening in the bottom surface and extending away from the shell, a second portion of the ski that includes at least a portion of the accompanying bindings contained within the shell, and a third portion of the ski protruding from the upper end and extending away from the shell.   
     
     
         15 . The bag of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a first footwear compartment positioned at a first opposing side of the two opposing sides;   a second footwear compartment positioned at a second opposing side of the two opposing sides; and   wherein the first and second footwear compartments are angled relative to the front and back surfaces such that the first and second footwear compartments are closer to each other at the bottom surface of the shell than at the upper portion such that a distance between the first and second footwear compartments at the bottom surface is sized to restrict the defined bottom opening to prevent full passage of the accompanying bindings of the ski.   
     
     
         16 . The bag of  claim 14 , further comprising a releasable flap attached to the bottom surface of the bag member, the releasable flap configured to cover the defined bottom opening in the bottom surface of the bag member and configured to be released from covering the defined bottom opening in the bottom surface of the bag member. 
     
     
         17 . The bag of  claim 14 , wherein the shell includes a rigid support structure with at least one removable rigid support member. 
     
     
         18 . The bag of  claim 14 , further comprising a fastening mechanism attached to the upper portion of the shell configured to secure the ski within the shell. 
     
     
         19 . A bag for snowboarding equipment, the bag comprising:
 a bag member including a back surface, a front surface, two opposing sides, a bottom surface, at least one shoulder strap, and the bag member having an upper end;   the upper end of the bag member defining an upper opening sized to receive a snowboard and accompanying bindings in a lengthwise direction;   the bag member defining a bottom opening at the bottom surface, the defined bottom opening sized to permit passage of a lengthwise portion of the snowboard without permitting full passage of the accompanying bindings; and   the bag generally configured to carry the snowboard with a first portion of the snowboard passed through the defined bottom opening in the bottom surface and extending away from the bag member, a second portion of the snowboard contained within the bag member, the second portion including at least a portion of the accompanying bindings, and a third portion of the snowboard protruding from the upper end and extending away from the bag member.   
     
     
         20 . The bag of  claim 19 , further comprising a collapsible sleeve attached to the bag member, the collapsible sleeve configured to extend from the defined bottom opening in the bottom surface of the bag member such that the collapsible sleeve extends away from the bag member, the collapsible sleeve sized to receive a lengthwise portion of the snowboard when the collapsible sleeve is extended away from the bag member. 
     
     
         21 . The bag of  claim 20 , further comprising a releasable flap attached to the bottom surface of the bag member, the releasable flap configured to cover the defined bottom opening in the bottom surface of the bag member and configured to be released from covering the defined bottom opening in the bottom surface of the bag member, the releasable flap configured to contain the collapsible sleeve in a collapsed position within the bag member when covering the defined bottom opening in the bottom surface, the bag member generally configured to carry the snowboard with a first portion of the snowboard within the collapsible sleeve when extended from the bag member, a second portion of the snowboard within the bag member, and a third portion of the snowboard extending beyond the upper end of the bag member. 
     
     
         22 . The backpack of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a magnetic fastening mechanism that releasably connects the releasable flap to the bottom surface; and   a fastening mechanism attached to the upper end of the bag member for securing the snowboard within the bag member.   
     
     
         23 . An improved backpack for carrying a pair of footwear equipment, the backpack having
 a front and a back, left and right side compartments, of predetermined size, each side compartment having side walls, a bottom, a back wall and a front wall, the left and right side compartments being angularly joined together at the front of the backpack to form, with the back, a generally isosceles triangularly shaped interior compartment between the side compartments; and wherein a portion of the front of the backpack is defined by the front walls of the side compartments;   wherein the improvement comprises:
 a top opening at the top of the interior compartment, the top opening sized to receive a pair of skis and accompanying bindings in a lengthwise direction; and 
 a bottom opening at the bottom of the interior compartment, the bottom opening configured to permit passage of a lengthwise portion of the pair of skis and accompanying bindings without permitting full passage of the accompanying bindings; 
   
     
     
         24 . The improved backpack of  claim 23 , further comprising a releasable flap, the releasable flap configured to cover the bottom opening at the bottom of the interior compartment and configured to be released from covering the bottom opening of the interior compartment. 
     
     
         25 . The improved backpack of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a collapsible sleeve attached to the improved backpack, the collapsible sleeve configured to extend from the bottom opening such that the collapsible sleeve extends away from the interior compartment, the collapsible sleeve sized to receive a lengthwise portion of the pair of skis when the collapsible sleeve is extended away from the interior compartment; and   a fastening mechanism attached adjacent to the top opening for securing the pair of skis within the interior compartment.   
     
     
         26 . An improved backpack for carrying a pair of footwear equipment, the backpack having
 a front and a back, left and right side compartments, of predetermined size, each side compartment having side walls, a bottom, a back wall and a front wall, the left and right side compartments being angularly joined together at the front of the backpack to form, with the back, a generally isosceles triangularly shaped interior compartment between the side compartments; and wherein a portion of the front of the backpack is defined by the front walls of the side compartments;   wherein the improvement comprises:
 a top opening at the top of the interior compartment, the top opening sized to receive an article of length greater than the top-to-bottom dimensions of the side walls of the side compartments; 
 a bottom opening at the bottom of the interior compartment, the bottom opening sized to permit passage of a lengthwise portion of the article of length greater than the top-to-bottom dimensions of the side walls of the side compartments; and 
 a releasable flap, the releasable flap configured to cover the bottom opening at the bottom of the interior compartment and configured to be released from covering the bottom opening of the interior compartment. 
   
     
     
         27 . The improved backpack of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 a collapsible sleeve attached to the improved backpack, the collapsible sleeve configured to extend from the bottom opening such that the collapsible sleeve extends away from the interior compartment, the collapsible sleeve sized to receive a lengthwise portion of the snowboard when the collapsible sleeve is extended away from the interior compartment; and   a fastening mechanism attached adjacent to the top opening for securing the snowboard within the interior compartment.