Apparatus for storage, protection, or transport of sporting devices

Abstract

An apparatus for storage, protection, or transport of sporting devices, such as skis, is presented, the apparatus including: a pair of tip engagement portions connected to one or two tail engagement portions by a strap. The tip engagement portions and the tail engagement portion or portions may be formed with an opening and an opposing closed distal end. Each of the tip engagement portions and the tail engagement portion or portions may include an attachment tab and attachment hardware for attaching the strap. Alternatively, the strap may attach directly to one or more of the tip engagement portions and the tail engagement portion or portions. The strap may include quick detach devices such as clips at its ends to engage attachment hardware, such as d-rings, on the tips engagement portions and the tail engagement portion or portions. The strap may include a shoulder pad.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for storage, protection, and/or transport of skis, comprising:
 a pair of tip engagement portions connected to a single tail engagement portion by a strap;
 wherein each of the tip engagement portions is formed with a proximal end opening and a closed distal end and wherein a ski tip is inserted into the proximal end opening, 
 wherein the single tail engagement portion is formed with a proximal end opening and a closed distal end and wherein a pair of ski tails is inserted into the proximal end opening; and 
   wherein the strap biases the pair of tip engagement portions toward the single tail engagement portion, and into engagement with the ski tips and the ski tails; and   wherein the apparatus is devoid of any other securement mechanism, besides the strap, to secure the tip engagement portions into engagement with the ski tips and to secure the tail engagement portion into engagement with the ski tails.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the tip engagement portions and the tail engagement portion include an attachment tab and attachment hardware for attaching the strap. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the strap is attached directly to one or more of the tip engagement portions and the tail engagement portion. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the tip engagement portions is formed from two flat panels fixed to one another around all but one edge, forming the proximal end opening. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein each of the two flat panels have the same shape and size. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tail engagement portion is formed from two flat panels fixed to one another around all but one edge, forming the proximal end opening. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each of the two flat panels have the same shape and size. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for storage, protection, and/or transport of skis, comprising:
 a pair of tip engagement portions connected to a pair of tail engagement portion by a strap;
 wherein each of the tip engagement portions is formed with a proximal end opening and a closed distal end and wherein a ski tip is inserted into the proximal end opening, 
 wherein each of the tail engagement portions is formed with a proximal end opening and a closed distal end and wherein a ski tail is inserted into the proximal end opening; and 
   wherein the strap biases the pair of tip engagement portions toward the pair of tail engagement portions, and into engagement with the ski tips and the ski tails; and   wherein the apparatus is devoid of any other securement mechanism, besides the strap, to secure the tip engagement portions into engagement with the ski tips and to secure the tail engagement portions into engagement with the ski tails.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each of the tip engagement portions and the tail engagement portions include an attachment tab and attachment hardware for attaching the strap. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the strap is attached directly to one or more of the tip engagement portions and the tail engagement portions. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each of the tip engagement portions is formed from two flat panels fixed to one another around all but one edge, forming the proximal end opening. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein each of the two flat panels have the same shape and size. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each of the tail engagement portions is formed from two flat panels fixed to one another around all but one edge, forming the proximal end opening. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein each of the two flat panels have the same shape and size. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for storage, protection, and/or transport of skis, comprising:
 a pair of tip engagement portions connected to a single tail engagement portion by a strap;
 wherein each of the tip engagement portions is formed with a proximal end opening and a closed distal end and wherein a ski tip is inserted into the proximal end opening, 
 wherein each of the tip engagement portions is formed from two flat panels fixed to one another around all but one edge, forming the proximal end opening, 
 wherein each of the two flat panels forming the tip engagement portions have the same shape and size, 
 wherein the single tail engagement portion is formed with a proximal end opening and a closed distal end and wherein a pair of ski tails is inserted into the proximal end opening, 
 wherein the tail engagement portion is formed from two flat panels fixed to one another around all but one edge, forming the proximal end opening, 
 wherein each of the two flat panels forming the tail engagement portion have the same shape and size; and 
   wherein the strap biases the pair of tip engagement portions toward the single tail engagement portion, and into engagement with the ski tips and the ski tails; and   wherein the apparatus is devoid of any other securement mechanism, besides the strap, to secure the tip engagement portions into engagement with the ski tips and to secure the tail engagement portion into engagement with the ski tails.   
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for storage, protection, and/or transport of skis, comprising:
 a pair of tip engagement portions connected to a pair of tail engagement portion by a strap;
 wherein each of the tip engagement portions is formed with a proximal end opening and a closed distal end and wherein a ski tip is inserted into the proximal end opening, 
 wherein each of the tip engagement portions is formed from two flat panels fixed to one another around all but one edge, forming the proximal end opening, 
 wherein each of the two flat panels forming the tip engagement portions have the same shape and size, 
 wherein each of the tail engagement portions is formed with a proximal end opening and a closed distal end and wherein ski tail is inserted into the proximal end opening, 
 wherein each of the tail engagement portions is formed from two flat panels fixed to one another around all but one edge, forming the proximal end opening, 
 wherein each of the two flat panels forming the tail engagement portions have the same shape and size; and 
   wherein the strap biases the pair of tip engagement portions toward the pair of tail engagement portions, and into engagement with the ski tips and the ski tails; and   wherein the apparatus is devoid of any other securement mechanism, besides the strap, to secure the tip engagement portions into engagement with the ski tips and to secure the tail engagement portions into engagement with the ski tails.