Mounting rack for skis or the like

Claim 2

A rack for skis or the like, comprising elongated frame means with means for mounting the same to a vehicle, a first plurality of like ski-post members carried by said frame means and fixedly spaced with respect to each other, a second plurality of like ski-post members fixedly spaced with respect to each other and carried by said frame means at locations interlaced with those of said first plurality, whereby a ski-post member of one plurality and an adjacent ski-post member of the other plurality define one of a plurality of spaced ski-engageable pairs, one of said pluralities of ski-post members being movable with respect to the other of said pluralities in such manner that in a first position all corresponding pairs of ski-post members are in closed skiengaging adjacency and that in a second position all corresponding pairs of ski-post members are spaced sufficiently for ski removal or insertion, movable actuator means carried by said frame means at a location offset from said ski-post members and reacting between said first and second pluralities for selectively moving the same from and to said first and second positions, and a flexible member connected to a ski-post member of one plurality and to the next adjacent ski-post member of the other pluralIty, said flexible member substantially covering the top of said frame means between said adjacent ski-post members when said pluralities are in the first or ski-clamped position, said flexible member presenting negligible resistance to actuator movement upon operation to the second position.

Claim 3

A rack according to claim 1, and including locking means for fixedly retaining said actuator means when said pluralities are in said first position.

Claim 4

A rack according to claim 1, in which said actuator means is located at a single end of said frame means.

Claim 5

A rack according to claim 1, in which said flexible member is of elastomeric material and is slightly upwardly arched when said pluralities are in said first position, whereby said flexible member is forced to substantially elevate its arch upon actuation to said second position.

Claim 6

A rack according to claim 1, in which said flexible member is of inverted channel shape, the free edges of the side walls of the channel engaging transversely spaced regions of the top of said frame means when in said first position.

Claim 7

A rack according to claim 5, in which said flexible member is longitudinally tensed in its connection to said adjacent ski-post members when in said first position and is longitudinally compressed into an elevated centrally arched condition when in said second position.

Claim 8

A rack according to claim 5, in which said flexible member includes an upwardly arched reinforcement of relatively stiffly compliant material.

Claim 9

A rack for skis or the like, comprising an elongated frame member including elongated guide channel, a first plurality of ski-post members carried by said frame member at fixedly spaced locations along said channel, a second plurality of ski-post members carried by said frame member at locations interlaced with the ski-post members of said first plurality and slidable along said channel, a ganged connection comprising an elongated member slidably contained within said channel and retaining ski-post members of said second plurality in longitudinally spaced relation for guided movement in unison, such movement being between (a) a first position in which adjacent pairs of fixed and movable post members are in ski-engaging adjacency and (b) a second position in which adjacent pairs of fixed and movable post members are spaced sufficiently for ski removal or insertion, and a single actuator carried by said frame member for displacing said second plurality with respect to said first plurality.

Claim 10

A rack for skis or the like, comprising an elongated frame member including elongated guide channel, a first plurality of ski-post members carried by said frame member at fixedly spaced locations along said channel, a second plurality of ski-post members carried by said frame member at locations interlaced with the ski-post members of said first plurality and slidable along said channel, a ganged connection comprising an elongated member slidably contained within said channel and retaining ski-post members of said second plurality in longitudinally spaced relation for guided movement in unison, such movement being between (a) a first position in which adjacent pairs of fixed and movable post members are in ski-engaging adjacency and (b) a second position in which adjacent pairs of fixed and movable post members are spaced sufficiently for ski removal or insertion, and a single actuator carried by said frame member for displacing said second plurality with respect to said first plurality.

Claim 11

A rack according to claim 8, in which said ganged-connection member is a strap connected to all ski-post members of said second plurality.

Claim 12

A rack according to claim 9, in which a second elongated strap contained within said channel retains the ski-post spacing of said first plurality, said second strap being fixed to said frame.

Claim 13

A rack according to claim 8, in which said actuator comprises a toggle clamp reacting between said frame and said ganged-connection member.

Claim 14

A rack according to claim 11, in which the sense of toggle-clamp connection to said ganged-connection member is such as to tension said ganged-connection member in the clamped setting of said first position.

Claim 15

A rack according to claim 8, in which said actuator comprises a slide longitudinally guided within said channel, said slide being connected to said ganged-connection member, an arm pivoted to said frame on a first transverse axis, and a link having one end pivoted to said arm on a second axis and at a location offset from said first axis, the other end of said link being connected to said slide on a third axis, said axes being in substantially a single plane when said arm is pivoted to substantial alignment with said frame and when said pluralities are in said first position.

Claim 16

A rack according to claim 13, in which said arm is pivoted between the sidewalls of the channel, being received within the channel when said pluralities are in said first position.

Claim 17

A rack according to cLaim 13, in which said axes are substantially in the plane of said ganged-connection member when said pluralities are in said first position.

Claim 18

A rack according to claim 9, in which said frame member is arched for general conformance with an automobile roof, said channel being upwardly open and including a bottom formation positioning said strap for guided conformance to the arch.

Claim 19

A rack according to claim 13, in which key-operated lock means including coacting members carried by said arm and by said frame selectively retains said arm when said pluralities are in said first position.

Claim 20

A rack according to claim 17, in which said arm includes an ene cap which is positioned, in the down position of said arm, to effectively close off the otherwise open end of said channel; said lock members of said arm being carried by said end cap.

Claim 21

A ski rack according to claim 8, in which said guide means includes a liner of low-friction plastic material.

Claim 22

A rack according to claim 8, in which said frame means includes a downwardly open channel, car-body anchor means referenced to said frame means within said last-mentioned channel and including adjustable means accessible via an open longitudinal end of said last-mentioned channel, said actuator including means pivoted to said frame near said longitudinal end and including a lockable end cap which in lockable position closes the said ene of both channels and which is movable, when unlocked, to a position which at least clears the end of the downwardly open channel.

Claim 23

A rack according to claim 8, in which said ganged connection comprises an elongated horizontal strap slidably contained within said channel, each ski-post member of said second plurality being connected to said strap on a central longitudinal alignment thereof.

Claim 24

A rack according to claim 21, in which a second strap overlapping said first strap connects the ski-post members of said second plurality, said second strap being fixed to said frame member, and each of said straps being slotted to permit ski-post member control via movement of said first strap with respect to said second strap.

Claim 25

A rack for skis or the like, comprising an elongated frame member including elongated guide means, a first plurality of ski-post members carried by said frame member at fixedly spaced locations along said guide means, a second plurality of ski-post members carried by said frame member at locations interlaced with the ski-post members of said first plurality and slidable along said guide means, a ganged connection retaining ski-post members of said second plurality in longitudinally spaced relation for guided movement in unison, such movement being between (a) a first position in which adjacent pairs of fixed and movable post members are in ski-engaging adjacency and (b) a second position in which adjacent pairs of fixed and movable post members are spaced sufficiently for ski removal or insertion, and a single actuator carried by said frame member and connected to one of the ski-post members of said second plurality for displacing in unison the ski-post members of said second plurality with respect to those of said first plurality.

Claim 26

A rack for skis or the like, comprising an elongated frame member including elongated guide means, a first plurality of ski-post members carried by said frame member at fixedly spaced locations along said guide means, a second plurality of ski-post members carried by said frame member at locations interlaced with the ski-post members of said first plurality and slidable along said guide means, a ganged connection retaining ski-post members of said second plurality in longitudinally spaced relation for guided movement in unison, such movement being between (a) a first position in which adjacent pairs of fixed and movable post members are in ski-engaging adjacency and (b) a second position in which adjacent pairs of fixed and movable post members are spaced sufficiently for ski removal or insertion, and a single actuator carried by said frame member and connected to one of the ski-post members of said second plurality for displacing in unison the ski-post members of said second plurality with respect to those of said first plurality.

Claim 27

A rack according to claim 23, in which adjacent sides of said pairs of post members carry cushion means for resilient ski contact.

Claim 28

A rack according to claim 23, in which said frame member includes a channel with said guide means at the mouth of the channel.

Claim 29

A rack for skis or the like, comprising elongated frame means with means for mounting the same to a vehicle, a first plurality of like ski-post members carried by said frame means and fixedly spaced with respect to each other, a second plurality of like ski-post members fixedly spaced with respect to each other and carried by said frame means at locations interlaced with those of said first plurality, whereby a ski-post member of one plurality and an adjacent ski-post member of the other plurality define one of a plurality of spaced ski-engageable Pairs, one of said pluralities of ski-post members being movable with respect to the other of said pluralities in such manner that in a first position all corresponding pairs of ski-post members are in closed ski-engaging adjacency and that in a second position all corresponding pairs of ski-post members are spaced sufficiently for ski removal or insertion, said frame means including an upwardly open channel in which said ski-post members are positioned and guided, overlapping flat control strap means interconnecting the ski-post members of the respective pluralities and determining said spaced relationships, each ski-post member having an obliquely inclined plow formation rising from the elevation of strap adjacency and sloped to upwardly force snow or ice accumulations upon operation of said actuator means, and movable actuator means carried by said frame means at a location offset from said ski-post members and reacting between said first and second pluralities for selectively moving the same from and to said first and second positions.

Claim 30

A rack for skis or the like, comprising elongated frame means with means for mounting the same to a vehicle, a first plurality of like ski-post members carried by said frame means and fixedly spaced with respect to each other, a second plurality of like ski-post members fixedly spaced with respect to each other and carried by said frame means at locations interlaced with those of said first plurality, whereby a ski-post member of one plurality and an adjacent ski-post member of the other plurality define one of a plurality of spaced ski-engageable Pairs, one of said pluralities of ski-post members being movable with respect to the other of said pluralities in such manner that in a first position all corresponding pairs of ski-post members are in closed ski-engaging adjacency and that in a second position all corresponding pairs of ski-post members are spaced sufficiently for ski removal or insertion, said frame means including an upwardly open channel in which said ski-post members are positioned and guided, overlapping flat control strap means interconnecting the ski-post members of the respective pluralities and determining said spaced relationships, each ski-post member having an obliquely inclined plow formation rising from the elevation of strap adjacency and sloped to upwardly force snow or ice accumulations upon operation of said actuator means, and movable actuator means carried by said frame means at a location offset from said ski-post members and reacting between said first and second pluralities for selectively moving the same from and to said first and second positions.

Claim 31

A rack for skis or the like, comprising elongated frame means with means for mounting the same to a vehicle, a first plurality of like ski-post members carried by said frame means and fixedly spaced with respect to each other, a second plurality of like ski-post members fixedly spaced with respect to each other and carried by said frame means at locations interlaced with those of said first plurality, whereby a ski-post member of one plurality and an adjacent ski-post member of the other plurality define one of a plurality of spaced ski-engageable pairs, one of said pluralities of ski-post members being movable with respect to the other of said pluralities in such manner that in a first position all corresponding pairs of ski-post members are in closed ski-engaging adjacency and that in a second position all corresponding pairs of ski-post members are spaced sufficiently for ski removal or insertion, said frame means including an upwardly open channel in which said ski-post members are positioned and guided, and movable actuator means carried by said frame means at a location offset from said ski-post members and reacting between said first and second pluralities for selectively moving the same from and to said first and second positions, said actuator means including a single channel having an internal wall-to-wall span at least equal to the width of said upwardly open channel, said actuator channel being downwardly open and covering one end region of said upwardly open channel when said pluralities are in said first position.

Claim 32

A rack for skis or the like, comprising elongated frame means with means for mounting the same to a vehicle, a first plurality of like ski-post members carried by said frame means and fixedly spaced with respect to each other, a second plurality of like ski-post members fixedly spaced with respect to each other and carried by said frame means at locations interlaced with those of said first plurality, whereby a ski-post member of one plurality and an adjacent ski-post member of the other plurality define one of a plurality of spaced ski-engageable pairs, one of said pluralities of ski-post members being movable with respect to the other of said pluralities in such manner that in a first position all corresponding pairs of ski-post members are in closed ski-engaging adjacency and that in a second position all corresponding pairs of ski-post members are spaced sufficiently for ski removal or insertion, said frame means including an upwardly open channel in which said ski-post members are positioned and guided, and movable actuator means carried by said frame means at a location offset from said ski-post members and reacting between said first and second pluralities for selectively moving the same from and to said first and second positions, said actuator means including a single channel having an internal wall-to-wall span at least equal to the width of said upwardly open channel, said actuator channel being downwardly open and covering one end region of said upwardly open channel when said pluralities are in said first position.

Claim 33

A rack according to claim 27, in which said actuator channel is pivotally connected at one end to said upwardly open channel.

Claim 34

A rack according to claim 27, in which a separate flexible member of inverted-channel shape interconnects adjacent ski-post members of the respective pluralities and has edge-sealing contact with the side walls of the upwardly open channel, for the first-position relation of said ski-post members.