Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
453 words
Apparatus for storing, protecting, and carrying a first snow ski and a second snow ski with the first ski having a bottom surface, an end, two sides, and a tip formed on the forward portion of the snow ski and curved from the bottom surface and with the second ski having a bottom surface, an end, two sides, and a tip formed on the forward portion of the snow ski and curved from the bottom surface with the bottom surface of the first ski adjacent to and facing the bottom surface of the second ski, comprising, in combination: a rigid, hollow, thin-walled elongated container having a first closed end and a second closed end spaced from the first closed end, with the container also including at least a first portion and a second portion being in a telescopic relation; and means for telescopically capturing the first and second snow skis within the container when the second portion is telescoped with the first portion to prevent longitudinal movement of the first and second snow skis within the container and for allowing the container to be used for several length of skis, comprising: first means for engaging and holding the end of the first snow ski; second means for engaging and holding the end of the second snow ski; and third means for retaining the tip of the first snow ski and the tip of the second snow ski to prevent latitudinal movement in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container and for centrally aligning the forward portions of the first and second snow skis within the container when the second portion is telescoped with the first portion comprising: fourth means for urging the tip of the first snow ski in a latitudinal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container; fifth means for urging the tip of the second snow ski in a latitudinal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container; sixth means for limiting movement of the first snow ski in a direction opposite to the latitudinal direction which the first snow ski is urged by the fourth urging means; and seventh means for limiting movement of the second snow ski in a direction opposite to the latitudinal direction which the second snow ski is urged by the fifth urging means, with the sixth and seventh means comprising a limiting member formed integrally with the container against which one side of each of the first and second snow ski abut to thereby removably capture the first and second snow skis within the container when the second portion is telescoped with the first portion to prevent the skis from bouncing, rattling, or moving inside the container during transit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
453 words
Apparatus for storing, protecting, and carrying a first snow ski and a second snow ski with the first ski having a bottom surface, an end, two sides, and a tip formed on the forward portion of the snow ski and curved from the bottom surface and with the second ski having a bottom surface, an end, two sides, and a tip formed on the forward portion of the snow ski and curved from the bottom surface with the bottom surface of the first ski adjacent to and facing the bottom surface of the second ski, comprising, in combination: a rigid, hollow, thin-walled elongated container having a first closed end and a second closed end spaced from the first closed end, with the container also including at least a first portion and a second portion being in a telescopic relation; and means for telescopically capturing the first and second snow skis within the container when the second portion is telescoped with the first portion to prevent longitudinal movement of the first and second snow skis within the container and for allowing the container to be used for several length of skis, comprising: first means for engaging and holding the end of the first snow ski; second means for engaging and holding the end of the second snow ski; and third means for retaining the tip of the first snow ski and the tip of the second snow ski to prevent latitudinal movement in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container and for centrally aligning the forward portions of the first and second snow skis within the container when the second portion is telescoped with the first portion comprising: fourth means for urging the tip of the first snow ski in a latitudinal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container; fifth means for urging the tip of the second snow ski in a latitudinal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container; sixth means for limiting movement of the first snow ski in a direction opposite to the latitudinal direction which the first snow ski is urged by the fourth urging means; and seventh means for limiting movement of the second snow ski in a direction opposite to the latitudinal direction which the second snow ski is urged by the fifth urging means, with the sixth and seventh means comprising a limiting member formed integrally with the container against which one side of each of the first and second snow ski abut to thereby removably capture the first and second snow skis within the container when the second portion is telescoped with the first portion to prevent the skis from bouncing, rattling, or moving inside the container during transit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the container further includes a handle, with the limiting member being defined by a cut out hand grip area located beneath the handle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fourth means comprises an inclined cam surface integral with one of the closed ends of the container on which the tip of the first snow ski rides when the second portion is telescoped with the first portion and wherein the fifth means comprises an inclined cam surface integral with one of the closed ends of the container on which the tip of the second snow ski rides when the second portion is telescoped with the first portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first means comprises a protrusion formed on and integral with one of the closed ends for receiving the end of the first snow ski and wherein the second means comprises a protrusion formed on and integral with one of the closed ends for receiving the end of the second snow ski such that the ends of the skis are captured within and retained within the protrusions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the container further includes a third container portion; and wherein the second container portion includes a first open end, a second open end, a right half, and a left half; the first container portion includes an open end and the first closed end; the third container portion includes an open end and the second closed end with the first and third container portions being in a telescopic relation with the second container portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first container portion is identical to the third container portion and the right half of second container portion is a reverse mirror image of the left half of second container portion allowing the interchangement of the first container portion with the third container portion in the telescopic relation with the second container portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first, second, fourth, and fifth means are formed on both the first and second closed ends.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the fourth and the fifth means are located on the same closed end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the container further includes a third container portion; and wherein the second container portion includes a first open end, a second open end, a right half, and a left half; the first container portion includes an open end and the first closed end; the third container portion includes an open end and the second closed end with the first and third container portions being in a telescopic relation with the second container portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first container portion is identical to the third container portion and the right half of second container portion is a reverse mirror image of the left half of second container portion allowing the interchangement of the first container portion with the third container portion in the telescopic relation with the second container portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second container portion further includes rails formed on the outside top and bottom surfaces and the first container portion further includes slides formed on the inside top and bottom surfaces adapted to slide along and are captured along the rails when the first portion is telescoped on the second portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first means comprises a protrusion formed on and integral with one of the closed ends for receiving the end of the first snow ski and wherein the second means comprises a protrusion formed on and integral with one of the closed ends for receiving the end of the second snow ski such that the ends of the skis are captured within and retained within the protrusions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first means and the second means are located on the same closed end.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the fourth means comprises an inclined cam surface integral with one of the closed ends of the container on which the tip of the first snow ski rides when the second portion is telescoped with the first portion and wherein the fifth means comprises an inclined cam surface integral with one of the closed ends of the container on which the tip of the second snow ski rides when the second portion is telescoped with the first portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first, second, fourth, and fifth means are formed on both the first and second closed ends.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the fourth and the fifth means are located on the same closed end.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first means comprises a protrusion formed on and integral with one of the closed ends for receiving the end of the first snow ski and wherein the second means comprises a protrusion formed on and integral with one of the closed ends for receiving the end of the second snow ski such that the ends of the skis are captured within and retained within the protrusions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the container further includes a third container portion; and wherein the second container portion includes a first open end, a second open end, a right half, and a left half; the first container portion includes an open end and the first closed end; the third container portion includes an open end and the second closed end with the first and third container portions being in a telescopic relation with the second container portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the first container portion is identical to the third container portion and the right half of second container portion is a reverse mirror image of the left half of second container portion allowing the interchangement of the first container portion with the third container portion in the telescopic relation with the second container portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the second container portion further includes rails formed on the outside top and bottom surfaces and the first container portion further includes slides formed on the inside top and bottom surfaces adapted to slide along and are captured along the rails when the first portion is telescoped on the second portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first means and the second means are located on the same closed end.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the container can be used on skis varying in length from 160 centimeters to 200 centimeters (63 inches to 79 inches).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the container further includes a third container portion; and wherein the second container portion includes a first open end, a second open end, a right half, and a left half; the first container portion includes an open end and the first closed end; the third container portion includes an open end and the second closed end with the first and third container portions being in a telescopic relation with the second container portion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the total length of the first and third container portions is approximately 29.50 inches (75 centimeters) each and wherein the total length of the second container portion is approximately 32.38 inches (82 centimeters).
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the total length that the first and third container portions can telescope on the second container portion is approximately equal to 13 inches (33 centimeters).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the total width of the protrusions forming the first and second means is approximately equal to but slightly larger than twice the thickness of the skis.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the total width of the protrusions forming the first and second means is approximately equal to 1.32 inches (3.4 centimeters).