Pocket ski seat

Abstract

A pocket ski seat for suspension between poles is formed of a strap that is folded over at the ends and stitched at the sides to form pockets for the ends of the poles. The strap is approximately 4 inches wide, being sufficiently strong to withstand concentrated loading against the pole ends and sufficiently stiff laterally to prevent gathering when loaded by a seated user.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pocket ski seat for use in concert with a pair of pole members for supporting a user, comprising: 
 (a) an elongate strap member;    (b) opposite end portions of the strap member being folded into facing relation to respective adjacent portions of the strap member;    (c) respective laterally spaced pairs of side seams fixedly joining side extremity regions of the end portions to corresponding side extremity regions of the adjacent portions of the strap member to form respective pocket cavities between the end portions and the adjacent portions of the strap member, respective folds between the end portions and the adjacent portions of the strap member defining an overall length of the ski seat in a flattened condition thereof, and each pocket cavity having a pattern width between the side seams thereof and a pattern pocket length between the corresponding fold and distal extremities of the corresponding side seams in the flattened condition; and    (d) the pocket widths being not less than 2.5 inches for receiving end portions of the pole members having respective outside circumferences of not more than approximately 4.75 inches, the pattern pocket lengths being not less than 1.25 times the respective pocket widths for providing supportive engagement with the pole member end portions effective to load the pole members in axial compression when the ski seat is tensioned by supporting the user between the pole members, and the overall length is between approximately 40 inches and approximately 70 inches for supporting a normal size range of users on poles of appropriate length for use as ski poles.    
     
     
         2 . The pocket ski seat of  claim 1 , wherein the strap member has an overall width of not less than 3 inches in the flattened condition.  
     
     
         3 . The pocket ski seat of  claim 2 , wherein the strap member is of uniform width.  
     
     
         4 . The pocket ski seat of  claim 3 , wherein the uniform overall width of the strap member is approximately 4 inches, and the pocket widths are not less than approximately 2.75 inches.  
     
     
         5 . The pocket ski seat of  claim 1 , wherein the strap member is formed of a woven material.  
     
     
         6 . The pocket ski seat of  claim 5 , wherein the woven material of the strap member is woven to define a uniform width of the strap member.  
     
     
         7 . The pocket ski seat of  claim 6 , wherein the woven material of the strap member comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of NYLON, RAYON, and polyester.  
     
     
         8 . The pocket ski seat of  claim 1 , wherein the side seams comprise stitching.  
     
     
         9 . The pocket ski seat of  claim 1 , wherein the side seams are reinforced proximate the distal extremities thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The pocket ski seat of  claim 9 , wherein the side seams comprise stitching and the reinforcing comprises multiple folded segments of the stitching.  
     
     
         11 . The pocket ski seat of  claim 9 , wherein the reinforcing comprises an installed rivet projecting through the side extremity portions of the end and adjacent portions of the strap member proximate the distal extremity of each of the side seams.  
     
     
         12 . The pocket ski seat of  claim 1 , wherein the pattern pocket lengths are not greater than approximately twice the pattern widths of the pocket cavities.  
     
     
         13 . pocket ski seat of  claim 1 , wherein the overall length of the ski seat is approximately 55 inches.  
     
     
         14 . A pocket ski seat comprising: 
 (a) an elongate strap member woven to a uniform width of approximately 4 inches;    (b) opposite end portions of the strap member being folded into facing relation to respective adjacent portions of the strap member;    (c) respective laterally spaced pairs of stitched side seams fixedly joining side extremity regions of the end portions to corresponding side extremity regions of the adjacent portions of the strap member to form respective pocket cavities between the end portions and the adjacent portions of the strap member, respective folds between the end portions and the adjacent portions of the strap member defining an overall length of the ski seat in a flattened condition thereof, and each pocket cavity having a pattern width between the side seams thereof and a pattern pocket length between the corresponding fold and distal extremities of the corresponding side seams in the flattened condition, each of the side seams being reinforced proximate the distal extremity thereof; and    (d) the pocket widths being not less than approximately 2.75 inches for receiving end portions of the pole members having respective outside circumferences of not more than approximately 5 inches, the pattern pocket lengths being not less than 1.25 times the respective pocket widths for providing supportive engagement with the pole member end portions effective to load the pole members in axial compression when the ski seat is tensioned by supporting the user between the pole members, and the overall length is between approximately 40 inches and approximately 70 inches for supporting a normal size range of users on poles of appropriate length for use as ski poles.    
     
     
         15 . The pocket ski seat of  claim 13 , wherein the reinforcing comprises multiple folded segments of the stitching.  
     
     
         16 . The pocket ski seat of  claim 13 , wherein the overall length of the ski seat is between approximately 52 inches and approximately 55 inches.  
     
     
         17 . A method for forming a pocket ski seat for use with a pair of pole members, comprising: 
 (a) providing an elongate strap member;    (b) folding opposite end portions of the strap member into facing relation to respective adjacent portions of the strap member;    (c) forming respective laterally spaced pairs of side seams for fixedly joining side extremity regions of the end portions to corresponding side extremity regions of the adjacent portions of the strap member to form respective pocket cavities between the end portions and the adjacent portions of the strap member, the folds between the end portions and the adjacent portions of the strap member defining an overall length of the ski seat between approximately 40 inches and approximately 70 inches in a flattened condition of the ski seat, and each pocket cavity having a pattern width of not less than approximately 2.75 inches between the side seams thereof and a pattern pocket length of not less than 1.25 times the pattern width between the corresponding fold and distal extremities of the corresponding side seams in the flattened condition; and    (d) reinforced each of the side seams proximate the distal extremity thereof, thereby forming the seat to receive end portions of the pole members to provide supportive engagement with the pole member end portions and loading the pole members in the axial compression when the ski seat is tensioned by supporting the user between the pole members.