Protective container for skis of snowboard

Abstract

For those people who ski or snowboard, there has come a need to protect these items during any type of transport. Such as when carrying these in a SUV, (Sports Utility Vehicle), a car, a truck, or via common carrier, such as a bus, a plane, or a train. In most common carrier's, the owner of these item(s) must sign a waiver limiting the carrier's responsibility for damage to the item. Hence, during the common carrier transport, even a greater need to protect these items exists. This invention is an apparatus solving many basic concerns when transporting these items. First, it must protect the item on all points from damage in any and all directions, both vertical, and horizontal, impact. Second, the apparatus must be lightweight, not offering any greater load to the person carrying the item. Third, the apparatus must be collapsible in order to fit within a small chalet locker, as well for independent storage when not in use for transporting the item. Fourth, it must use conventional coverings or bags that are presently in use today. Fifth, and last, it must be extremely inexpensive as not to offer any greater burden on what these items already cost. For this invention holds the skis 30 , the ski poles 31 or snowboard 38 in a multi-point protective enclosure, is lightweight, collapsible, fits within any ski or snowboard bag 32 , and because of the embodiments by which it is made, is extremely inexpensive.

1 . A protective apparatus comprising, in combination: 
 a plurality of ribs, each rib holding at least one ski or ski pole or snow board; and    at least three rods, wherein each rib of the plurality of ribs forms an opening for insertion of each rod and each rod is inserted through all or the plurality of ribs, and wherein no more than two of the rods lie within a single plane.    
     
     
         2 . A protective apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a plurality of removable rib inserts, one rib insert associated with each rib, for preventing a ski or ski pole or snowboard from coming loose from the rib while the rib insert is in place; and  
 a plurality of straps, one strap associated with each rib, for holding a rib insert in place, wherein each strap can be released, allowing the rib insert to be removed.  
 
     
     
         3 . A protective apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each rib of the plurality of ribs holds a pair of skis and a pair of ski poles.  
     
     
         4 . A protective apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least three rods comprises four rods.  
     
     
         5 . A protective apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of ribs comprises: 
 a tail end rib;    a tail center rib;    a tip center rib; and    a tip end rib.    
     
     
         6 . A protective apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the ribs from the plurality of ribs, and its corresponding rib insert are keyed together to ensure proper positioning of the rib insert with respect to the rib.  
     
     
         7 . A protective apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each rib of the plurality of ribs holds a pair of skis and a pair of ski poles.  
     
     
         8 . A protective apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least three rods comprises four rods.  
     
     
         9 . A protective apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of ribs comprises: 
 a tail end rib;    a tail center rib;    a tip center rib; and    a tip end rib.    
     
     
         10 . A protective apparatus comprising, in combination: 
 a plurality of ribs, each rib holding at least one ski or ski pole or snow board; and    a plurality of removable rib inserts, one rib insert associated with each rib, for preventing a ski or ski pole from coming loose from the rib while the rib insert is in place; and    a plurality of straps, one strap associated with each rib, for holding a rib insert in place, wherein each strap can be released, allowing the rib insert to be removed.    
     
     
         11 . A protective apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein each rib of the plurality of ribs holds a pair of skis and a pair of ski poles.  
     
     
         12 . A protective apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of ribs comprises: 
 a tail end rib;    a tail center rib;    a tip center rib; and    a tip end rib.    
     
     
         13 . A protective apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of ribs comprises: 
 a tail end rib;    a tail center rib;    a tip center rib; and    a tip end rib.    
     
     
         14 . A protective apparatus comprising, in combination: 
 a plurality of ribs, each rib holding at least one ski or ski pole or snow board; and    at least one substantially rigid longitudinal member, wherein the at least one substantially rigid longitudinal member holds each rib of the plurality of ribs in place for receiving the at least one ski or ski pole or snow board.    
     
     
         15 . A protective apparatus according to  claim 14  further comprising: 
 a plurality of removable rib inserts, one rib insert associated with each rib, for preventing a ski or ski pole or snowboard from coming loose from the rib while the rib insert is in place; and  
 a plurality of straps, one strap associated with each rib, for holding a rib insert in place, wherein each strap can be released, allowing the rib insert to be removed.  
 
     
     
         16 . A protective apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein each rib of the plurality of ribs holds a pair of skis and a pair of ski poles.