Ski or snowboard teaching apparatus

Abstract

In one example, an apparatus for teaching a student to ski or snowboard includes a removably attachable instructor component and a removably attachable student component. The instructor component has a first end and a second end. The first end defines a cavity configured to receive a bottom end of an instructor's ski pole. The first end is configured to be removably secured to the bottom end of the instructor's ski pole. The second end is disposed opposite the first end. The student component is configured to be removably secured to a student's ski or snowboard equipment and is also configured to be removably secured to the second end of the instructor component.

1 . An apparatus for teaching a student to ski or snowboard, the apparatus comprising:
 a removably attachable instructor component having:
 a first end defining a cavity configured to receive a bottom end of an instructor's ski pole, the first end configured to be removably secured to the bottom end of the instructor's ski pole; and 
 a second end disposed opposite the first end; and 
   a removably attachable student component, wherein the student component is configured to be:
 removably secured to a student's ski or snowboard equipment; and 
 removably secured to the second end of the instructor component. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the instructor component comprises a hook and the student component includes a tab defining a hole configured to removably receive the hook. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the instructor component defines a hole and the student component includes a hook, the hole being configured to removably receive the hook. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the student's ski or snowboard equipment includes a ski and a ski binding assembly attached to the ski or a snowboard and one or more snowboard bindings attached to the snowboard, further wherein the student component is attachable to and removable from the student's ski or snowboard equipment without removing any portion of the ski binding assembly from the ski or the one or more snowboard bindings from the snowboard. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the instructor component comprises at least one of: steel, stainless steel, aluminum, anodized aluminum, ABS plastic, zinc-based alloy, fiberglass, carbon fiber, thermoplastic polyurethanes (“TPU”), thermoplastic elastomer (“TPE”), or polyoxymethylene. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the student component comprises at least one of: steel, stainless steel, aluminum, ABS plastic, zinc-based alloy, fiberglass, carbon fiber, thermoplastic polyurethanes (“TPU”), thermoplastic elastomer (“TPE”), or polyoxymethylene. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity defined by the first end of the instructor component has a longitudinal axis and the instructor component further comprises at least one thumbscrew at least partially disposed within a sleeve of the first end of the instructor component and arranged substantially normal to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the student's ski or snowboard equipment to which the student component is attached comprises a ski, a binding plate or spacer, a heel unit, a ski boot, or a snowboard. 
     
     
         9 . A system for teaching a student how to ski, the system comprising:
 the apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the student's ski or snowboard equipment includes two skis; and   a tip connector device configured to hold tips of the student's skis together.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the tip connector device comprises a connecting member with first and second ski tip fasteners coupled to first and second ends of the connecting member, the first and second ski tip fasteners being removably attachable to the tips of the student's skis. 
     
     
         11 . An instructor component for use by an instructor in teaching a student how to ski or snowboard, the instructor component comprising:
 a first end defining a cavity configured to receive a bottom end of an instructor's ski pole;   a second end disposed opposite the first end, the second end configured to removably secure the instructor component to a student's ski or snowboard equipment; and   a clamping arrangement configured to removably secure the instructor component to the bottom end of the instructor's ski pole.   
     
     
         12 . The instructor component of  claim 11 , wherein the second end comprises a hook, the hook being configured to engage a hole defined in a student component removably attached to the student's ski or snowboard equipment. 
     
     
         13 . The instructor component of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first end includes a sleeve having two lengthwise splits radially offset from each other by about 180 degrees such that the sleeve includes opposing first and second portions; and   the clamping arrangement includes:
 first and second tabs formed on opposite edges of the first portion of the sleeve adjacent to the two lengthwise splits; 
 third and fourth tabs formed on opposite edges of the second portion of the sleeve adjacent to the two lengthwise splits and respectively separated from the first and second tabs by an adjustable distance; and 
 first and second thumbscrews configured to respectively adjust the distance between the first and third tabs and between the second and fourth tabs, thereby adjusting a distance between the opposing first and second portions so as to removably clamp the first end onto the bottom end of the instructor's ski pole. 
   
     
     
         14 . The instructor component of  claim 11 , wherein the second end comprises:
 a hook configured to engage a hole defined in a student's ski or snowboard; or   a suction cup, the suction cup being configured to engage a surface of the student's ski or snowboard equipment.   
     
     
         15 . A student component for use by a student in learning how to ski or snowboard, the student component comprising:
 a clamping arrangement configured to removably secure the student component to a student's ski or snowboard equipment; and   a tab attached to the clamping arrangement, the tab configured to removably secure the student component to a corresponding instructor component, the instructor component configured to be removably secured to a bottom end of an instructor's ski pole.   
     
     
         16 . The student component of  claim 15 , wherein the clamping arrangement comprises:
 a barrel having opposing first and second ends and defining a cavity extending between the first and second ends;   a width adjusting assembly at least partially disposed within the cavity, the width adjusting assembly having a first end extending beyond the first end of the barrel and a second end extending beyond the second end of the barrel;   a first clamp member attached to the first end of the barrel; and   a second clamp member attached to the second end of the width adjusting assembly;   wherein the barrel, width adjusting assembly, and first and second clamp members define an adjustable aperture configured to accommodate a student's ski or snowboard.   
     
     
         17 . The student component of  claim 16 , wherein each of the first and second clamp members include a hard liner exposed to the aperture and configured to protect other portions of the first and second clamp members from being damaged by metal edges of the student's ski or snowboard. 
     
     
         18 . The student component of  claim 16 , wherein the width adjusting assembly includes:
 an adjustment screw including a knob and a threaded coupling nut, the adjustment screw forming the first end of the width adjusting assembly;   a capture hub defining a cavity, the capture hub forming the second end of the width adjusting assembly; and   a locking mechanism partially disposed within the cavity of the capture hub and including a cam screw configured to threadably engage the threaded coupling nut;   wherein rotation of the adjustment screw relative to the cam screw adjusts a width of the adjustable aperture and operation of the locking mechanism releasably locks the width of the adjustable aperture.   
     
     
         19 . The student component of  claim 18 , wherein the cam screw is disposed within the cavity defined by the capture hub, the cam screw including a threaded first end configured to threadably engage the threaded coupling nut and a second end opposing the first end, the second end defining a first hole, and wherein the locking mechanism further includes:
 a cam handle including a cam lobe defining a second hole, a distance from the second hole to an edge of the cam lobe varying between a maximum and minimum distance along the edge of the cam lobe;   a cam handle pin disposed in the first and second holes so as to axially align the first and second holes and rotatably secure the cam handle to the cam screw;   a cam plate defining a third hole through which the cam screw passes, the cam plate being disposed adjacent to the cam lobe;   a core compression spring surrounding a portion of the cam screw, wherein a first end of the core compression spring is configured to contact the adjustment screw and a second end of the core compression spring opposing the first end is configured to contact the capture hub such that the core compression spring is configured to bias the first and second ends of the width adjusting assembly away from each other.   
     
     
         20 . The student component of  claim 19 , wherein the cam handle includes a tab configured to be grasped by the student or instructor when unlocking the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         21 . An elongate snow apparatus configured to support a user on snow, the elongate snow apparatus comprising:
 a rearward end including a first connector configured to be engaged by a second connector attached to a pole such that an instructor can manipulate the pole to control the elongate snow apparatus when the elongate snow apparatus is in use by the user.   
     
     
         22 . The elongate snow apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the elongate snow apparatus comprises a snow ski or a snowboard. 
     
     
         23 . The elongate snow apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the first connector includes one or more of a hole defined in the rearward end of the elongate snow apparatus, a hook included in the rearward end of the elongate snow apparatus, a socket included in the rearward end of the elongate snow apparatus, a ball included in the rearward end of the elongate snow apparatus, loop or hook material included in the rearward end of the elongate snow apparatus, a strap included in the rearward end of the elongate snow apparatus, or a buckle included in the rearward end of the elongate snow apparatus; and   the second connector includes one or more of a hook configured to engage a hole included in the first connector, a hole configured to engage a hook included in the first connector, a ball configured to engage a socket included in the first connector, a socket configured to engage a ball included in the first connector, hook or loop material configured to engage loop or hook material included in the first connector, a strap configured to engage a strap included in the first connector, or a buckle configured to engage a complementary buckle included in the first connector.   
     
     
         24 . A system for teaching a student to ski or snowboard, the system comprising:
 the elongate snow apparatus of  claim 21 ; and   the second connector, the second connector being configured to be removably attached to the pole