Snow Ski Training Harness With Adjustable Tether

Abstract

A snow ski training device for a child has a harness with harness straps for partially enclosing and supporting a torso of the child. The harness is affixed to a companion backpack. The training device also includes a pair of leash reel bodies, each housing a retractable leash which is removably attached to either the harness or backpack. Each of the retractable leashes has a distal end attached to the backpack or harness and a proximate end which is received about a spool contained within the respective leash reel body. The leash reel bodies have lock mechanism which can be actuated to tether the child at various distances from a trainer holding the leashes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A child sport activity training device comprising:
 a harness having harness straps for partially enclosing and supporting a torso of a child;   wherein the harness is affixed to a companion backpack having an exterior and an enclosed interior for storing items;   a pair of leash reel bodies, each housing a retractable leash which is removably attached at two spaced locations on a selected one of the backpack and harness, each retractable leash having a distal end attached to the selected backpack and harness and a proximate end which is received about a spool contained within the respective leash reel body;   whereby the child can be tethered at various distances from the trainer holding the leash reels, in order to assist the child in maintaining balance and stability when traveling along a given course.   
     
     
         2 . The child sport activity training device of  claim 1 , wherein the leash reel bodies have a lock mechanism which is actuated by a button located on an exterior surface of each of the respective leash reel bodies, the lock mechanism allowing the child to be tethered at a fixed distance from the trainer. 
     
     
         3 . The child sport training device of  claim 2 , wherein the leash reels bodies each have an associated wrist strap extending therefrom, the wrist straps having strap openings for receiving the hands of a trainer, so that the child will remain tethered even if the trainer falls. 
     
     
         4 . A snow ski backpack and tethered harness combination for use in training a child to snow ski over a ski course, the combination comprising:
 a harness having harness straps for partially enclosing and supporting a torso of a child, the harness straps including a waist strap and associated shoulder straps;   a loop strap attached to each of the shoulder straps and forming a loop opening, whereby a trainer can lift the child by the loop straps;   wherein the harness is affixed to a backpack having an exterior and an enclosed interior for storing items;   a pair of leash reel bodies, each housing a retractable leash which is removably attached at two spaced locations on a selected one of the backpack and harness, each retractable leash having a distal end attached to the selected backpack and harness and a proximate end which is received about a spool contained within the leash reel body;   whereby the child can be tethered at various distances from the trainer holding the leash reels, in order to assist the child in maintaining balance and stability when traveling along the ski course.   
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 4 , wherein the leash reel bodies have a lock mechanism which is actuated by a button located on an exterior surface of each of the respective leash reel bodies, the lock mechanism allowing the child to be tethered at a fixed distance from the trainer. 
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 5 , wherein the leash reel bodies each have an associated wrist strap extending therefrom, the wrist straps having strap openings for receiving the hands of a trainer, so that the child will remain tethered even if the trainer falls. 
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein the backpack has a front side, a back side and peripheral sidewalls which define the enclosed interior, and wherein a bottle holder is located at each of two opposite locations on the peripheral sidewalls of the backpack for holding drink bottles.