Recreational pack

Abstract

A recreational pack configured to hold a pair of skis or similar elongate recreational device on the back of a user. The pack includes a pouch configured to secure a portion of a pair of skis within the pouch. In this regard, the pouch includes an upper edge comprising a cinching mechanism that is configured to be opened and closed to permit access to an interior volume of the pouch, and a slit operatively disposed through a lower edge of the pouch and configured to receive a pair of skis or similar equipment within and through the slit. The pack secures the skis in a useful and efficient manner and advantageously may be folded and placed in a user’s pocket when not in use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A recreational pack configured to hold a pair of skis or similar elongate recreational device on the back of a user, comprising:
 a pouch configured to secure a portion of a pair of skis within the pouch, the pouch comprising: 
 an upper edge comprising a cinching mechanism that is configured to be opened and closed to permit access to an interior volume of the pouch, 
 a lower edge and 
 a slit disposed at least through the lower edge and configured to receive a pair of skis within and through the slit; and 
   at least a first securement strap attached to a front side of the pouch, the securement strap being configured to enable a user to place the securement strap over the user’s shoulder to carry the pouch on the user’s back.   
     
     
         2 . The pack recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pouch is fabricated from a relatively thin and pliable material to enable the pack to be easily compacted when not in use. 
     
     
         3 . The pack recited in  claim 2 , wherein the pouch is fabricated from a ripstop material. 
     
     
         4 . The pack recited in  claim 3 , wherein the pouch is fabricated from ripstop nylon. 
     
     
         5 . The pack recited in any one of  claims 1 to 4 , wherein the pouch is constructed with a planar front panel and a planar back panel, the panels being attached along at least first and second spaced-apart vertical panel edges. 
     
     
         6 . The pack recited in  claim 5 , wherein the lower edge is formed from a continuous pliable sheet that is folded over to form the lower edge connecting the front panel and the back panel. 
     
     
         7 . The pack recited in  claim 6 , wherein the front and back panels are attached along their vertical edges by stitching. 
     
     
         8 . The pack recited in any one of  claims 5 to 7 , wherein the slit is disposed in a substantially vertical orientation partially up the front panel and the back panel. 
     
     
         9 . The pack recited in any one of  claims 5 to 8 , comprising a slit reinforcement material operatively disposed around the slit. 
     
     
         10 . The pack recited in  claim 9 , wherein the slit reinforcement material has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the front panel and the back panel. 
     
     
         11 . The pack recited in any one of  claims 1 to 10 , wherein the cinching mechanism comprises a drawstring configured to cinch around and secure a pair of mating skis. 
     
     
         12 . The pack recited in  claim 11 , wherein the drawstring comprises a paracord and a cord lock to secure the paracord around the skis. 
     
     
         13 . The pack recited in any one of  claims 1 to 12 , further comprising an accessory pocket disposed on at least one of the front panel and the back panel. 
     
     
         14 . The pack recited in any one of  claims 1 to 13 , wherein the pack includes at least a second securement strap attached to a front side of the pouch that is horizontally spaced from the first securement strap to enable a user to place a securement strap over each of the user’s shoulders to carry the pouch on the user’s back. 
     
     
         15 . The pack recited in  claim 14 , wherein the securement straps comprise a webbing material. 
     
     
         16 . The pack recited in  claim 15 , wherein the webbing material comprises polypropylene webbing. 
     
     
         17 . The pack recited in any one of  claims 14 to 16 , wherein the securement straps comprise buckles to enable size adjustment of the securement straps. 
     
     
         18 . The pack recited in any one of  claims 1 to 17 , comprising a ring operatively attached to a securement strap for attaching an accessory to the ring. 
     
     
         19 . The pack recited in  claim 18 , wherein the ring is a D-ring. 
     
     
         20 . A method for securing skis for transport, comprising the steps of:
 providing a ski pack as recited in any one of  claims 1 to 19 ;   inserting an end of the skis through the open cinching mechanism and through the slit such that a portion of the skis extend beyond the slit and the ski bindings are confined within the pouch; and   closing the cinching mechanism around the skis to secure the skis in the pack.