Ski tram loading system and carriers therefor

Claim 2

A loading system for ski trams having an overhead traction cable transiting about a course defined by plural sheaves supported upon plural spaced towers, comprising: a linear loading course wherein carriers are supported at boarding elevation a spaced distance above a skier supportative surface therebeneath for a distance sufficient to allow simultaneous, plural loading of skiers; and a loading area having a continuous conformably sloping skier supportative surface on at least one side of the loading course with the surface having a downward slope to the carrier course to allow each of a plurality of skIers to transport himself by skiing on the supporting surface to one of plural, spaced moving passenger carriers and move with the one carrier while entering it simultaneously with other skiers entering other carriers, with depending passenger carriers, comprising, in combination: a passenger carrier arm fixedly communicating for support with the overhead transit cable and depending therefrom; and at least one carrier seat to support a passenger fixedly positioned on the lowermost part of the carrier arm and angularly disposed laterally outwardly to the course of passenger carrier travel.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 having a grab-bar comprising: an elongate tubular grab-bar structurally communicating with the depending carrier arm at an elevation to allow manual grasping by a skier supported upon a surface beneath the loading course of the tram and extending in a curvilinear course forwardly and laterally to aid in initially grasping the carrier but allow entry of a passenger into the carrier rearwardly of the grab-bar.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 having: a standing platform of some areal extent extending horizontally and laterally outwardly from the lowermost portion of the carrier arm at a spaced distance above the skier supportative surface to allow a skier to support his skis thereon when in place on his feet.

Claim 5

A loading system for ski trams having an overhead traction cable transiting about a course defined by plural sheaves supported upon plural spaced towers, comprising: a linear loading course wherein carriers are supported at boarding elevation a spaced distance above a skier supportative surface therebeneath for a distance sufficient to allow simultaneous, plural loading of skiers; and a loading area having a continuous conformably sloping skier supportative surface on at least one side of the loading course with the surface having a downward slope to the carrier course to allow each of a plurality of skiers to transport himself be skiing on the supporting surface to one of plural, spaced moving passenger carriers and move with the one carrier while entering it simultaneously with other skiers entering other carriers, with depending passenger carriers, comprising, in combination: a passenger seat structurally communicating with an axle pivotably supported by the carrier arm and extending perpendicularly thereto; biasing means maintaining the seat in a normally vertical position; and manually manipulable rope means mechanically linked to the seat to move it to a horizontal position against its bias upon passenger activation.

Claim 6

A loading system for ski trams having an overhead traction cable transiting about a course defined by plural sheaves supported upon plural spaced towers, comprising: a linear loading course wherein carriers are supported at boarding elevation a spaced distance above a skier supportative surface therebeneath for a distance sufficient to allow simultaneous, plural loading of skiers; and a loading area having a continuous conformably sloping skier supportative surface on at least one side of the loading course with the surface having a downward slope to the carrier course to allow each of a plurality of skiers to transport himself be skiing on the supporting surface to one of plural, spaced moving passenger carriers and move with the one carrier while entering it simultaneously with other skiers entering other carriers, with depending passenger carriers, comprising, in combination: a passenger seat structurally communicating with an axle pivotably supported by the carrier arm and extending perpendicularly thereto; biasing means maintaining the seat in a normally vertical position; and manually manipulable rope means mechanically linked to the seat to move it to a horizontal position against its bias upon passenger activation.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 4 having a grab-bar comprising: an elongate tubular grab-bar structurally communicating with the depending carrier arm at an elevation to allow manual grasping by a skier supported upon a surface beneath the loading course of the tram and extending in a curvilinear course forwardly and laterally to aid in initially grasping the carrier but allow entry of a passenger into the carrier rearwardly of the grab-bar.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 5 further characterized by: the carrier arm depending a space distance below the carrier seat and mounting in its lowermost portion a substantially horizontally positioned, laterally outwardly extending standing platform of some areal extent to allow a skier with skis in position on his feet to stand thereon during entry into the carrier.

Claim 9

A loading system for ski trams having an overhead traction cable transiting about a course defined by plural sheaves supported upon plural spaced towers, comprising: a linear loading course wherein carriers are supported at boarding elevation a spaced distance above a skier supportative surface therebeneath for a distance sufficient to allow simultaneous, plural loading of skiers; and a loading area having a continuous conformably sloping skier supportative surface on at least one side of the loading course with the surface having a downward slope to the carrier courSe to allow each of a plurality of skiers to transport himself by skiing on the supporting surface to one of plural, spaced moving passenger carriers and move with the one carrier while entering it simultaneously with other skiers entering other carriers, with depending passenger carriers having a depending carrier arm fixedly communicating with the overhead traction cable, a grab-bar structure comprising, in combination: an elongate tubular grab-bar structurally communicating with the depending carrier arm at an elevation to allow manual grasping by a skier supported upon a surface beneath the loading course of the tram and extending in a curvilinear course forwardly and laterally to aid in initially grasping the carrier but allow entry of a passenger into the carrier rearwardly of the grab-bar.

Claim 10

A loading system for ski trams having an overhead traction cable transiting about a course defined by plural sheaves supported upon plural spaced towers, comprising: a linear loading course wherein carriers are supported at boarding elevation a spaced distance above a skier supportative surface therebeneath for a distance sufficient to allow simultaneous, plural loading of skiers; and a loading area having a continuous conformably sloping skier supportative surface on at least one side of the loading course with the surface having a downward slope to the carrier courSe to allow each of a plurality of skiers to transport himself by skiing on the supporting surface to one of plural, spaced moving passenger carriers and move with the one carrier while entering it simultaneously with other skiers entering other carriers, with depending passenger carriers having a depending carrier arm fixedly communicating with the overhead traction cable, a grab-bar structure comprising, in combination: an elongate tubular grab-bar structurally communicating with the depending carrier arm at an elevation to allow manual grasping by a skier supported upon a surface beneath the loading course of the tram and extending in a curvilinear course forwardly and laterally to aid in initially grasping the carrier but allow entry of a passenger into the carrier rearwardly of the grab-bar.

Claim 11

A loading system for ski trams having an overhead traction cable, transiting about a course defined by plural sheaves supported upon plural spaced towers, with depending passenger carriers comprising: a linear loading course wherein carriers are supported at boarding elevation a spaced distance above the earth therebeneath with a continuous conformably sloping skier supportative surface, on at least one side of a loading course providing a downward slope to the carrier loading course, over which a skier may ski to intercept a moving passenger carrier; plural spaced passenger carriers supported by the overhead traction cable including a carrier arm fixedly communicating with the traction cable and depending therefrom to support in the lower medial part a carrier seat angularly disposed laterally outwardly to allow passenger entry from a lateral position; and an elongate grab-bar structurally communicating with the depending carrier arm a spaced distance above the carrier seat with a laterally curving configuration to allow lateral entry of a potential passenger into the seat.

Claim 12

A loading system for ski trams having an overhead traction cable, transiting about a course defined by plural sheaves supported upon plural spaced towers, with depending passenger carriers comprising: a linear loading course wherein carriers are supported at boarding elevation a spaced distance above the earth therebeneath with a continuous conformably sloping skier supportative surface, on at least one side of a loading course providing a downward slope to the carrier loading course, over which a skier may ski to intercept a moving passenger carrier; plural spaced passenger carriers supported by the overhead traction cable including a carrier arm fixedly communicating with the traction cable and depending therefrom to support in the lower medial part a carrier seat angularly disposed laterally outwardly to allow passenger entry from a lateral position; and an elongate grab-bar structurally communicating with the depending carrier arm a spaced distance above the carrier seat with a laterally curving configuration to allow lateral entry of a potential passenger into the seat.