Alpine ski

Details Alpine ski Alpine ski

1999-12-22

2001-12-04

Mai, Lanna (Department: 3619)

Land vehicles

Skates

Runner type

C280S602000, C280S617000, C280S618000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06325404

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of sports involving gliding over snow, more particularly to that of alpine skiing. Specifically, it relates to an improvement of the structure of such skis intended for receiving a platform for raising and unbracing the ski.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is known, in alpine skiing, the gliding equipment consists principally of an actual board for gliding on which a zone for fitting the binding is normally defined. This zone for fitting the binding receives a safety binding consisting of a toe stop and a heel binding capable of interacting with the toe and the heel of a ski boot, respectively. This zone for fitting the binding is centered with respect to the point for fitting the mid-point of the boot.
Many skis are sharply waisted and are thus relatively narrow in the median zone corresponding to the zone for fitting the binding.
Due to this narrowness, the boot comes into contact with the snow when the ski is sharply tilted during turning stages. To solve this problem, it has been proposed to equip skis with a raising platform on which the two toe-stop and heel-binding parts of the binding are fitted.
Moreover, it is known that the boards have a specific mechanical structure which confers on them certain mechanical properties of rigidity in flexion and in torsion.
In point of fact, when the binding is fitted directly to the board, the assembly formed by the toe stop and the heel binding of the binding enclosing the rigid sole of the boot braces the board by modifying its intrinsic stiffness characteristics.
It is known to place bindings on a raised platform which is itself fixed to the ski. This stacking gives rise to displacements of the rocking and pitching type with respect to the top of the ski, which may adversely affect the effective transmission of forces.
It follows that the behavior of the assembly in flexion and in torsion differs markedly from the theoretical behavior corresponding to the intrinsic qualities of the board alone.
One problem which the invention proposes to solve is that of unbracing the ski, in other words the problem of interference between the rigidity of the binding/boot assembly and the intrinsic rigidity of the board.
Unbracing of this type must allow firm attachment of the boot by means of the binding and thus make it possible to retain, irrespective of the flexion and torsion status of the board, a constant gap between the toe stop and the heel binding of the safety binding.
Moreover, it has been observed that it is essential for the toe stop to allow effective transmission of the forces from the skier's foot to the board for gliding and, more precisely, toward the edges so that the behavior of the ski is efficient and responsive. In other words, it is important for the toe stop to be firmly and directly secured to the board.
Given the different thickness characteristics of the board and the increasingly significant forces exerted in the case of recreational and competitive alpine skiing, it is thus appropriate for the toe stop of the binding to be firmly and deeply anchored in the board for gliding.
The invention thus aims to solve all these problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention thus relates to an alpine ski comprising:
a board for gliding having an upper face including a zone for fitting the binding which is centered with respect to the point for fitting the mid-point of the boot;
a rigid plate, located on the board in the zone for fitting the binding, capable of receiving a safety binding composed of a toe stop and of a heel binding which are mounted on the front part and on the rear part, respectively, of the plate.
This ski is noteworthy in that:
the thickness of the board for gliding in the front portion of the zone for fitting the binding is greater than the thickness of the board for gliding in the rear portion of the zone for fitting the binding;
the front part of the plate is secured to the upper face of the board for gliding in the raised front portion of the zone for fitting the binding;
the rear part of the plate is located above the rear portion of the zone for fitting the binding and is free from relative movement vis-à-vis the ski in the rear portion of the zone for fitting the binding in the longitudinal direction of the ski.
In other words, this ski has a different thickness in the zone for fitting the toe stop of the binding compared with the thickness of the zone for fitting the heel binding of the binding. The upper surface of the board in this zone thus has a stepped surface.
It is this stepped zone which forms the raising thickness and the bearing point of the platform on the board. Thus, the front part of the plate supporting the toe stop of the binding may be firmly anchored in the thickest zone of the ski, whereas its rear part forming the top of the platform supporting the heel binding of the binding is not rigidly connected to the ski.
The screws connecting the heel binding to the plate are never anchored in the ski, whereas the screws connecting the toe stop to the plate may, by passing through the plate, be anchored in the ski in order to form the rigid connection.
The association of the toe stop and the thin plate forms a relatively nondeformable assembly capable of directly transferring the forces from the skier's feet toward the edges of the ski, thus guaranteeing maximum precision in the behavior of the ski.
In a first embodiment, the rear part of the plate is floating relative to the rear of the zone for fitting the binding. In other words, in this variant, the rear of the plate overhangs the top of the ski.
When the board bends, particularly during a turn, the zones located at the toe stop and the heel binding come closer together. It is thus important to allow the ski the freedom to deform. By fixing the heel binding on a detached plate in this zone to the upper surface of the ski, the invention guarantees total unbracing of the latter.
In a second embodiment, the rear part of the plate is mounted with the ability to slide relative to the board.
The ski may also include a wedge interposed between the rear part of the plate and the portion of the ski corresponding to the rear of the zone for fitting the binding. This wedge is capable of sliding with respect to the ski in the rear part of the zone for fitting the binding. Therefore, the plate does not overhang and allows good transmission of the forces exerted from the boot toward the ski.
According to a variant embodiment, this wedge has apertures which are elongate in the longitudinal direction of the ski. These apertures are intended for receiving guide lugs fitted to the ski in the rear portion of the zone for fitting the binding in order to allow the displacement of said wedge in a longitudinal direction, while retaining good lateral centering. The connecting screws of the heel binding pass through the plate and grip into the wedge without reaching the ski.
Therefore, when the ski bends, for example when a turn is commenced or when passing over a hollow, the wedge and thus the heel binding of the binding moves back with respect to a reference point of the board, while the toe stop/heel binding distance remains constant.
In this case, a substantially constant gap between the platform and the upper face of the board is maintained.
In a variant embodiment, the wedge may have recesses intended to lighten it. Advantageously, the ends of the screws for fitting the heel binding are housed inside these recesses, thus preventing their contact with the wedge.
In another embodiment, the plate has a rear end which is curved downward and includes a segment parallel to the upper face of the board, this segment being capable of sliding relative to the rear portion of the zone for fitting the binding.
In this case, the aforesaid segment may include apertures interacting with studs fitted in the board as already explained.
In another embodiment, the wedge interposed between the plate and the upper face of the ski may be made from a deformable material, for example an elastomeric material, to

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Alpine ski does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Alpine ski, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Alpine ski will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2568462