Land vehicles – Skates – Runner type
Patent
1996-03-06
1998-06-02
Camby, Richard M.
Land vehicles
Skates
Runner type
280607, 280618, A63C 500
Patent
active
057588945
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a device for improving the efficiency and controllability of skis.
BACKGROUND ART
As is known, one of the characteristics of the shape of skis is that the surface of the ski is curved, with a central region that is raised with respect to the ends so as to form an upward convexity.
During use, skis are subjected to stresses that tend to flatten the convexity due to the elasticity of the materials of which the skis are made.
This occurs particularly when negotiating curves and has negative consequences on ski efficiency and control.
In particular, the continuous change of the convexity of the skis alters the distance between the elements that form the ski bindings, the toe unit and the heel unit, considering that the boot is located at the center of gravity.
In Alpine competition skiing, the stresses to which the skis are subjected are very high and cause difficulties in control, unexpected losses of balance, the need for continuous attitude corrections, and the transmission of vibrations to the athlete's legs.
In order to reduce the above drawbacks, devices commonly termed pads have been devised and are currently in use; said devices are interposed between the skis and the bindings.
However, so far none of the available devices allows satisfactory direct control of the skis.
Among these devices, a first one comprises a metal lamina having a rear end stably fixed to the ski and a front end retained so that it slides parallel to said ski; a layer of elastic material is applied between the metal lamina and the ski, and the middle portion of the lamina, on which the bindings are fixed, is raised.
With this device, the distance between the toe unit and the heel unit of the binding is kept constant, but its position with respect to the center of gravity of the ski becomes variable.
For example, during extension the toe unit, and thus the boot, shift forward with a consequent change in positional relationship between the skier and the ski (the center of gravity is shifted).
Another drawback in the use of this device is due to the fact that the mobility of its front part worsens steerability and controllability of the ski, which is mainly maneuvered with its front part, with consequent inaccuracy in setting trajectories, the need for continuous corrections, and a consequent limitation of speed.
In a second type of device, similar to the preceding one, the toe unit of the binding is fixed to two supports that are rigidly coupled to the ski, and the heel unit is applied to a metal lamina that is longitudinally slideable.
This improves the setup of the curve trajectory, but the fact that the heel unit is movable with respect to the ski and with respect to the toe unit causes an inconstant positional relationship between the boot and the binding and therefore between the boot and the ski, making ski control inaccurate.
A third type of device has a metal lamina which is shaped so as to have two raised regions at the regions where the heel unit and the toe unit are fixed.
The lamina is fixed to the ski both at the front and at the rear, and a layer of elastic material is placed in the regions where said lamina is raised.
This device has the only positive effect of damping vibrations that are transmitted from the ski to the athlete's leg.
EP-A-510 308 has already proposed to provide a device comprising at least two elongated shaped plate-like elements, each element having one end provided with means for it being fixed to a ski and another end provided with retention means which allow said other end to slide longitudinally with respect to said ski, a toe unit and a heel unit being fixed proximately to one of said ends. However in such known device, such fixing of said units occurs by securing them directly to the ski itself. This has the disadvantage that when the ski is flexed, the units tend to either diminish or to increase the distance between themselves, and thus the gravity center on the ski may be displaced. As a whole, the device of EP-A-510 308 dampens vibration
REFERENCES:
patent: 5211418 (1993-05-01), Scherubl
patent: 5332252 (1994-07-01), Le Masson et al.
patent: 5393086 (1995-02-01), Le Masson et al.
patent: 5413371 (1995-05-01), Trimble
Camby Richard M.
Josif Albert
Modiano Guido
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