Land vehicles – Skates – Runner type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-06
2003-08-12
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Skates
Runner type
C280S607000, C280S011150
Reexamination Certificate
active
06604754
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to a full suspension system for skis which allows for total edge control, while significantly dampening impacts and vibration.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Skiing is inherently dangerous and hard on the body. When skiing at any speed, regardless of terrain, the upper body is subjected to numerous jolts and impacts which the legs cannot effectively deal with. Such impacts engender fatigue in the skier, and create chatter and loss of contact with the snow. This alters performance significantly, and often culminates in physical injury.
Since impact force is the overall force divided by the time of force application, the ideal way to attenuate impact forces is by prolonging, and thereby lessening, the immediate force of impact. This is most efficiently done by allowing for “travel” anywhere between the ski and the upper body. The skier's legs do some of this work, but peak impact loads are more efficiently dampened somewhere between the binding and the boot, not via the skier's legs. A system which offers vertical travel concurrent with positive edge control is optimal.
Thus far all prior art shock absorbing elements for skis either do not provide positive edge control (by having mechanisms which allow for vertical travel, but poor control of lateral flexing), or do no more than dampen vibrations (by controlling lateral flexing but not allowing for vertical travel).
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,895 to Bettosini describes a plate of metal alloy sandwiched over a layer of absorbent material, and fastened to the ski. This approach allows for positive edge control, but doesn't offer the vertical travel necessary to truly absorb peak impact forces. In order for it to allow for positive edge control, said metal alloy plate must be very rigid both laterally and longitudinally. This has a negative affect on the natural flexing of the ski, creating a “flat spot” under the ski which drastically affects edge control. Even if this version was integrated into the ski a flat spot would ensue, as the longitudinal sheer forces exerted with ski flexing are not dampened appropriately by a top plate which is both rigid and adjacent to (as opposed to within) the ski's arc of flex. In addition, the attachment means are inherently subject to sticking when subjected to longitudinal sheer forces, thus affecting overall flexing of the plate in relation to the ski. There are a variety of other designs based on this approach which also do nothing to provide vertical travel, while suffering from the same drawbacks.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,214 to Meyer describes an articulating system based on a hinge positioned in front of the boot which allows for significant vertical travel, but unfortunately, also significant lateral rotational flexing. Correct transmission of lateral forces necessary for positive edge control is virtually impossible with such a system, as the front hinge is the only rigid transverse engagement with the ski. Torsional forces applied to the bindings thus engender lateral rotational flexing of the entire binding plate relative to the ski, significantly inhibiting positive edge control.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art by incorporating a plurality of linkage mechanism between the ski binding and the ski which effectively allow for optimum absorption of impact forces, while maximizing edge control. In this invention, upon impact, the top plate flexes vertically towards the ski, while maintaining lateral rigidity.
REFERENCE SYMBOLS IN DRAWINGS
2
Ski
4
Boot
6
a
Binding Toe
6
b
Binding Heel
8
Top Plate
10
Middle Plate
12
Ski Plate
14
Formed Rod Linkages
16
Panel Linkages
18
Substantially Rigid Body
20
Resilient Elements
22
Longitudinal Axes
24
Cylindrical Holes
26
Flexural Coupling
28
a
Formed Rod Flexure Axes (top)
28
b
Formed Rod Flexure Axes (bottom)
30
a
Panel Linkage Flexure Axes (top)
30
b
Panel Linkage Flexure Axes (bottom)
32
Replaceable elastomer cartridges
34
Primary Flexure axes
36
Secondary Flexure Axes
38
Tertiary Flexure Axes
40
Quaternary Flexure Axes
REFERENCES:
patent: 2661219 (1953-12-01), Coulson, Jr.
patent: 3260532 (1966-07-01), Heuvel
patent: 3776563 (1973-12-01), Tigert
patent: 3917298 (1975-11-01), Haff
patent: 4139214 (1979-02-01), Meyer
patent: 4696487 (1987-09-01), Girard
patent: 4754989 (1988-07-01), Hoelzl
patent: 4804200 (1989-02-01), Kuchler
patent: 4896895 (1990-01-01), Bettosini
patent: 4974867 (1990-12-01), Rullier et al.
patent: 4979761 (1990-12-01), Rohlin
patent: 5046751 (1991-09-01), Scherubl
patent: 5129668 (1992-07-01), Hecht
patent: 5647605 (1997-07-01), Arduin
patent: 5671939 (1997-09-01), Pineau
patent: 5758894 (1998-06-01), Maggiolo
patent: 5775716 (1998-07-01), Harsanyi et al.
patent: 5879019 (1999-03-01), Mantel
patent: 6158747 (2000-12-01), Magnani
Avery Bridget
Johnson Brian L.
Kolisch & Hartwell, P.C.
LandOfFree
Integral suspension system for skis does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Integral suspension system for skis, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Integral suspension system for skis will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3117250