Measuring and testing – Speed – velocity – or acceleration – With distance registering means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-26
2001-04-17
Moller, Richard A. (Department: 2856)
Measuring and testing
Speed, velocity, or acceleration
With distance registering means
C280S809000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216536
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns equipment such as skis and snowboards which, during the execution of a turn, necessarily incur a degree of sideslip. Of interest to someone attempting to perfect their skiing technique is the amount of sideslip or skidding of the skis during a turn. Good skiers execute turns with minimal sideslip to avoid loss of speed, while intentional sideslipping or skidding is an accepted way of killing speed prior to stopping.
In the prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 3,505,878 discloses a speed and distance indicator pivotally carried on the tail of a ski and equipped with a pair of wheels for contact with the snow surface. U.S. Pat. No. 3,888,500 shows a ski boot actuated device for indicating the displacement of boot during execution of a turn. U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,860, issued to the present inventor, discloses an electrical generator assembly swingably carried on the tail of a snow ski. The generator can pivot, in response to side imparted loads during a turn, about an upright axis. U.S. Pat. No. 4,088,019 discloses a device for sensing true leeway of a vessel in relationship to a vessel centerline. A servomechanism maintains a vane of the device vertical.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward providing an indication to a skier or ski coach the extent to which the skier is encountering lateral displacement or skidding of a ski as opposed to desired tracking of the skis generally along the ski centerline.
With the introduction of snow skis having a significant taper in width from tip to the mid-section of the ski and a flexibility of the skis it has become possible to execute turns essentially by a rolling ski about its longitudinal axis to cause a frontal edge of the ski to penetrate the snow to accomplish a change in ski direction. Previously turns were effected with considerable transverse movement or side slipping of the ski.
In the present invention an arm of the device is displaced from a ski centerline by side loads encountered during execution of a turn resulting in a sensor providing a signal corresponding to the extent and duration of arm displacement. A lowermost arm component may be embodied in a wheel or a slide and may be spring biased to ensure desired ground contact. Carrier means supports a rotary transducer on a ski mounted base plate. The carrier and transducer move about an upright axis while a shaft of the sensor is fixed. The arm of the device is biased downwardly for positive contact with the surface of snow, ice, etc. Signals emanating from the transducer during arm displacement may be stored on a data logger.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3505878 (1970-04-01), Moll
patent: 3888500 (1975-06-01), Gauthier
patent: 4088019 (1978-05-01), Mascia
patent: 4546650 (1985-10-01), Cameron
patent: 4860585 (1989-08-01), Tuyn et al.
patent: 4864860 (1989-09-01), Manseth
Givnan, Jr. James D.
Moller Richard A.
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