Land vehicles – Skates – Runner type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-25
2002-05-28
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Skates
Runner type
C280S609000, C280S608000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06394482
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of snow skis. More specifically, the present invention discloses snow skis having asymmetrical lateral edges.
2. Conventional Types of Skis
A variety of types of skis are currently in use. The present invention is intended primarily for telemark skiing, although it can be readily adapted for other types of skis, including the following types of skis in common use:
The “alpine ski”, or fixed heel ski, is characterized by its utilization rather than its design. The binding by which a skier's boot is attached to the ski secures both the toe and heel of the ski boot to the ski simultaneously. This method of binding characterizes the use of this ski as “alpine.” In alpine skiing, both skis are generally maintained parallel to one another. The skier turns by shifting weight to the medial edge of the outside ski (i.e., the ski farther from the center of the circle describing the turn).
The “telemark ski”, or free heel ski, is similarly characterized by its utilization rather than its design. The binding by which the skier's boot is attached to the ski causes only the toe component of the ski boot to be fixed to the ski, while leaving the heel free to rise off the ski. Other than the binding, the ski is essentially the same as an alpine ski. Turning in telemark skiing is quite different than in alpine skiing. The skier positions the inside ski (i.e., the ski closer to the center of the circle describing the turn) behind the outside ski, so that the heel of the inside boot is raised off the inside ski. Any pressure applied by the skier to the inside ski is exerted via the toe area of the boot (i.e., the general area between the ball of the skier's foot to the lip of the boot). In contrast, the outside boot remains flat against the outside ski, so that pressure is exerted on the ski over the entire area of the ski boot. When the inside boot is raised and the outside boot remains flat, a “telemark posture” is attained.
In telemark skiing, the points of applied pressure (resulting from the skier's application of weight and resulting additional forces) exist at different locations along the longitudinal axes of each ski. The inside ski (i.e., the ski closer to the center of the circle describing the turn) receives the application of pressure at the toe area of the attached boot. The outside ski receives the application of pressure along the entire bottom of the boot's sole.
The “active edge” refers to the edge of each ski closer to the center of the turn being executed, i.e., the inside edge of the turn. By tilting the ski and applying pressure on the active edge, the active edge of each ski engages the underlying snow surface causing the ski to turn.
The “cross-country ski” is similar to the telemark ski, except that it is designed for flatter terrain. Cross-country skis tend to be narrower and lighter than telemark skis.
The “randonée ski” is a hybrid of free heel and fixed heel skis, wherein the heel binding can either be fixed or free at the option of the skier.
3. Prior Art
The prior art in the field includes the following:
Inventor
Patent No.
Issue Date
Staufer
4,377,297
Mar. 22, 1983
Meatto et al.
4,688,821
Aug. 25, 1987
Gauer
4,705,291
Nov. 10, 1987
Fagot
4,971,350
Nov. 20, 1990
Floreani
5,301,965
Apr. 12, 1994
Petkov
5,405,161
Apr. 11, 1995
Nelson
5,603,522
Feb. 18, 1997
Karlsen
5,876,056
March 2, 1999
Richmond
4,895,388
Jan. 23, 1990
“Open the Toy Box,”
Skiing Trade News
, page 20 (January, 1997)
“All Aboard! Ski and Snowboard Design Rides the Boom into the Backcountry,”
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Getaways
, page 8 (Oct. 23, 1997)
“Arc Angles: We Test Some Skis You Can Bank On,”
Skiing
, page 108 (vol. 49, no. 4, December 1997)
“Inbounds Adventure,”
Skiing
, page 124 (vol. 51, no.1, September 1998)
“A Slice of Heaven,”
Skiing
, page 156 (vol. 51, no. 3, November 1998)
The article from
Skiing Trade News
mentions and shows a picture of the “Radarc” skis introduced by Fischer GmBH of Austria. The articles from the
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
and
Skiing
also describe the Fischer Radarc skis. The Fischer Radarc skis have asymmetrical side cuts with the longer edges on the outside of the skis, which is opposite from the present invention. The side cut on the outer edge is shifted farther bask toward the tail of the ski than the side cut on the inside edge. This arrangement is also backward from the present invention. It appears that the Radarc ski is intended for a specialized style of alpine skiing known as “carving”, in which the skier's legs are spread apart and turns are made by exerting substantially equal force on the active edges of both skis. The active edges make substantially concentric circles for both skis. Therefore, since the outside ski turns with a larger radius than the inside ski when carving, it may be advantageous for the medial edge of the outside ski to have a larger radius than the lateral edge of the inside ski. However, it should be expressly understood that the Radarc ski addresses a completely different problem and teaches away from the present invention.
Meatto et al. disclose asymmetrical alpine skis with offset boot platforms. The medial edges of the skis have side cuts but the outer edges are substantially straight.
Fagot discloses an alpine ski with a symmetrical bottom surface, but having asymmetrical, inwardly sloping sidewalls.
Gauer discloses a short symmetrical alpine ski that is convex from front to rear, and also convex from side to side.
Floreani, Nelson, Karlsen, Petkov, and Richmond disclose other examples of symmetrical skis of various types.
Staufer discloses a symmetrical alpine ski with a series of side cuts along both edges.
In addition to the prior art discussed above, several types of asymmetrical snowboards have been marketed in the past. Snowboard bindings typically hold the rider's feet at a diagonal angle with respect the snowboard. As a result, the center of pressure shifts Slightly forward or rearward as the rider transfers his weight to the right or left edges to turn the snowboard. Some snowboards compensate for this axial shift in the center of pressure by placing the point of maximum side cut on the right side of the board further forward than on the left side, for a right-footed snowboarder. This would be reversed for a left-footed snowboarder.
4. Statement of the Problem
Properly designed skis must accommodate a number of concerns in today's highly competitive market. It is particularly important that the skier should be able to execute turns without undue effort, and that the skis should be stable and easy to control. The prior art listed above has several shortcomings, particularly with regard to telemark skiing:
(a) Asymmetrical Edge Pressure Problem With Existing Snow Skis
In the telemark posture, it is difficult to apply a large amount of pressure on the active edge of the inside ski, because the knee over that ski is bent and contact with that ski is only made by the toe area of the boot. Since there is less pressure on the active edge of the inside ski, it is more difficult to turn that ski. However, in the telemark posture, it is comfortable and easy to apply pressure on the active edge of the outside ski, because the knee over that ski is straighter and the contact with the ski is made by the entire bottom of the boot. Since there is more pressure on the active edge of the outside ski, it is easier to turn that ski.
In the utilization of existing telemark ski equipment in the telemark posture, the amount of pressure on the active edge of the inside ski is significantly less than the amount of pressure on the active edge of the outside ski, owing to the different locations of application of pressure for each of the two skis when a telemark posture is employed. In order to best turn both skis together, it would be ideal if the pressure on each active edge were close to equal. The problem with existing skis is that their design results in a substantial dispar
Holland & Hart LLP
Shriver J. Allen
Ski Logic, LLC
Swann J. J.
LandOfFree
Snow skis having asymmetrical edges does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Snow skis having asymmetrical edges, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Snow skis having asymmetrical edges will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2870308