U.S. patent application number 11/454025 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-28 for snow skis.
This patent application is currently assigned to SKIS ROSSIGNOL SAS. Invention is credited to Vincent Bregeon, Benjamin Cuier, Eric Restani, Thierry Schrobiltgen, Johan Vailli.
Application Number | 20060290104 11/454025 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35219649 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060290104 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Restani; Eric ; et
al. |
December 28, 2006 |
Snow skis
Abstract
A ski, monoski, or snowboard includes a base plate (2) with a
platform (3) mounted to its central portion to receiving bindings
for binding a skier's boot to the platform. A set of four
longitudinal elements (40, 41, 42, 43) have one end (40a, 41a, 42a,
43a) which is removably attached to the platform, a second end
(40b, 41b, 42b, 43b) which engages a forward or rearward portion of
the base plate (2), space and a bridge (40c, 41c, 42c, 43c) between
the first and second ends. The bridge is prestressed in order to
augment the pressure applied by the boot during skiing to forward
and rearward portions of the base plate and to provide a dynamic
means of recall for returning the base plate toward a home
position.
Inventors: |
Restani; Eric; (La Murette,
FR) ; Cuier; Benjamin; (Villard De Lans, FR) ;
Vailli; Johan; (Chirens, FR) ; Schrobiltgen;
Thierry; (Attignat Oncin, FR) ; Bregeon; Vincent;
(Voiron, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Thomas E. Kocovsky, Jr.;FAY, SHARPE, FAGAN, MINNICH & McKEE, LLP
Seventh Floor
1100 Superior Avenue
Cleveland
OH
44114-2518
US
|
Assignee: |
SKIS ROSSIGNOL SAS
|
Family ID: |
35219649 |
Appl. No.: |
11/454025 |
Filed: |
June 15, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/602 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C 5/075 20130101;
A63C 5/07 20130101; A63C 5/003 20130101; A63C 9/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/602 |
International
Class: |
A63C 5/07 20060101
A63C005/07 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 20, 2005 |
FR |
FR 05 06254 |
Claims
1. A board for skiing on snow such as a ski, a monoski or a
snowboard, comprising: a base plate a platform fixed at the base
plate in a zone of a boot and intended to support bindings for
holding a boot to the board; a supplemental element including at
least a longitudinal part attached at least partly at the platform
and extending at least partly along the base plate, each
longitudinal part of the supplemental element being attached at one
end to the platform in the zone of the boot, and the other end
being in free support against the base plate in a zone away from
the zone of the boot in such manner to pre-stress the base plate
when it is at rest, a middle portion of the aforementioned
longitudinal part being isolated from the base plate by forming a
pre-stressed bridge in order to augment, in the zone of free
support, local pressure applied by the boot and, to constitute a
dynamic means of recall of the base plate towards a home
position.
2. The board for skiing on snow according to claim 1, wherein the
base plate defines reliefs extending longitudinally to define a
longitudinal rib, the free support end of the supplemental element
engaging the reliefs of the base plate.
3. The board for skiing on snow according to claim 1, wherein the
longitudinal parts are attached in a removable way to the platform
to permit affixing another longitudinal part of different
length.
4. The board for skiing on snow according to claim 1, wherein the
supplemental element comprises four longitudinal parts including a
front pair of a first identical length and fixed at the front of
the platform and a rear pair of a second identical length,
different from the first length, and fixed at the back of the
platform.
5. The board for skiing on snow according to claim 4, wherein the
first length of the first pair is than the second length of the
second pair.
6. The board for skiing on snow according to claim 5, wherein the
first length is at least 10% greater than the second length.
7. The board for skiing on snow according to claim 5, wherein the
first and second pair are detachably mounted in such a way that
first and second pairs can be detached without dismounting the
platform from the base plate.
8. The board for skiing on snow according to claim 1, wherein the
free support end is mounted for sliding translation on the base
plate.
9. The board for skiing on snow according to claim 8, wherein the
free support end defines groove open to the bottom to received on
an elongated projection of complementary form disposed on the base
plate.
10. An elongated element forming a longitudinal part of the
supplemental element according to claim 1, further including a part
forming the bridge extending between the free support end a stem
which is adapted to be received in a sleeve defined between a
central part of the platform and the base plate.
11. A supplemental element for board for skiing on snow such as a
ski, a monoski or a snowboard, comprising: an elongated element
adapted to be attached to a platform to which bindings affix a
skier's boot by one of its ends, while the other end is free, the
aforementioned elongated element providing pre-stress the board for
skiing on snow.
12. A kit for a board for skiing on snow, including a set of four
of the elongated elements according to claim 11.
13. The kit according to claim 12, further including a plurality of
the sets, each set having elements of different lengths.
14. A skiing device comprising: a base which slides on snow; a
platform mounted to a central portion of the base to hold bindings
for attaching a skier's boot to the platform; a set of elongated
elements including: a pair of forward elongated elements each
forward element having (a) a first end attached to the platform,
(b) a second end slidably engaging the base forward of the
platform, and (c) a bridge between the first and second ends which
causes the second end to apply a force to the base forward of the
platform while skiing, and a pair of rearward elongated elements
each rearward element having (a) a first end attached to the
platform, (b) a second end slidably engaging the base rearward of
the platform, and (c) a bridge between the first and second ends
which causes the second end to apply a force to the base rearward
of the platform while skiing.
15. The skiing device according to claim 14, wherein the forward
elongated elements have a first length and the rearward elongated
elements have a second length.
16. The skiing device according to claim 15, wherein the first
length is greater than the second length.
17. The skiing device according to claim 14, wherein the first ends
of the elongated elements are detachably attached to the platform
and further including: additional elongated elements, one end of
each (a) being attachable to the platform and (b) having a bridge
which is configured to apply a different force to the base relative
to the force applied by the elongated elements of the set.
Description
[0001] The present invention concerns a snow device such as a ski,
a monoski, a snowboard, or the like. It more particularly relates
to an improvement relative to a ski comprising a base plate, on
which is affixed at least one supplemental element.
[0002] The snow sports and their devotees have advanced
significantly these last years with increasing demand for quality
of the products. Such is, for example, the case of the sports of
skiing.
[0003] One knows already many models of snow sport devices, and in
particular of skis, which consist of a beam of lengthened form
whose front end is raised to constitute the spatula, while the
lower surface includes a sole on which to ski bordered by metal
edges.
[0004] Despite all the efforts developed by the manufacturers to
satisfy customers, there does not exist, to date, of ski perfectly
incorporating both the convenience of use and satisfactory
characteristics of behavior, whatever the type of terrain, and
whoever the user.
[0005] Certain attempts were made, such as, for example, by the
constructions in the French patents 2 670 392 and 2 675 391. The
applicant, in its French patent N.sup.o 2 726 193, already proposed
a construction of a ski according to which it is envisioned as a
body on which a platform is fixed.
[0006] The applicant also proposed in its patent FR 2 831 829, a
raised platform for attaching the boot, divided into two
longitudinal parts each one directly on the base plate of the ski
and connected by a bridge which advantageously allows the skier,
according to the turns to be made, to exert a different pressure on
each side.
[0007] The applicant finally proposed in its unpublished patent
application FR 04 07955, another improvement for skis according to
which a supplemental element made up of two longitudinal parts
extending longitudinally parallel and connected together by at
least one transverse connection, the supplemental element being
affixed at least in the zone of the boot so that its two
longitudinal parts are located laterally in holes in the body of
the ski.
[0008] The present invention proposes general-purpose skis made up
of a base plate and at least one supplemental element whose
co-operation of forms, dimensions and structure, gives to the whole
of the ski the necessary characteristics, as well as comfort while
still improving the control of ski.
[0009] To this end, the ski, monoski or snowboard, with a vertical
plane of general symmetry, comprising a principal part, known as a
body or a base plate, and a platform affixed to the base plate in
the zone of the boot and intended to support the bindings for
fastening a boot to the ski. The ski comprises a supplemental
element made up of at least one longitudinal part affixed at least
partly at the platform and extending, at least partly, along the
base plate, and is characterized in that an end of each
longitudinal part of the supplemental element is affixed at the
platform to support the binding for a one boot to the ski. The ski
includes one supplemental element made up of at least one
longitudinal part affixed at least partly at the platform and
extending at least partly along the base plate, is characterized in
that an end of each longitudinal part of the supplemental element
is fixed at platform, in the zone of the boot, and the other end is
free support against the base plate in a zone far away from the
zone of the boot in such manner so that the base plate is not
stressed by the element, even when the ski is at rest, and in that
the median part of the aforementioned longitudinal part is isolated
on the base plate by forming a bridge in order to share in local
pressure applied by the boot and in addition, to constitute a means
of dynamic memory of the base plate towards its home position.
[0010] According to the preferred embodiment, the base plate
includes on each side a lateral relief extending longitudinally to
define a longitudinal rib, while the supplemental element made up
of at least one longitudinal part extends at least partly along the
side relief from the base plate.
[0011] According to a complementary characteristic, the removable
longitudinal parts are affixed in a manner to the platform so as to
be able to affix another longitudinal part of a different
length.
[0012] According to another characteristic, the supplemental
element (4) comprises four longitudinal parts including the first
two spaced with an identical first length between them and affixed
in front of the platform and the second two with an identical
second length between them, which is different from the first
length, and which are affixed at the back of the platform.
[0013] According to an alternative embodiment, the first length of
the parts affixed in front of the platform is greater than the
second length of the parts affixed at the back of the platform.
[0014] Let us add that the first length of the parts affixed in
front of the platform is at least 10% greater than the second
length.
[0015] According to the preferred embodiment, the removable
attachment of each longitudinal part to the base plate is done in
such a manner so as to avoid dismounting the platform from the base
plate.
[0016] According to another complementary characteristic, a free
end of each longitudinal part is mounted sliding translation on the
base plate, such that the free end of each longitudinal part
defines an internal a groove intended to slide on an elongated
projection of complementary form defined on of the base plate.
[0017] The invention relates also to the elongated element formed
by the supplemental longitudinal element of the ski, according to
any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a
part forming the bridge intended to extend between the removable
clamps by fastening screws and the end of free support and another
part forming the prolonged stem of the bridge intended to be placed
in a sleeve in the platform.
[0018] By "bridge", it should be understood within the framework of
the invention that the longitudinal part of the longitudinal
element forms a bridge above the base plate and that its free end
is support against the base when at rest, i.e. not requested in
dynamic inflection in conditions of use of the ski. Thus, within
the framework of the invention and as envisioned in the illustrated
embodiment, the bridge formed by the longitudinal elements can be
put into the base plate so that this one is already flexed at rest
(see FIG. 1c) or it can be flexed at rest all while maintaining the
base plate not flexed at rest.
[0019] In the same way, by "dynamic means of recall", it is
necessary to include within the framework of the invention, a means
to recall the base urges the base plate in dynamic inflection in
conditions of use of the ski, towards its home position.
[0020] The invention also relates to an elongated element formeding
a longitudinal part of a supplemental element of the ski according
to the invention.
[0021] The invention relates finally to a kit for skiing,
characterized in that it includes one or two sets of four elongated
elements according to the invention with two sets in two different
lengths.
[0022] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will
emerge from the description which will follow as well as the
annexed drawings which are given as nonrestrictive examples.
[0023] FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c are perspective views respectively from
the top and side of the first embodiment of the ski according to
the invention.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base plate and binding
platform before the installation for the longitudinal elements of
its supplemental element.
[0025] FIGS. 3a through 3k are transverse cross-sections along
sections' A-A, B-B, DC, D-D, E-E, FF, G-G, H-H, II, J-J, K-K
respectively of the ski according to FIG. 1c.
[0026] FIG. 4 is an expanded perspective view for a ski according
to the invention.
[0027] FIGS. 5a and 5b are perspective views of a kit with two
different sets of four longitudinal elements to be put in place on
the base plate attached to the binding platform.
[0028] The invention will be described within the framework of a
ski of the alpine type, but it also applies to any type of ski-like
device such as monoski, snowboard or the like.
[0029] FIG. 1 represents a ski (1), with a general vertical plane
of symmetry (P), comprising a principal part, known as the body or
base plate (2), including an advantageous side relief (20a, 20b)
extending longitudinally so as to define a longitudinal rib
(21).
[0030] The ski also comprises a platform (3) affixed at the base
plate in the zone of boot (Z.P) and intended to support the
bindings for fastening a boot to the ski.
[0031] According to another characteristic, the ski comprises a
supplemental element (4) made up of at least one longitudinal part
(40, 41, 42, 43) affixed at least partially at the platform (3) and
which extends at least partly along the side reliefs (20a, 20b) of
the base plate (2).
[0032] According to an illustrated embodiment of the invention, one
end (40a, 41a, 42a, 43a) of each longitudinal part (40, 41, 42, 43)
of the supplemental element (4) is affixed to the platform (3), in
the zone of boot (Z.P), and the other end (40b, 41b, 42b, 43b) is
advantageously supported under constraint with the base plate (2)
in a zone (Z.C) far away from the zone of boot (Z.P) in such a
manner so that the median part (40c, 41c, 42c, 43c) of the
aforementioned longitudinal part is isolated from the base plate
while forming a bridge (5) with a pre-stressed end in order to a
distribute, in the zone of free support, local pressure applied by
the boot and in addition, to constitute a dynamic means of recall
of the base plate (2) towards its home position.
[0033] Advantageously the longitudinal part(s) (40, 41, 42, 43) are
attached in a removable way to the platform (3) so as to be able to
affix another longitudinal part of different length (40', 41', 42',
43'). In the illustrated embodiment, removable attachment is
carried out for each longitudinal part (40, 41, 42, 43) at least
partially by means of a screw (6) in the end part of the zone of
the boot (Z.P). Such attachment makes it possible to dismount a
longitudinal part quickly and easily in order to exchange it with
an identical part of different length, to achieve different
characteristics.
[0034] According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the
supplemental element comprises four longitudinal parts (40, 41, 42,
43) including two (40,41) of a first identical length (L1) between
them and affixed at the front (AV) of the platform (3) and two (42,
43) of a second identical length (L2) between them, different from
the first, and attached at the back (AR) of the platform (3).
[0035] According to this same embodiment, the first length (L1) of
the parts (40, 41) attached at the front (AV) of the platform is
greater than the second length (L2) of the parts (42,43) affixed at
the back (AR) of the platform (3).
[0036] Advantageously, the first length (L1) of the parts (40, 41)
affixed at the front of the platform is greater by at least 10%
than the second length (L2) of the parts (42, 43) affixed at the
back (AR) of the platform (3).
[0037] Equally advantageously, the removable attachments of each
longitudinal part (40,41,42,43) to the platform is carried out in
such a manner so as to avoid dismounting the platform (3) from the
base plate (2).
[0038] According to the preferred embodiment, a freely supported
end of each longitudinal part (40, 41, 42, 43) is assembled in
sliding translation on the base plate (2). Preferably, the freely
supported end of each longitudinal part (40, 41, 42, 43) defines a
longitudinal groove (400, 410, 420, 430) open at the bottom
intended to receive a longitudinal projection (70, 71, 72, 73) of a
complementary form and disposed on the base plate (2). The
longitudinal projection being an integral part of the base plate as
illustrated or being an independent part affixed at the base plate.
Also let us note that opposite construction can be adopted, namely
that the projection could be on the supplemental element and the
groove in the base plate. As illustrated on FIG. 4, the elongated
element forming a longitudinal part of a supplemental longitudinal
element on the ski as described above which includes a part forming
the bridge (5) which extends removably between the attachment hole
by a fastening screw (6) and the freely supported end and another
part forming a stem intended to be placed in a sleeve (8) defined
in the base plate (3).
[0039] Let us add that in the illustrated embodiment, the binding
platform (3) is affixed on the base plate (2) by means of four
screws (90), this mode of attachment allows the longitudinal
blocking of the platform (3) compared to the base plate (2).
[0040] It will be noted that the platform is made up, in this
embodiment, of two parts, namely a higher part (300) receiving more
particularly attachments, and a lower part (310) constituting the
platform itself forming spill plate.
[0041] Moreover, the ends (30, 31) of the higher part (300) of the
platform (3) are affixed only with the lower part (310) of the
platform (3) by means of four screws (91), two per end. The
assembly of the two screws (91) at an end (30) or (31) platform (3)
is envisioned with a spacer (92) and authorizing a play of sliding
motion between each end (30, 31) of the platform (3) and that (440,
441) of the lower part (300) of the platform (3). This play of
sliding motion makes it possible to increase the clearance obtained
between the base plate (2) and the platform (3) in certain
configurations of flexing of the ski.
[0042] Let us finally note that the end pieces (93) made out of
compressible material, preferably rubber, are laid out at the ends
(440, 441) of the lower part (310) of the platform (3) between
those and longitudinal elements (40, 41, 42, 43). These parts are
compressed at the time of the inflection of the ski (1) in
conditions of use and while relaxing to take part in the dynamic
recall of the base plate (2) towards its home position.
[0043] According to the invention, it is advantageous to envisage a
kit (9) for a ski (1) comprising one (10 or 11) or two sets (10,11)
of four elongated elements (40, 41, 42, 43 and 40 ', 41', 42', 43')
described above two of different length (L1, L2) from the other two
(L'1, L'2):
[0044] a pair (10) of elements (40, 41, 42, 43) of longer length
will preferably be used for situations of skiing of the "giant"
type i.e. situations in which the skier will need to make turns of
large radius;
[0045] a pair (11) of elements (40', 41', 42', 43') of smaller
length will preferably be used for situations of skiing of the
"slalom" type, i.e. situations in which the skier will need to make
sharp turns, i.e. of smaller radius.
[0046] It goes without saying also that one could provide that the
two elongated front elements (40, 41) are longer than the two
elongated rear elements (42, 43). One would not depart from the
framework of the invention if the left front element (40) were
longer than the left rear element (42) and the right front element
(41) were shorter than the right rear element (42), or if the left
front element (40) were shorter than the left rear element (42) and
the right front element (41) were longer than the right rear
element (42).
[0047] The longitudinal part of the supplemental element according
to invention as described:
[0048] allows to increase the pressure applied by the user directly
in the zone of free support and to thus reflect it on the level of
the edge, which facilitates the catching of edge and starting of
turn which result from this;
[0049] constitutes a simple and effective means of dynamic recall
of the base plate towards its home position when it is requested in
dynamic inflection when skiing.
[0050] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments
described and represented by way of the examples, but it
contemplates also all the technical equivalents and also their
combinations.
[0051] For example, if in the preferred embodiment that is
illustrated, the longitudinal part of the supplemental element
defines a bridge and a stem intended to be placed in the shown
sleeve, it can be implemented very well in a longitudinal part
without a stem, the removable fixing of the longitudinal part being
realized only by means of a fastening screw without needing to
dismounting the platform from the base plate at the time of the
disassembling of the longitudinal part(s).
[0052] In the same way, if in the preferred embodiment which is
illustrated, the central part of the supplemental element is fixed
relative to the base plate by defining a hollow space constituting
the sleeve, it can mate with the base plate very well over all its
length. It goes without saying also that the base plate could have
no side reliefs, and thus not contemplate a longitudinal rib.
[0053] It was also understood that the platform (3) which extends
according to this embodiment along a sufficiently long length
designed to receive the bindings intended to retain the boot, which
could include two independent parts, namely made up of a front part
and a back part.
[0054] It was also understood that the supplemental elements are
pre-stressed and put in tension at the time of their assembly on
the base plate in order to give a pre-stressed inflection to the
latter, even in this home position, the support on the base plate
of these elements being done to give an effort of initial
support.
* * * * *