U.S. patent application number 13/991681 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-26 for ski pants.
This patent application is currently assigned to GOLDWIN TECHNICAL CENTER INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is Hiroto Maruji, Atsusi Muto, Chizuko Yonejima. Invention is credited to Hiroto Maruji, Atsusi Muto, Chizuko Yonejima.
Application Number | 20130247276 13/991681 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46206755 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130247276 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Maruji; Hiroto ; et
al. |
September 26, 2013 |
SKI PANTS
Abstract
It is an object of the invention to provide ski pants comprising
an edge guard that does not hinder movement when the user is
gliding on skis. The invention relates to ski pants 1 comprising an
edge guard 3 on the inner thigh side of the bottom section 2
between the bottom edge of the bottom 4 and the area below the
knee, the edge guard 3 being a shock absorbing body such as an
elastic solid or viscoelastic body.
Inventors: |
Maruji; Hiroto; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Yonejima; Chizuko; (Toyama, JP) ; Muto;
Atsusi; (Toyama, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Maruji; Hiroto
Yonejima; Chizuko
Muto; Atsusi |
Tokyo
Toyama
Toyama |
|
JP
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
GOLDWIN TECHNICAL CENTER
INC.
Toyama
JP
GOLDWIN INC.
Toyama
JP
|
Family ID: |
46206755 |
Appl. No.: |
13/991681 |
Filed: |
December 10, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
December 10, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2010/072275 |
371 Date: |
June 5, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/231 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 13/0543 20130101;
A41D 13/0581 20130101; A41D 27/145 20130101; A41D 13/015 20130101;
A41D 1/082 20130101; A41D 27/12 20130101; A41D 13/0575
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/231 |
International
Class: |
A41D 1/08 20060101
A41D001/08; A41D 27/12 20060101 A41D027/12 |
Claims
1. Ski pants comprising an edge guard on the inner thigh side of
the bottom section between the bottom edge of the bottom and the
area below the knee, the edge guard being a shock absorbing body
such as an elastic solid or viscoelastic body.
2. The ski pants of claim 1, comprising a shock absorbing
body-attachment means for attachment of the shock absorbing body to
the bottom section.
3. The ski pants of claim 2, wherein the shock absorbing
body-attachment means is a shock absorbing body-housing section
that houses the shock absorbing body inside it.
4. The ski pants of claim 3, wherein the shock absorbing
body-housing section allows removable of the shock absorbing
body.
5. The ski pants of claim 4, wherein the shock absorbing
body-housing section comprises fall-off preventing means that
prevents the shock absorbing body from falling off.
6. The ski pants of claim 3, wherein the shock absorbing
body-housing section does not allow removable of the shock
absorbing body.
7. The ski pants of any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the shock
absorbing body-housing section comprises water removable means that
eliminates water that has entered the shock absorbing body-housing
section.
8. The ski pants of claim 7, wherein the water removable means is a
slit opening for water removable provided in the shock absorbing
body-housing section.
9. The ski pants of claim 2, wherein the shock absorbing
body-attachment means is bonding means that bonds the shock
absorbing body to the bottom section.
10. The ski pants of any one of claims 1 to 9, which comprises the
shock absorbing body on the back side of the bottom section.
11. The ski pants of any one of claims 1 to 9 which comprises, in
cases where the bottom section is composed of multiple different
fabrics, a shock absorbing body between the different fabrics or
between the different fabrics and on the back side of the bottom
section.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to ski pants provided with an edge
guard.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] When gliding with skis, the edges of the skis often touch
the bottoms of ski pants, at times resulting in tearing of the
bottoms. In order to prevent this, ski pants are known in the prior
art which comprise edge guards that protect the bottom sections
from the outer sides (PTLs 1 and 2, for example). In PTL 1, the
edge guards are composed of disposable parts that can be replaced
when necessary. The edge guards are made of a hard synthetic resin,
such as hard urethane resin. In PTL 2, each of the edge guards
constructed in a half-folded manner by a member with a size suited
for the bottom opening of the inside bottom on the outer side of
ski pants, is attached by piercing through the fabric of the ski
pants, with multiple protrusions extending from the inside member
of the edge guard and fitting with a receiving hole of the outer
side member, and it is anchored by a self-locking structure that
forms a protrusion. This edge guard is formed by a thin synthetic
resin, and preferably a semi-rigid synthetic resin.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0003] [PTL 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
2007-23456
[0004] [PTL 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
2002-180306
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0005] The edge guard of the invention is not intended for general
skiers (users). A conventional edge guard employs a hard material,
against potential tearing of ski pants on the edges of skis due to
error by the skier. The present invention, on the other hand, is
designed to counter phenomena that occur during gliding by advanced
skiers such as professional skiers, and it prevents rupture of the
bottoms of ski pants caused by strong impacts from the edges of
skis, and also prevents ripping, since there is no anchoring to the
ski pants. As mentioned above, hard materials such as hard
synthetic resins or semi-rigid synthetic resins are used as edge
guard materials. Edge guards that are rigidly anchored can
therefore constitute a hindrance to maneuvering by skiers, for whom
even a delay of less than 0.1 second is crucial during gliding with
skis. Moreover, if the edge guard is instead provided on the back
fabric side of the ski pants for reasons of design, this eliminates
the effect of preventing the phenomenon of tearing by the edges of
skis.
Solution to Problem
[0006] In order to solve the aforementioned problems, the invention
employs the following construction.
[0007] Specifically, the invention relates to ski pants comprising
an edge guard on the inner thigh side of the bottom section between
the bottom edge of the bottom and the area below the knee, the edge
guard being a shock absorbing body such as an elastic solid or
viscoelastic body. The bottom section is provided with shock
absorbing body-attachment means, to attach the shock absorbing
body. The shock absorbing body-attachment means is a shock
absorbing body-housing section that houses the shock absorbing body
inside it. Preferably, the shock absorbing body-housing section
allows removable of the shock absorbing body. In addition, the
shock absorbing body-housing section is provided with fall-off
preventing means that prevents the shock absorbing body from
falling off. The shock absorbing body-housing section may also be
one that does not allow removable of the shock absorbing body. The
shock absorbing body-housing section is further provided with water
removable means that eliminates water that has entered the shock
absorbing body-housing section. Preferably, the water removable
means is a slit opening to allow removable of water, and is
provided in the shock absorbing body-housing section. The shock
absorbing body-attachment means may also be bonding means by which
the shock absorbing body is bonded to the bottom section. The ski
pants of the invention are provided with a shock absorbing body on
the back side of each of the bottom sections. When the ski pants of
the invention have bottom sections composed of multiple different
fabrics, they may be provided with a shock absorbing body between
the different fabrics, or between the different fabrics and on the
back side of the bottom sections.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0008] According to the invention, the edge guard is flexible so
that maneuvering is not impeded by the edge guard when the user is
gliding on skis. Even if an edge guard is provided on the back side
of the bottom section or, when the bottom section is composed of
multiple different fabrics, between those different fabrics or
between the different fabrics and on the back sides of the bottom
sections, it is possible to prevent tearing of the ski pants by
impact from the edges of skis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an illustration showing ski pants according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0010] FIG. 2(A) is an illustration showing an edge guard provided
in ski pants according to an embodiment of the invention, and FIG.
2(B) is a cross-sectional view along A-A in FIG. 2(A).
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0011] Ski pants 1 according to an embodiment of the invention will
now be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The ski pants
1 comprise edge guards 3 to prevent tearing of the ski pants 1 by
impact from the edges of skis. The "edge" of a ski is an angle
formed by the gliding surface of the ski and the normal to the
gliding surface.
[0012] FIG. 1 is an illustration showing ski pants 1 according to
this embodiment of the invention. The ski pants 1 of this
embodiment are especially suited for use by an advanced skier. An
"advanced skier" is a skier who participates in skiing athletic
competitions, including slalom skiing, super giant slalom skiing,
and downhill skiing. Thus, the ski pants 1 are most preferably used
for skiing competition.
[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the ski pants 1 are provided with edge
guards 3 on the inner thigh side of each bottom section 2 between
the bottom edge of the bottom 4 of the ski pants 1 and the area
below the knee. The edge guard 3 is most preferably provided near
the bottom edge of the bottom 4, where the edge guard 3 is most
likely to contact with the ski pants 1. For an improved design
property and to prevent impairing the appearance of the ski pants 1
by the edge guard 3, the edge guard 3 is provided on the back side
(back fabric side) of the ski pants 1. Here, the fabric of the ski
pants 1 that can be seen from the outer side of the ski pants 1 is
referred to as the "front fabric", and the fabric on the back side
with respect to the front fabric is referred to as the "back
fabric".
[0014] The edge guard 3 is a shock absorbing body that absorbs
impacts incurred when the edge of a ski contacts the ski pants 1.
The "shock absorbing body" is a material that disperses and absorbs
impact force by elastic deformation of the material, or by elastic
deformation and viscous flow of the material. Therefore, the shock
absorbing body is preferably an elastic solid or viscoelastic body.
The shock absorbing body according to this embodiment of the
invention includes not only shock absorbing bodies composed of
shock absorption materials, but also shock absorbing bodies
comprising both shock absorbing materials and non-shock absorbing
materials. Such shock absorbing bodies do not include hard
materials such as hard synthetic resins, for example hard urethane
resins, or semi-rigid synthetic resins. The shock absorbing body
used in the edge guard 3 is not particularly restricted so long as
it absorbs impacts by the edges of skis, and shock absorbing bodies
include polyurethane-based resins, silicon-based resins,
acrylic-based resins, polyethylene-based resins, vinyl-based
resins, styrene-based resins, rubber, shock-absorbing gels,
polypropylene-based resins, polyolefin-based resins, polystyrene
resins, and combinations of the foregoing. Particularly preferred
are shock-absorbing resins, shock-absorbing rubber and
shock-absorbing gels, which have excellent ability to disperse and
absorb impact force through elastic deformation and viscous
flow.
[0015] The edge guard 3 provided on the back side of the ski pants
1 absorbs shearing stress generated when the edge of a ski contacts
with the ski pants 1, potentially tearing the ski pants 1. During
gliding on skis, therefore, it is possible to prevent contact of
the edges of the skis with the ski pants 1 from tearing the ski
pants 1 by impact. The present inventors have confirmed this by
experimentation. The experimentation that was conducted is
described below.
[0016] An edge guard 3 provided on ski pants 1 according to an
embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail with
reference to FIG. 2(A) and (B). FIG. 2(A) is an illustration
showing an edge guard 3 provided on ski pants 1 according to this
embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2(B) is a cross-sectional
view along A-A in FIG. 2(A).
[0017] As shown in FIG. 2(A) and (B), a pocket is formed by a
pocket fabric 51 and the back fabric 22 of the ski pants 1, the
rectangular edge guard 3 being housed in the pocket. In order to
prevent the edge guard 3 from falling from the pocket, a covering
fabric 52 is provided to seal the opening of the pocket formed by
the pocket fabric 51 and the back fabric 22 of the ski pants 1. The
pocket fabric 51 and covering fabric 52 are sewn onto the back
fabric 22 of the ski pants 1.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 2(B), the covering fabric 52 partially
overlaps with the pocket fabric 51, and the edge guard 3 can be
removed from the pocket while widening the overlapping section and
folding the edge guard 3, or the edge guard 3 can be housed in the
pocket through that section.
[0019] In order to prevent the edge guard 3 from moving in the
pocket formed by the pocket fabric 51 and the back fabric 22 of the
ski pants 1, the pocket is constructed to match the size of the
edge guard 3. That is, the size of the edge guard 3 is a size such
that the edge guard 3 cannot move when the edge guard 3 is housed
in the pocket.
[0020] The materials of the pocket fabric 51 and covering fabric 52
are selected from the group consisting of mesh fabrics, woven
fabrics, knitted fabrics, leather, and combinations of the same,
although there is no limitation to these. The material of the
pocket fabric 51 may be the same as or different from the material
of the covering fabric 52. The materials of the pocket fabric 51
and covering fabric 52 may also be the same as or different from
the material of the ski pants 1.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 2(B), slit openings for water removable 53
are formed at the two corners on the bottom edge of the bottom 4
side of the pocket fabric 51. These sections of the pocket fabric
51 are not sewn, and snow that has entered into the pocket formed
by the pocket fabric 51 and the back fabric 22 of the ski pants 1
can be eliminated as water through each slit opening for water
removable 53.
EXAMPLES
[0022] Test to confirm prevention of tearing of ski pants 1. Test
method
[0023] (1) A tester had both legs covered with ski pants, and then
ski boots were worn on both feet. The ski boots were covered by the
ski pants from the shin section to the bottom section. The ski
pants had the following cross-sectional structure: front fabric,
filling cotton, back fabric.
[0024] (2) At the overlapping section of the ski pants and ski
boots, a shock absorbing body pad made of soft urethane foam was
attached to the back side of the right leg of the ski pants. That
is, the right leg of the ski pants had a structure in which a shock
absorbing body pad was sandwiched between the fabric of the ski
pants and the ski boots. No shock absorbing body pad was attached
on the left leg of the ski pants.
[0025] (3) The tester held one ski in both hands, and forcefully
struck the ski boots on both legs 40 times each with the edge of
the ski, from above the ski pants. During this time, the striking
force of the edge of the ski against the ski pants was considerably
stronger than normally expected force.
[0026] (4) The damage to the ski pants covering the ski boots was
compared between the right leg (with a shock absorbing body pad)
and the left leg (without a shock absorbing body pad).
2. Test Results
[0027] (1) Right Leg of Ski Pants (with Shock Absorbing Body
Pad)
[0028] Scuffing produced by abrasion with the edge of the ski was
observed. Impact-caused cuts (holes) of approximately 3 mm were
observed at two locations in the front fabric.
(2) Left Leg of Ski Pants (without Shock Absorbing Body Pad)
[0029] Scuffing caused by abrasion with the edge of the ski was
observed. Impact-caused cuts (holes) of approximately 20 mm were
observed at 12 locations in the front fabric. Cuts of approximately
3 mm were observed at 9 locations. Of the 20 mm-sized cuts, 6 were
found to be deep enough to reach the filling cotton section.
(3) Discussion
[0030] By comparing test results (1) and (2), it was confirmed that
attaching an edge guard 3 to the back side of ski pants 1 has an
effect of inhibiting contact of the edge of skis with ski pants 1,
and tearing of the ski pants 1. In this experiment, the ski was
impacted with a much stronger force than expected when the edge of
a ski contacts with ski pants during ski gliding, and therefore no
tearing is to be expected even when the edge of a ski contacts with
ski pants during ski gliding.
[0031] The following functions and effects are exhibited by the ski
pants 1 of the embodiment described above.
[0032] (1) The edge guard 3 is a shock absorbing body composed of
an elastic solid or viscoelastic body. Since the edge guard 3 is
therefore flexible, maneuvering is not impeded by the edge guard 3
when the user is gliding on skis. The effect is particularly
notable for advanced skiers, for whom a delay of even less than 0.1
second is crucial during gliding on skis.
[0033] (2) The edge guard 3 is housed in a pocket formed by the
pocket fabric 51 and the back fabric 22 of the ski pants 1. This
allows the edge guard 3 to be easily attached to the back side of
the bottom section 2 of the ski pants 1. In addition, the front
side of the edge guard 3 is simply in contact with the back fabric
22 of the ski pants 1, without being anchored to it. This allows
deformation of the front side of the edge guard 3 without it being
constrained by the back fabric 22, so that reduction in the shock
absorbing force of the edge guard caused by attachment of the edge
guard 3 to the ski pants 1 can be minimized. Furthermore, since the
front fabric 21 and the edge guard 3 shift slightly when the edge
of a ski has contacted the ski pants, it is possible to further
inhibit rupture of the ski pants caused by impact of the edge
guard.
[0034] (3) The edge guard 3 can be removed from the pocket formed
by the pocket fabric 51 and the back fabric 22 of the ski pants 1.
This allows the edge guard 3 to be replaced in accordance with the
skiing skill level and preference of the user.
[0035] (4) A covering fabric 52 is provided, to prevent falling out
of the edge guard 3, on the pocket formed by the pocket fabric 51
and the back fabric 22 of the ski pants 1. This can prevent the
edge guard 3 from falling out while the user is gliding on
skis.
[0036] (5) Slit openings for water removable 53 are provided in the
pocket formed by the pocket fabric 51 and the back fabric 22 of the
ski pants 1, through which water entering the pocket is eliminated.
This can prevent melted water from collecting in the pocket even
when snow has entered the pocket.
[0037] (6) The edge guard 3 is provided on the back side of the
bottom section 2 of the ski pants 1. This can prevent impairment of
the appearance of the ski pants 1 by the edge guard 3, while also
avoiding tearing of the ski pants by the edges of skis. With
conventional hard edge guards, however, providing them on the back
sides of bottom sections 2 results in easy tearing of the ski pants
by the edges of skis, similar to how paper is easily cut on a hard
cutter mat.
[0038] The ski pants 1 of the embodiment described above may also
be modified, in the following manner.
[0039] (1) So long as the edge guard 3 can be attached to the
bottom section 2 of the ski pants 1, the means of attachment is not
limited to one that houses the edge guard 3 in the pocket formed by
the pocket fabric 51 and the back fabric 22 of the ski pants 1. For
example, bonding means such as a hook-and-loop fastener may be
provided on the front fabric 21 (see FIG. 2(B)) or the back fabric
22 of the ski pants 1 and on the edge guard 3, the edge guard 3
being attached to the bottom section 2 of the ski pants 1 by the
bonding means. This also allows the edge guard 3 to be easily
attached to the bottom section 2 of the ski pants 1. Also, if the
bonding means is one such that the edge guard 3 is detachable,
replacement of the edge guard 3 becomes possible.
[0040] Furthermore, if the front fabric 21 and edge guard 3 are
slightly shifted when the edge of a ski has contacted with ski
pants, it will be possible to further inhibit rupture of the ski
pants by impact of the edge guard, and therefore in cases where the
attachment means is one such that the front fabric 21 and edge
guard 3 are slightly shifted when the edge of the ski has contacted
with the ski pants, the attachment means is not limited to one in
which the edge guard 3 is housed in the pocket formed by the pocket
fabric 51 and the back fabric 22 of the ski pants 1.
[0041] (2) Housing of the edge guard 3 is not limited to housing in
the pocket, so long as the edge guard 3 can be housed. For example,
the edge guard 3 on the back fabric 22 of the ski pants 1 may be
covered by a prescribed fabric, the fabric being sewn without open
sections, for attachment of the edge guard 3. That is, the edge
guard may be housed and attached in a closed pouch that is
unremovable.
[0042] (3) The fall-off preventing means provided by the covering
fabric 52 is not limited so long as it can prevent falling off of
the edge guard from the pocket. For example, a fastener may be
provided on the opening of the pocket formed by the pocket fabric
51 and the back fabric 22 of the ski pants 1, to prevent the edge
guard from falling out from the pocket.
[0043] (4) So long as it is possible to eliminate water that has
entered the pocket housing the edge guard 3, the water removable
means is not limited to water-eliminating slit openings 53 provided
in the pocket. For example, it may be means allowing water to be
eliminated by forming the pocket fabric 51 or covering fabric 52
from mesh fabric.
[0044] (5) The edge guard 3 was provided on the back side (back
fabric 22 side) of the ski pants 1, but it may instead be provided
on the front side (front fabric 21 side) of the ski pants 1. In
this case as well, the edge guard 3 will be able to absorb impacts
from the edges of skis, and prevent tearing of the ski pants 1.
When the ski pants 1 comprise multiple different fabrics (for
example, the front fabric 21 and back fabric 22 in FIG. 2(B)), the
edge guard 3 may be provided between the multiple different fabrics
(for example, between the front fabric 21 and back fabric 22 in
FIG. 2(B)). This can also prevent impairment of the appearance of
the ski pants 1 by the edge guard 3, while also avoiding tearing of
the ski pants 1 by the edges of skis. An edge guard may also be
provided on the back side of the ski pants 1 and between the
multiple different fabrics. This can likewise prevent impairment of
the appearance of the ski pants 1 by the edge guard 3, while also
avoiding tearing of the ski pants 1 by the edges of skis.
[0045] (6) The shape of the edge guard 3 was rectangular, but there
is no limitation to this embodiment. For example, it may be
circular, semicircular, triangular or the like.
[0046] (7) The size of the edge guard 3 is not limited to the size
in this embodiment. Most notably, since the edge guard 3 of the ski
pants for this embodiment of the invention can reduce the degree of
hindrance the user feels from the edge guard 3, it can therefore be
made larger. For example, the edge guard may be provided on half of
the inner thigh around the bottom section of the ski pants, the
edge guard may be provided on half of the bottom edge side of the
bottom section, or the edge guard may be provided on half of the
inner thigh and half of the bottom edge side of the bottom. Since
the edge guard can thus be increased in size, it is possible to
more reliably prevent tearing of the bottom of ski pants when the
edge of a ski contacts with the bottom.
[0047] (8) If the ski pants 1 of the invention are provided with an
edge guard on the bottom section, such as across roughly the entire
bottom edge side of the bottom at the bottom section, tearing of
the ski pants 1 can be avoided even when the edge of the ski of
another person contacts with the ski pants 1. As explained above,
the edge guard 3 can be increased in size in the ski pants 1 of the
invention, thereby allowing this modification to be made. In the
case of snowboarding as well, since snowboarding pants can also
tear when contacted with the edge of the snowboard of another
person, the ski pants of the invention are suitable as pants for
snowboarding.
[0048] The aforementioned embodiments may be applied in combination
with one or more of these modifications. The modifications may also
be applied in combination with each other.
[0049] The explanation provided above is merely for illustration,
and the invention is in no way restricted to the construction of
the described embodiments.
EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS
[0050] 1 Ski pants [0051] 2 Bottom section [0052] 3 Edge guard
[0053] 4 Bottom edge of bottom [0054] 21 Front fabric [0055] 22
Back fabric [0056] 51 Pocket fabric [0057] 52 Covering fabric
[0058] 53 Slit opening for water removable
* * * * *