U.S. patent number 3,795,993 [Application Number 05/324,354] was granted by the patent office on 1974-03-12 for ice crampons.
Invention is credited to Ludgar Simond.
United States Patent |
3,795,993 |
Simond |
March 12, 1974 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
ICE CRAMPONS
Abstract
The invention relates to an ice-crampon wherein the spikes or
nails disposed under the boot sole are arranged along two
rectilinear rows, one on the inner side and the other on the outer
side of the boot.
Inventors: |
Simond; Ludgar (Chamonix,
Haute-Sevoie, FR) |
Family
ID: |
9093797 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/324,354 |
Filed: |
January 17, 1973 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Feb 15, 1972 [FR] |
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72.05673 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/7.6;
36/114 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43C
15/068 (20130101); F21S 45/48 (20180101) |
Current International
Class: |
A43C
15/06 (20060101); A43C 15/00 (20060101); A43b
003/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;36/2.5R,2.5AJ,7.6,59R,62,64 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Lawson; Patrick D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Ross; Karl F. Dubno; Herbert
Claims
What I claim as new is:
1. An ice crampon for mounting on the underside of a boot for
mountain-climbing stability in the presence of ice-covered
surfaces, especially for lateral-blocking engagement with an
ice-covered surface, said crampon comprising at least one frame
structure provided with at least two sets of spikes on opposite
sides of the longitudinal axis of the crampon, each of said sets of
spikes including at least five spikes projecting downwardly from
said frame, all of the spikes of one of said sets lying in a first
rectilinear row and all but one end spike of the other set lying in
another rectilinear row, said rectilinear rows converging toward
one another rearwardly of the boot.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to ice crampons, of the
type currently used by ice climbers. Whatever their nature,
arrangement, mounting and adjustment method, ice crampons have a
common characteristic, that is, they comprise means for detachably
securing them under the boot soles and also spikes or nails
distributed along the outer periphery of the soles and enabling the
user to take a firm grip on the ice surface.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
A typical prior art ice crampon arrangement as seen from beneath
(FIG. 1) has spikes which are essentially curvilinear. Each dark
spot designates the position of a spike; it is therefore clear that
this spike arrangement is curvilinear on both left-hand and
right-hand sides of the crampon.
This arrangement is generally satisfactory for most users; however,
it is objectionable for mountain climbers who, as they climb up a
very steep ice surface, apply the modern technique consisting in
climbing with one foot disposed longitudinally, that is, parallel
to the slope axis, and the other foot disposed transversely to
provide a lateral blocking action. However, this lateral blocking
action is neither sufficient nor reliable, for the number of nails
or spikes penetrating into the ice is then reduced to only two.
This is due to the fact that only the uphill spikes can bite the
ice, the downhill ones bearing simply on the ice surface; on the
other hand, due to the curvilinear arrangement of these spikes, the
number of operative uphill spikes is reduced to two, all the other
uphill spikes remaining inoperative.
Now this is a serious inconvenience and it is the primary object of
the present invention to avoid this inconvenience by providing an
improved crampon structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To this end, the present invention provides an ice crampon of which
all the spikes disposed under the boot sole are arranged on two
rectilinear rows, one on the inner side and the other on the outer
side of the boot.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 shows the prior art as noted above:
FIG. 2 is a plan view from above showing the basic principle of the
improved ice crampon according to this invention, this figure being
comparable with FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side elevational view showing the position
of a crampon on an ice slope;
FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the points of
engagement and therefore of operation of a crampon according to
this invention and according to the prior art on an ice slope,
and
FIG. 5 is a plan view from above of a crampon according to this
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The basic principle of this invention is clearly apparent from FIG.
2 of the drawing; as in the case illustrated in FIG. 1 concerning a
conventional-type crampon the different points visible in FIG. 2
designate the positions of the nails or spikes carried by the
crampon. These points and therefore the corresponding spikes are
designated by the reference numeral 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 as far as the
inner side of the crampon is concerned. It is obvious, and this
constitutes the primary object of this invention, that these points
and therefore the spikes are disposed along a straight line denoted
A-B for the inner side and C-D for the outer side of the crampon.
Regarding the inner side, all the spikes are strictly aligned on
this straight line; on the outer side, only the foremost or front
spike is somewhat off-set inwards in relation to the line on which
the other spikes are aligned. In fact, it is clear that if this
foremost spike were disposed on the same straight line, it would
lie in an abnormally outward position with respect to the general
crampon structure and therefore to the boot.
The advantages deriving from this specific arrangement, wherein the
crampon spikes are disposed on two straight lines or rows, will be
readily understood by referring to FIGS. 3 and 4. In these figures,
the reference numeral 6 designates diagrammatically an ice slope on
which the climber's crampon must be disposed transversely for
performing what is usually referred to as a "lateral blocking
effect." In this position, only the spikes disposed on the inner
side of the crampon bite into the ice surface while the spikes
disposed on the outer side simply bear on the ice surface, as shown
in FIG. 3.
However, it should be noted that in the case of a conventional
crampon of the type illustrated in FIG. 1, only the points, nails
or spikes 2 and 4 actually bite the ice, since the plurality of
them are disposed on a curved path.
On the other hand, the crampon according to this invention bears
with its five spikes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 since they are all aligned on
a same straight line, as clearly apparent from FIG. 4.
Under these conditions, the crampon according to this invention
will bite much more efficiently the ice slope than the conventional
crampon.
FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a crampon according to this
invention; however, it should not be construed from this specific
construction that the invention is limited thereby, since many
modifications and variations may be brought thereto without
departing from the basic principle of the invention as set forth in
the foregoing and in the appended claim. Thus, notably, the number
of spikes and the general shape of the crampon may be modified
without departing from the original features of this invention.
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