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.

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.

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.