U.S. patent number 3,875,825 [Application Number 05/440,460] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-08 for ski sharpener.
Invention is credited to Bennie P. Buttafuoco.
United States Patent |
3,875,825 |
Buttafuoco |
April 8, 1975 |
Ski sharpener
Abstract
A device for sharpening skis having metal edges. The metal edges
comprise metal strips inset at the bottom edges and overhanging the
body of the ski. This becomes dull and dented in use, requiring
scraping and refinishing. The device comprises a generally
rectangular plastic member having a handle on the upper side. At
the bottom, the center portion is cut out to provide a central well
portion which fits over the bottom of the ski. A steel blade with a
flat file edge is resiliently mounted in each side wall of the well
so that the blades are resiliently urged against the edges of the
metal strips. The device is stroked back and forth along the ski
bottom to grind the metal edges. A file member may be inset in the
well portion at right angles to the blades, to contact the bottom
of the ski including the metal strip. This provides a finishing
action at the bottom and the sides simultaneously.
Inventors: |
Buttafuoco; Bennie P. (Euless,
TX) |
Family
ID: |
23748846 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/440,460 |
Filed: |
February 7, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
76/83; 76/88;
451/558 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B23D
67/12 (20130101); A63C 11/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63C
11/06 (20060101); A63C 11/00 (20060101); B23D
67/00 (20060101); B23D 67/12 (20060101); B23d
067/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;76/88,83 ;280/11.37T
;51/25WG |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,525,771 |
|
Apr 1968 |
|
FR |
|
1,017,965 |
|
Oct 1957 |
|
DT |
|
Primary Examiner: Vlachos; Leonidas
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Schwartz; Max
Claims
I claim:
1. A ski sharpener comprising a generally rectangular block of
material having a handle on one surface, a cut out portion on the
other surface sufficiently wide to loosely straddle a ski bottom
having metal strips along each side edge overhanging the ski edge,
file means slidably mounted on each wall of said cut out engaging
the ski strips to grind and sharpen the edges of the strips when
the device is manually reciprocated along the ski bottom, and a
pair of coil springs mounted behind each file means for resiliently
urging said file means against the ski strips.
2. A ski sharpener as in claim 1, wherein said cut out is provided
with a recess in each side wall thereof, said file means comprising
a flat blade slidably mounted in each recess, the outer edge of
each blade having a file cut surface, said coil springs being
mounted behind said blades.
3. A ski sharpener as in claim 2, wherein said block is provided
with spaced vertical stop pins adjacent each side of said blades,
said blades having integral extending lugs engaging said stop pins
to hold said blades in said block.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many skis are now constructed with a metal strip inset along the
edges at the bottom, with the metal overhanging the body of the
ski. This provides for speed and greater control. However, the
metal becomes dented and dull at the edges after repeated use. This
necessitates the entire replacement of the strip or a tedious hand
sharpening job.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a manually operable device for
simply and easily sharpening and renewing the edges of the metal
strips on a ski. A rectangular member, preferably of plastic
material, is provided with a handle on the upper surface and a cut
out well in the center of the bottom surface to accommodate a ski.
A metal blade with a file face is resiliently mounted in the side
wall on each side of the well cut out to bear against the side
edges of the metal strips with a resilient spring pressure. Now,
the handle is grasped and the device is pulled back and forth along
the bottom of the ski until the desired finishing is done. To
scrape and polish the broad side of the metal strips, the device
may be provided with a metal inset with a file face positioned in
the bottom of the well cut out. This will pass over the bottom of
the ski to grind and finish the ski bottom and strips while the
blades are sharpening the side edges.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device of the present invention
in position on a ski;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device;
FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 3--3 on FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is an enlarged section of a ski with the device mounted
thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 4 show the general
construction of a ski with the metal strips. The ski body 10 may be
wood, plastic, metal or any other conventional material. The top 12
is clear and usually carries the boot harness. At the bottom 14 of
the ski, a metal strip 16 is inset along each edge. The strips 16
are flush with the bottom surface 14 but the side edges of the
strips 16 overhang the body of the ski to provide the biting action
in the snow.
The sharpener of the present invention may be made of a plastic
material. When it is made of a transparent lucite, the mechanism
will be visible as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The device comprises a
generally rectangular block of material 18 having an elongated
handle portion 20 on its upper surface. On the opposite surface,
the body portion 18 is cut away at 22 to provide a well area of
sufficient width to loosely straddle a ski bottom 14, FIG. 4.
The side walls 24 of the cut out 22 are provided with horizontal
recesses 26. A flat file blade 28 is horizontally slidably
positioned in each recess. Each blade is rectangular and elongated,
FIG. 2, the rear edges having longitudinally extending integral
tabs 30. A pin 32 is mounted vertically in the body 18 on each side
of the blade 28 to act as stops when the tabs abut the pins 32.
This prevents the blades from sliding out of the recesses 26. In
back of each blade 28, the recess 26 is provided with spaced
openings 34 in each of which a coil spring 36 is mounted. The
springs 36 extend from the openings 34 to an integral lug 38 on the
back edge of each blade 28. The inner faces 40 of the blades 28 are
file cut.
It should be noted that when the ski 10 is turned over, bottom side
14 up, the device will straddle the ski, FIG. 4, with the file face
40 of the blades 28 being held resiliently but firmly against the
side edges of the strips 16. The blades 28 are much thicker than
the strips 16 to prevent scoring or ridges from forming on the
strips. Now, when the handle 20 is manually grasped and the device
is pulled back and forth along the ski bottom, the file faces 40
will rub against the side edges of the strips 16 and grind, polish
and sharpen the edges of the strips.
To simultaneously work on the flat bottom side of the strips, and
incidentally on the bottom 14 of the ski, an additional rectangular
metal member 42 is imbedded in the bottom of the cut out 22 with a
file cut surface 44 facing down, FIGS. 3 and 4. The surface ww is
just above the blades 28. Now, when the device is placed on the
ski, FIG. 4, a grinding and polishing occurs not only at the side
edges, but also on the bottom surface of the ski and the strips 16.
The device should be approximately 6 inches in width to comfortably
straddle the ski.
The device is simple in construction and easy and economical to
manufacture and assembly. Its operation is simple and the spring
pressed blades will accommodate variations in the ski widths. Other
advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to a
person skilled in the art.
* * * * *