EP0744196B1 - Snowboard with bindingdevice - Google Patents

Abstract

The ski has a sole (8), with lower edges (9) and reinforcing (10), a core (14) and an outer surface (13). In its central zone the sole and outer surface form wings on each side that project outwards. An inverted U-shaped piece (17) is placed over the outer surface of the ski and its upper surface (20) forms a rigid platform. The ends of the branches (18) of the U-shaped piece are fixed to the wings or they can be fixed to the edges or the reinforcement. The outer surface of the ski has hollows in which the branches are fixed.

Description

The present invention relates to a board for sliding on snow comprising a device for mounting a binding of a shoe. The board according to the invention can be an alpine ski, a cross-country ski cross-country, a monoski or a surf, mainly a hull board, that is to say not having wide side reinforcements or edges, the shell can, however, be lined with a reinforcing fabric.

Traditionally, a ski is equipped on its face upper, of a binding for a shoe, this binding comprising the more often a front stop and, for an alpine ski, a heel which are placed on the upper face of the ski and which are fixed by screwing in the body of the ski.

An alpine ski according to the invention is very schematically consisting of a lower set consisting of a sole bordered by edges metallic, and possibly covered with a reinforcing element, and a upper assembly composed at least of a filling core, a reinforcing element and an outer shell in part in the form hull.

In the case of a hull ski, the base of the hull is very often made up of two lateral edges resting on part of their width on the lower assembly, i.e. directly on the edges metal, either on the reinforcing element covering these edges, or finally on an intermediate film (adhesive film or elastic film). In such a ski to hull, due to the offset of the edges outwards relative to the surface support of the foot on the ski, and due to the fact that the side walls of the shell, even associated with reinforcing elements, have a medium stiffness, the effectiveness of the support on the edges is limited, especially in the mounting area of the binding which undergoes the transmission of forces between the skier's foot and the snow.

To ensure proper guidance of the ski, it is important that the transmission of forces between the skier's shoe and the edge of a ski building on the snow is as direct as possible. The number important structural elements of the ski through which must pass the forces between the snow and the shoe, constitute areas of loss efficiency, this being an unfavorable factor for good guidance of the ski.

This phenomenon is amplified when using a heightening for mounting the shoe binding.

Because the current skis are narrower on the skate, that is to say in the mounting area of the fasteners, than previously, the boot overflows on either side of the side walls of the ski. It results, when taking edges on a steep slope, that the shoe can rest on the surface of the snow, which results in a imbalance of the skier which can cause his fall, or at least him waste time, which is detrimental during a competition.

To remedy this drawback, it was imagined to climb, on the upper face of the ski, a raised plate which allows a greater angulation of the ski compared to the snow before the sole of the shoe is supported on the surface of the latter.

Document CH 288 757 relates to a fully ski metallic comprising a lower strip forming the surface of slip, which is substantially planar, and an upper strip of section transverse in general trapezoidal shape, fixed on the lower band and ensuring resistance to torsion. In the central part of the ski, on the upper band, a support plate used for mounting the fixing of the shoe is fixed by means allowing relative movement longitudinal. This link being sliding, it does not allow a support direct, therefore effective, of the user's efforts on the lower edges ski.

Some plates are metallic and simply attached to the upper face of the ski, forming only spacers between this upper face and the plate of the stop or the heel piece.

It is also known to fix, on the upper face of the ski, a raising plate constituted by a layer of visco-elastic material, glued to the ski, and covered with a constraint plate. Different forms of execution based on this basic concept are possible, as described in particular in documents FR-A-2 638 651 and FR-A-2 664 823.

Such a solution ensures, in addition to the elevation of the shoe compared to snow, a function of unleashing the shoe compared to skiing, and also a cushioning function, in particular by shearing the layer of visco-elastic material between the upper face of the ski and the stress plate. When bending a skiing, there is an approximation of the toe and the heel components of the binding which exert pressure on the sole of the boot resulting in stiffening of the ski in this area and therefore by a modification of the behavior of the ski compared to its theoretical behavior. It is therefore interesting to avoid this phenomenon by ensuring a certain unclamping of the shoe-binding assembly relative skiing, giving the latter freedom of deformation.

It is also known from document EP-A-0 490 044 of make a ski consisting of a first lower assembly or base and a second upper assembly or stiffener fixed on the base. The stiffener plays the role of a platform of considerable length on which is mounted the binding of the shoe.

In the solutions mentioned above, the fixation is mounted on an element itself fixed on the upper face of the ski. Gold, to ensure the best possible guidance of the ski, it is important that the transmission of forces between the edge of a ski, supported on the snow, and the skier's shoe is as direct as possible. The interposition of a raised platform increases the number of elements by which must pass the forces between the snow and the shoe, which is an unfavorable factor for good ski guidance.

Document FR-A-2 590 179 describes a cross-country ski containing a stabilization plate placed inside the ski, under the wall upper part thereof, and the ends of which are bent in the direction of the sole. This plate has, at least along one of its edges longitudinal, a downward extension arranged inside the ski and forming an angle of 5 to 45 ° with the corresponding side wall of the ski.

Document EP-A-0 490 043 considered to be the closest state of the art relates to a ski comprising a body on which is fixed, by its ends, an elongated element forming stiffener. A platform, U-shaped, and intended for mounting a fixation covers the stiffener and rests on the body of the ski at the ends of its branches (see in particular Figures 1-6).

Document EP-A-0 563 569 relates to a ski of the same general structure as that described in document EP-A-0 490 043, but in which the stiffener is made in two parts.

The document EP-A-0 577 947 relates to a ski of the same general structure than those described in the two documents which previous, but in which the stiffening element is constituted by a central and longitudinal rib.

The object of the invention is to provide a sliding board for shell fitted with a device for mounting the attachment of a shoe ensuring the most direct transmission of forces between the snow and the skier's shoe.

• au moins un élément inférieur en forme de patte situé sur au moins un côté de la planche et prenant appui sur celle-ci,
• au moins un élément supérieur qui, disposé au-dessus de la paroi supérieure ou au niveau de cette paroi, forme une plateforme rigide pour le montage de la fixation, et
• au moins un élément de liaison entre chaque élément inférieur et chaque élément supérieur, disposé à l'extérieur du corps du ski, l'ensemble : élément inférieur-élément de liaison et élément supérieur étant rigide, c'est-à-dire indéformable,

est caractérisée en ce que chaque élément inférieur est disposé à l'extérieur de la planche et prend appui directement sur les arêtes inférieures de la planche, ou recouvre latéralement la paroi de la partie inférieure de la planche et en ce que, dans les zones comportant les éléments inférieurs, les éléments de liaison et l'élément supérieur, la coque présente des décrochements vers l'intérieur, ménageant des passages pour les éléments inférieurs, les éléments de liaison, et éventuellement l'élément supérieur. L'effort exercé par le pied du skieur est transmis directement au travers du dispositif pour le montage de la fixation, composé de la plateforme, de la liaison et d'au moins une patte, aux arêtes inférieures du ski. Dans un tel cas, la force ne transite donc pas par la structure du ski donc par les différents composants de celui-ci susceptibles d'absorber une partie de cette force. La partie supérieure ou plateforme est soit surélevée par rapport à la surface supérieure de la coque, soit au contact de cette dernière, soit enfin encastrée dans un logement prévu dans cette surface supérieure.To this end, the board it concerns, comprising a device for mounting a shoe binding, this board comprising a lower wall intended to bear on the snow, constituted by a sole bordered by lower edges and possibly associated a reinforcing element, an upper wall parallel to the lower wall and two side walls connecting the lower and upper walls, these different walls delimiting a volume filled by a filling core, the upper wall and the side walls being constituted by a shell associated with a reinforcing element and whose lateral edges bear on the lower edges of the board, the board being equipped in its central part or pad area of the device for mounting the binding for a shoe consisting of:

• at least one lower leg-shaped element located on at least one side of the board and resting on it,
• at least one upper element which, placed above the upper wall or at the level of this wall, forms a rigid platform for mounting the fastener, and
• at least one connecting element between each lower element and each upper element, arranged outside the body of the ski, the assembly: lower element-connecting element and upper element being rigid, that is to say non-deformable,

is characterized in that each lower element is arranged outside the board and bears directly on the lower edges of the board, or laterally covers the wall of the lower part of the board and in that, in the areas comprising the lower elements, the connecting elements and the upper element, the shell has inward recesses, providing passages for the lower elements, the connecting elements, and possibly the upper element. The force exerted by the skier's foot is transmitted directly through the device for mounting the binding, composed of the platform, the connection and at least one tab, at the lower edges of the ski. In such a case, the force therefore does not pass through the structure of the ski, therefore through the various components of it capable of absorbing part of this force. The upper part or platform is either raised relative to the upper surface of the shell, or in contact with the latter, or finally embedded in a housing provided in this upper surface.

According to a first embodiment, in each zone of the shell intended to receive a lower leg-shaped element, the lower assembly defines a horizontal surface used to support a lower leg-shaped element.

According to a second embodiment, the lower assembly has a recess locally removing the horizontal surface and the lower leg-shaped element itself constitutes the lower edge ski.

According to one embodiment of this ski, the lower elements, of connection and the platform consist of at least one part monobloc in general shape of inverted U.

According to another embodiment, the lower elements, of connection and upper are constituted by a monobloc piece of section in general shape of L, of which a wing is associated with the upper face of the ski and whose other wing is associated with the inner side wall of the ski, if we consider the two skis of the same pair placed side by side.

The upper wing can be in contact with the upper face of the ski or arranged above it, with or without the interposition of a layer of visco-elastic material. The vertical wing is advantageously fixed by gluing against the corresponding side wall of the ski.

In the case of a board comprising a hull whose side walls are tilted up and down and from the inside towards outside, in the areas comprising the lower elements and the connecting elements, the inclination of the side walls of the shell varies in a direction of approximation with the perpendicular to the plane of the sole, and is associated with a reduction in the width of the lower body of the ski, to allow a greater support surface for the elements lower on the lower ski assembly.

According to one embodiment of this ski, the element or elements lower the connecting element (s) and the upper element extend over the entire mounting length of the shoe binding, the element upper forming a continuous platform. Depending on the configuration of the one-piece assembly, the lower and connecting elements are combined.

Insofar as the ski comprises a one-piece piece of U-section, connecting and lower elements have slots spread over its length, opening into its lower edge, substantially perpendicular to it. These slots allow the device for mounting the fasteners to flex longitudinally, thus avoiding clamping the ski in the binding area, as would be the case case if the connecting elements were continuous and spanned the entire length of the device.

According to another embodiment of this ski, in the case of a Alpine skiing, the lower elements, the connecting element (s) and the element upper are arranged in two distinct offset sub-assemblies longitudinally, the front one of which is used for mounting the front stop and including the rear one for mounting the heel of the binding.

According to one possibility, the raising device is asymmetrical with respect to the median longitudinal plane of the ski. For example, the number and the longitudinal position of the various connecting elements and lower are different along the two sides of the platform.

According to another embodiment, the platform is to length greater than that of the lower legs-shaped elements, and protrudes longitudinally on either side of them.

Advantageously, in the case where the platform is arranged above the upper face of the ski, a layer of visco-elastic material is interposed between the upper face of the ski and the platform.

The platform can either be used for mounting a binding standard, for example screwed, or be constituted by a slide forming the base receiving the body of the shoe binding, stopper or heel. This second solution makes it possible to limit the number of parts constitutive of the whole, since a single piece plays both the role of platform and the role of the longitudinal slide, in which is mounted adjustable, and in known manner, the fixing body.

Figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un premier ski équipé d'une plateforme s'étendant dans toute la zone de montage des fixations ;

Figure 2 est une vue en perspective, à échelle agrandie, de la partie centrale ou zone de patin du ski de figure 1 ;

Figure 3 est une vue en perspective, similaire à figure 2 d'un autre ski ;

Figures 4 et 5 sont deux vues en coupe transversale du ski de figure 3 respectivement selon les lignes IV-IV et V-V de figure 3 ;

Figure 6 est une vue de dessus de la partie centrale d'un ski équipée d'un dispositif de surélévation asymétrique pour le montage d'une fixation ;

Figure 7 est une vue de profil d'un autre ski ;

Figures 8 à 10 sont des vues en coupe transversale, similaires à figure 5, de trois autres formes d'exécution de ce ski ;

Figure 11 est une vue de dessus d'une autre forme d'exécution de ce ski.

In any case, the invention will be clearly understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawing representing, by way of nonlimiting examples, several embodiments of this ski:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first ski equipped with a platform extending throughout the mounting area of the bindings;

Figure 2 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the central part or skate area of the ski of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 2 of another ski;

Figures 4 and 5 are two cross-sectional views of the ski of Figure 3 respectively along lines IV-IV and VV of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a top view of the central part of a ski equipped with an asymmetrical raising device for mounting a binding;

Figure 7 is a side view of another ski;

Figures 8 to 10 are cross-sectional views, similar to Figure 5, of three other embodiments of this ski;

Figure 11 is a top view of another embodiment of this ski.

FIG. 1 represents an alpine ski 2 comprising a tip 3, a heel 4 and a central part or pad area 5 intended to receive a shoe binding consisting of a stop 6 and a heel piece 7. The ski in question comprises, as shown more especially in the FIG. 4, a lower assembly composed of a sliding sole 8, longitudinal metal edges 9 arranged on either side of the sole, and a lower reinforcement 10. The upper part of the ski, that is to say the upper wall and the side walls thereof are delimited by a shell 12 whose internal face is associated with an element 13 of enhancement. The core of the ski is for example made of foam expanded synthetic material 14. As can be seen from the drawing, the shell 12 has an upper wall 15 which, seen in section, is substantially parallel to the sliding sole 8, and two inclined side walls 16 each from top to bottom, i.e. from the top wall 15 towards the sole 8 and from the inside to the outside. In the central part of the ski, the upper wall 15 has a width L. In this central part, and more precisely in the mounting area of the binding, this width L remains constant, but the inclination of the side walls 16 varies in approaching the perpendicular to the plane of the sole, with a narrowing of the width of the ski body, in the lower part of this one. As shown in Figure 5, it follows from this form the provision of horizontal wings on either side of the ski body. These two horizontal wings serve, in the embodiment shown in the Figure 1, mounting a part 17 in the form of an inverted U, the ends 18 of the branches form lower elements intended for lean on the horizontal wings, and whose branches 19 constitute connecting elements with an upper element 20 forming a platform for mounting the stopper 6 and the heel piece 7. The recesses made laterally at the level of the ski body allow the passage of the branches 19 without the latter overflowing from the side and on the other side of the ski sole. If, in the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the lower ends 18 of the branches 19 are supported on the hull, they could just as easily rest directly on the lower assembly, that is to say on the edges 9 or on elements of reinforcement, such as the reinforcement element 10 or the reinforcement element reinforcement 13. In order to favor the flexibility of the heightening, the branches 19 constituting the intermediate elements have slots 22 opening downwards. It would also possible to completely lighten the branches 19 while keeping only parts 23 forming pillars at the ends.

FIG. 3 represents an alternative embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, in which the ski body has two narrowed parts 24, at level of each of which is arranged a piece forming a small platform, respectively 25 and 25a for mounting the stop 6 and the heel piece 7. The part 25 is similar to the part 17 defined previously, except that its dimensions are reduced. The part 25a is constituted by a slide open upwards, forming base for the longitudinally adjustable mounting of the body of the heel piece of the binding.

Figure 6 shows a top view of the central part of another ski comprising an asymmetrical raising device by relation to the median longitudinal plane of the ski, constituted by a platform 32 bearing on the edges by means of two legs 40 located near its two ends along one of the edges of the ski, and by means of a single tab 42 located substantially at mid-length on the other side of the ski. The two devices corresponding to two skis of the same pair being symmetrical with respect to a plane longitudinal median passing between the two skis, it is possible to modify the behavior of the skis by reversing the two skis of the same pair. If the edges each having two legs 40 are located on the side inside, the skis have good behavior when cornering large radius of curvature, as is the case in giant slalom, while if the edges each having a tab 42 are located on the inside, the skis have good behavior in lower turns radius of curvature, as is the case in special slalom.

Figure 7 shows another ski, seen from the side, in which the raising element, seen in cross section, has a U shape, composed of a platform 20 associated by a connecting element 43 with lower elements 44 in the form of legs, bearing on the edges, each element 44 centered on the platform 17 being of length less than the length of the latter. Platform 17 is therefore mounted cantilevered with respect to the legs 44.

FIG. 8 represents another embodiment of this ski, in which the same elements are designated by the same references than before. In this case, the ski is equipped in its skate area of an L-shaped part 45, one wing 46 of which bears on the face upper of the ski and the other wing 47 of which is arranged vertically along from one of the side walls of the ski and rests on the lower assembly. Wing 47 is located on the side of the inner wall, if we consider a pair of skis in which the two skis are placed flat one next to the other.

Figure 9 shows an alternative embodiment of the Figure 8, in which a layer 48 of visco-elastic material is interposed between the upper face of the ski and the wing 46 of the part 45.

FIG. 10 represents another embodiment of this ski, comprising a part 49 of U-shaped section, similar to the part 17 of figure 5. In this case, one of the vertical branches 50 of the U rests on the lower assembly of the ski, while the other branch 52 of the U is plated against the lower assembly, and constitutes, by its lower end 52a, the rigid lower edge of a cross-country ski or the edge of the ski when it is an alpine ski comprising edges, as is the case in FIG. 10.

Figure 11 shows, in top view, a ski 53 comprising a shell whose side walls are substantially perpendicular to the sole of the ski and to the upper face thereof. In this case, in the skate area, the hull has two 54 inwards recesses each intended to allow passage legs and connecting elements thereof with the upper wall or platform for mounting the binding.

In addition, this ski has a clearance 55 allowing the housing of the lower end 52a of the device 49.

As is apparent from the above, the invention provides a great improvement to the existing technique by providing an equipped ski of a platform, and whose structure is such that the transmission of efforts between the snow and the binding of the shoe is carried out the most directly possible at the lower edges of the ski.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited only to embodiments of this ski, described above by way of examples, it on the contrary embraces all variants.

This is especially how the upper element or platform could be built into the upper side of the ski, or the invention could target another type of gliding board, such as skiing cross-country, monoski or surf, without leaving the framework of the invention.

Claims (16)

1. Board for gliding on snow, including a device for mounting a boot binding, this board comprising a lower wall designed to bear on the snow, composed of a sole bordered by lower corners and optionally associated with a reinforcing element, an upper wall parallel to the lower wall and two side walls connecting the lower and upper walls, these various walls delimiting a volume filled with a filler core, the upper wall and the side walls consisting of a shell associated with a reinforcing element and the sides of which bear on the lower corners of the board, the board being equipped in its central part or support region with the device for mounting the boot binding, this device consisting of:

   at least one lower element (18, 40, 42, 44), in the form of a foot, located on at least one side of the board and bearing thereon,

   at least one upper element (20, 32) which, arranged above the upper wall (15) or level with this wall, forms a rigid platform for mounting the binding, and

   at least one connecting element (19, 43) between each lower element (18, 40, 42, 44) and each upper element (20 32), and arranged outside the body of the ski, the assembly consisting of the lower element, the connecting element and the upper element being rigid, that is to say non-deformable.

   characterized in that each lower element (18, 40, 42, 44) is arranged to the outside of the board and bears directly on the lower corners (9) of the board, or laterally covers the wall of the lower part of the board and in that in the regions containing the lower elements, the connecting elements and the upper element, the shell has inward recesses (54) forming passages for the lower elements, the connecting elements and, optionally, the upper element.
2. Board according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in each region of the shell intended to accommodate a lower element in the form of a foot, the lower assembly defines a horizontal surface used for supporting a lower element in the form of a foot.
3. Board according to Claim 1, characterized in that the lower assembly has a recess locally interrupting the horizontal surface, and the lower element (52a) in the form of a foot itself constitutes the lower corner of the board.
4. Board according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the lower (18) and connecting (19) elements and the platform (20) consist of at least one monobloc piece in the general shape of an inverted U.
5. Board according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the lower, connecting and upper elements consist of a monobloc piece (45) of cross section in the general shape of an L, one flank (46) of which is associated with the upper face of the board and the other flank (47) of which is associated with the inner side wall of the board, when considering the two skis of the same pair placed one beside the other.
6. Board according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, including a shell whose side walls are inclined downwards and outwards, characterized in that, in the regions containing the lower elements and the connecting elements, the inclination of the side walls (16) of the shell becomes closer to the perpendicular to the plane of the sole and is associated with a width reduction of the lower part of the body of the board in order to permit a larger bearing area for the lower elements on the lower assembly of the board.
7. Board according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the lower elements (18), the connecting element or elements (19) and the upper element (20) extend over the entire length where the boot binding is mounted, the upper element forming a continuous platform.
8. Board according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the connecting elements (30) and the lower elements forming feet include slots (33), distributed over its length and terminating in its lower extremity, substantially perpendicularly thereto.
9. Board according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the or each upper element forming a platform (20) is longer than the connecting and lower elements (23) which are arranged at its ends.
10. Board according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, in the case of an alpine ski, the lower elements (18), the connecting element or elements (19) and the upper element (20) are arranged in two separate longitudinally offset subassemblies, the front one of which is used for mounting the toe piece (6) and the rear one of which is used for mounting the heel piece (7) of the binding.
11. Board according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the device for mounting the binding is asymmetrical with respect to the longitudinal mid-plane of the board.
12. Board according to Claim 11, characterized in that the number and the longitudinal position of the various connecting and lower (40, 42) elements differ along the two sides of the platform (32).
13. Board according to Claim 1, characterized in that the upper element forming a platform (20) is longer than the lower elements (44) in the form of feet and protrudes longitudinally on either side of them.
14. Board according to Claim 5, characterized in that, in the case where the upper element forming the platform (46) is arranged above the upper face of the board, a layer (48) of viscoelastic material is interposed between the upper face of the board and the platform.
15. Board according to any one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the upper element forming a platform is intended for mounting a standard boot binding.
16. Board according to any one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the upper element (25a) forming a platform consists of a slide channel forming the base accommodating the body of the boot binding, toe piece or heel piece.

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