EP0820791A1 - Apparatus for moving on snow - Google Patents

Abstract

The combined snow shoe and ski consists of a mesh supporting surface to distribute the weight of the wearer when walking, fastening plates (15,16), and a smooth surface zone (2) for sliding over the snow, forming a short ski. The mesh surface and the ski surface are located at an angle of 60-120 degrees and preferably 100 degrees to one another. The mesh surface of the snow shoe or ski has a surrounding frame, one section of which forms the short ski, while the opposite section (4) is of substantially smaller width. The two ends of the frame forming the front and rear of the ski are curved.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to the field of winter sports, and more specifically to that of snow-moving vehicles such as in particular snowshoes hiking on snow. It is more particularly aimed at racket architecture allowing a versatile practice of hiking.

Previous techniques

To date there are many forms of snowshoes allowing the practice hiking on snow. Generally, a racket has a surface bearing surface very much greater than that of the sole of a shoe, and this in order to take a large support on the snow and to distribute the pressure corresponding to the weight of the user, and thus prevent the user from sinks into the snow.

In addition, this bearing surface has means of attachment of the user's shoe. We know many variations of making this type of racket. So very many different shapes have been proposed. It has also been proposed to open up this bearing surface to achieve weight gains. It has also been proposed to give the shoe a articulation capacity in relation to the bearing surface to facilitate walking.

Thanks to such rackets, the user progresses by walking on surfaces snowy, whether uphill, flat or downhill.

In other words, a traditional racket is planned to progress not to not on snow, by prohibiting any sliding. A downward slope is, therefore, quite delicate to negotiate due to the inertia due to the mass of the skier risking prevail in fall before.

It has been proposed in documents US 2,410,702 to equip a ski with two wings foldable sides constituting half rackets.

More specifically, the ski comprises on each of these edges, a set of hinges allowing the pivoting of the two lateral wings to bring them one position where they are parallel to the surface of the ski corresponding to walking in racket configuration, to a position where they are raised laterally to only use the ski function.

However, this device has multiple drawbacks, namely a apart, that the use of hinges is tricky in terms of reliability in conditions of humidity and frost encountered in the practice of hiking on snow.

On the other hand, when the device is in the sliding configuration, the position raised wings, and in particular internal wings which are opposite a foot to the other poses a problem of space and impedes the progression of the user.

The problem which the invention therefore proposes to solve is that of facilitating the progression of the snowshoe in the descent areas, using a simple machine, ergonomic and mechanically robust.

Statement of the invention

The invention therefore relates to a snow-moving vehicle, of the type comprising a bearing surface intended to bear on the snow and to distribute the pressure corresponding to the weight of the user, means for securing the boot of the user with the machine, as well as an area constituting a short ski of slips.

The machine according to the invention is characterized in that the sliding surface of said short ski is adjacent to the bearing surface and forms an angle with said bearing surface.

In other words, the invention consists in giving the racket a shape specific enabling it to simultaneously provide the lift function for walking on the flat and uphill, and the sliding function downhill. The passage from one configuration to another is effected by pivoting the racket corresponding to an angle of 60 to 120 ° formed between the two useful surfaces. The machine is monolithic and does not undergo any configuration changes for move from one function to another.

In a first practical embodiment, the bearing surface is limited by a frame of which one of the edges constitutes the short gliding ski. Other said, the characteristic frame performs both the support function of the surface bearing and sliding skate.

We therefore use the racket to walk or to slide depending on the orientation we give to the racket.

When using a closed frame, it was observed that the ergonomics of the snowshoeing was optimal when the sliding surface made an angle of 90 ° to 110 ° with the bearing surface.

In other words, thanks to this angulation, when the gliding pad is set to flat on snow, the opposite part of the frame is offset transversely and comes lean on the inside of the user's lower leg, allowing a better guidance of short skiing, especially in edge grip.

For the same purpose, the side of the frame opposite the short gliding ski can be advantageously of a height clearly lower than that of the skate. when the racket is in the sliding position, the frame is offset from the base of the skate sliding.

In a practical embodiment, the frame has a general shape rectangular with the front and rear ends corresponding to the short sides of the rectangle are curved. In this way, one of the long sides of the rectangle serves as a ski short of gliding and the curved ends act as raised ends for this same skate. We thus achieve a good compromise between short ski length of gliding and carrying surface of the racket.

To ensure the attachment of the shoe, in one embodiment, the frame has two spacers connecting two opposite sides of the frame serving as support by securing the shoe to the bearing surface. By example the spacers can be transverse and connect the side forming the ski short of sliding and the opposite side.

In an alternative embodiment, the side forming the short gliding ski has additionally a means of securing the boot to the short ski of slips.

Advantageously, the means for securing the shoe to the surface can be pivoted relative to the short gliding ski to serve as a means of securing the shoe to the gliding pad.

In another embodiment, the bearing surface is formed by two front and rear frames respectively connected by a connecting element serving as sliding skate. In other words, in this case, the bearing surface is broken down into two separate areas. The association of these two frames is then advantageously carried out by the gliding pad itself.

In another alternative embodiment, the bearing surface is formed of a rigid reinforcement consisting of a main beam and transverse branches, and a light structure secured to the main beam and the transverse branches rigid reinforcement.

Brief description of the drawings

The manner of carrying out the invention as well as the advantages which flow therefrom will emerge clearly from the description of the embodiments which follow, in support appended figures in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of a machine according to a first mode of realization of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same element.

Figure 3 is a median cross section along arrows III-III of the Figure 2, shown in the on position.

Figure 4 is an identical section of the same racket shown in position sliding.

Figures 5 and 6 are summary perspective views of a pair of snowshoes according to the invention shown excessively apart, respectively in the running position and in the sliding position.

Figures 7 and 8 are schematic rear views of a pair of snowshoes fitted, in walking and sliding positions respectively.

Figures 9 and 10 are summary perspective views of a racket according to a second embodiment of the invention, shown respectively in walking and sliding position.

Figure 11 is a top view of another alternative embodiment.

Way of realizing the invention

As already said, the racket according to the invention has a surface load-bearing intended for walking in solidarity with a sliding shoe allowing it, like a ski, to slide on a downhill slope.

Obviously, multiple architectures allow to respect the spirit of the invention, and the latter is not limited to the exemplary embodiments which follow.

Thus, in a first embodiment, the racket consists of a frame (1) of generally elongated shape.

More specifically, this frame (1) has two parallel sides (2, 4) connected by the front and rear ends (3, 5) forming arcs of a circle.

The lower face (6) of this frame (1) is planar except in the ends (3,5), and receives the bearing surface (7) of the racket. This bearing surface (7) can be made up in a wide variety of ways, for example by an attached solid plate, or advantageously by one or more perforated plates, without this modifying the spirit of the invention.

Thus, in the form shown, this bearing surface (7) is subdivided into two fractions (8, 9) located respectively in the front and rear part of the racket.

In accordance with an essential characteristic of the invention, one of the sides (2) of the frame (1) constitutes the gliding pad which makes it possible to progress like a skiing, on a downhill slope.

Thus, this side (2) has an external face (10) arranged to present a reduced coefficient of friction. It can be for example a sole in one material used to make the skis possibly bordered by metal edges (not shown).

As seen in Figure 2, the height (H2) of the side (2) forming the shoe glide is clearly greater than the height (H4) on the opposite side (4).

Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the sole (10) of the skate glide (2) forms with the bearing surface (7) a characteristic angle.

Typically this angle a is between 60 and 120 °, and preferably around 100 °.

The combination of this angle a with the height difference (H2 - H4) of sides of the frame allows clearance above the gliding pad necessary for passage of the leg provided with the user's shoe when the racket is in "slide" position (figure 8).

It is also useful for the edge (4) to come to rest on the shoe or on the user's calf to allow a more efficient edge grip, so better grip of the gliding pad.

In the form shown in Figures 1 to 4, the frame (1) has two transverse spacers connecting the sides (2, 4). These spacers (20, 21) reinforce the transverse rigidity of the racket and receive a plate (15) for fixing the user's shoe. Obviously, these crosspieces (20, 21) can be replaced by any equivalent means, in particular a transverse plate or longitudinal (not shown).

In accordance with a characteristic of the invention, the upper face (22) of the gliding pad also receives a plate (16) for fixing the ski boot.

The use of the racket according to the invention is as follows.

When the user wishes to progress uphill or on the flat, he positions the racket flat, that is to say with the bearing surface (7) in contact with snow, as shown in Figure 5 or 7.

He then ties his shoes to the racket and walks as if with traditional snowshoes.

Subsequently, when he decides to place his snowshoes in the sliding position, he takes off his snowshoes, rotates them relative to the ridge (24) to arrange them according to figure 6 or 8.

He just needs to secure his shoe to the second plate (16) to be able to then progress on the slippery slope.

Depending on the geometry, degrees of symmetry of the snowshoes, chosen fastening systems, the user can, in the "on" position, either have the sliding pads (10) on the outside of each of its legs (see FIG. 7), or inside (not shown), as well as in the "sliding" position, it can have the load-bearing surface (7) either inside (see Figure 8) or outside (not shown) of each of its legs.

According to a second variant embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the bearing surface can be separated into two zones (30, 31) respectively before and rear connected by the gliding pad (33). Obviously, these bearing surfaces individual (30, 31) are arranged coplanarly and in alignment with the edge (34) of the gliding pad (33).

In this case, the sliding surface (30, 31) can be perpendicular gliding pad (33). The shape of the bearing surfaces (30, 31) can be optimized in such a way that the plumb of the gliding shoe at the level of the fixing (35) is cleared.

In the form shown, the mounting plate (35) is advantageously articulated with respect to the shoe (33) about a longitudinal axis (36) to allow the attachment of the shoe in the two positions of the racket with the same means. The locking in position of the mounting plate (35) can by example be made by a retractable stop (38), sliding along the axis longitudinal of the short ski.

In another alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11, the surface load-bearing (40) is constituted by a rigid, branched frame (41) comprising a central beam (42) and transverse branches (43,44), on which is stretched a light structure (45). This light structure can be produced, as already said, from multiple ways, and in particular by an openwork plate or a textile fabric, without change the spirit of the invention. In this case, the short ski (46) has its surface of slides (47) almost perpendicular to the bearing surface. The short ski is connected to the bearing surface (40) by the ends (48) of certain transverse branches (43).

It appears from the above that the racket according to the invention allows concomitantly ensuring walking in a flat or uphill snowfield, and progression by sliding on a snowy slope.

So the user finds additional sensations until then unknown in snowshoeing, and increase route possibilities.

Claims (12)

Snow-moving vehicle, of the type comprising: a bearing surface (7; 30,31) intended to come into contact with the snow in the running position and to distribute the pressure corresponding to the weight of the user; means for securing (15, 16, 35) the shoe of the user to the machine, a zone constituting a short gliding ski (2), characterized in that the sliding surface (10) of said short ski is adjacent to the bearing surface (7) and forms an angle with the bearing surface (7). Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding surface (10) makes an angle a between 60 ° and 120 ° with the bearing surface (7). Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the sliding surface (10) makes an angle of approximately 100 ° with the bearing surface (7). Machine according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the bearing surface (7) is limited by a frame (1) and in that the short gliding ski is constituted by one of the edges (2) of the frame ( 1). Machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the frame (1) has a transverse plane of symmetry. Machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the side (4) of the frame (1) opposite the short gliding ski (10) is of height (H4) significantly less than that (H2) of the short gliding ski (2) . Machine according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the frame (1) has a generally rectangular shape whose front (3) and rear (5) ends are curved. Machine according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the frame (1) has at least one transverse and / or longitudinal spacer (20, 21) connecting two opposite sides (2, 4) of the frame, said spacers serving of support to the means for securing (15) the boot to the machine. Machine according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the side (2) forming a short gliding ski has means for securing (16) the boot to the short gliding ski. Machine according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the bearing surface (7) is formed by two frames (30, 31) respectively front and rear connected by a connecting element (33) serving as a short gliding ski . Machine according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the bearing surface (40) is formed of a rigid frame (41) consisting of a main beam (42) and transverse branches (43,44), and a light structure (45) secured to the main beam (42) and to the transverse branches (43,44) of the rigid frame (41). Machine according to claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the means for securing the boot to the bearing surface are pivotable relative to the short gliding ski to serve as a means of securing the boot to the short gliding ski ( 33).

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