EP1166834B1 - Alpine ski - Google Patents

Abstract

An elastic block (40) is inserted between the front end of a platform and a support zone (44) in front of the platform, the block compressible during the relative movements of the platform in relation to the upper face (5) of the ski (1) caused by the bending of the ski.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to the field of sliding sports and more especially downhill skiing. It is more specifically aimed at alpine skis equipped with platforms for raising the elements of the binding.

Previous techniques

It is widely known to equip the upper face of an alpine ski with a raising platform for receiving the fastening elements, namely the stop and the heel

This type of platform fulfills several functions, in particular that of raise the level of the abutment and the attachment to, for example, prevent sides of the shoe come into contact with the snow when the board is inclined.

Platforms are, in the vast majority of cases, produced by manufacturers different from those who develop and market skis. Moreover, these platforms are, most often, sold to be mounted on any ski market regardless of its brand and characteristics.

A constant concern with this kind of platform lies in the interaction of the stiffness of the platform with the intrinsic stiffness of the board. Indeed, in particular function of its anchoring on the upper face of the ski, the platform inevitably increases the stiffness of the whole and thus disturbs the stiffness intrinsic of the board studied in structure and dimensions to present certain mechanical properties.

This is why, in general, we try to limit the influence of stiffness of the platform with respect to that of the board. Thus, in known manner, it is ensured mounting the platform on the ski in such a way that at least one of these ends has a relative longitudinal movement capacity relative to the board.

Solutions of this type have in particular been described in the document US 4,896,895. The platforms described in this document have one end. which has an elongated opening inside which can slide a integral member of the upper face of the ski. The other end of the platform being firmly anchored in the board, the different bending movements of the board cause the sliding of one end of the platform relative on the upper face of the board. This limits the influence of the stiffness of the platform opposite that of the board. Such a phenomenon of unbridling is very widely sought after.

Other embodiments such as that illustrated in US 2,560,693, use a platform fixed by its central part in the ski, and each of which end is tied to the upper face of the ski allowing relative movement by longitudinal sliding.

DE 4317,675, corresponding to US 5,474,321, discloses another type of platform comprising a central support zone traversed by ski binding elements. The front and back ends of this platform are cantilevered above the top surface of the board.

All these solutions aim to reduce the parasitic effect of stiffening conferred on the ski by the platform, to allow the ski to keep the mechanical characteristics that have been defined to him by his designer so that he is part of a specific product range.

A problem that the invention proposes to solve is that of integrating the rigidity characteristics of the platform to that of the ski, from the conception of this one. The platform being an additional piece reported on the ski, the means of anchoring to the ski, as well as the connecting surfaces between the ski and the platform must meet a number of constraints.

Indeed, it is conceivable that when the two ends of the board are firmly anchored by screwing for example on the upper face of the board, creates excessive mechanical stresses on the screws or the means anchoring the platform on the board because the platform is relatively rigid.

Very significant shear forces are exerted on the screws when the board is deformed and on the contrary the platform remains straight.

A problem that the invention proposes to solve is that of ensuring a controlled rigidity of the board / platform assembly, while allowing anchoring platform that is mechanically reliable and efficient.

Presentation of the invention

The invention relates to an alpine ski having a mark or midpoint of shoe, indicating the position of the middle of the shoe, and equipped with a platform raising element comprising front, central and rear zones.

• la plateforme repose sur le ski par l'intermédiaire de trois pieds situés respectivement dans les zones avant, centrale et arrière de la plateforme, la hauteur mesurée entre la face inférieure du pied et la face supérieure de la plateforme étant minimale pour le pied situé dans la zone centrale ;
• la plateforme est ancrée sans coulissement sur le ski au moins au niveau des zones avant et centrale, le point d'ancrage situé dans la zone centrale étant positionné en avant du point de milieu de chaussure situé sur le ski, les points d'ancrage étant distants longitudinalement d'une distance comprise entre 150 et 300 millimètres ;
• il comporte un plot en matériau élastique inséré entre l'extrémité avant de la plateforme et une zone d'appui située devant la plateforme, ledit plot étant apte à être comprimé lors des mouvements relatifs de la plateforme par rapport à la face supérieure du ski, consécutif à un cintrage de ce dernier.

This set is characterized in that:

• the platform rests on the ski via three feet located respectively in the front, center and rear areas of the platform, the height measured between the lower face of the foot and the upper face of the platform being minimal for the foot located in the central area;
• the platform is anchored without sliding on the ski at least at the front and central zones, the anchor point located in the central zone being positioned in front of the middle point of the boot located on the ski, the anchoring points being distant longitudinally by a distance of between 150 and 300 millimeters;
• it comprises a stud of elastic material inserted between the front end of the platform and a bearing zone in front of the platform, said stud being able to be compressed during relative movements of the platform relative to the upper face of the ski, following a bending of the latter.

In other words, the platform comes to bear on the board at the level of three points forming support wedges whose thicknesses are determined for avoid annoying the natural camber of the board whose thickness is maximum with regard to the central area of the platform.

Part of the stresses exerted on the anchor is also diminished by the presence of a compressible element situated in front and / or behind ends of the platform.

In addition, it has been observed that the stresses exerted on the anchor points forward and central are acceptable without embrittlement of the whole, if the two points are separated by a distance of less than 300 millimeters, and on the other hand, if the platform acts in opposition to the deformation of the ski through the stud elastic band inserted between the end of the platform and the support zone located on the ski, in front of the end of the platform.

In addition, it has been observed that the stresses exerted on the anchoring screws are lower when the platform is screwed onto the board in front of the middle of shoe.

In practice, the feet of the platform may consist of additional independent elements forming a support wedge and placed between the underside of the platform and the upper face of the board, or even be an integral part of the platform and form protuberances under the face lower of the latter.

In practice, good results have been obtained concerning the holding of the screws effort when the intermediate anchor point is at the level of the central area of the platform, but without necessarily being in the middle geometry of the latter.

In a preferred form, the anchoring points at the central and front of the platform are separated longitudinally by a distance between 200 and 230 millimeters.

In addition, the positioning of the platform on the ski determines the stiffness distribution. Thus, according to the invention, the central anchor is advantageously arranged in front of the center shoe mark traced on the ski, that is to say between 5 and 50 millimeters forward in the direction of the spatula and advantageously between 20 and 35 millimeters.

Advantageously in practice, the ski may comprise a second stud in elastic material coming into contact with the rear end of the platform, and being also able to be compressed during the relative movements of the platform by relative to the upper face of the board.

In a preferred form, the platform may include an anchor back, that is to say located close to the rear foot, this anchoring point being be expected to link with or advantageously without sliding the back of the ski platform. In the latter case, it is a question of maintaining the back of the platform resting on the top of the ski, to maintain the lateral guidance but allow longitudinal movement to the ski at this anchor point.

Advantageously in practice, the stud or pads may have a hardness between 40 Shore A and 95 Shore A.

In a particular form, the hardness of the front stud may be greater than that of the rear block, which allows a stiffening of the front of the ski, which is interesting because it is the front of the ski which, by registering firmly in the snow allows good cornering accuracy (without skidding or chatter).

Brief description of the figures

La figure 1 est une vue de côté de la zone patin d'un ski équipé d'une plateforme conformément à l'invention.

La figure 2 est une vue de dessus de la figure 1.

La figure 3 est une vue en coupe longitudinale selon le plan III-III' de la figure 2.

La figure 4 est une vue en coupe transversale selon le plan IV-IV' de la figure 2.

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

Figure 1 is a side view of the skid zone of a ski equipped with a platform according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view from above of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view in longitudinal section along the plane III-III 'of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the plane IV-IV 'of FIG. 2.

Way of realizing the invention

As already stated, the invention relates to an alpine ski equipped with a platform of raising the attachment.

More precisely, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the gliding board (1) receives the platform (2) at its skate zone. This platform (2) is constituted a metal plate that has a constant width on almost all its length.

Obviously, the invention is not limited to this geometry but covers other variants in which the width of the platform can be variable.

In the form illustrated in FIG. 1, the platform (2) comprises of each side two extensions (3, 4) coming substantially in contact with the face upper (5) of the board (1).

In one embodiment, these extensions come to bear on shims made of viscoelastic material or ABS.

These wedges (13, 14) allow a more direct transmission of efforts in direction of the edges. Nevertheless, the invention covers variant embodiments in which these extensions are not planned.

The platform (2) can be made according to different techniques. So, he can be a profile with longitudinal cavities intended to lighten the platform itself. The platform can also be made from of a massive plate or other.

As already said, the platform (2) rests on the upper face (5) of the ski by three feet (10, 11, 12), respectively at the level of the rear area (6), central (7) and front (8) of the platform.

The feet (10, 11, 12) can be formed as in the form illustrated by independent support blocks, added during the mounting of the platform (2) on the board (1). They may also, in a form not shown, be constituted by two protuberances forming an integral part of the platform. These feet (10, 11, 12) allow to ensure the elevation of the platform (2) itself. According to one characteristic of the invention, the foot (11) situated at the level of the central zone (7) has a height h ₂ less than the heights h ₁ , h ₃ of the feet (10, 12) situated at the level of the zones respectively rear (6) and front (8) of the platform.

More specifically, the height h ₁ , h ₂ , h ₃ of each foot is measured between the underside of the foot (10, 11, 12) and the upper face of the platform (2).

In practice, the difference in height between the central foot (11) and the two front and rear feet (10, 12), is of the order of 1 millimeter. In this way, the camber natural ski is not disturbed when setting up the platform (2).

The raising platform (2) is secured to the board (1) by screwing at least the front zone (8) and the central zone (7). More precisely, in the form illustrated in FIG. 2, the platform (2) comprises at the level of the central zone (7) two orifices (15, 16) receiving two screws (17, 18). These two screws (17, 18) have a head whose thickness is housed inside the platform. The diameter of these screws corresponds substantially to the openings therethroughs (19, 20) in the shim (11), so that the screws (17, 18) are set up on the board with a minimum of play compared to the platform.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the two screws (17, 18) are arranged in front of the mark (9) located on the ski, materializing the middle position of the shoe. More specifically, in the illustrated example, the two screws (17, 18) are away from the point (9) of the middle of the boot by a distance d1, of 27 millimeters direction of the spatula.

At the front zone (8), the platform comprises two other orifices (23, 24) receiving two screws (25, 26). These two screws (25, 26) pass through the shim (12) with a minimum of mechanical play to come to anchor in the structure of the board (1).

In the form illustrated in FIG. 2, the screws (25, 26) are distant from the screws (17, 18) of the central zone (7) by a distance d2 equal to 223 millimeters. Of course, these distances are given only by way of example, and the invention covers the variants in which these distances are adapted according to the geometry of the board and the platform.

At the rear area (6), the platform includes two lights elongate through-holes (30, 31) within which screws (32, 33) penetrate. These lights (30, 31) comprise a shoulder intended to prevent any movement of the platform (2) upwards. The lights (30, 31) are elongated in a longitudinal direction to allow a slight sliding of the rear area (6) of the platform relative to the anchoring point that constitutes the screws (32, 33). The screws (32, 33) pass through the rear wedge (10) by lights which can be either lengthened if the wedge is secured to the platform, or of a diameter identical to that of the screws (32, 33) if the shim is free with respect to the platform (2).

In a non-illustrated embodiment, the rear area (6) of the platform can also be firmly anchored to the board, and therefore have three zones of solidarity on the board, which increases the stiffness of the whole.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the ski comprises two studs (40, 41) coming into contact with the end of the platform (2). More precisely, the front stud (40) has a rear face (42) which comes into contact from the front end of the platform (2).

The geometry of the stud (40) can be adapted according to that of the platform (2), for example to increase the contact area. In the form illustrated, the stud (40) is associated with a stop (44) which is secured to the face top of the board, so as to constitute a fixed area of the ski against which supports the front face (46) of the stud (40). In this way, when the ski (1) bends, and that the front stop (44) therefore has a tendency to come closer to the face of the platform (2), the stud (40) is compressed between the front end (42) of the platform and the rear face (46) of the stop (44). In this way, some of the stresses generated on the screws (25, 26) is supported by the stud (40), which limits the risk of shearing the fastening screws (25, 26).

Of course, other modes of setting up the plot on the board may be considered provided that the principle of the invention is respected, and that the stud (40) can be compressed when bending the ski. Thus, it is possible to secure the stud (40) only by gluing on the upper face of the board, or else by screwing through the thickness of the stud (40) itself, or still by pinching thanks to the screws (25, 26) of an extension of the stud passing towards the back under the platform.

The stop may also be formed by a boss formed in the same structure of the ski's upper face.

Likewise, the invention is not limited to the sole embodiment in which both ends of the platform are equipped with a pad of material elastic, but it also covers variants in which only one of these studs is present.

In practice, the studs (40, 41) consist of an elastic material of the type natural rubber whose stiffness has an impact on the behavior of the ski.

Thus, when the material for producing the stud (40) has a hardness between 40 Shore A and 70 Shore A, the ski according to the invention has a relatively comfortable behavior, especially for a versatile practice.

Conversely, when the rubber used has a hardness between 70 and 95 Shore A (corresponding to 45 Shore D), the skiing behavior is more steep, and therefore destines such a ski to a competitive practice. In case the ski has two front and rear studs, mixes in the hardnesses of the studs optimize the behavior.

Thanks to the combination of these different provisions, it has been observed that mechanical stresses experienced by the fastening screws for clamping the board are not excessive, which ensures a certain reliability to the whole.

• intégration de la raideur de la plateforme à celle de la planche ;
• possibilité de varier le comportement en faisant varier les différents paramètres : bridage arrière ou non, plot avant, plot arrière, différentes duretés,
• pouvoir assurer un bridage de la plateforme par rapport au ski tout en assurant une fiabilité mécanique de l'ancrage.

It follows from the foregoing that the ski according to the invention has the following advantages:

• integration of the stiffness of the platform to that of the board;
• possibility to vary the behavior by varying the different parameters: rear clamping or not, front stud, rear stud, different hardness,
• ability to clamp the platform relative to the ski while ensuring mechanical reliability of the anchor.

Claims (11)

1. Alpine ski having a mark (9) termed "boot middle point" indicating the position of the middle of the boot, and equipped with a mounting platform (2) comprising front (8), central (7) and rear (6) zones,
   characterized in that:

   the platform (2) rests on the ski (1) via three feet (10, 11, 12) situated respectively in the front (8), central (7) and rear (6) zones of the platform (2), the height (h₁, h₂, h₃) measured between the lower face of the foot (10, 11, 12) and the upper face of the platform (2) being a minimum for the foot (11) situated in the central zone (7);

   the platform (2) is anchored without sliding by screwing at least in the front (8) and central (7) zones, the anchoring point (17, 18) situated in the central zone (7) being positioned in front of the boot middle point (9), the anchoring points (17, 18, 25, 26) situated in the central zone and in the front zone being separated longitudinally by a distance d₂ of between 150 and 300 millimeters;

   it comprises a block (40) of elastic material inserted between the front end (42) of the platform (2) and a support zone (44) in front of the platform, said block (40) being compressible during the relative movements of the platform (2) in relation to the upper face (5) of the ski (1), due to bending of the latter.
2. Ski according to claim 1, characterized in that the feet are an integral part of the platform and form protuberances under the lower face of said platform.
3. Ski according to claim 1, characterized in that the feet consist of independent support wedges (10, 11, 12) fitted between the lower face of the platform (2) and the upper face (5) of the ski.
4. Ski according to claim 1, characterized in that the anchoring point (17, 18) situated in the central zone (7) is separated from the boot middle point (9), indicated on the ski, by a distance d₁ of between 5 and 50 millimeters, preferably between 20 and 35 millimeters.
5. Ski according to claim 1, characterized in that the anchoring points (17, 18, 25, 26) in the central (7) and front (8) zones are separated longitudinally by a distance d₂ of between 200 and 230 millimeters.
6. Ski according to claim 1, characterized in that the block (40) has a hardness of between 40 Shore A and 95 Shore A.
7. Ski according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a second block (41) of elastic material, which comes into contact with the rear end (43) of the platform (2) and is compressible during the relative movements of the platform (2) in relation to the upper face (5) of the ski.
8. Ski according to claim 7, characterized in that the hardness of the front block (40) is greater than the hardness of the rear block (41).
9. Ski according to claim 1, characterized in that the rear zone of the platform is anchored without sliding on the ski.
10. Ski according to claim 1, characterized in that the rear zone (6) of the platform is anchored with a capacity for sliding on the ski.
11. Ski according to claim 1, characterized in that the platform (2) has two lateral extensions (3, 4) bearing on the upper face (5) of the ski via wedges (13, 14) of viscoelastic material.

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