EP1314459B1 - Improvement for a snowboard - Google Patents

Abstract

The ski/snowboard (1) consists of a main section or base (2) with a sliding sole and raised front tip (8), an additional lengthwise upper panel (3) with boot fastenings. The additional panel is narrower than the base, between 30 and 60 per cent of the base's length, and has one or more lateral recesses. It is fitted into a cavity in upper surface of the base which has inward-facing lateral projections (18a, 18b) to engage with the recesses. A variant of the design can incorporate shock absorbing inserts of a rubber or elastomer material between the sides of the additional panel and the base.

Description

The present invention relates to a board for gliding on snow such as a ski, a monoski, a surf, or other. It concerns more particularly an improvement relating to a gliding board comprising a base and an additional element intended to receive the user's shoe retaining attachment.

The practice of sliding sports is gaining more and more followers and has terribly evolved in recent years with more and more practitioners more demanding in terms of product quality. This is, for example, the case snow sports.

We already know many models of boards and in particular of skis which consist of an elongated beam whose front end is raised to form the tip, while the lower surface includes a sliding sole bordered by metal edges.

Despite all the efforts made by the manufacturers to satisfy customers, to date, there is no ski that perfectly combines the comfort of use and satisfactory characteristics of behavior in trajectories, whatever the type of terrain, and whatever whatever the user. Some attempts have been made, such as by example by constructions disclosed by French patents 2,670,392 and 2,675,391. But to satisfy the diversity imposed by the market each manufacturer offers a large number of models each of which has its own characteristics. This requires the manufacturer to manage a large number of models, which reduces the production series and considerably increases the manufacturing costs. The plaintiff, by his ski, disclosed by French Patent No. 2,726,193, has already proposed a ski construction according to which a body is provided on which is fixed a platform, and a body can correspond to different platforms. However, despite the enormous progress that this construction, we realized that improvements are still possible.

The present invention provides versatile skis consisting a base and an additional element including the cooperation of shape gives the whole ski its necessary characteristics, too much comfort than ski driving. Furthermore, the structure of the ski according to the invention makes it possible to limit the number of sizes of the same model.

Thus, the gliding board according to the invention is of the type which has a main part, called body or base, on the face upper of which is fixed at least in the area of the skate, an element longitudinal complement intended to receive, the fixing (s) of retaining the user's shoe, said base having the shape of a elongated beam with a sliding sole, the end of which front is raised to form a spatula, and is characterized in that the longitudinal complementary element has the form of an elongated plate whose width measured between its side edges is less than the width of the base, and at least one of its lateral edges has a hollow profile, so that the complementary element includes a front part connected to a rear part by a zone of lesser width, and in that the lateral retention of the element complementary is carried out at least partially by embedding the complementary element in a housing made in the base, which comprises at least one lateral retaining rim comprising a projection internal lateral intended to cooperate with the hollow profile of the element complementary.

According to an additional characteristic, the length of the additional element is between 30% and 60% of the length of the base.

According to another characteristic, the housing produced in the base is a recessing housing bounded laterally by two flanges lateral retaining sides projecting from the bottom surface housing and whose central area includes for each edge an internal lateral projection extending towards the median plane.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the area of least width of the complementary element is located substantially in the area center of the complementary element and each of the side edges includes a hollow profile; so the left side border includes a left hollow profile, while the right side border includes a straight hollow profile.

Add that, according to this preferred mode, the hollow profiles have a curved profile, while the corresponding projections are curved complementary, so that each of the projections constitutes a projection of retainer ensuring lateral and longitudinal retention of the element complementary to the base.

According to an alternative embodiment, the complementary element is consisting of two individual and independent complementary elements adjacent, each of these individual elements comprising its own hollow profile on its external lateral border which is in lateral support on the corresponding rim of the base, while the internal lateral projection of the rim cooperates with the corresponding hollow profile.

Note that a given base can correspond to a set of several different complementary elements which can either be different lengths, either of different thicknesses, or have different mechanical characteristics intended to give the ski constituted by the base and its element complementary to the characteristics of different behaviors.

Let us also add that at a given base can match several complementary elements of lengths different and of different shapes, especially in terms of their front and rear ends.

According to an alternative embodiment, at a determined base correspond to several complementary elements, at least one of which comprises at least one end clearance at the front and / or at the rear, and in that the housing, and in particular its bottom surface, is configured to cooperate with one or other of the complementary elements including the front end and / or the rear end comprises at least one zone in staircase shape to correspond to the clearance of the ends of the complementary element.

According to an alternative embodiment, the complementary element is consisting of two adjacent individual complementary elements, while it can be expected that these are separated by a space longitudinal, which comprises an intermediate element having damping properties. This element is for example made of material elastically deformable, such as rubber, elastomer rubber, viscoelastic rubber, or any material equivalent.

According to other variants, an intermediate element is provided having damping properties disposed between the member and the lateral retaining edge (s).

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge of the description which will follow with regard to the appended drawings which are not given as non-limiting examples.

Figures 1 to 9 show a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side view of the ski whose element is not placed on the base.

Figure 2 is a side view of the ski, the complementary element being placed on the base.

Figure 3 is a top view of the complementary element alone.

Figure 4 is a top view of the base alone without sound complementary element.

Figure 5 is a top view of the ski with the base is equipped of its complementary element.

FIGS. 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, are sectional views along A-A, B-B, C-C, D-D, E-E, on a larger scale of the base alone.

FIGS. 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e, are sectional views along A-A, B-B, C-C, D-D, E-E, on a larger scale of the ski, i.e. of the base provided with its complementary element.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the ski, before setting place the complementary element on the base.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the ski, with its base equipped, with its complementary element.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 illustrate alternative embodiments by partial top views.

Figures 13, 14 and 15 are side views similar to the Figure 1 showing improvements of the invention.

FIG. 16 is a partial side view in longitudinal section, showing an alternative embodiment relating to the connection between the base and the complementary element.

Figures 17 and 18 are side views of two variants of the complementary element.

Figure 19 illustrates a base with three elements additional possible.

Figures 19a, 19b, 19c show a top view of three skis different, formed by an identical base but equipped with one or the other is complementary to the previous figure.

Figures 20 and 21 are top views showing two more execution variants.

FIG. 22 shows an alternative embodiment of the ski of the figure 21.

Figures 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, 23e and 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, are similar views to FIGS. 7a, 78b, 7c, 7d, 7e, showing two variants execution.

Figures 25 and 26 are top views of two other execution variants.

The ski with the general reference (1) is a set of shapes elongated having a median vertical longitudinal plane (P) of symmetry general whose front is raised to form the spatula (8).

The ski (1) consists of a main part which we call body or base (2) on the upper surface of which is fixed at least in the shoe area (4) an additional element (3) intended to receive or the retaining attachment of the boot the user.

The base (2) is the element in contact with the snow and has the form of an elongated beam having on its lower surface a sole of sliding (6) bordered laterally by lateral edges (7a, 7b) metal.

The base (2) is an elongated beam whose front end is raised to form the tip (8) of the ski. This base (2) has its own distribution of thickness, coastline, width and stiffness and can be of all types and constitutions.

Thus, the elongated beam constituting the base (2) can be of all types of designs such as those known to date as, for example, sandwich type, box type, even mixed and made of a set of elements and components known in themselves.

The complementary element (3) has the form of an elongated plate comprising two side edges (9a, 9b) extending between one end front (10) and a rear end (11).

The width (T1) of the complementary element (3), namely, the width (T1) measured between its lateral edges (9a, 9b) is less than the width (T2) of the base (2) at the location of the measurement. According to one characteristic of the invention, the complementary element (3) is such that at least one of its lateral edges (9a and / or 9b) comprises a profile recessed (12a and / or 12b), so that said complementary element (3) comprises a front part (13) connected to a rear part (14) by a narrower area (15). Note that the length (L1) of the element complementary (3) is less than the length (L2) of the base (2). As example, it will be noted that the length (L1) of the complementary element (3) can be between 30% and 60% of the length (L2) of the base (2). Thus the length (L1) of the complementary element can have, for example, a length between 50 and 100 centimeters.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the area of lesser width (15) is located substantially in the central zone (16) of the complementary element (3) and each of the side edges (9a, 9b) includes a hollow profile (12a, 12b). So the left side border (9a) includes a left hollow profile (12a), while the border right side (9b) includes a straight hollow profile (12b).

As for the base (2), the complementary element (3) has its own configuration and structure. It has its own thickness distribution, in width and stiffness and can be of all types of construction. So, said complementary element (3) can be a one-piece element made of one and the same material. But, it can be of a completely different conception as, for example, such that the front part (13) is different in its material and / or design of the rear part (14).

The base (2) is such that its upper surface includes a housing (17) produced in the base intended to ensure the retention, in particular the lateral retention of the complementary element (3) on said base (2).

According to a characteristic of the invention, the lateral retention of the complementary element (3) is produced by at least one lateral projection internal (18a, 18b) projecting towards the median plane (P) and intended to cooperate with the corresponding hollow profile (12a, 12b) of the element complementary (3).

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing (17) made in the base (2) is a limited mounting housing laterally by two lateral lateral retaining edges (19a, 19b) projecting from the housing bottom surface (20) and the central zone includes a lateral projection for each of the edges internal (18a, 18b).

Thus, the base (2) comprises a straight edge (19b) comprising a right projection (18b) and a left flange (19a) comprising a projection left (18a).

It has been understood that, according to the preferred mode of the invention, the projection right (18b) is extended forward by a right front edge (19'b) and backwards by a right rear edge (19 "b), while the left projection (18a) is extended forwards by a left edge (19'a) and towards the rear by a left rear edge (19 "a).

Clarifications that, according to the preferred mode, hollow profiles (12a, 12b) have a curved profile, while the corresponding projections (18a, 18b) are of complementary curved shape. So each of the projections constitutes a retaining projection ensuring lateral retention and longitudinal of the complementary element (3) relative to the base (2).

Of course, the hollow profile or profiles (12a, 12b) as well as the the protruding profiles (18a, 18b) may or may have other shapes like those illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, namely, triangular, rectangular, even square.

Furthermore, the left retaining projection (18a) with its flange front left (19'a) and its rear left edge (19 "a) is symmetrical by relative to the plane (P) of the right projection (18'b) with its front right edge (19'b), its right rear edge (19 "b). But it could be otherwise as, for example, this is shown in Figure 12 where the two projections lateral (18a, 18b) are longitudinally offset, that is, one of the projections is, for example, located further back than the other of the projections.

According to an additional characteristic, to a base (2) corresponds to a set of several complementary elements (3a, 3b, 3c - 3'a, 3'b, 3'c - 3 "a, 3" b, 3 "c - 3" 'a, 3 "' b, 3" 'c).

Thus, a given base (2) can correspond several complementary elements of different lengths, and, by example, three complementary elements (3'a, 3'b, 3'c) of length different (L1, L2, L3), as shown in Figure 13. Similarly, at a specific base (2) can correspond to several elements complementary (3 "a, 3" b, 3 "c) of different thicknesses (e1, e2, e3) such that this is illustrated in figure 14. Note also that at a determined base (2) may correspond to several complementary elements (3 "'a, 3"' b, 3 "'c) with different mechanical characteristics, as illustrated in Figure 15, intended to give the ski (1) constituted by the base (2) and its additional element (3) of behavioral characteristics different. The different characteristics can be obtained by different thicknesses of the complementary elements, or by a structure different, even different materials, or even geometry different.

The attachment of the complementary element (3) to the base (2) is done, of course, by fitting into the corresponding housing (17), but also by connection of its lower face (21) with the bottom surface (20) housing (17), this connection can be achieved, for example, by bonding, welding. This connection can be made over the entire surface of the complementary element (3) or on only part of the surface such as, for example, in the front (13) and rear (14) areas.

Of course, one could foresee that the binding of the element complementary (3) on the base (2) is made mechanically as, for example, by embedding a projection (22) in holes correspondents (23), as illustrated in FIG. 16.

It will be noted that the thickness (e) of the complementary element (3) can be constant, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 16, or variable as illustrated in FIG. 17, to be, for example, thicker in the center in the area of least width (15) or thinner in the area of lesser thickness. Of course, the thickness of the complementary element could be such that the front would be thicker than the rear, or vice versa so that the upper surface (24) of the complementary element (3) is inclined relative to the surface of the sole (6), as illustrated in FIGS. 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, 23e, and 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e. According to the variant illustrated in FIGS. 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, 23 ^e , the thickness of the complementary element (3) gradually decreases towards the rear, while, according to the variant illustrated in FIGS. 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, the thickness of the complementary element (3) gradually decreases towards the front. Thus, the embedding of the complementary element (3) in the housing (17) can be total or partial, that is to say that the upper surface (24) of the complementary element can protrude at least in certain places. side edges.

Furthermore, the lower surface (21) of the complementary element (3) can be planar, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 17, or curved like, for example, concave, as shown in Figure 18, and, in this case, the bottom surface (20) of the housing (17) has the curvature corresponding.

We have already seen previously that at a given base can match a set of several complementary elements.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 19, 19a, 19b, 19c, at the base (2) correspond several complementary elements (3a, 3b, 3c) of different lengths and different shapes, in particular, at their front and rear ends. So the first element complementary (3a), i.e. the shortest of length (L1), is a plate whose lower surface (21) is flat to cooperate with the central part (20a) at the bottom (20) of the embedding housing (17), while that the second complementary element (3b) of intermediate length (L2) includes front end clearance (24a) and rear (24b), while the end of the third complementary element (3c) of longer length (L3) includes first clearance front end (24a) and a second front end clearance (25a) and a first rear end clearance (24b) and a second rear clearance (25b). Let us add that the housing (17), and in particular its bottom surface (20), is configured to cooperate with one or other of the additional elements (3a, 3b, 3c). Thus, the front end (17a) and the rear end (17b) include a staircase-shaped area, to match the clearances at the ends of the element complementary (3). The front end (17a) of the housing (17) as well as the rear end (17b) of this housing are configured in the shapes and dimensions to receive and cooperate with the different elements complementary (3a, 3b, 3c). We understood that, thanks to the three elements different complementary (3a, 3b, 3a), based on a single base (2) it is possible to make three different skis, the first (1a) consisting of the base (2) and the first complementary element (3a), the second (1b) consisting of the base (2) and the second complementary element (3b), and the third (1c) consisting of the base (2) and the third element complementary (3c), these three different skis being represented respectively in Figures 19a, 19b, 19c.

Figures 20 and 21 show two other variants of embodiment according to which the complementary element (3) consists of two adjacent individual complementary elements (3A, 3B). We will note that each of these individual elements includes its own profile in hollow (12a, 12b) on its external lateral border which is in lateral support on the corresponding flange (19a, 19b) of the base (2), while the projection internal lateral edge cooperates with the corresponding hollow profile. According to the variant illustrated in FIG. 20, the two individual elements complementary (3A, 3B) are separated by a longitudinal space (30).

According to the alternative embodiment of FIG. 21, the space longitudinal comprises an intermediate element (31) which can be, for example example, a damping element made of deformable material elastically.

FIG. 22 shows an alternative embodiment of the ski of the Figure 21 according to which the intermediate damping element (31) extends forward and backward beyond the ends of the elements individual complementary (3A, 3B) to form end zones widened front (310) and rear (311) taking place in the front ends (17a) and rear (17b) of the housing (17).

Figures 25 and 26 are top views of two other execution variants. According to these two variants, the intermediate element having damping properties is disposed between the element complementary (3) and the lateral retaining edges (19a, 19b).

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 25, it has been arranged between the two lateral retaining flanges (19a, 19b), a lateral element left (311a) with damping properties, and right side (311b) having damping properties, extending over the entire length of the complementary element (3). Of course, we wouldn't go out not within the scope of the invention if the lateral damping element was not provided that on one side or did not extend over the entire length of the element complementary (3) but only over part of the length. We understood that the side element having damping properties (311a, 311b), in this embodiment was sandwiched between the or the lateral edges (9a, 9b) of the complementary element (3) and the one or more lateral retaining edges (19a, 19b).

Thus, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 26, the lateral element having damping properties (311'a, 311'b) extends only at the level of the internal lateral projection (18a, 18b). In this variant, it would not go beyond the scope of the invention if the lateral element with damping properties was only planned on one side. We understood that the side element having damping properties (311'a, 311 '), in this embodiment was sandwiched between the or the internal lateral projections (18a, 18b) of the base (2) and the profile (s) hollow (12a, 12b) of the complementary element (3).

The side element (s) with properties depreciation (311a, 311b- 311'a, 311'b) of the embodiments of FIGS. 25 and 26, is made of elastically deformable material such as for example a visco-elastic material, for example rubber, elastomer rubber, viscoelastic rubber, or any material equivalent.

We will add that the external sides of the lateral edges (19a, 19b) are advantageously of curved shape.

Claims (19)

1. Board (1) for sliding on snow, such as a ski, a monoski or a snowboard, with an overall vertical plane of symmetry (P), comprising a main part, referred to as the body or base (2), on the top face of which there is fixed, at least in the area of the runner (4), a complementary longitudinal element (3) intended to receive the fixing or fixings for holding the boot of the user, the said base (2) having the form of an elongate beam comprising a sliding sole (6), the front end of which is raised so as to form a tip (8), characterised in that the complementary longitudinal element (3) is in the form of an elongate plate, the width of which (T1), measured between its lateral edges (9a, 9b), is less than the width (T2) of the base (2), and where at least one of its lateral edges (9a and/or 9b) comprises a hollow profile (12a, 12b), so that the complementary element (3) comprises a front part (13) connected to a rear part (14) by an area of lesser width (14), and in that the lateral holding of the complementary element (3) is achieved at least partly by embedding of the complementary element (3) in a housing (17) produced in the base (2), which comprises at least a lateral retaining rim (19a, 19b) comprising an internal lateral projection (18a, 18b) intended to cooperate with the hollow profile (19a, 19b) of the complementary element (3).
2. Board (1) for sliding on snow, such as a ski, a monoski or a snowboard, according to Claim 1, characterised in that the length (L1) is between 30% and 60% of the length (L2) of the base (2).
3. Board (1) for sliding on snow, such as a ski, a monoski or a snowboard, according to either one of Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the housing (17) produced in the base (2) is an embedding housing bordered laterally by two lateral retaining rims (19a, 19b) for lateral holding, projecting with respect to the surface of the bottom of the housing (20), and the central area of which comprises, for each of the rims, an internal lateral projection (18a, 18b) projecting whilst extending towards the mid-plane (P).
4. Board (1) for sliding on snow, such as a ski, a monoski or a snowboard, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the area of lesser width (15) of the complementary element is located substantially in the central area (16) of the complementary element (3) and each of the lateral edges (9a, 9b) comprises a hollow profile (12a, 12b); thus the left lateral edge (9a) comprises a left hollow profile (12a) whilst the right lateral edge (9b) comprises a right hollow profile (12b).
5. Board (1) for sliding on snow, such as a ski, a monoski or a snowboard, according to Claim 4, characterised in that the hollow profiles (12a, 12b) have a curved profile whilst the corresponding projections (18a, 18b) have a complementary curved shape, so that the projections each constitute a holding projection providing the lateral and longitudinal holding of the complementary element (3) with respect to the base (2).
6. Board (1) for sliding on snow, such as a ski, a monoski or a snowboard, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the complementary element (3) is formed from two adjacent individual and independent complementary elements (3A, 3B), each of these individual elements comprising its own hollow profile (12a, 12b) on its external lateral edge which is in lateral abutment on the corresponding rim (19a, 19b) of the base (2), whilst the internal lateral projection on the rim cooperates with the corresponding hollow profile.
7. Board (1) for sliding on snow, such as a ski, a monoski or a snowboard, according to Claim 6, characterised in that the two complementary individual elements (3A, 3B) are separated by a longitudinal space (30).
8. Board (1) for sliding on snow, such as a ski, a monoski or a snowboard, according to Claim 7, characterised in that the longitudinal space comprises an intermediate damping element (31) produced from elastically deformable material.
9. Board (1) for sliding on snow, such as a ski, a monoski or a snowboard, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, to a given base (2), there corresponds a set of several different complementary elements (3a, 3b, 3c - 3'a, 3'b, 3'c-3"a, 3"b, 3"c-3"'a, 3"'b, 3"'c).
10. Board (1) for sliding on snow, such as a ski, a monoski or a snowboard, according to Claim 8, characterised in that, to a given base (2) there correspond several complementary elements (3'a, 3'b, 3'c) of different lengths (L1, L2, L3).
11. Board (1) for sliding on snow, such as a ski, a monoski or a snowboard, according to Claim 8 or 9, characterised in that, to a given base (2), there correspond several complementary elements (3"a, 3"b, 3"c) with different thicknesses (e1, e2, e3).
12. Board (1) for sliding on snow, such as a ski, a monoski or a snowboard, according to Claim 8, 9 or 10, characterised in that, to a given base (2), there correspond several complementary elements (3"'a, 3"'b, 3"'c) with different mechanical characteristics intended to confer on the ski (1) formed by the base (2) and its complementary element (3) characteristics with different behaviours.
13. Board (1) for sliding on snow, such as a ski, a monoski or a snowboard, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, to a given base (2), there correspond several complementary elements (3a, 3b, 3c) with different lengths and different shapes, in particular with regard to their front and rear ends.
14. Board (1) for sliding on snow, such as a ski, a monoski or a snowboard, according to the preceding claim, characterised in that, to a given base (2) there correspond several complementary elements (3a, 3b, 3c), at least one of which comprises at least one end step at the front (24a) and/or at the rear (24b), and in that the housing (17), and in particular its bottom surface (20), is configured so as to cooperate with one or other of the complementary elements (3a, 3b, 3c), the front end (17a) and/or rear end (17b) of which comprises at least one area in the form of a staircase so as to correspond to the step in the end or ends of the complementary element (3).
15. Board (1) for sliding on snow, such as a ski, a monoski or a snowboard, according to the preceding claim, characterised in that, to a given base (2), there correspond several complementary elements (3a, 3b, 3c) the first complementary element (3a), that is to say the shortest one (L1), being a board whose bottom surface (21) is flat so as to cooperate with a central part (20a) of the bottom (20) of the embedding housing (17), whilst the second complementary element (3b) with an intermediate length (L2) comprises an end step at the front (24a) and at the rear (24b), whilst the end of the third complementary element (3c) with a greater length (L3) comprises a first end step at the front (24a) and a second front end step (25a) and a first rear end step (24b) and a second rear step (25b), and in that the housing (17), and in particular its bottom surface (20), is configured so as to cooperate with one or other of the complementary elements (3a, 3b, 3c), the front end (17a) and the rear end (17b) comprising an area in the form of a staircase so as to correspond to the steps in the ends of the complementary element (3).
16. Board (1) for sliding on snow, such as a ski, a monoski or a snowboard, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the thickness of the complementary element could be such that the front would be thicker than the rear, or vice-versa, so that the top surface (24) of the complementary element (3) is inclined with respect to the surface of the sole (6).
17. Board (1) for sliding on snow, such as a ski, a monoski or a snowboard, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the complementary element (3) consists of two individual adjacent complementary elements (3a, 3b).
18. Board (1) for sliding on snow, such as a ski, a monoski or a snowboard, according to Claim 17, characterised in that the two individual adjacent complementary elements (3a, 3b) are separated by a longitudinal space (30) which comprises an intermediate element possessing damping properties (31), made from elastically deformable material.
19. Board (1) for sliding on snow, such as a ski, a monoski or a snowboard, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an intermediate element is provided, possessing damping properties (311a, 311b - 311'a, 311'b), disposed between the complementary element (3) and the lateral retaining rims (19a, 19b).

Images