EP0855201A2 - Snowboard - Google Patents

Abstract

The snowboard has two end sections (E1, E2) located on either side of a central section (F), and at least one of the end sections has a reinforcement (M1, M2) which gives it a mechanical resistance to torsion greater than the central section. The upper thrust surface of the board's central section is designed to receive the boot fastenings, and each of the end sections has a line of contact with the ground (D1, D2), which the reinforcement extending between them. The reinforcement is made from composition fibre strips set at an angle to the board's lengthwise axis and containing glass and carbon fibres. In addition, the board has a sole plate e.g. of polyethylene with steel alloy edges.

Description

The invention relates to the field of gliding boards. It relates more particularly to a board intended for snowboarding.

A user drives a board intended for the practice of snowboarding, or snowboarding, with both feet restrained on the board in a direction substantially transverse to to the length of the board.

The user must be able to control his trajectories, in especially in extreme situations such as turns or jump receptions requiring strong level support board contact lines on snow.

For this, it is necessary that the board is relatively flexible lengthwise, and relatively rigid across the width. Flexibility in bending longitudinal along a substantially transverse axis allows a good trajectory control when cornering. Rigidity transverse along a longitudinal axis allows transmission driving forces towards the ends of the board, and avoids transverse bending of the board in case of contact brutal with a relief.

The prior art has proposed numerous plates to various structures to fulfill these conditions.

In particular, document FR 2 703 257 B1 discloses a board with a central platform which extends into direction of the heel and the tip by creating ribs. The platform is located in the skate area and receives the fasteners for user support.

The board as claimed in document FR 2 703 257 B1 has a number of drawbacks.

First, the board is rigid in the direction of the length because of the presence of the platform, and does not allow not a good control of the driving in curve.

On the other hand, the board has at the level of the pad a significant thickness over its entire width, which gives it a high torsional strength at this location, compared to other parts of the board. It follows that the ends of the board is deformed more than the skate, and that the control trajectories on receiving jumps is not correct.

The platform extends beyond the skate towards the heel and the spatula, considerably increasing the mass of the board, which affects easy and nervous driving.

The structure of the board requires the user to have feet on the platform, whose function is to increase the rigidity of the board, which reduces the amplitude of the user-perceivable sensations. Again, the conduct becomes imprecise.

The object of the invention is to remedy the drawbacks listed and many others.

To do this, the invention proposes a gliding board intended for snowboarding, the board comprising two eccentric portions located on either side of a central portion or skid along a longitudinal axis of the board.

The board is characterized in that at least one portion eccentric includes at least one reinforcing means giving the eccentric portion mechanical resistance in torsion greater, along the longitudinal axis, than the mechanical strength in torsion of the skate along the same longitudinal axis.

It advantageously follows that the board allows the user to take strong supports when cornering or reception of jumps with good control of the trajectory of conduct.

The invention is also characterized in that the pad is juxtaposed with each eccentric portion, the pad being for receiving shoe retainers of a user on a bearing face of the board, each eccentric portion including a line of contact with the ground on a sliding face of the board opposite to the bearing face.

This structure increases the amplitude of the sensations noticeable by the user, which advantageously allows more precise driving.

The invention is also characterized by the fact that the means reinforcement extends substantially between the contact line and the skate, thus allowing to maintain at the level of the skate a flexibility which allows a good control of the driving in curve.

The invention is also characterized in that the reinforcing means comprises at least one strip forming an angle not zero with the longitudinal axis. The orientation of the band allows to select a direction of resistance to deformation of the eccentric portion.

Preferably, the invention is characterized in that the strip extends substantially from the contact line near a first lateral edge of the board, up to the skate near a second side edge of the board opposite the first edge. In this way, the torsional strength is maximum.

More preferably, the invention is characterized by the the fact that the strip comprises fibers of composite materials oriented along the length of the strip. The manufacturing is simple and the mechanical resistance of the strip can be determined by choosing the nature and number of fibers.

The invention is also characterized in that the eccentric portion includes four bands forming two crosses two bands, a cross being substantially located at the level of the bearing face, the other cross being substantially situated at the level of the sliding face.

The reinforcement means are therefore located substantially each side of the thickness of the board, which gives it a greater resistance to deformation.

Preferably, the invention is characterized in that each eccentric portion includes two crosses. It follows advantageously that the user improves his behavior whatever either the direction in which it moves.

More preferably, the board according to the invention is characterized by the fact that a cross is located at the level of the support face on the outside of the board, and in that the other cross is located at the sliding face inside the board.

This arrangement provides the maximum torsional strength for a given board weight, and for a strip orientation given.

Finally, the board according to the invention is characterized by the fact that each strip is oriented substantially at 45 ° by relative to the longitudinal axis.

This angle value is the one that gives the best torsional strength of the eccentric portion.

• la figure 1 est une vue de dessus d'une planche selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une coupe selon II-II de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une coupe partielle selon III-III de la figure 2,
• la figure 4 est une coupe selon IV-IV de la figure 1 selon un mode de réalisation,
• la figure 5 est similaire à la figure 4 mais correspond à un autre mode de réalisation,
• la figure 6 est une coupe selon VI-VI de la figure 1.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended drawing illustrating, by non-limiting examples, how the invention can be implemented and in which:

• FIG. 1 is a top view of a board according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a section on II-II of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a partial section on III-III of FIG. 2,
• FIG. 4 is a section on IV-IV of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment,
• FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 but corresponds to another embodiment,
• Figure 6 is a section on VI-VI of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows schematically a plan view of a slide 1 corresponding to several embodiments.

Plate 1, delimited by two lateral edges 2, 3 and ends 4, 5, extends substantially along a longitudinal axis L.

Plate 1 preferably has symmetry of the edges lateral 2, 3 with respect to the longitudinal axis L which is here a median axis of plate 1. But it should be understood that all other shape of edges 2, 3 could be used, with or without edge symmetry 2, 3.

Similarly, the ends 4, 5 of the board 1 have each one rounded outwards and give the plate 1 a symmetry with respect to a transverse axis W, perpendicular to the L axis and located substantially in the middle of the board 1 between the ends 4, 5. Of course, all other shapes of the ends 4, 5 could be suitable and made by example board 1 asymmetrical with respect to the W axis.

The general shape of plate 1 according to the modes of preferred embodiment advantageously allows driving also easy in one direction or the other depending on the length of the board 1.

A bearing face 6 of the board 1, delimited by the edges 2, 3 and the ends 4, 5, is intended to receive means to restrain a user's feet. These means of restraint are known to those skilled in the art and are related to Plate 1 by any medium in a central portion F, or skate, delimited on Figure 1 by axis lines F1, F2. Preferably, the skate F extends along the face 6 between the lines F1, F2 so that the distance between F1 and W is substantially equal to the distance between W and F2. It follows that pad F is a portion of the board 1 substantially symmetrical with respect to the W axis.

Of course, shoe F is dimensioned so that everything user can position the foot restraint as it best suits him. In particular, shoe F is long enough in the direction of the longitudinal axis L, so that the feet are retained on the pad F whatever the size or driving style of the user.

As shown in Figure 2, the plate 1 includes a face gliding 7 located opposite the bearing face 6 relative to the thickness of the board 1.

The internal structure of plate 1 shown in the figure 2 is a possible example of embodiment which in no way limits the subject of the invention. Preferably, the plate 1 comprises two layers 8, 9 of composite materials impregnated with resin thermosetting disposed on either side of a core 10 made of wood, plastic or other foam; the layer 8 is located in contact with the core on the side of the face support 6, while layer 9 is located in contact with the core on the side of the sliding face 7. A decorative layer 11 is added at the edges 2, 3 and on the bearing face 6, while that the sliding face 7 comprises a sole 12 produced by example in polyethylene, and edges 13, 14 produced by example in alloy steel.

The elements of the internal structure of plate 1 shown in Figure 2 are distributed substantially over the entire board 1.

As shown in the section in Figure 3, layer 8 of composite materials is preferably a frame which includes glass fibers G and carbon fibers C.

The glass fibers G are oriented substantially according to the direction of the longitudinal axis L of plate 1, while the carbon fibers C are oriented substantially according to the direction of the transverse axis W of plate 1.

Similarly, layer 9 of composite materials includes glass fibers G and carbon C oriented from the same way as in layer 8.

Preferably, the glass fibers G of layers 8, 9 extend over the entire length of board 1, and the fibers of carbon C extend over the entire width of board 1.

The structure described above makes the board 1 relatively flexible in the length direction, and relatively rigid in the sense of width.

Longitudinal flexibility allows the user to do flex board 1 to negotiate turns or to give impulses to perform jumps or tricks while that lateral rigidity allows the user to transmit driving forces towards the ends 4, 5 of the board 1. More precisely, the driving forces act on the ground at the level of contact lines D1, D2 of the sliding face 7. Each contact line D1, D2 is a part of the surface sole curve 7 which extends transversely with respect to the length of board 1, which is embossed on the surface 7 to contact the ground.

As shown in Figure 1, the contact line D1 is located at the widest point of board 1 between the limit F1 of pad F and end 4, and the contact line D2 is located at the widest point between the F2 limit and the end 5.

Of course, any part of the sole 12 can contact the ground, but it must be understood that the four points X1, X2, X3, X4 of the sole 12, which correspond respectively to the intersection of a contact line D1, D2 with an edge 2, 3, are privileged points of contact. It is at points X1, X2, X3, X4 that are transmitted to the ground the greatest efforts of driving, or that are transmitted to plate 1 the largest impacts after a jump or a figure.

In Figure 1, two dotted parts in the shape of a cross schematically reinforcement means M1, M2 added to the structure of plate 1. The reinforcing means M1, M2 are located respectively in an eccentric portion E1 delimited by the contact line D1 and the limit F1 of shoe F, and in a eccentric portion E2 bounded by the contact line D2 and the limit F2 of pad F.

The reinforcement means M1 comprises a branch B1 which extends substantially between point X1 and a point of intersection there edge 3 and limit F1 of skate F, as well as a branch B2 between point X4 and a point of intersection i4 of edge 2 and the F1 limit.

Likewise, the reinforcing means M2 comprises a branch B3 which extends appreciably between point X2 and a point of intersection i2 of edge 3 and of limit F2 of skate F, thus that a branch B4 between point X3 and a point of intersection i3 from edge 2 and limit F2.

The reinforcement means M1, M2 serve to stiffen the portions E1, E2 in torsion with respect to a longitudinal axis such as the axis L of plate 1, so that the characteristics longitudinal bending of the board 1 remain substantially identical to those obtained with the structure described using in Figure 2. This is equivalent to saying that Plate 1 keeps the same flexibility in bending over its length despite the presence of reinforcement means M1, M2. Simply, the torsional strength of board 1 is increased locally in portions offset E1, E2.

Examples of embodiment of the reinforcing means are shown in section in Figures 4, 5 and 6.

Figure 4 shows the internal structure of plate 1 described using Figure 2, to which have been added reinforcement means M1. More specifically, the B1 branch includes a strip of composite materials 15 placed in contact with the layer 8, and a strip of composite materials 16 placed at the contact of the layer 9, in a groove in the sole 12.

Similarly, branch B2 includes a strip of materials composites 17 placed in contact with layer 8, and a strip of composite materials 18 placed in contact with layer 9, in another groove in the sole 12.

The bands 15, 16, 17, 18 of the branches B1, B2 are distributed respectively as close as possible to the support face 6 or the sliding face 7, so as to give the board 1 the most high torsional strength possible in the portions offset E1, E2.

The strips 15, 16, 17, 18 are preferably made with carbon fibers which extend along the branches B1, B2 across the board 1, as shown in the figure 6.

Of course, other materials such as aramid fibers or glass might be suitable.

FIG. 5 corresponds to an alternative embodiment of the figure 4. Identical elements are designated by the same references and are not described here. Change from in the embodiment of Figure 2 consists of an addition layers of composite materials to thicken the strips 15 and 17 from branches B1 and B2. In this case, the reinforcement means M1 is in relief on the face 6 of the board 1.

In general, it should be understood that the branches B3, B4 are made in a similar way to the branches B1, B2.

In any case, an important characteristic of the modes embodiment of the invention consists in increasing the rigidity in torsion of the eccentric portions E1, E2 with an increase negligible of the total mass of board 1. Indeed, the bands 15, 16, 17, 18 are housed in the structure of the plate 1 in housings made in other layers.

And when a reinforcing means M1, M2 is in relief on the face 6, its thickness is relatively reduced. It follows that the user can drive his board more quickly large than with a board not fitted with reinforcement strips.

The manufacture of the board 1 according to the invention calls upon to the known materials and processing techniques of one skilled in the art.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the modes of realization described, and includes all technical equivalents which may fall within the scope of the claims which to follow.

In particular, we can provide all kinds of materials to make the bands of the reinforcement means M1, M2, as for example of metals or metal alloys.

On the other hand, the strips can be of different sizes with different widths and different thicknesses. They can also be made of several materials different. They can still be placed anywhere which side of the layers 8, 9.

We can also provide that the bands are different the each other to give the board behavior asymmetric.

Finally, the orientation of the bands relative to the axis longitudinal of the board 1 can be different from 45 °.

Claims (10)

Gliding board (1) intended for surfing on snow, the board (1) comprising two eccentric portions (E1, E2) located on either side of a central portion (F) or pad along a longitudinal axis (L) of the board (1), characterized in that at least one eccentric portion (E1, E2) comprises at least one reinforcing means (M1, M2) giving the eccentric portion (E1, E2) mechanical resistance in torsion greater, along the longitudinal axis (L), than the resistance mechanical torsion of the shoe (F) along the same longitudinal axis (L). Gliding board (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the shoe (F) is juxtaposed at each eccentric portion (E1, E2), the shoe (F) being intended to receive shoe retainers from a user on a bearing face (6) of the board (1), each eccentric portion (E1, E2) comprising a contact line (D1, D2) with the ground on a sliding face (7) of the board (1) opposite the bearing face (6). Gliding board (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the reinforcing means (M1 M2) extends substantially between the contact line (D1, D2) and the shoe (F). Gliding board (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the reinforcing means (M1 M2) comprises at at least one strip (15, 16, 17, 18) forming a non-zero angle with the longitudinal axis (L). Gliding board (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the strip (15, 16, 17, 18) extends substantially from the contact line (D1, D2) near a first side edge (2, 3) of the board (1), up to the shoe (F) near a second lateral edge (2, 3) of the board (1) opposite the first edge. Gliding board (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the strip (15, 16, 17, 18) includes fibers of composite materials oriented in the direction of length of the strip (15, 16, 17, 18). Gliding board (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the eccentric portion (E1, E2) comprises four bands (15, 16, 17, 18) forming two crosses of two bands, a cross being substantially situated at the level of the face support (6), the other cross being substantially located at the level of the sliding face (7). Gliding board (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that each eccentric portion (E1, E2) includes two crosses. Gliding board (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that a cross is located at the face support (6) outside the board (1), and in that the other cross is located at the sliding face (7) at the inside of the board (1). Gliding board (1) according to any one of Claims 4 to 9, characterized in that each strip (15, 16, 17, 18) is oriented substantially at 45 ° relative to the axis longitudinal (L).

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