EP1264618A1 - Ski for alpinski - Google Patents

Abstract

The ski for alpine skiing has a central area (2) and two ends (3,4). It has a core and upper and lower reinforcing layers forming a variable cross section to control torsion and flexing of the ski. The ski has at least one localized cut out (20,21) which creates a localized deformation zone between the areas of the ski (23,24) up and downstream of the cut outs.

Description

The invention relates to a ski intended for alpine skiing.

In known manner, each ski of a pair of skis is presented as a beam elongated having due to its structure a rigidity defined in bending and in torsion.

In order to better control the pressure distribution of the ski on the snow, it is known to varying the flexural and / or torsional stiffness of the ski along the ski. So the request for FR 2 049 841 teaches to reinforce the rigidity of the front and rear areas of the ski using bands integrated into the ski structure, which act as elements of stiffening. In the same spirit, patent application FR 2 704 442 describes a ski whose three zones of spatula, skate and heel which compose it have characteristics different.

Patent application WO 91/09653 discloses a ski, the two zones immediately in front and behind the shoe are raised and reinforced so as to produce a regular curvature of the ski in the presence of the boot.

Patent application WO 99/43997 describes a short ski whose stiffness in torsion and bending is geometrically controlled by a reinforcement of variable width extending into the front and rear areas of the ski.

Such constructions show that one can control the stiffness in torsion and bending of a ski in its different zones.

Faced with this, the invention proposes another mode of control of flexion and torsion of the ski according to which two adjacent zones of the ski are decoupled in flexion and / or in torsion locally modifying the structure of the ski at the common border of these two zones.

The general idea of the invention is based on a decoupling in torsion and / or in bending of two adjacent zones of the ski, that is to say a local weakening in flexion and / or in torsion in a deformation zone between two adjacent zones which themselves have identical or almost identical flexural and / or torsional stiffness on either side of the deformation zone.

Thus the ski according to the invention is presented as an elongated beam comprising a central area and two ends forming the tip and the heel, the beam having on the one hand a structure comprising a core and upper and lower reinforcing layers, and others part of the determined cross-sectional dimensions which give it a distribution of bending and torsion determined along its length.

The ski is characterized by the fact that at least one of the elements of its structure has at least one local notch which creates a local deformation zone between the ski areas located upstream and downstream of the notch.

The invention will be better understood by referring to the description below and to annexed drawings attached to it.

Figure 1 shows a ski according to the invention seen from above.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the ski of FIG. 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view which illustrates the general structure of the ski.

Figure 4 shows a top view of the core of the ski and illustrates a first mode of implementation of the invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the ski at the local deformation zone.

Figure 6 relates to an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the invention relating to a layer upper reinforcement.

FIG. 8 likewise illustrates the invention applied to a reinforcing layer lower.

FIG. 9 shows a top view of a ski according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Figures 10 and 11 relate to other alternative embodiments of the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment of the invention. The ski 1 which is represented therein is formed by an elongated beam having a central zone 2 and two ends 3 and 4 forming the tip and the heel of the ski. As usual, the spatula is curved upwards and rounded. The heel is cut, but it is not limiting, it could also be curled and / or rounded. In known manner, the central zone 2 is provided for receive the shoe retaining elements.

Seen from the side, the ski is arched, which defines lines of contact marked in 7 and 8. These lines are the contact zones of the sole 9 of the ski at rest with a flat surface.

The other characteristic dimensions of the ski are its developed length which is from 1.50 meters to 2 meters, these values being only indicative, the length between lines contact, maximum widths in tip and heel, minimum width in the area center as well as the dimension line, that is to say the curve followed by the edges. The thickness is also a characteristic dimension. It can vary over the length and width of the beam ski.

The general structure of ski 1 is of a traditional type. Figure 3 shows schematic such a structure. It is formed by two side edges 10, 11, a layer lower sole 12, lower reinforcing layers 13, 14, a core 15, layers upper reinforcing layers 16, 17, and an outer decor layer 18. The reinforcing layers are layers of fibers impregnated with resin and / or aluminum strips. The nucleus is in wood or injected or machined foam. The structure of the ski is not limiting, other modes also suitable. In particular there could be only one reinforcement layer on the top and bottom of the core.

The structure of the ski gives the ski stiffness characteristics in bending and torsion which determine the sliding behavior of the ski and its reaction to stresses in from the skier or the terrain.

We are used to varying the flexural or torsional stiffness of the ski along its length. Thus, usually the central zone is more rigid than the end zones. This variation is generally progressive so as to favor a regular bending of the beam of the ski.

In addition to this variable distribution of flexion and torsion along the ski, the invention plans to locally create at least one deformation zone along the length of the ski elastic so as to decouple in flexion and / or torsion the areas of the ski situated upstream and downstream of this deformation zone. This deformation zone creates a sudden rupture in the distribution of flexion and / or torsion along the beam of the ski.

Thus, according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the structure of the ski has been modified in two zones marked at 20, 21 so as to create a zone 22 of local deformation which operates as an elastically deformable hinge between the two zones 23 and 24 located upstream and downstream. Zones 23 and 24 upstream and downstream of zone 22 retain their own rigidity in bending and torsion, these rigidities are very close to one of the other or at least in the continuity of each other taking into account the local character of the deformation zone 22.

Different construction methods can be adopted to achieve the local area of distortion 22.

Figure 4 illustrates one of them. It represents the core 15, which is for example a machined wood core, in which two lateral cuts 27 and 28 have been made over the entire the thickness of the core. Preferably the wall which delimits the notch is curved in its different planes, that is to say that we avoid cutting the notches with right angles. other shapes could also be suitable, in particular a triangular, elliptical or other shape.

Once the core is covered with its reinforcing layers, the ski has two recesses 20 and 21 at the notches. At these recesses, the reinforcing layers upper and lower are closer to each other, which significantly decreases torsional and bending stiffness.

Also, it has been determined that preferably each of the cuts is made on a length of the core varying between 20 and 150 millimeters, preferably 100 millimeters, and a width greater than 6 millimeters and less than half the width of the core in this zone minus 5 millimeters, so as to leave a width of at least 10 millimeters in the center where the core keeps its initial thickness.

The recesses 20 and 21 of the ski have substantially the same shape and the same dimensions as the notches, to the thickness near the upper layers.

In particular, the minimum thickness in the bottom of the recesses is substantially equal at the height of the edges plus the thickness of the upper layers covering the core.

The recesses are connected to the rest of the structure of the ski by surfaces of connection which can extend over a greater or lesser extent.

Alternatively, instead of being made over the entire thickness of the core, the notches could be made on only part of its thickness. However, it has been determined that the cuts should be at least half the depth of the core in this area. Such a core 15 ′ is shown in section in FIG. 6, thus giving birth to two recesses 33 and 34 of depth close to half the height of the ski.

Another embodiment of the local deformation zone is illustrated in the figure 6. This figure represents one of the upper reinforcement layers. This layer 36 is by example the aluminum strip in the case of multiple reinforcing layers.

Laterally, the strip 36 is cut according to notches 38, 39. These notches extend over the same length and width dimensions of the ski as those given for the previous cuts 27 and 28.

If the reinforcing layer 36 descends along the sides of the ski, the notches extend also in these areas.

FIG. 8 likewise represents a strip 40 of lower layer which is of same nature as the strip 36, and which, as it is provided with notches 41 and 42.

For this lower layer, the interior volume of the notches can be filled if necessary with filling material.

These different construction methods relating to the core and the reinforcing layers lower or upper can be used alone or in combination. In addition we could adopt different construction methods for each side of the ski.

The local deformation zone can be located in different regions of the ski. of the privileged regions are the front and back of the area where the elements of restraint, and the proximity of the front and rear contact lines. We can have several zones deformation distributed over the front and / or rear of the ski, or even a succession of zones deformation in one or more regions of the ski.

Thus, on the front and / or on the back, the tip and / or the heel are more free to move. raise in relation to this local deformation zone.

FIG. 9 relates to an alternative embodiment of the invention according to which the local deformation zone is formed by a single notch 45 of one of the elements of structure of the ski, this notch being situated along a lateral edge of the ski. In that case, the notch extends over a width of the ski which is doubled with respect to the elementary notches previously described.

According to FIG. 10, the structure of the ski has two notches 48, 49, each along a side edge of the ski. The peculiarity is that these notches are offset according to the direction longitudinal which gives a local deformation zone oriented obliquely to a transverse direction. In this case the other ski of a pair of ski would have an offset reversed so that the two skis are symmetrical to each other.

FIG. 11 relates to another embodiment of the invention. Instead of to be located along a lateral edge of the ski, the notch 50 is centered on the longitudinal axis of the ski. Its dimensions in length, width and depth are of the same order of magnitude as those of two elementary cuts placed side by side. Such a cut favors rather a deformation of this area in torsion.

Naturally this description is given for information only, and one could adopt other implementations of the invention without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims (10)

Ski presenting itself as an elongated beam comprising a central zone (2) and two ends (3, 4) forming the tip and the heel, the beam having on the one hand a structure comprising a core (15, 15 ') and layers upper and lower reinforcement (12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 36, 40), and on the other hand determined dimensions in section which give it a distribution of bending and torsion determined over its length, characterized by the fact that at least one of the elements of its structure (15, 15 ', 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 36, 40) has at least one local notch (27, 28, 38, 39, 41, 42) which creates a local deformation zone (22) between the ski zones (23, 24) situated upstream and downstream of said notch. Ski according to claim 1, characterized in that each local notch (27, 28, 38, 39, 41, 42) extends over a length of the ski between 20 and 150 millimeters. Ski according to claim 2, characterized in that each local notch (27, 28, 38, 39, 41, 42) extends over a width of the ski greater than 6 millimeters and less than half the width of the ski less 5 millimeters. Ski according to claim 3, characterized in that the core (15, 15 ') has at least one notch (27, 28). Ski according to claim 4, characterized in that the notch (27, 28) extends over at least half the thickness of the core. Ski according to claim 4, characterized in that the notch extends over the entire thickness of the core. Ski according to claim 3, characterized in that the notch (27, 28, 38, 39, 41, 42) has a curved shape. Ski according to claim 3, characterized in that the notch has a triangular or elliptical shape. Ski according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises at least two notches, one along each edge, the notches being offset in the longitudinal direction of the ski. Ski according to claim 1, characterized in that the notch (50) is centered on the longitudinal axis of the ski.

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