FR2699418A1 - Interface device between a ski and binding elements. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an interface device between a ski and front and rear bindings. The device comprises a longitudinal plate (15) on which the front (3) and rear (4) bindings are assembled. One end of the plate (15) is connected securely to the ski and the other end (19) is assembled via a link (20, 21) which is elastically deformable in a longitudinal direction. Moreover, a rigid wedge (26) is interposed between the plate (15) and the upper surface of the ski in the zone of mounting of the front binding (3). Preferably, a layer of elastically compressible material (25) is located between the plate and the ski, in the rear part.

Description

INTERFACE DEVICE BETWEEN A SKI AND FIXING ELEMENTS

  The invention relates to an interface device between a ski and front and rear binding elements

  which are intended to retain a shoe resting on the ski.

  A shoe is held in abutment on the ski generally by a front binding element and a rear element, which each retain an end piece of the shoe sole.

  binding elements are assembled directly on the upper surface of the ski.

  We also know that the boot and the binding elements have an influence on the flexibility of the ski beam, and on its behavior on snow. The behavior of skiing on snow is also different depending on the type of ski practiced, slalom. , downhill, giant slalom, etc, and

1 O according to the skier's size.

  We looked for different types of interface which are placed between the binding elements and the ski, so as to modify the influence exerted by the binding elements and the boot on the beam which

constitutes skiing.

  For example, there is known from patent application WO 82/03182 an interface device which tends to reduce the influence of the binding elements and the boot, so that the ski has flexion

  a regular curve, as close as possible to its curvature in the naked state.

  Other interface devices are also known which play a damping role on the ski. Such a device is known from patent application No. O WO 83103360 This device comprises a plate on which the fixing elements are mounted Under the plate there is an elastically compressible material One end of the plate is assembled in an integral manner with the ski, and the other end can slide freely against the elastic restoring force of small blocks of

compressible material.

  Such a device gives good results, but the transmission of the stresses and forces between the boot and the ski is not optimal. In fact, the stresses and the vertical forces pass largely through the ends of the plate which are offset by compared to the ends of the shoe. Another interface device is known from patent application EP 409 749 In this

  device, the plate can oscillate elastically in a longitudinal direction relative to the ski.

  This device has a drawback similar to the previous device. The efforts and stresses do not

  are not transmitted precisely between the boot and the ski.

  One of the aims of the invention is to propose an interface device between a ski and elements of

  binding, which ensures good transmission of the driving forces of the ski between the boot and the ski.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an interface device which ensures effective damping of the flexions of the ski in a vertical and longitudinal plane, and a precise transmission of the driving forces of the boot on the ski during the initiations of the turn and in

ski driving phase.

  Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description which follows

  to follow, this description being however given as an indication, and not limiting.

  The interface device according to the invention is located between a ski and front and rear binding elements which are intended to retain the ends of a boot, the binding elements being located in a central zone of the ski which is called the skate, and each comprising a base by

which they are related to skiing.

  The device according to the invention comprises a slender plate, each end of which is connected to the ski in front and behind the binding elements; One end of the plate is raised relative to the surface of the ski and assembled to the ski by an elastically deformable connection in a longitudinal direction; the plate has, towards one of its ends, a mounting zone for receiving so

  1 O integral with a fixing element, which is said to be the first element.

  The device is characterized by the fact that it comprises in the region of the other binding element which is said to be the second element, a rigid wedge which is located under the plate bearing downwards against the upper surface of the ski, and on which the plate is held in downward support, the rigid block ensuring a direct transmission of the vertical stresses between the plate in the zone of the second

element and skiing.

  The invention will be better understood by referring to the description below, as well as to the drawings in

  annex which form an integral part thereof.

  Figure 1 shows schematically, in side view, and in section, a ski equipped with elements

  fixing device and interface device according to a first embodiment of the invention.

  FIG. 2 shows in perspective the interface device of FIG. 1.

  Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 and corresponds to another embodiment of the invention.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the interface device of FIG. 3.

  FIG. 5 relates to another variant implementation of the invention.

  FIG. 1 represents the middle part of a ski 1, which is usually called the skate In this zone, a shoe 2 is held in abutment on the ski 1 by a front fastening element 3 and a

rear fixing element 4.

  In known manner, the front fastening element 3 has a jaw 5 for retaining the front end of the boot The jaw 5 is carried by a body 7, which is connected to the ski by means of a base 8 Thus as can be seen in Figure 1, the base 8 is extended towards the rear by a

  support plate 9 on which the shoe sole rests in its front zone.

  Similarly, the rear binding element 4 has a jaw 10 for retaining the rear end of the boot, which is carried by a body 11 The body 11 is itself connected to the ski by means of a base 12 The base 12 has in its front part a support plate 13 on which the rear end of the shoe sole rests. In a known manner, the body is slidably mounted along the base, and a spring s' opposes its backward movement elastically. The fastening elements 3 and 4 are connected to the ski 1 via an interface device 14

  which will now be described in more detail.

  The interface device comprises a slender plate 15, which extends between the fastening elements 3 and 4 and the upper surface of the ski The plate 15 is rigid, it is made of any material

  suitable, especially aluminum alloy or composite material.

  In the example illustrated, the plate 15 is raised relative to the upper surface of the ski over the greater part of its length. The plate 15 has in its front part a mounting zone ao is assembled the front fixing element 3, via its base 8 In its rear part, the plate 15 has a mounting area 15 b for the base 12 of the fixing element

  rear 4 The two front and rear fixing elements 3 and 4 are therefore assembled to plate 15.

  The plate 15 is connected to the ski in its front part and in its rear part. In its rear part 1 O, the plate 15 has a lowered end 16, which comes to touch the upper surface of the ski. The end 16 is assembled integrally to the ski by any suitable means, for example by screws shown diagrammatically at 17 Naturally, this is not limiting and any other method of securing is suitable. For example, the rear part of the plate could have a shoe or a shim which keeps it elevated in relation to the ski The joining is done for example by

  screws which pass through the plate and the wedge or the shoe.

  The front end of the plate is connected to the ski by a damping means which is active in a longitudinal direction. In the example illustrated, the front end 19 of the plate 15 extends forward beyond the base. 8 It is raised relative to the ski. It overhangs a support 20 which is integrally connected to the ski, by any suitable means, for example by screws. In addition, a layer of adhesive 21 assembles the plate to the support 20 This layer of adhesive has both adhesive properties and both shear damping qualities It therefore allows, while offering resistance, a relative movement of the front end 19 of the plate relative to the support 20, at least according to a horizontal and longitudinal direction Given the position of the plate 15 relative to the upper surface of the ski, it is understood that such a relative movement of the end 19 relative to the support 20 occurs during the movements of e bending and bending of the ski Preferably, the adhesive layer 21 offers dynamic resistance to movement

longitudinal of the plate 20.

  According to a preferred embodiment, a layer of elastically compressible material 25 extends between the plate and the ski, in the mounting zone 15 b of the rear binding element 4 Preferably, the layer 25 also extends towards the front towards the front fixing element 3 It is advantageous for the layer 25 to have dynamic damping qualities in a vertical direction. A rigid wedge 26 is also interposed between the plate 15, at the level of the front mounting zone 15 a, and the upper surface of the ski. Preferably, the wedge 26 extends under the base 8 of

  the front fastening element 3, and under the support plate 9 on which the front of the shoe rests.

  The wedge 26 is integrally connected to the upper surface of the ski. It has a width substantially equal to the width of the ski in this area. The plate 15 bears directly on the wedge 26,

  and the wedge bears directly against the upper surface of the ski.

  Advantageously, the support 20 and the shim 26 constitute only one and the same part, that is to say

  say that the wedge 26 is the extension towards the rear of the support 20 However, this is not limiting, and

  the effectiveness of the device is a priori greater if these elements are disjoint.

  Thus, the front of the boot is in direct connection with the ski, since the plate 15, under the front fastening element 3, is in abutment against the wedge 26 The wedge 26 ensures a precise transmission of forces steering that the front of the boot prints on the ski, especially in the cornering triggering phases In addition, the interface achieves effective damping of the

  skiing in a longitudinal and vertical plane.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the plate 15 also has several oblong holes 30, which are distributed over its surface Shoulder washers 31 pass through each of these holes, and are secured to the ski by means of screws 32 The shoulder washers 31 allow a movement of the plate 15 in a longitudinal direction, but hamper a movement of the latter

  in a lateral direction, or a vertical direction upwards beyond an operating clearance.

  The washers 31 in particular hold the plate 15 in abutment against the wedge 26 In FIG. 2 are also visible holes 5 located at the front end 19 of the plate These holes allow

  to access the assembly screws of the support 20 to the ski.

  Good results have been obtained with a plate 15 raised by about 5 millimeters relative to the ski, and a layer of glue 21 of about 2 millimeters thick. This, of course, is not limiting. FIG. 3 represents another embodiment of the invention. According to this variant, the interface has a plate 35, the fixed end of which is towards the front of the ski, and the mobile end towards the rear. The plate 35 has a mounting zone 35 a for the front fixing element 3, and a mounting zone 35 b for the rear fixing element 4 In the illustrated embodiment,

  the plate 35 is raised relative to the upper surface of the ski over its entire length.

  The front end 37 of the plate is pinched between the base 8 of the front fixing element 3, and a wedge 36 integral with the ski to which the base 8 is assembled. The wedge 36 extends over the entire length of the base 8, including, preferably, the support plate 9, and over the entire width of the ski Thus, the assembly formed by the base 8, the front end of the plate 35, and the wedge 36, is assembled in solidarity with the ski Each element can be assembled in solidarity with the lower element, or else, as can be seen in FIG. 3, the assembly screws of the base 8 are screwed into the ski , and pass through the plate and the wedge Anyway, the plate 35 is held in abutment against the

wedge 36.

  In its rear part, the plate 35 is connected to the ski by a damping means which is active in a longitudinal direction. In the example illustrated, the plate 35 extends beyond the rear fixing element 4 The rear end 38 overhangs a support 39, which is secured to the ski by any appropriate means, for example by screws. A layer of adhesive 40 also connects the end 38 to the support. As in the previous case, this layer of adhesive has adhesive qualities, and has stretching qualities in a longitudinal direction It offers resistance to this stretching

  glue, preferably, has viscoelastic properties.

  The support 39 and the adhesive layer 40 hold the rear end 38 of the plate 35

  substantially at the same height as its front end.

  In the present case, when the ski is bent or deflected, it is the rear end 38 of the plate 35 which moves in a longitudinal direction, relative to the ski, and the adhesive layer 40, stretching , offers resistance to this relative movement Preferably, the material of layer 40

  is chosen so that the layer offers a dynamic type resistance.

  Preferably, as in the previous case, the plate 35 has one or more oblong holes 42 in which are engaged shoulder washers 43 secured to the ski by screws 44 This assembly is of the same type as the previous assembly with the holes 30, the washers 31 and the screws 1 O 32 The washers in particular hold the rear part of the plate 35 in abutment against the

  supports 39 and the adhesive layer 40.

  In addition, a layer of compressible material 46 is preferably inserted between the plate 35 and the upper surface of the ski, under the rear fastening element 4 at least. Preferably, the material of the layer 46 has viscoelastic properties and layer 46 is shock absorbing according to a

1 5 vertical direction.

  When skiing, and in particular when flexing the ski, the plate 35 exerts an influence on the curvature of the ski, and its distribution of pressure on the snow. On the other hand, as in the previous case, the front end of the boot is in direct contact with the upper surface of the ski, since the support plate 9 rests directly on the ski by means of the plate 35, and of the wedge 36 Thus, the ski has good driving precision and great

ease of release.

  FIG. 5 illustrates another alternative embodiment, according to which the interface has a plate, which extends against the upper surface of the ski, over most of its length. The plate has a mounting area 55 a for the front fixing element 3, and a mounting area 55 b for the rear fixing element 4 Thus, in FIG. 5, it is visible that the rear end 56 of the plate 55 is secured to the ski by pinching between the base 12 of the rear binding element 4 and the upper surface of the ski Optionally, a thin layer of elastically compressible material can be inserted at this level between the plate 55 and the upper surface of the ski, or else between the

  plate 55 and the base 12 This layer is not shown in FIG. 5.

  Towards the front, the base 8 of the front fastening element 3 is assembled integrally with the

plate 55.

  In front of the front fastening element 3, the plate 55 has an end 57, which is raised relative to the upper surface of the ski. The end 57 overhangs a support 58, and a

  layer of adhesive 59 of the same kind as the preceding layers relle the end 57 to the support 58.

  As in the previous cases, preferably, the plate 45 has oblong orifices 60 which are crossed by shouldered washers 61, which washers are secured to the ski by screws 62 The washers 61 allow the plate to slide in movement relative to the ski in a longitudinal direction, but retain it vertically upwards, and laterally with the operating clearance close The washers 61 in particular hold the plate 45 in abutment against the ski at

  level of the base 8 of the front fixing.

  It is understood from the above that the plate 55 influences the curvature of the ski and its pressure distribution on the snow during the bending phases. On the other hand, the ski has good handling precision and great ease of release. , since the front of the shoe is in

  direct support against the upper surface of the ski, because in this case, the plate 55 is located

even when resting against the ski.

  The amplitude of the relative movement of the plate depends on the height of the front end and the rear end of the plate relative to the ski Here, the rear end is close to the neutral fiber 1 i O of the ski It is preferable that the support 58 is thicker than the supports 26 and 36 above, for a

similar efficiency.

  Naturally, this description is given for information only, and we could adopt

  other implementations of the invention without departing from the scope thereof.

  In particular, it goes without saying that it would be possible to swap the role of the front and rear binding elements, as regards their direct support on the ski. In other words, it would be possible to put not the element front binding, but the rear binding element in direct support against the upper surface of the ski in a vertical direction, in particular by placing under the

rear fixing rigid block.

Claims (1)

CLAIMS 1 Interface device between a ski (1) and front and rear binding elements (3,4) which are intended to retain the ends of a boot, the binding elements being located in a central zone of the ski which is called the skate, and each comprising a base (8,12) by which they are connected to the ski, the device comprising a slender plate (15,35,55), each end of which is connected to the ski in front and behind the binding elements , one end (19,38,57) of the plate being raised relative to the surface of the ski and assembled to the ski by an elastically deformable connection in a longitudinal direction (21,40,59), 1 O the plate having towards the 'one of its ends a mounting zone (15b, 35b, 55b) for receiving in a fixed manner a fixing element, which is said to be the first element, characterized in that it comprises in the zone of the other fixing element which is said second element, a rigid wedge (26,36, 58) which is located under the plate, which bears down against the upper surface of the ski, and against which the plate (15,35,55) is held in support downwards, the rigid block ensuring direct transmission of the vertical stresses between the plate in the area of the second element and the ski. 2 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the rigid wedge (26,36,58) is located at the front of the plate (15,35,45) under the area of the front fixing element (3 ), and that the mounting area (15b, 35b, 45b) of the first element is located in the rear part of the plate. 3 Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the front end (37) of the plate (35) is integrally connected to the ski, and that the rear end (38) of the plate (35) is raised relative to the ski and connected to the ski by an elastically deformable link (40) in a longitudinal direction. 4 Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the front part (37) of the plate (35) is sandwiched between the base (8) of the front fixing element and the rigid block (36). Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the rear end (16) of the plate (15) is integrally connected to the ski, and that the front end (19) of the plate (15) is raised by relative to the upper surface of the ski, that the plate (15) has in its front part an assembly zone (15 a) for receiving in a solid manner the base (8) of the front binding element (3), and that the rigid wedge (20) is located under the mounting zone (15 a) of the front fixing element (3) between the plate (15) and the upper surface of the ski. 6 Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the front end (16) of the plate (15) is connected to the upper surface of the ski by a layer (21) of adhesive material elastically deformable in shear in the longitudinal direction of the ski, which connects the lower surface of the plate to the upper surface of a support (20) integral with the ski, the support (20) now raised the front end (19) of the plate relative to the ski. 7 Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the support (20) has a rearward extension which constitutes the wedge (26) on which the plate (15) rests at its mounting area (15 a) of the front fixing element (3). 8 Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate (15,35) is raised relative to the ski in its central part and has in its central part at least one oblong orifice (30,42) according to a longitudinal direction through which a stepped stud (31, 43) is integrally connected to the ski, to hinder a relative movement of the plate relative to the ski in a vertical direction upwards and lateral. 9 Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the plate (45) touches the upper surface of the ski from its rear end to beyond the mounting area of the front binding element (3) where it has a front end (46) raised relative to the upper surface of the ski and connected to the ski by a layer (49) of elastically deformable material   1 O shear in a longitudinal direction.   Device according to claim 2, characterized in that a layer (25,45) of elastically compressible material in a vertical direction is located under the plate (15,35) between the area   for mounting the rear binding element (4) and the upper surface of the ski.