FR2704442A1 - New type of ski - Google Patents

Abstract

Ski (1) which comprises, over its length, at least three principal zones, namely, respectively, a tip zone (2), a central underfoot zone (3) and a heel zone (4), and the structure of which includes at least one longitudinal reinforcement element extending virtually from the tip (21) as far as the heel (22), a core (15), a running sole, an upper protective element and, if appropriate, sidewalls and metal edges, characterised in that, in the longitudinal direction, the core and/or the sidewalls and/or the upper protective element is formed from three distinct portions, one at the tip zone (2), the second at the underfoot zone (3) and the third at the heel zone (4), each of these zones having a nature and characteristics which differ from one zone to another.

Description

NEW TYPE OF SKI.

 The invention relates to a new type of ski.

There are several categories of skis. Some are called "Slalom"
Special "and are more particularly intended to make short and precise turns. Others called" Giant Slalom "are designed to make turns at large radii and at high speed; other stills are particularly studied to optimize their qualities either in powder snow, in the high mountains; some, finally, seek versatility.

 Within these different categories, the qualities of the skis are very variable. Some are very precise and require a very good level of technique from the skier (competition skis); others, on the contrary, are very tolerant, very comfortable, therefore better suited to recreational skiing.

 Finally, in addition to these different criteria, the choice of a ski must take into account the weight or even the size of the user.

To meet these different needs, manufacturers must act, when designing skis, on different parameters:
- static parameters, such as flexibility values in simple bending, in lateral bending or in torsion, dimensional values, with inter alia the variation of widths at the level of the edges called "dimension line";
- other parameters, more particularly influencing the dynamic behavior, more sensitive in terms of the sensations experienced by the skier, such as the choice of materials, the structure, the distribution of the masses, the dampings, etc.

 As is known, a ski comprises over its length essentially three main zones, namely respectively from front to rear a spatula zone, a central zone corresponding to the skate of the ski, then a heel zone.

 In use, each of these zones has a very specific role to fulfill in order to optimize the overall behavior of the ski.

 The tip area, the first part of the ski to meet the terrain, must be flexible and damped enough to limit the propagation of vibrational waves while still retaining good torsional rigidity to maintain the grip of the edges in the curve line .

 The skate area is the busiest of the ski. It is mainly it which, by an adequate distribution of flexibility, by its qualities of rigidity in lateral bending and by its elasticity, gives the ski its qualities of behavior.

 The heel zone requires qualities fairly close to those of the tip zone, with, perhaps, a lower requirement as regards the attachment of the edges.

 Until now, two techniques have essentially been used to manufacture the skis, namely, on the one hand, the so-called traditional molding technique, and on the other hand, that in which the elements are polymerized in situ. In these two techniques, the ski most often comprises a sole associated with a longitudinal reinforcing element extending from the tip to the heel, itself associated with a core of a very varied material, such as wood, foam in plastic material, honeycomb structure, also extending from the tip to the heel. This core is covered with another reinforcing element, extending from the area of the tip to the area of the heel, the whole being capped by a top which may possibly form a shell enveloping the structure of the ski. despite the addition of some local reinforcements, it is essential that the main reinforcing elements, as well as other elements involved in the mechanization of the ski, such as for example, the metal edges, extend continuously from the spatula (practically from the front contact line) to the heel (rear contact line), in order to provide the ski with the necessary resistance qualities and continuity in its deformation line.

 Furthermore, it is known to use, in skis, cores (internal part of the ski) of complex sections, possibly multi-material different types of laminated wood or polyurethane-wood or even polyurethane-metal honeycombs, but identical from the tip to the heel. The aim sought by the use of such complex cores is mainly to gain weight under the best mechanical (strength) and economic (cost) conditions.

 The continuity of the elements can therefore be in contradiction with the desired differentiated behavior of the three zones: tip, skate and heel.

 The invention overcomes these drawbacks. It aims to achieve a ski in which the characteristics of each of the three zones are optimized, which we did not know how to do until then.

 The ski according to the invention, which comprises over its length, at least three main zones, namely a spatula zone, a skid zone and a heel zone respectively and whose structure comprises at least one longitudinal reinforcing element extending practically extending from the tip to the heel, a core, a sole, an upper protective element and possibly edges, and metal edges, is characterized in that, in the longitudinal direction, the core, and / or the edges and / or the upper protection element is formed by three distinct portions, one in the tip area, the second in the skid area and the third in the heel area, each of these portions being of different nature and characteristics from one area to the other. 'other.

 In other words, the invention now consists in making the core or the edges, or the top, no longer in one piece, but in three separate portions, corresponding to each of the three zones: tip, pad and heel. As these characteristic elements in separate elementary portions are associated with at least one continuous reinforcement from the tip to the heel, the deformations of the ski under stress are continuous, that is to say without line breaking and are progressive due to thickness variation.

Advantageously, in practice:
- the three distinct portions form the core and / or the edges and / or the top;
- on each of these elements; core, songs or top:
the three separate portions of each main area are
glued together;
these separate portions take different forms;
these separate portions are made of different materials;
- the ski, which comprises around the core of the reinforcements, a top, a sole and edges, is characterized in that the central portion located in the core pad area is rigid and is sloping embedded in a filling foam also forming the parts of the core located in the tip and heel areas;
- In cross section, the surface of the rigid portion of the core is greater than that of the filling foam; ;
- this rigid portion comes, on both sides, to bear on the edges;
- The rigid portion of the core has longitudinal channels arranged at the periphery or at the core, through which a filling foam, in particular made of polyurethane, passes;
- the different distinct portions of the core are made of a material chosen from the group comprising: wood (poplar, ash, balsa, etc.), plastics, loaded or not (polyurethane, expanded polymethacrylimide, etc.), honeycomb structures 'bees;
- the different distinct portions of the edges and / or the top are made of a material chosen from the group comprising wood, metal (aluminum), plastics (polyethylene, ABS), phenolic laminates, epoxy glass fiber laminates.

 In a preferred embodiment, the portion of the core located in the pad area characteristic of the invention is rigid, for example made of wood, the parts of the core constituting the two end areas, namely the tip and the heel, consist of expanded plastic foam which, during manufacturing, passes through the longitudinal channels of the portion located at the pad.

 In another advantageous embodiment, the area of the central skid comprises an elementary portion, for example made of wood or of honeycomb, with peripheral and / or core channels, while the two ends: tip and heel, are entirely filled with expanded filling foam, in particular polyurethane, which passes through the characteristic central elementary portion through the channels.

Thus, the core is, in the longitudinal direction, formed of three elementary portions of distinct natures and of very different characteristics.

 In another advantageous embodiment, the characteristic central portion, arranged in the area of the skate, can receive reinforcements, such as piano strings, or metal plates or laminated rods, intended to reinforce the spatula and heel areas.

 In another embodiment of the core, each of the three zones has a completely separate core, for example of polyurethane foam in the tip zone, of wood in the skid zone, and of honeycomb in the heel zone.

 In a sophisticated version, in each of these three zones, not only the core is different, but also the shell and / or the edges.

 Finally, if desired, the central portion can also receive elements intended to form part of the security attachment.

 The skis according to the invention can be obtained by the usual techniques. The different portions constituting the core and / or the edges and / or the top are either pre-assembled by pre-bonding, or positioned independently in the mold.

 The manner in which the invention can be implemented and the advantages which ensue therefrom will emerge more clearly from the following exemplary embodiments, in support of the appended figures.

 Figure 1 shows in top view, a ski according to the invention shown in cross section along the axis II-II 'in Figure 2 (tip area), along the axis m-mt in Figure 3 (area pad), finally along axis IV-IV 'in Figure 4 (heel area).

 Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment.

 FIG. 6 shows a ski comprising a shell in several parts of different natures.

 A ski in accordance with the invention designated by the general reference (1), like all skis, comprises three distinct zones, respectively from the front the tip zone (2), the central skid zone (3) and the heel zone (4 ), all three of similar length.

 This ski (1) is formed by a sole (5) which extends in one piece from the tip (21) to the heel (22) and has known edges on its two edges (6 ) and (7) metallic. The upper is formed by a shell referenced (8) which also extends from the tip of the spatula (21) to the end of the heel (22). In known and conventional manner, this sole (5) is coated over its entire length with a longitudinal reinforcing element (9) which extends from the tip (21) to the heel (22) and is supported on each side on the two edges (6,7).

 According to the essential characteristic of the invention, the area of the central shoe (3) comprises (see FIGS. I and 3), a central core (10), for example of wood, pierced with two longitudinal channels (11,12) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski and the sole (5).

 During the manufacture of the ski, this wooden core (10) is glued to the inside of the shell (8) at the appropriate location, then the assembly is placed on the lower elements (5, 6, 7 and 9) pre -assembled. Then injected by the spatula, in known manner, the chemical components which, by expanding, will form a foam (15) filling. This foam will first fill the tip area (2), then penetrate through the channels (11,12) as far as the heel area (4) which it also fills. Thus, in the longitudinal direction of the ski, the core ( 15) is formed of three distinct portions, two of identical material respectively in the tip area (2) and in the heel area (4), and another of different material in the pad area (3) where the core comprises a central portion (10) made of wood crossed by two longitudinal channels (11,12) filled with the same material as the ends (21,22).

 In a variant shown in Figure 5, the channels (11,12) are no longer located at the heart, but at the periphery (16,17,18,19).

 In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 6, particularly suitable when looking for skis having a differentiated behavior between each of the three zones (2,3,4), the ski (30), of conventional structure, is covered with a shell (31) made up of three contiguous parts joined together, respectively (32,33,34), of different nature and mechanical characteristics.

 Alternatively, the three separate portions are connected by elastic seals.

 In a variant not shown, the ski, also of conventional structure, comprises, on at least one of its sides, a edge formed in three distinct parts corresponding to each of the three zones joined longitudinally.

Claims (13)

 1 / Ski (1) which comprises over its length at least three main zones, namely a spatula zone (2), a central skid zone (3) and a heel zone (4), and the structure of which comprises at least one longitudinal reinforcement element (9) extending practically from the tip (21) to the heel (22), a core (10,15), a sole (5), an upper protection element (8) and possibly edges, and metal edges (6,7), characterized in that, in the longitudinal direction, the core (10,15) and / or the edges and / or the upper protective element (8), is formed from three distinct portions, one in the spatula zone (2), the second in the skid zone (3) and the third in the heel zone (4), each of these zones being of a different nature and characteristics from one zone to the other.  2 / Ski according to claim 1, characterized in that the three separate portions have similar lengths.  3 / Ski according to claim I, characterized in that the three separate portions form the core (10,15) and in that the material constituting this core is chosen from the group comprising wood, charged plastics (or not) expanded (or not), honeycomb structures  4 / Ski according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the three separate portions forming the core (10,15), are bonded together.  5 / Ski according to claim 4, characterized in that the three separate portions are connected by elastic seals.  6 / Ski according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that these separate portions marry different shapes.  7 / Ski according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that these three separate portions are made of different materials.  8 / Ski according to claim 1, characterized in that the central portion (10) of the core is rigid and is partly embedded in a filling foam (16,17,18,19) also forming the parts of the core located in the spatula and skate areas.  9 / Ski according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, in cross section, the surface of the rigid portions of the central portion (10) is greater than that of the filling foam (11,12; 16- 19).  10 / Ski according to claim 9, characterized in that the rigid central portion (10) is supported on each side on the edges.  11 / Ski according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the rigid portion of the core has longitudinal channels arranged at the periphery (16-19) and / or at the core (11,12), through which the filling foam (15) constituting the core of the spatula area (2) and the heel area (4).  12 / Ski according to claim 1, characterized in that the different distinct portions of the edges (32,33,34) and / or the top are made of a material chosen from the group comprising wood, metal (aluminum), materials plastics (polyethylene, ABS), or thermosets, phenolic laminates, epoxy glass fiber laminates.  13 / Ski according to claim 1, characterized in that the rigid central portion has reinforcements (piano strings, metal plates, laminated rods) intended to strengthen the tip and heel areas.