GB2501742A - Modular ski - Google Patents

Abstract

A modular ski kit comprises a range of tip and tail sections which can be assembled to make complete skis that exhibit desirable characteristics for a variety of snow conditions. A middle section may also be use to form a three part ski. A joint support plate 3 (figures 1and 2) may be positioned above each joint between ski sections. The joint plate 3 may comprise a boot attachment plate. The joint(s) and support methods allow maintenance/ improvement of strength, stiffness, rigidity and flexibility of the ski(s) whilst enabling ease of transport, and providing the user with the possibility to adapt the skis to suit the conditions or personal preference.

Description

Ski -A gliding device for use on Snow, Ice and artificial surfaces Physical Attributes -Stiffness, springiness, bending, damping, twist, sharpness, hardness, deformation, coefficient of friction, temperature stability, weigh, density, C of G, profile, shape, style, colour, image, branding

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns a Ski system consisting of a multiplicity of components that can be mixed and connected together to form one or more Skis' that can be used for multiple of skiing disciplines including downhill, cross-country, alpine, acrobatic, snowboard and telemark.

STATE OF THE ART

It is well-known that skis of all types used today, whether for alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, telemark, or snowboarding, are pieces of equipment which vary in length and width according to the various uses and which are made in such a way that their bulk cannot be varied, given that the body of the equipment is a single unbroken piece. This creates difficulties for transporting the equipment and means using special ski racks fixed to the car roof, given that it is the length iii particular that is the limiting factor.

Putting the skis on the roof of a vehicle, as happens with the skis currently in commerce, has been sho\vn in recent studies to have safety concerns. In the case of an accident (crashes between vehicles or bumps and knocks received during normal driving), the skis can become detached from their support as a result of the impact and their kinetic energy, becoming "spears" hurtling towards another vehicle and its occupants, with the risk of causing serious damage or injury.

The skis produced today differ from one another on the basis of the construction methods used by the various manufacturers; furthermore, even within the same ski type, there a differences due to the specific final use.

Current skis are designed anti manufactured for intended conditions, user, weight, cost etc. Giving each ski(s) a fixed (or narrowly varying) set of characteristics and inevitably is a compromise for the variety of users and conditions.

Howevet; it is possible to organise and classify the essential ski parts that constitute the equipment. it consists of an underside as a gilding surface the metal edges on either side of the underside for cutting into the snow, a core made in shaped or injected material, an outer covering made in composite materials and with printed designs. Furthermore, it is common practice nowadays to fix a shock-absorber plate between the ski and the ski boot bindings, which claims to help improve the elasticity of ski-binding unit as well as increasing the distance between the boots themselves and the underside of the ski.

AIMS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

The aim of this invention is to supply a number of interchangeable and connectable subparts that can be configured to create assembled ski(s) with characteristics that individually and in combination meet a wide variety of conditions, personal preferences and uses.

In order to overcome the above cited drawbacks of the traditional ski, folding skies have already been proposed. In particular, patents U.S. Pat. No. 3,689,093 and U.S. Pat. No. 504,632,418 disclose folding skies for use in any discipline, divided into a front part and a rear part which are destined to fit together in an inclined plane with respect to their soles when the ski is ready for the use and provided with simple hinging means for folding the two parts of the ski, sole against sole.

These folding skis, however, don't provide the opportunity to create skis with changeable characteristics, they are merely a folding version of a classic fixed form ski (with some compromise of characteristics) that aid transport but do not address adaptability.

An aim of the invention is to enable users (and equipment hire providers) to source a multiplicity of parts anti combine them to provide ski(s) that are suited to the user(s), the intended use, the conditions, personal preference of the user, and that as circumstances change the user(s) (or equipment provider) can quickly reconfigure the combination to achieve ski(s) with changed characteristics Another aim is to ease transport.

DETAILS OF THE INVENTION

These aims are achieved with ski(s) for use in all skiing disciplines, consisting of: According to the invention as in claim l.a Multiplicity of separate part of the ski(s) (including but not limited to front, back, middle parts), each having an underside and edges with the adjoining ends/faces designed to fit to one or more other parts to active an assembled ski(s) exhibiting the desired characteristics.

A multiplicity of shapes, profiles (side and plan view), length and widths for each component, each shape/profile/length/width being available in a wide range of the materials and displaying physical atfributes enabling ski(s) to be configured and assembled.

Ajoint design, in accordance with claim 6, that locates the various modules enabling defined physical properties (including but not limited to stiffness, flexibility, springiness, shape, camber, twist, flap, damping) to be achieved.

The invention may include one or more joint support plates that may contribute to the control of several of the physical properties (including but not limited to stiffiwss, flexibility, springiness, shape, camber, twist, flap, damping).

The invention includes that the bindings for attachment of the ski boot(s) to the ski(s) may attach directly to the components and or to the joint support plate.

This invention is applicable to ski(s) either with or without the usual shock-absorbing plate and the snpport platform for the ski boot bindings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further details of the invention will become clear from the following description, made with reference to the enclosed drawings, which are indicative but not binding: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the assembled ski and the key elements that make up the system.

Figure 2 shows a side elevation view of the alpine ski illustrating a potential type of joint and joint support mechanism.

Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of a possible joint for the modular ski system.

The ski is comprised of both head 1 and tail 2 portions each having upper surfaces Ia and 2a side edges lb and lc and snow contacting surfaces le and 2c. Mounted on to the upper surfaces of the head and tail portion of the ski is a binding mounting plate 3 onto which the ski bindings are mounted. The binding plate is monnted to the head and tail ski portions by the means of screws or bolts. The ski bindings comprise of a forward toe binding 4 monnted to the head portion of the ski by means of bolts or screws and a rear heel binding 5. The ski bindings are of the conventional type whereby the skier inserts the toe piece of the boot in to the toe binding 4 and steps down with the heel to engage the heel binding 5.

The head 1 and tail 2 ski portions are assembled together by means of a mechanical fixing 7 through the joining interface to hold the snow contacting surfaces 1 c and 2c together to form a smooth or uninterrupted gliding surface. The nut 6 is located into a recessed slot in the binding mounting plate 3 and torque using a tool.

The bolt 7 is embedded into the structure of the head ski portion 1.

A type ofjoint between the head 1 and tail 2 ski portions is detailed by figure 3 consisting ofajoint in each section illlLstrated by Id and 2d. As part of the joint a hole is present that concentrically aligns to a similar hole in the adjoining section ic and 2c. The embedded bolt in the head ski portion 1 then aligns with accuracy through the holes le and 2e allowing surface 7a to be installed through section 2 for assembly. The binding plate is then installed onto the upper surface of head and tail portion Ia and 2a with one or many fixings.

Claims (12)

1. CLAIMS1, A configurable Ski wherein the Ski performance is determined by the selection of easily assenibledniodules that are used to form the Ski, the Ski comprises at least two sections, each section providing specific dynamic perfoniiance characteristics to the assembled Ski, each section is provided with a coupling means to couple with at least one other section/module to form the Ski.
2. 2, A configurable Ski as in claim I wherein the sections/modules comprise of multiple ski parts including front, middle and rear parts allowing skis of differing characteristics Lobe assembled.
3. 3, A configurable ski as in claim I where the sections/modules use different materials to allow differing combinations of physical and mechanical properties to be displayed by the assembly.
4. 4, A configurable Ski as in claim 1 were a component part may be used in a variety of locations within the assembled ski.
5. 5, A configurable Ski as in claim 1 which offers a means to assemble ski pairs of different characteristic, dimcnsions anti performance to suit the user's necds.
6. 6, A configurable Ski as in claim 1 where one or more joints between the ski sections exists that is formed within the body of the ski.
7. 7, A configurable ski as in claim 6 where a joint (or joints) is formed incorporating within it an additional element that connects to the Ski body including at manufacture and at assembly.
8. 8, a configurable ski as in claim 1 with a join as in claim 6 where a joint (or joints) configuration exists that provides ease of assembly with or without special tools, workshop tools or power tools.
9. 9, a configurable ski as in claim 1 that provides controlled independent movement of one section/module against another.
10. 10, A configurable Ski as in claim 1 where the assembled ski uses a joint support plate and or an optional ski boot binding attachment plate.
11. 11, A joint support plate as in claim 6 where the joint support plate and ski boot attachment plate are one item.
12. 12, A joint support plate as in claim 6 and or 7 where the connecting mechanism to the ski sections can use either mechanical or non-mechanical fixings includin& glues, vacuum, self-locking, quick release mechanisms and ratchet fixings.