CA1223902A

CA1223902A - Snow ski

Info

Publication number: CA1223902A
Application number: CA000423441A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Romualdo Tua; Angelo Piana
Original assignee: Tua Ski Srl
Current assignee: Tua Ski Srl
Priority date: 1982-03-11
Filing date: 1983-03-11
Publication date: 1987-07-07
Also published as: DE3308599A1; FR2522976A1; DE3308599C2; IT8253045V0; CH653263A5; FR2522976B1

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Snow ski The side portions (4) of the ski have, beginning from the immediate vicinity of the longitudinal running edges (3) and at least for the major part of the length of the ski, respective surfaces converging towards the upper surface (1) and angled with respect to the bottom running surface (2) between 30 and 50°. The slant of the side portions reduces, in use, the lateral friction facilitating the changes of direction in the case of fresh and deep snow, and assures a more effective grip of the running edges in the case of hard and frozen snow.
(Figure 2)

Description

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The present invention relates -to snow skis having a bottom running surface with longitudinal running edges provided with metal inserts, and side portions extending between -the bottom running surface and the upper surface of -the ski.
Traditionally these snow skis are made with a substantially rectangular cross-section, i.e. with the side portions directed perpendicularly or at tile most with a very slight ubiquity with respect -to the bottom running surface, with a -thickness more or less differ--reinitiated from -the forward -to -the rear end of -the ski.
This construction is fully satisfactory when using the ski on normal beaten snow and prepared tracks.
In the modern trend of skiing on deep or sinking and anyhow not prepared snows, the above traditional conformation of the ski generates heavy lateral Eric-lions which can give rise to side skidding and cons-quaintly make the changes of direction difficult, both for turning and stopping.
The object of the present invention is to ox-vitae the above disadvantages, providing a ski -the con-formation of which is able to facilitate and improve its controllability in use both with deep and soft snows, and with hard and frozen snows.
The present invention achieves this object by providing a snow ski characterized in -that -the side portions have, beginning from the immediate vicinity of the longitudinal running edges and at least for the major part of the length of the ski, respective surfaces converging -towards the upper surface and an-~Z23~

glued with respect -to the bottom running surface between 30 and 50.
The aforesaid feature allows, when using the ski, a drastic reduction of -the lateral frictions, fax militating side wedging of the ski within -the snow with a very slight effort from the skier, and -thus allowing the execution of -turns with a greater ease. On the other hand, the reduced section of lateral bearing due -to -the notable slant of the side portions increases the gripping ability of the running edges of the ski which is therefore able to engrave with a better of-festiveness even the more frozen and hard snows, allow-in after all the most precise, secure and easy skiing with every kind of snow.
According -to a preferred embodiment of the in-mention the surfaces of the side portions have a con-stunt slant which is preferably around 45.
Alternatively, -the surfaces of the side portions have a variable slant, which is preferably more act cen-tuated in proximity of the area of -the ski which is destined to receive in use -the ski-boot.
This solution is particularly advantageous when using -the ski on soft and unprepared snows, and espy-Shelley during marches when practicing alpinism-skiing, since it effectively prevents the formation of snow soles under -the ski-boot. In fact the major slant of the side portions in the area of the foot plate deter-minutes a narrowing of the upper surface of the ski in correspondence of such area, and this narrowing acts as a breaching wedge of the snow mass.

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In one embodiment of the invention, the surfaces of -the side portions converge for the entire length of the ski except for the parts thereof corresponding to the area of -the ski which supports, in use, the ski-boot, wherein -the said surfaces of -the side portions extend substantially perpendicularly to the upper sun-face and to the bottom running surface of` the ski.
In one alternative embodiment, the surfaces of the side portions converge for the entire length of the ski.
Normally the surfaces of the side portions are plane. Alternatively, such surfaces can be curved, both convex or concave.
he invention will now be described, by way of lo non-limiting example, with reference to the accompany-in drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a top-plan view of a ski according -to a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of figure 1, Figure 3 shows a modified embodiment of figure

2, Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view along line IV-IV of figure 1, and Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 show four modified embo-dominates of figure 4.
In -the preferred embodiment of -the invention shown in figures 1, 2 and 4, -the snow ski has an upper surface 1, a bottom running surface 2 with longitudinal running edges provided with gripping metal sections 3, and longitudinal side portions 4 extending between the ~22~

running surface 2 and the upper surface 1.
Reference numeral 5 indicates a substantially central area of the upper surface 1 forming a foot plate destined to receive a ski-boot binding.
According to the invention the side portions 4 have, beginning from the running edges 3, respective surfaces converging towards the upper surface 1 and forming with the running surface 2 an angle A between 30 and 50, preferably around ~5.
The slant of the side portions 4 can be constant or, alternatively, variable along the ski, for example more accentuated towards the center of the ski and slighter in correspondence of its forward and rear ends.
According to the preferred embodiment, the sun-faces of -the side portions 4 converge for the entire length of the ski except for the part thereof eon-responding to the area 5 of the upper surface 1 for the ski-boot binding. Actually, in correspondence of such area the side portions 4 are substantially per pen-declare -to the upper surface 1 and to the bottom run-nine surface 2.
In the modified embodiment shown in figure 3, the side portions 4 converge on the contrary for the entire length of the ski, i.e. even in the part thereof corresponding to the foot plate 5.
Figures 5 through 8 show four possible different embodiments of the cross-section of the ski according to figure 4.
In the embodiment of figure 5, the surfaces of ~;~239~

the side portions 4 do not converge immediately from -the running edges 3, but departing from a short dust-ante therefrom. In -this case the slant A of the side portions 4 with respect to the bottom running surface 2 is slightly greater -than in the preceding case, and close -to 50.
The surfaces of the side portions can be shaped, instead of with a plane configuration as shown in figures 4 and 5, with a curved configuration. Such a shape can be convey, as shown in figure 6, or concave as shown in figure 7.
In any case the remarkable tapering of the ski cross section from the bottom running surface 2 -towards the upper surface 1 affords, in use on sinking and us-prepared snows, a drastic reduction of the lateral friction, reducing the risks of side skidding and thus ensuring a greater ease in effecting changes of direct tion, i.e. turns or stops, which can be accomplished in more precise and simple way. On -the other hand this configuration achieves a remarkable increase in the gripping effectiveness of the running edges 3, thereby improving the efficiency of the ski also on hard and frozen snows.
In the modified embodiment of figure 8, the slant of the surfaces of the side portions 4 is higher in correspondence of the area 5 for -the ski-boot binding. Actually, in this case the side portions 4 directly join together superiorly, thereby defining in the zone beneath the ski-boot a wedge shape. This con-formation is particularly advantageous when the ski is destined to the practice of alpi.nism-skiing, since it effective prevents -the formation of snow soles dun-in the climbing or the descent on deep and unbeaten snows.
It will be evident from the foregoing that the conformation of the ski according to the invention is able to ensure a more easy, precise and safe skiing in all snow conditions, due to the precision and security with which -the turns can be conducted without lateral oscillations and without the need of continuous adjust-mints of the skier's body for the skiing control.
Furthermore, such a conformation has the advantage of allowing ribbing of the ski in the most convenient way and of dosing the flexibility and torsional kirk-teristics thereof, while appreciably limiting its weight.

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Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A snow ski having a lower portion defining a running surface adapted to run on the snow surface and an upper portion defining a flat upper surface, longitudin-ally extending metal edges for said bottom portion and defining the ski's lower marginal edges, said upper portion having integrally defined sides that extend planarly down-wardly from the ski's upper surface and to said metal edges and along a major part of the length of the ski, said sides more particularly defined by inclined variably slanted flat surfaces defining with the bottom running surface an angle in the range between 30 and 50 degrees along zones forwardly of and rearwardly of a central zone, said central zone of said upper portion defining a footplate for a ski boot wherein said sides are oriented perpendicular said bottom running surface, said slanted surfaces being inclined at no more than 45 degrees adjacent said central zone.