CA2129508A1

CA2129508A1 - Sailing ski with board for use on snow and ice

Info

Publication number: CA2129508A1
Application number: CA002129508A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Andrei Vladimirov; Ricardo Hernandez Perez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-08-04
Filing date: 1994-08-04
Publication date: 1996-02-05

Abstract

A sail powered assembly for use on snow and ice, in which a ski is provided with a board for a rider to stand on. The assembly comprises a ski, on the upper surface of which a board is fixed. The board has a universal mount fora mast, placed over the center of the ski. A conventional mast is fixed into themount. The board is fixed onto the upper surface of the ski by means of two support members. A load regulator is located between the center of the board and the upper surface of the ski. Special feet-belts of optional use are located at both sides of the universal mount of the mast. Two pairs of stabilizers (runners) are fixed to the edge of the ski by both sides of the supports of the board and situated in parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of the ski. A portion of the bottom edge of the stabilizers projects itself below the lower surface of the ski.

Description

2 2129~08 SAILING SKI WITH BOARD
FOR USE ON SNOW AND ICE

The present invention relates to a sail powered assembly in which a ski is provided with a board for a rider to stand on. Such a structure has new, improved and unique characteristics such as shape, stability, maneuverability and functionality.

BACKGROUND
OF THE INVENTION

Sailing-boards for water have thousands of amateurs in different l~tit~llles.
In countries with snowy winter, there is a wide potential for the practice of a similar activity on snow and ice.
Dirrerenl devices have been commercialized by f~ns of Sweden. USA, Germany, etc., under several trade marks.
Among these devices are:
I. The "Winl~ rer", commercialized by Wintersurfer Company, Sweden, which is made up of a rod onto which a sailing mast is mounted. This rod is meant to be attached to the skies or the skates worn by the user. Thus, it rigidly fixes his feet, cons~ -g the freedom of maneuver, a hazardous feature for such a device.
II. An oval surf board, having a ropes-controlled sail, which is mounted on its surface. It lacks of any foot-locking means and its structure leads to an excessive drag an insufficient lateral resistance. This device is patentedunder the W. Germany DT No. 197805.
III. The "Snow Sailer", commercialized by Snow Sailing International, Inc., F~tmingtQn Hills, Michigan, consists of a concave bottomed board with a sail mast mounted on its upper surface. Such a device lacks of sufficient lateral resistance and leads to an excessive drag. It has insufficient mobility and stability, thus becoming unsuitable for use on ice.
IV. The "Windskier", commercialized by Windskier International Corporation, Reno, Nevada, consists of a sail board with a sail mast mounted on its upper surface and two skis attached to its lower surface. The use of two skis make it harder to control and excludes its use on ice.
V. The device shown on the US Pat. No. 4,204,694 comprises several modifications of a sail structure comprising a non-conventional sail rigidly attached to a ski or a skate.

3 2l29~o8 -The ski version comprises a mast and a sail.
The ski-sail version is not provided with a universal mount for the mast, has excessive drag and lacks of enough lateral resistance, thus compromising itsstability on ice. It does not provide any foot-locking means.
The skate-sail version is not suitable for use on snow.
VI. US patent No. 4,601,488 discloses a ski with a conventional sail fixed to it by means of an universal mount which is positioned toward the backward end of the ski. It has longit~ltlin~lly spaced foot straps, positioned rearwardly of the mast and longit~l~in~lly spaced runners along the edges of theski rearwardly of the foot straps. This device is alleged to work on both snow and ice, providing no substantial drag and enough lateral resistance and stability. Nevertheless:
1.) The use of a single pair of runners, placed toward the backward end of the ski can not provide sufficient lateral resistance in the forward part of the structure thus leading to the general instability of the whole assembly on ice.
2.) The fixation of the user's feet by means of longitll~in~lly spaced foot straps leads to considerable instability for the user when under lateral wind, due to the fact that the user can adopt only the preset position, the "Trandelenburgh`s pose" known to be one of the less stable possible, given the character of the human vestibular apparatus.
3.) The location of the universal mount for the mast, toward the forward end of the ski, leads to the loss of the balance of the whole assembly thus complicating its piloting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is intended to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks. Its main object is to provide an apl)alalus than can be successfully used on both snow and ice and is capable of reaching high speed combined with easiness of control and stability.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1) is a perspective view of the "sailing ski with board" embodying the invention.
Fig. 2) is a view in elevation of the "sailing ski with board" with the mast and sail removed.
Fig. 3) is a plan view of the "sailing ski with board" with the universal mast mount removed.
Fig. 4) is an isolated detailed view of the regulator of load.

4 2129~08 Fig. 5) is an isolated detailed view of a support of the board in its lateral projection.
Fig. 6) is an isolated detailed view of a support of the board in its frontal projection.
Fig. 7) is an isolated detailed view of a runner in its lateral projection.
Fig. 8) is a detailed sectional view of a runner in its frontal projection along section C-C (fig. 7).

DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1) shows the "sailing ski with board" embodying the invention, which comprises: a ski(l), which constitutes a common jumping ski or a conventional alpine ski; a board (3) for the user to stand on; a universal mount(14) for the mast (10); a transversal boom (11) supporting a conventional sail (12) which has a strengthened top angle.
Fig. 2-3) shows the "sailing ski with board". Onto the ski (1) a board (3) is fixed by means of supports (5) and (8). Between the central section of the board and the upper surface of the ski a regulator of load (6) is installed. Therunners (4a), (4b) and (7a), (7b) are fixed parallel to each other by both sides of the supports (5) and (8). The runners (4a), (4b), (7a), (7b) have a portion of their bottom edge projecting off the lower surface of the ski (1). Onto the upper surface of the board (3) a universal mount (14) is fixed. Foot straps (2) and (9) are placed by both sides of the board (3), forwardly and rearwardly of the universal mount (14). The universal mount is placed so that its vertical axis passes perpendicularly through the center of the ski (1). The optimal way of placing the board (3) is the one proposed herein, so that 1/3 of it is situated forwardly and 2/3 rearwardly of the universal mount (14).
The use of foot-straps is optional, nevertheless, for executing certain maneuvers, they become indispensable. In such cases, they should be located longit~l(lin~lly both forwardly and rearwardly of the universal mount (14). The shape and amount of foot-straps do not make a difference. While skiing without using foot-straps, an important role is played by the upward slope of the ends of the board, which prevents the user's feet from slipping away. For this same purpose, the upper surface of the board (3) is covered with an anti-slippery material.
Fig. 4) shows a detailed view of the regulator of load. The regulator is necessary for the regulation of the pressure exerted by the board (3) over the ski (1) in dependence of the weight of the user. It is made of two cylinders ( 16) and (17). The intçrn~l surface of the cylinder (16) and the external surface of the cylinder (17) have a screw-thread by means of which the cylinder (17) can freely screw inward the cylinder (16). The wide basis (28) of cylinder (16) is attached by screws to the upper surface of the ski (1). In the wide basis (28) of cylinder (16) there are perforations (26) and (27) for the named screws.

2129~08 The wide top of cylinder (17) is mobile providing the regulator of load with the capacity of adapting to the required height. Thus, it is possible to regulate the pressure that the board (3) exerts over the ski (1).
Fig. 5) shows a detailed view of a support of the board (3) in its lateral projection. It consists of two parts, an upper one (18) and a lower one (19), joint by means of an axis (20) in such a way that the upper part (18) can balance in relation to the lower part (19). Thus it compensates any excessive tension between the board (3) and the ski (1).
Fig. 6) shows a detailed view of a support of the board (3) in its frontal projection. The axis (20) is fixed by means of nuts (21) and (22). The lower part (19) is attached to the upper surface of the ski by means of screws screwed through perforations (25) and (26). The upper part (18) is attached to the lowersurface of the board (3) by means of screws screwed through perforations (23) and (24).
Fig. 7) shows a detailed view of a runner in its lateral projection. The bottom of the runner (31) has an asymmetrical continual cutting edge from point (29) to point (30). This is necessary for improving the dynamic quality of the rurmer (maximal reduction of drag).
The location of the perforations for the screws is provided in such a way that two contiguous screws (v. gr.: (32) and (33) will be placed on different longihl~lin~l axes. It is necessary for a higher level of firmness of fixation of the runners and the reduction of destructive charges on the ski.
The runners are fixed to the ski by means of screws, screwed into cavities perforated directly into the body of the ski.
Fig. 8) shows a detailed view of a rurmer in its frontal projection along section C-C (fig.7).
The cutting edge of the runner is asymmetrical, having an outward open angle of appro~il,lately 45 degrees.
For the m~king of this device can be used both a common jumping ski or a conventional alpine ski 2-2,3 meters long. The length of the ski depends on the weight of the user.
The standard length of the board (3) ranges between 70-100 cm., its width between 20-25 cm. The optimal material for the board is water resistant plywood, of a thickness of 15 mm., but it can also be made of plastic or a combined m~tçri~l The use of such a board allows the user to occupy the optimal position depending on the direction of the wind and the course of the ski and makes the ski easier to be controlled without affecting its dynamic characteristics.
The length of the runners may range between 15-20 cm. The width ranges between 2,5-3 cm. Its thickness is about 2 mm. The runners are made of high-proof stainless steel and it is fixed to the ski by means of stainless steel screws.
Thanks to the use of two pairs of runners in this structure, it is possible to obtain the required lateral resistance along the whole ensemble without affecting its control. They work as good on snow as they do on ice.
The mast, the boom and the mount for the mast used in this structure are standard.
In the const~uction of the sail, a change has been introduced. The top angle of the sail is strengthened with a special cover (13) (fig.1) made of a high-`` 6 2129~08 .. .
proof material as to prevent the sail from being damaged when falling onto arude snow or ice surface.
The supports of the board should be made of a light and resistant m~teri~l such as duralumin.
The load regulator has been made of duralumin though other light and resist~nt materials can be used as well.
For the foot-straps is used a belt made of a flexible and resistant synthetic material.
The technics of riding this a~palalus constitute a peculiar combination of the technics of riding a ski with those of mastering a conventional sail and have not analogy neither with the existing conventional skis nor with any wind-surfing.
The general structure of the assembly (location of the mast, the board, the runners, the foot-straps) permits to achieve a top easiness in control without ~1imini~hing stability. The rider can change the direction of the movement by transferring the lateral effort to the forward or the rearward part of the ski through the coordinated interaction of the leg effort and the sail.
This device can reach considerable speed (40 km/~. and higher) depending on the rider's skills.
For the protection of the rider, it is highly recommended the use of protection means for the head, the elbows, the knees, etc.
The sailing ski with board is designed for riding on snow and ice. In this sense it has not analogy with any other sailing device. The better place for using the sailing ski with board is the frozen surface of rivers and lakes.
The description suggested above should be considered as the basic, preferred one. Nevertheless, numerous modifications and variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, assembly, use and mar~er of operation are still possible. It is not desirable to consider the above description as restrictive.
Therefore, the foregoing should be considered as illustrative of the principles of the invention. All suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which and exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1.) A sail powered apparatus named sailing ski with board for use on snow and ice, comprising:
a ski provided with two pairs of runners, located toward its forward and rearward ends by both sides of the supports of the board;
a board fixed to the ski by means of supports;
a regulator of load installed between the central section of the board and the upper surface of the ski;
foot straps located longitudinally by both sides of the board, forwardly and rearwardly of the universal mount;
a conventional mast;
a transversal boom;
a conventional sail with strengthened top angle.

2.) The sailing ski with board as set forth in claim 1, wherein a board has form and size that allow the user to occupy the optimal position making the control of the ski easier and providing the required stability without affecting its dynamic characteristics.

3.) The sailing ski with board as set forth in claim 1, wherein foot-straps are located longitudinally both forwardly and rearwardly of the universal mount of the mast.

4) The sailing ski with board as set forth in claim 1, wherein a pair of supports of the board consisting of two parts, one upper and one lower, joint bymeans of an axis in such a way that the upper part can balance in relation to the lower part about the axis. That serves to compensate any excessive tension between the board and the ski.

5) The sailing ski with board as set forth in claim 1, wherein each runner has an asymmetrical cutting edge bottom forming an outward open angle of approximately 45 degrees.

6) The sailing ski with board as set forth in claim 1, wherein the location of the perforations for the screws is provided in such a way that two contiguousscrews will be placed on different longitudinal axes.

7) The sailing ski with board as set forth in claim 1, wherein the runners are mounted by means of screws, extending into cavities perforated directly intothe body of the ski.

8) The sailing ski with board as set forth in claim 1, wherein a regulator of load constitute a device capable of adopting a different height when required.

9) The sailing ski with board as set forth in claim 1, wherein the universal mount for the mast is placed so that its vertical axis passes perpendicularly through the center of the ski.

10) The sailing ski with board as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sail has strengthened top angle.