EP0382595A1 - Device for linking skis together with adjustable safety release means - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for linking skis together with adjustable safety means in order to keep them parallel, the link releasing the skis when the forces on the tips become too great. It comprises a linking means (3) connecting the two skis (1, 2) in front of the bindings (4, 5) and/or a linking means connecting (6) the two skis (1, 2) to the rear of the bindings (4, 5), characterised in that each means consists of two parts respectively integral with each ski and, namely, a flexible part integral with one ski is coupled to a female adjustable safety element and a flexible part integral with the other ski is coupled to a male safety element.

Description

The present invention relates to a connecting device intended to maintain parallel skis. This device is equipped with an adjustable trigger security.

Currently, there is no binding device on the market leaving skis their complete independence.
All the patents registered to date use a large number of parts for such a device but none mentions any adjustment on the triggering of the security. The object of the present invention is therefore to provide the device with an adjustable trigger safety unit and to considerably reduce the number of parts. Drawing plates I and II show an example of an embodiment.

Device for connecting skis according to the characteristic comprising at least one connecting means connecting the two skis in front of the bindings and / or a connecting means connecting the two skis behind the bindings and comprising a safety unit with adjustable release.

Each connecting means consists of two parts respectively secured to each ski, namely that a flexible part secured to a ski is coupled to a female adjustable safety element and that a flexible portion secured to the other ski is coupled to a male security element.

The device is used to link the two skis. Each connecting member according to the characteristic is in two parts which can be coupled or uncoupled at the discretion of the skier from a road position, using his ski poles for example.

According to one characteristic, the safety system with adjustable release is used to separate the skis when the forces on the tips are too great or in the event of a fall.

It is first the security of the ski binding that will work before the security of the boot bindings.

When the device is active, that is to say when the two connecting members are coupled on the front part of the skis near the tips and on the other part behind the bindings, these ensure great independence of the skis while by prohibiting their crossing. The flexible part allows skis to absorb bumps or, during direct crossings, steep gradients. This connecting device forces the skis to remain parallel without, however, transform into a monoski. The practice of ski with binding device and monoski is completely different. Indeed, with the monoski it is the edge and the upstream foot that are always requested, the downstream foot only serving to take a value of edge, this is the reason why we do not turn the same way to the right or left depending on whether you are right or left handed. With the skis and their articulated front and rear connections, the support is made on the two skis thanks to their independence.

According to one of the characteristics of the connecting member due to the position of the implantation of the part (1, 10, fig. 2,3) fig. 5, L1 smaller than L2, and another characteristic due to the flexible part (2, 11, fig. 2, 3) the two skis can deviate or approach with respect to an average value and without any play.

Indeed first case according to a characteristic, the flexible part is deformed. When the skier is on the upstream ski, the downstream ski is free and tends to deviate from the upstream ski. The two skis move away to a maximum value then slowly, but gradually, the upstream ski will decrease its edge gain under the effort of the couple (C, fig. 5). While the upstream ski begins to slide downstream, the weight transfer takes place towards the downstream ski at the same time as on this ski the edge grip becomes effective. This has the effect of refocusing the skier's center of gravity. The skier will be resting on the two skis.

The second case according to the characteristic, the flexible part is deformed. When the skier has his full weight on the downhill ski, the upstream ski is free and tends to approach the downstream ski up to a maximum value. Then slowly but gradually, the downhill ski will lose edge grip under the effort of the couple (C, fig. 6). The downstream ski will initiate the skid while the weight transfer will take place upstream. The device will force the upstream ski to take the edge which has the consequence of refocusing the center of gravity of the skier. The skier will be resting on the two skis.

Skiing, with the two coupled connecting members, can only be practiced by experienced skiers.

According to another characteristic, the flexible parts serve as shock absorbers, thus none of the vibrations or jolts undergone by a ski will be transmitted to the other.

The device comprises a connecting means (3, fig. 1) connecting the two skis (1, 2, fig. 1) in front of the bindings (4, 5, fig. 1) and / or a connecting means connecting the skis ( 1,2, fig. 1) behind the fixings (4,5, fig. 1), characterized in that each connecting means consists of two parts: one the male safety element (fig. 3) and the other the female adjustable safety element (fig. 2).

Another feature of the device is the rigid part (1,10, fig. 2,3); this part will be identical on the male and female parts. This rigid part will give torque (C, fig. 5,6) to the skis forcing them to take edge or skid depending on the attitude of the skier. This rigid part which is part of or can be separated is identical on the male or female parts, may be made of metal or plastic and will be fixed to the skis by means of screws through the holes provided for this purpose (9, 17, fig. 2,3), glue or adhesive.

Another characteristic: the flexible part, identical on the male and female parts (2, 11, fig. 2, 3), will be made of rubber or similar. This part will ensure the extension, the flexible part lengthens and deforms in compression and rotation while waiting for the reaction of the skis. This feature makes it possible to significantly reduce the number of parts such as spring for elongation, pivot, axis and ball bearing for rotation and to obtain high operating reliability during harsh climatic conditions.

According to another characteristic, the flexible part is used for the storage of the male and female parts along the skis after uncoupling (fig. 7). The flexible part returns to its initial shape.

According to another characteristic, the flexible part deforming in rotation is used for coupling the male and female parts. In fact, the skier, from his carriageway position using his poles, will rotate the connecting pieces (3, 12, fig. 2,3) which will pivot around the flexible part. The points of the sticks will be slid under the body (3, 12, fig. 2, 3) of the connecting pieces which will come to bear on the plastic rounds of the said sticks. They must then be rotated until the point (15, fig. 3) is opposite the mouth (8, fig. 2). During all this rotation the flexible part will apply a force opposite to its displacement reinforcing the support on the sticks so that during all the coupling operation the connecting parts will not move.

According to another characteristic: when the cone (15, fig. 3) is located opposite the mouth (8, fig. 2), the skier must bring one ski closer to the other so that the rod (16 , fig. 3) penetrates the female part (7, fig. 2). The cone (15, fig. 3) will push the pawl (4, fig. 2). (Ratchet passing through the body 3, fig. 2 in a place 4 ′). Once the cone has passed, the pawl is recalled by a thin flexible membrane (5, fig. 2). The pawl will fall into the groove (14, fig. 3) locking the male safety piece. The depth stop (13, fig. 3) prevents the male part from penetrating further.

According to another characteristic, the skier will be able to disengage the connecting pieces with a simple stroke of the stick given approximately on the piece (4, fig. 2,4) or by blowing up the safety. This operation can even be done while skiing for example to chain a skater's step after a schuss, in this way you do not lose the speed acquired.

Although, on a general level, it is interesting to connect the skis (1,2, fig. 1) using a connecting device, at the front and at the rear, under certain conditions of use especially for beginners, it may be better to connect the skis only at the front and leave the free skis at the back. This allows a beginner to start with the snowplow and gradually bring the rear of their skis closer together. The connection device at the front makes it possible to maintain parallelism and to avoid crossing or spreading the skis. Crossing the front ends of skis will no longer be a concern for the novice skier. It will be the same for a skier who already has a certain practice. For a number of years there has been a decrease in the length of the skis which took precedence over the technique at the expense of sliding. Thanks to the connections, we can resume conventional ski lengths.

The beginner skier, freed from the concern of crossing his skis, therefore of the fall, will learn very quickly, his mind being all about technique and not the apprehension of a new fall. But its level will not allow it to appreciate the inter-reactivity of the links, inter-reactivity due to the position of the layout on the ski L1 smaller than L2 (fig. 5) and the characteristics of the flexible part.

It will not be the same with a skier having a little practice. Indeed, there can be inter-reactivity between the skis and the skier only if there is a little of speed. The skier does not go out of his support polygon and being free from the concern of crossing or the spacing of his skis, will be all his technique. His choreography will be less impacted, the perception and the slope analysis will allow him to better understand the descent, to find passages more easily. The device therefore increases the level of skiing since the skier's concentration will be entirely on viewing and reading the slope so that the skier will never be surprised since he will always be one step ahead for what he wants undertake.

The device saves the efforts of the skier who can then maintain his power throughout the day. It avoids the clumsiness of the skier due to fatigue. It also makes it possible to make the safety of the bindings almost free, which will ensure a quicker stall at the time of the fall, especially in the beginner who has little speed and where the bindings are always hard to jump when the skier is static.

As a result, in terms of trauma, their number and severity should decrease thanks to the improvement in the level of skiing, the tightening of the bindings weaker and the reduction of fatigue.

The device allows you to ski in all snow conditions: icy, groomed or powdery. The more difficult the snow will be to ski, the more we will appreciate the performance of the device, for example when we encounter very heavy deep snow, very wet, hard to stir or slightly crusty snow which cracks when passing skis or even when the snow looks like coarse salt.

The device has two distinct parts, namely: a rigid part provided with an adjustable trigger safety unit, framed by two flexible parts.

The safety element according to one characteristic is composed of a spring, the ends of which are folded opposite, and of a camber.

These ends are anchored in holes drilled in the body (6 ′, fig. 2) of the female part.

The spring (6, fig. 2) according to one characteristic serves as an axis for the pawl (4, fig. 2).

A ring (2 ′, fig. 3, fig. 4) according to one characteristic moves along the body (3, fig. 2) giving more or less stiffness to the spring.

According to another characteristic, a thin flexible skin covers the oblong hole (4 ′, fig. 2) and keeps the pawl in position.

According to another characteristic, when the two half-flanges are coupled, the assembly is waterproof and snowproof.

Claims (7)

1) Ski attachment device comprising at least one connecting means connecting the two skis in front of the bindings. Each connection means consists of two parts respectively secured to each ski, characterized in that it comprises an adjustable trigger safety system, namely a female adjustable safety element secured to a ski and a male safety element secured on the other ski. 2) Ski connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the male safety member has a groove and a cone. 3) Ski connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the female safety member has a mouth. 4) Ski connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the female safety member has a hole for anchoring the spring. 5) Ski binding device according to claim 1, characterized by a spring whose folded ends will be anchored in the hole of the female part, capturing the pawl and serving as a pivot for this same pawl. 6) Ski connecting device according to claim 1, characterized by a movable ring cooperating with the body of the female part and leaving passage to the spring rods. 7) Ski binding device according to claim 1, characterized by a thin flexible skin pierced with a hole on the body of the female half-flange.

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