EP0477314B1 - Shock absorber for insertion in ski bindings - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a shock absorber for insertion in ski bindings on skis (1) with an upper boom (3). Shock absorbers of this kind already exist in the form of multi-layer strip inlays. A disavantage of this prior art design is that, since the strip inlays must be incorporated in the ski when the ski is manufactured, they must be adapted to the various bore patterns in different ski binding parts. The aim of the invention is to make it possible to adjust shock absorbers of this kind after the ski has been manufactured to fit any particular bore pattern in the ski binder parts. The invention achieves this aim by virtue of the fact that the inlay (9, 10, 11) is housed in a bushing (7) screwed into a bore (6) in the ski (1). Each attachment screw used is a metal screw (12) the thread of which can be screwed into the high-resistance layer (11).

Description

The invention relates to a ski with a shock absorber for fastening ski bindings, the ski having a core and a top flange and the ski binding having a base plate or binding plate with receiving points for fastening screws designed as metal screws, and wherein at least one of the screws in a recess in the core receiving and anchoring insert is provided, which by at least one layer of high-strength material, such as is formed from a metal layer, preferably from an aluminum alloy and / or from GRP fabric laminates, each insert apart from the high-strength layer at least one, preferably arranged above this layer of elastomeric material such as rubber, silicone rubber or the like. and at least one spacer sleeve is provided which, when the ski binding is mounted on the ski, is supported on the high-strength layer and passes through the layer of elastomeric material and the upper flange of the ski, at least the latter with play, and the spacer sleeve protrudes over the top of the ski and keeps the ski binding, in particular its base or binding plate, at a distance from the top of the ski.

A ski with a shock absorber of this kind is disclosed in EP-A2-0354.379. In addition, such a ski with a shock absorber has been made available to the public since ISPO '89 through products, catalogs and explanatory explanations. In this known embodiment, the inserts for receiving the fastening screws are in the form of multilayer strips in the core of the ski, so that front and rear fastening screws, which are each provided on one side of a ski binding part, can each be accommodated by means of an insert. If this version also has advantageous damping properties, tolerance problems may arise because the strip-shaped inserts have to be incorporated during the manufacture of the skis, so that with different width skis and with ski binding parts the optimal position between the fastening screws and the strip-shaped inserts cannot always be achieved with different drilling patterns.

The object of the present invention is to remedy this and to arrange the damping elements on the respective drilling patterns of the ski binding parts to be fastened accordingly.

The stated object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1. The fact that the insert is accommodated in a socket with a smooth inner wall, which socket in turn is inserted in a bore in the ski and by means provided on the outer wall for anchoring, in particular screwing, suitable means can be firmly but releasably connected to the ski body, the adaptation to the respective drilling pattern is achieved without any problems, since the shock absorbers can be used on the occasion of the mounting of the binding in the ski.

There are basically two different options for inserting the inserts into the individual sockets. According to claim 2, the socket for inserting the insert is open at the top, which is closed by means of a cover after inserting the insert. The assembly is simple, but the connection between the socket and the cover must be designed in such a way that this connection can withstand the loads that occur.

If the features of claim 3 are used, the assembly of the unit consisting of the bushing and insert is somewhat more complex, but is associated with the advantage that the stresses occurring can be absorbed by the entire body of the bushing. The bottom cover, which closes the underside of the socket - hereinafter also referred to as "bottom cover" - is not exposed to any load, so that this connection can be designed simply.

Due to the configuration according to the features of claims 4 to 6, the stability of the high-strength layer of the insert is increased in that the spacer sleeve is fixed with it connected is. In this case, according to claim 4, the counter thread for the metal screw is still formed in the layer made of high-strength material in the form of a disk. The measures according to claim 5 have the advantage that the spacer sleeve is formed by the outer surface of the cylindrical receiving part itself. The features of claim 6 result in the advantage that the receiving part is designed as a screw bolt, the free end region of which carries the thread and can be screwed to an internally threaded sleeve screw.

The invention also relates to a ski with a shock absorber for fastening ski bindings, the ski having a core and a top flange and the ski binding having a base or binding plate with receiving points for fastening elements, and wherein at least one insert is provided in a recess in the ski, which has cylindrically shaped receiving parts for the fastening elements, the insert being formed by at least one layer of high-strength material, such as a metal layer, and in the interior of the ski at least above the high-strength layer, a layer of elastomeric material, such as rubber, silicone rubber or the like. is provided, and the receiving parts, when the binding is mounted, protrude above the top of the ski. In this embodiment according to the invention, it is assumed that the prior art is as disclosed by US Pat. No. 2,526,137. In this known embodiment, however, the receiving parts are held on the lower flange by means of a common plate, the elastic layer being provided along the entire ski body and actually not ensuring a damping mounting of the ski binding. This is because by tightening the fasteners, which should obviously be screw nuts or screws with an internal thread, the entire elastic layer in the binding area can be pressed together by the screws. If, however, the screws are not tightened loosening and wearing out of the holders of the binding parts is to be feared.

Remedy is also to be created here according to the invention, which is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 7. Characterized in that the spacer is designed in the form of a ring, which rests on the portion of the receiving part projecting over the top of the ski, the height of the spacer sleeve is significantly reduced, whereby the space required for the arrangement of the insert in the socket can be kept smaller and thereby the dimensions of the socket can be reduced. This contributes to smaller recesses in the body of the ski.

According to the invention, and according to the features of claim 8, the ring can be provided with a larger inner diameter sliding over the threaded section, this ring resting on a widened shaft section of the receiving part. In this case, the shaft part of the receiving part is to be designed with a larger diameter, on the other hand the costs for producing the ring are reduced. According to claim 9, the spacer is designed as a ring with an internal thread, which can be screwed onto the threaded portion of each cylindrical receiving part. This simplifies the manufacture of the receiving parts.

The features of claim 10 ensure that the high-strength layer is secured against rotation in each configuration.

Further advantages, details and features according to the invention result from the drawing, which shows several exemplary embodiments. 1 shows a cross section through a first embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 shows a cross section of a detail from FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale, and FIG. 3 shows an associated top view. 4 shows a cross section along the line IV-IV in FIG. Figure 5 is a cross section of another embodiment of a detail similar to Figure 2. A corresponding top view is shown in Fig. 6. 7-9 show details of further variants of the invention Design in the diagram. Fig.10 is a partial section of the screwed version according to Fig.9. 11 shows a modification of this. FIGS. 12 and 14 are further modifications of details in an exploded view and FIG. 13 is a cross section similar to FIG. 1 with the detail according to FIG. 12.

In Figure 1, a ski is designated 1. It has a core 2, which is covered on its upper side by an upper flange 3 and on its underside by a lower flange 4. Sidewalls 5 are attached to the narrow side surfaces of the core 2. The structure of such a ski is known per se and is not the subject of the present invention.

In the core 2 of the ski 1, for example, metallic bushings 7 are screwed into corresponding bores 6. As can be seen from FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the upper side of the bushing 7 is open and is firmly connected to a cover 8, screwed in the present exemplary embodiment. The cover 8 has, as can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, a bore 8a for receiving fastening screws to be described later, and slot-shaped recesses 8b for receiving a suitable tool.

In this embodiment, an insert 9, 10, 11 having three layers 9, 10 and 11 is provided in the cavity of each bushing 7. The upper and lower layers 9 and 10 are each made of an elastomeric material with viscoelastic properties, such as e.g. Rubber or silicone rubber. Between these layers 9 and 10 is a layer 11 made of a high-strength material, e.g. Metal, provided.

1, a fastening screw designed as a metal screw 12 of a base plate 13 of an indicated ski binding 15 is screwed to the high-strength layer 11, so that the ski binding 15 is firmly anchored in the ski 1. The metal screw 12 is guided in a spacer sleeve 14, which passes through a further elastic layer 16 on the top of the ski 1a, the cover 8 of the bushing 7 with play and the upper elastic layer 9 in the cavity of the bushing 7, is supported on the high-strength layer 11 and protrudes over the top of the ski 1a.

2 and 4 show a possible measure to secure the high-strength layer 11 against twisting during assembly. For this, the high-strength layer 11 has at least one extension 11a, which corresponds to a groove 7a of the bushing 7.

In Fig.1 all the elements shown are in the rest position. Shocks occur on undulating slopes, which are transmitted to the skier via the ski binding 15. However, these shocks are largely absorbed by compressing the elastic layer 9, 10 in the cylindrical cavity of the bushing 7 and the elastic layer 16 on the ski surface 1a.

5 and 6 show a further possible embodiment of the socket 7 '. The socket 7 'is open on its underside and is connected by means of a bottom cover (a bottom cover) 18', e.g. made of plastic, lockable. The upper side of the bushing 7 'is provided with a bore 7'c, corresponding to the cover 8 according to FIG. 2, and with two recesses 7'b for receiving a tool. The arrangement of the inserts and the anti-rotation device is also as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a further embodiment of the insert 11 ', in which the spacer sleeve 14' is firmly connected to it, e.g. welded, is.

FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11 show embodiments in which the fastening screw, designed as a metal screw 12, 12 ', 12 ", is screwed with its thread to a circular-cylindrical receiving part 17, 17', 17", the latter is firmly connected to the high-strength layer.

FIG. 8 accordingly shows the high-strength layer 11 ', which is firmly connected here to the receiving part 17, which is designed as a cylindrical cylinder and also serves as a spacer sleeve 14'' is. The metal screw 12 is screwed to the internal thread 17a of the receiving part 17.

In FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, the circular cylindrical receiving part 17 ', 17''is provided with an external thread 17'a, 17''a, which with the internal thread 12'a, 12''a of a sleeve screw 12', 12 ''is screwed. In the embodiment according to FIGS. 9 and 10, the internal thread 12'a extends over the entire cavity of the sleeve screw 12 '. The receiving part 17 'is designed such that the diameter of its lower, unthreaded section is equal to or smaller than the inside diameter of the thread 17a. In the case of a fastening screw 12 ″ according to FIG. 11, the lower, thread-free section has a diameter that is the same, preferably larger, than the outside diameter of the thread 12 ″ a. The shaft of this sleeve screw 12 ', 12''simultaneously forms the spacer sleeve 14''', 14 ^IV when it is rotated during assembly until it rests on the high-strength layer 11 'with its lower end face, one on elastic layer arranged on the top of the ski is compressed (cf. layer 16 in FIG. 13).

According to FIG. 12, the high-strength layer 11 'is firmly connected to a cylindrical receiving part 17''', which has a thread 17 '''a. The outer diameter of the section of the receiving part 17 '''carrying the thread 17''' a is smaller than that of the widened shaft section 17 '''b underneath. A spacer ring 14 ^V can now be placed on the resulting shoulder on the end face 17 '''c.

Fig. 13 shows the configuration according to Fig. 12 in the assembled state. The receiving part 17 '''which is firmly connected to the high-strength layer 11' penetrates the upper viscoelastic layer 9, the cover 8 of the socket 7 with play, the viscoelastic layer 16 arranged on the ski surface 1a, the spacer ring 14 ^V , the base plate 13 'one Ski binding, not shown, and is screwed to a nut 19. This is one for cushioning the shocks that occur when skiing arise, necessary distance between the base plate 13 and the ski surface 1a, fixed (defined). 14 shows a further embodiment of the spacer ring 14 ^VI . The spacer ring 14 ^{VI has} an internal thread 14 ^VI a and is screwed to the cylindrical receiving part 17 ″ up to its threaded runout 17 ′, which means the position of the spacer ring 14 ^VI is defined. In this embodiment too, the receiving part 17 ″ is connected to the high-strength layer 11 ′ and is screwed together with a nut during assembly.

All of the above-mentioned designs can optionally be combined with a socket 7 according to FIGS. 2 to 4 or a socket 7 'according to FIGS. 5 and 6.

The invention is not limited to the illustrated and described embodiments. The insert can be made up of more than three layers, whereby the choice of materials gives the designer a free hand as required. Furthermore, bushings made of a suitable plastic material or wood can be used instead of metal bushings. Another possibility arises from a multilayer structure of the layer from a high-strength material.

Other positive locking solutions, not shown, are also available for the anti-rotation locks. For example, the high-strength layer can also have a square shape instead of a cylindrical shape and can interact with a correspondingly designed cavity in the bushing.

Claims (10)

1. A ski (1) having a shock absorber for mounting a ski binding (15) thereon, said ski (1) comprising a core (2) and an upper chord (3), and said ski binding (15), a base plate or binding plate (13), respectively, with mounting locations for mounting screws (12) formed as metal screws, at least one insert (9, 10, 11) for receiving and anchoring said screws (12) being provided in a cavity (6) of said core (2), said insert (9, 10, 11) comprising at least one layer (11) of a high-strength material, for instance a metal layer, preferably of an aluminum alloy, and/or formed of glass fibre reinforced resin laminates, each said insert (9, 10, 11) being provided, in addition to said high-strength layer and preferably disposed thereabove, with at least one layer (9) of an elastomer material such as rubber, silicone rubber or the like, there being provided at least one spacer sleeve (14) taking support, when said ski binding (15) is mounted on said ski (1), on said high-strength layer (11), and extending through said elastomer layer (9) and said upper chord (3) of said ski (1), with some play at least in the later, said spacer sleeve (14) projecting above the top face of said ski (1) to support said ski binding (15), specifically the base plate or binding plate (13) thereof, at a distance above the top face of said ski (1), characterized in that said insert (9, 10, 11) is accommodated in a bushing (7, 7') having a smooth interior wall surface and being provided on its outer wall with suitable anchoring means, each said cavity in said core (2) of said ski (1) being formed as a bore (6) adapted to have said bushing (7, 7') fixedly anchored therein (figs. 1-11).
2. A ski having a shock absorber according to claim 1, characterized in that said bushing (7) has an open top for the introduction of said insert (9, 10, 11), and is adapted to be closed by a lid (8) fixedly connected, as by being screw-threaded, to the upper free end portion of said bushing (7), and that said lid (8) is formed with a bore (8a) for the insertion of said metal screw (12), and with at least one recess (8b) for the engagement of a tool (figs. 1 and 2).
3. A ski having a shock absorber according to claim 1, characterized in that said bushing (7') has an open bottom for the introduction of said insert (9, 10, 11), that said open bottom of said bushing (7') is adapted to be closed by a bottom cover (18), that said metal screw (12) is adapted, when said bushing (7') is inserted in said ski (1), to be introduced into said bushing (7') from above through an opening (7'c) therein, and to be screw-connected to said high-strength layer (11), and that said bushing (7') has its top face provided with at least one recess (7'b) for the engagement of a tool (figs. 5 and 6).
4. A ski having a shock absorber according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said spacer sleeve (14') is fixedly connected to said high-strength layer (11'), and that the counterthreads for said metal screw (12) are formed in said high-strength layer (11') configured as a disc of a high-strength material (fig. 7).
5. A ski having a shock absorber according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said spacer sleeve (14'') is fixedly connected to said high-strength layer (11'), that a cylindrical receiving member (17) is formed with internal threads (17a) for threaded engagement with said metal screw (12), and that said spacer sleeve (14'') is formed by the circumferential surface of said cylindical receiving member (17) (fig. 8).
6. A ski having a shock absorber according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a cylindrical receiving member (17', 17'') has external screw threads (17'a, 17''a) adapted to have a sleeve screw (12', 12'') screwed thereonto, and that when said sleeve screw (12') takes support on said high-strength layer, its shank extends through a visco-elastic layer (16) provided between the ski top face (1a) and said base plate or binding plate (13), to act as said spacer sleeve (14''', 14^IV) (figs. 9-11).
7. A ski having a shock absorber for mounting a ski binding (15), said ski (1) comprising a core (2) and an upper chord (3), and said ski binding (15), a base plate or binding plate (13), respectively, with mounting locations for fastener elements, there being provided in a cavity (6) of said ski at least one insert (9, 10, 11') comprising cylindrically configured receiving members for said fastener elements, said insert (9, 10, 11') comprising at least one layer (11') of a high-strength material, for instance a metal layer, there being provided within said ski (1) and at least above said high-strength layer (11'), a layer (9) of an elastomer material such as rubber, silicone rubber or the like, with said receiving members projecting above the top face of said ski (1) in the mounted state of said binding, characterized in that said insert (9, 10, 11') is accommodated in a bushing (7) having a smooth interior wall surface and provided on its outer wall surface with suitable anchoring means, said bushing (7) being inserted into a cavity formed as a bore (6) in the core of said ski (1), and anchored in said bore (6), specifically by being screw-threaded into said bore (6), and that the portion of said receiving member (17'', 17''') projecting above the top face (1a) of said ski (1) carries a spacer (14^V, 14^VI) shaped as a ring and acting to support said base plate or binding plate (13), respectively, of said ski binding (15) at a defined distance above the top face (1a) of said ski (1) (figs. 12 - 14).
8. A ski having a shock absorber according to claim 7, characterized in that said spacer (14^V) is formed as a ring having an interior diameter greater than the outer diameter of the screw threads (17'''a) of said receiving member (17'''), and that, in the mounted state of said ski binding (15), said ring takes support on the end face (17'''c) of an enlarged shank section (17'''b) of said receiving member (17''') (figs. 12,13).
9. A ski having a shock absorber according to claim 7, characterized in that said spacer (14^VI) is formed as a ring having internal screw threads (14^VIa) and threaded onto a screw-threaded section of a respective cylindrical receiving member (17'') projecting above the top face (1a) of said ski (1) (fig. 14).
10. A ski having a shock absorber according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said disc-shaped high-strength material layer (11) is formed with a projection (11a) engaged in a corresponding groove (7a) in the sidewall of said bushing (7) (figs. 2 and 4).

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