EP0571763A1 - Counter tip device for slalom-skis - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a piste ski specially adapted for participating in slalom skiing, which comprises a central bearing downstream part (10) ending in a front contact line (12), beyond which extends, in the tip zone (2), a raised upstream part (11) on which is attached a non-symmetrical counter tip device (end piece) (3) for the tip, which extends it via a central part (4) having the general shape of a horn, the end (34) of which is offset towards the inside of the ski (INT) relative to the median longitudinal axis (I,I'). The counter tip device comprises an overhanging lateral part (5) connected to the said central part and forming a skirt on the side of the outer edge of the ski, and the upper surface (50) of which is intended to enter into contact with the slalom pole. The invention also relates to the deflector counter tip device intended to be attached to a ski. The invention makes it possible for the end of the ski to remain in permanent contact with the snow even in the event of contact of the skirt (5) with a slalom pole (24). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a competition ski, more particularly intended for the practice of special slalom. In this type of competition, the runner has to pass through doors very close to each other at high speed and each demarcated by two pegs of the same color. This exercise requires great qualities of dynamism, judgment and responsiveness. One of the major difficulties consists in not straddling the internal stake at the turn while printing at the end of the tip of the internal ski, a path passing as close as possible to the stake. Any trajectory error leads irreparably to the fall and elimination of the runner.

In order to increase the chances of the runner to cross the doors, it has been planned to attach to the end of the ski tip or on a raised part, partially or totally truncated, a curved piece raised in the shape of a horn, having a asymmetry which prolongs the ski and moves the tip of the tip towards the outside of the turn. Such a device is described in patent CH 504,214 for example. The patent FR 2 617 729 proposes an improvement consisting even in providing that the insert extends forwards by a part in cantilever with respect to the raised part on which it is fixed.

All the devices of the prior art have provided imperfect solutions to the technical problem posed. The asymmetry effect effectively made it possible to advantageously move the tip of the tip towards the outside of the turn and to increase the safety margin by increasing the distance of the tip from the stake. On the other hand, a shock of the part on the stake leads in most cases to the lifting of the interior ski at the turn, leading to a loss of grip of the ski with the snow and to a loss of the rider's support during the turn. Crossing skis and the runner's imbalance are the immediate and inevitable consequences of this type of error.

The object of the invention is to remedy this drawback by proposing an asymmetrical tip of new shape and design. During an impact with the stake, the ski provided with such a part remains in contact with the snow, creating only a slight lateral displacement without consequence. Thus, the safety margin for the runner increases further and promotes performance.

For this, the subject of the invention is a piste ski for the practice of slalom, comprising a load-bearing central downstream part, ending in a front contact line, beyond which extends, in the area of the tip, a raised upstream part to which is added an asymmetrical tip of a spatula which extends it by a central part having the general shape of a horn the end of which is situated on a longitudinal axis offset inwards with respect to the longitudinal axis ski median. Tip includes a cantilevered side connecting to the central part and constituting a skirt on the side of the outer edge of the ski and the upper surface of which is intended to come into contact with the stake.

Preferably, the skirt is formed in such a way that the normal raised at any point on the upper surface thereof forms a positive, non-zero angle with a plane parallel to the ground when the ski is tilted outwards by a angle between 15 and 45 ° approximately when taking the edge. Thus, any impact of the skirt on the stake induces a reaction force whose vertical component is directed downwards; which keeps the end of the ski in permanent contact with the snow.

The invention also relates to the tip deflecting stake of asymmetrical shape and adaptable to a piste ski which comprises a first central part having the general shape of a horn and the end of which is situated on a longitudinal axis offset from the median longitudinal axis of the ski and a second cantilevered lateral part, constituting a skirt connecting to the largest of the curved sides of the first central part.

• la figure 1 est une vue de dessus de la partie avant d'un ski (gauche) de l'art antérieur muni d'un embout de spatule traditionnel,
• la figure 2 est une vue de côté de la partie avant du ski de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue de devant du ski des figures 1 et 2, lors de la prise de virage pour le passage d'un piquet,
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessus de la partie avant d'un ski (gauche) selon l'invention,
• la figure 5 est une vue du côté interne du ski de la figure 4,
• la figure 6 est une vue du côté externe du ski de la figure 4,
• la figure 7 est une vue de devant du ski des figures 4 à 6 lors de la prise de virage pour le passage d'un piquet,
• la figure 8 est une vue d'une variante de l'invention,
• les figures 9 et 10 sont des vues, respectivement de dessus et de côté d'une autre variante.
• la figure 11 est une vue de dessous de l'embout de spatule selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention.

Other advantages and characteristics will emerge from the following description of nonlimiting examples of the invention.

• FIG. 1 is a top view of the front part of a ski (left) of the prior art provided with a traditional spatula tip,
• FIG. 2 is a side view of the front part of the ski of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a front view of the ski of FIGS. 1 and 2, when making a turn for the passage of a stake,
• FIG. 4 is a top view of the front part of a ski (left) according to the invention,
• FIG. 5 is a view of the internal side of the ski of FIG. 4,
• FIG. 6 is a view of the external side of the ski of FIG. 4,
• FIG. 7 is a front view of the ski of FIGS. 4 to 6 when taking a turn for the passage of a stake,
• FIG. 8 is a view of a variant of the invention,
• Figures 9 and 10 are views, respectively from above and from the side of another variant.
• Figure 11 is a bottom view of the spatula tip according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 illustrates the front of a left ski of the prior art using a traditional asymmetrical tip. The ski (1) comprises a central downstream part (10) constituting the bearing zone and a raised upstream part (11) partly constituting the tip zone (2). The upstream part (11) is extended continuously by a tip (3) of asymmetrical shape whose profile is slightly curved upwards. The tip includes an upper (30) and lower (31) surface having the general shape of a horn and which are connected to each other by an external edge (33) curved of cord C1 and an internal edge (32) curved of cord C2 smaller than C1. The edges (32, 33) meet at the end (34) of the end piece located on an axis (II, II ') which is offset inwards (INT) relative to the median longitudinal axis (I , I ') skiing. The advantage of such a construction is that it makes it possible, as shown in FIG. 3, to increase the safety distance by shifting the end (34) of the spatula inwards to favor the passage of the stake ( 24). During the turn, the ski is in external edge grip and is inclined towards the inside of the turn by a certain angle (α) generally between 15 and 45 °. If the ski trajectory is such that the front end meets the stake (24), the impact takes place at a point (35) located on the outer edge (33) and, more particularly, near the edge lower (330) connecting the outer edge (33) to the lower surface (31) of the end piece, due to the bending of the end piece upwards. Thus, the force F of the ski is directed towards the outside (EXT or towards the inside of the turn) and down. The reaction R therefore induces a vertical component R1 directed upwards and which therefore tends to lift the end of the ski and cause it to lose its grip with the snow. This phenomenon is all the more accentuated, that in dynamic behavior, the stake bends slightly during the passage of the ski and slides along the lower edge (330) creating a ramp effect which progressively takes off the end of the ski.

FIG. 4 illustrates the front of a ski (left) (1) according to the invention which also comprises a central downstream part (10) constituting the bearing zone and a substantially raised upstream part (11) constituting, at least in part , the spatula (2); the two parts being limited to each other by a contact line (12). A tip (3) is attached to the upstream part (11) and extends it. The end piece (3) comprises a first central part (4) formed by an upper (40) and lower (41) surface having the general shape of a horn. The upper (40) and lower (41) surfaces are connected by an internal edge (32) of curved shape on the inside of the ski and meets at the front by an end (34) located on a longitudinal axis (II, II ') offset towards the inside (INT or outside the turn) with respect to the median longitudinal axis (I, I') of the ski. On the side of the outer edge of the ski, the central part (4) is connected to a second cantilevered side part constituting a skirt and extending the upper (40) and lower (41) surfaces. The two parts (4) and (5) can be limited by a more or less sharp upper edge (6), as shown. However, it is in the spirit of the invention to provide for a gradual transition from one part to the other through a substantially rounded and more aesthetic area.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 7, the skirt (5) is formed in such a way that the normal identified at any point on its upper surface (50) forms a positive angle (β), not zero, with a plane (P) parallel to the ground (S) when the ski is inclined outwards by a certain angle (α) more particularly between 15 and 45 °. Thus, when the stake (24) comes into contact with the end piece (3), the point of impact (35) is located on the upper surface (50) of the skirt (5). The vertical result (R1) of the reaction force (R) of the stake whose point of application is an impact point (35) which can be located anywhere on the upper surface (50) is directed downwards , thus tending to flatten the ski and more particularly the outer edge (7) on the snow. In dynamic behavior, the point of application (35) of the stake on the tip moves along the upper surface (50) when the ski advances, which imparts a bending of the stake forward but the resultant (R1 ) always stays down. The ramp effect thus plays on the upper surface (50) of the skirt (5) to release the end of the ski from the stake while maintaining perfect grip of the edge (7) on the snow.

The cutting of the side part or skirt (5) can be scalable but it is advantageously possible to provide a greater width towards the front of the end piece then a progressive reduction towards the rear so that the lateral edges of the end piece are connected substantially continuously with the side edges of the ski.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of how the end piece (3) is attached to the upstream part (11) of the ski. The end of this part is provided with lateral notches (13, 14) and takes position in a housing (36) of a shape complementary to that of the end piece (3) comprising lateral bosses (360, 361).

The end piece can be made of elastic deformable material such as a flexible plastic material or of elastomer to allow a press fit, for example. To ensure a certain impact resistance, provision may be made for it made of plastic material loaded with short glass fibers or the like.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate another exemplary embodiment in which the end of the upstream part (11) is truncated and ends with a transverse edge (15). In this case, the central part (4) can be produced without housing and its lower surface (41) is fixed by any means such as screwing, gluing or riveting to the upper surface (110) of the upstream part (11) of the ski. . This particular case has the advantage of being able to lighten the end of the ski by providing an end piece of material with a density less than the average density of the ski, for example.

FIG. 11 illustrates a variant in which the skirt (5) comprises reinforcing ribs (52) connecting the lower surface (51) of the skirt to the lower surface (41) of the central part (4).

Finally, provision can be made for the tip to be integrated into the structure of the ski during its production, by molding, for example.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments which have just been described and includes all the equivalents.

Claims (4)

Slalom piste ski, comprising a supporting downstream central part (10), ending in a front contact line (12), beyond which extends, in the area of the tip (2), a upstream raised part (11), on which is attached a tip (3) of asymmetrical spatula which extends it by a central part (4) having the general shape of a horn whose end (34) is located on a longitudinal axis (II, II ') which is offset towards the inside of the ski (INT) relative to the median longitudinal axis (I, I') of the ski, characterized in that the end piece comprises a lateral part (5) in overhang connecting to said central part and constituting a skirt on the side of the outer edge of the ski and the upper surface (50) of which is intended to come into contact with the stake. Track ski according to claim 1, characterized in that the skirt (5) is formed so that the normal (N) raised at any point on the upper surface (50) thereof forms an angle (β) positive and non-zero with the plane (P) parallel to the ground (S) when the ski is tilted outwards (EXT) by an angle between 15 and 45 ° when the edge is taken. Ski according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the width of the skirt (5) gradually decreases towards the rear so that the lateral edges of the end piece are connected substantially continuously with the lateral edges of the ski. Pole deflector tip of asymmetrical shape intended to be attached to the end of a piste ski, characterized in that it comprises a first central part (4) having the general shape of a horn whose end (34 ) is located on a longitudinal axis (II, II ') offset inwards relative to the median longitudinal axis (I, I') of the ski; and a second side part (5) in cantilever constituting a skirt connecting to the largest of the curved sides of the first central part (4).

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