EP0608185B1 - Ski with attached tips and method of manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

A protuberance (20) of the bottom of the mould (19) and a dummy piece (17) or another protuberance make it possible to produce, with precision, a tenon (11) over which the said tip (2) is slipped with no truly discontinuous transition. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a ski with attached end piece (s), that is to say with an attached tip and / or heel. It also relates to a ski produced by this process.

It is now common to make skis, in particular downhill skis or alpine skis, for which the tip and often the heel are separate elements, and therefore constituting end pieces which are attached to the two respective truncated ends of the ski. Advantages of this type of arrangement are detailed in document FR-A-2,544,210 of the Applicant Company or in document EP-A-0 456 980. In general, it is particularly advantageous in terms of safety, performance, as well as manufacturing convenience.

These tips, spatulas or heels, reported are generally quite thick and massive. They weigh down the ends of the ski and penalize its aesthetics.

The object of the invention, which aims to remedy these drawbacks, is to propose a method for manufacturing a ski with a tip and / or added heel which allows an embodiment for which this tip and / or this heel can be relatively thin, light, aesthetic well integrated into the body of the ski, and in particular blend harmoniously with it by the fact that they can advantageously be formed in the form of end caps of the same thickness as the truncated end of the ski on which they respectively come to relate, so that the transition is then carried out continuously, without real break of the ski line.

• . une spatule rapportée sur ce tenon prévu à l'extrémité avant du ski, ou
• . un talon rapporté sur ce tenon prévu à l'extrémité arrière du ski,

la base de ce tenon étant définie, par rapport au corps du ski, par deux épaulements réalisés dans le sens de l'épaisseur du ski, dont un épaulement inférieur et un épaulement supérieur,
ce procédé consistant :

• à prévoir un moule dont le fond possède, à l'avant et/ou à l'arrière, un surplomb en forme de marche définissant un épaulement complémentaire dudit épaulement inférieur, ce surplomb étant prévu sur toute la longueur dudit tenon,
• à prévoir, pour la réalisation par moulage dudit épaulement supérieur et de la face supérieure dudit tenon :
  • . soit une fausse pièce de forme complémentaire à la partie manquante du ski qui définit ledit épaulement supérieur ainsi que ladite face supérieure du tenon,
  • . soit, sur la face interne du couvercle du moule, un surplomb complémentaire de cette même partie manquante du ski,
• à découper et empiler dans le moule ouvert au moins les éléments successifs suivants, avec préencollage spécifique classique :
  • . la semelle du ski, découpée pour remplir la longueur du fond du moule, surplomb(s) non compris, et les éventuelles carres métalliques bordant cette semelle,
  • . au moins un premier tissu ou couche de renfort découpé pour remplir la totalité de la longueur alors apparente du fond du moule, surplomb(s) y compris,
  • . le noyau du ski, découpé de sensiblement même longueur que cette première couche de renfort,
  • . au moins un second tissu ou couche de renfort de sensiblement mêmes dimensions que le premier tissu ou couche de renfort,
  • . la couche de décor, positionnée sensiblement à l'aplomb de la semelle,
  • . ladite fausse-pièce, non préencollée, si elle n'est pas remplacée par un surplomb de la partie interne du couvercle du moule,
• à refermer le moule à l'aide de son couvercle, et à procéder aux opérations de mise en pression et température, puis de refroidissement, de démoulage, d'évacuation de la ou des éventuelles fausses-pièces, d'ébavurage et de ponçage ;
• et enfin à rapporter, par collage ou autre procédé de fixation, la spatule et/ou le talon sur le tenon ainsi réalisé à cet effet.

It relates to this effect according to the terms of claim 1 to a method of manufacturing a ski, the front end and / or the rear end of which has a protruding post which is wide and thinner than the ski itself, prominent post being intended to receive:

• . a spatula attached to this post provided at the front end of the ski, or
• . a heel added to this tenon provided at the rear end of the ski,

the base of this tenon being defined, with respect to the body of the ski, by two shoulders made in the direction of the thickness of the ski, including a lower shoulder and an upper shoulder,
this process consisting:

• providing a mold, the bottom of which has, at the front and / or at the rear, a step-shaped overhang defining a shoulder complementary to said lower shoulder, this overhang being provided over the entire length of said stud,
• to provide, for the production by molding of said upper shoulder and of the upper face of said post:
  • . either a false part of complementary shape to the missing part of the ski which defines said upper shoulder as well as said upper face of the post,
  • . either, on the internal face of the mold cover, an additional overhang of this same missing part of the ski,
• to cut and stack in the open mold at least the following successive elements, with classic specific pre-gluing:
  • . the sole of the ski, cut to fill the length of the bottom of the mold, overhang (s) not included, and any metal edges bordering this sole,
  • . at least one first fabric or reinforcement layer cut to fill the entire length then apparent from the bottom of the mold, including overhang (s),
  • . the ski core, cut to substantially the same length as this first reinforcement layer,
  • . at least one second fabric or reinforcing layer of substantially the same dimensions as the first fabric or reinforcing layer,
  • . the decorative layer, positioned substantially in line with the sole,
  • . said false part, not pre-glued, if it is not replaced by an overhang of the internal part of the mold cover,
• to close the mold using its cover, and to carry out the operations of pressurization and temperature, then of cooling, demolding, evacuation of the possible false part (s), deburring and sanding;
• and finally to attach, by gluing or other method of attachment, the spatula and / or the heel to the post thus produced for this purpose.

According to a variant of this process defined in claim 2, it is the core which is truncated, while the sole and the decorative layer are not.

• . Figure 1 est une vue en plan d'un ski alpin réalisé selon ce procédé ;
• . Figure 2 est une vue en coupe longitudinale de sa partie avant, selon II-II de Figure 1 ;
• . Figure 3 est de même une vue en coupe longitudinale de sa partie arrière, selon III-III de Figure 1 ;
• . Figures 4 et 5 sont des vues en plan des fausses-pièces qui sont utilisées, respectivement à l'avant et à l'arrière du moule, pour y réaliser les deux épaulements supérieurs définissant les faces supérieures du tenon avant et du tenon arrière ;
• . Figure 6 montre, en coupe longitudinale éclatée effectuée à l'avant à titre d'exemple, les positions relatives des différents éléments juste avant leur pose dans le moule;
• . Figures 7 et 8 montrent ces mêmes éléments posés, et le moule refermé, respectivement à l'avant et à l'arrière du moule ;
• . Figure 9 schématise, pour l'extrémité avant à titre d'exemple, les phases finales de démoulage et d'insertion et fixation de la spatule sur le tenon avant ainsi formé ;
• . Figure 10 est une vue semblable à Figure 6, et illustrant une première variante du procédé ;
• . Figures 11, 12, et 13 sont respectivement des vues semblables à Figures 6, 9, et 2, et illustrant une deuxième variante de ce procédé ainsi que la partie avant du ski ainsi obtenu ;
• . Figures 14 et 15 montrent, en vue en plan, deux formes spéciales de spatules qui peuvent être, grâce au procédé de l'invention, aisément rapportées sur l'extrémité tronquée d'un ski.

In any case, the invention will be well understood, and its advantages and other characteristics will emerge more clearly from the following description of a nonlimiting exemplary embodiment, with reference to the appended schematic drawing in which:

• . Figure 1 is a plan view of an alpine ski produced by this method;
• . Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of its front part, according to II-II of Figure 1;
• . Figure 3 is also a longitudinal sectional view of its rear part, according to III-III of Figure 1;
• . Figures 4 and 5 are plan views of the false parts which are used, respectively at the front and at the rear of the mold, to make there the two upper shoulders defining the upper faces of the front tenon and the rear tenon;
• . Figure 6 shows, in exploded longitudinal section made at the front by way of example, the relative positions of the different elements just before their installation in the mold;
• . Figures 7 and 8 show these same elements placed, and the closed mold, respectively at the front and at the rear of the mold;
• . Figure 9 shows schematically, for the front end by way of example, the final stages of demolding and insertion and fixing of the spatula on the front post thus formed;
• . Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 6, and illustrating a first variant of the method;
• . Figures 11, 12, and 13 are respectively views similar to Figures 6, 9, and 2, and illustrating a second variant of this process as well as the front part of the ski thus obtained;
• . Figures 14 and 15 show, in plan view, two special forms of spatulas which can be, thanks to the method of the invention, easily attached to the truncated end of a ski.

Referring to all of Figures 1 to 3, it is a ski which roughly consists of a central body 1 at the two ends of which are attached two plastic tips, including a tip 2 to the front which constitutes an attached spatula and a tip 3 at the rear which constitutes an added heel.

• . une couche inférieure 4 qui constitue la semelle de glissement,
• . un premier tissu de renfort particulièrement solide 5,
• . le noyau proprement dit 6 du corps 1 du ski, ce noyau étant relativement épais et par exemple en polyuréthanne,
• . une second tissu de renfort 7,
• . et enfin la couche supérieure 8 de protection et de décor du ski.

The body 1 of the ski itself is conventionally made up of several superimposed layers and conventionally assembled by pressure molding at fairly high temperature, or possibly by injection, at least from the bottom up:

• . a lower layer 4 which constitutes the sliding sole,
• . a first particularly solid reinforcing fabric 5,
• . the core itself 6 of the body 1 of the ski, this core being relatively thick and for example made of polyurethane,
• . a second reinforcing fabric 7,
• . and finally the upper layer 8 for protecting and decorating the ski.

The sliding sole 4 and the decor layer 8 are both a little shorter than the other three layers which are formed by the core 6 sandwiched between the two solid reinforcing layers 5 and 7. They end, in front of or behind the body 1 of the ski, approximately 3 centimeters below the corresponding end, respectively 9 and 10, of the body 1 of the ski, thus defining, at the front as at the rear of this body 1 , a protruding stump or tenon, respectively 11 and 12, on which the insert is tightly plugged, therefore respectively the tip 2 and the heel 3.

• . un épaulement inférieur 13 qui est constitué par le bord extrême transversal de la semelle 4, et qui est donc de même épaisseur que cette dernière, et
• . un épaulement supérieur 14 qui est défini par le bord extrême transversal de la couche de décor 8, et qui est donc de même épaisseur que cette dernière.

The front post 11 is finally constituted by the front end of the core 6, taken "in sandwich" between the same front ends of the polymerized reinforcing layers 5 and 7, which makes it particularly solid. It is in practice defined by two shoulders of the body 1 of the ski:

• . a lower shoulder 13 which is constituted by the extreme transverse edge of the sole 4, and which is therefore of the same thickness as the latter, and
• . an upper shoulder 14 which is defined by the extreme transverse edge of the decor layer 8, and which is therefore of the same thickness as the latter.

Note that, in this embodiment, the two shoulders 13 and 14 are coplanar.

Also note that the attached plastic spatula 2 is at its base substantially the same thickness as the adjacent section of the body 1 of the ski, or about 7 millimeters to fix ideas, and that in any case it is shaped so that the transition with the body 1 is carried out almost continuously, it being understood that in practice, for obvious manufacturing reasons, such continuity cannot be perfect and that there will always remain a small "stair step" at the transition between the ski body and the tip.

It is exactly the same for the post 12 relative to the heel, this post being likewise defined by two shoulders 15 and 16, and the added heel 3 also being shaped in thickness for, after being tightly embedded on the post 12, introduce practically no, or very little, breakage on the staircase at the transition with the body of the ski.

The invention allows the precise production of these upper shoulders 14 and 16, directly to the mold and without any rework machining.

A first form of the process is based on the use, on the spatula side and the heel side respectively, of a "false part" coming, in the mold only, to extend the corresponding truncated end of the decor layer 8.

This false part therefore has the same thickness as the decor layer 8, and it fills the missing upper part, both at the front for the front false part 17 (Figures 4,6, and 7) than at rear for the rear false part 18 (Figures 5 and 8), of the body 1 of the ski. Its shape here is trapezoidal, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

As seen in Figures 6 and 8, a mold 19 is used, the bottom of which has, at the front on the spatula side (Figure 6) as at the rear on the heel side (Figure 8), a respective overhang 20.21 in form of step which defines a respective shoulder 22,23 complementary to the aforementioned lower shoulder 13,15 of the corresponding stud 11,12, this overhang being provided over the entire length of said stud.

Figure 6 shows, in exploded view, most of the constituent elements of the stack which is produced in the mold 19, while Figures 7 and 8 show these same stacked elements and the lid 24 of the closed mold. The exploded view of Figure 6 only concerns the tip side, but it is of course exactly the same on the heel side.

• . Les carres (non représentés) et la semelle 4 découpée pour remplir exactement le fond du moule entre les deux surplombs 20 et 21. Le dessus de cette semelle 4 est alors classiquement préencollé au pinceau.
• . Le premier tissu de renfort 5 découpé pour remplir alors la totalité de la surface apparente du fond du moule, ce tissu étant alors préencollé.
• . Le noyau 6 du ski préencollé sur ses différentes faces.
• . Le second tissu de renfort 7, découpé pratiquement aux mêmes dimensions que le premier 5 et préencollé, puis les deux fausses-pièces 17 et 18 préalablement enrobées d'un produit de démoulage.
• . La couche de décor 8, dont la longueur est éventuellement réajustée par découpage de finition pour qu'elle vienne exactement s'encastrer entre les deux fausses-pièces 17 et 18, avec le minimum de jeu.

According to this first form of the process, the right length is cut and stacked in the mold 19, successively:

• . The edges (not shown) and the sole 4 cut to exactly fill the bottom of the mold between the two overhangs 20 and 21. The top of this sole 4 is then conventionally pre-glued with a brush.
• . The first reinforcing fabric 5 cut to then fill the entire apparent surface of the bottom of the mold, this fabric then being pre-glued.
• . The core 6 of the ski pre-glued on its different faces.
• . The second reinforcing fabric 7, cut to practically the same dimensions as the first 5 and pre-glued, then the two false parts 17 and 18 previously coated with a release product.
• . The decor layer 8, the length of which is possibly readjusted by finishing cutting so that it exactly fits between the two false parts 17 and 18, with the minimum of play.

The cover 24 is then put in place as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, then the conventional operations of pressurizing and temperature of the assembly are carried out.

After cooling, as shown in FIG. 9 for the front part, the assembly is removed from the mold and the false parts 17 and 18 are removed.

The body 1 of the ski is then formed. After the conventional deburring and sanding operations, the tip 2 and the heel 4 are added by narrow embedding and gluing or clipping on their respective tenons 11 and 12. The ski is then finished.

Although this has not been specified above, one or more reinforcing plates can also and conventionally be introduced into the mold at the level of the pad area, in particular to allow easy fastening of the fasteners.

FIG. 10 illustrates a variant of the process which has just been described, and which makes it possible to dispense with the false part 17.

According to this variant, the cover 24 of the mold has, on its internal face, an overhang 26 in the form of a step which is symmetrical with the lower overhang 20 of the mold 19 and which is therefore directed towards the interior of the mold. This overhang 26 replaces the false part 17 and therefore has the same dimensions as the latter. It is therefore, like the latter, of complementary shape to the missing part of the ski which defines the above-mentioned upper shoulder 14 as well as the upper face of the tenon 11.

Likewise, the rear false part 18 can be replaced by an overhang of the cover 24 which is the symmetric of the rear overhang 21 of the mold 19.

Figures 11 to 13 show another variant of the method according to the preceding figures 6 to 9, as well as the ski obtained according to this variant.

According to this variant, the core 6 is shorter, and it stops just before the tenon 11 which receives the spatula 2. On the other hand, the two reinforcing layers 5,7 as well as the sole 4 and the decor layer 8 are all four longer, so that finally the stud 11 is no longer formed, as previously, by the ends of the core 6 and the two reinforcing layers 5,7, but is now formed by the ends of the two reinforcing layers 5,7, of the sole 4, and of the decor layer 8. The lower missing part which is filled by the overhang 20 and the upper missing part which is filled by the false part 17 have between them a total thickness which then corresponds to that of the missing part of the end of the core 6.

Similarly, the core 6 can be shortened at its rear end, to result in the birth of the rear stud 12, this core being there also replaced, in this stud 12, by an extension, in the stud, of the sole 4 and by an extension, in the tenon, of the decor layer 8.

Finally, it is noted that in the case of the embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3, the tenons 11 and 12 are each a multilayer complex which is produced by the superimposition of the non-truncated ends of the core 6 and of the two reinforcing layers 5,7, the sole 4 and the decor layer 8 being truncated accordingly, while on the contrary in the case of the embodiment according to FIG. 13, these same studs are each a multilayer complex which is produced by the superposition of the non-truncated ends of the sole 4, two reinforcing layers 5,7, and the decor layer 8, the core 6 being however truncated accordingly. In the latter case, the core 6 stops just before the stud 11 or 12, and therefore does not form part of it, the two superposed reinforcing layers 5,7 then forming together a sufficiently solid core for this tenon 11 or 12.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments which have just been described. It lends itself very well to the production of skis with tip 2 and / or heel 3 added and asymmetrical, as shown diagrammatically in Figure 14. In Figure 15, it is even shown that the invention makes it possible to make a tip ski 2 and / or added heel, the visible line 25 of connection with the body 1 of the ski is a complex and tormented line which would in no case have been achievable by machining. In this case, it is obvious that the false part and / or the mold base, like the end of the decoration layer 8 or of the sole 4, have a shape corresponding to the visible line 25.

Claims (7)

1. Process for manufacturing a ski of which the front end and/or the rear end comprises a wide prominent tenon (11, 12) less thick than the ski itself, this prominent tenon (11, 12) being intended to receive:

   . a tip (2) added on this tenon (11) provided at the front end of the ski, or

   . a tail (3) added on this tenon (12) provided at the rear end of the ski,

   the base of this tenon being defined, with respect to the body of the ski (1) by two shoulders made in the thickness of the ski, viz. a lower shoulder (13, 15) and an upper shoulder (14, 16),
   characterized in that it consists:

   - in providing a mould (19) of which the bottom presents, at the front and/or at the rear, an overhang (20, 21) in the form of a step defining a shoulder (22, 23) complementary of said lower shoulder (13, 15), this overhang being provided over the whole length of said tenon (11, 12),

   - in providing, for moulding said upper shoulder (14, 16) and the upper face of said tenon (11, 12):

   . either a false piece (17, 18) of shape complementary of the missing part of the ski which defines said upper shoulder (14, 16) as well as said upper face of the tenon (11, 12),

   . or, on the inner face of the cover (24) of the mould, an overhang (26) complementary of this same missing part of the ski,

   - in cutting out and stacking in the open mould at least the following successive elements, with conventional specific pre-sizing:

   . the sole (4) of the ski, cut out to fill the length of the bottom of the mould, overhang(s) (20, 21) not included, and the possible metallic edges bordering this sole,

   . at least a first reinforcing fabric or layer (5) cut out to fill the whole of the then visible length of the bottom of the mould, overhang(s) (20, 21) included,

   . the core (6) of the ski, cut out at substantially the same length as this first reinforcing layer (5),

   . at least a second reinforcing fabric or layer (7) of substantially the same dimensions as the first reinforcing fabric or layer (5),

   . the decorative layer (8), positioned substantially plumb with the sole (4),

   . said false piece (17, 18), not pre-sized, if it is not replaced by an overhang (26) of the inner part of the cover (24) of the mould,

   - in closing the mould with the aid of its cover (24) and in proceeding with the operations of pressurization and temperature-raising, then of cooling, demoulding, evacuating the possible false pieces (17, 18), trimming and sanding;

   - and, finally, in adding, by gluing or other process of fixation, the tip (2) and/or the tail (3) on the tenon (11, 12) thus produced to that end.
2. Process for manufacturing a ski of which the front end and/or the rear end comprises a wide prominent tenon (11, 12) less thick than the ski itself, this prominent tenon (11, 12) being intended to receive:

   . a tip (2) added on this tenon (11) provided at the front end of the ski, or

   . a tail (3) added on this tenon (12) provided at the rear end of the ski,

   the base of this tenon being defined, with respect to the body of the ski (1) by two shoulders made in the thickness of the ski, viz. a lower shoulder (13, 15) and an upper shoulder (14, 16),
   characterized in that it consists:

   - in providing a mould (19) of which the bottom presents, at the front and/or at the rear, an overhang (20, 21) in the form of a step defining a shoulder (22, 23) complementary of said lower shoulder (13, 15), this overhang being provided over the whole length of said tenon (11, 12),

   - in providing, for moulding said upper shoulder (14, 16) and the upper face of said tenon (11, 12):

   . either a false piece (17, 18) of shape complementary of the missing part of the ski which defines said upper shoulder (14, 16) as well as said upper face of the tenon (11, 12),

   . or, on the inner face of the cover (24) of the mould, an overhang (26) complementary of this same missing part of the ski,

   - in cutting out and stacking in the open mould at least the following successive elements, with conventional specific pre-sizing:

   . the sole (4) of the ski, cut out to fill the whole length of the bottom of the mould, overhang(s) (20, 21) included, and the possible metallic edges bordering this sole,

   . at least a first reinforcing fabric or layer (5) cut out to fill the whole of the then visible length of the bottom of the mould, overhang(s) (20, 21) included,

   . the core (6) of the ski, truncated over the whole length of the tenon(s) (11, 12),

   . at least a second reinforcing fabric or layer (7) of substantially the same dimensions as the first reinforcing fabric or layer (5),

   . the decorative layer (8), cut out substantially to the same length as these two reinforcing layers (5, 8)

   . said false piece (17, 18), not pre-sized, if it is not replaced by an overhang (26) of the inner part of the cover (24) of the mould,

   - in closing the mould with the aid of its cover (24) and in proceeding with the operations of pressurization and temperature-raising, then of cooling, demoulding, evacuating the possible false pieces (17, 18), trimming and sanding;

   - and, finally, in adding, by gluing or other process of fixation, the tip (2) and/or the tail (3) on the tenon (11, 12) thus produced to that end.
3. Ski incorporating an added tip (2) and/or tail (3), manufactured by the process according to Claim 1, characterized in that this tip (2) and/or this tail (3) are added respectively on a prominent end tenon (11, 12) of the body (1) of the ski, this tenon (11, 12)

   . being less thick than this body (1) of the ski,

   . having its base defined by two shoulders (13, 14 and/or 15, 16) of this body (1) which correspond respectively to the thickness of the sole (4) and the decorative element (8),

   . having its upper and lower faces constituted by the outside of the two reinforcing layers or fabrics (5, 7) which imprison the core (6) of the ski up to the end of this tenon (11, 12),

   with the result that this or these tenons (11, 12) are finally constituted by a multi-layer complex made by the superposition of the ends of the core (6) and the reinforcing layers (5, 7), the sole (4) and the decorative layer (8) being consequently truncated,
   and said tip (2) and/or said tail (3) being shaped so that, once added on said tenon (11, 12), their transition with said body (1) of the ski is virtually continuous, i.e. with a very minimum break in "staircase step" form.
4. Ski incorporating an added tip (2) and/or tail (3), manufactured by the process according to Claim 2, characterized in that this tip (2) and/or this tail (3) are added respectively on a prominent end tenon (11, 12) of the body (1) of the ski, this tenon (11, 12)

   . being less thick than this body (1) of the ski,

   . having its base defined by two shoulders (13, 14 and/or 15, 16) of this body (1) which correspond respectively to the thickness of the sole (4) and the decorative element (8),

   . having its upper and lower faces respectively constituted by the outside of the sole (4) and the decorative layer (8), these two layers (4, 8) imprisoning the corresponding ends of the two reinforcing layers (7, 8) up to the end of this tenon (11, 12),

   with the result that this or these tenons (11, 12) are finally constituted by a multi-layer complex made by the superposition of the ends of the sole (4), the reinforcing layers (5, 7), and the decorative layer (8), the core (6) being consequently truncated, and said tip (2) and/or said tail (3) being shaped so that, once added on said tenon (11, 12), their transition with said body (1) of the ski is virtually continuous, i.e. with a very minimum break in "staircase step" form.
5. Ski according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, characterized in that the added endpiece, tip (2) and/or tail (3), is, at its base, substantially of the same thickness as the adjacent section of the body (1) of the ski.
6. Ski according to one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the added endpiece, tip (2) and/or tail (3), is disymmetrical with respect to the median longitudinal plane of the ski.
7. Ski according to one of Claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the added endpiece, tip (2) and/or tail (3), is connected to the body (1) of the ski along a complex, tortured curve (25).

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