EP0620027B1 - Ski with side walls and upper shell - Google Patents

Abstract

This ski includes longitudinal reinforcing elements (9) each bearing on an edge (8), and forming the side walls of the ski, which extend, at least in the case of one of them, over a part of the height of the latter, and a shell (10) forming the topsheet (upper face) and a part of at least one of the lateral walls of the ski, and the longitudinal sides (12) of which rest and are fastened on the topsheet of the side walls (9), the respective heights of a side wall and of the shell over at least one of the side faces of the ski varying in the same proportions over the length of the ski. <IMAGE>

Description

The subject of the present invention is a ski, and in particular an alpine ski comprising edges and an upper shell.

A traditional ski comprises a lower surface constituted by a sole bordered by longitudinal edges, on which rest rigid edges, for example ABS or phenolic laminate. These edges, which extend over the entire height of the ski, are generally perpendicular to the sole thereof. Between the edges, the core is arranged, which can be produced in different ways, the core itself being located between reinforcing elements, the assembly being covered by an upper wall which also rests on the upper wall of the edges.

The advantage of such a ski is that the rigidity of the edges ensures excellent transmission of the forces exerted by the skier on the surface of the snow.

It is more and more common, for aesthetic reasons, and for reasons of industrialization of the manufacture of skis, to produce shaped skis, that is to say skis of non-rectangular section, having a shell. forming the upper face and the lateral faces of the ski, these lateral faces possibly being inclined over at least part of their height. In such a case, the core is most often made of synthetic material foam, for example polyurethane, which has excellent properties of stability over time, while being of low weight.

However, this latter type of ski, illustrated in particular by the documents FR 2 611 518, US 3 272 522 and FR 2 522 976, is not entirely satisfactory since the transmission of the forces on the edges from the upper face of the skiing is not performed firmly, given the absence of edges and the inclination of the side walls. This transmission is made only by sheets of reinforcement of the hull, which are pressed against the inclined sides and which take a specific support on the edges. These skis therefore have average behavior characteristics and cannot meet the required criteria, in particular in competition, where the desired guidance precision for the skis, imposes a transmission of forces as perfect as possible from the upper face of the ski. towards the edges.

Generally, the hulls constituting modern skis comprise an upper protective element supporting the decoration of the ski, covering a glass fabric frame possibly containing carbon or aramid fibers constituting the upper reinforcement of the ski. This reinforcing fabric could, in the upper part corresponding to the upper face of the ski, be made up only of unidirectional fibers. However, it is imperative that the flaps, constituting the lateral faces of the ski, include fibers oriented in the direction of the weft, necessary to obtain sufficient resistance, in particular in torsion, and providing support on the edges . It is therefore necessary to use fabrics comprising a warp and a weft, even if this structure is oversized for the production of the upper surface of the ski which must mainly provide resistance in simple bending of the ski.

In addition, the connection between the shell and the lower part of the ski is ensured by bonding. Given the forces to which the assembly zone is subjected, it frequently results from detachments between the shell and the lower part of the ski comprising the sole.

The object of the invention is to provide a ski, in which the transmission of forces from the upper face of the ski to the edges is carried out under the best possible conditions, which has a shell forming its upper face and at least part of its side faces, in order to obtain good aesthetic qualities, and which is of great solidity.

To this end, the ski which it concerns, comprising a filling core in one or more parts, for example made of polyurethane foam, a lower face equipped with a sliding sole and delimited by two longitudinal metal edges, as well as reinforcement and decoration sheets, and a shell forming at least the upper face of the ski, is characterized in that it comprises longitudinal reinforcing elements each bearing on an edge, and forming the edges of the ski, the edges are extending, at least for one of them, over part of the height of the ski, and in that the hull forms part of at least one of the side walls of the ski, the longitudinal edges of the hull resting and being fixed on the upper face of the edges, the respective heights of a edge and the shell on at least one of the sides of the ski varying in the same proportions over the length of the ski.

The height of the edges is substantially equal to the height of the shell.

This ski has longitudinal reinforcing elements forming edges, which bear on the edges, and which ensure good transmission of the reactions of the skier to the underside of the ski. In addition, the fact that the assembly between the shell and the edges is carried out substantially at mid-height of the ski, that is to say substantially at the same height as the neutral fiber of the ski core, area in which the compression and traction forces are balanced inside the ski, improves the resistance characteristics in transverse bending, in lateral bending and in torsion.

Advantageously, under these conditions, the upper reinforcement fabric of the shell is made up of unidirectional fibers oriented only in the longitudinal direction of the ski, which constitutes a factor of economy, without harming the qualities of the ski.

The edges may be perpendicular to the plane of the sole, or inclined with respect to this perpendicular. Insofar as the outer face of each reinforcing element forming a song is inclined, this inclination may be different or equal to that of the inclined part of the shell. In addition, this inclination can be symmetrical or asymmetrical with one edge relative to the other edge of the same ski.

The reinforcing elements arranged on both sides of the ski may have characteristics of shape and / or relating to the nature of the same or different materials, and have a constant width over the entire length of the ski or, on the contrary, have a variable width.

Each reinforcing element can be monolithic or constituted by several vertical and juxtaposed layers extending over the length of the ski. These different layers of material can have the same height or, on the contrary, the different layers can have decreasing heights from the layer located on the side of the core of the ski to that located furthest outside.

According to another embodiment, the two reinforcing elements arranged on the two sides of the ski have different heights. We then obtain an asymmetrical ski. It is possible to have a ski with, in particular in the skating area, an element of reinforcement located on the side of the inner edge, which has a height greater than that of the reinforcing element located on the side of the outer edge. This arrangement provides a ski having good qualities of guidance on hard snow, as well as good qualities of behavior in powder snow, because it is possible to thin the ski on the side of the outer edge.

According to another embodiment of this ski, the longitudinal reinforcing elements belong to the same part which occupies the entire width of the ski. This part can be of rectangular section, of section in the general shape of H, or of section in the general shape of U. In this case, the part of the part located in the center of the ski, constitutes a part of the core of the ski.

According to one embodiment of this ski, the shell has at its two longitudinal edges, two returns parallel to the plane of the sole of the ski, bearing on the two reinforcing elements.

According to another embodiment, the shell has at its two longitudinal edges two inclined returns relative to the plane of the sole of the ski, bearing on the inclined upper faces of each of the reinforcing elements.

Advantageously, these two returns constituting the edges of the shell are of constant width over the entire length of the ski.

The two hull returns can be located at the side faces of the ski or set back from these side faces.

According to one possibility, each reinforcing element has a width greater than that of the corresponding return of the shell, and partly rises along the internal inclined part of the shell.

According to another embodiment of this ski, the edges of the shell are embedded in the longitudinal reinforcing elements.

According to one embodiment, this ski contains a metal reinforcement plate or a laminate of glass, carbon or aramid which, extending over all or part of the length of the ski, occupies the entire width thereof. .

This metal plate provides reinforcement of the ski in lateral bending. It can be present over the entire length of the ski or on only part of this length, and preferably in the skate area. This plate can be made of a light alloy, such as an aluminum alloy known under the brand ZICRAL. This plate can be full or perforated.

According to one embodiment, the reinforcing plate is inserted between the upper face of the longitudinal reinforcing elements and the base of the shell.

According to another embodiment, the longitudinal edges of the reinforcing plate are embedded in the longitudinal reinforcing elements. In this case, the metal plate is embedded in the longitudinal reinforcing elements before injection of the polyurethane foam constituting the core, the plate being perfectly positioned and retained in the desired position thanks to the embedding of its edges in grooves provided in the longitudinal reinforcing elements.

According to another embodiment, the reinforcing plate is profiled by several longitudinal folds and is spaced from the shell.

• Figure 1 est une vue de côté d'un ski selon l'invention ;
• Figures 2 et 3 en sont deux vues en coupe transversale et à échelle agrandie selon les lignes II-II et III-III de figure 1 ;
• Figures 4 et 5 sont deux vues similaires, respectivement à figures 2 et 3, d'une variante d'exécution de ce ski ;
• Figure 6 est une vue en coupe transversale similaire à figure 4 représentant une variante d'exécution de ce ski ;
• Figure 7 est une vue en coupe transversale, similaire à figure 2, représentant une variante d'exécution de ce ski ;
• Figures 8 à 10 sont trois vues en coupe transversale d'un ski dans lequel chaque élément de renforcement latéral est réalisé à partir de plusieurs couches ;
• Figure 11 est une vue en coupe transversale d'un ski dans lequel chaque base de la coque s'étend sur une partie seulement de la largeur de l'élément de renforcement correspondant ;
• Figure 12 est une vue en coupe transversale d'un ski dans lequel la largeur de chaque élément de renforcement est supérieure à la largeur de chaque retour de la coque ;
• Figure 13 est une vue en coupe transversale d'un ski dans lequel les bords de la coque sont encastrés dans les éléments de renforcement longitudinaux ;
• Figure 14 est une vue en coupe transversale d'un ski dans lequel les hauteurs des deux éléments de renforcement longitudinaux sont différentes ;
• Figures 15 à 17 sont trois vues en coupe transversale de ski dans lesquelles les éléments de renforcement longitudinaux appartiennent à la même pièce ;
• Figures 18 à 21 sont quatre vues en coupe transversale de ski comportant des plaques de renfort.

In any case, the invention will be clearly understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing representing, by way of nonlimiting examples, several embodiments of this ski:

• Figure 1 is a side view of a ski according to the invention;
• Figures 2 and 3 are two views in cross section and on an enlarged scale along lines II-II and III-III of Figure 1;
• Figures 4 and 5 are two similar views, respectively to Figures 2 and 3, of an alternative embodiment of this ski;
• Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 4 showing an alternative embodiment of this ski;
• Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view, similar to Figure 2, showing an alternative embodiment of this ski;
• Figures 8 to 10 are three cross-sectional views of a ski in which each lateral reinforcement element is produced from several layers;
• Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of a ski in which each base of the hull extends over only part of the width of the corresponding reinforcing element;
• Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of a ski in which the width of each reinforcing element is greater than the width of each return of the hull;
• Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of a ski in which the edges of the shell are embedded in the longitudinal reinforcing elements;
• Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of a ski in which the heights of the two longitudinal reinforcing elements are different;
• Figures 15 to 17 are three cross-sectional views of the ski in which the longitudinal reinforcing elements belong to the same part;
• Figures 18 to 21 are four cross-sectional views of ski comprising reinforcement plates.

The ski 2 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a tip 3, a skid area 4 and a heel 5. This ski essentially consists of a filling core 6, for example made of polyurethane foam, resting on the lower part of the ski, which comprises a sole 7 delimited by two longitudinal metal edges 8. On each edge 8 rests a reinforcing element 9 forming a edge of the ski. In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, the edges 9 are perpendicular to the plane of the sole 7. The upper face of the ski, as well as the upper parts of the side walls, consist of a shell 10. This shell 10 has two flanges 12, substantially parallel to the plane of the sole, bearing against the two upper faces, of the same orientation, which comprise the edges 9. With this shell 10 is associated a reinforcing sheet 15, placed under the shell in contact with the latter, constituted for example by a fabric with unidirectional fibers oriented longitudinally, impregnated with resin. A lower reinforcement sheet 16 is arranged above the sole 7.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the respective heights (H1, H2) of the edges 9 and of the shell 10 are substantially equal, so that the support and assembly area of the edges 12 of the shell 10 and edges 9 is located substantially at the same height as the neutral fiber of the ski core.

It is therefore a ski comprising edges 9 ensuring a very good transmission of forces from the upper face of the ski equipped with the attachment of a boot to the edges 8. In addition, the assembly zone between the shell and edges is located substantially at the level of the neutral fiber.

The skis shown in the following figures are simplified representations in which certain elements, such as the reinforcing sheets 15, 16 are not shown.

FIGS. 4 and 5, which correspond to FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively, represent a ski comprising edges 9a inclined relative to the perpendicular to the plane of the sole 7.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, each longitudinal reinforcing element 9b has an inclined outer face 13, and an inner face 14 perpendicular to the plane of the sole.

The ski shown in FIG. 7 is a variant of the ski in FIGS. 1 to 3, in which each edge 12 of the shell 10 is supported on the upper face of a edge 9, inclined up and down and from the inside towards outside.

Figures 8 to 10 show three skis, in which each reinforcing element is constituted by three layers of material juxtaposed vertically 19a, 19b 19c. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the three layers have the same height and the return 12 associated with each side of the ski extends over the entire width of the three layers, made of different materials, such as wood, resins phenolic, aluminum alloy, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, ... from the ski to that 19c located outside. In FIG. 9, each return 12 of the shell bears only on the layer 19a, and the upper faces of the layers 19c and 19b are cut at an angle so as to form an inclined surface. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, each return 12 bears only on the upper face of the layer 19a, and the upper faces of the layers 19b and 19c are parallel to the upper plane of the hull, which results in a general staircase-like structure.

FIG. 11 represents a ski, in which each return 12 of the shell 10 is supported on only part of the width of a reinforcing element 9 and is embedded therein.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the width of each reinforcement element 29 is greater than the width of the corresponding return 12 of the shell, and the reinforcement element rises partly under the shell, so that '' it is not visible over its entire height from outside the ski.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the shell 10 does not have lateral returns, but simply edges 16 of substantially vertical orientation which are embedded in the longitudinal reinforcing elements 9.

FIG. 14 shows an asymmetrical ski, comprising a reinforcing element 39a situated on the side of the inner edge, of height greater than that of the reinforcing element 39b situated on the side of the outer edge. In this case, the shell comprises a flat part corresponding to the upper face of the ski, bearing directly on the reinforcement element 39a, an inclined part, and a return 12 bearing on the upper face of the reinforcement element 39b .

The ski shown in FIG. 15 comprises a part 49 of rectangular section, made of a hard material, for example of wood, extending over the entire width of the ski, and forming the longitudinal reinforcing elements.

FIG. 16 represents a ski comprising a part 59 of H section, the two branches 59a of which form the longitudinal reinforcing elements and the central part 59b of which forms part of the core of the ski.

FIG. 17 shows another ski comprising a piece 69 of hard material, for example wood, in the general shape of a U, the two branches 69a of which form the longitudinal reinforcing elements, and the core of which 69b belongs to the core of the ski.

Figures 18 to 21 show skis, in which the same elements are designated by the same references as above. In each of these skis is provided a plate of reinforcement, metallic or laminate, ensuring reinforcement of the ski in lateral bending. In the embodiment shown in Figure 18, the plate 13 is inserted between the upper face of the reinforcing elements 9 and the base of the shell.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 19, the plate 13a is embedded by its longitudinal edges in the walls opposite the two reinforcing elements 9, which allows for a perfect positioning of the plate before injection of the foam. synthetic material intended to form the core.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 20 and 21, the reinforcing plate, respectively 13c and 13d, is profiled by longitudinal folds, and inserted between the upper face of the reinforcing elements 9 and the returns 12 of the shell. In the embodiment shown in Figure 20, the plate 13c is profiled in the same direction as the shell, while in the embodiment shown in Figure 21 the plate 13d is profiled in the opposite direction to the shell.

It is advantageously possible to insert an elastic seal between the base of the shell and the reinforcing elements.

The angle formed by the side walls of the shell with the upper wall thereof can vary over the length of the ski, this angle being for example greater in the skate area than in the end areas, tip and heel ski.

The edge delimiting the upper wall of the shell, and each inclined wall thereof, may be parallel to the longitudinal median axis of the ski, or, on the contrary, have an orientation which varies with respect to this axis, the line that forms this edge, straight or curved, which can for example diverge from the rear towards the front of the ski.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the sole embodiments of this ski, described above by way of examples. Thus certain characteristics described within the framework of a combination could be implemented within the framework of another combination, or even that the shape of the shell could be different, and for example be presented with a section in shape of ellipse section in the end zones of the ski, without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims.

Claims (34)

1. Ski comprising a filling core in one or more parts, for example made of polyurethane foam, a lower face equipped with a running sole (7) and delimited by two longitudinal metal edges (8), as well as reinforcing and decorative sheets, and a shell (10) forming at least the upper face of the ski, characterized in that it includes longitudinal reinforcing elements (9), each bearing on one edge (8), and forming the sides of the ski, the sides extending at least in the case of one of them, over a part of the height of the ski, and in that the shell (10) forms a part of at least one of the lateral walls of the ski, the longitudinal borders (12) of the shell resting and being fixed on the upper face of the sides (9), the respective heights of a side and of the shell on at least one of the lateral parts of the ski varying in the same proportions over the length of the ski.
2. Ski according to Claim 1, characterized in that the height (H1) of the sides (9) is substantially equal to the height (H2) of the shell.
3. Ski according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the outer face of each reinforcing element (9) is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the sole (7).
4. Ski according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the outer face of at least one reinforcing element (9) is inclined with respect to the perpendicular to the plane of the sole (7).
5. Ski according to Claim 4, characterized in that the angle of inclination of the outer face (13) of each reinforcing element (9b) is equal to the angle of the inclined part of the shell.
6. Ski according to Claim 4, characterized in that the angle of inclination of the outer face of each reinforcing element is different from the angle of the inclined part of the shell.
7. Ski according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it contains two separate reinforcing elements (9) forming the two sides of the ski.
8. Ski according to Claim 7, characterized in that each reinforcing element (9) has a constant width over the entire length of the ski.
9. Ski according to Claim 7, characterized in that each reinforcing element has a width which is variable over the length of the ski.
10. Ski according to Claim 7, characterized in that the two reinforcing elements (9) of one and the same ski are identical.
11. Ski according to Claim 7, characterized in that the two reinforcing elements of one and the same ski have characteristics of shape and/or concerning the nature of the materials constituting them which are different from one element to the other.
12. Ski according to any one of Claims 7 to 11, characterized in that each reinforcing element consists of several vertical and juxtaposed layers (19a ,19b, 19c) of material extending over the length of the ski.
13. Ski according to Claim 12, characterized in that the various layers (19a, 19b, 19c) forming each reinforcing element have the same height.
14. Ski according to Claim 12, characterized in that the height of the various layers (19a, 19b, 19c) forming each reinforcing element decreases from the layer (19a) situated beside the core of the ski to that (19c) situated furthest outward.
15. Ski according to any one of Claims 7 to 14, characterized in that the two reinforcing (39a, 39b) elements located on the two lateral parts of the ski have different heights.
16. Ski according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the longitudinal reinforcing elements belong to one and the same piece which occupies the entire width of the ski.
17. Ski according to Claim 16, characterized in that the piece (49) including the longitudinal reinforcing elements has a rectangular cross section.
18. Ski according to Claim 16, characterized in that the piece (59) including the longitudinal reinforcing elements has a cross section of general H-shape.
19. Ski according to Claim 16, characterized in that the piece (69) including the longitudinal reinforcing elements has a cross section of general U-shape.
20. Ski according to any one of Claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the shell (10) includes, at its longitudinal borders, two returns (12) parallel to the plane of the sole of the ski, bearing on the two reinforcing elements.
21. Ski according to any one of Claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the shell (10) includes, at its longitudinal borders, two returns (12) bearing on the outer faces of the two reinforcing elements (9), which are inclined downward and outward.
22. Ski according to either of Claims 20 and 21, characterized in that the two returns (12) of the shell (10) are of constant width over the entire length of the ski.
23. Ski according to either of Claims 20 and 21, characterized in that the two returns of the shell entirely cover the reinforcing elements (9).
24. Ski according to either of Claims 20 and 21, characterized in that the two borders of the shell are situated set back from the lateral faces of the ski.
25. Ski according to either of Claims 20 and 21, characterized in that each reinforcing element has a width greater than that of the corresponding return of the shell, and rises in part along the inclined part of the shell.
26. Ski according to any one of Claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the borders (16) of the shell (10) are embedded in the longitudinal reinforcing elements (9).
27. Ski according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it contains a metal (13) or laminate reinforcing plate which, extending over all or part of the length of the ski, occupies the entire width thereof.
28. Ski according to Claim 27, characterized in that the plate (13) is made of a light alloy, such as an aluminium alloy known under the brand name ZICRAL.
29. Ski according to either of Claims 27 and 28, characterized in that the plate is openworked.
30. Ski according to any one of Claims 27 to 29, characterized in that the reinforcing plate (13) is inserted between the upper face of the longitudinal reinforcing elements (9) and the base of the borders (12) of the shell (10).
31. Ski according to any one of Claims 27 to 29, characterized in that the longitudinal borders of the reinforcing plate (13a) are embedded in the longitudinal reinforcing elements (9).
32. Ski according to Claim 30, characterized in that the reinforcing plate (13c, 13d) is profiled by several longitudinal folds and is separated from the shell (10).
33. Ski according to any one of Claims 1 to 32, characterized in that an elastic joint is inserted between the base of the shell and the reinforcing elements (9).
34. Ski according to any one of Claims 1 to 33, characterized in that the reinforcing fabric of the shell, located in contact with the inner face thereof, consists of unidirectional fibres oriented in the longitudinal direction of the ski.

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