EP0761260B1 - Vibration damping device for snowboards - Google Patents

Abstract

The shock absorber (14) is fixed to the upper surface of the ski with its longest dimension longitudinal. It has a layer of visco-elastic material (15) which is covered by a plate made of material with a high modulus of elasticity. The plate is an ellipse and its central part has two holes (17) which define a straight longitudinal tongue (18). The tongue is not fixed to the board and is flexible elastically so that it acts like a leaf spring. Its ends are joined to the plate but it does not have a layer of visco-elastic material.

Description

The subject of the present invention is a damping device for vibrations for snowboarding, such as skiing, monoskiing or surfing.

It is known to dampen parasitic vibrations a snow gliding board, to improve the comfort of the skier as well as hanging the board on hard snow, equipping the upper face of the board of at least one plate device stress, that is to say comprising a layer of visco-elastic material fixed on the upper face of the board, for example by gluing, the face upper layer of this visco-elastic material being itself attached to a high modulus stress plate. During bending of the board, shearing of the layer of visco-elastic material located between the upper face of the ski and the plate of stress, having the effect of damping vibrations. Depending on the type of board considered, ski intended for special slalom or ski intended for slalom giant, the parasitic frequencies to be damped are different, so that the location, size and number of devices fitted to the board are different and adapted to each case.

Document WO 88/01189 describes a ski comprising, on its upper side, pressure elements arranged in front and back of the attachment area. These elements are for example constituted by elastic blades, each of which is fixed to one of its ends on the ski, and rests by its other end on the upper face of the ski or on a elastic stop associated therewith.

Document FR-A-2 675 392 relates to a ski comprising the same characteristics as those described in the preceding document, with a flexion blade connected to the ski by a rigid connection, and by a flexible connection, these connections being spaced longitudinally one of the other on the bending blade.

Document EP-A-0 490 044 relates to a ski comprising a lower part or base, as well as an upper part or stiffener. The connection between the stiffener and the base is made by flexible means or partially rigid.

Document FR-A-2 701 215 relates to a ski whose face upper is equipped with a flexion blade connected to the ski by at least two damping means spaced longitudinally on the ski, one by compared to each other.

Document FR-A-2 709 974, in the name of the Applicant, relates to a ski equipped with a plate for mounting the binding, this plate comprising a layer of visco-elastic material surmounted by a constraint plate, and the plate having, in its central part, an area not attached to the ski and deformed on the side opposite the ski, this blade undergoing, when the ski bends, buckling between its ends and tending to recall the ski in an upright position, that is to say not flexed.

Document WO-A-93/08883 relates to a device for dampen the deformations and vibrations of a snowboard comprising, in front of and behind the attachment, an elongated elastic arm, the end of which is located on the side of the fastener is fixed to the board and the other end of which rests on the upper face of the board with interposition of an elastic pad.

Document FR-A-2 713 499 relates to a plate for the mounting a shoe binding on an alpine ski, comprising a layer of visco-elastic material fixed on the upper face of the ski, and on which is fixed a high elastic modulus stress plate.

Document EP-A-0 639 391 relates to a ski equipped with both on the other side of the attachment area of a transmitter arm shoe longitudinal elastic bands, one end of each of which is attached to the ski and the other end of which is supported by an elastic connection on the face superior of skiing.

The object of the invention is to provide a gliding board, such Whether skiing, monoskiing or surfing, with a plate type damping device of stress, and in which the stress plate offers other possibilities of damping or elastic return of the ski in its position not constrained.

For this purpose, the board which it concerns, of the type with "plate of constraint ", of any shape and the largest dimension of which is oriented approximately longitudinally to the board, comprising a layer of visco-elastic material coated with a stress plate high modulus of elasticity, the layer of visco-elastic material being secured on the one hand to an outer surface of the gliding board and on the other hand to the constraint plate, the constraint plate extending over its entire length on the layer of visco-elastic material and comprising at least one tongue-shaped zone which is not integral with the plank over part of the width and over part of the length of the plate, these directions being considered with reference to the length and the width of the board, this tongue being elastically flexible, and being connected to the board by its ends, so that, when bending the board, it behaves like a leaf spring acting mechanically by buckling between its two ends connected to the board, while the rest of the device acts as a visco-elastic damper with a conventional stress plate, the tab detached from the board being preformed by bending to form a boss on the side opposite the upper face of the board, is characterized in that each tab detached from the board is formed in the plate stress through slit-shaped cutouts and / or recesses in the form of lights, made inside the plate of constraint.

It follows from this structure that the device provides the ski with a shear damping function of the layer of visco-elastic material, as well as an elastic return function by the buckling effect mechanics of the tongue not glued to the ski, which is favored by the tongue pre-shaping.

In each zone comprising a tab detached from the board, it may or may not be provided with visco-elastic material. In the since there is a layer of visco-elastic material, this is fixed on the upper face of the board and not fixed on the tongue.

To promote the amortization phenomenon, the tongue can be equipped, in its central part, and on its side turned to the side opposite to the board, a mass-spring system tuned to a certain frequency. This system can be constituted by a cage containing a counterweight housed inside a visco-elastic product.

The tab detached from the board can be straight, and oriented along the longitudinal axis of the ski or obliquely. This tongue can occupy a central position relative to the plate, or be arranged laterally to it.

The two end zones may be common for the tab detached from the plate and for the plate itself, or although the tongue detached from the board may have a zone end integral with the board, but distinct from the rest of the plate.

According to another embodiment, the device comprises several tabs separated from the board, arranged obliquely by relative to the longitudinal axis thereof, and the ends of which are secured to two longitudinal tabs secured to the next board their entire surface.

According to another characteristic of the invention, on the face of the tongue separated from the board, turned to the side opposite the ski, is fixed a layer of visco-elastic material on the other side of which is fixed a constraint plate.

Figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un ski équipé d'un premier dispositif ;

Figure 2 est une vue de dessus et à échelle agrandie de la partie du ski de figure 1 équipée du dispositif amortisseur de vibrations ;

Figure 3 en est une vue en coupe transversale selon la ligne III-III de figure 2 ;

Figure 4 est une vue en coupe transversale similaire à figure 3 d'une variante du dispositif de figure 3 ;

Figure 5 est une vue de dessus d'un second dispositif amortisseur monté sur un ski ;

Figures 6 et 7 sont deux vues, respectivement en section longitudinale et en section transversale, selon les lignes VI-VI et VII-VII de figure 5 ;

Figure 8 est une vue de dessus d'une troisième forme d'exécution de ce dispositif amortisseur ;

Figure 9 en est une vue en coupe longitudinale selon la ligne IX-IX de figure 8 ;

Figure 10 est une vue de dessus d'un quatrième dispositif amortisseur ;

Figure 11 en est une vue en coupe longitudinale selon la ligne XI-XI de figure 10 ;

Figures 12, 13 et 14 sont trois vues de dessus de trois autres dispositifs amortisseurs ;

Figure 15 est une vue en coupe longitudinale du dispositif de figure 14, selon la ligne XV-XV de cette même figure ;

Figures 16, 17 et 18 sont trois vues de dessus de trois autres dispositifs amortisseurs ;

Figure 19 est une vue en coupe transversale du dispositif amortisseur de figure 18 selon la XIX-XIX de cette même figure ;

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 device:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ski equipped with a first device;

Figure 2 is a top view and on an enlarged scale of the part of the ski of Figure 1 equipped with the vibration damping device;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 3 of a variant of the device of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a top view of a second damper device mounted on a ski;

Figures 6 and 7 are two views, respectively in longitudinal section and in cross section, along lines VI-VI and VII-VII of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a top view of a third embodiment of this damping device;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view along the line IX-IX of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a top view of a fourth damping device;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view along the line XI-XI of Figure 10;

Figures 12, 13 and 14 are three top views of three other damping devices;

Figure 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device of Figure 14, along line XV-XV of this same figure;

Figures 16, 17 and 18 are three top views of three other damping devices;

Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view of the damper device of Figure 18 according to XIX-XIX of this same figure;

FIG. 1 represents a ski 2 comprising, in a manner known in oneself, a spatula 3, a heel 4 and a central part 5 or skate area in which a binding for a ski boot made up is mounted by a stop 6 and a heel piece 7. Figure 3 and other figures very schematically represent this cross-sectional ski, it being specified that the structure of the ski is given by way of illustration but is not the subject of the invention. As shown in Figure 3, the ski includes a sole of sliding 7 bordered by two metal edges 8 longitudinal, on which rest the lower edges of a shell 9 forming the walls side 10 and the upper wall 12 of the ski. The interior of this ski includes a core 13, any reinforcing elements, both at the level of the sole 7 at the level of the shell 9, not having been shown. However, the invention could equally apply to skis of traditional structure, that is to say comprising longitudinal edges resting on the edges 8, or on associated reinforcing elements at the edges, these edges themselves serving as supports for a wall superior performed independently.

As shown in FIG. 1, a damping device 14, of type of stress plate, is arranged between the stop 6 of the fixing and the spatula 3. Although only one damping device is shown in drawing, it is possible, depending on the type of behavior sought for the ski and according to the frequencies of the vibrations to be absorbed, depending on whether it is a ski more specifically intended for the practice of giant slalom or for practice of the special slalom, to position the device 14 differently or mounting several devices 14.

In a manner known per se, a damping device with a plate of stress includes a layer 15 of visco-elastic material fixed on the upper wall 12 of the ski, for example by bonding. On this layer of visco-elastic material is fixed, also by gluing, a plate of stress 16 with high modulus of elasticity. Damping vibrations is obtained by a shearing phenomenon of the layer 15 of material visco-elastic between the upper wall 12 of the ski and the plate constraint 16.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the device shock absorber comprises a layer 15 of visco-elastic material as well than a stress plate 16 in the general shape of a hollow ellipse. The central part of the device has two recesses 17 defining a straight tongue 18 longitudinal, which is detached from the face superior of the ski, it being specified that, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, it there is no layer of visco-elastic material nor at the level of recesses 17, nor under the tongue 18.

In Figure 2 as well as in the other figures representing top views of other embodiments, the areas of the stress plate made integral with the ski by bonding the base of the layer of visco-elastic material are materialized by dotted, while the tongue 18 which is detached from the ski does not has no such dotted lines.

The tongue 18 being elastically flexible, and being connected by its ends to the board, since its ends rest and are fixed on the layer of visco-elastic material 15, it behaves like a leaf spring, acting mechanically by buckling between its two ends connected to the board. As for the rest of the device, it acts as a visco-elastic damper with a stress plate, by shearing of the layer 15 of visco-elastic material between the wall upper 12 of the ski and the stress plate 16.

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the device Figures 1 to 3, in which the same elements are designated by same references as before. In this embodiment, the layer 15a of visco-elastic material extends over the entire surface of the device, including at the level of the recesses 17, and under the tongue 18. However, the tongue 18 is not glued to the layer of material visco-elastic 15a.

Figures 5 to 7 show another embodiment of this damping device, of a structure close to the device of FIGS. 1 to 3. In this case, the device designated by the general reference 19 presents a general form of parallelogram, of which the two branches longitudinal are oriented in the direction of the length of the board. The two transverse branches are connected by a tongue longitudinal 20 oriented in the direction of the length of the board. This tongue 20 is detached from the ski in its central part, and is upwardly preformed, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, due to the presence on the upper face of the ski of a stud 22 produced in a elastic material, this stud forming a support and ensuring the predeformation of the tongue 20 on the side opposite the ski. This provision directs the direction of deformation of the tongue and promotes the phenomenon of buckling during bending of the ski.

Figures 8 and 9 show another embodiment of this damping device in which the same elements are designated by the same references as above. This device, designated by the general reference 23, has a generally rectangular shape, the central part is hollowed out. In this central part, are arranged, between the two longitudinal branches, four inclined tabs 24,25,26,27 at 45 ° to the longitudinal axis of the board. Two of the tabs 24.26 are inclined in opposite directions to the other two. By this tilt, each tab has a leaf-spring effect by buckling on the one hand on simple bending of the board, as in the previous cases, and on the other hand during deformations of the board by twist or twist. The 45 ° angle, given as an example, could be different, and the tabs could be pre-bent to orient the buckling.

Figure 10 shows another embodiment of this device, in which the same elements are designated by the same references than before. In this device, designated by the reference General 28, the stress plate and the layer of visco-elastic material have a general form of diabolo. Tab 29 detached from the ski is preformed on the opposite side of the ski, thanks to the presence of folds 30, and door, near its zone furthest from the ski, a cage 32 containing a flyweight 33 embedded inside a mattress of visco-elastic material. This assembly forming mass of inertia also promotes the damping of certain vibrations.

FIG. 12 represents a shock absorber device 34 in the form general rectangular, in which are arranged, in the layer of visco-elastic material and in the stress plate, two recesses rectangular 35 delimiting three parallel branches connected by two perpendicular end zones. Among these three branches, one of them disposed laterally forms a tongue 36, the central part is not integral with the ski.

Figure 13 shows another device, similar to device of FIG. 2, designated by the general reference 37, in which the tongue 38 detached from the ski is arranged obliquely.

FIG. 14 represents a damping device 39 similar to that of FIGS. 2 and 3 and in which the same elements are designated by the same references as in this figure. In this case, on the tongue 18 detached from the ski, a layer 40 of material is fixed visco-elastic, on the upper side of which is fixed a tongue 42 with high modulus of elasticity forming a stress plate. It is so possible to combine, on the same support, damping qualities by buckling and shearing.

FIG. 16 represents a damper device 43 which has a top view in the form of a parallelogram. The plate stress has, over part of its length, a longitudinal slot 44. The large surface located on one side of slot 44 as well as the areas arranged in front and behind this slot, over the entire width of the plate, are integral with the ski, while the area located on the other side of the plate, in the upper part of the drawing, forms a tongue 45 which is not not part of the ski.

FIG. 17 represents an alternative embodiment of the device in FIG. 16, this new device 46 in the general shape of an ellipse, having two slots 47 formed in the constraint plate, these slots 47 being central and longitudinal, extending over part of the length of the stress plate, and delimiting between them a tongue 48 separated from the upper face of the ski.

Figures 18 and 19 show another embodiment of this damping device designated by the general reference 49. In this embodiment, the stress plate as well as the layer of viscoelastic material associated therewith have the general shape of an open O. From the central zone of the O extends a tongue 50 detached from the ski in its central part, and whose free end is fixed at 52 on the ski, independently of the constraint plate, by through a layer of visco-elastic material. In this way, the length of the tongue 50, corresponding to its central part detached from the board, can be much longer than the plywood itself, which has the effect of increasing the buckling and therefore the effect appears.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited only to embodiments of this device described above by way of examples, on the contrary, it embraces all its variants. This is how that the same device could include several tabs separated from the ski, or that this device could be applied to other boards than a ski, for example a surf or a monoski, or according to the geometry of the gliding board, the device shock absorber could be fixed not on the upper side substantially parallel to the sole, but on an inclined face, or on the edges of the board, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (15)

1. Board for gliding on snow, such as a ski, monoski or snowboard, with a vibration damper device of the "stress-plate" type which is of any shape, and whose largest dimension is oriented approximately longitudinally with respect to the board, comprising a layer of viscoelastic material covered with a stress plate having a high modulus of elasticity, the layer of viscoelastic material being attached, on the one hand, to an outer surface of the gliding board and, on the other hand, to the stress plate, the stress plate extending over its entire length on the layer of viscoelastic material and having at least one region in the form of a tongue (18, 20, 24, 29, 36, 38, 45, 48, 50), which is not attached to the board over a part of the width and over a part of the length of the board, these directions being considered with reference to the length and the width of the board, this tongue being elastically flexible and being joined to the board by its ends, so that, when the board (2) flexes, it behaves as a spring leaf acting mechanically by buckling between its two ends which are joined to the board, whereas the rest of the device acts as a conventional stress-plate viscoelastic damper, the tongue detached from the board being pre-deformed by bending in order to form a bulge on the opposite side from the upper face of the board, characterized in that each tongue (18, 20, 24, 29, 36, 38, 45, 48, 50) detached from the board is formed in the stress plate by means of cuts in the form of slits and/or holes in the form of slots, which are made inside the stress plate.
2. Gliding board according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in each region having a tongue (18) detached from the board, viscoelastic material (15) is not provided between it and the upper face of the board (2).
3. Gliding board according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in each region having a tongue (18) detached from the board, there is a layer of viscoelastic material (15a) fixed to the upper face of the board but not fixed to the tongue.
4. Gliding board according to one of Claims 2 and 3, characterized in that an elastic stud (22), which is attached to the central part of the tongue (20) detached from the board or the upper face of the board (2) and has a thickness greater than the distance between the upper face of the board and the tongue, pre-deforms the tongue on the opposite side from the board.
5. Gliding board according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the tongue (29) detached from the board is equipped, in its central part and on its face lying on the opposite side from the board, with a mass-spring system (32, 33).
6. Gliding board according to Claim 5, characterized in that the tongue (29) detached from the board is equipped, on its face lying on the opposite side from the board, with cage (32) containing a weight (33) embedded inside a viscoelastic product.
7. Gliding board according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the tongue (18, 20, 29, 36, 38, 45, 48, 50) detached from the board is straight.
8. Gliding board according to Claim 7, characterized in that the tongue (18, 20, 29, 36, 38, 45, 48, 50) detached from the board is oriented longitudinally with respect to the board (2).
9. Gliding board according to Claim 7, characterized in that the tongue (24, 25, 26, 27, 38) detached from the board has an oblique orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the board (2).
10. Gliding board according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of tongues (24, 25, 26, 27) detached from the board (2), which are arranged obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof, and whose ends are attached to two longitudinal tongues attached to the board over their entire surface.
11. Gliding board according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a central tongue (18, 20, 24, 29, 38, 48, 50) detached from the board, which is arranged between two tongues attached to the board over their entire surface.
12. Gliding board according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a tongue (36, 45) detached from the board, which is arranged on one side of two tongues attached to the board over their entire surface.
13. Gliding board according to either one of Claims 11 and 12, characterized in that the tongues attached to the board and the tongue detached from the board have the two end regions in common.
14. Gliding board according to either one of Claims 11 and 12, characterized in that the tongues attached to the board and the tongue (50) detached from the board have one bonded end region in common, whereas the other bonded end region (52) is separate for the tongues attached to the board, on the one hand, and for the tongue detached from the board, on the other hand.
15. Gliding board according to any one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that a layer (40) of viscoelastic material is fixed to the face of the tongue (18) detached from the board (2) lying on the opposite side from the ski, and a stress plate (42) is fixed to the other face of this layer (40) of viscoelastic material.

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