EP0922473B1 - Core for snowboard - Google Patents

Abstract

The snowboard core is made from a series of lengthwise strips (7-16) made either from wood, synthetic foam or foam with fiber filling. The strips are not more than 25 mm wide, are stuck together, and the number of strips and proportions of different materials is selected to give the board various properties, e.g. tonic and damping. The proportions of different materials are, e.g., 40% synthetic foam, 40% wood and 20% fiber-filled synthetic foam.

Description

The present invention relates to a core for snowboarding.

• pied arrière : angle d'orientation compris entre 10 et 15 degrés,
• pied avant : angle d'orientation compris entre 30 et 45 degrés.

Unlike skiing or a monoski, the sliding board that constitutes snowboarding is used asymmetrically, the user having neither the body nor the feet, directed along the longitudinal axis of the board, but placed strongly biased towards it. The surfer's body is placed askew with respect to his board with either, for people with right foot ("regular foot"), right foot back and left foot forward, or, for people with foot left ("goofy foot"), left foot back and right foot forward. The spacing of the feet depends on the morphology of the user, and essentially on his size. The toes are more or less turned towards the front of the board, this orientation being indicated by an angle measured from the perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the board. This orientation can generally vary, for the rear foot, between 0 and 40 degrees approximately and, for the front foot, between 10 and 45 degrees, the position most in favor today with many good surfers being the so-called position intermediate:

• rear leg: angle of orientation between 10 and 15 degrees,
• front foot: angle of orientation between 30 and 45 degrees.

Anyway, the surfer has his body askew in relation to the craft and the direction of its movement. The turns are taken either in leaning the body forward, towards the tips of the feet (we say more simply pointed sides or "front-side"), either by leaning the body towards the back, towards the heels (or "back-side"). The surfer's center of gravity then moves along an axis whose orientation is substantially the bisector of the angle formed by its two feet.

Originally, snowboarding was mainly intended to evolve in off the marked trails to meet a demand particularly focused on freedom, and therefore the search for a new slide, far from the crowded slopes, in the great outdoors.

• Le « surf libre » (ou « free ride ») qui combine les passages sur piste et hors piste.
• Les « figures » (ou « free style ») sur des pistes spécialement aménagées, comportant des reliefs permettant d'effectuer des sauts.

Then, this practice is broken down into two specialties:

• The "free surf" (or "free ride") which combines the passages on track and off track.
• The “figures” (or “free style”) on specially equipped tracks, with reliefs making it possible to perform jumps.

Finally, like alpine skiing, the need was felt by some practitioners to measure themselves against each other through competitions on slalom tracks or downhill. This activity will be globally classified as “alpine surfing” here.

This snowboarding craze is also winning over other people than very young people, so it also becomes necessary to plan on the one hand, women's surfboards, with great qualities of lightness and comfort, as well as "general public" surfboards with good comfort qualities without however penalizing efficiency and lightness.

• d'une surface de glisse composée d'une semelle de glissement bordée par des carres métalliques,
• d'une couche de renfort inférieure, soit fibreuse soit métallique,
• d'un noyau,
• d'une couche de renfort supérieure, soit fibreuse soit métallique,
• d'une feuille de protection et de support de décor, réalisée soit sous forme de coque et constituant donc le dessus et les cotés de la planche, soit existant uniquement en surface supérieure de la planche et donc, dans ce cas, en appui sur des éléments de protection bordant le noyau et appelés chants.

Conventionally, a snowboard is made up, from bottom to top:

• a sliding surface composed of a sliding sole bordered by metal edges,
• a lower reinforcing layer, either fibrous or metallic,
• of a nucleus,
• an upper reinforcing layer, either fibrous or metallic,
• of a protective sheet and decoration support, produced either in the form of a shell and therefore constituting the top and sides of the board, or existing only on the upper surface of the board and therefore, in this case, supported on protective elements bordering the core and called edges.

More particularly for the realization of a snowboard, the core constituting the internal part must, because of its much larger width than that necessary to make a ski, have mechanical characteristics adapted.

• Un noyau en bois est très vif, lourd, légèrement vibrant, et de prix de revient relativement peu élevé. Il permet d'améliorer les caractéristiques mécaniques de raideur (vivacité, nervosité), de résistance à la déformation, de résistance à l'arrachement des vis de maintien des fixations des chaussures, ainsi que les caractéristiques de collage.
• Un noyau en mousse synthétique est, par rapport à un noyau en bois, plus léger, moins vif, très amorti mais un peu plus onéreux s'il s'agit d'une mousse de Polyuréthanne chargée de fibres, bien moins onéreux en raison de sa facilité de mise en oeuvre et complètement inerte s'il s'agit d'une mousse de Polyuréthanne, et encore plus amortissant mais nettement plus onéreux s'il s'agit d'une mousse acrylique.

These particular characteristics are currently obtained either by dimensional values, or by suitable internal reinforcements, or by the nature of the components, in particular as regards the core. We can note for example that:

• A wooden core is very lively, heavy, slightly vibrant, and of relatively low cost price. It makes it possible to improve the mechanical characteristics of stiffness (liveliness, nervousness), of resistance to deformation, of resistance to tearing off of the screws holding the fastenings of the shoes, as well as the characteristics of bonding.
• Compared to a wooden core, a synthetic foam core is lighter, less lively, very cushioned but a little more expensive if it is a polyurethane foam loaded with fibers, much less expensive due to its ease of implementation and completely inert if it is a polyurethane foam, and even more shock absorbing but much more expensive if it is an acrylic foam.

A core comprising strips of wood and synthetic foam is known from document US-A-5 320 378.

The invention proposes to offer the possibility of responding, through a very particular constitution (and therefore object of the invention) of the core of a surf of snow, for all the specific uses of this surf, and therefore to be able to do so either a surf for piste, or "alpine", or a surf for acrobatics, or "free style", or a more versatile practice surf, or "free ride".

To this end, it relates to a core for snowboarding as defined in claim 1.

These various longitudinal strips are preferably assembled by bonding.

According to one embodiment, the width of each strip does not exceed not 25 millimeters.

• Figure 1 est une section transversale d'un surf de neige équipé d'un noyau conforme à l'invention
• Figure 2 est une section transversale d'un noyau conforme à l'invention et plus particulièrement adapté à la pratique du surf alpin.
• Figure 3 est une section transversale d'un noyau conforme à l'invention et plus particulièrement adapté à la pratique des acrobaties (« free style »).
• Figure 4 est une section transversale d'un noyau conforme à l'invention et plus particulièrement adapté à la pratique du surf libre, ou surf polyvalent.

In any case, the invention will be well understood, and its advantages and various other characteristics will emerge during the following description of a few nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended schematic drawing in which:

• Figure 1 is a cross section of a snowboard equipped with a core according to the invention
• Figure 2 is a cross section of a core according to the invention and more particularly suitable for the practice of alpine surfing.
• Figure 3 is a cross section of a core according to the invention and more particularly suitable for the practice of acrobatics ("free style").
• Figure 4 is a cross section of a core according to the invention and more particularly suitable for the practice of free surfing, or versatile surfing.

• Une semelle de glissement 2 bordée par des carres métalliques 1 surmontée d'un tissu de renfort fibreux 3.
• Un noyau central 6 formant l'âme de la planche de glisse. A noter que ce noyau épouse latéralement la forme à bords inclinés de cette planche de glisse.
• Une feuille plastique de protection en forme de coque 5, elle même doublée intérieurement d'un tissu de renfort fibreux 4.

Referring to FIG. 1, this is a snowboard which is symmetrical with respect to its median longitudinal plane P and which comprises:

• A sliding sole 2 bordered by metal edges 1 surmounted by a fibrous reinforcing fabric 3.
• A central core 6 forming the core of the gliding board. Note that this core laterally follows the shape with inclined edges of this gliding board.
• A protective plastic sheet in the shape of a shell 5, itself lined internally with a fibrous reinforcing fabric 4.

According to the invention, the core 6 consists of a multitude longitudinal strips, here ten strips numbered from 7 to 16, assembled side by side rib and preferably by gluing, whose height (H) is that of the core, each of these strips being of a material consisting either of wood or of foam synthetic, or by a synthetic foam loaded with fibers, the percentage respective of each of these three materials in the nucleus thus formed dependent of the type of surf we want to achieve using this core.

A nucleus similar to that which equips the surf of figure 1, but rather intended for a “traditional” surfing with a substantially rectangular section, is shown in Figure 2.

Its bands referenced 7,10,13,16 are, like those of the core of the surf of figure 1, in wood.

Its bands referenced 8,11,12,15 are, like those of the core of the board of FIG. 1, made of synthetic foam, typically of foam of Polyurethane or acrylic foam.

Its bands referenced 9 and 14 are, like those of the core of the Figure 1 surf, synthetic foam, typically foam Polyurethane, filled with fibers, typically glass fibers, Carbon, Aramid fibers, etc.

The cores according to Figures 1 and 2 are more nuclei specially adapted to the practice of alpine surfing.

Note that a snowboard has a variable height in different points of its length, and that its nucleus 6 consequently has a height H which varies in the same conditions, i.e. increasing from the spatula area to the area of mounting fixings, then decreasing from this last zone to the zone heel.

In this specific example, the board has a variable width on each point of its length, in particular thus defining a narrower zone in the central part or mounting area for fasteners. Consequently, bands, 7 and 16 in particular, of the core 6 which are situated on the edges have a variable width all along the surf, while the others have a constant width.

In FIG. 2, all the bands are of the same width L in the plane transverse considered, of the order here of 20 millimeters, but they could be also of different widths, with however always a general preference for strip widths not exceeding about 25 millimeters for each strip, whether they are of uniform width or not.

Note that two adjacent bands are not necessarily in different materials: for example, the adjacent strips 11 and 12 are made of the same material.

• Pour un surf « alpin », qui doit être amorti, tonique, sans trop tenir compte du poids, le noyau devra être constitué d'environ 40% (ou plus généralement de 30% à 50%) de Polyuréthanne, d'environ 40% (ou plus généralement de 30% à 50%) de bois, et d'environ 20% (ou plus généralement de 10% à 30%) de Polyuréthanne chargé de fibres : c'est le cas pour le surf selon la figure 1 ainsi que pour un surf ayant un noyau selon la figure 2.
• Pour un surf « free style », qui doit être tonique et léger, le noyau devra être constitué d'environ 20% (ou plus généralement de 10% à 30%) de Polyuréthanne, d'environ 40% (ou plus généralement de 30% à 50%) de bois, et d'environ 40% (ou plus généralement de 30% à 50%) de Polyuréthanne chargé de fibres : c'est le cas d'un surf ayant un noyau tel que celui représenté sur la figure 3, identique en dimensions externes à celui de la figure 2 et toujours symétrique par rapport au plan P, mais pour lequel les dix bandes 7 à 16 sont remplacées par neuf bandes 17 à 25, comprenant comme représenté quatre bandes en bois 17,19,23,25, une bande médiane 21 en mousse synthétique chargée de fibres et plus large que les autres bandes, et quatre bandes 18,20,22,24 en mousse synthétique chargée de fibres. A noter que lesdites proportions de 20%, 40%, 40%, sont obtenues soit avec des bandes de même largeur, typiquement inférieure à 25 millimètres, et en jouant sur leur nombre, soit en jouant sur la largeur respective de chacune.
• Pour un surf «free ride», qui doit être amorti, assez inerte, et léger, le noyau devra être constitué d'environ 40% (ou plus généralement de 30% à 50%) de Polyuréthanne, d'environ 20% (ou plus généralement de 10% à 30%) de bois, et d'environ 40% (ou plus généralement de 30% à 50%) de Polyuréthanne chargé de fibres : c'est le cas d'un surf ayant un noyau tel que celui représenté sur la figure 4, dont la composition est en outre d'une part (à titre d'illustration du caractère non limitatif de l'invention) asymétrique par rapport au plan longitudinal médian P du surf, donc du noyau, et d'autre part formé par le collage bord à bord d'une plus grande multitude de bandes (en tout vingt-quatre bandes 26 à 49) qui sont toutes d'une même largeur. Plus précisément ce noyau est constitué par l'assemblage côte à côte de :
  • A gauche : trois bandes 26 à 28 en bois, cinq bandes 30 à 34 en Polyuréthanne chargé de fibres, et quatre bandes 40 à 43 en Polyuréthanne.
  • A droite : une bande 29 en bois, cinq bandes 35 à 39 en Polyuréthanne chargé de fibres, et six bandes 44 à 49 en Polyuréthanne.

The width dimensions of the different strips, their number and their respective constituent materials, are determined by the manufacturer in order to obtain the surfboard having the desired characteristics, according to the following criteria:

• For an “alpine” surf, which must be cushioned, invigorating, without taking the weight too much into account, the core must consist of approximately 40% (or more generally from 30% to 50%) of Polyurethane, approximately 40% (or more generally from 30% to 50%) of wood, and approximately 20% (or more generally from 10% to 30%) of polyurethane loaded with fibers: this is the case for surfing according to FIG. 1 as well than for a surfboard having a core according to FIG. 2.
• For a “free style” surf, which must be invigorating and light, the core must consist of approximately 20% (or more generally from 10% to 30%) of Polyurethane, approximately 40% (or more generally from 30 % to 50%) of wood, and approximately 40% (or more generally from 30% to 50%) of polyurethane loaded with fibers: this is the case of a surfboard having a core such as that shown in the figure 3, identical in external dimensions to that of FIG. 2 and always symmetrical with respect to the plane P, but for which the ten strips 7 to 16 are replaced by nine strips 17 to 25, comprising as shown four wooden strips 17,19, 23,25, a middle band 21 of synthetic foam loaded with fibers and wider than the other bands, and four bands 18,20,22,24 of synthetic foam loaded with fibers. Note that said proportions of 20%, 40%, 40%, are obtained either with strips of the same width, typically less than 25 millimeters, and by varying their number, or by varying the respective width of each.
• For a “free ride” surf, which must be cushioned, fairly inert, and light, the core must consist of approximately 40% (or more generally from 30% to 50%) of Polyurethane, approximately 20% (or more generally from 10% to 30%) of wood, and approximately 40% (or more generally from 30% to 50%) of polyurethane loaded with fibers: this is the case of a surfboard having a core such as that represented in FIG. 4, the composition of which is further on the one hand (by way of illustration of the nonlimiting nature of the invention) asymmetrical with respect to the median longitudinal plane P of the surf, therefore of the core, and on the other hand part formed by bonding edge to edge of a greater multitude of bands (in all twenty-four bands 26 to 49) which are all of the same width. More precisely, this core is constituted by the assembly side by side of:
  • Left: three strips 26 to 28 in wood, five strips 30 to 34 in Polyurethane loaded with fibers, and four strips 40 to 43 in Polyurethane.
  • Right: a strip 29 in wood, five strips 35 to 39 in Polyurethane loaded with fibers, and six strips 44 to 49 in Polyurethane.

Claims (13)

1. A core for a snowboard, being assembled side-by-side by an arrangement of longitudinal bands (7-16, 17-25, 26-49) whose height (H) is that of the core, characterized in that said arrangement comprises a plurality of bands in three different materials, each being made of wood, synthetic foam, or fibre-reinforced synthetic foam, the overall percentage of each of these three materials in the core thus constituted depending on the characteristics of snowboard which it is desired to produce by using this core.
2. The core according to claim 1, characterized in that these various bands (7-16, 17-25, 26-49) are assembled by adhesive bonding.
3. The core according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the width (L) of each of these bands (7-16, 17-25, 26-49) does not exceed 25 mm.
4. The core according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the dimensions in width for the different bands, and/or their number, and/or their respective constituent materials, is selected by the constructor in order to obtain respective proportions intended to obtain a snowboard which must be tonic and dampened, as a function of the following criteria:

   this core must be constituted by about 40 %, or more generally from 30 % to 50 %, of synthetic foam, about 40 %, or more generally from 30 % to 50 %, of wood, and by about 20 %, or more generally from 10 % to 30 %, of fibre-reinforced synthetic foam.
5. The core according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the dimensions in width for the different bands, and/or their number, and/or their respective constituent materials, is selected by the constructor in order to obtain respective proportions intended to obtain a snowboard which must be tonic, light and slightly vibrating, as a function of the following criteria:

   this core must be constituted by about 20 %, or more generally from 10 % to 30 %, of synthetic foam, about 40 %, or more generally from 30 % to 50 %, of wood, and by about 40 %, or more generally from 30 % to 50 %, of fibre-reinforced synthetic foam.
6. The core according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the dimensions in width for the different bands, and/or their number, and/or their respective constituent materials, is selected by the constructor in order to obtain respective proportions intended to obtain a snowboard which must be dampened, fairly inert and light, as a function of the following criteria:

   this core must be constituted by about 40 %, or more generally from 30 % to 50 %, of synthetic foam, about 20 %, or more generally from 10 % to 30 %, of wood, and by about 40 %, or more generally from 30 % to 50 %, of fibre-reinforced synthetic foam.
7. The core according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is symmetrical with respect to the median longitudinal plane (P) of the snowboard.
8. The core according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is asymmetrical, at least in quantities of each of the three respective materials, with respect to the median longitudinal plane (P) of the snowboard.
9. The core according to any one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said synthetic foams are polyurethane foams.
10. The core according to any one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said synthetic foams are acrylic foams.
11. The core according to any one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said fibre-reinforced synthetic foams are foams reinforced with glass fibres.
12. The core according to any one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said fibre-reinforced synthetic foams are foams reinforced with carbon fibres.
13. The core according to any one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said fibre-reinforced synthetic foams are foams reinforced with Aramid fibres.

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