EP0925097B1 - Planche a ski nordique - Google Patents

Planche a ski nordique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0925097B1
EP0925097B1 EP97921187A EP97921187A EP0925097B1 EP 0925097 B1 EP0925097 B1 EP 0925097B1 EP 97921187 A EP97921187 A EP 97921187A EP 97921187 A EP97921187 A EP 97921187A EP 0925097 B1 EP0925097 B1 EP 0925097B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
skiboard
binding
central portion
waist
ski
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP97921187A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0925097A1 (fr
EP0925097A4 (fr
Inventor
Martin J. Fey
Erik W. Fey
Marie L. Franzino
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Uniboard Inc
Original Assignee
Uniboard Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US08/831,244 external-priority patent/US5816590A/en
Application filed by Uniboard Inc filed Critical Uniboard Inc
Publication of EP0925097A1 publication Critical patent/EP0925097A1/fr
Publication of EP0925097A4 publication Critical patent/EP0925097A4/fr
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Publication of EP0925097B1 publication Critical patent/EP0925097B1/fr
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
    • A63C10/00—Snowboard bindings
    • A63C10/02—Snowboard bindings characterised by details of the shoe holders
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
    • A63C5/00—Skis or snowboards
    • A63C5/03—Mono skis; Snowboards
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
    • A63C5/00—Skis or snowboards
    • A63C5/03—Mono skis; Snowboards
    • A63C5/033—Devices for enabling the use of a normal ski as mono-ski, e.g. platforms fixed on the ski for supporting the ski boots side-by-side
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
    • A63C5/00—Skis or snowboards
    • A63C5/16—Devices enabling skis to be used whilst held in a particular configuration with respect to each other, e.g. for training purposes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
    • A63C9/00—Ski bindings
    • A63C9/20—Non-self-releasing bindings with special sole edge holders instead of toe-straps
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
    • A63C2201/00—Use of skates, skis, roller-skates, snowboards and courts
    • A63C2201/06—Telemark

Definitions

  • This invention creates a new snow sport, Nordic skiboarding.
  • the Nordic skiboard described here is relatively narrow, light-weight and extremely maneuverable. It employs two Nordic or telemark bindings fixed in fore-and-aft positions at relatively parallel acute angles on a single board.
  • Nordic skiboarding combines elements of snowboarding, Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing and mono-skiing.
  • skis began centuries ago in Scandinavia as a way to travel on foot over snow. It was largely unknown in other parts of Europe until it was introduced in the Alps as a novelty in the latter half of the 1800s. At that time, skis were primarily used for gliding over relatively flat terrain, and in fact were sometimes referred to as "Norwegian snowshoes.” Their length -- up to 3.66 meters (12 feet) or longer -- made them virtually impossible to turn on steep downhill runs.
  • the first rope tows were installed in the U.S. and the new stem christy, or "wedge turn", supplanted the graceful, but more difficult, telemark turn.
  • 4995,631 discloses an attempt to deal with this problem by adding severe sidecut, or arcs, to the sides of a mono-ski; however, the stance remains side-by-side, which prevents the skier from putting full weight on the operational edge.
  • the lock-down Alpine bindings on the Hunter ski and similar mono-skis combined with the narrow stance, make falls likely even with temporary losses of balance, because the rider cannot shift weight through a wide forward-backward range.
  • the common denominator of the Wightman and Pederson connection systems which are designed to convert two skis into a mono-ski, is that they place the skier's feet in a side-by-side stance.
  • these divisible mono-ski incarnations present the same edging problem as the solid mono-skis.
  • Barthel makes no suggestions as to how to locate the bindings, or even what type to use, and the large center piece would be impractical to carry in many situations; e g. when a skier in the back country wants to convert two skis to a single board for control on deep powder or poor snow conditions.
  • the Wightman, Pederson and Barthel systems also involve cumbersome connecting devices that would have to be removed while dual skiing to prevent snags on snow or brush.
  • the Genuit system includes beveled cuts in the ski that raise the arch side of each foot in relation to the outside of the same foot. Whether this arrangement would actually deliver more power to the edges is unlikely and difficult to ascertain, since there does not appear to be any ski on the market today that employs such a concept. Canting the boots outward in such a fashion would have clear disadvantages, however, making it difficult to bring the knees together in a mutually supporting fashion and making an already narrow and unnatural stance even more unstable, particularly while standing still on the slope.
  • the Evans Solo Ski binding system is also arranged along the axis of the ski.
  • the front binding is described as a conventional, releasable Alpine ski binding.
  • the rear binding designed by Evans et al, also accommodates a conventional Alpine ski boot, but in a complex releasable binding that allows both vertical and lateral movement within a rubber cup, similar to the rubber bindings used on water skis. That lateral movement would be a disadvantage, creating instability and reduce the control of a rider attempting a hard, carving turn.
  • the heel of the front foot is fixed in line with the ski, eliminating any possibility of lifting that heel for forward weight shifts and not allowing the application of extra toe or heel pressure on either edge with that foot.
  • the Solo Ski binding system is designed for use on one ski of a conventional ski pair, and for conventional Alpine ski boots.
  • the inflexible, hard-shell boots would not allow the rider to weight the balls of the feet, preventing the rider from accomplishing the dramatic forward-backward weight shifts necessary to adequately control such a long, narrow mono-ski.
  • the lateral movement permitted by the rear binding would reduce control on fast, hard turns.
  • snowboards typically nearly a foot in width to accommodate the rider's perpendicular stance, are much slower turning than skis.
  • Their slow edge-to-edge, or heel-toe action makes them hard to handle in moguls or "bumps" and in tight spaces.
  • the sideways stance is also unnatural for skiers accustomed to facing forward, and makes the use of poles impractical.
  • snowboarders spend a lot of time sitting on the snow, rather than standing, and arduously hopping up slight inclines, rather than easily poling up them.
  • the principal object of creating the Nordic skiboard described in this application was to create a new type of mono-ski that would overcome the obstacles to success of previous efforts.
  • the goal was to be accomplished by creating a board-binding system that would deliver a snowboard's power to carve hard-packed snow without the snowboard's slow turning speed.
  • the new ski product draws on the best aspects of Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, mono-skiing and snowboarding. It reconfigures elements of each one of these branches of the prior art and uses loose heel or Nordic bindings in a novel and non-obvious fashion -- to anchor a skier, with feet acutely angled either right- or left-foot-forward, on a single board that must fall within certain definable dimensions.
  • the result of this skiboard-binding combination, or system is a surprisingly versatile new ski product that may justifiably be defined as a new snow sport.
  • the bindings on the skiboard described herein are angled off the axis of the board, with the option of riding left- or right-foot-forward, according to the preference of the rider.
  • the angled stance made possible by use of compact Nordic bindings and the width of the skiboard described in this application keeps the feet of the rider over the deck of the board from toe to heel.
  • the board-binding system described in this application permits a "toe-edge" turn that puts the rider in the classic telemark position, a low, stable stance providing toe-edge pressure.
  • the reverse, or heel-side turn is more similar to the type of turn made by a snowboarder. It is accomplished by pushing off from the telemark position. That allows the rider to carve turns like a snowboarder, one of the most desirable features of the snowboard over other ski devices. But at the same time, the fast edge-to-edge action provided by the comparatively narrow width of the board and its steep sidecut lets the rider turn with the speed of the best skiers.
  • the Nordic skiboard described in this application solves the principal deficiency of snowboards -- slow turning speed due to width. That is accomplished through the combination of the skiboard's relatively narrow width and hour-glass shape with the use of two Nordic, or telemark, bindings. Those bindings are situated in acutely angled fore-and-aft positions on a single board when the two longitudinal halves of the divisible skiboard are combined, and at all times on the non-divisible skiboard embodiment.
  • the relatively narrow skiboard described here its width falling between that of a traditional Alpine ski and a free-carve snowboard, can be brought quickly from edge-to-edge.
  • the design width range of the skiboard is crucial to the success of this combination: If the board is too narrow, like that of a conventional ski, the bindings cannot be angled sufficiently and the stance is unstable as a result If the board is too wide, approaching that of even the narrowest snowboard, the heel lift provided by the Nordic bindings becomes a disadvantage, rather than an advantage. The disadvantage arises because the heel-side edge on a wider board will not rise if the Telemark bindings are angled so the toe and heel of the boots rest on their respective edges. Thus both the functional width of the board and the functional angles of the bindings are circumscribed within relatively narrow ranges described in this application.
  • the subject skiboard's Nordic binding arrangement offers a significant departure and improvement over previous efforts at a fore-and-aft mono-ski binding arrangement.
  • the Evans et al Solo Ski binding patent document, referred to above stresses the desirability of heel lock-down and allowing the rear heel lateral movement. That follows the prevailing wisdom of the ski industry. Ever since lift-served areas were created, t has been an article of ski faith that heel lock-down, first on independent skis, then on mono-skis and snowboards, is the key to control.
  • the Nordic skiboard design is based on a new concept: that vertical heel lift on both feet, such as that provided by telemark bindings, is an advantage on a single skiboard of its dimensions, because the heel-lift permits extreme forward-backward weight shifts At the same time, the skiboard described here does not permit the lateral foot movement promoted by the Evans Solo Ski binding system, in the belief that both vertical heel lift and lateral stability are both essential to a rider's control on a skiboard with fore-and aft binding arrangements.
  • the skiboard described in this application employs non-release cable or telemark Nordic bindings.
  • snowboard users have proven over the past decade that keeping both legs secured to a single board is the best way to prevent lower-body injury.
  • the subject skiboard's Nordic binding system also allows the use of flexible Nordic boots, which permit the rider to bend the foot while raising the heel, and to weight the ball of the rear foot and the heel of the front foot to arc the board. This arrangement applies all the weight of the skier to the waist of the ski, making it easier to arc and turn than it would be with an Alpine binding arrangements.
  • the flexibility of the telemark boots also makes them more comfortable to wear than typical hard-shell inflexible Alpine ski boots.
  • the subject skiboard draws from the ancient roots of skiing -- the loose-heel binding -- to create a new, cutting edge snow sport. It employs a Nordic dual-ski binding system, with non-releasable, loose-heel bindings designed to accept a 75 mm or other Nordic telemark-style boot, in a new and unforeseen way. Mounted at acute angles on a single board of the subject skiboard's dimensional range, these simple, relatively primitive bindings are the key to a high-performance skiboard.
  • the boots are readily available and may range from less-expensive flexible leather lace-ups to hard-shell types hinged at the instep, depending on the preference of the rider.
  • the Nordic skiboard was designed on the premise that heel-lift is necessary for optimum control and turning ability on a single board of its dimensions.
  • the initial reaction of skiers and ski experts is invariably skepticism, until they either use the new skiboard themselves or see an accomplished rider demonstrate his or her skill.
  • the skiboard described in this application is thus a novel combination of aspects of many ski disciplines. It draws on the snowboarding concept of offset bindings for powerful edging, but reduces the angle of that offset so the rider is forward facing, rather than standing sideways on the board.
  • the subject skiboard's narrow profile allows this more forward stance, and also permits much faster turns than possible on a snowboard while still providing a snowboard's ability to "carve.” Because of this forward stance, a rider of the subject skiboard, unlike a snowboarder, can comfortably use poles.
  • the Nordic skiboard described here improves on the traditional mono-ski because its angled fore-and-aft foot setup allows heavy edge pressure. It offers a significant departure from previous fore-and-aft mono-ski setups, which rely on Alpine skis and on Alpine boots and bindings, because it relies on Nordic boots and bindings and the heel lift they provide, and because the specially designed skiboard's wider top surface allows acute angling of the bindings while eliminating the potential for binding or boot drag on the snow surface.
  • Both the Nordic skiboard invention which is divisible into skis, and one-piece, or lift-served, version offer convenient and unique binding set-up features.
  • a binding base plate connects the binding toe and heel pieces and also serves as a brace used to connect the two longitudinal halves that serve as independent skis.
  • a sliding connecting stud in the stem allows the binding system to be fixed either for use on the independent skis or for use in connecting the longitudinal halves, or skis, and riding the resulting skiboard.
  • a 10-hole insert pattern in which the inserts are arranged in two groups of five, allows Nordic Norm bindings to be rapidly installed and strongly fixed in place for either right-foot or left-foot forward riding.
  • the construction of the Nordic skiboard itself involves no novel materials or techniques. It can be made by virtually any method commonly used to make skis or snowboards.
  • the first embodiment of the invention is a single skiboard (FIGS 1 and 2) that employs standard Nordic Norm telemark bindings (left binding illustrated in FIG 15 by combination of a binding toe piece 108L and a heel cable110L, and right binding by combination of a binding toe piece 108R and a heel cable 110R) or other loose-heel Nordic-style bindings, with binding toe pieces 108L and 108R set at acute angles to the axis of the ski one in front of the other.
  • the first embodiment of the skiboard is generally designated by reference numeral 100. This embodiment is intended primarily for use in lift-served ski areas.
  • the second embodiment of the invention (FIGS 11 and 12), is generally designated by the reference numeral 200. It is a skiboard of like dimensions to skiboard embodiment 100, and also uses multiple arrangements of Nordic bindings. The primary difference from skiboard embodiment 100 is that embodiment 200 can, when desired, be separated into longitudinal halves 233L and 233R.
  • FIGS 13 and 14 which are not an embodiment of the present invention show the longitudinal halves when used as independent skis. It is intended primarily for back-country use, where the user may want to be able to move his legs independently to glide over flat areas and up hills but retain the option of linking halves 233L and 233R into a single embodiment 200 (FIGS 11 and 12) for control on steep descents.
  • Both skiboard embodiments 100 and 200 use standard Nordic Norm or other Nordic-style bindings, such as those in FIGS 15, 23 and 24, designed for use with telemark boots (not shown). Both skiboard embodiments 100 and 200 may be constructed using a variety of standard ski construction methods well-known in the industry.
  • skiboard embodiments 100 and 200 the maximum width of a front shovel area 104 and a rear shovel area 116 is 15,24 to 22,86 cm (6 to 9 inches).
  • a waist 112, or narrowest portion, on skiboard embodiments 100 and 200 fails 0 to 12 centimetres behind their longitudinal midpoints.
  • the sidecut radius on skiboard embodiments 100 and 200. designated by R in FIG 1, may vary from an arc describing a section of a circle with a radius of 3 meters to an arc describing a circle with a radius of 20 meters.
  • skiboard embodiments 100 and 200 may range from 150 to 200 centimetres.
  • the maximum unweighted arch or camber 109 of skiboard embodiments 100 and 200 which is measured off a horizontal plane on which a skiboard rests (not shown), ranges from 1 to 6 centimetres
  • a front shovel area 104 begins to rise 7 to 11 centimetres back toward waist 112 from an imaginary vertical line (not shown) that intersects a front tip 102 when either embodiment 100 or. 200 is placed on a horizontal plane.
  • Front tip 102 rises to a point at least 2 centimetres and preferably 2 to 6 centimetres above that plane.
  • a rear shovel area 116 begins to rise 6 to 9 centimetres back toward waist 112 from an imaginary vertical line (not shown) that intersects a rear tip 114 when either skiboard embodiments 100 or 200 is placed on a horizontal plane.
  • Rear tip 114 rises to a point at least 1.5 centimetres and preferably 1.5 to 5 centimetres above that plane.
  • the thicknesses of skiboard embodiments 100 and 200 reach a maximum of 1 to 2.5 centimetres at waist 112 and, progressing toward tip 102, the thickness tapers progressively to between .5 and 1.5 centimetres at point 122, where front shovel area 104 (FIG 1) begins to rise. From that point to tip 102, the thickness tapers progressively to between .25 and 1 centimetre.
  • a similar taper occurs from waist 112 to rear tip 114 Additional thickness in the rear of waist 114 -- up to 30 percent more than that allowed in front of waist 114 -- is desirable for skiboards that will be used at high speeds. Overall thickness will affect stiffness, with softer skiboards more desirable for mogul skiing and stiffer skiboards preferable for speed.
  • each of the two standard Nordic Norm or telemark binding toe pieces 108R and 108L to be used on skiboard embodiment 200 are mounted permanently by rivets or fasteners 111 to base plates 228R and 228L.
  • Binding base plates 228R and 228L may be made of .25 to .5 centimetre rolled steel or aluminum in 4- to 8-centimetre widths, or other materials of dimensions that provide similar strength.
  • binding base plates 228R and 228L serve to help connect skiboard halves 233R and 233L when they are combined for use as single skiboard 200 (also shown in FIGS11 and 12).
  • a preferred embodiment of binding assembly 246L includes toe piece 108L bound to binding base plate 238L by three rivets or fasteners 111, with heel cable 11OL attached to binding toe piece 108L.
  • Near the rear of binding base plate 228L is a longitudinal slot 238L that is 1 to 10 centimetres in length and .25 to 1 centimetre in width.
  • binding base plate 238L In front of binding toe piece 108L, binding base plate 238L has a latitudinal slot that measures 1 centimetre to 5 centimetres in length and .25 to 1 centimetre in width.
  • longitudinal slot 238L is penetrated by a threaded bolt 230L with an elongated or square head which serves as a heel pad for the rider's hoot (not shown).
  • the elongated head of bolt 230L also allows the user to hand tighten it as a connector to any of several combinations of threaded t-nuts or other receivers 234A-H (FIG 25) installed in the surface of skiboard embodiment 200
  • binding assemblies 246R and 246L there are many potential methods for connecting binding assemblies 246R and 246L in a variety of positions to the surface of skiboard embodiment 200.
  • latitudinal slot 236R (FIG 19) is penetrated by a threaded wing nut 232R Wing-nut 232R may be hand-tightened by the user to connect the front of binding assembly 246R (FIG 22) to several combinations of threaded t-nuts or receivers 234A-H installed in the surface of the board (FIG 25).
  • the binding toe pieces 108R and 108L are mounted at acute, nearly parallel angles ranging from 1 to 35 degrees off either side of the axis of the skiboard.
  • the objective is to locate binding toe pieces 108R and 108L and the heels of the rider (not shown) as close as possible to the opposing edges of skiboards 100 and 200 without either of the binding toe pieces or the heels of the rider overlapping any edge more than 2 centimeters.
  • the binding toe pieces 108R and 108L should be mounted so the narrowest portion of the skiboard, waist 112, falls between the heel of the front ski boot (not shown) and whichever binding toe piece is placed in the rear.
  • the heel of the front boot (not shown) should fall 0 to 12 centimeters in front of an imaginary line drawn perpendicular to the axis of skiboard embodiments 100 or 200 at waist 112.
  • the toe of the rear boot When locked in binding toe piece 108R or 108L, the toe of the rear boot should lie 0 to 12 centimeters to the rear of waist 112 This binding arrangement allows a rider (not shown) to pressure waist 112 and thus are either skiboard embodiment 100 or 200 properly in turns.
  • FIG 6 on skiboard embodiment 100 threaded inserts or threaded t-nuts (represented in FIG 17 at 240) are installed in a wood core (represented in FIG 17 at 242) two five-hole patterns.
  • the insert installation patterns shown in FIG 6 allow typical three-hole Nordic Norm bindings to be quickly and securely attached with machine screws, bolts or other connectors (not shown) in either a right-foot-forward (FIG 7) or left-foot-forward (FIG 9) arrangement, depending on individual preferences.
  • the front and rear insert patterns each have one of five threaded inserts, 122C and 124C, that can be used as one of the three anchor points required to attach the standard Nordic Norm toe piece in either the right-foot-forward (FIG 7) or left-foot-forward (FIG 9) fashion.
  • This common hole eliminates the need to drill a structure-weakening sixth hole (not shown).
  • the combination of inserts used for a right-foot-forward Nordic Norm binding toe piece arrangement is 122A, 122D and 122C for front binding toe piece 108R attachment and 124A, 124D and 124C for rear binding toe piece 108L attachment.
  • the combination of inserts used for a left-foot-forward Nordic Norm binding toe piece arrangement is 122B, 122C and 122E for the front binding toe piece 108L attachment and 124B, 124C and 124E for the rear binding toe piece 108R attachment.
  • binding assembly 246R is mounted for use on an independent ski, longitudinal half 233R, as follows: the front of binding assembly 246R is locked down by a 1 centimeter diameter hardened machine screw, wing-nut bolt or fastener 232R, which penetrates slot 236R and threads into t-nut 234D installed in the core (242 at FIG 17) of longitudinal half 233R. The rear of binding assembly 246R is locked down similarly by machine screw or threaded wing-nut bolt 230R, which penetrates slot 238R and threads into t-nut 234H installed in the core of longitudinal half 233R. Referring to FIG 25, left binding assembly 246L is attached to longitudinal half 233L in identical fashion but using t-nut locations 234C and 234G.
  • binding assembly 246L (also shown as a group of elements in FIG 22) is mounted in the proper position by locking connector 232L down onto receiver 234B and by locking connector 230L down onto receiver 234E
  • Binding assembly 246R (shown as a group of elements in FIG 22) is mounted in the proper position by locking connector 232R down onto receiver 234D and by locking connector 230R down onto receiver 234G.
  • the right-foot-forward binding arrangement is accomplished in similar fashion, with binding assembly 246R being mounted in the forward position onto receivers 234A and 234D and binding assembly 246L being mounted onto receivers 234E and 234H.
  • FIG 18 The binding lock-down system described above for skiboard embodiment 200 may employ several variations.
  • One preferred embodiment (FIG 18) employs a plurality of posts 245 that protrude from the surface of the board and which fit through binding base plate slots 236R and L and 238R and L to position them where needed.
  • a threaded wing nut 248 and a threaded nut with an elongated head would be used to lock down binding assemblies 246R and 246L.
  • each of toe pieces, 108R and 108L, and their respective base plates, 228R and 228L, are connected permanently by three rivets or fasteners 111 and are moveable as binding assemblies 246R and 246L (detailed in FIGS 15 and 22).
  • Base plates 228R and 228L must be of suitably strong material, such as .5 centimeter by 4 centimeter plates of aluminum or stainless steel, because they are placed under stress when used as devices for connecting longitudinal halves 233R and 233L, as shown in FIG 11.
  • skiboard embodiment 200 is joined by binding assemblies 246R and 246L and a plurality of other connectors or latches 226A-D (also shown in FIG 25) mounted on the surfaces of skiboard embodiment 200.
  • a variety of latches may be used, one preferred embodiment (FIG 20) employing a stainless steel over-center draw latch.
  • the latch body 252 is installed on the surface of longitudinal half 233L and keeper 256 is installed on the opposing surface of longitudinal half 233R.
  • Latch arm 254 is extended to engage keeper 256 and then drawn down by depressing lever 250, thereby eliminating the intervening gap 258.
  • the latches used should have a draw strength of at least 22,68 Kg (50 pounds) to withstand the stresses of using the skiboard.
  • Skiboard embodiments 100 and 200 are may be constructed by virtually any of the methods common to the ski and snowboard manufacturing industry.
  • a preferred embodiment involves a vertically laminated hardwood core sandwiched between layers of epoxy-soaked triaxial fiberglass fabric.
  • the topsheet may be chernically treated polyamide material and the base material of extruded or sintered polyethylene with chemically etched surfaces to help adhesion of inks or epoxy. Standard steel ski edges should wrap all exposed edges of the base material. All requisite hardware may be fabricated easily by those skilled in the art or purchased from existing sources of supply.
  • the invention skiboard introduces a new winter sport.
  • the skiboard is a device that allows the user in a lift-served ski area to carve hard, fast turns with the power of a snowboard and the speed of traditional downhill skis.
  • it allows the user to penetrate remote back-country regions on independent cross-country style skis, which can be joined, using the same bindings, into a skiboard for control on steep downhill runs.
  • the invention skiboard may use any loose-heel binding devices, such as 75 millimeter, three-pin telemark bindings with or without heel straps or cables, 75-millimeter cross-country ski bindings, step-in bindings that allow the heel of the boot to rise, NNN BC type telemark bindings, or strap devices designed to hold down the toe and instep of the rider while leaving the heel unfixed.
  • the non-divisible embodiment of the subject skiboard may also be employed for back country use by fixing one foot in the front binding toe piece and the other on an auxiliary snow shoe.
  • latches or connectors may be used to bind together the longitudinal halves, or skis, of the divisible embodiment of the skiboard.
  • flexible rubber draw latches, bolt-action latches, a wide variety of slam-action or other latches, or straps may be used, in a variety of positions and numbers.
  • the devices used to connect the binding assemblies to the skiboard embodiments may include, in addition to those discussed above and shown in the accompanying drawings, any type of compact fastener or flat latching device designed to hold down the binding or binding assembly. Examples include quarter-turn fasteners, captive screws and cam locks.

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Claims (7)

  1. Système de planche de ski comprenant, une planche de ski (100, 200) et des fixations de talon libre gauche et droite (108L, 110L, 108R, 110R) fixées à ladite planche de ski (100, 200), ladite planche de ski (100, 200) comportant : un axe longitudinal, une partie centrale comportant les arêtes latérales et un rétrécissement central (112), les extrémités avant et arrière de la partie centrale présentant une largeur entre 15 et 23 centimètres, lesdites arêtes latérales présentant des courbures concaves de rayon (100R), lesdites arêtes latérales s'étendant entre lesdites extrémités avant et arrière de ladite partie centrale de sorte que lesdites courbures concaves desdites arêtes latérales forment ledit rétrécissement central (112), ladite partie centrale présentant en outre une cambrure longitudinale (109), ladite cambrure (109) élevant ledit rétrécissement (112) et une zone de spatule avant se courbant vers le haut (104) comportant une pointe avant (102) et étant formée par l'extrémité avant de la partie centrale et lesdites fixations de talon libre gauche et droite (108L, 110L, 108R, 110R) étant fixées à ladite partie centrale de façon pratiquement parallèle l'une à l'autre sur les côtés opposés dudit rétrécissement (112) à un angle aigu inférieur à 35 degrés par rapport audit axe longitudinal et lesdites fixations (108l, 110L, 108R, 110R) étant dirigées vers la droite dudit axe longitudinal lorsque ladite fixation gauche (108L, 110L) est devant ledit rétrécissement (112) et lesdites fixations étant dirigées vers la gauche dudit axe longitudinal lorsque ladite fixation droite (108R, 110R) est fixée devant ledit rétrécissement (112).
  2. Système de planche de ski selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que, lesdites arêtes latérales présentent des courbures concaves (100R) d'un rayon se situant entre 3 et 20 mètres, ladite zone de spatule avant (104) se courbe vers le haut à partir de ladite partie centrale 7 à 11 centimètres derrière ladite pointe avant (102) de sorte que ladite pointe avant (102) est relevée d'au moins 2 centimètres, ladite planche de ski (100, 200) présentant une longueur entre 150 et 200 centimètres et ladite cambrure (109) élevant ledit rétrécissement (112) entre 1 et 6 centimètres, lesdites fixations de talon libre gauche et droite (108L, 110L, 108R, 110R) comportant au moins une partie de bout(108L, 108R) et une extrémité avant de ladite partie de bout(108L, 108R) et un moyen (111, 230R, 232R) fixant lesdits dispositifs de fixation (108L, 110L, 108R, 110R) à ladite partie centrale de façon pratiquement parallèle l'un à l'autre et l'un desdits dispositifs de fixation (108L, 1 10L) étant devant ledit rétrécissement (112) et l'un desdits dispositifs de fixation (108R, 110R) étant derrière ledit rétrécissement (112).
  3. Système de planche de ski selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que, une zone de spatule arrière se courbant vers le haut (116) comportant une pointe arrière (114) est formée à l'arrière de ladite partie centrale, ladite zone de spatule arrière (116) se courbant vers le haut à partir de ladite partie centrale entre 6 et 9 centimètres par rapport à ladite pointe arrière (114) de sorte que ladite pointe arrière (114) est relevée d'au moins 1,5 centimètre.
  4. Système de planche de ski selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que, trois moyens d'attache (111) sont prévus pour chacun desdits dispositifs de fixation (108L, 110L, 108R, 110R), permettant l'enlèvement et la refixation desdits dispositifs de fixation (108L, 110L, 108R, 110R), lesdits moyens d'attache (111) comportant des éléments coopérants (122, 124) fixés auxdits dispositifs de fixation (108L, 110L, 108R, 110R) et à ladite partie centrale de ladite planche de ski, l'un desdits éléments coopérants (122A, 124A) desdits moyens d'attache (111) pour chacun des dispositifs de fixation (108L, 110L, 108R, 110R) étant au niveau de ladite extrémité avant de ladite partie de bout(108L, 108R) et deux desdits éléments coopérants (122C, 122D, 124C, 124D) desdits moyens d'attache (111) pour chacun desdits dispositifs de fixation (108L, 110L, 108R, 110R) étant espacés derrière ladite extrémité avant de ladite partie de bout(108L, 110L, 108R, 110R), lesdits éléments coopérants (122, 124) desdits moyens d'attache (111) étant fixés à ladite partie centrale de ladite planche de ski (100, 200) fixant alternativement chacun desdits dispositifs de fixation (108L, 110L, 108R, 110R) à un angle aigu vers la droite et vers la gauche dudit axe longitudinal de ladite planche de ski (100, 200).
  5. Système de planche de ski selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que lesdits éléments coopérants (122, 124) desdits moyens d'attache (111) fixés à ladite partie centrale de ladite planche ski (100, 200) sont en groupe de cinq pour fixer chacun desdits dispositifs de fixation (108L, 110L, 108R, 110R), chacun desdits groupes comportant deux éléments coopérants espacés disposés vers l'avant (122A, 122B, 124A, 124B) pour recevoir sélectivement l'élément coopérant (111) au niveau de l'extrémité avant de l'une desdites parties de bout(108L, 108R) , et chacun desdits groupes comportant trois éléments coopérants disposés vers l'arrière (122C, 122D, 122E, 124C, 124D, 124E), lesdits trois éléments coopérants (122C, 122D, 122E, 124C, 124D, 124E) comportant un élément coopérant central (122C, 124C) et des éléments coopérants disposés vers l'extérieur (122D, 122E, 124D, 124E) disposés de chaque côté de celui-ci, lesdits deux éléments coopérants espacés (111) pour chacun desdits dispositifs de fixation (108L, 110L, 108R, 110R) engageant ledit élément coopérant central (122C, 124C) desdits éléments coopérants disposés vers l'arrière (111) fixés à ladite partie centrale et l'un desdits éléments coopérants disposés vers l'extérieur (122D, 122E, 124D, 124E) fixés à ladite partie centrale.
  6. Système de planche de ski selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ladite zone de spatule avant (104) et ladite partie centrale sont séparées de sorte que ladite planche de ski (200) comporte des parties de ski indépendantes séparables droite et gauche (233R, 233L), une pluralité d'éléments de verrouillage (226) à l'avant et à l'arrière dudit rétrécissement (112) de ladite partie centrale pour fixer ensemble de façon libérable lesdites parties de ski (233R, 233L) et un moyen (246R, 246L) pour fixer de façon libérable lesdites parties de ski (233R, 233L) au niveau dudit rétrécissement (112) de ladite planche de ski (200).
  7. Système de planche de ski selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que quatre paires d'éléments d'attache espacés latéralement (226) sont fixés à l'avant et à l'arrière dudit rétrécissement (112) de ladite partie centrale, avec l'ajout de deux plaques de base (246R, 246L), chacun desdits dispositifs de fixation (108L, 110L, 108R, 110R) étant fixés à une plaque de base (246R, 246L) de sorte que ladite plaque de base (246R, 246L) s'étend devant ladite partie de bout(108L, 108R), chaque plaque de base (246R, 246L) contenant une fente latérale (236) devant ladite partie de bout(108L, 108R) et une fente longitudinale (238) derrière ledit dispositif de fixation (108L, 110L, 108R, 110R), lesdites fentes (236, 238) dans chacune desdites plaques de base (246R, 246L) étant alternativement engagées par deux desdits éléments d'attache (234) dans l'une desdites parties de ski (233R, 233L) et par deux desdits éléments d'attache (234) disposés dans les deux dites parties de ski (233R, 233L) pour réunir lesdites parties de ski (233R, 233L).
EP97921187A 1996-04-15 1997-04-15 Planche a ski nordique Expired - Lifetime EP0925097B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US831244 1986-02-19
US1541996P 1996-04-15 1996-04-15
US15419P 1996-04-15
US08/831,244 US5816590A (en) 1997-04-02 1997-04-02 Nordic skiboard
PCT/US1997/006198 WO1997038680A1 (fr) 1996-04-15 1997-04-15 Planche a ski nordique

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0925097A1 EP0925097A1 (fr) 1999-06-30
EP0925097A4 EP0925097A4 (fr) 1999-09-15
EP0925097B1 true EP0925097B1 (fr) 2004-03-17

Family

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97921187A Expired - Lifetime EP0925097B1 (fr) 1996-04-15 1997-04-15 Planche a ski nordique

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Country Link
EP (1) EP0925097B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE261747T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69728151T2 (fr)
WO (1) WO1997038680A1 (fr)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE535818C (de) 1931-10-16 Erich Genuit Schneeschuhbindung mit winkelfoermigen Ski-Seitenflaechen-Beschlaegen
US3154312A (en) 1961-05-11 1964-10-27 Marco Systems Inc Mono ski
US3171667A (en) 1963-04-29 1965-03-02 Warren J Wightman Ski accessory
US4275904A (en) 1978-07-21 1981-06-30 Pedersen Industries Ltd. Mononose conversion for twinskis
US4403785A (en) 1979-01-15 1983-09-13 Hottel John M Monoski and releasable bindings for street shoes mountable fore and aft of the ski
CH676932A5 (fr) * 1988-10-04 1991-03-28 Ueli Bettenmann
US5096217A (en) * 1988-12-01 1992-03-17 Kent Hunter Monoski with deep side cuts and cambered segment in the binding portion
JPH02200281A (ja) 1988-12-01 1990-08-08 Kent Hunter モノスキー
US5354088A (en) * 1993-03-15 1994-10-11 Vetter Dennis A Boot binding coupling for snow boards
US5413373A (en) 1993-04-06 1995-05-09 Evans Slalom Ski Binding Company Solo ski system
FR2704440B1 (fr) * 1993-04-30 1995-07-28 Salomon Sa Planche de glisse, notamment surf de neige.
DE4324871C2 (de) 1993-07-23 1995-06-22 Silvretta Sherpas Sportartikel Gleitbrett
US5538272A (en) * 1994-03-21 1996-07-23 Peart; Stephen Tunable snowboard
US5649722A (en) * 1995-01-30 1997-07-22 Champlin; Jon F. Convertible snowboard/skis

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1997038680A1 (fr) 1997-10-23
EP0925097A1 (fr) 1999-06-30
DE69728151T2 (de) 2004-10-14
DE69728151D1 (de) 2004-04-22
EP0925097A4 (fr) 1999-09-15
ATE261747T1 (de) 2004-04-15

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