EP0966992B1 - Snowboard - Google Patents

Abstract

A shock-absorbing section (13) is visible at the edge of the ski, intervening between the lower edge (9) of the top covering (6) and the lower assembly (2,3,4). The shock-absorber blocks vibrations propagating up from the edges of the ski in contact with the snow, to the feet of the user.

Description

The present invention relates to a board for sliding on snow, this board can be made up of skiing, surfing, a monoski, the ski considered can be of alpine skiing, nordic skiing or cross-country skiing.

This gliding board is of the type comprising a set lower composed of a sole possibly bordered by edges metallic and possibly associated with a lower reinforcing layer, a central core possibly associated with reinforcing elements, and an upper shell forming a shell, composed of a wall upper extended laterally by side walls whose edges lower are supported on two longitudinal reinforcing elements themselves resting on the lower assembly, the upper envelope being possibly associated, on its internal face, with a reinforcing layer, this board being further equipped with at least one damping element vibrations.

Such a gliding board is illustrated, in the case of a ski, in document FR 2 683 734, in the name of the Applicant.

When traveling on snow, a gliding board is subjected to vibrations generated by successive shocks against uneven ground on which it moves. These vibrations harm the stability of the board, its attachment to the snow, as well as its good glide, and are a source of discomfort for the user.

It is known to try to suppress or limit the amplitude of these vibrations by equipping gliding boards with damping elements vibrations.

This is how document EP 0 188 985 relates to a ski comprising a vibration-absorbing device consisting of at least a layer of visco-elastic material fixed on the upper face of the ski and constrained by a plate with high modulus of elasticity. Such a device shock absorber is located in a specific location to provide maximum efficiency.

The documents FR 2 611 518 and 2 615 405 each concern a ski of the type of gliding board according to the invention, that is to say having a shell-like upper shell, the edges of which lower support on the lower assembly. In these two documents, the ski includes a central core delimiting, with the envelope upper, lateral volumes used for housing over the entire length or almost the entire length of the ski of visco-elastic material having a shock absorber function. However, such damping makes the ski quite inert due to excess depreciation.

The document FR 2 618 344 describes a ski of rectangular section, that is to say comprising a lower assembly, an upper wall and lateral edges delimiting a volume filled by a core. Holes transverse crossing a edge and extending over part of the width of the core are provided in the ski, these holes being filled with a material damper.

However, the damping effect is negligible because this structure does not does not block the propagation of vibrations through the edges, around the holes.

Document FR 2 599 636 relates to a ski comprising a core, in which recesses are provided containing elements amortization. These damping elements can extend up to through the songs of skiing.

The damping effect is questionable in this case insofar as the positioning of the damping elements is not defined.

The document FR 2 703 915 relates to a board for sliding on snow, comprising a lower assembly composed of a sole, a core central and an upper envelope forming a shell, the edges of which lower side walls are supported on two longitudinal elements reinforcement, themselves supported on the lower assembly, a joint elastic that can be inserted between the base of the shell and the elements of enhancement.

The object of the invention is to provide a board for gliding over snow, of the aforementioned type, which provides selective filtering of vibrations which are transmitted between a lower edge of the board in contact with snow, and the upper face of the board, on which the foot (s) are fixed the user, depending on the type of board in question. Indeed, it is a question of amortizing only parasitic vibrations, because excess damping of vibrations would not result in a lack of liveliness of the ski.

To this end, the snowboard that it concerns comprising a lower assembly composed of a sole, a central core and an upper shell forming a shell, composed of a wall laterally extended by side walls whose lower edges are supported by two longitudinal reinforcing elements themselves in support on the lower assembly, the upper envelope being associated on its internal face with a reinforcing layer, this board being further equipped with at least one vibration damping element located on at least one side of the plank and visibly opening on this side is characterized in that this damping element is located in the area between an edge lower of the upper envelope and the lower assembly, and in that the upper envelope comprises at this damping element a boss upwards delimiting a recess intended for housing at least partial of this damping element, so that this element constitutes a direct barrier to vibrations propagating between the lower edge of the board in contact with snow and the top wall of the board.

When using a snow gliding board, the board fits on an internal lower edge when executing a turn. The effort transmitted from the lower edge to the upper face of the board on which is fixed one foot of the user, or two feet if it is a surf or of a monoski, goes through the side wall of the board located on the side of inside the bend. The location of damping elements at this level side wall filters out uncomfortable vibrations harmful to the good handling of the board and its good grip on snow.

According to a first possibility in this case, the envelope upper comprises, at the level of a damping element, a boss towards the high, delimiting a recess intended for housing at least partial of this damping element.

According to a second possibility in this case, each element longitudinal reinforcement comprises, at the level of a damping element, a recess facing upwards and opening into one side of the board, intended for at least partial housing of this damping element.

It should be noted that the two possibilities considered above can be combined, a damping element can be accommodated, to part, in a recess in the upper envelope and, in part, in a recess in a reinforcing and opening element in the upper side of it.

According to another embodiment of this gliding board, a damping element is arranged between a lower edge of an element longitudinal reinforcement and the lower assembly, this longitudinal element reinforcement comprising a recess opening in its lower face and on one side of the board, intended for housing the damping element.

According to yet another embodiment of this board of slides, a damping element is arranged inside an element longitudinal reinforcement, in a slot crossing the entire width of item.

In accordance with another characteristic of the invention, each damping element has a length of between 50 and 300 mm.

According to one possibility, each damping element has a thickness which varies over the length thereof. Preferably, in this case, the thickness of each damping element is maximum in the central part of it and decreases towards its ends.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the thickness of each damping element is locally equal to at least 2 mm, on much of the length of the element.

In order to have maximum damping capacities, each vibration damping element is located in a belly of vibration.

A board supported on the snow successively by its two lower edges, depending on whether a turn is made to the right or to left, the board according to the invention advantageously includes vibration damping elements on both sides.

The vibration damping elements arranged on both sides of the board can be symmetrical about the median plane longitudinal thereof, or asymmetrical with respect to the median plane longitudinal of this one, this asymmetry resulting from their positioning and / or their natures and / or their forms or respective dimensions.

According to an embodiment of this plate, each damping element is centered on one of the following two zones located at respective distances between 10 and 20%, and 70 and 90% of the bearing length of the board, from its heel.

Advantageously, a damping element centered in a area located at a distance between 75 and 80%, and preferably 77%, of the bearing length of the board, from its heel.

In addition, the material of the damping elements is chosen from rubber, polyurethane, EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Monomer Diene), ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) or other derivatives styrenics.

Figure 1 est une vue de côté d'un premier ski ;

Figure 2 est une vue partielle, de côté et à échelle agrandie du ski de figure 1 ;

Figures 3 à 5 sont trois vues similaires à figure 2 de trois autres formes d'exécution d'un ski selon l'invention ;

Figures 6 à 9 sont quatre vues représentant des demi-coupes transversales respectivement selon les lignes VI-VI, VII-VII, VIII-VIII et IX-IX des figures 2, 3, 4 et 5.

Figure 10 est une vue éclatée et en coupe transversale d'une variante d'un ski selon l'invention dans une zone correspondant à la coupe VII-VII.

In any case, the invention will be clearly understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the schematic drawing representing, by way of nonlimiting examples, several embodiments of a board illustrated in the case of Alpine skiing:

Figure 1 is a side view of a first ski;

Figure 2 is a partial side view on an enlarged scale of the ski of Figure 1;

Figures 3 to 5 are three views similar to Figure 2 of three other embodiments of a ski according to the invention;

Figures 6 to 9 are four views representing transverse half-sections respectively along lines VI-VI, VII-VII, VIII-VIII and IX-IX of Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Figure 10 is an exploded view in cross section of a variant of a ski according to the invention in an area corresponding to section VII-VII.

The ski represented in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 comprises an assembly lower consisting of a sole 2 bordered by two metal edges 3 longitudinal, and associated with a metal reinforcing strip 4. A core central 5 in synthetic foam rests on the assembly inferior. This ski also has an upper casing 6 forming a shell constituted by an upper wall 7, extended laterally by side walls 8, the lower edges 9 of which are slightly turned outwards are supported on most of them, on two longitudinal reinforcing elements 10, themselves supported on the edges 3. The upper envelope 6 is associated, on its inner face, with a reinforcing layer 12 constituted, for example, by an impregnated fabric resin.

According to the essential characteristic of the invention, this ski is equipped with four damping elements, arranged two by two so symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal median plane of the ski. These elements shock absorbers, made of visco-elastic material, have a length between 50 and 300 mm, and are each centered on one of the two following areas located at respective distances between 10 and 20%, and 70 and 90% of the carrying length of the ski from its heel.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6, each damping element 13 is disposed between a lower edge 9 of the upper envelope 6, and a longitudinal reinforcing element 10. The upper envelope comprises, at the level of a damping element 13, an upward boss 14, delimiting a recess 15, intended for the housing of this damping element. As shown in the drawing, the element shock absorber has a height that varies over its length, this height being maximum in the central part of the element and decreasing towards its ends. The thickness of each damping element is at least 2mm across most of its length.

In the other embodiments which are described below, the same elements are designated by the same references as previously.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 7, the damping element 13 is always disposed between a lower edge 9 of the upper envelope 6, and a reinforcing element 10. In this case, the reinforcing element has a recess 16 open at the top, and opening into one side of the board, intended for housing the damping element.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 8, the damping element is arranged between a lower edge of an element longitudinal reinforcement 10, and a metal edge 3 of the ski. For allow the housing of the damping element 13, the longitudinal element reinforcement 10 has a recess 17 open at the bottom and opening laterally into one side of the board.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 9, a damping element 13 is arranged inside a longitudinal element reinforcement 10, while opening into one side of the board. In this embodiment, the damping element is housed in a slot 18 formed in the longitudinal element 10, over the entire width thereof.

The embodiment shown in Figure 10 represents, in exploded view, an embodiment identical to that shown in Figures 3 and 7, but in which the metal reinforcement 4 is replaced by a fabric 19 impregnated with resin forming a lower reinforcement, which rests on the upper face of the sole 2 and the edges 3.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited only to embodiments of this gliding board, described above as example in the context of alpine skiing, on the contrary it embraces all execution variants. This is how the number and the position of the damping elements could be different, than these could be arranged asymmetrically on both sides of the ski, that the shape or dimensions of the shock absorbers could vary or that the damping element could be housed in the thickness of a longitudinal reinforcing element consisting of two superimposed parts with two opposite recesses for delimit a housing for this damping element.

Claims (16)

1. Board for gliding on snow, having a lower assembly composed of a sole (2) a central core (5) and an upper cover (6) forming a shell, composed of a wall (7) extended laterally by side walls (8) whose lower corners (9) bear on two longitudinal reinforcement elements (10) which themselves bear on the lower assembly, the upper cover (6) being combined on its inner face with a reinforcing layer (12), this board being further equipped with at least one vibration damper element, located on at least one side of the board and emerging visibly on that side, characterized in that this damper element (13) lies in the region contained between a lower corner (9) of the upper cover (6) and the lower assembly (2, 3, 4), and in that the upper cover (6) has, level with this damper element (13), an upward protrusion (14) delimiting a recess (15) for at least partial accommodation of this damper element (13) so that this element constitutes a direct barrier to vibrations propagating between the lower ridge of the board in contact with the snow and the upper wall of the board.
2. Gliding board according to claim 1, characterized in that a damper element (13) is arranged between a lower corner (9) of the upper cover (6) and a longitudinal reinforcement element (10).
3. Gliding board according to Claim 2, characterized in that each longitudinal reinforcement element (10) has, level with a damper element (13), a recess (16) which is turned upwards and emerges on one side of the board, and is intended for at least partial accommodation of this damper element (13).
4. Gliding board according to Claim 1, characterized in that a damper element (13) is arranged between a lower corner of a longitudinal reinforcement element (10) and the lower assembly (2, 3), this longitudinal reinforcement element (10) having a recess (17) emerging in its lower face and on one side of the board, and intended for accommodation of the damper element (13).
5. Gliding board according to claim 1, characterized in that a damper element (13) is arranged inside a longitudinal reinforcement element (10), in a slot (18) passing through the entire width of the element (10).
6. Gliding board according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each damper element (13) has a length of between 50 and 300 mm.
7. Gliding board according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each damper element (13) has a thickness which varies over its length.
8. Gliding board according to Claim 7, characterized in that the thickness of each damper element (13) is a maximum in its central part and decreases in the direction of its ends.
9. Gliding board according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the thickness of each damper element (13) is equal to at least 2 mm, over a large part of the length of the element (13).
10. Gliding board according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that each vibration damper element (13) is located at a vibration antinode.
11. Gliding board according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it has vibration damper elements (13) on both of its sides.
12. Gliding board according to Claim 11, characterized in that the vibration damper elements (13) arranged on the two sides of the board are symmetrical with respect to its longitudinal mid-plane.
13. Gliding board according to claim 11, characterized in that the vibration damper elements arranged on the two sides of the board are asymmetric with respect to its longitudinal mid-plane, this asymmetry resulting from their respective positioning and/or nature and/or shapes or dimensions.
14. Gliding board according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that each damper element (13) is centred on one of the following two regions lying at respective distances of between 10 and 20%, and 70 and 90% of the supporting length of the board, taken from its heel.
15. Gliding board according to Claim 14, characterized in that a damper element (13) is centred in a region lying at a distance of between 75 and 80%, preferably 77%, of the supporting length of the board, taken from its heel.
16. Gliding board according to any one of Claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the constituent material of the damper elements is selected from rubber, polyurethane, EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) or other styrene derivatives.

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