EP0981395B1 - Snowboard for practising snow surfing - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a snowboard for practising snow surfing, comprising a bearing surface (1) and a gliding surface (8) opposite the bearing surface (1). The invention is characterised in that it has at least one slot (4, 5) opening onto the bearing surface (1) and onto the gliding surface (8), the gliding surface (8) having a bottom groove (14) which widens the slot (4, 5) between the gliding surface and a shouldered surface (17) at the base of the bottom groove (14).

Description

The invention relates to the field of gliding boards. It relates more particularly to the boards intended for snowboarding.

Generally speaking, a user who surfs on snow, or snowboard, has the feet joined to the board by retainers which are connected to the board. he it is necessary that the position of the retainers on the board allows the user to drive the board in good safety and precision conditions.

In order to find the best position for the retained on the board, the prior art has proposed different adjustment means.

For example in document US 5,261,689, an arrangement specific fixed inserts housed in a board allows secure retaining devices to the board.

This arrangement allows step-by-step adjustments, in translation, of the position of each device on the board, by screwing in the inserts. The specific layout inserts do not allow continuous adjustment of the position of each retainer on the board, preventing a refinement of the position of the feet on the board.

In addition, it is necessary to provide for the board a complex internal structure with reinforcing elements for increase the pullout resistance of the inserts, otherwise retainers can be detached from the board during intensive driving.

Another document, WO 95/05219, teaches a fastening of retaining devices to a board by means of rails embedded in the thickness of the board. Rails allow continuous adjustment of the position of each retainer on the board by means of movable inserts which are positioned in the rails.

The rails locally stiffen the board and prevent or locally alter the flexibility of the board. It follows that the driving is imprecise and less well controlled than for a board having fixed inserts.

In addition, the forces exerted on the rails during the driving cause mechanical damage to the face of the board on which the user is supported. Resistance to tearing is therefore not sufficient.

The object of the invention is in particular to remedy the problems above highlighted. In particular, the invention intends propose a board on which it is possible to adjust in continuous position of restraints without preventing or locally alter the flexibility of the board.

The invention also aims to improve the resistance to the separation between the board and the detention.

To do this, the invention proposes a gliding board intended for snowboarding, the board comprising a bearing face and a sliding face opposite the face support.

The board according to the invention is characterized by the fact that it has at least one slit which opens onto the face support and on the sliding face, the sliding face having a lower groove which widens the slot between the face of slides and a shoulder face at the bottom of the lower groove.

This structure makes it possible to accommodate an insert in the board on the side of the sliding face, and to tighten a device retaining on the bearing face by screwing a screw into a threaded hole of the insert It follows that a thickness of the board is pinched between the insert and the retainer.

The advantage is that the pull-out resistance is better than in cases where an insert is inserted into the board on the side of the bearing face.

According to a complementary provision of the invention, the bearing face has an upper groove which widens the slot between the bearing face and a shoulder face at the bottom of the upper groove.

This arrangement makes it possible to locate the material constitutive of the board which resists tearing in a middle region of the thickness of the board. It follows advantageously that the primers for rupture of the material are reduced because the middle region is subject to few stresses bending with respect to the bearing face or to the sliding face.

Preferably, the board comprises at least one layer of upper reinforcement at the support face and at least one reinforcement layer below the level of the sliding face, the upper and lower reinforcing layers being separated at least in part by a core, the board being characterized by the fact that the shouldered face of the lower groove is formed at least in part by the lower reinforcing layer, and by the fact that the shouldered face of the upper groove is formed at least in part by the upper reinforcing layer. This arrangement makes it possible to work both the layer reinforcement layer, the lower reinforcement layer and the core in resistance against tearing.

This arrangement also makes it possible to distribute the forces due tensile on the retainer on a surface of the board larger than the area of the shouldered face of the lower groove. It advantageously follows that the stresses in the board are reduced.

More preferably, the upper reinforcing layer and the lower reinforcement layer are joined to each other at a central part of the slot by means of bonding. This provision prevents infiltration impurities in the board at the core, and prevents relative sliding of the upper reinforcement layer by compared to the bottom reinforcement layer in the slot.

According to another advantageous arrangement of the invention, the shoulder side of the lower groove and the shoulder side of the upper groove are located at a distance substantially constant of the sliding face according to the length of the slot. The insert housed in the board is therefore always located substantially at the same distance from the sliding face, which allows a space of constant length between the insert and snow. It is also easier to squeeze one on the other the upper reinforcement layer and the layer of lower reinforcement at the time of manufacture.

Indeed, preferably the slot has an edge peripheral delimited in part at least by the thickness of the upper reinforcement layer, the thickness of the bonding means, and the thickness of the lower reinforcing layer. This layout does not affect the flexibility of the board by compared to the prior art, because no rail is added in the thickness of the board.

Preferably finally, the board comprises two slots oriented substantially in a longitudinal direction center of the board, each slot being arranged on the length of the board at a user's foot. This allows multiple adjustments of the position of two retainers.

According to an alternative embodiment, the board comprises four slots oriented substantially in one direction longitudinal of the board, two slots being arranged at the level of each user's feet, the two slits being 40 mm apart from each other. In this case, it is most devices can be joined to the board store shoe retainer.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une planche de glisse selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une coupe selon II-II de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe d'un noyau servant à la fabrication de la planche,
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe d'un moule prévu pour la fabrication de la planche,
• la figure 5 est une coupe similaire à celle de la figure 2 dans un cas où une embase est reliée à la planche,
• la figure 6 est une coupe similaire à celle de la figure 2 pour une variante de réalisation.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended drawing illustrating, by non-limiting examples, how the invention can be implemented and in which:

• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gliding board according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a section on II-II of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a core used for the manufacture of the board,
• FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a mold intended for the manufacture of the board,
• FIG. 5 is a section similar to that of FIG. 2 in a case where a base is connected to the board,
• Figure 6 is a section similar to that of Figure 2 for an alternative embodiment.

A gliding board shown in Figure 1 includes a support face 1 designed to receive retaining devices of a user's feet. The board extends in a longitudinal direction between two ends 2, 3, and present two elongated slots 4, 5 oriented substantially in the longitudinal direction. Each of the slots 4, 5 is located preferably substantially midway between side edges 6, 7 of the board, in a reception region of one foot the user.

As shown in Figure 2, the board has one side gliding 8 opposite the bearing face 1 relative to the thickness of the board. It should be understood that the face of glide 8 is intended to glide on snow. That is why it is delimited by a layer of gliding or sole 9, itself reported by any suitable means such as a collage on a lower reinforcing layer 10. By analogy, the face support 1 is delimited by a decorative layer 11 reported by any suitable means such as a collage on a top reinforcement layer 12.

The lower 10 and upper 12 reinforcing layers are separated by a core 13 which extends substantially between the side edges 6, 7 and between the ends 2, 3 of the board. The presence of the slots 4, 5 creates an interruption in the continuity of the core 13. The example of the slot 5 seen in section at FIG. 2 shows that the lower reinforcing layers 10 and upper 12 are shaped to meet at the level of the slot 5.

The lower layer 10 and the sole 9 have a deformation, towards the inside of the board, which delimits a lower groove 14. Likewise, the upper layer 12 and the decoration layer 11 has a deformation, towards the inside of the board, which defines an upper groove 15.

The lower layers 10 and upper 12 are joined to each other by any suitable means such as that a bonding along a joint plane 16 located between the groove lower 14 and the upper groove 15.

Preferably, the joint plane 16 is substantially parallel to face 8 of the board. That is to say that the parts of the reinforcing layers 10, 12 which delimit respectively shouldered faces 17, 18 of grooves 14, 15 are substantially parallel to the face 8 of the board.

It follows that the grooves 14 and 15 are separated by a central part 19 of the slot 5 delimited by an edge peripheral 20 whose thickness includes the reinforcing layer lower 10, the upper reinforcing layer 12, as well as any material located at the joint plane 16 which may have serve to secure layers 10 and 12 together.

The structure of the board in a transverse direction, that is to say in a direction from edge 6 to edge 7, is such that the lower groove 14 is wider than the part central 19, and such that the upper groove 15 is more wider than the central part 19.

By analogy, the structure of the board in the direction longitudinal has the same characteristics as the structure in the transverse direction, except for dimensions. Indeed, the slot 5 has an elongated shape which makes it significantly longer than it is wide.

A preferred method of making the board is explained using Figures 3 and 4.

The core 13 is manufactured separately by machining a glued laminated wood board.

As shown in Figure 3, the core 13 presents after machining a slot which makes it possible to accommodate part of the layers 9, 10, 11, 12 in a subsequent manufacturing step.

Of course, another material such as pure wood or a plastic foam might be suitable. Another working technique such as molding could also be suitable. After machining, the core 13 has a shape close to that which it will have after the manufacture of the board. The advantage of wood glued laminated is its mechanical stability and ease of installation in action.

We have all the constituent elements of the board in a mold like the one shown in section in the figure 4. The mold comprises a lower form 21 provided for accommodate the components of the board, and a upper form 22 provided for pressing the elements components of the board in the lower form 21, as it is indicated by the arrow. A punch 23 secured to the lower form 21 is provided to conform the groove lower 14, and a punch 24 secured to the shape upper 22 is provided to conform the upper groove 15.

The constituent elements of the board comprising in particular the sole 9, the lower reinforcing layer 10, the core 13, the upper reinforcing layer 12 and the layer of decoration 11 are introduced in this order into the mold, successively or simultaneously, to form a stack ready for be in a hurry. Bonding means can be provided such as layers of glue or resin, or even films of plastic bonding between the different layers 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.

The joining of the constituent elements of the board is obtained by raising the mold temperature and pressing the upper form 22 in the lower form 21 according to a process known to those skilled in the art. Hallmarks 23 and 24 cause the deformation of layers 9, 10 and 11, 12 to make the grooves 14 and 15.

When the components of the board are joined together, the board is extracted from the mold. At this moment, the grooves 14 and 15 are separated by a stack comprising the sole 9, the lower reinforcing layer 10, the upper reinforcement layer 12 and the decoration layer 11. A final manufacturing operation consists in carrying out the central part 19 of the slot 5 by removing material in the stack separating the grooves 14 and 15, by techniques such as machining, routing, nibbling, stamping or other. This gives the board previously described using Figure 2.

The materials used are those known to the man of art. The sole 9 can be made for example by polyethylene, the decorative layer 11 in any material plastic, and the reinforcing layers 10, 12 made of fiber fabrics impregnated with thermosetting resin. The fibers can be carbon, glass, aramid or the like. They can be woven or not, combined with one another and oriented in selected directions.

Of course, the slot 4 is produced at the same time as the slot 5, and has a structure similar or similar to that of slot 5. It can be provided that slots 4 and 5 have identical or different dimensions, one by compared to each other.

Once the board is finished, it is possible to join it to external elements as explained in using Figure 5.

An insert 25 is inserted into the slot 5 on the side of the sliding face 8. The insert 25 comprises a head 26 which is housed in the groove 14 by resting on the shouldered face 17 of the groove 14. The head 26 is extended by a body 27 which crosses the central part 19 of the slot 5 and the groove upper 15. A base 28 of a non-retaining device shown is secured to the insert 25 by a means of joining shown in the form of a screw 29 which cooperates with the insert 25. The screw 29 biases one towards the other the base 28 and the insert 25. It follows that the base 28 is pressed against face 1 and head 26 is pressed against the shouldered face 17. The base 28 is immobilized on the face 1 by an adhesion phenomenon due to the coefficient of friction existing between face 1 and base 28.

Of course, the position of the base 28 is adjustable by continuously along the slot 5. Just loosen the screw 29, put the base 28 in the desired location, then tighten screw 29. It should be understood that the position of the base 28 is adjustable both in translation and in rotation.

The structure of the board allows the forces to be distributed clamp for retaining base 28 on all layers making up the thickness of the board, taking into account of the shape of the slot 5. It advantageously follows that the tear resistance is better than on a board using a system of fixed inserts added on the side of the bearing face 1. In addition, the structure of the slot 5 does not interfere the bending of the board at all. It follows advantageously that the deformations of the board are progressive and that the driving is precise.

We can provide many variants like the one shown in section in figure 6. In this case, we have always side 1 opposite side 8 between edges side 6, 7. But the board includes two slots 30, 31 parallel and substantially oriented in the direction longitudinal of the board.

This alternative embodiment has an advantage which is to widen the range of settings possible.

In the case where the slots 30, 31 are distant one of the other 40 mm, this variant allows the connection to the board of most of the retaining commercial shoes.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the modes of realization described, and includes all equivalents techniques which may fall within the scope of the claims which will follow.

In particular, many variants can be provided to make the shape of the slots 4, 5.

We can also provide different numbers or different slots orientation 4, 5.

Still, other layering arrangements may be suitable to make the internal structure of the board.

Claims (8)

1. Gliding board adapted for practicing snowboarding, the board having a bearing surface (1) and a gliding surface (8) opposite the bearing surface (1), the board also having at least one top reinforcement layer (12) at the level of the bearing surface (1) and at least one bottom reinforcement layer (10) at the level of the gliding surface (8), the top (12) and bottom (10) reinforcement layers being separated at least partially by a core (13)_, characterized in that it has at least one slot (4, 5) opening onto the bearing surface (1) and onto the gliding surface (8), the gliding surface (8) having a bottom groove (14) which widens the slot (4, 5) between the gliding surface (8) and a shouldered surface (17) at the base of the bottom groove (14),
2. Gliding board according to claim 1, characterized in that the bearing surface (1) has a top groove (15) which widens the slot (4, 5) between the bearing surface (1) and a shouldered surface (18) at the bottom of the top groove (15).
3. Gliding board according to claim 2, characterized in that the shouldered surface (17) of the bottom groove (14) is formed at least partially by the bottom reinforcement layer (10), and in that the shouldered surface (18) of the top groove (15) is formed at least partially by the top reinforcement layer (12).
4. Gliding board according to claim 3, characterized in that the top reinforcement layer (12) and the bottom reinforcement layer (10) are affixed together at the level of a central part (19) of the slot (4, 5) by a gluing means.
5. Gliding board according to any one of claims 2 through 4, characterized in that the shouldered surface (17) of the bottom groove (14) and the shouldered surface (18) of the top groove (15) are located at a substantially constant distance from the gliding surface (8) along the length of the slot (4, 5).
6. Gliding board according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the slot (4, 5) has a peripheral edge (20) demarcated at least partially by the thickness of the top reinforcement layer (12), the thickness of the gluing means, and the thickness of the bottom reinforcement layer (10).
7. Gliding board according to claim 6, characterized in that it has two slots (4, 5) oriented substantially in a central longitudinal direction of the board, each slot (4,5) being arranged on the length of the board at the level of one of the user's feet.
8. Gliding board according to claim 6, characterized in that it has four slots oriented substantially in a longitudinal direction of the board, two slots (30, 31) being arranged at the level of each of the user's feet, the two slots (30, 31) having a distance between them of 40 mm.

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