EP1018350A1 - Wedge to raise a fixation device on a snowboard - Google Patents

Abstract

The wedge (6), designed to fit between the upper surface of a snowboard (3) and the underside of a boot fastening (4), is made from a deformable material, apart from a circular central section (30) which extends between the wedge's upper and lower surfaces and is of a non-deformable material. The central section has at least one hole (31) through it and is made from a rigid plastic, metal or composition material, whereas the remainder of the wedge is of a supple plastic or rubber foam.

Description

The invention relates to the field of snowboarding, and particularly concerns a shim intended to raise a fixing relative to a board.

The practice of snowboarding, or snowboarding, is done with a board on which a user's two shoes are retained by fixings. The shoes are generally oriented in a direction substantially transverse of the board. An evolution in the practice of snowboard has led manufacturers to reduce the width of boards at the level of the fixings, while retaining a traditional width at the ends. The board thus has a narrowed shape in a central area, this which allows to negotiate tighter curves, that is to say small radii of curvature.

Often a shoe is longer than the width of the board, which brings the front end or the rear end of the shoe to rub in the snow when the board is tilted in a curve. Friction interferes with driving the board. In particular, the behavior of the board becomes random when the shoe presses on a hard snow, because in this case the edge no longer grips the snow.

To prevent the shoes from rubbing in the snow by curved, the prior art has proposed solutions.

According to document FR 2 733 690, the fasteners are raised relative to the board by means of shims. Of this way the friction of the ends of the shoes in the snow are avoided, because the wedge keeps the shoes away from the board, and snow as a result.

The chocks lead to an amplification of the efforts which pass through the board and fasteners while driving. Amplification makes the vibrations of the board more noticeable by the user and interfere with it in the conduct. The amplification makes the driving impulses of the user more difficult to master, especially in terms intensity and duration.

The invention particularly relates to a wedge provided for raise a binding so that the vibrations of the board do not interfere with the user, and so that driving impulses are easy to master.

For this, the invention provides a shim intended for raise a fastener in relation to a board intended for snowboarding, the hold having a thickness, a length and a width, the thickness being delimited by an upper face intended to receive the fixing and a underside designed to rest on the board, the length being between a front limit and a limit rear, the width being between a first limit lateral and a second lateral limit, the wedge having successively from the front limit to the rear limit, a front zone, a central zone, and a rear zone.

The wedge according to the invention is characterized by the fact that it is made with at least one material deformable to with the exception of at least one portion, the portion being made with a substantially non-deformable material, the portion being located in the central area and extending from the face higher than the underside.

The presence of the deformable material in the wedge allows a damping the vibrations of the board, so as not to interfere the user.

The choice of the constituent materials of the hold, as well as their relative positioning, allows the user to better control driving impulses. In particular, he exercises efforts of reduced intensity, for longer durations short than with a shim according to document FR 2 733 690.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une planche de glisse sur laquelle sont rapportées des fixations réhaussées chacune par une cale selon l'invention, selon un premier mode de réalisation,
• la figure 2 est une coupe partielle selon II-II de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une coupe selon III-III de la figure 2,
• la figure 4 est une coupe selon IV-IV de la figure 3,
• la figure 5 est similaire à la figure 3 mais correspond à un second mode de réalisation,
• la figure 6 est une coupe selon VI-VI de la figure 5,
• la figure 7 est similaire à la figure 3, mais correspond à un troisième mode de réalisation,
• la figure 8 est une coupe selon VIII-VIII de la figure 7,
• la figure 9 est similaire à la figure 3 mais correspond à un quatrième mode de réalisation,
• la figure 10 est une coupe selon X-X de la figure 9,
• la figure 11 est similaire à la figure 3 mais correspond à un cinquième mode de réalisation,
• la figure 12 est une coupe selon XII-XII de la figure 11,
• la figure 13 est similaire à la figure 3 mais correspond à un sixième mode de réalisation,
• la figure 14 est une coupe selon XIV-XIV de la figure 13,
• la figure 15 est similaire à la figure 3 mais correspond à un septième mode de réalisation,
• la figure 16 est une coupe selon XVI-XVI de la figure 15.

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 sliding board on which are fastened attachments each raised by a wedge according to the invention, according to a first embodiment,
• FIG. 2 is a partial section on II-II of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a section on III-III of FIG. 2,
• FIG. 4 is a section on IV-IV of FIG. 3,
• FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 3 but corresponds to a second embodiment,
• FIG. 6 is a section on VI-VI of FIG. 5,
• FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 3, but corresponds to a third embodiment,
• FIG. 8 is a section along VIII-VIII of FIG. 7,
• FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 3 but corresponds to a fourth embodiment,
• FIG. 10 is a section along XX of FIG. 9,
• FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 3 but corresponds to a fifth embodiment,
• FIG. 12 is a section on XII-XII of FIG. 11,
• FIG. 13 is similar to FIG. 3 but corresponds to a sixth embodiment,
• FIG. 14 is a section on XIV-XIV of FIG. 13,
• FIG. 15 is similar to FIG. 3 but corresponds to a seventh embodiment,
• Figure 16 is a section on XVI-XVI of Figure 15.

The first embodiment of the invention will be described below using figures 1 to 4.

As is known in FIG. 1, boots 1, 2 are held on a snowboard 3 by means of fasteners 4, 5. Shims 6, 7 are arranged between plate 3 and the fasteners to enhance each fastener, and therefore each shoe, relative to plate 3.

Plate 3 is delimited in length by two ends 8, 9, in width by two edges 10, 11, and in thickness by a upper face 12 opposite to a sliding face 13. The board 3 has a variable width between the ends 8 and 9, the width being reduced to the level where the fasteners 4, 5, with respect to a greater width at proximity of the ends 8, 9. Thus the plate 3 makes it possible to negotiate curves with a small radius of curvature.

As we see better in Figure 2 for example in the case of shoe 1, front ends 14 and rear ends 15 of shoe 1 protrude from board 3 on either side of edges 10, 11 when shoe 1 is retained on board 3 by fixing 4. The sole 16 of shoe 1 is more as long as the width of the board 3 defined by the distance between edges 10 and 11.

The fastener 4 comprises in particular a base 17 on which are attached a rear support element 18 as well as retaining means 19, 20 of the shoe 1 on the base 17.

The base 17 comprises a plate 21 which has a face upper 22 on which at least partially rests the sole 16, as well as a lower face 23 which bears on the wedge 6.

The wedge 6 comprises an upper face 24 designed to receive the binding 4 by contact with the face 23, as well as a lower face 25 provided to rest on the upper face 12 of the board 3.

The upper 24 and lower 25 faces are each substantially flat. This allows continuous contact between the attachment 4 and the shim 6 on the one hand, and between the board 3 and the wedge 6 on the other hand.

Of course, the thickness of the plate 21 is equal to the distance separating the faces 22 and 23. Similarly, the thickness of wedge 6 is defined by the distance between the faces 24 and 25. According to the first embodiment, the thickness of the wedge 6 is substantially constant. This will enhance the front 14 and rear 15 ends of shoe 1 of the same value.

The structure of the wedge 6 is explained using the Figures 3 and 4.

In the longitudinal direction, the wedge 6 has an edge front 26 and a rear edge 27, the qualifiers before and rear for the edges 26, 27 being used arbitrarily. The length of the shim 6 is between a limit before F and a rear limit R.

As seen in Figure 3, edges 26 and 27 each have a slight curvature so that a single point from edge 26, 27 reaches limit F, R.

In the width direction, the wedge 6 has a first lateral edge 28 and a second lateral edge 29. The width of the wedge 6 is between a first lateral limit S1 and a second lateral limit S2. The lateral edges 28 and 29 are each substantially straight and merge respectively with limits S1 and S2. So the outline of the wedge 6 in a plane passing through the lower face 25 is contained substantially in a parallelogram formed by the front limits F, rear R, and lateral limits S1, S2.

The wedge 6 presents successively from the front limit F towards the rear limit R, a front zone FA, a central zone CA and a rear area RA.

The central zone CA must be understood as being a zone located substantially in the middle of the hold 6 in the direction of the length, i.e. substantially in the middle of the front limits F and rear R. The central zone CA extends laterally on the entire width of the hold 6.

Of course, the front zone FA extends along the length of the wedge 6 between the front limit F and the central zone CA, and the rear area RA extends along the length of the shim 6 between the rear limit R and the central zone CA.

According to the invention, the wedge 6 comprises a portion 30 located in the central area CA. The portion 30 has a section substantially circular in a plane passing through the face lower 25.

As shown in Figure 4, the portion 30 extends from the upper face 24 to lower face 25.

The portion 30 is made of a material substantially not deformable. This means that portion 30 retains its geometry when efforts related to driving the board pass through the hold 6. For example, the portion 30 can be made with rigid plastic, metal or metallic alloy, or a composite material comprising wood or metallic fibers, or mineral fibers.

The rigidity of the portion 30 allows good transmission driving pulses between the binding 4 and the board 3.

The rest of the hold 6, that is to say the whole of the hold 6 with the exception of portion 30, is made of a material deformable. This means that the rest of the wedge 6 is deformed in proportion to the deformations of plate 3 during the conduct.

In particular, the rear areas RA and front FA of the hold 6 are deformed according to the deformations of the board 3 in a transverse direction of the board 3, that is to say also in a substantially longitudinal direction of the wedge 6.

For example a relative approximation of the underside 23 of the base 17 relative to the upper face 12 of the plate 3, linked to the deformations of plate 3, results in compression of the deformable material of the wedge 6 in the front FA and rear RA areas.

Preferably, the deformable material of the wedge 6 is a soft plastic foam, rubber foam, or an equivalent product.

The portion 30 is integral with the rest of the hold 6 because that it is inserted in the central area CA. The form of disc of the portion 30 allows nesting in the material deformable.

The flexibility of the deformable material allows the wedge 6 dampen the vibrations of plate 3, as well as vibrations transmitted by the board 3 to the fasteners 4, 5.

Thus the combined use of a non-deformable material with a deformable material, for the manufacture of the shim 6, allows precise and pleasant handling of board 3. The driving pulses are transmitted precisely between the fixation 4 and plate 3 by portion 30, and pulses parasites linked for example to contacts of plate 3 with obstacles are absorbed by the deformable material.

The wedge 6 is retained on the board 3 preferably by means common to those who retain fixation 4. By example, as seen better in Figure 3, it presents four orifices 31, 32, 33, 34 between the upper face 24 and the underside 25. Screws not shown retain the fixing 4 on board 3 passing through the four holes 31, 32, 33, 34 of the wedge 6. In this way the wedge 6 is pinched between fixing 4 and board 3.

Preferably, the four orifices 31, 32, 33, 34 are each located at the top of a 40 mm square. The screws retain the fixing by passing through four holes of a fastening retaining disc, for screwing into four board holes 3.

The orifices 31, 32, 33, 34 pass through the central zone CA because the retaining screws of the fastener 4 on the board 3 are located in a central area of the binding 4. The orifices 31, 32, 33, 34 are made in the portion not deformable 30. This gives the assembly comprising the fixing 4 and the wedge 6 better rigidity at the portion level 30, when the assembly is retained on plate 3.

The other embodiments of the invention will be briefly described below.

The differences of these modes compared to the first are essentially related to the structure of the wedge arranged between a fixing and the board 3.

According to the second embodiment, as can be understood using FIGS. 5 and 6, a shim 40 comprises a portion non-deformable 41 and a deformable body 42. The portion 41 is a ring inserted substantially in the central area of the hold 40. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the portion 41 extends between an upper face 43 and a lower face 44 of the wedge 40, the two faces 43, 44 being substantially flat and parallel to each other.

The third embodiment, similar to the two above, is presented using Figures 7 and 8. A wedge 50 includes a non-deformable portion 51 which separates a first deformable body 52 and a second deformable body 53. The portion 51 located in the central area CA is a plate rectangular. As can be seen in Figure 8, the portion 52 extends between an upper face 54 and a face lower 55 of the wedge 50, the two faces 54 and 55 being substantially flat and parallel to each other.

The fourth embodiment is presented using the Figures 9 and 10. A block 60 includes a non-portion deformable 61 which is located in the central area CA, a first deformable body 62 located in the rear region RA, and a second deformable body 63 located in the front area FA. Of spaces 64, 65 are provided respectively between the body 62 and the portion 61, and between the portion 61 and the body 63. Thus the wedge 60 has a discontinuity between the rear limit R and the limit before F. Furthermore, as seen in the figure 10, the portion 61 extends between an upper face 66 and a lower face 67 of the wedge 60, the two faces 66, 67 being substantially flat and parallel to each other.

The fifth embodiment is presented using the Figures 11 and 12.

A wedge 70 comprises a non-deformable portion 71 and a deformable body 72. As can be seen in FIG. 12, the fifth mode differs from first mode because shim 70 comprises a substantially planar upper face 73 which is not not parallel to a substantially planar lower face 74. The faces 73 and 74 form an angle of a few degrees between them, in order to tilt the binding and the shoe relative to the board in a longitudinal direction of the binding. Of course, the longitudinal direction of the attachment must be understood to be the longitudinal direction of the shoe when the latter is retained on the binding.

The sixth embodiment is presented using the Figures 13, 14. A wedge 80 includes a non-deformable portion 81 and a deformable body 82. As can be seen in the figure 14, the sixth mode differs from the first mode because the wedge 80 comprises a substantially planar upper face 83 which is not not parallel to a substantially planar lower face 84. The faces 83 and 84 form an angle of a few degrees between them, in order to tilt the binding and the shoe relative to the board in a transverse direction of the binding. The transverse direction of the attachment is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

The description of the six previous embodiments shows that the wedge within the meaning of the invention is a set of at least minus two pieces that cooperate with each other as said. These pieces, which are in particular a non-deformable portion located in the central area CA and at least one piece deformable called body as in embodiments 2 to 6, are arranged relative to each other to fill the functions described.

The pieces can be joined by any means to each other, for example by gluing or interlocking.

The pieces can also be separated one by relation to the other, as is the case for the fourth mode of production.

The wedge must therefore be understood as being a set of pieces of different stiffnesses, arranged relative to each other to others with order, the pieces may or may not be separate from each other.

When the pieces are separated, they can be secured for example to the base 17 of the attachment 4 by a means such as bonding or crimping on the underside 23.

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

In particular, several pieces can constitute the rigid portion of a wedge.

Likewise the rest of the hold, made of material deformable, can include a large number of pieces. Of more, these pieces can be made respectively with different materials, so as to balance the suitability for deformation.

For example for the third embodiment, we can provide that the first body 52 is made with a material different from that which constitutes the second body 53.

The upper and lower faces of each wedge can not be completely flat and present for example alveoli, grooves or other cavity.

The interest in this case is for example weight gain. The shim can have any length and width compatible with the dimensions of the board and / or the binding.

In particular, it is not necessary that the wedge and the base have exactly the same dimensions.

There could still be a set comprising a shim and a fastener, in which the rigid portion of the shim is an integral part of the mounting base. That means that the base and the portion form a single block, the rest of the block of deformable material which can be added for example on the base by any means such as bonding.

It is still possible to predict that the pieces of the hold, or at least some of the pieces of the hold are secured by any means suitable for the board.

In particular, the rigid portion can be secured to the board for example by means of screws, then the fixing can be secured to the rigid portion also by means of screws.

It is finally possible that the non-deformable portion presents extensions as seen for example on Figures 15 and 16.

In this case a wedge 90 comprises a non-deformable portion 91, a deformable body 92, and a deformable body 93. The non-deformable portion 91, located in the central zone CA, has an extension 94 located at least partly in the rear area RA as well as an extension 95 located partly at less in the area before FA. The deformable bodies 92, 93 are located respectively in the rear area RA and in the area before FA.

Of course, the wedge 90 could have only one deformable bodies 92, 93.

Claims (10)

Wedge (6, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90) provided for raising a fixing (4, 5) relative to a board (3) intended for the snowboarding, the hold (6, 7, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90) having a thickness, a length, and a width, the thickness being delimited by an upper face (24, 43, 54, 66, 73, 83) provided to receive the fixing (4, 5) and a underside (25, 44, 55, 67, 74, 84) intended to take support on the board (3), the length being between a front limit (F) and rear limit (R), the width being between a first lateral limit (S1) and a second lateral limit (S2), the wedge (6, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90) showing successively from the front limit (F) to the limit rear (R), a front zone (FA), a central zone (CA), and a rear zone (RA), characterized in that the wedge (6, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90) is made with at least one material deformable with the exception of at least one portion (30, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81), the portion (30, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81) being made with a substantially non-deformable material, the portion (30, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81) being located in the central zone (CA) and extending from the upper face (24, 43, 54, 66, 73, 83) to the underside (25, 44, 55, 67, 74, 84). Shim (6, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90) according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper face (24, 43, 54, 66, 73, 83) and lower (25, 44, 55, 67, 74, 84) are each substantially planar. Shim (6, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that its outline in a plane passing through the underside (25, 44, 55, 67, 74, 84) is contained substantially in a parallelogram. Wedge (6, 40, 70, 80, 90) according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the portion (30, 41, 71, 81) has a substantially circular section in a plane passing through the underside (25, 44, 74, 84). Chock (6, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90) according to one of the Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it has at least one orifice (31, 32, 33, 34) between the upper face (24, 43, 54, 66, 73, 83) and the underside (25, 44, 55, 67, 74, 84). Shim (6, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90) according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one orifice (31, 32, 33, 34) crosses the central area (CA). Shim (6, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that at least one orifice (31, 32, 33, 34) crosses the non-deformable portion (30, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81). Wedge (90) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the non-deformable portion (91) has an extension (94) located at least partly in the rear area (RA), and / or an extension (95) located partly at less in the front area (FA). Shim (6, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the portion substantially non-deformable is made with a material rigid plastic, and by the fact that the rest of the wedge (6, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80) is made with a foam of material flexible plastic. Assembly comprising a fixing (4, 5) and a shim (6, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90) provided to raise the binding (4, 5) relative to a board (3) intended for the practice of surfing on snow, the wedge (6, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90) presenting a thickness, length, and width, the thickness being bounded by an upper face (24, 43, 54, 66, 73, 83) designed to receive the fixing (4, 5) and a lower face (25, 44, 55, 67, 74, 84) provided to rest on the board (3), the length being between a front limit (F) and a rear limit (R), the width being between a first lateral limit (S1) and a second limit lateral (S2) the shim (6, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90) presenting successively from the front limit (F) to the rear limit (R), a front zone (FA), a central zone (CA), and a zone rear (RA), characterized in that the wedge (6, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90) is made with at least one material deformable with the exception of at least one portion (30, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81), the portion (30, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81) being made with a substantially non-deformable material, the portion (30, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81) being located in the central zone (CA) and extending from the upper face (24, 43, 54, 66, 73, 83) to the underside (25, 44, 55, 67, 74, 84).

Images