EP1232775A1 - Interface for a snowglider and a snowglider with such an interface - Google Patents

Abstract

Lifting platform (5) of a snowboard binding, comprising a flat central zone (8) capable of receiving the stop (6) and the heel piece (7) of the binding, and two lateral portions ( 9) whose lower edge (13) is intended to cooperate with the gliding board (1), characterized in that the lower edge (13) of the lateral portions (9) has, in a longitudinal plane, a non-zero inclination by relative to the plan of the central area (8). <IMAGE>

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to the field of snow sliding sports, and more particularly in alpine skiing. It relates more specifically to alpine skis equipped with a platform for raising the binding. It aims more particularly a new configuration of the contact area between the ski proper and the enhancement platform.

Previous techniques

Generally, alpine skis are equipped with a safety binding composed of a stop and a heel piece. We have already proposed to mount the two elements of the binding not directly on the gliding board, but on a raising platform itself secured to the board. This platform enhancement ensures unclamping of the binding relative to the ski, that is to say to limit the influence of the stiffness of the sole of the shoe with respect to that of the gliding board.

Various enhancement platform architectures have already been proposed, and in particular that described in document EP 0 744 196, corresponding to the document US 5,944,336.

One of the platforms described in this document has a central area flat able to receive the stop and the heel of the binding. This central area plane extends laterally by two lateral portions whose lower edge cooperates with the gliding board. For this purpose, the gliding board has in its lateral zones of the recesses inside which the side portions of the platform. More specifically, in these lateral zones, the gliding board has thinner areas. The platform of raising therefore spans the central part of the gliding board from rest both on the central part of the gliding board and on the bottom of the recesses in the side areas of the board.

Another example of a raising platform has been described in the document FR 2 781 166. The gliding board described in this document has in its lateral zones, recesses on which the side portions of the platform. These recesses are made above a reinforcing element which forms the edge of the ski. This reinforcing element is located directly above the metal edge cord, and allows in particular the transmission of support towards them effectively.

Due to the geometry of the lateral zones of the platforms described in these documents, the bottoms of the recesses made on the board are completely parallel to the gliding sole.

The presence of the recesses on the lateral faces of the board has a affect the stiffness of the latter as well as how transmitted the forces from the user's foot to the direction of the edges.

One of the objectives of the invention is to improve the behavior of skiing in modifying the influence of these recesses.

Statement of the invention

The invention relates first of all to a mounting enhancement platform boards. In known manner, such a platform includes an area flat central unit capable of receiving the stop and the heel of the binding, as well as two side portions whose lower edge is intended to cooperate with the board slips or come next with portions of it.

According to the invention, this platform is characterized in that the lower edge of the lateral portions has, in a longitudinal plane, a non-zero inclination relative to the plane of the central area.

In other words, the platform comes into contact with or next to the plank slides, or more generally cooperates with the latter by zones which are not not parallel to the gliding sole or to the upper face of the ski, but which at otherwise has an inclination.

In this way, by moving in a longitudinal direction, the point of contact between the platform and the gliding board is at a variable height by compared to the gliding sole. The lateral portions of the platform, when they come into contact with the gliding board, therefore exert a force on a point of contact which is located at a variable distance from the plane which receives the stop and fixing. This arrangement is advantageous and provides better behavior of the ski in particular during the transition between the phases of triggering and cornering.

Advantageously in practice, the lateral portions of the platform extend on either side of the position of the middle of the shoe.

• une surface inférieure de glissement composée d'une semelle de glisse bordée de carres métalliques ;
• une face supérieure ;
• des zones latérales s'étendant de part et d'autre de la face supérieure et coopérant avec les bords inférieurs des portions latérales de la plateforme.

The invention also relates to a gliding board equipped with such a platform. In known manner, this board comprises

• a lower sliding surface composed of a sliding sole bordered by metal edges;
• an upper face;
• lateral zones extending on either side of the upper face and cooperating with the lower edges of the lateral portions of the platform.

According to the invention, this board is characterized in that the lateral zones have recesses, the lower part of which has a slope inclined longitudinally with respect to the sliding surface of the board.

In addition, the lower edges of the side portions of the platform have a complementary slope inclined longitudinally with respect to the gliding surface of the board.

In other words, the platform according to the invention is put in place on the gliding board with its lateral portions which are inserted in additional housings or recesses located on the board. The inclination of lower edges of the side portions of the platform is identical to the tilt from the bottom of the board recess in relation to the sliding surface, so that the area in which the platform and the recesses of the board are opposite extends over a major part of the recess.

The variable thickness of the gliding board at the recesses gives properties which improve the distribution of the forces exerted by the skier, especially in the initiation and cornering phases.

This arrangement can be used on many architectures of board whatever their internal structure, whether they are called "edge" skis or so-called "hull" ski.

Thus, in the case of a ski with edges, the board has elements of lateral reinforcement located directly above at least part of the edge cord metal. In this case, the recesses in the lateral zones form zones in hollow which are connected to said lateral reinforcing elements. In other words, the recesses in the lateral zones of the board form hollow zones at the interior of the lateral reinforcing elements. In these hollow areas, the thickness of the lateral reinforcement element is less than that which it presents in the rest of the ski, and is also variable thus forming the slope feature.

In a particular embodiment, the bottom of the recesses can present an inclined orientation towards the front and towards the bottom of the board. In other words, the thickness of the ski is smaller at the front of the recesses compared to at the back of these. Of course, the other orientation can also present certain interests. In this case, the bottom of the recesses has a backward and downward tilt of the ski.

In the latter case, the inclination of the cooperation zone between the platform and the board, especially when it is made inside the reinforcing element, transfers the support pressure towards the front of the ski during the cornering, and therefore improves the handling of the turn itself. In other words, when the characteristic recesses are shallower on the front side of the plank, the latter is relatively stiffer in the front part of the area skate, compare with the rear part of this same skate area. In the when using a reinforcing element, the lower height of the lateral reinforcement is located rather in the rear part of the skate area. This phenomenon concentrates the maximum power when taking edges, and therefore the maximum grip of the ski under the foot, when the turn is initiated.

In a particular embodiment, the gliding board can include in front and behind lateral portions of the platform, an element additional interposed between the lower face of the platform and the upper face of the board. This additional element is intended to modify the behavior dynamics of the board. This additional element can be made either from a viscoelastic material, when it is desired to obtain certain properties amortization. This element can also be made from a material elastic when you want to energize the board and ensure a return to position faster following a bending of the board to which the platform is opposed.

In some variants, the gliding board can include several recesses made on the same side of the board. These recesses, 2 in number or 3, may have inclinations oriented in the same direction, or in a preferred shape in opposite directions. The platform then has portions lateral whose lower edges have complementary inclinations.

Thus, in a particular embodiment, the board has two recesses on each side. The recess at the front presents a tilt downward and forward. The recess at the back presents as for an inclination oriented upwards and forwards (or so equivalent down and back).

Brief description of the figures

La figure 1 est une vue de côté générale d'un ski conforme à l'invention.

La figure 2 est une vue de dessus du ski de la figure 1.

La figure 3 est une vue de côté de la plateforme conforme à l'invention, montrée seule.

La figure 4 est une vue de côté de détail du ski de la figure 1 dans la zone de coopération de la plateforme et du ski proprement dit.

Les figures 5 et 6 sont des coupes respectivement selon les plans V-V' et VI-VI' de la figure 4.

La figure 7 est une vue en coupe analogue à celle de la figure 4, dans une variante de réalisation.

La figure 8 est une vue de côté schématique d'une variante de réalisation de la planche conforme à l'invention.

La figure 9 est une vue en coupe selon le plan IX-IX' de la figure 8.

La figure 10 est une vue de côté schématique d'une autre variante de réalisation.

The manner of carrying out the invention as well as the advantages which result therefrom will emerge clearly from the description of the embodiments which follow, with the support of the appended figures in which:

Figure 1 is a general side view of a ski according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a top view of the ski of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side view of the platform according to the invention, shown alone.

Figure 4 is a detail side view of the ski of Figure 1 in the area of cooperation of the platform and the ski itself.

Figures 5 and 6 are sections respectively along the planes VV 'and VI-VI' of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a sectional view similar to that of Figure 4, in an alternative embodiment.

Figure 8 is a schematic side view of an alternative embodiment of the board according to the invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view along the plane IX-IX 'of FIG. 8.

Figure 10 is a schematic side view of another alternative embodiment.

Way of realizing the invention

As already said, the invention relates to a ski board equipped with such a platform in which the contact or cooperation area between the board and the platform has a particular geometry.

More specifically, and as illustrated in FIG. 1, the ski (1) conforms to the invention comprises a spatula zone (2) and a heel zone (3) located on the opposite side on the other side of the skate area (4). In the skate area (4), the ski is equipped with a raising platform (5) intended to receive the stop (6) and the heel piece (7) fixing.

The stop (6) and the heel piece (7) of the binding are fixed to a part of the raising platform which forms a flat area (8) extending over at least the space separating the stop (6) from the heel piece (7), or even beyond by taking possibly pressing on the upper face of the ski (1). This central area (8) is laterally extended by lateral portions (9) which are substantially thereto perpendicular, and which descend in the direction of the lower edge (11) of the ski.

More precisely, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, these lateral portions (9) are located substantially at the level of the middle of the shoe (12), that is to say substantially mid-length of the platform. According to a characteristic of the invention, these lateral portions (9) have a lower edge (13) which is not not parallel to the upper plane of the central zone (8) of the platform. More precisely, the lower edge (13) of these lateral portions (9) is slightly inclined at an angle between 1 ° and 20 °, and preferably between 2 ° and 5 ° by relative to the central area (8) of the platform. In other words, the distance d which vertically separates the central area (8) from the platform and the most point (15) bottom of the lateral portions (9) at a given longitudinal level, evolves on the length of the lateral portion (9) in question.

As already mentioned, the invention also relates to a gliding board feature that is configured to receive the platform described above.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the gliding board (1) conforming to the invention comprises a lower sliding surface (20) which comprises mainly a gliding sole (21) and metal edges (22). The metal edges (22) themselves consist of two main portions, namely a bead (23) which forms the lower edges of the board, and which is intended to come into contact with snow, as well as a fin (24) of general shape elongated, and which extends inside the structure of the board to ensure anchoring the edge (22) in the structure proper.

The board also has an upper face (26) which is intended to receive the contact of the raising platform (5), and which has a substantially planar geometry. This face (26) may also have recesses or other protruding areas over its entire length. With reference to Figure 4, the upper face (27) may in particular have a housing in which fits the platform, so that the upper face (27) of the platform and that (26) of the ski in front and behind the platform are substantially in the continuity of each other.

Between the upper face (26) of the board and the edges formed by the edges (22), the board according to the invention has lateral zones (28) which can follow different geometries depending on the internal structure used for make the board. Thus, in a first ski family according to the invention, the lateral areas of the board are equipped with lateral reinforcing elements (30) forming the ski edges.

In another embodiment corresponding to structural skis hull, the lateral zones (40) of the board are slightly inclined so that the ski follows a substantially trapezoidal section.

According to the invention, the lateral zones of the board have recesses or recessed areas (32) for accommodating the side portions (9) of the raising platform. As illustrated in Figure 2, these recesses create a decrease in the thickness of the ski in these lateral zones. These recesses can extend beyond the location of the platform raising (5), to give the board mechanical properties and / or particular aesthetics.

In the area in which the raising platform (5) is located, the recesses (32) have a particular geometry in which their bottom (33) has a non-zero inclination relative to the sliding sole. Of the so, the bottom (33) of the recesses forms a slope inclined longitudinally, which has the inclination complementary to that of the lower edge (13) of the platform (5).

In the case where the edge of the ski has a lateral reinforcement element, such as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the characteristic recess results in a localized decrease in the height of this reinforcing element. More specifically, and as shown in Figure 5 in the deepest area of the recess, the lateral reinforcing element (30) has a reduced height. The partial stiffness of the board near this particular area is therefore relatively diminished.

Conversely, and as illustrated in Figure 6, in the opposite area longitudinally of the recess, the lateral reinforcing element (38) has a higher height, so that the partial stiffness of the board is locally superior.

The shape of the bottom of the recess is not limited to the sole shape of illustrated in the figures, but also covers the variants in which the slope is not constant, but progressive over the length of the characteristic recess, or even in which the orientation of the slope is not pointing up and forward, but down and forward. In in addition, the bottom of the recess may also have a transverse inclination combined with the characteristic longitudinal inclination.

Furthermore, the characteristic geometry of the recesses receiving the portions side of the platform is also not limited to internal structures of boards with lateral reinforcing elements, but covers also the so-called "hull" board structures as illustrated in FIG. 7. In this case, the lateral faces (40) of the board have recesses (41) the bottom (42) of which also has the characteristic inclination. At the level of these recesses, the upper reinforcement (43) has deformed zones (44) corresponding to the recesses in the recesses (41).

In general, the invention is not limited to these particular structures say "chants" or "with shell", but also covers variants combining these two structures for example in the case where the lower part of the board is made with lateral reinforcing elements, while the upper part has a box or shell structure.

The invention is also not limited to a particular nucleus constitution, but can, on the contrary, be used for a very large number of structures.

In an alternative embodiment illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the board further comprises an additional element (45, 46) interposed between the face lower (48) of the platform (5) and the upper face (49) of the board.

This additional element is placed in front and / or behind the portions side (9) of the platform, and it is intended to impart mechanical properties particular depending on the material used.

This element can extend over the entire width of the board, or still be limited to the periphery of the platform, as illustrated in FIG. 9, and somehow serve as a seal between the exterior and the underside of the platform.

The arrangement of the additional element can also be chosen so that the effect of the latter is maximum or optimal in certain areas of the board.

Different materials can be used to form this element additional. So when the material used is an elastomeric material possessing viscoelastic properties, its presence will tend to dampen the comfort of the board by absorbing part of the stresses passing through the area where it is put in place. Part of the vibrations propagating in the board can thus be amortized.

When the additional element is made of an elastomeric material only elastic, it plays a spring effect which accelerates the return to position when this additional element is compressed. So when the ski bends under the effect of forces exerted below the additional elastomeric element, the disappearance of these efforts when the skier changes his position, causes thanks to the additional element the return of the board to its original curvature more quickly. This is a revitalizing effect which can be appreciated when it is necessary to quickly chain turns for example.

The choice of materials used, namely: either essentially elastic or viscoelastic, as well as their location either at the front, at the rear, or at both places allows to vary and optimize the behavior of the associated board to the platform depending on the performance sought.

Another variant embodiment is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 10. In this case, the board has two recesses (53, 54) made on each zone side of the board. Each of these recesses (53, 54) is of design analogous to those described above. In the particular form illustrated, the bottom (55) of the front recess (53) has an inclination oriented downwards and towards forward. The bottom (56) of the rear recess (54) has an oriented inclination up and forward (or equivalent, down and back).

The length (ℓ) of the substantially horizontal portion (57) separating the two recesses (53, 54) is variable according to the slopes and the lengths of the recesses (53, 54). It can even be reduced to zero, so these two recesses are then contiguous.

The platform (60) has on each side two lateral portions, the lower edge (63, 64) is also inclined according to the slope complementary to that recesses (53, 54).

Portions (65, 66) extending the platform further forward and further rear that the side portions (61, 62) are illustrated in Figure 10, but the platform may be free thereof, without departing from the scope of the invention.

It appears from the above that the gliding board equipped with the platform feature has many advantages, including a distribution of stiffness in the skate area which allows maximum power to be concentrated level of the edges, and therefore the maximum grip of the ski, under the foot, during the initiation of the turn.

In addition, in the case where the inclination of the characteristic recess is oriented forwards and upwards, there is a transfer of pressure from the points support towards the front of the ski during the turn, and therefore improving the handling of the turn itself.

Claims (10)

Lifting platform (5) of a snowboard binding, comprising a flat central zone (8) capable of receiving the stop (6) and the heel piece (7) of the binding, and two lateral portions ( 9) whose lower edge (13) is intended to cooperate with the gliding board (1), characterized in that the lower edge (13) of the lateral portions (9) has, in a longitudinal plane, a non-zero inclination by compared to the plan of the central area (8). Platform according to claim 1, characterized in that the lateral portions (9) extend on either side of the shoe middle position (12). Gliding board equipped with a platform for raising the binding according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: a lower sliding surface (20) composed of a sliding sole (21) bordered by metal edges (22); an upper face (26), lateral zones (28) extending on either side of the upper face (26) receiving the contact of the lower edges (13) of the lateral portions (9) of the platform (5), characterized in that said lateral zones (28) have recesses (32) the lower part of which has a slope (33) inclined longitudinally relative to the sliding surface (20) of the board, and in that the lower edges ( 13) lateral portions (9) of the platform (5) have a complementary slope inclined longitudinally with respect to the sliding surface (20) of the board. Gliding board according to claim 3, characterized in that it has lateral reinforcing elements (30) located directly above at least part of the bead (23) of the metal edges (22), and in that the recesses in the lateral zones form recessed zones which are connected to said lateral reinforcing elements. Gliding board according to claim 3, characterized in that the lower part of the recesses has an inclination oriented towards the front and towards the bottom of the board. Gliding board according to claim 3, characterized in that the lower part (33) of the recesses has an inclination oriented towards the rear and towards the bottom of the ski. Gliding board according to claim 3, characterized in that in front and behind the lateral pontions of the platform, it comprises an additional element (45, 46) interposed between the underside (48) of the platform (5) and the upper face of the board (49). Gliding board according to claim 7, characterized in that the additional element is made from a viscoelastic material. Gliding board according to claim 7, characterized in that the additional element is made from an elastic material. Gliding board according to claim 3, characterized in that each lateral zone has two recesses (53, 54), the lower part (55, 56) of which has a slope inclined longitudinally with respect to the sliding surface.

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