EP1410827A1 - Snowboard - Google Patents

Abstract

The ski (1) comprises a sliding board (4) terminated by a raised end (2) comprising a peripheral zone (5) and a central zone (6). The peripheral zone extends from the board edge (9) in the direction of the end central zone and has a thickness less than that of the end central zone and is connected to it by a recess (7) forming a rupture point. The width of the peripheral zone, measured perpendicularly to the board edge increases from the start of the end to the highest point of the end.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to the field of snow gliding boards and relates to a board structure such as an alpine ski, a snowboard, or even a ski background.

It relates more particularly to a spatula or heel structure limiting the risk of cracking, especially following cold impacts.

Previous techniques

Generally speaking, the tip of a downhill, cross-country, cross-country ski, or even of a board, is raised to allow the ski to overcome the obstacles of the track. So, when the ski encounters an obstacle, the tip tends to deform, and is therefore the site of mechanical stresses which can be significant. Likewise, when skiing is flat, the spatula forms a raised area which can suffer many shocks, even even deform, for example in the queues of ski lifts. The mechanical stresses, when the spatula is crushed by a vertical force, are then very important.

However, we know that in general, skis have a structure comprising a stack of different superimposed layers. In the spatula, these different superimposed layers meet or stop to form a complex structure. It is in the tip that the side edges stop, as well as generally the core of the ski and the upper and lower reinforcements located on either side of the core. This results in discontinuities in the structure of the spatula at these different levels, which weakens the layer forming the upper face of the ski, also called "upper layer of protection ", when the spatula undergoes strong mechanical stresses, for example when the tip is crushed or deforms while skiing.

We then observe cracks in this upper protective layer, and this especially since the outside temperature is low, and therefore the material of the layer protection becomes rigid. These phenomena appear when the spatula is struck by an obstacle or another ski, or even when the ski hits the snow, causing a whipping movement of the spatula. We have noticed that these cracks usually appeared near the end of the edge metallic lining the gliding sole. Indeed, the interface between the metal edge and the rest of the structure of the front of the spatula, constitutes a point of weakness where the mechanical stresses are concentrated, thus generating significant risks of cracking of the upper protective layer. It has also been observed that these cracks arise on the side edges of the spatula, then spread transversely to the entire width of the upper protective layer.

A problem which the invention therefore proposes to solve is that of the appearance of cracks on the upper protective layer at the level of the tip of a ski. The same problem obviously arises for other boards of gliding, such as cross-country skis, cross-country skis, or even snowboarding. This problem is also observed, although to a lesser degree, on the extremities rear of skis, which are also slightly raised.

This problem is also observed on surfboards, and in particular those described in document FR 2 804 335. These boards are designed for a purpose reduce the flexural strength of the slightly raised ends. For this do, the core of the board is of constant thickness, but it has a width scalable, which decreases by moving towards the ends of the board. At the level of birth of the spatula, the structure of the board is therefore weakened, because it is relatively thin over a fairly large width.

Statement of the invention

The invention therefore relates to a gliding board, comprising a sole of glide ending in at least one raised end, namely on the front side of the spatula and / or on the back side of the heel.

The end of this board has a peripheral zone and a zone central, the peripheral zone extending from the edge of the board towards the central end area. This peripheral zone has a thickness less than that of the central zone of the end, and is connected to the latter by a setback forming a slope break.

In accordance with the invention, the width of the characteristic peripheral zone, measured perpendicular to the edge of the board, has been increasing since birth from the raised end to the highest point of this end.

In other words, the thickness of the spatula is greatly reduced near the edge of the board, which causes the top protective layer of the board to undergo lower stresses when the spatula deforms, so that the risks of cracking of the upper protective layer are greatly diminished. Rigidity overall of the spatula remains ensured by the central part of the latter which presents sufficient thickness, substantially corresponding to that of the rest of the front of the board, at the level of the birth of the spatula. The recess, separating the area center of the spatula of the peripheral zone of lesser thickness, deviates gradually from the edge of the board to form an arc whose shape resembles that of the edge of the spatula, but is offset inside the latter. To the effect technique to reduce the risk of cracking, then an aspect effect of the spatula thus shaped.

In practice, the upper face of the characteristic peripheral zone can be either substantially parallel to the underside of the board, or even slightly tilted down and toward the edge of the board.

In practice, the characteristic peripheral zone is preferably symmetrical about the median longitudinal plane of the board.

In practice, it has been observed that the risks of cracking of the upper layer protection were greatly reduced when the width of the peripheral area, measured at the interruption of the metal edge, was greater than 5 mm in in the case of an alpine ski, or 10 mm in the case of a wider snowboard.

Brief description of the figures

la figure 1 est une vue en perspective sommaire de la spatule d'un ski conforme à l'invention ;

la figure 2 est une vue de côté du ski de la figure 1 ;

la figure 3 est une vue de dessus de l'extrémité avant du ski de la figure 1 ;

les figures 4 et 5 sont des vues en coupe respectivement sur les plans IV-IV' et V-V' de la figure 3.

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 summary perspective view of the tip of a ski according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the ski of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top view of the front end of the ski of Figure 1;

Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views respectively on the planes IV-IV 'and VV' of Figure 3.

Way of realizing the invention

As already mentioned, the invention relates to a gliding board which, in the example illustrated in the figures is an alpine ski. But the invention can in the same way apply to any other type of ski, such as touring skis, short skis or scooters, or even cross-country skis. In the same way, a surf can also be built according to the principles of the invention.

Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a ski (1) has a front end raised (2) forming the spatula. In general, the ski (1) has on its edges lower edges (3) bordering the sliding sole (4). In accordance with the invention, the spatula (2) has a peripheral zone (5), bordering a central zone (6), and separated from the latter by a recess (7).

This recess (7) is such that the thickness (e1) of the spatula (2) in the area central (6) is clearly greater than the thickness (e2) of the spatula at the level of the zone peripheral (5). By a dropout, we mean that there is a significant difference thick, of the order of 2 mm.

The thickness (e2) of the peripheral zone (5) can be either substantially constant over the entire periphery of the spatula (2), but it may also have certain variations. This thickness (e2) can also be constant at the same level longitudinal of the board, so that the upper face of the peripheral zone (5) is then parallel to the sole (4) of the board.

In other variants, the thickness (e2) of the peripheral zone (5) can be slightly variable, and for example decreasing as it approaches the edge (9) of the board. In this case, the upper face of the peripheral zone is then slightly tilted down and out. Multiple variants can be imagined in combining these different arrangements, without departing from the scope of the invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the width (d) of the peripheral zone (7) can be variable around the edge of the spatula (2). So this width (d), measured perpendicular to the edge (9) of the spatula, between the latter and the recess (7), share of a substantially zero value at birth (11) in the area peripheral, to reach a maximum value at the top (12) of the spatula. The width (d) measured at the end (13) of the side edge (5), is typically greater than 5 mm, to obtain a sufficient limitation of the risks of cracking of the upper protective layer (15) illustrated in FIG. 4.

Thus, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper protective layer (15) is closer to the sole (4) of the board at the peripheral zone (5) than it is at the central area (6) of the spatula. The internal structure of the board, between the upper protective layer (15) and the sole (4), has voluntarily been omitted in Figures 4 and 5, since it can adopt multiple architectures, depending on whether the core is made either from previously shaped parts, or although still is carried out directly by in situ injection of components expanding during molding. The characteristic setback can result from a formed setback in the nucleus. Multiple fibrous or other metallic reinforcements can be employed without departing from the scope of the invention.

Of course, the design of the spatula illustrated in the figures can be transposed in the back area of a ski, to form the heel lift, or even other types boards, in particular to snowboards, by adapting the dimensions to this type of board.

It appears from the above that the design of the spatula, or more generally of the end of the board according to the invention, makes it possible to very greatly limit the risks of cracking of the upper protective layer, and more generally, of the structure of the board, when the spatula undergoes significant deformations, especially during shocks.

Claims (6)

Gliding board (1) comprising a gliding sole (4) ending in at least one raised end (2), said end (2) comprising a peripheral zone (5) and a central zone (6), the peripheral zone ( 5) extending from the edge (9) of the board in the direction of the central zone (6) of said end, this peripheral zone (5) having a thickness (e1) less than that (e2) of the central zone (6 ) from the end, and connecting to the latter by a recess (7) forming a break in slope, characterized in that the width (d) of the peripheral zone (5), measured perpendicular to the edge (9) of the plank, is increasing from the birth of the extremity to the highest point (12) of the extremity. Gliding board according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper face of the peripheral zone (5) is substantially parallel to the lower face (4) of the board. Gliding board according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper face of the peripheral zone is inclined downwards towards the edge of the board. Gliding board according to claim 1, comprising edges (3) interrupting at the lateral level of the end, characterized in that at the interruption (13) of said edge (3), the width (d ) of the peripheral zone is greater than 5 mm. Gliding board according to claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral zone (5) is symmetrical with respect to the median longitudinal plane of the board. Gliding board according to claim 1, characterized in that the raised end forms the front spatula of the board.

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