EP1908500B1 - Snowboard and manufacturing process - Google Patents

Abstract

The board has a rigid element (1) with a plate (2) placed on an upper protection and decoration layer (11), and push through portions (3) extending below the plate forming a visible portion. The plate is mounted on a unit made of polymer material e.g. compressible foam. The element has pins (16) located below and at the level of a lower surface of a polymer reinforcement layer (12) of an upper assembly (10). The pins form a stop cooperating with the surface to block the layers between a plate's lower surface and the stop to prevent the displacement of the element with respect to the assembly. An independent claim is also included for a method for fabricating an upper assembly for a sliding board.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of sliding boards on snow, such as skis, surfboards or the like. It relates more particularly to a method allowing the manufacture of boards incorporating the additional rigid elements present on its upper face.

PRIOR STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

In general, a gliding board has a central core under which there is a lower assembly mainly comprising a gliding sole, edges and one or more lower reinforcements. The core is covered with a top assembly that incorporates a top layer of protection and decoration and, in most cases, one or more reinforcing layers, which may be metal reinforcements or fibrous reinforcements impregnated with a resin mechanizing. These reinforcements are intended to increase the rigidity of the board and give it mechanical properties of flexural strength.

According to a first widely used technique, the kernels of the skis are made by injecting different components reacting in situ inside a mold, to cause the formation of a polyurethane foam constituting the core. During this process, the core comes to press the upper assembly under the mold cover to give it its final shape. It is conceivable that, when the upper assembly comprises several layers and in particular a fibrous reinforcement, it is necessary to join, for example by gluing, this reinforcing layer under the upper layer of protection and decoration which itself comes into contact with the mold cover.

Other methods of manufacturing skis, or more generally gliding boards, in which a pre-made core is used are also known. Thus, the core is made by a specific machining or molding operation, and is then assembled in a mold with the upper and lower assemblies.

In some cases, it may be necessary, for different reasons, that the upper face of the board has additional elements for decorative functions or technical functions such as the attachment of various elements, including damping. A problem therefore generally arises to arrange these different additional elements on the upper assembly, in a manner that allows the establishment of this upper assembly in the mold while maintaining the desired position of these additional elements on the board. Indeed, the establishment by gluing can not be satisfactory insofar as the risk of detachment and tearing of these additional elements would be too great, when they are exposed to shocks during the subsequent use of the board. This is why these additional elements generally have an apparent portion located on the upper face of the board, and a through portion, which extends under the upper protective layer.

Solutions have been proposed to maintain these additional elements relative to the upper assembly during the molding operation. So, in the document EP 1 479 416 , it is intended to use a pin system or the like, engaged on the through portion of the additional element, so as to prevent it from escaping from the upper assembly during the various manipulations prior to molding. This pin is found embedded inside the foam constituting the core, which ensures anchoring of the additional element in the structure of the board. However, a disadvantage of this technique lies in the fact that, to facilitate the anchoring of the pin, it is set up so that it allows a slight movement of the additional element relative to the assembly. superior. This movement may, in certain cases, cause positioning defects. In addition, the pin anchors the additional element within the core foam, which has poor mechanical pull-out properties. It follows that mechanical games can appear when the additional element is heavily stressed, with even the risk of tearing. Systems of the same type are described in the document FR 2882 269 .

Another solution has also been described in the documents US2005 / 0248127 and EP 1 669 111 , for the establishment on the upper face of the board of elements intended to serve as mounting rails of the fasteners. To do this, the elements forming the future rails have a through portion which extends under the upper protective layer. The two rails present on both sides of the board are connected to each other by transverse members which are then embedded in the interior of the board. core foam. The same problems mechanical play, and risk of tearing come from the fact that it is the core of the foam, so a material of low resistance to tearing, which ensures the maintenance of the additional element.

In addition, the document EP 1,563,878 describes another solution for setting up mounting rails of the fasteners. This solution consists of resting the rails proper on the upper face of the ski, and to block them with pawns. These pins pass through the rails in openings, and extend the recesses provided in the preformed core of the ski. Locking elements located under the upper face of the ski cooperate with certain parts of the pins to maintain it. Such a system has the major disadvantage of a large number of parts, with the inevitable appearance of mechanical games, as well as the need to control several odds chains for its manufacture and assembly.

One of the objectives of the invention is to allow easy and firm positioning of the additional elements on the upper assembly during the manufacturing process, while ensuring a very strong anchoring in the structure of the board.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention therefore relates to an upper assembly for a gliding board comprising at least one layer, and in particular an upper protective layer. This board also includes at least one rigid element, metallic or otherwise, partially visible on the upper face of the board. This rigid element comprises an apparent portion which rests on the upper protective layer, and one or more through portions integral with the visible portion which extend below the visible portion, passing through the upper assembly.

According to the invention, this rigid element comprises anchoring portions, which are located below and at the lower face of one of the layers of the upper assembly. These anchoring portions form a stop which cooperates with the lower face of this layer, so as to grip all or part of the layers of the upper assembly between the lower face of the apparent portion of the rigid element and this stop. In this way, it prevents the displacement of the rigid elements relative to the upper assembly.

In other words, the invention consists in firmly locking the rigid element, without any possibility of deflection, by using an anchoring portion which comes into contact with the lower face of the upper assembly. In this way, the upper assembly is sandwiched between the characteristic anchoring portions and the outer portion of the additional element, which is pressed directly against the upper face of the board. Complementarily, the anchoring portions are no longer embedded in the core of the core, in the case where it is injected, so that the risks of tearing are greatly reduced.

The anchoring portions forming the abutments can be made in different ways, depending on the geometry of the additional elements, and the tear resistance they must present in the context of the normal use of the board.

Thus, the anchoring portions may be formed by the ends of the through portions, which are curved substantially parallel to the lower face of the upper assembly. These curved ends come into contact with the lower face of the upper assembly and prevent any movement of the additional element in a direction perpendicular to the upper assembly. This embodiment and particularly suitable for the introduction of additional elements subjected to low mechanical stresses. It can thus notably be elements intervening for decorative functions.

According to another embodiment, the anchoring portions may be formed by locking members mounted on the through portions, and coming into contact with the lower face of one of the layers of the upper assembly. In other words, additional members are placed on the through portions, so as to flush under a layer of the upper assembly, and prevent the displacement of additional rigid elements relative to the upper assembly. In practice, these locking members may be clamping washers, pins and other members which pass through the through portions extending parallel to a layer of the lower face of the upper assembly coming from the tangenter.

In practice, the anchoring portion or portions of the additional element can sandwich all or part of the upper assembly. Thus, in a first embodiment, the anchoring portions can come into direct contact with the underside of the top layer of protection. This mode is particularly suitable for additional elements that are not mechanically stressed. In the case where the characteristic anchoring portions come into contact with the lower face of the upper protective layer, it is also possible to cover these anchoring portions, and the remainder of the upper protective layer, with a fibrous reinforcement .

In another embodiment of the invention, the upper assembly may also include one or more fibrous reinforcement layers which are traversed by the through portions. In this case, the anchoring portions come to bear directly under these fibrous reinforcement layers, and maintain the same with respect to the upper protective layer. In this case, it is not necessary that these fibrous reinforcement layers are previously secured, for example by gluing, to the upper protective layer, since the characteristic anchoring portions provide this function. The fibrous reinforcements may be impregnated with a mechanizing resin intended to polymerize during the injection, or else be stiffened by a previously polymerized mechanizing resin. It is also possible that the upper assembly includes complementary layers, such as for example one or more layers based on deformable polymeric material, in some cases having viscoelastic properties, in order to contribute to the damping of the board.

In a particular embodiment, the through portions of the rigid additional element may be constituted by spikes, advantageously self-piercing, which allow to pass through the upper protective layer, and possibly the fibrous reinforcement without the need for a preliminary drilling operation. . The implementation of these elements can be likened to the installation of rivets.

In practice, the rigid additional element may have, on its face in contact with the upper protective layer, a prominent region encircling the through portions. In this way, this protruding portion partially penetrates the deformable material of the upper protective layer. It thus constitutes a watertight barrier with respect to the possible rise of the resin reinforcements or core through the passage openings of the through portions. These possible resin lifts are thus circumscribed under the rigid additional element, and are not likely to overflow on the upper face of the board. The resin lifts can also be avoided by placing a waterproof film, present under the anchoring portions, and preventing any passage of material through the holes through which the through portions pass.

In practice, the additional rigid element can take on a variety of shapes and have various functions. Thus, it is possible that the apparent portion of this rigid element is partially embedded in the upper protective layer. This is particularly the case when this additional element is a decorative member which it is desired that it is flush only at the upper face of the board.

In other variants, it is also possible for the apparent portion of this rigid element to comprise at least one prominent zone, such as a snap, hook or other type, capable of ensuring the attachment of an accessory to the board. It is also possible for the apparent portion of the rigid element to be surmounted by a member of polymeric material, of the compressible foam type. This foam may for example be compressed by the pressure exerted during the molding operation. The resilience of the material causes that after demolding, the foam re-increases in volume to form a prominent and compressible portion on the upper face of the board. In particular, it may be zones making it easier to grip the board.

Among the many applications of the invention, mention may be made of the possibility for the additional element of accommodating on its upper face the abutment or heel of a safety fastener, or more generally any member capable of undergoing great efforts. amplitude. The anchoring of the additional element just under the reinforcement of the upper assembly improves the strength and tear resistance, which are imperative qualities for this type of functions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective sommaire, de ¾ dessous, d'un élément additionnel rigide destiné à être intégré sur la face supérieure d'une planche de glisse ;
• les figures 2 et 3 sont des vues en coupe montrant l'élément rigide, l'ensemble supérieur et les zones d'ancrage d'un premier mode de réalisation, illustrés respectivement avant et après assemblage ;
• La figure 4 est une vue en coupe d'un moule de réalisation d'une planche de glisse incluant un ensemble supérieur conforme à l'invention ;
• Les figures 5 et 6 sont des vues en coupe d'un élément additionnel rigide et de l'ensemble supérieur selon une troisième variante de réalisation, montrés respectivement avant et après assemblage.

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 given by way of indication and not limitation, and with reference to the appended figures in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view from below, of a rigid additional element intended to be integrated on the upper face of a gliding board;
• the Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views showing the rigid element, the whole upper and the anchoring zones of a first embodiment, respectively illustrated before and after assembly;
• The figure 4 is a sectional view of a mold for producing a gliding board including an upper assembly according to the invention;
• The Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views of an additional rigid element and the upper assembly according to a third embodiment, respectively shown before and after assembly.

MANNER OF REALIZING THE INVENTION

As already mentioned, the additional rigid elements are likely to be placed on the upper surface of a gliding board of very different and varied nature, so that the one shown in FIG. figure 1 is given only as an example, and in no way limits the invention.

Thus, the rigid additional element (1) illustrated in FIG. figure 1 consists mainly of a plate (2) forming the apparent portion of the additional element, and which can support on its upper face, different mechanisms or not shown holes, in particular for the establishment of the elements of the security fastener for example. This apparent portion (2) has on its underside four through portions (3) in the form of platelets extending perpendicularly to the plate (2). In the illustrated form, the through portions (3) are arranged in two spaced pairs, and each comprise a bore (4) for receiving the anchoring portions.

As illustrated in figure (2 ), the plate (1) is intended to be secured to the upper assembly (10) constituted by the illustrated form of the upper protective and decorative layer (11) and a fibrous reinforcing layer (12), typically based on a glass yarn fabric coated with a thermosetting resin. Openings (14) are made both in the upper protective layer (11) and the fibrous reinforcement (12) so as to allow passage of the through portions (3). So, and as illustrated in figure 3 the anchoring portions (16) formed by pins penetrate the openings (4) present in the anchoring portions (3) so that these pins (16) are flush with the underside (15) of the reinforcement (12). Thus, the reinforcing layer (12) is locked between the upper protective layer (11) and the pins (16), and can not move unexpectedly.

The positioning of the pins, and more generally anchoring portions can be done by ensuring a slight pressure on the crossed layers, so as to take advantage of a compression of these layers to prevent any unexpected movement of the anchoring portions after their installation. This eliminates any play between the various layers, and especially between the upper face of the board and the apparent portion of the additional elements.

The precise position of the openings (4) in the through portions must be precise enough to avoid as much as possible the passage of foam between the underside of the upper assembly and the pins. This prevents the risk of having above the pin, a quantity of foam of the core which is a compressible area, source of play later.

Of course, it is also possible to use pins that pass through not one, but several through portions, or else various form of locking members, as long as they come into contact at least over part of their length. with the reinforcing layer (12) to prevent movement.

As illustrated in figure 4 , the upper assembly (10) on which is installed the rigid additional element (1) can be placed in a mold (30) having a mold bottom (31) accommodating the lower assembly (32). The upper assembly (10) and the additional rigid member are pressed against the mold cover (33) upon expansion of the core foam (36).

In the variant illustrated in figure 5 , the additional rigid element (40) has an apparent portion (42) under which extend the through portions (43) formed of tips whose ends (44) are self piercing. The underside (45) of the exposed portion (42) has a prominent region (46) extending peripherally surrounding the through areas (43). The introduction of the additional element (41) is done by drilling the upper protective layer (11).

Then, as illustrated in figure 6 the tips (43) are folded laterally under the underside (18) of the upper protective layer (11). The protruding peripheral zone (46) circumscribes the region in which the tips (43) have formed openings (48) in the upper protective layer (11). Possible lifts resin at these openings are thus blocked and are not likely to appear on the visible part of the board. A reinforcing layer (49), in particular fibrous, can then be glued or assembled by any means under the upper protective layer (11), so as to form an upper assembly easily manipulated without risk of falling additional elements.

It follows from the foregoing that the invention allows a place on a board of additional rigid elements by a method that facilitates handling operations of the upper assembly. Indeed, its additional elements pinch the upper assembly, which ensures a precise and definitive positioning, while maintaining the reinforcement layers. In addition, these additional rigid elements are anchored closer to the reinforcing layers, which ensures them good resistance to tearing.

Claims (20)

1. Upper assembly (10) for a board for gliding on snow, comprising at least one layer, and in particular a protective upper layer (11), and including at least one rigid element (1) partially visible on the upper face of the board, said rigid element (1) comprising a visible portion (2) lying on the protective upper layer (11), and through portions (3) all in one piece with the visible portion (2), and extending under the visible portion (2) by passing through said upper assembly (10), characterized in that the rigid element (1) comprises anchoring portions (16) located underneath and on the lower face (15) of one of the layers of the upper assembly (10), these anchoring portions (16) forming an abutment which engages with said lower face (15) of said layer, so as to grip all or part of the layers of the upper element (10) between the lower face of the visible portion (2) of the rigid element (1) and said abutment (16), in order to prevent the rigid element (1) from moving, allowing no travel whatsoever relative to the upper assembly (10).
2. Upper assembly for a board for gliding on snow as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the anchoring portions are formed by the ends of the through portions (43), which are bent back substantially parallel to the lower face of the upper assembly (11).
3. Upper assembly for a board for gliding on snow as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the anchoring portions are formed by blocking components (16) mounted on the through portions (3), and coming into contact with the lower face (15) of one of the layers of the upper assembly (10).
4. Upper assembly for a board for gliding on snow as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the blocking components (16) penetrate the through portions (3) and extend parallel to the lower face (5) of the upper assembly (10).
5. Upper assembly for a board for gliding on snow as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the anchoring portions (43) come into contact with the lower face of the protective upper layer (11).
6. Upper assembly for a board for gliding on snow as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the anchoring portions (3) come into contact with the lower face of the reinforcement layer (12).
7. Upper assembly for a board for gliding on snow as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the through portions are formed by tips (44).
8. Upper assembly for a board for gliding on snow as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the tips (44) are self-piercing.
9. Upper assembly for a board for gliding on snow as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the rigid element (1) comprises on its face in contact with the protective upper layer (11), a protruding zone (46) encircling the through portions (43).
10. Upper assembly for a board for gliding on snow as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the visible portion (42) is partially embedded in the protective upper layer (11).
11. Upper assembly for a board for gliding on snow as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the visible portion comprises at least one protruding zone capable of ensuring that an accessory can be fastened onto the board.
12. Upper assembly for a board for gliding on snow as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the visible portion is surmounted by a component made of a polymeric material.
13. Upper assembly for a board for gliding on snow as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the polymeric material is a compressible foam.
14. Upper assembly for a board for gliding on snow as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the rigid element is arranged so as to accommodate a component of the bindings.
15. Upper assembly for a board for gliding on snow as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it includes at least one layer made of a deformable polymeric material.
16. Upper assembly for a board for gliding on snow as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the polymeric material of the deformable layer has visco-elastic properties.
17. Upper assembly for a board for gliding on snow as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it includes a sealing film.
18. Board for gliding on snow incorporating an upper assembly as claimed in one of claims 1 to 17.
19. Process for manufacturing an upper assembly (10) for a board for gliding on snow including at least one layer, and in particular a protective upper layer of the board (11), wherein rigid elements (1) comprising a visible portion (2) and through portions (3) all in one piece with the visible portion, which pass through the protective upper layer (11) are put in place on said protective upper layer, characterized in that the through portions (3) are blocked by anchoring portions (16) engaging with the through portions (3), and coming into contact with the lower face (15) of one of the layers of the upper assembly (10), or in that the ends of the through portions (43) are folded back substantially parallel to the protective upper layer (11) so as to prevent the rigid element (1) from moving, allowing no travel whatsoever relative to the upper assembly (10).
20. Process as claimed in claim 19, wherein blocking components (16) penetrate the through portions (3), and come into contact with the lower face (15) of one of the layers of the upper assembly (10).

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