FR2662092A1 - SKI. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a ski comprising, at the front, a tip. This ski is characterised in that its tip consists of a piece (2) which is independent of the actual ski (1) and is mounted movably in relation to the front of the ski (1), and of at least one elastic element (5) interposed between the independent movable piece (2) and the front of the actual ski (1).

Description

The present invention relates to a ski and more

  especially an improvement of its front end.

  An alpine, cross-country or cross-country ski ends at the front with a spatula that is curved upwards to make it easier for the ski to glide on the snow. This spatula, which usually ends in a point, is an integral part of rest of the ski and thus it can cause serious injury to another skier, in the case of a frontal impact with the latter Also such a rigid spatula, forming a single piece with the rest of the ski, can destabilize the skier or even cause it to fall if it strikes a stake when the skier makes a descent marked by such stakes (slalom test for example) In addition the frontal impacts concealed by the spatula are transmitted to the entire ski and it can in

  result in a degradation of the latter.

  The present invention aims to overcome these various disadvantages. For this purpose this ski comprising, at the front, a spatula, is characterized in that its spatula is constituted by a piece independent of the actual ski, mounted movable relative to the front of the ski, and by at least one element elastic interposed between the independent piece

  mobile and the front of the ski itself.

  The following will be described by way of non-limiting examples, various embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a vertical and longitudinal sectional view of the front portion of a ski with a

  independent spatula that can slide longitudinally.

  FIG. 2 is a substantially sectional view

  horizontal line II-II of Figure 1.

  Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken

  along the line III-III of Figure 1.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view of the front portion of the

ski shown in FIG.

  FIGS. 5 and 6 are vertical and longitudinal sectional views of alternative embodiments of the front part

ski.

  Figure 7 is a plan view of another variant

  of execution of the front part of the ski.

  FIG. 8 is a vertical and longitudinal sectional view of the front portion of the ski represented on FIG.

figure 7.

  FIG. 9 is a vertical and longitudinal sectional view of another variant of execution of the part

before skiing.

  FIG. 10 is a substantially sectional view

  horizontally along the line X-X of Figure 9.

  FIG. 11 is a plan view of the front portion

  of the ski shown in FIG.

  FIG. 12 is a vertical and longitudinal sectional view of another variant of execution of the part

before a ski.

  FIG. 13 is a sectional view substantially

  horizontal line XIII-XIII of Figure 12.

  FIG. 14 is a vertical and longitudinal sectional view of another variant of execution of the part

before a ski.

  FIG. 15 is a sectional view made according to the

line XV-XV of Figure 14.

  FIG. 16 is a vertical and longitudinal sectional view of another variant embodiment of the part

before a ski.

  Fig. 17 is a plan view of the front section

  of the ski shown in FIG.

  Figures 18 and 19 are views in substantially horizontal section of alternative embodiments of the

front part of the ski.

  Figure 20 is a vertical and longitudinal sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the front portion of a ski spatula pivotable about a transverse axis. FIG. 21 is a sectional view substantially

  horizontal line XXI-XXI of Figure 20.

  Figures 22 and 23 are plan views of the front portion of skis having a separate asymmetrical tip. In Figures 1 to 4 is shown the front portion of a ski 1 which ends with a spatula According to the invention the spatula comprises an independent end piece 2 which is mounted longitudinally sliding on the front of the ski 1 for this purpose, the tip 2 is hollowed out with a blind recess 3 extending in the plane of the nozzle 2, closed at the front by a transverse bottom 3a and which opens into the rear end face 2a of the tip 2 In this recess 3 is engaged a central tongue 4 which is an integral part of the ski 1 and which extends forward from the front end face of the ski 1 itself This tongue 4 has a width or transverse dimension less than the width of the ski and its thickness is substantially equal to the vertical dimension of the recess 3 so that the tip 2 is nested tightly on the tongue 4, while being able to slide on this tongue for this purpose the front end face 4 a of the langu andte is located at a distance behind the bottom 3 of the recess 3 so as to leave a longitudinal clearance a between them allowing a slight sliding of the tip 2

rearward.

  The spatula of the ski also comprises an elastic element 5 forming a shock absorber, which is interposed between the rear end face 2 of the tip 2 and the front end face of the ski 1 The shock absorbing element 5 can be constituted , as shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, by a ring made of an elastic material, for example of the rubber material, which is secured to the rear end face 2 a of the end piece 2, in surrounding the opening of the recess 3 into which the tongue 4 penetrates. The elastic ring 5 can be fixed to the rear end face 2 a of the end piece 2 by any appropriate means, for example by overmolding or by bi-material injection. The tip 2 is itself made of a relatively hard material allowing to absorb shocks and wear.

  description above, it can be seen that the tip 2 of the

  spatula can, in the event of a frontal impact, slide backward relative to the ski 1, by compressing the element the elastic 5 forming a shock absorber This sliding movement is made possible thanks to the longitudinal clearance a existing between the front face 4 a of the central tongue 4 and the front transverse bottom 3 has the recess 3. The tip 2 of the spatula is retained forward, on the central tongue 4, by any suitable means For example, this restraint can be provided by providing, in the two lateral faces of the tongue 4, two opposite notches 6, formed at the place where the tongue 4 is connected to the front end face of the ski 1 The ring 5 forming a shock absorber, secured of the tip 2 of the spatula, is engaged elastically in the two opposite notches 6, which ensures, because the ring 5 is integral with the nozzle 2, the holding in place of this tip on the tongue 4, by "snapping", in the prol The portions of the elastic ring which are engaged in the two notches 6 have preferably convex surfaces closely matching the concave profiles of the two notches 6. Furthermore, similar notches can also be provided in the notches 6. upper and lower faces of the tongue 4 so that the elastic ring 5 is anchored on the four faces of

the tongue 4.

  Viewed in plan, the recess 3 and the tongue 4 may each have a rectangular shape or, which is preferable, a shape of isosceles trapezium converging towards

  the front, as can be seen in Figures 2 and 4.

  The portion of the trapezoidal tongue 4 which is engaged in the recess 3, has a longitudinal dimension which is smaller than the depth or longitudinal dimension of the trapezoidal recess 3. Furthermore, the inclined lateral faces 4b of the trapezoidal tongue 4 have angle of inclination between them which is greater than the angle of inclination of the two inclined lateral faces 3 b of the trapezoidal recess 3 It follows that between the tongue 4 and the end piece 2 there is not only the longitudinal clearance a, between the small anterior base 4a of the tongue 4 and the bottom 3a of the recess 3, but still a lateral play b between the inclined faces 3b and 4b, this game going from zero to zero the position of the posterior frontal face 2a up to a maximum value in the transverse plane of the small base 4a. The longitudinal clearance a and the lateral clearance b thus make it possible for the tip 2 to undergo, in the event of an impact, not only a movement pure longitudinal rearward, in case of purely frontal impact, but still a complex movement of translation backwards and lateral pivoting, in case of oblique impact, this lateral pivoting being made possible as a result of the prediction of the game

lateral b.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the overall thickness of the elastic ring 5 forming a shock absorber which is equal to that of the end piece 2, in the area of its rear end face 2 a, is slightly greater than the thickness of the front of the ski 1, so that the upper and lower faces of the elastic ring 5 are slightly protruding from the upper and lower faces of the ski 1 In the variant of embodiment shown in Figure 5, the elastic ring 5 is extended rearwardly by an outer peripheral lip 5a which cap, over a short distance, the upper and lower faces of the ski 1, thus ensuring the

  continuity between the ski 1 and the elastic ring 5.

  In the variant embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a layer of elastic material 5b is also interposed between the upper and lower faces of the central tongue 4 and the upper and lower faces of the recess 3, so as to also create a damping of the

shocks in the vertical direction.

  According to another variant shown in Figures 7 and 8, the central tongue 4 and the recess 3 are removed and the elastic member 5 shock absorber is then constituted by a piece of solid elastic material, extending transversely and ensuring the junction between the full front end face 2 of the tip 2 of the spatula and the front front face of the ski 1 The elastic element 5 is fixed by any appropriate means, for example

  by gluing, to both front faces la and 2 a.

  In the variant embodiment shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, the elastic element forming a shock absorber consists of a mass of elastic material 7 which fills the space delimited between the faces 3 a, 3 b of the recess 3 and 4a, 4b of the tongue 4 The retention of the tip 2 towards the front is obtained by bosses 8 which are formed in the connection area of the side faces 3b of the recess 3 and the 2, which are projecting inwardly from the end 2 of the end piece 2, are engaged respectively in the two notches 6 provided in the lateral faces of the central tongue 4. Because of this construction, the posterior frontal face 2 a of the end piece 2 delimits, with the front front face of the ski 1, a void space 9 which is surrounded by a peripheral sealing lip 11, extending towards the rear, forming an integral part of the end piece 2 This lip 11 covers all four sides of the sk In this embodiment of the invention, a frontal and / or lateral impact is accommodated by the elastic deformation of the shock-absorbing material layer 7 which is then compressed between the end-piece 2 and the end-piece. central tongue 4. In the variant shown in Figures 12 and 13, the nozzle 2 is full and its front face 2 is extended rearwardly by a central tongue 4 On its side the front part of the ski 1 is dug d a recess 3 receiving

  the tongue 4 integral with the end piece 2.

  In the alternative embodiment shown in Figures 14 and 15, the tip 2 constituting the independent part of the spatula is itself made entirely of elastic material It is snapped onto the central tongue 4, by bosses 8 engaged in notches 6 formed in the lateral faces of the tongue 4, and it has, at the rear, a peripheral edge 13 of small thickness, which bears against the front end face of the ski 1 This border 13 plays the role of shock absorbing element, since it can then

  to crash a little to collect the energy of the shock.

  Figures 16 and 17 illustrate an alternative embodiment in which the central tongue 4 carries an upper plate 14, elastic material, which is housed in a recess 15 formed in the upper part of the tip 2 constituting the spatula The wafer 14 is fixed, at its lower part, to the tongue 4 by any appropriate means, for example by lower lugs through holes drilled in the tongue 4 and terminated by deformed heads 16 in the form of rivet heads The plate 14 rests, by its tapered front part, on a ramp 17 inclined upwards to the front, which is formed on the upper face of the tip 2 Therefore, if the tip 2 of the spatula is biased backwards in the case of a frontal impact, this tip 2 causes, by moving back somewhat with respect to the tongue 4, the lifting of the tapered front portion of the wafer 14, which then takes a curved shape upwards, as it is indicated in dashed lines in FIG. 16 This deformation of the wafer 14 makes it possible to collect the energy of the shock and this wafer resumes

  then its initial shape, because of its elasticity.

  Figures 18 and 19 illustrate alternative embodiments in which the elastic element forming

  shock absorber is constituted by a mechanical spring.

  In the case of Figure 18 the tip 2 is pushed forward by a leaf spring 18, forming a bending spring This leaf spring 18 is arched so as to have a convex shape forward, s' extend transversely and to bear, by its two ends, on the front front face of the ski 1 and, with its median portion convex forward, against the front end face 2 of the end piece 2 Therefore if the tip 2 of the spatula recoils under the effect of a frontal impact, it causes a crushing of the spring blade 18 which thus collects the energy of the shock The tip 2 can be held forward by any appropriate means, for example by means of a vertical finger 19 integral with the tongue 4 and engaged in

  a longitudinal slot 21 of the nozzle 2.

  According to an alternative embodiment, the elastic element forming a shock absorber may consist of at least one longitudinal compression spring. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 19, the tip 2 of the spatula is thus pushed forward. by two compression springs 22 extending longitudinally and engaged, at their ends, in recessed housing facing each other respectively in the front end face of the ski 1 and in the rear end face 2 of the tip

2 of the spatula.

  Figures 20 and 21 illustrate an alternative embodiment in which the spatula comprises an independent tip 23 which is articulated on the front of the ski 1, about a transverse axis 24 The tip 23 of the spatula is biased towards its position normal, in the extension of the front of the ski 1, by one or more springs such as torsion springs 25 In this case the energy of a frontal impact is absorbed by pivoting the tip 23 of the spatula in the counterclockwise about the axis 24, the spring or 25 then acting as elastic shock absorber element or the springs 25 ensure the return of the tip 23 of the spatula in its position normal, in the extension of ski 1,

after the shock.

  FIG. 22 represents the front of a ski whose spatula comprises a tip made of rigid material 26 of asymmetrical shape, in the case of a ski more particularly adapted to the practice of slalom. The tip 26 is connected to the front face. 1 of the ski 1 by means of an elastic element 27 which substantially has, in plan, a ll form of corner or sector of circle The top 27a of the elastic element 27 wedge is located in the plane of the outer song lb of ski 1 and at that vertex 27 a

  connects the convex outer edge 26 a of the tip 26.

  The elastic element 27 has, on the side opposite its top 27a, an edge 27b which ensures continuity between the inner edge 1c of the ski 1 and the concave inner edge 26b of

the tip 26.

  In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 23, the tip 26 of asymmetric shape is made of elastic material and is connected to the front end face 1a of the ski 1. This end piece 26 has, on the side of the inner edge 1c of the ski 1, a concave edge 26b and on its convex outer edge is attached a curved element 28, of impact-resistant hard material, which extends from the end of the tip 26, to the connection point between the front end wall the ski 1 and its outer edge lb.

Claims (21)

  1. Ski comprising, at the front, a spatula, characterized in that this spatula is constituted by a piece (2,23) independent of the ski (1) itself, mounted movable relative to the front of the ski (1 ), and by at least one elastic element (5,7,13,14,14,18,22,25), interposed between the independent moving part (2,23) and the front of the ski (1) well said.   2. Ski according to claim 1 characterized in that the independent part (2) of the spatula is constituted by a tip which is mounted longitudinally sliding on the front of the ski (1).   3. Ski according to claim 2 characterized in that the tip (2) (or the ski (1)) is hollowed with a blind recess (3) having a bottom (3 a) and which opens into the rear end face (2 a) of the tip (2) (or in the front front face (la) of the ski (1)), and in this recess (3) is engaged a central tongue (4) which is an integral part of the ski ( 1) (or the tip (2)) and which extends from the front end face (la) of the ski proper (1) (or the front end face (2 a)) of the tip (2)).   4. Ski according to claim 3 characterized in that the tongue (4) has a width or transverse dimension less than the width of the ski and its thickness is substantially equal to the vertical dimension of the recess (3) so that the tongue (4) nested closely in the recess (3).   5. Ski according to claim 4 characterized in that the end face (4 a) of the tongue (4) is located at a distance from the bottom (3 a) of the recess (3) so as to   leave a longitudinal clearance (a) between them.   6. Ski according to any one of claims 3   to 5 characterized in that, seen in plan, the recess (3) and the tongue (4) each have an isosceles trapezoidal shape and the inclined lateral faces (4b) of the trapezoidal tongue (4) have an angle d inclination between them which is greater than the relative inclination angle of the two inclined lateral faces (3b) of the recess trapezoidal (3).   7. Ski according to any one of claims 3   to 5 characterized in that the tip (2) is made of a hard material, resistant to impact and wear, and the shock absorbing member (5) is constituted by a ring of an elastic material, for example rubber, which surrounds the opening of the recess (3) into which the tongue (4).   8. Ski according to claim 7 characterized in that the tongue (4) has, in its two lateral faces, two opposite notches (6), formed at the place where the tongue (4) is connected to the front end face ( 1a) of the ski (1) (or at the rear end face (2a) of the end piece (2)) and the elastic ring (5) is engaged in the   two opposite notches (6) of the tongue (4).   Ski according to one of the claims 7   and 8 characterized in that the elastic ring (5) is extended rearwardly by an outer peripheral lip (5a) which cap, over a short distance, the faces of the ski M 1).   10. Ski according to any one of the claims   3 to 5 characterized in that the elastic element forming a shock absorber is constituted by a mass of elastic material (7) which fills the space delimited between the faces (3 a, 3 b) of the recess (3) and the faces (4a, 4b) of the tongue (4). 11. Ski according to claim 10 characterized in that bosses (8) are formed in the connection area of the side faces (3b) of the recess (3) and the rear end face (2 a) of the end-piece (2) and which project inwards, and these bosses (8) are respectively engaged in two notches (6) provided in   the lateral faces of the central tongue (4).   12. Ski according to any one of the claims   and 11 characterized in that the rear end face (2 a) of the tip (2) delimits, with the front end face (la) of the ski (1), a void space (9) which is surrounded by a peripheral lip (11), extending towards the rear, forming an integral part of the end piece (2) and which   cap the faces of the ski (1) on which it can slide.   Ski according to one of the claims   3 to 5 characterized in that the tip (2) constituting the independent piece is itself made entirely of elastic material, it is snapped onto the central tongue (4) by bosses (8) engaged in notches (6). ) formed in the lateral faces of the tongue (4), and it has, at the rear, a peripheral edge (13) of small thickness, which bears against the front face front (la) of the ski 1.   14. Ski according to any one of the claims   3 to 5 characterized in that the central tongue (4) carries an upper plate (14) of elastic material, which is housed in a recess (15) formed in the upper part of the tip (2) the plate (14). ) is fixed at its lower part to the tongue (4) and rests, by its tapered front part, on a ramp (17) inclined from bottom to top towards the front, which is formed on the upper face of the tip (2).   15. Ski according to any one of the claims   3 to 5 characterized in that the elastic element forming a shock absorber is constituted by a mechanical spring (18,22).   16. Ski according to claim 15 characterized in that the spring (18) is constituted by a bending blade arched so as to have a convex shape forward, to extend transversely and to bear, by its two ends , on the anterior frontal face (la) of the ski (1) and, by its convex median part towards the front, against the   posterior end face (2 a) of the tip (2).   Ski according to Claim 16, characterized in that the elastic element forming a shock absorber consists of at least one longitudinal compression spring. (22).   18. Ski according to claim 1 characterized in that the independent piece (23) of the spatula is constituted by a tip which is articulated on the front of the ski (1), about a transverse axis (24), being solicited by a   elastic return element (25).   19. Ski according to claim 1 characterized in that the independent piece (26) of the spatula is constituted   by a tip having an asymmetrical shape.   20. Ski according to claim 19 characterized in that the asymmetrical end piece (26), made of rigid material, is connected to the front end face (la) of the ski (1) via an elastic element (27). which has substantially, seen in plan, a form of corner or sector of circle. 21. Ski according to claim 19 characterized in that the asymmetrical tip (26), of elastic material, is connected to the front end face (la) of the ski (1) and has on its convex edge, which connects to the outer edge (1b) of the ski (1), an arcuate member (28) Hard shock resistant material.