FR2706780A1 - Dual running sole, shock-absorbing ski - Google Patents

Abstract

Dual running sole ski device for reducing sliding and stabilising the user. The invention relates to a device making it possible to ski in complete freedom without risking an unexpected fall and also makes it possible to save one's strength. It consists of a dual structure (1), (2) which has a dual running sole (3) and (4) which overhangs to the rear by means of a set of integrated wedges (5) forming a pivot (7) and placed under the bindings (6). When the user leans backwards, the lever (2) exerts antagonistic forces on the lower running sole (1) on either side of the pivot (7) in order to produce a lightening of the tip on the one hand and a pressing-down force on the rear, i.e. a simultaneous blend of sliding and braking. The device according to the invention is intended particularly for enhancing sliding in its purely sports and safety-conscious aspect.

Description

DOUBLE SOLE SHOCK ABSORBER SKIS
The present invention relates to a device for stabilizing a mobile moving by sliding on the ice (air or water) to allow the trajectory of this mobile to be preserved without altering its energy characteristics or disturbing the user.

 Maintaining a trajectory on a bumpy track (or on rough seas) is traditionally done by reducing its speed, using the edges and using the flexibility of a sole for skiing (or the flexibility of a boat at sea ), which could tire or cause the user to fall. Airliners can also reduce their speed when crossing disturbed fields, which does not prevent them from experiencing certain discomforts. Current skis have fixing plates improving the edge grip under the skier, some boats have lifting fins called "foils", the shape of aircraft wings vary according to the speed announced, but not eliminating the risks that of failing in the spoltive performance, by losing the energy saving prescribed to maintain a trajectory whatever the speed, by inversion of the inertial vectors.

 The device according to the invention overcomes this drawback. n indeed has, according to a first characteristic for skiing, a double sole maintained in height according to a lever in the form of an inclined plane, by a set of bevelled wedges. The outer edge of these wedges, bearing on the lower plane, forms a pivot. Thus, when the user tilts his weight on the back of the skis, the pressure exerted on the point of application of the lever induces lightening of the entire front of the ski to facilitate gliding, and stabilize it around his shock absorber pivot (skis regulating snowboarding).

According to particular embodiments:
- the lever (or upper plane) will be more or less elongated compared to the
basic skiing; the same for the height (protrusion and height of the
overhang vary by model). The stabilizing lever arm can
fully integrate into the double structure, blending with the spatula
(monocoque structure).

it can be provided foldable (or removable) and variable geometry (support
reinforced, anti-return spring effect).

it participates in sliding (stabilizing anti-peeling support).

- it is balanced at the front of the axis of the binding and no longer at its center
(middle of the boot) for ski touring.

- it can take an aerodynamic shape on the track (the lower sole
absorbs jolts and is shaped as a point).

- it can be used as a reminder (toggle limiter at change of slope or
in bumps).

 - it can be used as a stop (suspension limiter).

- the wedges will be longitudinal, split (to ensure their flexibility) and
positioned under the upper plane.

- their length can exceed the length of the fixings depending on the result
desired (more or less hard suspension).

- the wedges can be transverse, rubberized and of a variable height
(short skis, highly prancing).

- the bottom sole can be truncated (to four fifths of its
usual length).

- it can be cut out (in an arc, in a U shape, or in double
claw).

- the cut-out heel can receive lateral protection (in the form of
edges, bevelled or spatulated).

using a higher plane with variable geometry can facilitate adoption
of articulated fasteners under the shoe (or crampons) with stop
retractable.

- light and integrated fasteners to the double structure can be provided
knowing that they will be little used (compared to skis
traditional).

- the shape of the bottom sole can be widened under the shoe (for
facilitate support in soft snow).

- their fields can be truncated at the back of the shoe and therefore
wedges (to make them more aggressive in hard snow) and thus catch up
narrower profile and slightly at the tip of the heel.

- the spatula can be narrower and less raised (almost flat) and adopt
a slight arrow-shaped cutout.

- the heel of the soles (high and low) can have the usual shape,
slightly spatulate.

- the fields are more inclined at the front than under the skier. They are
particularly curved and protruding in the case of a versatile ski (water and
snow).

- the widened sole may have slightly chamfered edges to avoid
irregular and untimely use of edges (water, soft snow).

- the double structure can be light (low stress, easy to
maneuver) using light and efficient materials.

- the knives can be placed behind the wedges (retractable or fixed
after nesting).

 The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 shows, seen from the side, the device according to Invention (the form of
the bottom sole is similar to the conventional standards of piste skiing).

Figure 2 shows a side view of a variant of this device (due to the
truncated lower sole, it balances differently).

FIG. 3 represents, seen from above, the projected shape of the enlarged sole,
assumed to be perfectly suited to surfing.

 Figure 4 shows, side view, another variant of the device: a short ski, foldable and removable, very easy to pilot, safe for beginners, and particularly suitable for bumpy fields and steep slopes (slope).

Figures 5 and 6 represent a variable geometry model from the hiking device:
- Figure 5: the ski in the descent position (the binding is low and the sole
higher in height).

- Figure 6: the ski in the mounted position (the binding, in height, is articulated under the
shoe and the upper sole overlaps the lower sole).

 With reference to these drawings, the biplane (1) and (2) device comprises an overhanging sole (4) external to a lower sole (3) and connected in rear overhang to the latter by a set of two bevelled wedges (5 ) incompressible but split at regular intervals to make them flexible. The upper plate (2), inclined towards the front of the ski, once provided with the bindings (6) and cleats (5) is positioned in balance in the middle of the boot (M) for ski racing (Figure 1) where at the front of the articulated binding for ski touring (Figures 2-65-6). The upper plane (2) acts as a lever arm, on the part of the lower sole (3) of the plane (1) located at the rear end of the wedges (5) whose edge (7) serves as an application point of the lever (2), forming a damping pivot for the skier leaning back. The front part of the ski is lightened in favor of sliding with rear suspension, insofar as the spatulated lower sole (8) offers the necessary flexibility.

 In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the sole (3) is made more rigid and therefore more aggressive by replacing its spatulated heel (see 8 in FIG. 1) by a cut in the form of a lateral inclined field (8) whose edge is cut (14) according to a U (or double claw). It is this ridge which will be considered as the second pivot and on which the skier will base the skier modulating induced braking and surfing effect. A new balance then occurs much more stable and acceptable in the permanent imbalance that constitutes its moving mass: see Figure 3 for the cutouts of the sole widened at the base of the skier and presenting in (8) - (9) and (10 ) effective side edges for hooking in hard snow. The longitudinal edges (fig 7A and 7B) are slightly raised for better penetration into the aqueous medium (slightly chamfered sole on the edges (16) which serves as a lateral relief curved at an angle to be specified (of the order of 2 at 5 degrees)). Likewise, the fields (17) are inclined at 10 inwards in order to improve the edge grip. The bevelled edges (26) or rounded edges (27) on the top form an almost right angle with the chamfer of the sole.

They are set back (fig 7A) or projecting (fig 7B) relative to the respectively rounded or inclined profile of the structure. This double structure essentially consists of a flattened tube at its end on which are grafted several elements such as soles, edges, wedges, movable plates, fixings etc ... The upper element of the movable structure can be articulated on its support tube without using shims thanks to a positioning by lateral axis (fig 5 (22)). Similarly, the fasteners are articulated in (21). Finally the spatula (10) has a flat, fine and integrated shape.

 The models shown in Figures (2) and (3) are designed to receive a pair of knives (11), to facilitate walking on steep or frozen terrain, at the back of the shoe (12), resting on the wedges (5) and under the upper plane (2).

A system of clips, easy to use, completes the installation (retractable).

 According to a variant illustrated in Figure (4), the inclined plane (2) can be short, located very high (10 cm) and very behind the lift plane (1). This produces a particularly nose-up carrier ski that is very easy to handle in complete safety. The plate (removable or foldable) is suspended using rubberized shims (5), screwed across the ski (fig 4).

 By way of nonlimiting example, by projection into the future, the ski resulting from this research will have a double tubular structure (1) and (2) fig 5 light, monocoque preferably with slightly marked tips (10). The flexible and scratch-resistant hydrophobic sole made of electrostatically stable composite materials and the recipe for which is not described here, is flush with the edge, itself designed in composite materials based on resin combined with powdered ceramic. The whole is connected to the structure using a layer of resin, reinforced with carbon fibers and a layer of reinforced polymers (24) ensuring resistance and flexibility.

 The upper casing can be hinged (22) so as to allow better support on fresh snow when hiking, an anti-recoil effect (23) (convex profile in the shape of a circumflex accent), doubled with a spring effect (external supports (9)), precise and regular anchoring thanks to the integration of knives (11) in the mobile structure (2), a rear release fastening (20) articulated under the shoe (21) for less fatigue and the possibility of skiing crampons on the feet in safer and lighter bindings. In the case of heaving (opening triggered by the heel), the articulated stop accompanies the movement of the shoe before releasing it. The ski is balanced in (19) under the binding (18), that is to say in front of its axis (21), thus reinforcing the pendulum effect in order to facilitate conversions.

 According to a variant not illustrated, the soles (3) and (4) can be curved according to the technical qualities and the molding. Provide a material compatible with the wearing of crampons.

 By way of nonlimiting example, it can be estimated that the ski + bindings assembly should not exceed a weight of 3.5 kg for a width of 10 cm and an average length of 1 meter 80. A template of 2 meters 25 is more interesting on the track for speed.

 The device according to the invention is particularly intended for the practice of sliding sports (downhill skiing, water skiing, speed skiing, downhill skiing, mogul skiing, ski touring) as well as various mobiles using sliding ( competition sleds, polar sleds, lift boats of the "off shore" type, cars, large aircraft, space shuttles, etc.).

Claims (6)

 1, Sliding damping device for stabilizing without loss of energy an object moving in a hostile and agitated environment, in this case skis, characterized in that it comprises a two-level structure (1) and (2), having respectively two flexible soles (3) and (4) overhanging one with respect to the other, separated by means of a set of wedges in points (5) flexible but incompressible, serving as a point of application (7) to the lever formed by the X or Y branches of the double structure, which captures the moments of inertia which tend to brake or tire the user, to transform wild gliding into domestic gliding known as surfing.  2 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that an arm of the lever of the double structure is modified to stiffen it and form a second pivot, shortened or truncated lower sole (8).  3 / Device according to claim 1 and 2 characterized in that a beveled and sharp cutting (14) tends to reverse the inertial vector inducing the rocking effect and stabilize the user by optimizing for a time to be defined as it either voluntary or automatic, the opposite braking vector.  4 / Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivots (7) and (8) act in concert to modulate the seat therefore the distribution of the masses and induce surfing and braking effect, liveliness and control.  5 / Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end (9) of the upper plane (2) participates in the sliding by serving as a drift and a stop for the suspension (3).  6 / Device according to claims (4) and (5) characterized in that the maneuverability of the ski when cornering, its possibility of turning by pivoting or tilting, of braking in direct track on steep slopes, its lift in fresh snow depends in a nonlimiting manner of its rib lines, namely: the enlarged shape of the sole (3), its cutouts (10), (13), (14), (15), its chamfers (8), (16) , (17), its flattened tip (10), the length of the wedge (5), its height, its shape, its advanced position, its composition and its ability to transmit pressure, the rear position in a false balance high sole (4), balancing of the entire double structure, including fasteners, the inflected shape of its soles.  O Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper plane (2) carrying the fasteners (6), knives (11) and a high spatulated sole is articulated in (22). The extreme positions are the upper position for sliding and the lower position for the ascent (to avoid sinking the career of the lower plane in soft snow, for example).  (E) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the raised fixing (18), is articulated (21) under the front of the shoe (12), which saves the bending effort of the calf and allows to use advantageously, according to circumstances, track shoes and crampons, thus avoiding to carry them on a backpack.  () Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the articulated fixing in (21) makes it possible to balance the ski on the climb without knowing how to move the boot back (use of a stirrup). The ski switches itself towards the horizontal equilibrium position because the pivot (21) is located back from the center of gravity of the ski.