FR2731361A1 - IMPROVEMENT FOR SNOWSHOE SIEVES - Google Patents

Abstract

The snow shoe has a peripheral wall and walls which define a frame that rests on the snow. Its upper surface has a central longitudinal edge (18) with inclined lateral surfaces (21a,21b) that converge towards the top and the vertical plane of symmetry (P). The inclined surfaces have transversal walls (22a,22b) which extend upwards and extend from a central flat surface (20). They are perpendicular to the plane of symmetry. The boot, or its bindings, rests on the upper surface of the transversal walls.

Description

IMPROVEMENT FOR SNOWSHOE SIEVES

  The present invention relates to a snowshoe and more particularly an improvement for its central area which improves performance and comfort. Snowshoes have been known for many years because they have been used for centuries by the Scandinavian populations to travel on snow. Until today, snowshoes were used for utility or military purposes, to allow populations and alpine troops to move on

  the snow for their daily necessities.

  Currently, snowshoes are rather used by sportsmen who go for hikes and walks, or even competitions. But athletes, although practicing for their pleasure, are more and more demanding for the equipment they use, and it is true that

  the products currently sold are not entirely satisfactory.

  Indeed, during its progression, at each of its steps, the user lifts his heel by pivoting the shoe around a transverse axis and the space thus freed under the shoe is quickly filled with snow which is thus trapped and constantly compacted by the perpetual movements of the foot which, after rising, is brought back on the racket. It follows that an accumulation of packed snow ends up no longer allowing the heel of the user to be brought back correctly on the racket. It is said that the snow "boots", and said user must constantly stop to remove this packed snow which would even end up causing the snowshoe or the binding to break. So we understand why it is necessary

  to overcome this drawback and this is the object of the present invention.

  The present invention provides a new racket, the central part o where the shoe of the user has a central support ridge allowing the snow to be discharged laterally while

  providing the shoe with good support on the racket.

  Thus according to the invention, the snowshoe, which has the shape of a plate comprising a set of walls constituting the sieve, intended to rest on the snow and to support the shoe of the user, is characterized in that that the sieve comprises in the central zone occupied by the shoe a longitudinal edge which comprises at least one inclined lateral surface converging upwards with the plane of general symmetry. According to an additional characteristic, the inclined surface

  includes a succession of upwardly extending projections.

  In a preferred arrangement, the projections are formed by these transverse walls, the upper edge of which serves as a support for the shoe or the fixing of the shoe, said transverse walls possibly being perpendicular to the plane of general symmetry, or at an angle

compared to this plan.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the longitudinal central edge comprises a horizontal central support surface extended laterally on either side by a longitudinal inclined surface, namely, a left inclined surface and a right inclined surface upwards to form an angle which can be between 10 and 170, while each of said lateral inclined surfaces comprises

a succession of projections.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge

  of the description which will follow with regard to the appended drawings which are not

  given only by way of nonlimiting examples.

  Figures 1 to 9 illustrate a first given embodiment

for exemple.

  Figures 1 to 2 are illustrations showing the racket according to

  the first embodiment with a fixing.

  Figure 1 is a top view, but without the shoe.

  Figure 2 is a side view, the shoe being shown in

fine mixed lines.

  Figures 3 and 4 are views similar to Figures 1 and 2 but

  without fixing and on another scale.

  Figure 5 is a bottom view of Figure 3.

  FIG. 6 is a view in longitudinal section along VI-VI of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a view in transverse section along VII-VII of FIG. 5 showing more particularly the wall of the main frame and

  the other central support with its two inclined side surfaces.

  Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view in section

transverse of the central edge.

  Figure 9 is a partial perspective view of the central edge.

  Figures 10 and 11 are views similar to Figure 9, but

  showing two variants of execution.

  Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing another

mode of execution.

  Figures 13 and 14 illustrate other alternative embodiments

  possible in views similar to Figure 9.

  Figures 15 and 16 are views similar to Figure 8 showing

two other variant embodiments.

  The racket designated under the general reference (1) is in the form of an openwork plate of vertical plane of general symmetry (P) fixed under the shoe and which consists of a main frame (2) consisting of a wall peripheral (3) delimiting an interior zone or sieve (4), comprising a set of internal walls supporting the

  binding (5) for retaining the shoe (6) of the user.

  Said sieve (4) with its set of internal walls forms a general lower surface for bearing on the snow allowing the user not to sink too far into the snow, thanks to the relatively large bearing surface. Note that the binding (5) for retaining the shoe (6) is, according to the illustration given by way of example, articulated with respect to the screen (4) of the racket itself, along an axis

  transverse (XX ') to be able to be pivoted vertically according to (F1, F2).

  Advantageously, said binding bearing the general reference (5) is constituted by an articulated plate (9) comprising retaining means for the shoe, namely front means (10) and rear means (11). Thus, the front end (12) of the shoe is, for example, retained by a front stirrup (13), while its rear end (14) is, thanks to a pivoting rear stirrup (15) comprising a lever (16) restraint. It goes without saying that the front and rear retaining means could be reversed, namely that the front stirrup (13) could be put in the rear and the rear stirrup (15) could be put in the front . The plate (9) is advantageously rigid and extends longitudinally, comprising a

  upper bearing surface (17) for supporting the sole of the shoe.

  Of course, the racket of the invention can be equipped with any other type of shoe fixing device such as, for example, that

  described in the French patent application No. 94 05919 of the applicant.

  The perforated plate has a generally elongated shape, the front of which is advantageously raised and of substantially pointed shape to constitute the front tip (8), while its central zone (60) located under the skier's shoe (6) and therefore plate (9), in the case of a fixing as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, comprises a longitudinal edge (18) extending, for example, from the axis (XX ') to the heel (19 ) of the racket. Said longitudinal edge (18) advantageously serves as a support for the boot (6) or for the plate (9) in the case of a fixing of the type of the plate (9). Let us add that the longitudinal edge (18) comprises a horizontal central bearing surface (20) which, according to the invention, is extended laterally on either side by an inclined longitudinal lateral surface (21a, 21b), namely , a left inclined surface (21a) and a right inclined surface (21b). Note that the two inclined surfaces (21a, 21b) converge upwards

  to form an angle ((x) which can be between 10 and 170.

  According to a preferred embodiment as shown in Figures 1 to 8 each of the inclined side surfaces (21a, 21b) comprises a succession of projections respectively (22a, 22b). Each of the projections is constituted by a transverse wall extending upwards so that its upper edge (220) is in the same plane as the plane of the central bearing surface (20). Each of the projecting transverse walls extends perpendicular to the inclined surface, the left inclined surface (21a) comprising a succession of transverse left protruding walls (22a) while the right inclined surface (21b) comprises a succession of transverse transverse walls right projection (22b). Note that the successive projecting walls advantageously extend at an angle to the general plane of symmetry (P). Indeed, the projecting walls are at an angle, so that the left walls (22a) are convergent with the straight walls (22b), so as to converge forward (AV). It goes without saying that said walls (22a, 22b) could also converge towards

rear (AR).

  It would not, of course, depart from the scope of the invention if the transverse walls (22a, 22b) were perpendicular to the plane P, as

  this is illustrated in Figures 10 and 11.

  Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 showing an alternative embodiment in which the longitudinal central edge (18) does not include a central horizontal surface but only two

  inclined side surfaces converging upwards.

  Note that the width (L2) of the central edge is advantageously constant and substantially equal to the width of the plate (9) and / or of the sole (60) of the shoe (6), as appears more particularly in the figure 8, but of course it could be otherwise. Thus, the width (L2) of the edge can be variable to vary, for example, gradually by decreasing towards the rear. Let us also add that the width (L1) of the central bearing surface (20) can be either

constant be variable.

  In the illustrations which have been given, the two inclined surfaces (21a, 21b) are arranged symmetrically, but it could be otherwise without departing from the scope of the invention and in particular

  as shown in Figure 13.

  Figures 13 and 14 are views illustrating two possible alternative embodiments according to which the edge (18) comprises only a single inclined lateral surface converging with the plane of symmetry

general (P).

  Let us add that the inclined lateral surfaces which are in the embodiments constituted by planar surfaces, could equally well be constituted by curved, convex or concave surfaces, as illustrated in FIGS. 15 (convex surfaces) and 16 (concave surfaces) ). Note also that the plane of the central edge extends

  advantageously parallel to the general plane of symmetry (P).

  However, it could be otherwise and the edge could very well be placed at an angle to the plane (P). Furthermore, the lateral surface (s) may be integral with the attached lateral parts

  on the racket, without departing from the scope of the invention.

  Note also that the edge may be integral with the screen and / or integral with the frame. Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown by way of examples, but it includes

  also all technical equivalents and their combinations.

Claims (10)

  1. Snowshoe in the form of a plate comprising a set of walls constituting the sieve, intended to rest on the snow and to support the shoe (6) of the user, characterized in that it comprises in the central zone occupied by the shoe a longitudinal edge (18) which comprises at least one inclined lateral surface (21a or 21b) converging upwards with the vertical plane of symmetry general (P).   2. Snowshoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the inclined surface (21a, 21b) comprises a succession of projections   (22a, 22b) extending upwards.   3. Snowshoe according to claim 2, characterized in that   that the projections are formed by these transverse walls.   4. Snowshoe according to claim 3, characterized in that the upper edge (220) of at least one projection (22a, 22b) serves   support for the shoe (6) or the fixing (5) of the shoe.   5. Snowshoe according to any one of claims 3   or 4, characterized in that the transverse walls are perpendicular   at the plane of general symmetry (P).   6. Snowshoe according to any one of claims 3   or 4, characterized in that the transverse walls are oblique through   relation to the general plane of symmetry (P).   7. Snowshoe according to any one of claims   previous, characterized in that the longitudinal central edge (18) comprises a horizontal central support surface (20) extended laterally on either side by a longitudinal inclined surface (21a, 21b), namely, an inclined surface left (21a) and a right inclined surface (21lb) upwards to form an angle (o) which can be between 10 and 170.   8. Snowshoe according to claim 7, characterized in that each of the lateral inclined surfaces (21a, 21b) comprises a succession of projections (22a, 22b).   9. Snowshoe according to any one of claims   previous, characterized in that the inclined surface (s)   lateral (s) (21a, 21b) is (are) a flat surface (s).   10. Snowshoe according to any one of claims 1   to 8, characterized in that the lateral inclined surface (s) (21a,   21b) is (are) a curved surface (s).