FR2778340A1 - Fixing of snowshoe canvas - Google Patents

Abstract

The snowshoe (1) comprises a frame (2) made in part by a profiled tube portion (5) on which a portion of the canvas (3) is fixed. This portion constitutes the shoe head (4). The fixings are such that the canvas portion and/or the fixings are not placed in the external peripheral wall of the profiled portion. The fixing comprises a central base piece formed by an openwork plate extending between the side tubes.

Description

ATTACHMENT OF A SNOWSHOE CANVAS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME

MANUFACTURING.

  The present invention relates to a snowshoe and more particularly an improvement concerning the attachment of a fabric, partially constituting the sieve, to a tubular type frame. It also relates to an associated manufacturing method of the racket with

snow according to the invention.

  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 walkers or sportsmen who go for hikes and walks, or even competitions. But athletes, although practicing for their pleasure, are more and more demanding for the material they use, and it is true that the products currently sold do not give full

satisfaction.

  Many types of snowshoes are known, and in particular snowshoes originating in North America which most often consist of a tubular frame supporting a stretched fabric which constitutes the sieve. These snowshoes have many advantages and are generally relatively well suited to the snow conditions encountered in this region. However, it appears that these rackets have drawbacks linked to their solidity and their reliability, in particular as regards the attachment of the fabric to the tubular frame. Thus, these rackets where the fabric is fixed directly around the tube forming the frame, such as those described in US patents US 5,440,827 and US 5,517,772, present problems of rapid wear of the fabric at the places where it found attached to the tubular frame, wear on the underside which occurs during walking as well as wear on the upper part and on the outer portion of the fabric surrounding the tube which is caused by various shocks and in particular by assaults on the racket carried by the other foot. We also find identical problems when the fabric is not fixed directly to the tube but has fixing rings surrounding the

  tube as illustrated in American patent US 4,271,609.

  The present invention proposes to solve the drawbacks

  aforementioned using simple, reliable and easy to implement means.

  Its objective is to allow efficient fixing to the canvas on the tubular frame and to avoid premature wear of the canvas at

  places where it attaches to the frame in particular.

  Thus, the snowshoe according to the invention is of the type comprising a frame produced in part by a section portion, on which is fixed, by means of fixing means, a portion of canvas or the like such as a sheet or layer fine, constituting at least partially the sieve of the racket, and is characterized in that the fixing means are such that the portion of canvas and / or the fixing means are not

  arranged at the outer peripheral wall or the portion of the profile.

  According to an additional characteristic, the canvas portion is

  fixed to the internal peripheral wall of the section portion.

  According to other additional characteristics, the frame is formed by at least two portions of lateral profiles, on which is fixed, by means of fixing, a portion of fabric constituting at least partially the screen of the racket, while the external peripheral wall of the lateral profiles, located outside the screen with respect to the median longitudinal plane of the profile is left completely free at least in the region of the lateral profile portions, the fabric and / or the means of fixing the latter to the profile not being arranged or located on

said outer wall.

  Note that according to the preferred embodiment, the frame comprises at least two lateral profile portions, as well as a profile portion

  front and two rear profile portions, while the profile is a tube.

  According to an alternative embodiment of the snowshoe according to the invention, the external peripheral wall of the tubes situated outside the sieve with respect to the median longitudinal plane of the tube is left

  completely free on the entire frame of the racket.

  According to an additional characteristic of the snowshoe according to the invention, the latter is characterized in that the means for fixing the fabric to the tube comprise at least one additional attachment part, the fabric being fixed between the complementary part (s) and a portion of the inner peripheral wall of the tube. According to the preferred embodiment of the snowshoe according to the invention, the fixing means comprise a basic technical central part formed by an openwork plate extending between the

portions of side tubes.

  According to another characteristic of the snowshoe, the part

  basic technical center extends at least partly under the fabric.

  According to a complementary characteristic of the snowshoe according to the invention, the lateral edges of the basic technical central part have a profile complementary to that of the inner peripheral wall of the tube so as to be able to wedge the edge or the lateral extensions of the canvas against said peripheral wall

internal.

  According to an alternative embodiment of the snowshoe according to the invention, it comprises complementary locking means

  constituted by rivets intended to secure the base part to the tube.

  According to another alternative embodiment of the snowshoe according to the invention, this comprises additional locking means intended to secure the base part to the tube, said means being constituted by pins arranged on the base part and intended to cooperate with additional accommodation located in the

  inner peripheral wall of the tube.

  According to the preferred embodiment of the snowshoe, it comprises a binding provided with an articulated plate on which are arranged means for retaining the boot, said plate being articulated around a transverse axis on the central technical part of based. According to another characteristic of the snowshoe, it comprises means for positioning the fabric so that it matches the shape of the tip in the vertical longitudinal planes. According to the preferred embodiment of the snowshoe according to the invention, the means for positioning the fabric are constituted by two shaping lugs constituted by extensions of the

basic technical centerpiece.

  Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a snowshoe which comprises: - a preliminary step which consists in producing a basic technical central piece of rigid material, D a secondary step which consists in positioning around said basic part an open tubular frame, - a main step which consists in closing said frame around the basic technical central part so as to urge the two portions of lateral tubes of the frame against the basic part so as to

  wedge the canvas between the tube and the base part.

  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 the preferred embodiment and a

  variant of the snowshoe according to the invention.

  Figure 1 shows in perspective the snowshoe.

  Figure 2a illustrates a top view of the snowshoe provided with the fabric. Figure 2b illustrates a top view of the snowshoe without the canvas. Figure 3 shows in cross section along AA the racket

snow.

  Figure 4 illustrates in cross section a detail of the attachment

canvas on the tubular frame.

  Figure 5 shows in side view the snowshoe according to the invention.

  Figure 6 shows the canvas and its different fixing lugs.

  Figure 7 illustrates in a view similar to Figure 4 a

  alternative embodiment of the fixing of the canvas on a tubular frame.

  FIG. 8a illustrates a first alternative embodiment of the part

  basic technical center seen from above.

  Figure 8b illustrates in cross section, in a similar view

  in Figure 4, the fixing of the fabric according to this second variant.

  FIG. 9 illustrates in section in the plane of the tip the front zone of a third embodiment of the snowshoe and its

  additional front fixing part.

  Figures 10a, 10b, 10c are illustrations of other modes

of execution.

  The actual snowshoe, bearing the general reference (1), is constituted by a frame (2) delimiting a sieve (4) intended to receive the shoe of the user, said shoe being retained on the sieve by a fixing ( 20) which comprises in a manner known per se an articulated plate (21) on which are arranged rear retaining means (22) such as an interlocking wall and front retaining means (23) such as for example a stirrup such as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5. The screen (4) is at least partly produced by a fabric (3) whose edge (3a) is intended to be fixed to the frame (2) in several places using means fixing (MF), said frame being advantageously constituted by

a metal tube (5).

  According to one embodiment of the snowshoe (1) according to the invention and as shown in particular in Figures 2a and 2b, it has a longitudinal plane of symmetry (P), the tubular frame (2) thus comprising two portions of side tubes (8a, 8b) connected at the front (AV) by a portion of front tube (9) extending the side tubes and forming a spatula (11) advantageously raised, and connected at the rear (AR) by two rear tube portions (10a, 10b) extending the side tubes and joining at the rear, the ends of said rear tubes being fixed together by a tail end piece (12). The lateral tubes thus border a central zone of the screen intended to be occupied by the

user's shoe.

  According to the invention, the tubes forming, the tubular frame (2) have at least in the central zone an external peripheral wall (PPE) of the tubes (5) left completely free. That is to say that neither the fabric (3) nor the fixing means (MF) occupy the wall portion of the lateral tubes (8a, 8b) located towards the outside (EX) of the screen (4 ) relative to the median longitudinal plane (M) of said tubes. The fixing of the fabric (3) on the frame (2) is carried out by the edge (3a) of the latter in several places of the tubes (5) which form the frame (2). It is carried out in the central zone of the screen bordered by the lateral tube portions (8a, 8b) on portions of the internal peripheral wall (PPI) of the tubes (5), internal wall located towards the interior (INT) of the sieve with respect to

  median longitudinal plane (M) as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

  Note that according to the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1 to 6, the fabric is fixed in the manner described above only in the central area, that is to say on the side tube portions and is fixed conventionally on the front tube portion around it. It goes without saying that the fixing of the fabric on the other tubes and in particular on the front tube portion could also be carried out in a similar manner only on the internal peripheral wall of these as in the third embodiment described here.

  after and whose spatula is illustrated in figure 9.

  According to the preferred embodiment of the snowshoe (1) according to the invention, the fabric (3) is fixed at least partially on portions of the internal peripheral wall (PPI) by pinching or wedging between said wall and at at least one additional fixing part (6) which therefore partly constitutes the fixing means (MF) of the

  canvas on the tube as shown in Figure 3.

  According to the preferred embodiment of the snowshoe (1) according to the invention, the attachment means (MF) comprise a single complementary attachment piece allowing the attachment of the fabric (3) to the frame (2); said part advantageously constitutes a central portion of the screen (4) and is constituted by a portion of perforated plate (15) called basic technical central part which connects the two lateral tubes (8a, 8b) between them. This basic technical part is advantageously made of rigid material such as plastic, its lateral edges (15a, 15b) being intended to bear against the internal peripheral wall (PP) of the tubes (5) so as to pinch the canvas. (3) against the tubes (5), said fabric being stretched between the lateral tubes (8a,

  8b) above said basic technical part (15).

  Note that the width of the basic technical part (15) is chosen as a function of the distance between the lateral tubes (8a, 8b) of the frame (2) so that its edges (15a, 15b) are heavily stressed by support against the peripheral walls (PPI) of said tubes

  side to cause the canvas to jam.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, the fixing means (MF) may, in addition, comprise complementary locking means such as rivets (13) intended in particular to allow the aforementioned stressing of the part (s) (s) complementary fixing (s) (6, 15) and more precisely according to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 of its lateral edges (15a, 15b) against the internal peripheral wall (PPI) of the tubes (5), so as to obtaining the desired pinching of the canvas, said rivets also making it possible to lock the fixing of the canvas (3) to the

frame (2) by crossing it.

  Note that the basic technical central part (15) which constitutes at least in part the means for fixing the fabric (3) also makes it possible to carry the fixing (20). The binding is articulated on said central part (15) around a transverse axis (XX '), its plate (21) comprising at its front end two portions of axes intended to cooperate with two housings of lateral axes (60a, 60b) arranged to

  the front end of the basic central technical part (15).

  According to the preferred embodiment of the snowshoe, the basic technical piece (15) has at its lateral edges (15a, 15b) a semi-cylindrical profile open towards the outside (EXT) complementary to the profile of the tube (5 ), said complementary profile being intended to bear substantially against the entire internal peripheral wall (PPI) of the tube. It goes without saying that said lateral edges could have a slightly reduced symmetrical cylindrical profile.

  relative to the median horizontal plane (H) of the racket (1).

  According to the preferred embodiment of the snowshoe, the fabric (3) is fixed to the tubular frame (2) at the rear on the tail end and at the front in two distinct places of the front tube portion , while in the central area the fixing takes place in three places (14a, 14b, 14c) of each portion of lateral tube (8a, 8b) as shown in FIG. 2a. These different attachment points are advantageously arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal plane (P) of the racket. According to this embodiment, the fabric (3) has a shape such as that illustrated in FIG. 6, it is provided laterally with three fabric extensions (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, 23e, 23f) intended to allow attachment to the tube (5) by wedging, said extensions having a width of at least 15 mm in order to allow secure and effective fixing. Note also that in the front area or tip (11) of the snowshoe, the fabric (3) can be fixed by winding on the tube one or more fixing lugs (16a, 16b) thereof whose end is then riveted back to the edge (3a) of said fabric in a manner known per se. Note also that the canvas is fixed and stretched at the back of the snowshoe using a rivet (13)

  directly on the tail end (12).

  According to the preferred embodiment of the snowshoe (1) according to the invention, the latter comprises means for positioning the fabric (3) intended to allow the said fabric to conform to the shape of the spatula (11) of the frame (2) in the family of vertical longitudinal planes parallel to the reference plane (P). These positioning means are advantageously obtained by two shaping tabs (25a, 25b) extending the front end of the basic technical central part (15) and on which the fabric (3) is intended to be fixed by two rivets (26a,

  26b) as shown in Figures 2a and 2b.

  According to an alternative embodiment, not shown, the means for fixing the canvas consist of several complementary fixing parts such as a set of corners intended to be riveted against the internal peripheral wall of the tubes to wedge the canvas and the surface of which support intended to wedge the canvas is rounded, the screen can

  thus be formed entirely by the canvas.

  Furthermore, and as shown in one of the alternative embodiments of the preferred embodiment of the snowshoe, the lateral edges (15a, 15b) of the technical central part (15) where the equivalent parts can have a hollow profile or notch (30) on their lower edge at the attachment points (14a, 14b, 14c) of the fabric. These notches advantageously allow the fabric (3) and more particularly to lateral extensions (23a, 23b, 23c) to be positioned therein to return to the internal face of the edges

  side (15a, 15b) to be riveted to it as shown in Figure 7.

  Note that the rivets (13) therefore pass through the fabric twice (3) before engaging in the tube (5). Note also that the rivets (13)

  may be slightly tilted.

  According to a second variant of the preferred embodiment of the snowshoe according to the invention, the complementary locking means of the fabric on the tube are constituted by rods (50a, b, 50c, 50d, 50e, 50f) or pins locking, intended to cooperate with complementary housings (51) located in the inner peripheral wall of the tube as shown in Figures 8a and 8b, said rods can either pass through the fabric (3) or block it firmly by wedging it so sufficiently strong inside the additional housing. According to a third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the snowshoe (1) comprises several complementary fixing parts, a basic technical central part (15) such as that previously described on the one hand as well as a front fixing part. (6) on the other hand, said front part being intended to allow the fixing of the fabric (3) by its fixing lugs (16a, 16b) on the front tube portion (9) in the front part or spatula (11 ) of the snowshoe (1) in a similar manner, that is to say leaving the external peripheral wall of said front tube free. Thus according to this third embodiment, the front part is riveted on the internal peripheral wall of the front tube portion (9). Note that the canvas being fixed at the rear directly on a tail end piece (12), the entire external peripheral wall of the different tube portions constituting the frame (2) is left free, in the central area but also in the front area and the area

  rear of the racket, that is to say for the entire tubular frame.

  Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a snowshoe, said method comprises a preliminary step which consists in producing a basic technical central part (15) in rigid material, said part advantageously being able to be made in material plastic by an injection type process in a manner known per se. It then comprises a secondary step which consists in positioning around said base part (15) an open tubular frame (2), said opening advantageously being arranged at its rear end and being formed by the ends of the rear tube portions (10a, 10b) of the frame left free. Said manufacturing process comprises a main step which consists in closing said frame (2) around the basic technical central part (15) so as to urge the two portions of lateral tubes (8a, 8b) of the frame (2) against said basic part, said stress making it possible to wedge

  advantageously the fabric (3) between the tube (5) and the base part (15).

  Note that according to the second embodiment of the snowshoe according to the invention, the main step consists of fixing the rear ends together of the rear tube portions (10a, 10b) in the tail end (12) , which makes it possible to urge the portions of lateral tubes (8a, 8b) towards each other in order to make the pins (50a, 50b, 50c, 50d, 50e, 50f) cooperate with the base part (15) in the complementary housings (51) of the tube (5) and thereby obtain the fixing of the

canvas (3).

  It goes without saying that the fabric (3) could comprise a central hole (300) arranged in the axis at the level of the user's shoe. The peripheral frame (2) given by way of example, is produced by a profile, such as a closed tube, but it could obviously be otherwise. Thus, the frame (2) can be produced by any other type of

  profile, such as those illustrated in Figures 10a, 10b, 10c.

  The peripheral frame (2) is, in the preferred embodiment, in one piece and produced by a conforming continuous tube, but it would not depart from the scope of the invention, if it were produced in several pieces or not

  included only one or two profile portions.

  Thanks to the previous description, the canvas (3) is

  retained in the frame by a technical part (15), such as the central part (15) made for example of plastic or any other material. 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 (16)

  1. Snowshoe (1) of the type comprising a frame (2) produced in part by a section portion (8a, 8b), on which is fixed, by means of fixing means (MF), a portion of fabric ( 3) constituting at least partially the screen (4) of the racket (1), characterized in that the fixing means (MF) are such that the portion of canvas (3) and / or the fixing means (MF) are not arranged at the peripheral wall   external (PPE) or the section of the profile.   2. Snowshoe (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fabric portion (3) is fixed to the internal peripheral wall   (PPI) of the section portion (8a, 8b).   3. Snowshoe (1) according to any one of claims   previous, characterized in that the frame (2) is formed by at least two portions of lateral profiles, on which is fixed, by means of fixing means (MF), a portion of fabric (3) constituting at least partially the screen (4) of the racket (1), while the external peripheral wall (PPE) of the lateral profiles, located outside the screen relative to the longitudinal median plane (M) of the profile is left completely free at least in the area of the side profile portions (8a, 8b), the fabric (3) and / or the means of attachment (MF) thereof to the profile (8a, 8b) not being   not arranged or located on said outer wall (PPE).   4. Snowshoe (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the frame (2) comprises at least two portions of lateral profile (8a, 8b), as well as a portion of front profile (9) and two portions of rear section (10a, 10b).   5. Snowshoe (1) according to any one of claims   previous, characterized in that the profile is a tube (5).   6. Snowshoe according to claim 5, characterized in that the external peripheral wall (PPE) of the tubes (5) located outside the sieve relative to the median longitudinal plane (M) of the tube is left   completely free over the entire frame (2) of the racket.   7. Snowshoe (1) according to claims 5 or 6,   characterized in that the fixing means (MF) of the fabric (3) on the tube (5) comprise at least one complementary fixing part (6,), the fabric (3) being fixed between the part (s) ( s) complementary and   a portion of the internal peripheral wall (PPI) of the tube (5).   8. Snowshoe (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the fixing means (MF) comprise a basic technical central part (15) formed by an openwork plate extending between   the portions of lateral tubes (8a, 8b).   9. Snowshoe (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the basic technical central part (15) extends at least in part under the canvas (3).   10. Snowshoe (1) according to claims 8 or 9,   characterized in that the lateral edges (15a, 15b) of the basic technical central part (15) have a profile complementary to that of the internal peripheral wall (PPI) of the tube (5) so as to be able to wedge the edge (3a ) or the lateral extensions (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d,   23e, 23f) of the fabric (3) against said internal peripheral wall.   11. Snowshoe (1) according to any one of   Claims 4 to 6 characterized in that it comprises means for   complementary locking constituted by rivets (13) intended to   secure the base part (15) to the tube (5).   12. Snowshoe (1) according to any one of   Claims 8 to 10, characterized in that it includes means for   complementary locking intended to secure the base part (15) to the tube (5) constituted by pins (50) arranged on the base part (15) and intended to cooperate with complementary housings (51)   located in the inner peripheral wall of the tube (5).   13. Snowshoe according to any one of claims 7   12 characterized in that it comprises a fixing (20) provided with an articulated plate (21) on which are arranged means for retaining the boot, said plate (21) being articulated around a transverse axis   (XX ') on the basic technical central part (15).   14. Snowshoe (1) according to any one of   previous claims characterized in that it comprises   means for positioning the fabric (3) so that it matches the shape of the spatula (11) of the frame (2) in the planes vertical longitudinal.   15. Snowshoe (1) according to claims 8 and 14   characterized in that the means for positioning the fabric (3) consist of two shaping lugs (25a, 25b) constituted by   extensions of the basic technical central part (15).   16. A method of manufacturing a snowshoe (1) according to claim 3 characterized in that it comprises: - a preliminary step which consists in producing a central technical core part (15) in rigid material, - a step secondary which consists in positioning around said base part an open tubular frame (2) - a main step which consists in closing said frame (2) around the basic technical central part (15) so as to urge the two portions of lateral tubes (8a, 8b) of the frame (2) against the base part and thus wedging the fabric (3) between the tube (5) and the base part (15).