GB2203654A - Artificial ski-slopes - Google Patents

Abstract

Sections of artificial ski-slope, known as "snakes", S are held together by spring clips 1. Each clip 1 may be located at an associated peak/trough pairing of two adjacent snakes S and may by means of two pairs of inner and outer portions 1b, 1c provide a grip across the combined width of the snakes S as well as gripping each snake individually. In an alternative embodiment, each clip comprises two separate but interlocking parts (101, 102, Fig. 5). This allows the clip to act also as a hinge, facilitating the connection of offset snakes and rolling-up of the slope. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL SKI-SLOPES This invention relates to improvements in or relating to artificial ski-slopes and more particularly to a ski-slope "snake" assembly, a method of making same, and a retention device for use in the assembly.

Artificial ski-slopes are constructed from an arrangement of undulating, curved, metal carriers which carry synthetic bristles and these are known in the art as "snakes". The snakes are arranged side by side and the synthetic bristles co-operate with one another to provide an upper surface configuration suitable for ski-ing, with the peaks of one snake being retained to the troughs of the immediately preceding snake thereby defining apertures in the surface. Such construction allows a seemingly efficient usage of materials and should keep the ski-slope surface relatively free from debris which may pass through the apertures.Nevertheless, the assembly of the snakes to one another may have inherent disadvantages since the peaks are retained to the troughs in a rather crude, relatively time consuming and "rough and ready" fashion merely by wrapping wire around the carriers, which wire has to pass inbetween the bristles before being twisted together. Additionally, this method of retaining snakes to one another may also tend to be disadvantageous because over a period of time sections of the snakes may possibly work loose from one another from the continual stress and strain placed on the snakes and the wire.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a ski-slope "snake assembly", method of making same and retention device for use in the assembly, all of which are improved in at least some respect and which may at least alleviate one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a ski-slope snake assembly comprising a plurality of snakes retained to one another by a plurality of spring clips.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a method of making a ski-slope snake assembly comprising retaining a plurality of snakes to one another by using a plurality of spring clips.

Usually, each clip is located at an associated peak/trough pairing of two adjacent snakes and usually a single clip will be located at every peak/trough pairing.

In order to provide a secure retention of the snakes to one another, most preferably, each clip holds each associated snake individually as well as pulling the associated snakes together.

In one embodiment of the assembly each clip may comprise a common base part which extends all the way across a combined carrier width of the peak/trough pairing and outer upstanding wall portions on the clip may be provided which embrace said combined carrier width and biasingly retain the associated adjacent snakes to one another.

Additionally, inner, upstanding wall portions may be provided on the clip, each of which, together with an associated one of the outer wall portions, embrace the carrier width of an associated one of the snakes only. Thus a three-fold retaining action is provided by a grip on each snake and a grip across the peak/trough combination pulling the snakes together.

The three-fold retaining action of each clip may be provided along the snake length by a grip on a snake, followed by a common grip across the two snakes pulling them together followed by a grip on the second snake. The upstanding portions may be generally tapered to suit the overall carrier cross section of the snakes. There will usually be a common overlap between the two outer wall portions as well as usually a common overlap between each associated outer and inner wall portion.

Preferably, tabs are provided on the clip which preferably engage over associated rims on the snakes so that the clip is very securely located in position.

In an alternative embodiment, outer, curved, upstanding wall portions are provided on each clip and two spaced curved, inner wall portions may be associated with each outer wall portion to grip an associated one of the snakes at spaced locations along the length thereof. The outer wall portions embrace the combined carrier width to provide a central holding force across the combined width with a holding force on each snake being provided individually at each end of the clip.

Other alternative configurations for the clip may be possible and other advantageous features thereof may be gathered from the following description and drawings.

Still further according to the present invention there is provided a retention device for use in a ski-slope snake assembly which device is in the form of a spring clip, preferably being designed to hold two adjacent snakes individually while pulling the snakes together, and, preferably, having a common base part to extend across the combined carrier width of a ski-slope snake peak/trough pairing and, preferably, having outer upstanding wall portions to embrace said width biasingly retaining the associated snakes to one another. The clip may be provided with any of the features as herein described or as shown in the drawings.

Still further according to the present invention there is provided a ski-slope snake assembly comprising a plurality of snakes retained to one another by means, for example spring clips, which holds two adjacent snakes individually while pulling these snakes together.

Embodiments of an artificial ski-slope "snake" assembly, methods of making same and of a retention device for use in the assembly, all in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of part of the snake assembly and retention device; FIGURE 2 shows an inverse plan view of a larger part of the assembly; FIGURE 3 shows in a much simplified fashion a much larger part of the assembly, and FIGURE 4 shows a perspective of an alternative retention device.

FIGURES 5 to 7 show views of a further alternative retention device (FIGURE 6 shows a side view of one half of the device).

FIGURE 1 shows a small part or section of an artificial ski-slope "snake" assembly. FIGURE 2 shows a simplified inverse plan view of the part assembly but with a slightly extended snake length, and FIGURE 3 shows diagrammatically a much larger part of the snake assembly in order to illustrate the pattern of assembled snake lengths.

Referring to FIGURES 1 to 3, the snakes S are arranged side by side and undulate in a regular fashion defining peaks and troughs and peaks of one snake are arranged adjacent to the troughs of a neighbouring snake in a manner which should be evident from the drawings.

The snakes S are retained to one another by retaining means in the form of a plurality of metal spring clips 1 (only one spring clip is shown in FIGURE 1).

Each clip 1 is integrally-formed and is located at an associated peak/trough pairing of two adjacent snakes S. The snakes themselves may be entirely of conventional form comprising curved metal carriers 2 of generally U-shaped section, carrying synthetic bristles 3. The upper surface defined by the free ends of the bristles 3 in FIGURE 1 defines the surface configuration for ski-ing with apertures 4 (see FIGURE 3) defined in between the snakes S.

An undulating wire core 5 (see FIGURE 1) runs through the snake length around which the bristles 3 are wrapped.

The precise shape of the undulations in the snake lengths may be varied to suit and the peaks br troughs may be flattened or more accentuated as desired to suit the precise configuration of the clip 1.

Advantageously, as shown in FIGURE 1, the clip 1 comprises a common base part la which extends across the carrier width C1 (see FIGURE 2) of the trough of one snake S and across the carrier width C2 of the peak of the adjacent snake S.

The clip 1 provides outer, upstanding wall portions ib which embrace the combined peak/trough width (C1 and C2) and inner upstanding, wall portions 1c which together with an associated one of the portions 1b embrace the carrier width (C1 or C2) of a respective one of the snakes only, either a peak or trough as the case may be.

Tabs T are provided on the clip as shown. When the clip is attached to a peak/trough pairing by means of a tool (not shown) the resilient tabs T engage the spaced, tapering, side walls W of the carrier and are deformed somewhat thereby and eventually spring over an associated rim 2a on the carrier 2 to securely locate the clip in position.

The inner portions 1c are approximately half the axial extent of the outer portions 1b (i.e. the dimension X is approx. twice dimension y), each inner portion Ic being provided with a single pressed out tab T and the outer portions lb being provided with two, pressed out, axially spaced tabs. The overall configuration of the clip between outer portions Ib is tapered to conform to some extent to the overall configuration of the peak/trough cross section and in particular outer walls W of the combined carrier width (C1 and C 2) and the configuration between one of the outer portions Ib and associated inner portion 1c is also tapered to conform to the carrier/cross section (and in particular inner and outer walls of one of the carrier widths C1, C2).

Thus, the clip 1 provides a holding force about the combined peak/trough cross section pulling the snakes together and also, advantageously, individually grips and holds each carrier at opposed locations thereby providing a further re-inforcing holding force about each carrier individually. the clip may thus be said to provide a three-fold retaining action.

The clip as shown in FIGURE 1 provides a very sturdy costeffective design and it is envisaged that the sli-slope snake assembly may be assembled relatively quickly and reliably using such spring clips.

FIGURE 4 shows a possible alternative retention device or spring clip 1' which is much larger than clip 1 and thus is not preferred since it may be considerably more expensive to produce. The clip has a common base part la which extends across the combined peak/trough pairing carrier width (C1 and C2).

Clip 1' has outer, relatively large, curved upstanding portions l'b which embrace the combined carrier width (C1 and C2), although this clip is not designed to extend around and snap over rims 2a (in a further embodiment portion ib may possibly be provided with tabs to engage over rims 2a).The portions l'b, advantageously, provide a directly opposed holding force about the combined carrier width which extends much further along the carrier length than provided by clip 1 (i.e. the common overlap of portions l'b is much greater than the common overlap of portions lib). Additionally, two spaced inner, upstanding potently P are provided which co-operate with an associated one of the large outer portions l'b to embrace either carrier width Cl or 02.

Therefore, a holding force about each carrier width C1 or C2 individually is provided at each end of the clip. Tabs could also be provided on portions P to engage over rim 2a. Portions l'b pull the snakes together.

It is to be appreciated that other possible forms of retaining clip are possible which might provide adequate holding force.

The term 'snake' as used in this specification is not to be construed as unduly limiting and may extend to any elongate member or carrier from which bristles extend to provide a surface for ski-ing.

FIGURES 5 to 7 show views of a further alternative retention device 100.

FIGURE 5 shows a plan view of device 100 which consists of two, identical interlocking parts 101, 102. Parts 101, 102 are shown just prior to being interlocked in FIGURE 5 and arrow A shows the general direction in which part 102 is moved relative to part 101 in order to achieve the required assembled, interlocked position shown in FIGURE 7. A side view of part 102, looking in the direction of arrow B in FIGURE 5, is shown in FIGURE 6.

Parts 101, 102 interlock to form a hinge about axis X-X (see FIGURE 7). The resultant form of the device 100 can be compared with clip 1 in FIGURE 1. Outer upstanding wall portions 103, 104, and inner upstanding wall portions 105, 106 are straight rather than shaped as in FIGURE 1 and a gap Y (see FIGURE 7) will now be defined between the carrier widths C1, C2 (not shown in FIGURES 5 to 7).

Nevertheless some of the bristles 3 of adjacent carrier widths 01, , C2 will touch one another at their free ends due to the upwardly divergent configuration of the bristles evident in FIGURE 1.

Each interlocking part 101, 102 has an inclined wall 107, 108 arranged, in use, in the gap Y in between adjacent carrier widths C1, and wall 107, 108 is integral with end stop 107', 108'. End stop 107', 108' is at right angles to wall 107, 108 and overlaps the edge of the interlocking wall 108, 107 in a manner which should be evident from FIGURE 7. Walls 107, 108 are interlocked in slots S to form a hinge, end stops 107', 108' restraining relative movement of parts 101, 102 parallel to hinge axis X-X.

The interlocking arrangement allows a hinging of parts 101, 102 relative to one another through an angle of about 720. Indeed, walls 107, 108 are movable about the hinge axis X-X into a position in which they are generally parallel and in contact with one another.

Advantageously, the arrangement as shown in FIGURES 5 to 7 allows greater tolerance take-up and allows for some movement of the snakes relative to one another (and even e.g. allows a ski-slope comprising a number of snakes held attached to one another by a plurality of the devices 100 to be rolled up and unrolled without adjustment of said devices). Snakes which are offset to some degree from one another or in slightly different planes can be easily and reliably retained to one another using the devices 100, and curved ski-ing surfaces can more easily be provided.

Additionally, the design allows for a twisting movement of about 14 (2 x 70as shown in FIGURE 7) of the interlocked parts 101, 102 about an axis Z at right angles to the hinge axis X-X (see FIGURE 7).

Part 102 is shown in one extreme position of movement about axis Z in chain-dotted lines, after relative rotation in one direction (from the full line position as shown) through 70 about axis Z. Part 102 may be moved through about 7 in the opposite direction about axis Z' from the full line position as shown.

The relative twisting of parts 101, 102 allows suitable attachment of two snakes which deviate somewhat from a generally parallel orientation relative to one another.

It is to be understood that individual features as aforementioned or as shown or combinations thereof, or functions appertaining thereto, may be patentably inventive and any specific term as used herein should not be construed as unnecessarily limiting, the scope of such term should extend to, and may be replaced by, any reasonable equivalent or generic expression.

Claims (38)

1. A ski-slope snake assembly comprising a plurality of snakes retained to one another by a plurality of spring clips.

2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 in which each clip is located at an associated peak/trough pairing of two adjacent snakes.

3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2 in which a single clip will be located at every peak/trough pairing.

4. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each clip holds each associated snake individually as well as pulling the associated snakes together.

5. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2 or any claim dependent therefrom in which each clip comprises a common base part which extends all the way across a combined carrier width of the peak/trough pairing of adjacent snakes.

6. An assembly as claimed in Claim 5 in which outer upstanding wall portions on the clip are provided which embrace said combined carrier width and biasingly retain the associated adjacent snakes to one another.

7. An assembly as claimed in Claim 6 when dependent from Claim 4 in which inner, upstanding wall portions are provided on the clip, each of which, together with an associated one of the outer wall portions, embrace the carrier width of an associated one of the snakes only.

8. An assembly as claimed in Claim 4 or any claim dependent therefrom in which a three-fold retaining action of each clip is provided along the snake length by a grip on a snake, followed by a common grip across the two snakes pulling them together followed by a grip on the second snake.

9. An assembly as claimed in Claim 8 in which the upstanding portions are generally tapered to suit the overall carrier cross section of the snakes.

10. An assembly as claimed in Claim 6 or any claim dependent therefrom in which there is a common overlap between the two outer wall portions.

11. An assembly as claimed in Claim 7 or any claim dependent therefrom in which there is a common overlap between each associated outer and inner wall portion.

12. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 in which the clip comprises two interlocking parts hinged to one another.

13. An assembly as claimed in Claim 12 in which said two parts are substantially identical.

14. An assembly as claimed in Claim 12 or 13 in which the hinge is arranged to lie within a gap in between adjacent snake carrier widths.

15. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 14 in which said two parts are rotatable relative to one another through a fixed angle.

16. An assembly as claimed in Claim 15 in which said angle is about 72 + 100.

17. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 16 in which said two parts are able to twist relative to one another through a fixed angle of preferably about 140 +

18. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 17 in which said two parts are interlocked with one another by way of interengaging slots and an inclined wall with an- end stop is provided on each said part.

19. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which tabs are provided on the clip.

20. An assembly as claimed in Claim 19 in which the tabs engage over associated rims on the snakes so that the clip is very securely located in position.

21. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 in which outer, curved, upstanding wall portions are provided on each clip and two spaced curved, inner wall portions are associated with each outer wall portion to grip an associated one of the snakes at spaced locations along the length thereof.

22. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 in which the spring clips are substantially as herein described and shown in FIGURE 1 of the accompanying drawings, or substantially as modified in FIGURE 4, or substantially as modified in FIGURES 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

23. A method of making a ski-slope snake assembly comprising retaining a plurality of snakes to one another by using a plurality of spring clips.

24. A method as claimed in Claim 23 in which each clip is located at an associated peak/trough pairing of two adjacent snakes.

25. A method as claimed in Claim 4 in which a single clip is located at every peak/trough pairing.

26. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 23 to 25 in which each clip holds each associated snake individually as well as pulling the associated snakes together.

27. A method as claimed in Claim 26 in which a three-fold retaining action is provided by a grip on each snake and a grip across the peak/trough combination pulling the snakes together.

28. A method as claimed in Claim 27 in which the three-fold retaining action of each clip is provided along the snake length by a grip on a snake, followed by a common grip across the two snakes pulling them together followed by a grip on the second snake.

29. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 23 to 28 in which the clip comprises two parts hinged together to allow retention of two offset snakes to one another.

30. A method as claimed in Claim 29 in which the snakes can twist relative to one another.

31. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 23 to 30 in which tabs are provided on the clip which engage over associated rims on the snakes so that the clip is very securely located in position.

32. A method as claimed in Claim 27 in which outer wall portions of the clip embrace a combined carrier width to provide a central holding force across the combined width with a holding force on each snake being provided individually at each end of the clip.

33. A method as claimed in Claim 23 and substantially as herein described.

34. A retention device for use in a ski-slope snake assembly, which device is in the form of a spring clip, preferably being designed to hold two adjacent snakes individually while pulling the snakes together.

35. A device as claimed in Claim 34 which has a common base part to extend across the combined carrier width of a ski-slope snake peak/trough pairing and, preferably, having outer upstanding wall portions to embrace said width biasingly retaining the associated snakes to one another.

36. A device as claimed in Claim 34 in which the clip comprises two interlocking parts hinged together.

37. A ski-slope snake assembly comprising a plurality of snakes retained to one another by means, for example spring clips, which holds two adjacent snakes individually while pulling these snakes together.

38. A ski-slope snake assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.