US3094721A - Water skis - Google Patents

Description

June 25, 1963 c. v. CRAVOTTA WATER SKIS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 27, 1960 INVENTOR.

COS/MO Z CPAVOTZ I BY;

June 25, 1963 c. v. CRAVOTTA 3,094,721

WATER SKIS Filed May 27, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheer 2 raw /-7 @raq -"v r l i A x 3" 46 4144 39 i 4.?

F 9 I INVENTOR.

' cos/Mo 1/ ca: Var/21 United States Patent 0.

3,094,'7 21 WATER SKIS Cosimo V. Cravotta, Pittsburgh, Pa., .assignor to Cravotta Brothers, .Inc.,,East McKeesport, Pa.,-a corporation of Pennsylvania .Filed May 27,1969, Ser. No. 32,374

1 Claim. ((1119- 310) This invention'relates to waterskis, more-especially water skis made at least in major part-of -wood. More particularly, my invention pertains to a water ski'made up ofa' plurality of pieces 'for one or more 'reasons of economy, performance, convenience and strength. Further, this invention-includesskiswhich are built-up of Wood pieces in whole or "in 'part with, optionally, side wings and/or'removable frontand rear-endpieces.

'turns may readily'and'rapidly becomeunstableywhereas I optionally provide integral side supports inthe form of wings which provide stability on turns enabling them to be taken at slower speed withouttspilling and without detrimentally increasing the forwardplaning'drag of the skis. In addition, boats of lesser power may be utilized to tow a skier on suchskis without sinking. Still further, my invention optionally may-beprovided in the form of a knock-down ski with removable front and back pieces which are readily rigidly attachable to the body portion ofthe ski made in accordance with one'orvmore other aspects of'this invention.

Other objects,'featur-es and 'advantages of thisinven- .tion-will .be apparent f-rom'the following description and the accompanying drawings,which are illustrative only, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a-composite all-wood water ski embodimentyofzthis invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the ski embodimentrshown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in section takenalongline-IIL-III of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view in section taken along line IV-IV of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of another composite allwood embodiment of this invention utilizing integral side supports;

FIGURE 6 is a view in side elevation of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a view in section taken along line VII-VII of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a view in plan of a further embodiment of a composite water ski of this invention with removable front -and back pieces; and

FIGURE 9 is a view in side elevation of the further embodiment shown in FIGURE 8.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown therein a composite all-wood water ski 10, of which a pair normally are used by a water skier unless a single ski is utilized as in the case of special or slalom events when a single ski may be utilized, sometimes with a toe piece behind an adjustable foot binder =11 shown in chain line outline. Such a ski binder may be made in accordance with my application for Letters Patent Serial No. 642,101, filed February 25, 1957, now Patent No. 2,939,159, and attached to ski as shown therein.

3,094,721 Patented Jun25, 1963 ice Composite ski ltl provides-aturned up -front-end-12 or toe, roundedin plan at-13"and-'aflat 'back or rear end 1-4 which also-may be rounded in-plan as-shown at "15.

An integral body portion 16 extends between the toe 12 andheel 14 of' the 'ski and all together provide acon- -tinuous, smooth planing 1 surface 17 cm the underside thereof and a smooth upper surface 18 inthe embodiment illustrated. The central section-of the skiitself extends longitudinally between unsectioned'entire side binding -mernbers 19 of wood which extend the length'of the ski. Such central section is madeup ofend to-end-and side-to-side abutting sections 'of'wood comprising "relatively short pieces which is a matterof great economy and more efficient utilization'ofdressed lumber'used in 'the production of *skis. Skis preferably are made 'of ratherhigh quality woods including ash, maple, mahogany and "others. {In ski 10, the use of such a built-up wood central section also enables pleasingpatternsof commercial sales appeal value to be obtained. *Thus, pieces marked M may'be pieces of darker wmahog lyvand the remainder may be pieces of alighter-wood such'as ash or maple. 'I-lence, with a clear waterproof lacquer finish, ski 10 is very attractive due in part-to the -factthat the ski 10- can be'made up of smaller piecesof'contrasting wood between the side binder members 19. Or, the pieces used can be'of the same color'andstock if desired. Pre-ferably,'the'pieces 20 are "madeo'f one-thickness of solid wood, but'they may be ,made of-plywood instead, if desired.

The front and backabutting edges of: the various 'wood sections 20 areserrated in complementary fashion "as shown to provide'each with a dovetailed 'oriserr-ation'joint 21 illustratedin FIGURE 3,'w-hich joint isbondedwhen the matching serrations are brought togetherby a resorcinol base wood glue .or other waterproofmarine glue -for wood. Such wood gluesare, onkthe 'market'and provide a permanent bond of greatstrength.

The central section of ski .10 has three longitudinal courses, a central course A, a right-hand courseB and a left-hand course .C, attheiheado'f .eachjof'which such letters havebeen placediin'FlGURE l. The front and back '(cross) joints 21 of the wood pieces are .displaced longitudinally in each coursebfrom any joint of theimmediately adjoining course or courses. 1Further,1side (lengthwise) joints 22 where thepieces 20 abut one another and the side binder members 19 preferably-are provided with similar complementary serrations'as illustrated in FIGURE 4, each joint 22 being bonded by a. waterproof marine wood glue. The unsectioned and unbroken character of the side members 19 appears to lock the composite central section together in a way which prevents separation at any of the joints in the finished composite all-wood ski 10. Further, such composite skis illustrated in FIGURES l to 4 may be made of a relatively thinner wood for a ski of given strength and be less subject to warping, twisting or splitting.

In the modification illustrated in FIGURES 5 to 7, there are unbroken side binder members 2 3 of wood which extend along the entire length of the sides of composite ski 24 and serve the purpose and function of the cooperating side members 19 in the preceding embodiment. In addition, there is a longitudinal central section between members 23 comprising sections 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29, of wood, with the wood in sections 26- and 28, for example, being made of wood of a contrasting color to provide a pleasing and harmonious pattern. Cross joints 30 and longitudinally extending joints 31 between abutting such wood pieces have matching serrations on the abutment faces and such abutment faces are bonded to one another by waterproof glue in the manner previously described in connection with cross joints 21 and longitudinal joints 22.

A ski binder 32 like binder 11, is also provided on the top of each ski 24 for skiing use. The outermost longitudinal joints 31 bond a pair of shorter side wings 33 to the main portion of ski 21 and make them an integral part thereof. In cross section, as shown in FIGURE 7, the side supports 33 are curved upwardly at 34 so that the cross section is generally in the form of an arc flattened in the center. Hence, a skier using a pair of the composite skis 24 when starting out on a tow for a run will reach a planing position more quickly because he has not only the upwardly curved toe portions 35 to aid in reaching a planing position on the surface of the Water but also a greater area during that period on the underside 36 of the body of the ski because of the additional area furnished by the bottom surfaces ofthe wings 33. And, skis 24 can be successfully towed without sinking by a slower boat than otherwise would be the case because of the somewhat greater planing surface provided in such case by the underside of each ski 24. At the same time, planing speed is not substantially reduced, or drag increased, by the wings 33 as the skis attain planing speed because of the laterally upwardly curved form of the wings 33. Further, turns may be taken with one or more skis 24 with less skill, or at slower speeds, without spilling the skier, because as the ski is tilted about its longitudinal axis, additional supporting area is brought to bear against the surface of the water due to greater surface engagement with the water by the wing on the inside of the turn.

In the further ski embodiment 37 of FIGURES 8 and 9, a fiexure main body portion 38 is made of wood either in the composite form of ski or of ski 24, or by longitudinal strips of wood having lengthwise joints permanently bonded together, or a single piece of wood may be used for body 38', as desired. A binder 39 is affixed thereto like and in the manner of binder "11 or 32. The front or back ends of body 38 are provided respectively with a front tenon 40 and a rear tenon 41. Front tenon 40 cooperates with a relatively close fitting socket 42 at the back of an upwardly curved front piece 43 made of wood, or of plastic which is die cast or otherwise for-med. Similarly, a socket 44 in a back piece 45 closely fits around tenon 41 to complete ski 37 when it is to be used. Heel member 45 may be made of wood, or of plasitc which is die cast or otherwise formed. A rudder 46 may be used as shown on the underside of member 45 and may be integral therewith if member 45 is made of plastic. Otherwise, it may be attached by means of screws or bolts. When the front and back pieces 43 and 45 are pulled off and separated from their respective tenons, ski 37 is in its knockdown condition and its length materially shortened, which is a great convenience for those who may wish to carry skis 37 about with them from place to place. When assembled, as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, the members 43 and 45 are rigidly held in place with the aid of the aforesaid tenons and by plates 47 and 48, respectively, which as shown are permanently fixed to body 38 by carriage belts or rivets 49 and 50. Carriage bolts 51 and 52, after the assembly is made, are passed through predrilled holes therefor extending through the socket walls and tenons respectively to unite ski 37 in a rigid assembly, with the toe and heel pieces 43 and 45 fastened to the body 38.

Various details of the illustrated embodiments may be changed, and other embodiments provided, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A water ski, having a foot binder position thereon, comprising a longitudinally extending central section and two one-piece side binder members of single thickness on the outer sides of said central section forming lengthwise joints therewith, said central section being made up of relatively shorter pieces of wood of single thickness in front and back abutting relation forming cross joints, said cross joints being bonded together with serration joints, said lengthwise joints being bonded together, a side support member of single thickness on the outer side of each side binder member in lengthwise joint abutting relation therewith, said last-mentioned lengthwise joints being bonded together, said side support members being substantially parallel to the center line of said ski and having a length comprising a minor portion of the over all length of said ski, said support members further being generally athwar-t said foot binder position on said water ski, said side support members further being positioned with the underside thereof extending laterally outwardly and upwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 411,255 Newburg Sept. 17, 1889 1,222,114 McCarty Apr. 10, 1917 1,608,000 Ranlett Nov. 23, 1926 1,853,159 Welsh Apr. 12, 1932 2,469,798 Trachslin May 10, 1949 2,823,397 Wagner Feb. 18, 1958 2,894,760 Kolstad July 14, 1959 2,958,875 McClain Nov. 8, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 158,563 Switzerland Feb. 1, 1933 358,705 Italy Apr. 26, 1938 407,166 Italy Sept. 21, 1944 240,815 Switzerland May 16, I946

Images