US3746355A

US3746355A - Block device for maintaining camber in skis

Info

Publication number: US3746355A
Application number: US00186987A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Holley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-10-06
Filing date: 1971-10-06
Publication date: 1973-07-17
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-17

Abstract

A device for maintaining the camber in skis during storage. The device requires that the tip and tail portions of each ski in a pair of skis are to be coupled bottom-to-bottom, tip-to-tip and tail-to-tail. A separator block is positioned at the midpoint of the camber and is of a desired thickness to increase and/or maintain the spacing between the skis at the midpoint of the camber and thereby maintain the skis at the desired camber. Position maintaining rods are mounted on the separator block for preventing the separator block from moving laterally relative to said skis to thereby prevent an inadvertent loss of said separator block from between the skis.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Holley [5 BLOCK DEVICE FOR MAINTAINING CAMBER IN SKIS [76] Inventor: Willard L. Holley, 2131 Addison,

Muskegon, Mich. 49441 [22] Filed: Oct. 6, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 186,987

111 3,746,355 51 July 17, 1973 108,704 10/1943 Sweden ..280/1l.37C

Primary Examiner-Leo Friaglia Assistant Examiner-Mi1ton L. Smith Attorney-Woodhams, Blanchard and Flynn [57] ABSTRACT A device for maintaining the camber in skis during storage. The device requires that the tip and tail portions ofeach ski in a pair of skis are to be coupled bott0m-tobottom, tip-to-tip and tail-to-tail. A separator block is positioned at the midpoint of the camber and is ofa desired thickness to increase and/or maintain the spacing between the skis at the midpoint of the camber and thereby maintain the skis at the desired camber. Position maintaining rods are mounted on the separator block for preventing the separator block from moving laterally relative to said skis to thereby prevent an inadvertent loss of said separator block from between the skis.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENIEo JUL I 1.9

BLOCK DEVICE FOR MAINTAINING CAMBER IN SKIS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device for maintaining the camber in skis during storage and, more particularly, relates to a device which may be utilized when the skis are stored in a condition where the tip and tail portions of the skis are coupled bottom-to-bottom, tip-to-tip and tail-to-tail.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is very important to maintain the camber in skis during storage so that when the skis are in use the weight of a skier will be offset when on snow. That is, if there was no camber in a pair of skis, the weight of the skier on the skis would cause the ski to assume an arcuate shape wherein the skier would be standing on the concave portion of the ski. Since the bindings are mounted on the top portion of the ski, a ski assuming an arcuate shape as above set forth would affect the pressure of the binding on the ski boot and, therefore, the force which would be required in order to release the bindings. Thus, and as set forth above, it is vitally important, especially for the safety of the skier, that the camber be maintained in skis.

During storage and transit of a pair of skis, which are coupled together so that the tail portion and thetip portion of each ski in a pair of skis are coupled bottom to-bottom, tip-to-tip and tail-to-tail, the camber in skis will change slightly if certain steps are not taken in order to prevent such change. However, the importance of providing a device for maintaining camber in skis has, heretofore, never been truly emphasized by the ski industry and, in fact, when skis are sold by retail outlets the skis are generally coupled so that the tip and tail portions of each ski in a pair of skis are coupled bottom-to-bottom, tip-to'tip and tail-to-tail with no means being provided for maintaining the camber in the skis during storage of the skis within the retail outlet or transit from the store to the consumers home wherein the skis are again stored. Therefore, a device for maintaining the camber in skis during storage is highly desirable.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide a device for maintaining the camber in skis during storage when the tip and tail portions of each ski in a pair of skis are coupled bottom-to-bottom, tiptotip and tail-to-tail.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device for maintaining the camber in skis, as aforesaid, which includes positioning maintaining means for preventing the device from moving laterally relative to the skis and thereby prevent an inadvertent loss of the device.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device which includes bottom surface working implement means for permitting a desired working of the bottom surface of the skis.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device for maintaining camber in skis, as aforesaid, which is to be utilized in combination with a pair of clips for securing the tip and tail portions of each ski in a pair of skis bottom-to-bottom, tip-to-tip and tail-to-tail.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with apparatus of this general type upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a pair of skis clipped together at the tip and tail portions with the device for maintaining the camber in skis positioned approximately midway therebetween;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken along the line IIII of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-[II of FIG. 2.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting, The words up, down", right and left will designate directions in the drawing to which reference is made. The words in and out will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device and designated parts thereof. Such terminology will include derivatives and words of similar import.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objects and purposes of the invention are met by providing a device for maintaining the camber in skis during storage wherein the tip and! tail portions of each ski in a pair of ,skis are coupled bottom-to-bottom, tipto-tip and tail-to-tail and the camber in the skis tends to be equal to or less than the desired amount. The device comprises separator block means positioned at the midpoint of the camber, the separator block being of a desired thickness to increase the spacing between the skis at the midpoint of the camber if the camber in the skis tends to be less than the desired amount and maintains the skis at the desired camber. Position maintaining means are provided for preventing the separator block means from moving laterally relative to the skis to thereby prevent an inadvertent loss of the separator block means from between the skis.

DETAILED DESCRllPTION A pair of conventional skis 10 are illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein the tip portions 11 and the tail portions 12 are coupled together by conventional clips 13 and 14. Each

ski

10A and 10B of the pair of skis 10' have the usual curve in the middle of the ski known as the camber of a ski and when the skis are coupled as shown in FIG. 1, the camber defines a gap 15 therebetween.

Ski bindings

16 and 17 are mounted on the skis 10A and 108, respectively, on the upper surface of each ski, that is, on the convex surface of the cambered ski.

A device 18, embodying the invention, is utilized for maintaining the camber in skis when the tip and tail portions of each ski 10A and 108 in the pair of skis 10 are coupled by the clips l3 and 14, bottom-to-bottom, tip-to-tip and tail-to-tail. The device 18 comprises a separator block 19 having a thicnkess X at least equal to l-% inches but not greater than 2 inches. The thickness X is generally equal to twice the camber of an individual ski 10A and 108. The block 19 has a pair of flat, opposed

surfaces

21 and 22 which engage the bottom surfaces of the respective skis 10A and 108. The

surfaces

21 and 22 are separated by the thickness X.

The block 19 has a pair of openings, only one opening 23 being illustrated in FIG. 3, extending through the block l9 between the

surfaces

21 and 22. Each opening receives a rod 24 which is fixedly secured therein. The rods 24 extend outwardly from the surfaces 21 and 22 a predetermined distance approximately equal to the thickness of a ski at the midpoint of the camber. A distance equal to approximately one inch has been found to be suitable for use with all known brands of skis. The spacing Y between the rods 24 is at least equal to or slightly greater than the width of a pair of skis at the midpoint of the camber. A spacing Y equal to approximately 3 to 4 inches has been found to be suitable for use with all known brands of skis, however, a suitable range is 2 15 inches to 3 inches for cross-country skis and 3 to 4 inches for both downhill and jumping skis.

The device 18 may be made of many different materials, such as wood and plastic to name a few. However, it is desirable that the material be of a type that will not mar or damage the bottom surface of the skis when in use. If the device 18 is made of plastic, the block 19 and the rods 24 will be integrally formed from a moldable synthetic plastic.

If desired, a waxing cork or felt pad 26 may be mounted to a surface 27 of the block 19 which extends in a mutually perpendicular relationship to the

surfaces

21 and 22. The waxing cork or felt pad 26 can be provided on opposite sides of the block 19 so that a tool is readily available for working the bottom surface of the skis. If desired, a mill file may be provided on the surface 27.

OPERATION Although the operation and use of the device described above will be understood from the foregoing description by skilled persons, a summary of such description is now given for convenience.

The skis A and 10B are normally stored in a condition wherein the tip and tail portions thereof are clipped together by the clips 13 and 14. The device 18 is utilized by placing same in the gap defined by the camber of each

ski

10A and 10B and then positioned so that the pair of rods 24 straddle each ski as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The thikcness X of the block 19 is such that it maintains the gap 15 at the desired X dimension. Accordingly, if the camber of each of the

skis

10A and 10B is less than or equal to the desired dimension, the device 18 will serve to maintain the skis during storage or transit at or near the desired camber.

Since the rods 24 are spaced apart a distance at least equal to or slightly greater than the width of a ski at the midpoint of the camber the device 18 will be slightly canted relative to the longitudinal direction of the ski and the rods 24 will engage the lateral edges of each of the skis 10A and 108 to hold the device 18 in the desired position. However, it is desirable for the device 18 to be oriented in such a manner that a plane containing the axes of the rods 24 extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each of the skis 10A and 108 so that the

surface

21 and 22 will be maintained in flat relationship relative to the bottom of the skis 10A and 108.

Although a particular preferredembodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A device for maintaining the camber in skis during storage wherein the tip and the tail portions of each ski in a pair of skis are coupled bottom-to-bottom, tip-totip and tail-to-tail and said camber in said skis tends to be equal to or less than the desired amount, comprismg:

separator block means positionable near the midpoint of said camber and having a pair of spaced parallel surfaces thereon adapted to engage the bottoms of said skis, said spacing between said pair of parallel surfaces being equal to said desired thickness and the desired camber of said skis; and

positioning maintaining means mounted on said separator block means for preventing said separator block means from moving laterally relative to said skis to thereby prevent an inadvertent loss of said separator block means from between said skis, said separator block means comprising a one piece block having means defining a pair of fixedly spaced and parallel holes therein extending between said spaced surfaces and opening outwardly thereon, a rod being received and secured in each of said holes and extending perpendicularly outwardly from said spaced parallel surfaces, the spacing between said rods being at least equal to or slightly greater than the width of said skis at said midpoint of said camber.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said spacing between said pair of surfaces on said separator block means is equal to l-% to 2 inchesi'and wherein the spacing between said plurality of rods is equal to 2% to 4 inches.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said separator block means includes tool means for manually working of the bottom surface of said skis.

4. A device for maintaining the camber in skis during storage wherein the tip and the tail portions of each ski in a pair of skis are coupled bottom-to-bottom, tip-totip and tail-to-tail and said camber in said skis tends to be equal to or less than the desired amount, comprising:

separator block means positionable near the midpoint of said camber and having a pair of spaced parallel surfaces adapted to engage the bottoms of said skis, said spacing between said pair of parallel surfaces being equal to said desired thickness and the desired camber of said skis; and

positioning maintaining means mounted on said separator block means for preventing said separator block means from moving laterally relative to said skis to thereby prevent an inadvertent loss of said separator block means from between said skis, said positioning maintaining means comprising a pair of cylindrically shaped rods extending perpendicularly outwardly from said pair of spaced parallel surfaces, said rods being adapted to engage the edges of said skis along a line, the surfaces on said rods, extending in either circumferential direction from said line, being a part of said cylindrical shape of said rods to thereby prevent a damagingof the edges of said skis. Y

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said separator block means and said position maintaining rod are integral.

Claims

1. A device for maintaining the camber in skis during storage wherein the tip and the tail portions of each ski in a pair of skis are coupled bottom-to-bottom, tip-to-tip and tail-to-tail and said camber in said skis tends to be equal to or less than the desired amount, comprising: separator block means positionable near the midpoint of said camber and having a pair of spaced parallel surfaces thereon adapted to engage the bottoms of said skis, said spacing between said pair of parallel surfaces being equal to said desired thickness and the desired camber of said skis; and positioning maintaining means mounted on said separator block means for preventing said separator block means from moving laterally relative to said skis to thereby prevent an inadvertent loss of said separator block means from between said skis, said separator bloCk means comprising a one piece block having means defining a pair of fixedly spaced and parallel holes therein extending between said spaced surfaces and opening outwardly thereon, a rod being received and secured in each of said holes and extending perpendicularly outwardly from said spaced parallel surfaces, the spacing between said rods being at least equal to or slightly greater than the width of said skis at said midpoint of said camber.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said spacing between said pair of surfaces on said separator block means is equal to 1- 5/8 to 2 inches; and wherein the spacing between said plurality of rods is equal to 2- 1/2 to 4 inches.

4. A device for maintaining the camber in skis during storage wherein the tip and the tail portions of each ski in a pair of skis are coupled bottom-to-bottom, tip-to-tip and tail-to-tail and said camber in said skis tends to be equal to or less than the desired amount, comprising: separator block means positionable near the midpoint of said camber and having a pair of spaced parallel surfaces adapted to engage the bottoms of said skis, said spacing between said pair of parallel surfaces being equal to said desired thickness and the desired camber of said skis; and positioning maintaining means mounted on said separator block means for preventing said separator block means from moving laterally relative to said skis to thereby prevent an inadvertent loss of said separator block means from between said skis, said positioning maintaining means comprising a pair of cylindrically shaped rods extending perpendicularly outwardly from said pair of spaced parallel surfaces, said rods being adapted to engage the edges of said skis along a line, the surfaces on said rods, extending in either circumferential direction from said line, being a part of said cylindrical shape of said rods to thereby prevent a damaging of the edges of said skis.