US3797838A

US3797838A - Sectional ski

Info

Publication number: US3797838A
Application number: US00278018A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Shurgot; R Ruebel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-08-04
Filing date: 1972-08-04
Publication date: 1974-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-19

Abstract

A sectional ski disengagably connectable together in a boot support region wherein a ski boot is supported, the engaging mechanism including a necked-down plug portion of one section of ski inescapably captured in a conforming pocket recess disposed in the other ski section while a ski boot is supported on the boot support region even without the use of safety keepers passing through aligned bores in the overlapped portions of the engaging mechanism.

Description

United States Patent Shun-got et a1.

[ Mar. 19, 1974 SECTIONAL SKI [76] Inventors: John M. Shurgot, 22312 Marjorie Ave., Torrance, Calif. 90505; Roy D. Ruebel, 15209 Prarie Ave., Msn anfisesbs ,Qslifi 089 [22] Filed: Aug. 4, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 278,018

[52] US. Cl. 280/11.13 K [51] Int. Cl A63c 5/02 [58] Field of Search 280/11.13 K; 9/310 C; 287/20.92 T, 64

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,545,209 3/1951 Meehan 280/11.13 K 2,590,991 4/1952 McDonald.... 287/20.92 T X 792,979 6/1905 Fulghum 287/20.92 T X 2,157,456 5/1939 Koyemann 287/20.92 T 3,537,043 10/1970 Smith 287/64 X 3,000,658 9/1961 Sprouse 287/64 X 2,530,136 11/1950 VanSteenbrugghe 287/64 3.596918 8/1971 Masuda 280/1 1.13 K

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 837,166 11/1938 France 280/1 1.13 K 29,357 1/1919 Norway 280/11.13 K 223,975 10/1942 Switzerland... 280/11.l3 K 80,233 5/1952 Norway 280/1 1.13 K

OTHER PUBLICATIONS How to Join Wood Science Illustrated, Dec. 1948.

Primary Examiner-Kenneth H. Betts Assistant ExaminerDavid M. Mitchell Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John I-Ioltrichter, Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT 2 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures SECTIONAL SKI BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The background of the invention will be set forth in two parts.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains generally to the field of sporting equipment and more particularly to the field of skis which may be disassembled.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Skis, in one form or another, have been used for hundreds of years for transporting objects and persons over difficult terrain such as snow and ice. Skis generally take the form of elongated and relatively thin flat members having an up-curved forward tip. A ski used to transport a person standing thereon is also provided with a ski boot supporting region essentially located midway between the ends of the ski, and straps or a binding is mounted in this region to hold the skiers boot in place on the ski.

Over the years, it has been apparent that although the relatively long length of such skis is necessary in order to provide an efficient means of transportation, the length of the skis presents obviously serious space problems when they are not being used. These problems have lead to many varied solutions, including skis provided with hinges to allow folding, and also disassembleable skis having two or more separable ski sections.

In the latter category, many techniques have been developed that allow a ski to be broken down into a shorter, more easily stored and transported configuration. One such technique uses a conventional tonguein-groove junction with bolts passing through bores in abutting sections in order to hold the ski together when being used. In another scheme, a throw clamp mechanism comprising a horizontal'pin mounted in one section is engaged and held by notched arms of a toggle operated pivoted lever mounted on another ski section. This system is faster operatinb but has the disadvantage of requiring many relatively fragile parts and it must reside in a recess in the upper surface of the ski, which recess has a tendency to fill with snow and water and become unaccessible and thereby inoperative when, as is often the case, the ice or water becomes frozen. Thus, it should be evident that a new and improved technique for coupling ski sections together that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art would constitute a significant advancement of the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing factors and conditions characteristic of the prior art, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved sectional ski.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sectional ski that does not require bolts or other safety retaining members or keepers and that cannot come apart while in use.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a simple, rugged and dependable sectional ski that has essentially continuous planar upper and lower surfaces at the ski section junction.

According to the present invention, a sectional ski is provided having first and second ski sections with abutting ends in a boot supporting region of the ski, the region having a planar boot supporting surface and a lower planar skiing surface.

The sectional ski also includes coupling means associated with the ski sections for releasably engaging the ski sections together and for allowing the disengagement of the ski sections only when the boot supporting surface is not supporting a ski boot. The coupling means includes a plug portion extending beyond the abutting end of the first ski section, the plug portion including a necked down width dimension adjacent the abutting end and having a lower surface above the planar skiing surface. The coupling means also has a socket portion adjacent the abutting end of the second ski section, the upper surface of the plug and socket portions being a portion of the aforementioned boot supporting surface.

The socket portion includes a pocket recess in its upper surface which recess communicates with the abutting end of the second ski section, the pocket recess conforming to the shape of and accepting fully the plug portion.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel as set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by making reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters refer to like elements in the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side view of a sectional ski constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a ski boot supporting region of the sectional ski of FIG. 1, showing the ski sections separated from each other;

FIG. 3 is a sectional representation of the boot supporting region of the sectional ski seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates in perspective an elongated keeper bolt that may be utilized in the coupling arrangement of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a coupling arrangement for a sectional ski constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of mating ski coupling arrangements in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are sectional views of the coupling arrangements illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, taken respectively along

lines

8 and 9 thereof; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional illustration showing the coupling arrangements, mounted in their respective ski sections, coupled together to form a complete ski with planar upper and lower surfaces.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a sectional ski 11 including a first ski section 13 and a second ski section 15, the ski ski sections having respective abutting ends 17 and 19. The abutting ends are located in a boot supporting region, generally designated by arrow 21, and the region has a planar boot supporting surface 23 with a conventional ski boot binding arrangement 22, and a lower planar skiing surface 25. Coupling means 27 is associated with the

ski sections

17 and 19 for releasably engaging the ski sections together and for allowing the disengagement of these sections only when the ski boot supporting surface 23 is not supporting a ski boot, not shown.

The coupling means 27 includes a plug portion 29 that extends from the abutting end 17 of the first ski section 13, the plug portion including a necked down width dimension section 31 immediately adjacent the abutting end 17 and having a relatively larger body sec tion 32 extending from the section 31, and a lower surface 33 above the planar skiing surface 25, clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The coupling means 27 also includes a socket portion 35 adjacent the abutting end 19 of the second ski section 15. As can be seen from the figures, the upper surfaces of the plug and socket portions are co-extensive with and a part of the boot supporting surface 23.

The socket portion 35 has a socket recess 37 in its upper surface 23, which recess communicates with the abutting end 19 of the second ski section 15. It can be seen that the recess 37 also has a lower wall 38 and a necked-down width dimension section 39 immediately adjacent the end 19 and has a relatively larger recess section 41 communicating with the section 39. The dimensions of the plug and socket portions are chosen so that they conform in shape and size to each other to allow the plug portions 29 to slidably fit into and be totally accepted by and captured in the socket portion 35.

The plug and socket portions may be integrally formed as part of the associated ski section, or these portions may be fabricated from a suitably strong synthetic, metal or natural occurring material. In the case of the latter configuration, the plug portion 29 has a first horizontal tongue portion 42 sandwiched and bolted in a first conforming groove 43 in the end 17 of the first ski section 13. In a similar manner, the socket portion 35 is provided with a second horizontal tongue portion 45 bonded within a second conforming groove 47 in the second ski section 15. Any suitable bonding material and technique may be employed, and other suitable attachment means such as counter sunk bolts, for example, may be used to permanently secure the plug and socket portions to their respective ski sections.

To assemble the

ski sections

13 and 15 of the sectional ski 11 starting from the disassembled configuration of FIG. 2, the necked down and

body sections

31, 32 of the plug portion 29 are positioned directly above the conforming necked down and

larger recess sections

39, 41 of the socket portions pocket recess 37 before lowering the former into the latter. This step provides the continuous upper and lower planar engaged configuration illustrated in FIG. 3. Due to the unique necked down sections of the plug and socket portions in this engaged relationship, the ski sections cannot move away from each other along their longitudinal axis or move laterally with respect to each other. Also, the plug portion 20 cannot move further in a downward direction because of the sockets lower wall 38 limiting the travel of the plugs lower surface 33. In fact, the only manner in which the two ski sections may be uncoupled is to vertically lift the plug portion from the socket portion, but this can be accomplished only when the ski boot is not being supported on a planar boot supporting surface 23 of the boot supporting region 21. In other words, in order to separate the

ski sections

13 and 15, the skier must first release his ski boot from the binding arrangement 22 and lift the boot from the surface 23 before the plug portion 29 can be lifted from engagement with the mating socket portion 35.

As an added safety feature of the invention, the coupling means 27 may further include axially aligned

bores

49, 51 and 53, 55 in the plug and

socket portions

29 and 35, respectively, and conventional elongated keeper bolts and nuts (not shown) disposed in these bores. Altemately, the

bores

49, 51 and 53, 55 may be machined to provide narrow slots 57 on opposite sides of and communicating with the bores. Also, the outer end 59 of the

bores

53, 55 in the socket portion 35 may be machined to provide narrow shallow indentations or depressions 61 disposed on opposite sides of and communicating with the

bores

53, 55. A special keeper 63 having a head 65 and a transverse pin end 67 and illustrated in FIG. 4 may then be inserted through the

bores

53, 55 and 49, 51 with the pin end 67 being moved toward the outer end 59 of the bores. To engage the keeper 63, the head 65 is pushed inwardly by a conventional driver tool engaging the keepers drive socket 69 and against the bias of the washer retained coil spring 71 to cause the pin end to protrude beyond the outer end 59. The keeper is then rotated degrees and the inward pressure on the tool is removed so that the pin end 67 is then captured in the depressions 61. Of course, the opposite end of the bores are countersunk to accommodate the tapered side walls of the keepers head 65. For the sake of simplicity, only one bore set 51, 55 is illustrated in FIG. 2 with the special keeper configuration.

In accordance with still a further embodiment of the present invention, there is shown in FIG. 5 first and

second ski sections

81 and 83 provided with plug and

socket portions

85 and 87, respectively, which portions are structurally and operationally similar to the first described plug and

socket portions

29 and 35, except that instead of the

rectangular side walls

89 and 91 of the latter constructions, the plan view silhouette of this latest described embodiment is continuously curved, and preferably essentially circular, as identified generally by arrow 93.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is illustrated yet another embodiment of the present invention. Here there is shown a first ski coupling arrangement 101 having a wedge shaped plug portion 103 extending beyond an abutting end wall 105 and having a tongue portion 107 with traverse slots 109 across its outer surfaces 111. The plug portion 103 registers with and is insertable into a socket portion 1 13 in a second ski coupling arrangement having an abutting end wall 117 and a tongue portion 119 with slots 121, similar to the tongue portion 107.

Sectional views of the ski coupling arrangements clearly illustrating the socket and plug portions are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Upstanding tubular portions 123 are seen in a lower surface 125 of the socket portion 113, these portions including elongated threaded holes 127 centrally disposed therein. Conforming recesses 129 are provided in the lower surface 131 of the plug portion 103, the recesses communicating with cylindrical holes 133 leading to the counter-sinks 135 at the plugs upper surface 137.

The sectional views of FIGS. 8-10 further show that the inner side walls 139 of the socket portion 113 may be inclined at a relatively small angle, such as 5, for example, for ease of manufacture when using a molding process. Likewise, the side walls 141 of the plug portion 103 are provided with a conformed incline so that when these ski coupling arrangements are brought together as illustrated in the sectional view of FIG. 10, a tight but non-binding fit is provided. This figure also shows that the ski coupling arrangements may be additionally secured together by conventional flat head machine screws 143, extending through the holes 133 and threadably engaging the threaded holes 127 in the upstanding portions 123. However, it is to be noted that the pressure of the ski boot in a suitable binding on the co-planar upper surfaces 137 and 144 of the coupling arrangements will prevent the decoupling of the coupling arrangements.

FIG. 10 further illustrates the integral-like connection of the

ski coupling arrangements

101 and 115, the

respective tongue portions

107 and 119 being bonded within conforming flat slots 145 and 14-7 in the first and

second ski sections

149 and 151, respectively. Any suitable bonding agent for the materials involved, such as epoxy cement 152, for example, may be utilized along the abutting surfaces and in the

slots

109 and 121. Additionally, holes 153 and 155 in

respective tongue portions

107 and 119 may be provided to allow communication of the bonding agent through the tongue portions. Of course, holes may be provided in appropriate positions of the individual ski sections that register with the

holes

153 and 155 so that conventional bolting arrangements may be used in order to secure the coupling arrangements to these ski sections.

From the foregoing, it should be evident that a very advantageous and novel sectional ski structure has been described which significantly advances the art. It should also be understood that the materials used in fabricating the invention as herein described, are not critical and any material generally considered suitable for a particular function may be utilized. For example, the ski sections may be fabricated from wood or synthetic materials or metals such as aluminum and steel, and the coupling means and arrangements may also be fabricated from a strong but lightweight metal such as aluminum, for example, or other metals and metal alloys and synthetic materials may be used for this purpose. Also, any conventional process may be used to fabricate the coupling means and arrangements. For example, the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6-10 may be cast from aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

Although a limited number of embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it should be realized that modifications and other embodiments incorporating the inventive features, may be constructed. Accordingly, it is intended that the foregoing disclosure and drawings shall be considered only as illustrations of the principles of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A sectional ski having a ski boot supporting region, comprising:

first and second ski sections having abutting ends in the boot supporting region, said region having a planar boot supporting surface and a lower planar skiing surface;

coupling means associated with said ski sections for releasably engaging said ski sections together and for allowing the disengagement of said ski sections only when said boot supporting surface is not supporting a ski boot, said coupling means including a plug portion extending beyond the abutting end of the first ski section, said plug portion including a necked down width dimension adjacent said abutting end and having a lower surface above said planar skiing surface, said coupling means also including a socket portion adjacent the abutting end of said second section, the upper surface of said plug and socket portions being a portion of said boot supporting surface, said socket portion including a pocket recess in its said upper surface and communicating with said abutting end of said second ski section and conforming to the shape and fully accepting said plug portion, said plug and socket portions including horizontally extending tongue portions disposed in appropriate slots in said ski sections, said tongue portions lying in a plane intermediate said boot supporting and skiing surfaces, said socket portion including two upstanding tubular members with threaded holes centered in the top thereof, said plug portion including cylindrical recesses in its said lower surface disposed and dimensioned to accept said upstanding tubular members and also including holes therethrough with vertical axes coaxial with the axes of said recesses and adapted to receive machine screws therethrough threaded into said threaded holes.

2. The sectional ski according to claim 1, wherein the side walls of said pocket recess and that portion of said plug portion positionable therein are vertically inclined at a relatively shallow angle of approximately 5.

Claims

1. A sectional ski having a ski boot supporting region, comprising: first and second ski sections having abutting ends in the boot supporting region, said region having a planar boot supporting surface and a lower planar skiing surface; coupling means associated with said ski sections for releasably engaging said ski sections together and for allowing the disengagement of said ski sections only when said boot supporting surface is not supporting a ski boot, said coupling means including a plug portion extending beyond the abutting end of the first ski section, said plug portion including a necked down width dimension adjacent said abutting end and having a lower surface above said planar skiing surface, said coupling means also including a socket portion adjacent the abutting end of said second section, the upper surface of said plug and socket portions being a portion of said boot supporting surface, said socket portion including a pocket recess in its said upper surface and communicating with said abutting end of said second ski section and conforming to the shape and fully accepting said plug portion, said plug and socket portions including horizontally extending tongue portions disposed in appropriate slots in said ski sections, said tongue portions lying in a plane intermediate said boot supporting and skiing surfaces, said socket portion including two upstanding tubular members with threaded holes centered in the top thereof, said plug portion including cylindrical recesses in its said lower surface disposed and dimensioned to accept said upstanding tubular members and also including holes therethrough with vertical axes coaxial with the axes of said recesses and adapted to receive machine screws therethrough threaded into said threaded holes.

2. The sectional ski according to claim 1, wherein the side walls of said pocket recess and that portion of said plug portion positionable therein are vertically inclined at a relatively shallow angle of approximately 5*.