WO1997016225A1

WO1997016225A1 - Protective cap for snowboards

Info

Publication number: WO1997016225A1
Application number: PCT/IB1996/001176
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Marie Devaux
Original assignee: Devaux Jean Marie
Priority date: 1995-11-02
Filing date: 1996-10-31
Publication date: 1997-05-09
Also published as: FR2740694B1; FR2740694A1

Abstract

A protective cap for the tip and tail of a snowboard, including an upper surface (5), a rear surface and a lower surface (15). A tapered channel is defined in the space between the upper and lower surfaces and the inner edge of the rear surface. The special shape and structure of the upper and lower surfaces enable said channel to be widened by hand. A concave recess (20) extending from the lower surface (15) at the ends of the cap prevents contact between the snow and the edges of the tip or tail. Said cap may be fitted using adhesive means only on the top and the sidewall of the tip or tail, and the special shape and structure of the lower surface (15) provide grip on the underside of the snowboard.

Description

PROTECTIVE TOE CAP ADAPTED TO SNOW SURFING

The present invention relates to a protective tip adapted to snowboards. More particularly, this tip is intended to protect the tip and heel of such surfboards against scratches and shocks, some of which can cause irreversible damage instantly or when worn. These alterations can be suffered by the surf during use on snow or during its transport.

We have long known such tips adapted to skis and providing protection of the tip. These must generally be installed at the ski manufacturing stage, and their installation may require a particular shape of the tip portion intended to receive the tip, as illustrated in document EP 0456 980.

Other types of tips are reported on the tip of skis, especially competition skis, particularly those intended for slalom events. In this case, these ends, such as that described in the document FR 2 691 370, have the primary object of allowing the ski to pass flush with the slalom pole without risking straddling it rather than ensuring protection of the spatula.

In addition, it should be noted that there are few similarities between the stresses that the front end of a traditional ski must undergo and those applied to the tip and heel of a snowboard. Indeed, impacts against obstacles are much more frequent in surfing because it is much more difficult to bypass them than with skis, where the simple fact of lifting or spreading a leg would have been enough. In addition, the surfer being attached to a single board, all the inertia generated by the weight of his body is transmitted during an impact without the distribution of the load between the two legs is possible: thus, the contact with an obstacle is often violent.

Accessories intended to be placed at the ends of surfboards are also known. More particularly, protective caps are known which are suitable for nautical surfboards, but here too, the constraints between surfing on water and on snow are different. Indeed, the tip of a nautical surf must be able to withstand high speeds and jerky and sequential efforts, in connection with the repetition of the contacts of the board on the surface of the water. In the case of snowboarding, the possible shock is often punctual but can be significant; thus, a protective cap must be capable of absorbing a violent isolated stress.

In addition, the climatic and environmental conditions in which the two types of surfing evolve are very different and thus, various characteristics, in particular of thermal resistance, to ultraviolet, and to abrasion, are specific to each situation.

Finally, an accessory is known which is mounted at each end of a snowboard, but its main purpose is to vary the length of the board in order to adapt it to users of various sizes and to different types of snow. This accessory therefore does not have a primary protective vocation.

In addition, the design of most of the devices described above requires additional fixing means to make them integral with the related board, which represents a meticulous installation work and which is not within the reach of each. user. Certain devices are however maintained by gluing on each of the faces of the board in relation. However, this maintenance is not reliable because it is well known that a bonding on the sole of a ski or a board, made of polyethylene material and which is most often waxed, is not effective. These devices thus mounted are easily torn off, in particular by their lower part.

The object of the present invention is to remedy the problems mentioned above by proposing a tip for protecting the tip and heel of snowboards not requiring a particular shape of the ends of the surfboards, adaptable to boards of thickness and width. different, easy to install, difficult to remove, and without altering the characteristics of the surfboards. In addition, this tip is made of a material having characteristics of thermal resistance and ultraviolet adapted to its use.

The design of this protective tip is such that the additional cost induced by its presence on a surfboard is reduced.

These aims are achieved by means of a protective tip for snowboards adaptable to the tip and heel of such surfboards and which comprises an upper face, a downstream face and a lower face. More precisely and according to preferential arrangements, the space between the upper and lower faces and the internal edge of the downstream face defines a groove of pinched shape and which can be manually deformed in width.

Subsequently and for simplifying purposes, we will mean by "upstream" the side of the tip facing the surf when it is mounted on it, and by "downstream" the side of the tip facing the snow in this same configuration.

Thus, and preferably, the upper face of the endpiece is two to four times thinner at its upstream edge than at its downstream edge, which allows it to be flexible. In addition, this upper face has an angle of inclination five to twenty degrees greater than the angle of curvature of the tip or heel, which, combined with its flexibility, ensures permanent contact with the upper. the spatula or heel.

Preferably, the lower face has a width of at most half the width of the upper face, is substantially as thick as it is wide, and is inclined in opposite direction to the upper face by an angle between five and fifteen degrees. It is therefore particularly rigid and its inclined profile allows effective retention of the toe on the sole of the tip or the heel.

Advantageously, both of the upper and lower faces are deformable outside of their respective planes, which allows inter alia an adaptation of the end piece to surfboards of different thickness.

Advantageously also, a plurality of notches of rounded shape is provided on the upper face of the end piece and over the entire thickness of the latter; more precisely, on this upper face are provided a central notch and at least two lateral notches, each lateral notch being arranged transversely symmetrically with respect to the central notch. In addition, a plurality of notches of rounded shape and arranged in vertical correspondence with the notches of the upper face is provided on the lower face and over the entire thickness of the latter. Thus, the tip can adapt to surfboards of different sizes.

Preferably, on the part of the downstream face coinciding with the lateral edge of the spatula or the heel appears a concave reservation formed from the lower edge of the lower face, which aims to avoid the tip of grate the snow at this level.

Advantageously, the protective tip comprises adhesive means acting only on the top and the edge of the tip or the heel, the attachment to the sole being provided by the particular structure of the underside. Advantageously also, this nozzle is made of thermoplastic material of the type of thermoplastic copolyesters-ether with a hardness of 35 to 70 Shores D or of the type of polyolefin elastomeric compounds with a hardness of 80 to 90 Shores A.

Usefully, an intermediate element of elastic material takes place between the bottom of the throat and the edge of the tip or the heel in order to absorb part of the forces induced by an impact and thus lengthen the life of the tip. while providing better comfort to the surfer. Also usefully, and for the same purpose as above, a strip of elastic material is installed in a housing formed transversely on the downstream face and protrudes slightly therefrom.

In the following description and for simplification purposes, we will consider the tip according to the invention in relation to the tip of a surfboard, while keeping in mind that this tip can be adapted to either heel and tip of such a board.

The invention will be better understood from the study of an embodiment taken on a non-limiting basis and illustrated in the following figures:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the nozzle according to the invention mounted on a spatula, FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the nozzle according to the invention mounted on a spatula,

FIG. 3 is a cross section along AA of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of an embodiment of the lower ends of the end piece according to the invention,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view of another embodiment of the lower ends of the end piece according to the invention,

FIG. 6 describes another method of mounting the nozzle according to the invention on a spatula,

FIG. 7 describes an alternative embodiment of the downstream face of the nozzle according to the invention, and

- Figure 8 shows a top view of the nozzle according to the invention when it is not mounted on a spatula.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the protective cap according to the invention, in the form of an arc of a circle, comprises a tongue 5 defining its upper face, a downstream face 12, and an edge 15 defining its underside.

The space delimited between the tongue 5, the edge 15, and the internal part of the downstream face 12 defines a groove 13 illustrated in FIG. 3.

As clearly visible in Figure 1, the tongue 5 has a plurality of notches 8 formed over the entire thickness thereof, a central notch and at least one side notch so that the side notches are arranged symmetrically transversely to the central notch. These notches, of rounded shape, have a depth such that they are hollowed out substantially to the bottom of the groove 13 against which the tip 3 abuts to be protected.

This tongue 5 has a thickness substantially two to four times less at its downstream edge than at its upstream edge; this characteristic, reinforced by the properties of malleability and flexibility of the material constituting the end piece, allows a certain vertical deformability of this first end, ie a possibility of deformation out of its plane, by a simple manual action and without requiring additional tools.

In addition, the tongue 5 has an angle of inclination, the angle defined by the plane of the tongue relative to the horizontal, always greater by at least five and at most twenty degrees relative to the 'angle of curvature of the spatula on which the tongue 5 is positioned, or the angle defined by the plane of the spatula relative to the horizontal. Thus, by deforming, the tongue 5 comes to marry the form of the top 1 of the spatula 3 and returns in centect with any point thereof, as clearly visible in FIG. 3.

On the upper surface of this tongue 5, transverse ridges

30 are made in the material, each representing a cutting mark.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the edge 15 has rounded notches 18 formed in correspondence with the notches 8 of the tongue 5 and hollowed out substantially to the bottom of the groove 13 against which the edge of the spatula 3 abuts. protect.

This edge 15 has a very small width relative to the tongue 5. More precisely, this width is at least two times less than that of the tongue and measures at least five millimeters. In addition, its thickness at its downstream edge is always substantially equal to its width.

Thus, given its structure, this edge 15 has, as the tongue 5, capacities for vertical deformability, that is to say a possibility of deformation out of its plane, but the forces to be applied in order to implement them are appreciably greater because the arm of generated leverage is weak and the downstream underside of this edge is thick. However, this operation can still be carried out manually without the need for additional tools.

In addition, the lower part of this edge 15 is chamfered so as to avoid as much as possible any contact with snow and to limit the risks of tearing of the end piece by contact with an obstacle at this level.

This edge 15 comes into contact with the sole 10 of the tip 3, and has an angle of inclination, that is the angle defined by the plane of the edge relative to the horizontal, in a direction opposite to the angle d inclination of the tongue 5 so as to that the groove 13 has a pinched shape, as can be seen in Figure 3. More specifically, the angle of inclination of the edge is between five and fifteen degrees.

At each part of this end piece in correspondence with the lateral edges of the spatula on which it is mounted, a reservation 20 as described in FIG. 4 is made. This reservation 20 is obtained by molding or machining this end piece along a curved line starting from the lower edge of the edge

15 and ending at the lower end point of the tongue 5.

Thus, on the downstream face 12 of the end piece coinciding with the lateral edge of the tip appears such a concave reservation so as to prevent the edge 15 from touching the snow at this level while continuing to provide effective protection of the song of the spatula. In addition, this reservation is designed so as to leave the lateral edge of the tip visible so as not to alter the characteristics of the surf.

Another method of terminating the ends of the endpiece is described in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, the edge 15 has a length substantially equal to that of the tongue 5, and simply ends in a rounded 22. This rounded limits the effects of friction during contact with snow.

A quick glue suitable for plastics, not illustrated, for example of the cyanoacrylate type, is placed between the spatula 3 and the end piece in order to secure these two elements. This adhesive has characteristics such that it is easy to use and very insensitive to thermal variations.

Likewise, the material constituting the end piece has this last property since, among other things, it must not risk becoming brittle under the effect of the cold. It is moreover resistant to shocks, cuts, and tears, has associated characteristics of hardness and malleability, as well as a good shape memory. Finally, it is resistant to ultraviolet rays.

The thermoplastic material used is either of the type of thermoplastic copolyesters-ether, for example that sold under the brand "ITREL", with a hardness of 35 to 70 Shores D, or of the type of polyolefin elastomeric compounds, for example that sold under the brand "KRATON", with a hardness of 80 to 90 Shores A. FIG. 8 represents the single end piece not mounted on a spatula; this representation makes it possible to clearly distinguish the correspondence of the upper and lower notches and the reservation 20 on the lower face.

As described above, the protective tip according to the invention is put in place on the tip 3 of a snowboard easily so as to glue beforehand the underside of the tongue 5 and the bottom of the groove 13, as well as possibly the edge of the spatula 3 in correspondence, and bringing the latter into abutment at the bottom of the groove 13.

To do this, we come into contact with the upstream edge of the edge 15 with the sole 10 of the tip and the tip is pushed in by a combined movement of rotation around this upstream edge of the edge and in longitudinal translation up to 'that the bottom of the throat 13 comes into contact with the edge of the spatula. It is then necessary to keep the elements in position until the bonding has become final, this holding time being very short given the glue used.

The inclined aspect of the tongue 5, coupled with its vertical deformability, makes it possible to make permanent contact with the top 1 of the spatula and thus to ensure effective bonding.

In addition, the pinched shape of the groove 13, coupled with the rigidity of the edge 15, ensures effective retention of the tip on the sole. Thus, the accidental removal of the endpiece by tearing is greatly reduced, a reduction reinforced by the external chamfer of the edge 15.

In addition, this pinched shape, associated with the respective deformability of the tongue 5 and edge 15, allows adaptation of the end piece to spatulas of different thickness, the thickness variation according to the surfing models being most often between a and three millimeters.

This protective tip can also be adapted to spatulas of different width and shape, since the notches 8 and 18 allow to play on the curvature of this tip. The rounded shape of these notches and their arrangement are such that no folds appear on the surface or inside the end piece when its curvature is increased or decreased by pressure or extension at its ends. In addition, the absence of such internal folds makes it possible to avoid contact discontinuity between the nozzle and the spatula, each discontinuity constituting a potential take-off zone.

In another embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, an intermediate element 35 of elastic material such as thermoformed polyethylene or rubber is mounted integral with the bottom of the groove 13 and it is the upstream face of this element 35 which is glued and which comes into contact with the song of the spatula 3.

The purpose of this intermediate element is to absorb part of the shocks and vibrations, and thus to limit the risks of detachment that these could generate in the long term. This embodiment also makes it possible to provide the surfer with greater comfort during an impact by a damping effect of the latter.

Such objects can be obtained according to the description of FIG. 7 by overmolding a strip 40 of such elastic material in a housing 45 formed transversely on the downstream face 12, this strip protruding slightly out of this last face. This arrangement, providing external damping and no longer internal as previously, has the particular advantage of protecting the end piece when the surf is placed vertically and of absorbing the vibrations that such an operation can generate when the surf is violently released.

It should be noted that bonding is not the only potential method of attachment: it is indeed possible to maintain the tip on the spatula by installing a double-sided adhesive in the same places as the glue and instead and place thereof. Finally, it is not prohibited to ensure such a maintenance by means of external fixing means, such as screws or rivets, this option interesting especially the hirers of material of winter sports for which the facility to remove the 'tip for its change is essential.

As can be seen, the protective cap according to the invention is very simple to install. In particular, it does not require any particular shape of the tip of the tip or of the heel on which it is to be mounted and shows remarkable adaptability to the different types of surfing, both in size, in thickness, or even in shape. In addition, and particularly in the case where the ends of the end piece end according to the rounding 22, this adaptability in terms of size or shape can be reinforced by cutting each end of the tip according to one of the respective ridges 30. This operation is carried out simply by means of scissors or other usual cutting utensils.

In addition, the small width of the edge 15, the fact that it is chamfered on its outer face, and the particular shape of the reservation 20 or the rounded 22 limit the possibilities of contact with snow during a normal use while ensuring effective protection of the edge of the spatula.

Finally, in addition to the aspect of holding in position already mentioned, the large surface of the tongue 5 allows broad protection of the top of the spatula against impact and scratches.

Many improvements can be made to this protective cap within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. Protective tip for snowboards, adaptable to the tip and heel of such surfboards, comprising an upper face (5), a downstream face (12), and a lower face (15), characterized in that the 'space between the upper and lower faces and the inner edge of the downstream face defines a groove (13) of pinched shape.

2. Protective cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the groove (13) is deformable in width and can be deformed manually.

3. Protective cap according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the upper face (5) is two to four times less thick at its upstream edge than at its downstream edge and has an angle of inclination greater than five to twenty degrees to the angle of curvature of the spatula or heel.

4. Protective cap according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the lower face (15) has a width of at most half the width of the upper face (5).

5. Protective cap according to claim 4, characterized in that the lower face (15) is substantially as thick as it is wide and is inclined in opposite direction to the upper face (5) by an angle between five and fifteen degrees.

6. Protective cap according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that one and the other of the upper (5) and lower (15) faces are deformable outside their respective planes.

7. Protective cap according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of notches (8) of rounded shape is provided on the upper face (5) and over the entire thickness thereof.

8. Protective cap according to claim 7, characterized in that on the upper face (5) are provided a central notch and at least two lateral notches, each lateral notch being arranged transversely symmetrically with respect to the central notch.

9. Protective cap according to claims 7 and 8, characterized in that a plurality of notches (18) of rounded shape and arranged in vertical correspondence with the notches (8) is provided on the underside (15) and on any the thickness of it.

10. Protective cap according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the part of the downstream face (12) coinciding with the lateral edge of the tip or heel appears a concave reservation (20) formed from the edge lower of the lower face (15)

11. Protective cap according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises adhesive means acting only on the top and the edge of the tip or the heel.

12. Protective cap according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of thermoplastic material of the type of thermoplastic copolyesters-ether with a hardness of 35 to 70 Shores D or of the type of polyolefin elastomeric compounds with a hardness from 80 to 90 Shores A.

13. Protective cap according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that an intermediate element (35) of elastic material takes place between the bottom of the groove (13) and the edge of the spatula or the heel.

14. Protective cap according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a strip (40) of elastic material is installed in a housing (45) formed transversely on the downstream face (12) and protrudes slightly therefrom. .