WO2001076701A1

WO2001076701A1 - Apparatus for sharpening edges

Info

Publication number: WO2001076701A1
Application number: PCT/CH2001/000189
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Bernard Tschäppät
Original assignee: Tschaeppaet Jean Bernard
Priority date: 2000-04-05
Filing date: 2001-03-28
Publication date: 2001-10-18
Also published as: EP1183081A1

Abstract

The invention concerns an apparatus for sharpening ski edges, each edge having a lower surface along the side of the ski and a lateral surface alongside it, to form a ridge. Said apparatus comprises a frame (10) which bears: a tool provided with an abrasive surface (22) a motor (12) driving the tool, means for being positioned on the ski. The invention is characterised in that said positioning means comprise: a first table (29a) substantially parallel to the abrasive surface (22), designed to be pressed against the sole to contact said surface with the of the edge and sharpen it, and a second table (29b) substantially perpendicular to the abrasive surface (22), designed to be pressed against the sole to contact the lateral surface of the edge and sharpen it.

Description

APPARATUS FOR SHARPENING SQUARES

The present invention relates to devices for sharpening edges, which are rods of steel or other suitable alloy bordering the sole of a ski or any other means of sliding on snow, such as boards, better known under the name English snowboarding. In the present document, for reasons of simplification of the description, the word "skis" will be used, in a broad way, to designate at the same time the skis themselves and the boards or other means of gliding equipped with edges.

More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus for sharpening ski edges, each edge having a face, called the bottom, which borders the ski sole and a face, called the side, which borders its side, to define an edge. This device is of the type comprising a chassis which carries:

- a tool with an abrasive surface,

- a tool drive motor, and - positioning means on the ski.

Such an apparatus is, for example, described in patent CH 659,189. It comprises a box in which the motor is housed and which carries a frame intended to provide guidance during sharpening. The tool consists of a grinding wheel driven in rotation by the motor. Such an apparatus allows only an approximate sharpening, the positioning of the tool relative to the edges being difficult to ensure.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device which can be easily used with any type of ski, of small dimensions and of modest cost. This object is achieved thanks to the fact that the positioning means include:

a first table, substantially parallel to the abrasive surface, intended to be applied against the ski sole to bring this surface into contact with the underside of the edge and to sharpen it, and - A second table, substantially perpendicular to the abrasive surface, intended to be applied against the soleplate to bring this surface into contact with the lateral face of the edge and to carry out its sharpening. Advantageously, the tool is formed from a ribbon forming a loop.

To ensure that the ribbon is driven in good conditions, the apparatus further comprises pulleys mounted to rotate on the chassis and which guide the ribbon, the axes of rotation of these pulleys defining the vertices of a concave polygon. The pulley at the top of the concave angle is driven by the motor and is in contact with the abrasive surface of the tape.

It is possible to carry out a sharpening of particularly good quality, thanks to the fact that the ribbon has a stable position relative to the edge. This is why, it is desirable that, in the zone where it works, the ribbon is in abutment against a surface guaranteeing this stability. To this end, the apparatus further comprises a first and a second shoe, each disposed between two pulleys, in the vicinity of one of the tables, one substantially parallel, the other substantially perpendicular to the surface of the adjoining table, and serving as a ribbon support during sharpening. This kind of device is advantageously carried with you as hand luggage, to be able to sharpen the edges on the spot according to the qualities of the snow. This is why it is desirable for it to occupy a minimum volume, for example by making it foldable. Also, advantageously, the apparatus further comprises a part pivotally mounted on the chassis and defining flat surfaces which form the tables, and members for connecting the part to the chassis.

Demanding skiers, especially those practicing competition, want to be able to adjust the sharpening angles. This is why, in a preferred embodiment, the connecting members are arranged so as to allow the angles formed by the tables to be adjusted relative to the surface of the adjacent skate.

In order to guarantee constant sharpening conditions and to facilitate the operation, it is advantageous for the first table to include a stop intended to bear at two points against the lateral faces of the edges and to position the device on the ski so that the edge cuts the outer edge of the ribbon in the zone where the latter cooperates with the shoe.

Likewise, the second table forms a bearing surface defining a non-zero angle with the direction of movement of the ribbon. It is arranged so that, when the underside of the edges to be sharpened is in contact with the ribbon, the edge cuts the outer edge of the latter in the area where it cooperates with the shoe.

To ensure regular sharpening, it is desirable that the contact pressure of the tool on the edge is constant, especially when sharpening the side faces of the edges. For this purpose, at least the pad intended to serve as a support for the ribbon when sharpening the lateral face of the edges is resiliently mounted on the chassis. In addition, the positioning means comprise a stop intended to serve as a support for the ski, at two points arranged on either side of the skate, the whole arranged so that the contact pressure of the ribbon is constant when the edge is in abutment against the stop.

In a first embodiment, the shoe has two parts, arranged substantially symmetrically in the space between the pulleys, and pivotally mounted on the chassis around axes parallel to the surface of the ribbon and adjacent to the pulleys, and at least one elastic member cooperating with these parts to apply them against the tape.

In a second embodiment, the pad is slidably mounted on the chassis in a direction perpendicular to the bearing surface of the tape. At least one elastic member generates a force oriented in the sliding direction, to apply the pad against the tape. Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawing, in which:

- Figures 1 to 3 show an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention, seen respectively from the side, from the front and from above;

- Figures 4 and 5 show the device in operation, sharpening a square on its underside, respectively seen from above and from the side;

- Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the sharpening of an edge on one of its side faces, the apparatus being viewed respectively from below and from the side; FIGS. 8 and 9 show a second embodiment of the invention, the device being seen from the side, respectively open, and closed,

FIG. 10 is a front view of the device from FIGS. 8 and 9, partially disassembled,

FIG. 11 is a section of a part of the apparatus of FIGS. 8 to 10, along the line XI-XI of FIG. 10, and

- Figures 12, 13 and 14 on the one hand, 15 and 16 on the other hand, show two variants of the means which define a constant pressure of the tape against the edge.

The apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 comprises a housing 10, a motor 12, a switch 14 for controlling the switching on and off of the motor 12, pulleys 16 to 20 and a ribbon 22, in the form of a loop, engaged on the pulleys.

The housing 10, forming a chassis, is manufactured by injection, for example of reinforced plastic. It has two separate portions 10a and 10b, in one piece and arranged at right angles.

The portion 10a is in the form of a shell, inside which the motor 12 and the switch 14 are housed, as can be seen by the tear away that comprises FIG. 1. The portion 10b comprises a body 10c, of form general parallelepiped, and two bosses 10d and 10e of unequal heights, parallel to each other and extending over the entire length of the outer face of the portion 10b.

As will be explained below, the portions 10a and 10b are intended to serve as a support for the device against the ski. In a variant which has not been shown, the portion 10b could contain a battery allowing an autonomous drive of the motor 12.

The portion 10a is provided, at its end adjacent to the portion 10b, of a plate 15 which carries the pulleys 16 to 20. The pulleys 16 to 19 are mounted, free to rotate, on rods not shown in the drawing. Their axes of rotation define the vertices of a rectangle R (Figure 2) whose short sides are parallel to the bosses 10d and 10e. One of these pulleys is advantageously movable in a direction perpendicular to its axis of rotation and subjected to the action of a spring, so as to keep the ribbon 22 taut.

The pulley 20, arranged inside the rectangle R, is mounted on a shaft driven by the motor 12. In this way, the axes of rotation of the five pulleys form the vertices of a concave pentagon, the vertex of the angle concave being defined by the axis of the pulley 20. The ribbon 22 is disposed on the pulleys which guarantee its guidance and mobility, the pulley 20 also ensuring its drive.

Conventionally, the tape 22 comprises a substrate forming its inner face and an abrasive layer fixed on the substrate and forming its outer face. As can be seen more particularly in FIG. 2, the arrangement of the pulleys 16 to 20 is such that the strip 22 is supported on the pulleys 16 to 19 by its substrate and on the pulley 20 by the abrasive. The latter is in contact with the ribbon at an angle close to 180 °. In this way, it is possible to avoid any risk of slipping during the drive of the tape 22. It should also be noted that such a configuration makes it possible to use a relatively long ribbon, which extends its service life.

The plate 15 carries, in addition, two pads 24 and 25 and two pins 26. The pads 24 and 25 are attached to the ribbon 22 in the parts adjacent to the long sides of the rectangle R, placed respectively between the pulleys 16 and 17, of on the one hand, 18 and 19, on the other hand, and in contact with the substrate of the ribbon. The pins 26 are arranged in the vicinity of the pulleys 18 and 19, beyond the space embraced by the ribbon 22, slightly set back relative to the bearing surface of the shoe 25. A stop 28, formed of a plate of metal, is fixed on the shoe 24 and extends beyond the outer face of the portion 10a.

More specifically, the pad 24 is placed so that the abrasive face of the tape 22 slightly protrudes from the outer face of the portion 10a. This pad serves as a support for the ribbon 22 during the sharpening of the lower faces of the edges. The stop 28 is provided with a lug 28a disposed at one of its ends, extending above the strip, the function of which will be specified below.

The pad 25, slightly curved, serves as a support during the sharpening of the edges on their lateral faces. Thanks to its shape, it is possible to sharpen skis whose sides are not flat, such as those known by the English term "carving".

As already mentioned, the portions 10a and 10b of the chassis 10 are intended to allow the support of the device against the ski. They respectively form tables 29a for sharpening the underside of the edges, and 29b for sharpening their lateral face. The upper face of the portion 10a which forms the table 29a is flat. It is practically aligned on the active face of the pad 24.

The two bosses 10d and 10e formed on the lateral face of the portion 10b are substantially perpendicular to the shoe 25 and form the table 29b. Figures 4 and 5 help to understand how the sharpening of the underside of an edge takes place. They show, in addition to the device which has just been described, a ski 30, the sole 30a of which is provided with edges 32 and 33.

To ensure the sharpening of the lower face 32a of the edge 32, the ski 30 is arranged on a support not shown in the drawing, its sole 30a facing upwards. The motor 12 for driving the ribbon 22 being started, the apparatus is placed at one of the ends of the ski by applying the table 29a against the sole and putting the stop 28 in abutment against the edge 32. It is then moved from one end of the ski to the other 30. The only force necessary to carry out the operation is that required for moving the device on the ski and keeping it pressed against the edge. The sharpening of a face is therefore effortless and in a few seconds.

In order to guarantee constant sharpening conditions and to facilitate the operation, it is advantageous for the table 29a to have a stop intended to bear at two points against the lateral faces of the edges and to position the device on the ski so that the edge cuts the outer edge of the ribbon in the zone where the latter cooperates with the shoe.

Because of the lug 28a, the edge of the strip 22 forms a non-zero angle with the edge of the ski. This lug is dimensioned so that the edge of the edge 32 intersects the outer edge of the tape 22 in the area where the latter is in contact with the pad 24, as can be seen in FIG. 4. This results in that the ribbon remains flat in its part cooperating with the edges. Practice has shown that thus, the quality of sharpening remains the same throughout the life of the tape. It goes without saying that the sharpening of the underside of the edge 33 is done in a similar manner.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the sharpening of the lateral face 32b of the edge 32. The ski 30 remains on the same support and the apparatus is placed at one of its ends, engine running, the two bosses 10d and 10e which form the table 29b being applied to the sole 30a and the pins 26 set support against the edge 32. As the two bosses 10d and 10e are of unequal heights, the inner edge of the ribbon 22 makes an angle with the edge of the edge 32, so that the latter cuts the ribbon 22 in its cooperating part with the pad 25, as shown in Figure 6. This gives the same conditions of wear as those mentioned above.

The two pins 26 make it possible to maintain the alignment of the device 10 relative to the ski 30, so that the edge is applied in the best possible conditions facing the pad 25.

Thus, in a few minutes, the edges of the skis are sharpened, without having to take any particular measure, with a device that is not bulky and simple to handle. However, for demanding people or those practicing competition, it is necessary to be able to choose the orientation of the edge surfaces which define the ridge, depending on the snow conditions and the discipline practiced. The apparatus shown in Figures 8 to 11 allows such adjustment. It also offers the advantage of being foldable, so that it occupies a reduced volume. This embodiment differs from that described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 in that the housing 10 is replaced by a rectangular housing 34 and a hoop 36 pivotally mounted on this housing. The housing 34 is in every way similar to the portion 10a of the housing 10. The motor 12 and the switch 14 are housed there. It is also provided with a plate 15 carrying the pulleys 16 to 20 on which the tape 22 is mounted. Its two lateral faces are provided with coaxial rods 38 on which the arch 36 is pivotally mounted. One of these faces carries a sector 40 in an arc of a circle, embracing an angle slightly greater than 90 °, and whose outer arc, at its ends, has teeth 40a and 40b, the function of which will be specified below.

The arch 36 consists of a U-shaped piece with two arms 36a and 36b of parallelepiped shape, mutually parallel, arranged on either side of the housing 34 and connected by a bridge 36c. The short sides of the parallelepiped correspond to the thickness of the arms, while the other sides extend respectively over the length and the height of the housing 34 when the arch 36 is folded. The arms 36a and 36b are arranged so as to be able to occupy two sets of working positions, shown respectively in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The arm 36a, which is on the side of the housing 34 carrying the sector 40, carries a pawl 42, provided with a spout 42a and a pusher 42b and cooperating with a spring 44 (FIG. 11). The pawl 42 is pivotally mounted on the arm 36a about an axis perpendicular to the radius defining the arc of the sector 40, so that by applying a force on the pusher 42b, the spout is released from the teeth which the sector carries 40. By releasing the pusher, the spout engages in the teeth and maintains the arch in the selected position. The spout 42a has a toothing, formed by seven teeth, the same as the toothing 40a and 40b, this pitch corresponding to an angle of 1 °. In Figure 8, the arch 36 is shown in two extreme open positions, respectively in solid lines and in broken lines. These positions allow the side faces of the edges to be sharpened. The support table 29b is then formed by one of the sides of the two arms 36a and 36b, whose configuration is comparable to the bosses 10d and 10e. In the position shown in solid lines, the sharpening is such that the lateral face of the edge 32 forms an angle of 90 ° relative to the sole 30a, while, in the position represented in broken lines, this angle is 83 °. The toothing worn by sector 40 defines six other positions between these two extremes.

Figure 9 shows the device at the same viewing angle as that of Figure 8, the arch 36 being, this time, in the folded position. In this figure, the extreme positions are respectively shown in solid lines and in broken lines. This arrangement of the device makes it possible to sharpen the underside of the edges. The table 29a is then formed by the other side of the two arms 36a and 36b. In the position shown in solid lines, the surface 32a of the edge makes an angle of 0.5 ° relative to the sole 30a, while the position shown in broken lines corresponds to an angle of 2.5 °. Sector 40 is arranged to allow an intermediate position in which the angle is 1.5 °.

It will be noted that the two arms 36a and 36b are arranged so as to form tables making it possible to obtain the same positions of the edges relative to the tape 22, as those defined by the apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 5.

The embodiment shown in Figures 12 to 14 ensures optimal contact conditions between the tape 22 and the edges. To this end, the shoe 25 is replaced by an assembly formed by two parts 48, only one of which is visible in the drawing, arranged symmetrically in the space between the two pulleys 18 and 19. The parts 48 each have a shaft 48a engaged in the plate 15 and pivoting therein, and a finger 48b whose function will be explained below. They have a face 48c adjacent to the ribbon 22, which serves as a pad for the ribbon. It is slightly curved.

A leaf spring 52 is mounted on the inner face of the plate 15 and bears on the fingers 48b. It exerts a force which has the effect of applying the parts 48, by their faces 48c, against the tape 22.

When the device is used to sharpen the lateral faces of the edges, it bears against them by its pins 26. The pressure of the strip against the edge is thus defined by the characteristics of the leaf spring 52, so that the pressure of Ribbon contact remains constant, regardless of the force exerted by the user.

The embodiment shown in Figures 15 and 16 also allows to obtain a constant sharpening pressure. Here, we find the shoe 25 made in one piece. It is slidably mounted on the plate 15. For this purpose, the latter is provided with two blind holes 54, made in the thickness of the plate and parallel to each other. In each of them is housed a coil spring 56 and a rod 60. The spring 56 bears against the bottom of the hole 54 and against the internal end of the rod 60.

The plate 15 further comprises two cutouts 62 which pass right through it, substantially halfway through the holes 54. The shoe 25 is provided with feet 25a engaged in the cutouts and fixed to the rods 60, for example, by hunting. In this way, the shoe 25 can slide on the plate 15, guided by the rods 60 engaged in the blind holes 54.

With this embodiment, the shoe 25 slides in the plate 15 until the edge comes to bear against the pins 26. The pressure of the tape 22 is then defined by the two coil springs 56.

It goes without saying that the device according to the invention can include many variants, without going beyond the ambit of the invention, both with regard to the abrasive tool, and the positioning, guiding or training.

Claims

1. Apparatus for sharpening the edges (32) of a ski (30), each edge having a face, called the bottom (32a), which borders the sole of the ski and a face, called the side (32b), which borders its side, to form an edge, of the type comprising a frame (10) which carries:

- a tool provided with an abrasive surface (22),

- a motor (12) for driving the tool, and

- positioning means on the ski, characterized in that said positioning means comprise: - a first table (29a), substantially parallel to the abrasive surface (22), intended to be applied against the sole (30a) to put said surface in contact with the underside (32a) of the edge and thus carry out its sharpening, and

- A second table (29b), substantially perpendicular to the abrasive surface (22), intended to be applied against the sole (30a) to bring said surface into contact with the lateral face (32b) of the edge and thus achieve its sharpening.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said tool is formed of a ribbon (22) in the form of a loop.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises pulleys (16 to 20) rotatably mounted on the frame (10) and which guide said ribbon (22), the axes of rotation of these pulleys defining the apices of a concave polygon, the pulley (20) disposed at the top of the concave angle being driven by the motor (12) and in contact with the abrasive surface of the tape (22).

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that it further comprises a first (24) and a second shoe (25) each disposed between two pulleys (16, 17; 18, 19), in the vicinity of the '' one of the tables (29a; 29b), one (24) substantially parallel, the other (25) substantially perpendicular to the surface of the neighboring table, and serving as a support for the tape (22) during sharpening.

5. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the positioning means comprise a part (36) pivotally mounted on the chassis and defining planar surfaces which form said tables (29a, 29b), and organs connecting (38, 40, 42) of the part to the chassis.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that said connecting members are arranged to allow adjustment of the position of the table (29a; 29b) relative to the surface of the adjacent pad (24; 25).

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the first table (29a) has a stop (28) intended to bear at two points against one of the side faces of the edge (32, 33) and to position it so that the edge intersects the outer edge of the ribbon (22) in the area where the latter cooperates with the shoe (24).

8. Apparatus according to one of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the second table (29b) forms a bearing surface defining a non-zero angle with the direction of movement of the ribbon and arranged so that the edge cuts the ribbon (22) in its part cooperating with the shoe (25).

9. Apparatus according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that at least the shoe (25) intended to serve as a support for the tape (22) during the sharpening of said side faces is resiliently mounted on the chassis (10) and in that the positioning means comprise a stop (26) intended to serve as a support for the edges (32, 33) at two points arranged on either side of the shoe, the whole arranged so that that the contact pressure of the strip (22) is constant when the edge is in contact with said stop (26).

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that said pad (25) comprises two parts (48) arranged substantially symmetrically in the space between the pulleys (18, 19) and pivotally mounted on the chassis (10) around axes parallel to the surface of the strip (22) and neighbors of said pulleys, and at least one cooperating elastic member (52) with said parts (48) to apply them against said strip (22).

11. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that said shoe (25) is slidably mounted on the chassis in a direction perpendicular to the support surface of the tape (22) and in that at least one elastic member (56 ) generates a force oriented in the sliding direction to apply the shoe against the tape (22).