GB2198650A - Skis - Google Patents

Abstract

A ski 1 has a piece of ski skin 2 built into the underside of its sole. The ski skin 2 is forced into contact with the snow or ice surface when sufficient weight (e.g. the whole of the skier's weight) is applied at the boot binding 5, so that the hairs 3 of the skin 2 provide a friction force resisting backwards sliding of the ski 1. When the weight is reduced (e.g. half the skier's weight on each ski) the skin 2 is not in contact with the snow surface thus allowing 'normal' use of the skis such as downhill skiing. Thermoplastic material similar to that from which the ski is made may be melted over the front and rear edges of the skin piece. <IMAGE>

Description

SKI WITH GRIPPING DEVICE.

This invention relates to a ski provided with a gripping device fixed to the underside thereof so as to prevent backward sliding.

Skis fitted with gripping devices are well known in the art. They have involved the use of removable self-adhesive skins to provide a friction force in one direction only between the skis and the ice or snow. The skins may be animal skins, such as seal skins or imitations thereof in synthetic materials The hairs of the skin lie with their free ends pointing toward the rear of the ski. Hence the ski will freelg slide forward over the snow, but the hairs or fibres offer resistance to the ski sliding backwards thus allowing the user to walk more easily wearing the skis, up a slope or pulling a sled for example.

They are thus very useful in cross-country skiing and the like.

However, removable self-adhesive ski skins do have disadvantages in that the skins have to be fitted when such tasks are envisaged, and removed and stored when the skis are in normal use, obviously undesirable in continually changing conditions. Moreover, when removing the skin1 part of the adhesive material may remain on the ski sole, thus preventing good sliding.

There is, therefore, a need for a ski equipped with a gripping device which can be easily transformed so as to rapidly obtain a ski for normal use, such as downhill skiing.

According to the present invention a ski has a boot binding and has built into part of its underside a piece of ski skin wherein the ski skin is forced into contact with the snow or ice when sufficient weight ifi applied at the boot binding.

The ski skin is attached in such a way that the hairs or fibres thereof lie lengthways along the ski with their free ends pointing towards the rear of the ski.

The present invention will now be described, by way of exampLe only, with respect to the following accompanying diagrannatic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a ski, and Figure 2 shows an underneath plan view.

The ski 1 is shaped as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and has a boot binding 5 which may be fabricated from wood and/or glass fibre reinforced plastic or other suitable material. Part of the material forming oL sole of the portion of the ski 1 under the boot binding 5 is removed, and replaced by a piece of a conventional ski skin 2, having hairs or fibres 3.

Thermoplastic material similar to that from which the sole is made is then melted over the edges of the piece of the skin 2 to smooth the transition between skin 2 and ski 1 at front and rear edges 6 of the skin piece 2. The skin 2 may be that of a seal or other suitable animal, or may be fabricated from a man-made material such as nylon, and has short hairs or fibres 3 attached lying lengthways along the ski 1 with their free ends towards the rear of the ski 1.

In operation, when unloaded the ski is arched as shown in figure 1 so that the portion under the boot binding 5 is raised off the ground.

If half the user's weight is applied at the boot binding 5, such as when skiing downhill on two skis, the part of each ski under the boot binding 5 is deflected downward, but not sufficiently for the skin to be in contact with the ice. However, should a skier wish to walk, possibly up a slope, his weight would pass alternatively from one ski to the other. The shape and rigidity of the ski are such that when the full weight of the skier is applied at the boot binding 5 the ski is straightened so that the hairs 3 of the skin 2 come into contact with the snow under the ski and provide a friction force resisting backwards sliding of the ski. In use, this would allow for one ski to carry the bulk of the weight of the skier and hence have the skin in contact with the ice whilst the other ski may be slid forward along the ice.

Thus the form of the ski allows the hairs on the skin on its underside to come into contact with the ice when it is necessary, and not at other times. Thus it is not necessary for the user to fit skins when needed, and store/carry them when not needed.

Claims (5)

1. A ski having a boot binding and having built into part of its underside a piece of ski skin wherein the ski skinis forced into contact with the snow or ice when sufficient weight is applied at the boot binding.

2. A ski according to Claim 1 wherein the piece of ski skin has hairs or fibres lying lengthways along the ski with their free ends pointing towards the rear of the ski.

3. A ski according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the piece of ski skin is placed in the region directly under the boot binding.

4. A ski according to any previous claim having-thermoplastic material similar to that from which the sole of the ski is made, melted onto the ski over the front and rear edges of the skin piece so that there is a smooth transition between the skin and the adjacent ski parts.

5. A ski as substantially herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.