GB2413089A

GB2413089A - A collapsible ski

Info

Publication number: GB2413089A
Application number: GB0408506A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Clifford Green
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-04-16
Filing date: 2004-04-16
Publication date: 2005-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 2024-04-16
Also published as: GB0408506D0; GB2413089B

Abstract

A collapsible ski comprises a front ski runner 1 and a rear ski runner 2, positioned together to form a continuous running surface. Connectors 6A, 6B are mounted on the top face of the front and rear ski runners which are attached to a retaining plate 5. The retaining plate is held in place by a locking mechanism 7A, 7B. Releasing the locking mechanism allows the ski to be broken down into its component parts for transport or storage. The ski bindings 3,4 are attached to the retaining plate.

Description

24 1 3089 Collausible Skis The invention relates to a snow skis and more

particularly a ski that can be dismantled into sections in order to reduce the overall length of the ski so as to make it more compact and easier to carry and transport. Many people prefer to hire skis rather than encounter the inconveniences experienced having to carry their own skis, especially when flying to a resort.

The longitudinal ski running surface which slides over the snow comprises of a front ski runner and a rear ski runner positioned in a longitudinal arrangement by a retaining plate so as to form a continuous running surface and secured in this position by a locking mechanism cooperating with the said ski runners and said retaining plate which also positions and secures the front and rear binders which hold the ski bootonto the skis.

According to a more specific aspect of the invention, a font ski runner and a rear ski runner have a raised connector which forms part of the top face of the ski runners and which fit into a mating connector formed within a retaining plate such that when the said raised connectors and mating connector are fitted together and then secured with a locking mechanism, the assembled ski runners form a continuous longitudinal ski running surface. Furthermore, the said locking mechanism may be positioned so that when the ski boat is clamped into the front and rear binders secured to the top face of the retaining plate, there is insufficient space between the sole of the ski boot and the retaining plate to allow the locking mechanism to be released. The locking mechanism may also be position immediately before the front binder and after the rear binder or in any combination of the foresaid positions.

In order that the invention may be well understood, it will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 A is a view showing a side elevation view of a ski assembly in accordance with the invention and Fig 1 B the corresponding plan elevation view of the ski assembly.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross section view through the front ski runner and shows the raised connector on the top face of the front ski runner in the form of a letter T fitted into the mating connector formed within the retaining plate. This type of connection is commonly referred to as a tenon joint.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectioned view through the retaining plate and shows the mating connector in the shape of a letter T slot before the raised connector on the top face of the front ski runner is fitted therein.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectioned view and shows the front ski runner with the raised connector fitted into the mating connector formed within the retaining plate and secured together with a locking mechanism In the embodiments there is shown in Fig 1 A and FiglB an assembled ski construction comprising a front ski runner 1 and a rear ski runner 2 positioned together to form a continuous running surface by a retaining plate 5 and the assembly thereof secured together by a locking mechanism 7A and 7B.

The locking mechanism 7A and 7B pass through the retaining plate 5 and into the raised connector 6A and 6B respectively so as to hold the assembly together. The front binder 3 acts in cooperation with the rear binder 4 to secure the ski boot to the top surface of the retaining plate 5 such that when the ski boot is locked in position within the binders, the sole of the ski boot is positioned along the central part of the top surface of the retaining plate 5 and immediately above the locking mechanism 7A and 7B such that the locking mechanism can not be released whilst the ski boot is locked into the binders thus providing additional safety and confidence in the invention.

The raised connector 6A and 6B and the mating connector 8 are so constructed that when the profiles are connected together they form an interconnected joint. The engagement of the locking mechanism 7A and 7B acts to secure the said interconnected joint.

It can be seen in this example that by releasing the locking mechanism 7A and 7B the ski front ski runner 1 and the rear ski runner 2 can quickly be dismantled from the retaining plate 5 with the result that the front ski runner, the rear ski runner and the retaining plate each have a length significantly shorter that the length of assembled ski length.

Many different designs of raised connectors positioned on the top faces of the ski runners and a mating connector in the retaining plate can be use to achieve a connection between the front ski runner, the rear ski runner and the retaining plate in accordance with the invention.

Claims

Claims I - A ski assembly comprising of a front ski runner and a rear ski

runner positioned adjacent to each together by a retaining plate to form a continuous longitudinal ski running surface and held in this position by a locking mechanism acting in cooperation with the said ski runners and said retaining plate which also has mounted on its top face a the front and rear blinders which clamp the ski boot to the skis and by releasing the said locking mechanism the ski assembly can be dismantled by removing the said front and rear ski runners from the said retaining plate to make smaller length sections and by so doing reduce the overall length of the ski to make it easier to transport 2 - A ski construction according to Claim 1 wherein a raised connector is positioned on part of the top faces of the said front ski runner and a similar raised connector positioned on part of the top face of the said rear ski runner such that both said raised connectors fit within a mating connector formed within the said retaining plate to make an interconnected assembly which is secured by a locking mechanism to make a continuous longitudinal ski running surface.

3 - A ski construction according to Claim 1 and Claim 2 wherein the said locking mechanism is position so that when the ski boot is clamped into the said front and rear binders the resulting clearance between the sole of the ski boot and the retaining plate is less than the distance required to release to the locking mechanism and therefore provides additional safety and confidence in the application of this invention.

4 -A ski construction according to Claim 1 and Claim 2 wherein the said locking mechanism can be positioned in front of the said front binder and at the rear of the said rear binder or in any combination of the aforesaid positions be it a single or dual position.