WO1995015794A1

WO1995015794A1 - Ski or snowboard with improved gliding

Info

Publication number: WO1995015794A1
Application number: PCT/EP1994/004046
Authority: WO
Inventors: Valerio Tonel
Original assignee: Nordica S.P.A.
Priority date: 1993-12-10
Filing date: 1994-12-05
Publication date: 1995-06-15
Also published as: ITTV930113A1; ITTV930113A0; IT1266098B1

Abstract

Gliding element such as a ski or snowboard (201) with improved gliding which includes one or more through openings (204) which form a limited surface for resting or contact on a snow-covered surface. This allow to reduce the total weight of the ski as well as friction with the snow-covered surface, improving gliding.

Description

SKI OR SNOWBOARD WITH IMPROVED GLIDING Technical Field

The present invention relates to a gliding element, such as ski or snowboard, with improved gliding.

Background Art

Conventional skis are currently manufactured using various kinds of material which are mutually assembled in various ways so as to always form a single continuous part which is extended substantially lengthwise so as to form an upper surface, at which bindings are rigidly coupled for boots that can be inserted between them, and a lower surface, which forms a continuous base that interacts with the snow-covered surface; blades are laterally associated with said base.

The base is usually flat, with a longitudinal central groove, and small cavities or reductions in thickness can be formed for example on said base, for example to practice alpine skiing.

A problem that arises in conventional skis is their weight; as a partial solution to this drawback, skis are known made of composite materials and partially internally hollow so as to contain weight while maintaining a given torsional rigidity, nonetheless allowing flexing to adapt to the contour of the snow-covered surface.

However, even in this case the total weight of the skis remains high, limiting or slowing the transmission of the forces that the user tends to transmit with his feet to change direction quickly; it is furthermore difficult for the skier to carry the skis, also in view of the fact that this operation is often performed on icy or snowy ground. The surface of the base which is in contact with the snow-covered surface furthermore affects the entire length of the ski and approximately all of its width, which is greater than the width of the sole of the boot, and this leads to considerable friction against the snow-covered surface; the use of adapted layers of wax, which can be applied hot or cold, attempts to reduce this friction. Disclosure of the Invention

A principal aim of the present invention is therefore to solve the described technical problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the prior art and thus providing a gliding element, such as a ski or a snowboard which has, at the same time, a limited weight, good torsional rigidity, and flexibility to adapt to the contour of the snow-covered surface. An important object of the invention is to provide a ski or a snowboard which allows the skier to quickly and easily transmit his efforts from his feet to the ski or to the snowboard, achieving quick and fast direction changes.

Another object is to provide a ski or snowboard that can be easily carried by the user.

Another object is to provide a ski or snowboard that allows to achieve both good edge grip and improved gliding, reducing friction with the snow-covered surface.

Another object is to provide a ski or snowboard that also allows to apply thereon the bindings for connection to a ski boot or to an adapted shoe.

Another object is to provide a ski or snowboard which is structurally simple, reliable, and safe in use, and has low costs and weights. According to the invention, there is provided a ski or snowboard with improved gliding which is characterized in that it has one or more through openings which form a limited surface for resting or contact on the snow-covered surface.

Brief description of the drawings

The particular characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of some particular but not exclusive embodiments thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: figures 1 to 4 are lateral perspective views of various embodiments of the ski according to the invention; figure 5 is a view, similar to the preceding ones, of a snowboard according to the invention; figure 6 is a sectional view of the front and rear edges of the openings.

Ways of carrying out the invention

With reference to the above figures, the reference numeral 1 designates a ski or snowboard which is extended essentially lengthwise and has, at its median region 2 , an upper flat surface 3 for resting the sole of a boot and for connecting adapted bindings thereto.

The longitudinal extension of said upper surface 3 can thus be slightly greater than that of the sole of the boot; as an alternative, said upper surface 3 can be replaced by two upper half-surfaces which are smaller and are formed in the regions that lie below the heel and toe regions of the boot.

Outside of the median region 2 or, as previously mentioned, even in a central portion of said region, there are one or more through openings 4 which affect the ski or snowboard approximately up to its tip 5 and tail 6.

The shape of said one or more openings can be the most pertinent according to the specific requirements, as shown by way of example in figure 1, in which said openings have a rectangular plan, and in figure 3, in which they have a triangular plan.

A very limited lower surface 7 in contact with the snow-covered surface is thus formed for the ski or snowboard; this surface is essentially constituted by two lateral bands 8a and 8b which are connected, in the median region 2, by a central band 9 which is approximately as wide as said ski or snowboard 1. The provision of said one or more through openings thus allows to considerably reduce the total weight of the ski or snowboard and at the same time limits the lower surface for resting on the snow-covered surface or making contact therewith. It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a ski or snowboard having been provided wherein the through openings allow on one hand to considerably contain the weights of the ski or snowboard and, on the other hand, to limit the lower surface that rests on the snow-covered surface and makes contact therewith.

This leads to better transmission of efforts from the foot to the ski or snowboard, with consequent better and faster direction changes; at the same time, friction is limited and gliding is thus improved. The invention is of course susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the same inventive concept.

Thus, for example, figure 2 illustrates a ski 101 which

5 has a single through opening 104 that affects the entire length of the ski from the tail 106 to the tip 105.

At the median region 102 there is still a flat upper surface 103 which is raised with respect to the plane of arrangement of the lateral bands 108a and 108b formed by the 10 through opening 104.

For this purpose, the upper surface 103 is connected to said lateral bands 108a and 108b by means of adapted bridges

110 which protrude downward and laterally with respect to said flat upper surface 103 so as to form lateral openings

15 111.

In this case, too, the flat upper surface 103 can affect the entire median region 102 or only part thereof, to allow support of the toe and heel and to secure the bindings. 20 Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment for a ski 201 in which again there is, approximately at the median region 202, a flat upper surface 203 for supporting the sole of the boot or at least the toe and the heel thereof and for coupling the bindings.

25 Two through openings 204 are formed between the upper surface 203, the tip 205, and the tail 206 of the ski 201 and form lateral bands 208a and 208b which are in contact with the snow-covered surface in their downward region and are connected to a central band 209 which is arranged below ₃₀ the flat upper surface 203. The lateral bands 208a and 208b are mutually connected by multiple bridges 210 which protrude upward and are tilted towards the centerline of the ski 201 so as to form a girder-like structure in which multiple lateral and front openings 211 are formed.

It should be added that it is possible to provide preferably transparent covering elements which can be applied at one or more openings 4, 104, and 204.

As shown in figure 6, the openings furthermore preferably have a trailing edge 4a in which the convexity is directed downward and a leading edge 4b in which the concavity is directed upward.

The number of through openings, their shape and arrangement, as well as the materials that form the individual components of the ski or snowboard may of course be the most pertinent according to the specific requirements.

Claims

1. Gliding element (1,101) with improved gliding, characterized in that it has one or more through openings (4;104;204) which form a limited surface for resting or contact on a snow-covered surface.

2. Gliding element according to claim 1 which extends essentially lengthwise, characterized in that it has, approximately at its median region (2;102;202), a flat upper surface (3;103;203) for supporting the sole, or only the heel and the toe, of a boot, and for coupling adapted bindings.

3. Gliding element according to claim 2, characterized in that one or more through openings (4;104;204) are formed therein between said median region (2;102;202), the tip (5;105;205), and the tail (6;106;206).

4. Gliding element according to claim 3, characterized in that it has a lower surface (7) for contact with the snow-covered surface and is constituted by two lateral bands (8a,8b;208a,208b) , which connect said tail and tip to said flat upper surface, and by a central band (9,209), which lies below said flat upper surface.

5. Gliding element according to claim 3, characterized in that it has a single through opening (104) which affects its entire length from said tail to said tip.

6. Gliding element according to claim 5, characterized in that said flat upper surface (103) is raised with respect to the plane on which two bands (108a,108b) are provided for resting on the snow-covered surface.

7. Gliding element according to claim 6, characterized in that said flat upper surface (103) has, below it and laterally, bridges (110) for connection to said two bands (108a,108b).

8. Gliding element according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises connecting and stiffening means for said two lateral bands (208a,208b), said means being constituted by multiple bridges (210) which protrude upward from said two bands and are tilted towards the centerline so as to form a girder-like structure in which multiple front and lateral openings (211) are formed.

9. Gliding element according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises covering elements which can be detachably applied at at least one of said openings.

10. Gliding element according to claim 1, characterized in that said openings have a trailing edge (4a) in which the convexity is directed downward and a leading edge (4b) in which the concavity is directed upward.