WO2001017397A1

WO2001017397A1 - Fantaski

Info

Publication number: WO2001017397A1
Application number: PCT/NO2000/000278
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arnfinn Hegg
Original assignee: Arnfinn Hegg
Priority date: 1999-08-25
Filing date: 2000-08-24
Publication date: 2001-03-15
Also published as: NO994098L; NO994098D0; NO309928B1

Abstract

Skis with longitudinally separated gliding surface (1, 6) and gripping (2, 7), where the purpose is to solve the problem of waxing skis for good gliding abilities, while keeping a good grip at kick-off. The type of ski described above has gliding abilities like skating skis, and unique gripping abilities. This is effectuated by having a gliding surface (1, 6) the full length of the ski, while the gripping surface (2, 7) is raised in relation to the gliding surface and the snow. Different gripping devices (3, 4, 8, 9, 10) are inserted into the gripping surface (2, 7). These gripping devices are brought into contact with the snow by a slight supination of the foot at the moment of the kick-off, and as a result the ski is prevented from gliding backwards. These skis provide optimum gliding and optimum gripping abilities under all conditions.

Description

Title :

FANTASKI

Application :

A new type of ski that combines the two main functions for skis ; good gliding and gripping abilities. This new principle can be built into all types of nordic skis; racing skis, crosscountry skis and mountain skis. The product has gliding abilities like skating skis with a unique traction ability. The same pair of skis can be used for both skating and classical style.

Description :

The good gliding abilities and the unique gripping abilities are being obtained by using the inner part of the ski as a gliding surface, the full length of the ski. The remaining outer part of the ski is raised as a gripping surface, lying above the gliding surface, and not being in contact with the snow during the gliding phase. The gripping surface can be tilted in relation to the gliding surface, but for several reasons it seems more favourable that the two surfaces are parallel. The relationship between the width of the gliding surface and the width of the gripping surface can vary, but a good solution is ³A gliding surface and % gripping surface. The gripping surface has routed grooves in which different gripping devices are inserted. These are tilted down for contact with the snow by a slight supination of the foot at the moment of the kick-off. This way the ski is prevented from gliding backwards. The purpose of dividing the ski into a longitudinally separated surface is to obtain a gliding surface and a gripping surface that are not in contact with the snow at the same time. This way, the gliding surface can always be prepared for maximum gliding, such as when skating. The gripping surface can be adapted for optimum gripping under all conditions. Through this new ski idea, one obtains an all-round ski that can be used for all styles of skiing, and one that eliminates the problem of waxing. It is a ski that can be used in skating courses as well as in tracks for classical style, and also in powdered snow. This unique idea is the longitudinal and parallel division of the ski surface, where the new feature is the routed grooves with different types of gripping devices inserted for optimal gripping abilities under all conditions.

Four earlier patents have, to a certain degree, similar ideas. „

German patent, DE 4119816, is a ski exclusively for skating, where the inner part of the ski, with a longitudinally running groove, is tilted in relation to the gliding surface. It will be useless for anything but skating in solid and well prepared tracks.

Patent NO 141976 has a tilted surface on the middle part of the inner part of the ski, but is dependent on gripping wax, and will, because of the tilted surface, be hard/impossible to skate with, not adequate for the herring-bone technique, not very suitable for snowplough turning, and not too adequate for normal turning. For all these techniques it is important that the edge of the inner ski is intact.

German patent, DE 2627887, mentions a parallel gripping surface as one of many alternatives, but shows no regard to the fact that a gripping surface as wide as half of the ski width will lead to a gliding surface that is not wide enough, and that will easily cut through the snow. That will force the gripping surface to also have contact with the snow during the gliding phase, and thus interfere with the gliding. In addition, a full length gripping surface will lead to a weakening of the critical thin part behind the tip of the ski, or alternatively a thick, heavy and lumpy ski.

The gripping surface should not have the same length as the sliding surface, and should not exceed % of the ski width. This patent also does not specify and state reasons for what kind of gripping remedies that must be inserted into gripping surface for good gripping abilities under all conditions.

German patent, DE 3128042, has a number of surfaces on different levels, where some of the alternative combinations are not going to work. Closest is the alternative in fig. 4 ( Abb.4 ).

But this solution will not make a ski that functions under all conditions, it will only have a limited application. That is because :

- the suggested triangel shaped notches are too coarse to be able to function in powdered snow and loose tracks

- in solid and icy tracks the edges will quickly get worn out and rounded off, and thus the skis will not function well under that kind of conditions. It is only sharp and durable edges that work in glazed and icy tracks

The ski, according to the innovation, is shown on the drawing, where

Fig. 1 shows the ski from underneath

Fig. 2 shows a cut through the middle part of the ski

Fig. 3 shows the metal unit that is inserted into the routed groove in the gripping surface Fig. 1.

The ski seen from underneath. The white section ( 1 ) is the gliding surface that goes from the tip and along the full length of the ski. In the foremost part of the ski, the gliding surface covers the full width of the ski. This is to prevent weakening of the vulnerable part behind the tip. Another function of having the gliding surface cover the full width of the foremost part of the ski, is that possible loose snow in the track becomes compressed before the gripping surface passes by, making it less likely that the gripping devices obtain contact with the snow during the gliding phase. The shaded section ( 2 ) is the gripping surface, and must be on the outer part of the ski. That is because the inner edge of the ski has to be sharp and intact for skating, but also because the inner edge is important for snowplough turning and normal turning. As shown in fig. 1 , the gripping surface starts behind the thinnest part of the foremost part of the ski, and it ends before the back tip of the ski, or can be raised to the same level as as the gliding surface at the hindmost part of the ski.

The gripping surface can, but should not exceed % of the width of the ski. The gliding surface should be as wide as possible.

In fig. 1, the placement of the gripping devices ( 3 and 4 ) are shown. The gripping devices can be placed on the outer edge, but it is preferable to place them further inwards on the gripping surface. If the gripping devices are placed all the way on the outer edge, the skis will be harder to do skating turns with, and they could also slow down the speed in solid, hard edged tracks . The gripping devices ( 3 ) can be strips of nylon pelt or mohair pelt. They can be made continually in longer pieces, but it seems preferable to have several and shorter pieces. The outer edge can become weak and fractured when the strips are too long. By dividing the strips into shorter pieces, it is possible to get reinforcing " bridges " between the grooves.

The width of the pieces/strips of pelt can vary, but it naturally has to be according to the width of the gripping surface. On wider skis, like cross-country skis and mountain skis, it is necessary and possible to have wider strips. According to the relationship of 3/4 width for the gliding surface and width for the gripping surface, there will be a wider gripping surface the wider the ski is. Cross-country skis and mountain skis are also used outside prepared tracks and in powdered snow, and then one would need wider gripping devices. The gripping devices of pelt provide a good grip for kick-offs under most conditions. Gripping device ( 4 ) is a unit of metal that can be placed anywhere on the gripping surface. A good placement is under the skier's gravity axis, that means under the foremost part of the boot. This is a piece of milled or moulded metal, with barbs, and it provides a good grip for kick-offs in glazed or icy traks. It can be necessary to use several metal units in scattered placements.

Fig. 2.

This figure shows a cut through in the middle part of a racing ski. ( 5 ) shows the upper side. ( 6 ) shows the gliding surface.

The gripping surface ( 7 ) is raised above the gliding surface and can be tilted in proportion to this, but here the gripping surface will be described as parallel to the gliding surface. There are three reasons for making the gripping surface as a parallel surface and not a tilted one in relation to the gliding surface : 1. A tilted surface makes it difficult in skating turns ; the inner ski gets a gliding surface perpendicular to the speed direction and can strike the outer ski out of control and direction. With two sharp edges on the outside of the skis it is possible to have control over the skis and speed direction in skating turns.

2. When using a parallel gripping surface it is possible to keep the predetermined distance between the gripping devices and the snow, the whole with of the device.

3. In production it is easeer to glue parallel surfaces then tilted surfaces. ( 8 ) shows an example of a routed groove for a gripping device.

According to the relation of ³A gliding surface and V* gripping surface, the total width of the gripping surface will be 1 1 mm on a racing ski. The outer 2 mm ( + - 1 mm ) has to be a smooth edge, then 6 mm of gripping devices will follow. The inner

3 mm should be smooth and rounded off to prevent accumulation of snow and ice ( in the transition between gliding surface and gripping surface ) under difficult conditions with moist, new snow.

The distance between the levels of the gliding surface and the gripping surface can be

Vi mm or more. For racing skis, with a 11 mm wide gripping surface,

2,5 mm ( + - 1,5 mm ) seems to be good.

Gripping devices are inserted into the routed grooves ( 8 ). The deepth of a groove with a nylon pelt can be 1,5 mm ( + - 1 mm ). Then only the fibers/hairs will be above

Claims

the gripping surface, thus ensuring an optimal grip.Fig. 3.This figure shows the gripping device made of metal, with barbs, from underneath ( 9 ) and from the side ( 10 ).This gripping device is inserted into the groove ( 4 ) in fig. 1.The device must be raised above the gripping surface, thus making it possible for the barbs to provide a grip in solid tracks, but not raised so much that the gliding is prevented. As mentioned, it can be favourable to use several metal units with scattered placements.PATENT CLAIMS

1. Ski with longitudinally divided gliding surface ( 1 , 6 ) and gripping surface ( 2 , 7 ). This is already known from german patents DE 2627887 and DE 3128042. The new characteristics are that of having the gliding surface ( 1 , 6 ) on the inner part part of the full lenght of the ski, and where the raised gripping surface ( 2, 7 ) is on a part of the lenght of the outer surface of the ski. The gripping surface ( 7 ) is parallel to the gliding surface , but raised in relation to the gliding surface ( 6 ) and the snow. The gripping surface ( 2 ) starts behind the thin part of the foremost part of the ski. In this surface ( 2, 7 ) there are routed grooves ( 3, 4, 8 ) in which gripping devices are inserted.

2. Ski with divided gliding surface and gripping surface with routed grooves according to Claim 1, where the gripping surface ( 2 , 7 ) are brought to contact with the snow by a light supination of the foot. Into the grooves ( 3, 4, 8 ) in the gripping surface ( 2 , 7 ), different gripping devices to prevent gliding backwards are inserted.

The gripping devices must be made of different kinds of material in order for the ski's to function well under all conditions. Pieces of nylon pelt or mohair pelt are glued into the grooves ( 3, 8 ) in the gripping surface ( 2, 7 ). The grooves have to be in a small distance from the outer edge, and the transition between the gliding surface ( 6 ) and the gripping surface ( 7 ) must be smooth and rounded off. Skis with divided gliding surface and gripping surface according to claim 1 - 2, where one or more metal units with barbs ( 9 , 10 ) are inserted into the grooves ( 4, 8 ) in the gripping surface ( 2 , 7 ). The metal unit must be raised above the gripping surface in order to provide a good grip in icy and solid tracks, but not raised so much that gliding is prevented.