Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
  • A63C5/00—Skis or snowboards
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
  • A63C5/00—Skis or snowboards
  • A63C5/12—Making thereof; Selection of particular materials
  • A63C5/122—Selection of particular materials for damping purposes, e.g. rubber or the like
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
  • A63C5/00—Skis or snowboards
  • A63C5/12—Making thereof; Selection of particular materials
  • A63C5/126—Structure of the core

Definitions

• the invention relates to a ski as defined in the preamble of claim 1.
• ski refers to any ski, such as cross-country ski, jumping ski and backcountry ski, or to a corresponding sports or recreational instrument, e.g. roller ski or water ski.
• the body of a ski is known to be arched to improve camber and manageability of the ski.
• the body of a ski is known to be hard and enclosed.
• the hard, enclosed and inflexible body structure of the known skis does not allow optimal management of the forces applied to the ski or maximal restoration of. energy to movement.
• compromises have to be made between the carrying capacity of the ski and the pressure distribution provided under the ski.
• the carrying capacity and pressure distribution affect sliding of the ski, its manageability and the energy restored from the ski after loading.
• the enclosed structure is usually heavy.
• a further objec- tive of the invention is to disclose a novel ski and a structure for same.
• the invention is based on a ski comprising a body structure which includes upper and lower surfaces and is arranged to a predetermined shape suitable for the application purpose.
• the body structure comprises at least one space for forming a flexible portion, and the space that forms the flexible portion is substantially provided in conjunction with the body structure of the ski.
• the flexi- ble portion is substantially more flexible than the rest of the body structure.
• the lower surface of the ski preferably comprises the gliding or sliding surface of the ski.
• the invention is specifically based on a ski in which a body structure known per se may be used, but which is additionally provided with a flexible portion e.g. by removing body material from the body structure and/or by replacing part of the body material with another, more flexible, softer or more elas- tic material either in conjunction with the production of the body structure or thereafter.
• the flexible portion preferably provides a so-called spring effect to the ski.
• the size, in particular the length and the width, of the ski can be predetermined and adjusted, depending on the application purpose of the ski.
• the ski comprises more than one space for forming the flexible portions.
• the space that forms the flexible portion is, in the longitudinal direction of the ski, substantially in the middle part thereof.
• the space that forms the flexible portion is in the tip and/or tail part of the ski.
• spaces that form the flexible portion are in the tip, middle and/or tail part of the ski.
• the space that forms the flexible portion is elongated and runs in the longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the ski, and the space that forms the flexible portion may extend to a desired and predetermined length in the longitudinal direction of the ski.
• the space that forms the flexible portion is arranged substantially over the entire width of the ski.
• the space that forms the flexible portion is arranged substantially through the body structure of the ski in the transverse direction of the ski.
• the space that forms the flexible portion may be of any shape.
• the positioning, shape, width, depth and/or length of the space that forms the flexible portion may be adjusted according to the application purpose of the ski.
• the space that forms the flexible portion is arranged between the upper and lower surface.
• the space that forms the flexible portion is provided substantially in the upper surface, in one embodiment over the upper surface. In one embodiment, the space that forms the flexible portion is provided substantially in the lower surface. In one alternative embodiment, spaces that form the flexible portion may be arranged to multiple points in the body structure of the ski.
• the space that forms the flexible portion is arranged substantially inside the body structure.
• the space that forms the flexible portion is at least partly open, e.g. at one or more sides.
• the open structure may be protected from dirt, snow and water e.g. by a separate protective material, e.g. a film or a mesh or the like.
• the space that forms the flexible portion is arranged through the body structure of the ski in the transverse direction of the ski, preferably between the upper and lower surface of the ski.
• at least one opening or alternatively more than one opening are arranged through the body struc- ture of the ski in the transverse direction of the ski. In this case, air flows transversely through the ski, in from one side and out from the other side of the ski .
• the space that forms the flexible portion is substantially closed, e.g. enclosed by the edges.
• the space that forms the flexible portion is filled.
• the space may have been filled with material that is substan- tially more flexible than the body structure, elastic material, soft material, cellular plastic, gas or the like.
• the space that forms the flexible portion is substantially empty, i.e. it is not filled with any material or matter, e.g. an opening.
• the empty space contains air.
• the body structure is formed from body material which may be single- or mul- tilayer material. Any known or applicable body material, e.g. wood, plastic, reinforced plastic, metal, composite material, composite precursor and/or combinations thereof or the corresponding materials can be used as the body material.
• the body structure is formed from at least two layers, wherein the first layer forms the upper surface of the ski and the second layer forms the lower surface of the ski, and at least one space is arranged between the layers to form the flexible portion.
• the spaces for forming the flexible portions may be separated from each other in a manner applicable for the purpose, e.g. by separating walls.
• the body structure is ar- ranged to a two-level structure in such manner that the first level forms the upper surface of the ski and the second level forms the lower surface of the ski.
• more than one space is arranged between the first and the second level to form the flexible portions, e.g. open spaces and/or openings, each of which are arranged to cover the entire width of the ski in the transverse direction of the ski.
• the two-level structure provides air carrying capacity.
• the two-level structure is applied in conjunction with a jumping ski, whereby the flexible structure according to the invention and the spring effect allow stronger takeoff and softer descent.
• the body structure is formed from more than two layers, wherein the first layer forms the upper surface of the ski, the second layer forms the lower surface of the ski, and the third layer is arranged to a predetermined shape between the first and the second layer to arrange more than one space for forming the flexible portions between the first and the second layer.
• the layers that form the body structure may be identical or different in composition, depending on the application.
• the layer in the body structure may be formed from the body material, and the layer may be in the form of e.g. a laminate, flaky object or veneer.
• the layers that form the body structure are connected to each other by e.g. glu- ing, melting or by a separate fastening means.
• the ski according to the invention and the ski structure according to the invention can be readily modified in the production stage of the ski according to the application purpose and the user group of the ski.
• the body structure of the ski yields, in addition to the arched camber, under or in conjunction with the surface structure when the ski is being loaded, and the applied energy is stored in the ski structure.
• the camber of the ski can be altered in such manner that the pressure gradients provided under the ski can be reduced, resulting in improved sliding of the ski.
• the body structure which yields under the loading point allows bending of the ski during loading in such manner that the pressure distribution under the ski changes to be advantageous for sliding. This improves sliding of the ski during loading. Thanks to the invention, the forces applied to the ski can be optimally utilized and energy applied to the ski can be restored from the ski.
• the flexible portion in the body structure of the ski also allows adjustment and improvement of the camber and pressure distribution provided under the ski, so that a ski which slides better and is at the same time more manageable is obtained.
• Another advantage of the invention is the damping of vibration in the ski.
• the weight of the ski compared to the skis known from the prior art, can be reduced by the invention.
• the ski structure according to the invention is lighter than the solid, enclosed structure known from the prior art.
• Fig. 1 presents one ski according to the invention.
• Fig. 2 presents one other ski according to the invention.
• the cross-country ski presented in Fig. 1 comprises a body structure 1 formed from composite material.
• the body structure comprises upper and lower surfaces, wherein the lower surface is the sliding surface of the ski.
• the space 2 has been formed by removing material from the body structure of the ski.
• the space 2 is filled with elastic soft material which is substantially more flexible than the rest of the body structure.
• the space 2 is arranged substantially for the entire width of the ski in the middle part of the ski.
• the space 2 may be an open space in such manner that the space is open on the long sides of the ski and air is let through the ski in the transverse direction of the ski, in from one side and out from the other side.
• the cross-country ski presented in Fig. 2 comprises a body structure 1 which is formed from three body structure layers, in this case three laminates 3, 4 and 5.
• the laminates are fiber-reinforced thermosetting plastic laminates or laminate precursors.
• the laminates include several layers and are formed from fibrous polyester, carbon, glass and/or basalt which have been bound together with a binder, such as a thermoset or a thermoplastic.
• the applied laminates may be identical or different in composition relative to each other.
• the body structure 1 of Fig. 2 comprises three laminates wherein the first laminate 3 forms the upper surface of the ski and the second laminate 4 forms the lower surface of the ski.
• the first 3 and the second 4 laminate are attached to each other at both ends.
• the third laminate 5 is arranged between the first 3 and the second 4 laminate in the form of a wave.
• the third laminate 5 thereby forms between the first 3 and the second 4 laminate, and together with them, three open spaces 2 to form the flexible portions inside the body structure.
• the open spaces 2 are arranged to extend for the entire width of the ski and through the ski in the transverse direction of the ski.
• the spaces 2 which form the flexible portions are not filled.
• the third laminate 5 is bent to a form that gives support to the rest of the body structure.
• All three laminates 3, 4 and 5 are attached to each other by glue to form a continuous ski structure.
• the properties of the ski struc- ture, such as camber and pressure distribution under the ski as well as the flexibility of the uppermost laminate 3 during loading can be adjusted by the shape, relative positioning and mechanical properties of the laminates.
• a sliding base may be attached to the lowest laminate 4, or it can form a part of the sliding base structure.
• the ski structure according to the invention is suitable in different embodiments for use in con- junction with any kinds of skis for any kinds of conditions and in any situation.

Landscapes

• Road Paving Structures (AREA)
• Lubricants (AREA)
• Transition And Organic Metals Composition Catalysts For Addition Polymerization (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=38786715

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Citations (3)

• 2007
  • 2007-11-05 FI FI20075784A patent/FI20075784L/fi not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2008
  • 2008-11-05 WO PCT/FI2008/050630 patent/WO2009060121A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (3)

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