Patent Application
20070273127
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention can be better understood from the following description, with reference to the annexed drawings showing, by way of non-limiting examples, how the invention can be embodied, and in which:
Although the illustrated embodiments relate to a cross-country ski, it is to be understood that the invention also encompasses assemblies that include other boards adapted to the practice of sports such as those mentioned above.
A first embodiment is illustrated in
As is known, an assembly 1, adapted to cross-country skiing, includes a gliding board or ski 2, an interface 3 provided to be arranged on a top portion 4 of the ski, and a device 5 for retaining an article of footwear on the board. Such article of footwear can be a shoe or a boot, including an article of footwear having a low upper, a mid-upper, or a high upper, the latter extending above an ankle of the user.
The ski 2 is only partially shown for reasons of convenience. Opposite the top portion 4, the ski 2 has a gliding surface or bottom portion 10. The ski 2 extends lengthwise along the longitudinal direction Lo, and widthwise between a first edge 11 and a second edge 12.
The interface 3 includes, for example, a plate 20 that extends along the longitudinal direction Lo, between a first end 21 and a second end 22, and transversely between a first edge 23 and a second edge 24. The interface 3 has a support surface 25 provided to receive the retention device 5. A support surface 26 on the interface 3, opposite the receiving surface 25, is affixed to the top portion 4 of the ski 2. The fixing of the interface to the ski is carried out by any appropriate structure or method, such as by means of glue, welding, screws, or the like.
According to the first embodiment illustrated, the interface 3 is glued onto the ski 2. Thereby, the interface is directly affixed to the ski, although the interface could be indirectly affixed.
The transverse cross-section of the interface 3 is generally T-shaped, the receiving surface 25 being wider than the support surface 26. In fact, the interface 3 includes a central portion with a first transverse projection 27 on the side of the first edge 23, as well as a second transverse projection 28 on the side of the second edge 24. These projections form the T and are adapted to oppose the displacement, away from the receiving surface 25 or from the ski 2, of an element nested on the interface 3. Therefore, they provide a vertical retention.
The retention device 5, or binding, itself is well-known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The retention device 5 includes, for example, a base 40 that extends along the longitudinal direction Lo, between a first end 41 and a second end 42, and transversely between a first edge 43 and a second edge 44. The retention device 5 has a receiving surface 45 provided to receive the article of footwear. This surface 45 is provided with structure to removably retaining the footwear article, as is well-known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such retaining device can be that which is disclosed, for example, in the document FR 2 739 788 and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,050, the disclosure of the latter document herewith being incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety.
The retention device 5 also has a support surface 46 provided to be supported on the ski, either directly or indirectly, via an interface. To this end, the support surface 46 includes structure for removably retaining the device 5 on an interface. Such structure can be that which is disclosed, for example, in French Application No. 06/02421 and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/639,289, the disclosure of the latter document herewith being incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety. The removable retention structure includes a longitudinal groove 47 with a varying width, made in the support surface 46. It is provided to nest the retention device 5 on an interface, and then to immobilize it by any of various structures, such as screws, ratchet locking, or the like.
In the illustrated assembly, however, the receiving surface 25 of the interface 3 and the support surface 46 of the retention device 5 are mechanically non-compatible. This means that if one were to attempt to connect the surfaces 25, 46 directly one to the other, no nesting or ratchet locking would be possible. Moreover, the distribution of support forces is unreliable, and the distribution of the mechanical stresses uneven, thereby not permitting one to use the ski or gliding board safely, inasmuch as the retention device/binding 5 could become detached relative to the ski/board inadvertently. Thus, the interface 3 and the retention device 5 do not cooperate mechanically without adding another element.
This is due particularly to the fact that the interface 3 is wider than the groove 47 of the retention device 5. It is not possible to insert the rib 20 of the interface 3 in the groove 47 of the retention device 5. Therefore, it is not possible to obtain a direct connection of the retention device 5 to the interface 3.
Further, for this reason, the invention provides an adapter 60 for connecting the interface 3 and the retention device 5, the adapter having a support surface 61 that is mechanically compatible with the receiving surface 25 of the interface 3, as well as a receiving surface 62 that is mechanically compatible with the support surface 46 of the retention device 5, the support 61 and receiving 62 surfaces of the adapter 60 being opposite with respect to one another.
The adapter 60 is a supplemental element that is included in the assembly 1 in order to make the interface 3 and retention device 5 mechanically compatible. The interface 3 and retention device 5 are indirectly connected to one another, but the connection is mechanically stable.
The adapter 60 makes it possible to connect an interface and a retention device to one another, which originally were not adapted to cooperate. A resulting advantage, for example, is simplifying manufactured lines of products. Therefore, one can provide to mount the same retention device on various interfaces or various skis. Indeed, the adapter is inexpensive in view of the retention device. The cost savings are thus substantial.
According to the first embodiment illustrated, the adapter 60 extends longitudinally along the longitudinal direction Lo, between a first end 63 and a second end 64. The adapter extends transversely between a first edge 65 and a second edge 66, and height-wise between the support surface 61 and the receiving surface 62.
The support surface 61 has a longitudinal groove 70 that is transversely demarcated by a first inner edge 71 opposite a second inner edge 72. Thus, the bottom 73 of the groove 70 is wider than the opening 74. The groove 70 of the adapter 60 is dimensioned to receive the rib 20 of the interface 3. The adapter 60 is associated with the interface 3 by sliding along the longitudinal direction Lo.
In the same context, the receiving surface 62 has a rib 80 that extends along the longitudinal direction Lo, between a first end 81 and a second end 82, and transversely between a first edge 83 and a second edge 84. The rib 80 has, for example, a T-shaped transverse cross-section on at least a portion of its length. The rib 80 has a configuration that enables the groove 47 of the retention device 5 to receive it, so that the rib 80 can be retained in the groove. The connection can be done, for example, by nesting followed by sliding over a limited range. This technique is well-known to one of ordinary skill in the art, and can be that which is disclosed in the above-referenced documents.
The rib 80 on the receiving surface 62 of the adapter 60 is narrow with respect to the groove 70 on the support surface 61.
According to the first embodiment illustrated, the retention device 5 and the adapter 60 are immobilized longitudinally in relation to the interface 3 and to the ski 2 by a common immobilization mechanism, which, for example, includes screws 85. Two screws are provided in this case, which extend through the retention device 5, the adapter 60, and the interface 3 in order to be screwed into the ski 2. Thus, the screws 85 prevent longitudinal and transverse movements of the retention device 5, adapter 60, and interface 3 in relation to the ski 2. The screws 85 tighten all of the main elements 5, 60, 3 at the same time on the ski 2. A resulting advantage is the elimination of clearances or any play. As a result, steering the ski is more precise, and the use of the assembly more pleasant.
A different number of screws, for example, one screw, three screws, or more, can be provided. At least one screw 85 is provided.
Other arrangements or mechanisms for immobilization, such as ratchet devices, could be used instead of screws.
The other embodiments of the invention are shown hereinafter in
The second embodiment is shown in
This adapter 102 makes it possible to mount on the interface 3 retention devices that have a substantially planar or flat support surface.
The third embodiment is shown in
The fourth embodiment is shown in
The fifth embodiment is shown in
According to the fifth embodiment of the invention, the support surface 157 is planar, which enables it to be supported, for example, on the receiving surface 130 of the interface 121 that is shown in
The receiving surface 158 of the adapter 152 is also planar, which enables it to receive various types of retention devices, including the one designated by the reference numeral 123 and shown in
With further respect to
These surfaces 157 and 158 can also be provided to be non-parallel with respect to one another. In such a case, the first end 153 can be thicker or thinner than the second end 154. Also, the first edge 155 can be thicker or thinner than the second edge 156. The retention device can therefore be inclined longitudinally or transversely in relation to the ski.
Finally, according to the fifth embodiment of the invention, the adapter 152 can be a flat blade that is wedged between an interface and a retention device, still within the context of associating one with the other.
The adapter can include plastic materials or resins, whether reinforced or non-reinforced with synthetic or natural fibers. Glass or carbon, for example, can be used.
The adapter 152 is also provided to have holes 159 to allow the retaining screws of a retention device to pass through. For example, three longitudinally aligned holes, as well as two transversely oriented holes are provided, which forms a set of five holes. This example is, however, not limiting.
For all of the embodiments, the invention is made from materials and according to implementation techniques that are known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
The invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described hereinabove; it includes all of the equivalent embodiments that may fall within the scope of the claims that follow.
In particular, other structures can be provided for the support and receiving surfaces of an adapter.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06.04664 | May 2006 | FR | national |
