Patent Application
20060232045
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of French Patent Application No. 05.03777, filed on Apr. 15, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an interface device between a gliding board and a binding element for a boot that is mounted on the gliding board. The invention also relates to a gliding board provided with such an interface.
2. Description of Background and Relevant Information
In the field of alpine skiing, skis provided with front and rear binding elements are commonly used.
In order to be able to adapt the spacing of the binding elements to various boot sizes, and also to enable the ski to bend more freely during gliding while in use, which is conventionally referred to as the return function, at least one of the bindings—generally the rear binding—is mounted on a slide. Two superposed slide mechanisms are sometimes used for a rear return element, one for adjusting the position, the other one for the return function, or yet a first mechanism for a rough adjustment of the position, and the other for a fine adjustment and the return function.
In a known manner, a ski slide includes two slide elements, which slide one with respect to the other; one of the elements is fixedly mounted on the board and the other is associated with the binding element. The slide element of the ski is assembled by any appropriate means, and especially by means of screws, or by welding, as disclosed in the documents EP 0 448 936 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,051.
It is known to incorporate the slide element associated to the ski in the structure thereof. The documents WO 91/04770, DE 39 24 899, U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,809, EP 1 329 243, and WO 02/49728 disclose arrangements of this type. However, these methods of construction are not entirely satisfactory. Indeed, due to their relatively large distance in relation to the neutral layer of the ski, the slide elements, which are metallic, significantly affect the bending of the ski; and during bending, the connection zone between the slide element and the ski is subject to very substantial forces.
Skis have been produced recently that have a slide element already mounted on the boards so as to simplify the mounting of the binding elements. The slide elements therefore have a structure that is less rigid than the previous element and, being generally made of plastic material, they can bend more easily. These slide elements are assembled to the ski by means of screws, or are anchored in the ski structure by means of pins that are retained in the core of the ski. The following documents disclose examples of this type of construction: WO 03/043707, US 2005/0116444, EP 1 424 107, US 2004/0108687, EP 1 161 972, U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,162, and DE 100 63 923.
These systems yields good results, but one disadvantage subsists, caused by the bending of the ski. Indeed, to enable the ski to bend, the slide elements, in general two parallel rails, have one of their ends fixedly attached to the ski, and their other end attached with the possibility of sliding longitudinally. This necessity to slide freely makes mounting the slide element on the ski rather complicated.
A similar drawback arises from the platforms, which are used to raise the binding elements. As a general rule, these platforms have one of their ends fixedly attached to the ski, and their other end attached to the ski with the possibility of sliding.
To lessen the effect of the sliding element on the bending of the ski, it is known to make transverse grooves in the rails; the aforementioned document DE 100 63 923 discloses such grooves. These grooves soften the slide elements when they are being bent, but do not solve the problem of the relative movement during bending of the ski.
The document FR 2 763 861 is also known, which describes a platform including at least one series of generally transverse grooves that open out onto its upper and lower surfaces. According to this document, the grooves are located between the binding elements, or at the back of the rear element, or at the front of the front element. Such an arrangement is not entirely satisfactory.
An object of the invention is to improve the existing devices by providing a slide element that can be fixedly attached along the entire length of a gliding board and which can bend with the board without it being necessary to provide movement of a portion of the slide element in relation to the ski.
This object and other objects, which will become apparent from the description that follows, are achieved with the interface device according to the invention, which includes at least one platform elongated longitudinally and having a lower surface provided to be supported by the ski, and an upper surface provided to receive at least one element for binding a boot.
The platform has a least one zone for receiving a binding element, such zone having at least one set of transverse notches, the notches being made along the entire width or height of the platform, and opening out on two opposing surfaces of the platform, so that the plate has at least two platform blocks connected by an extensible and retractable connecting zone.
It is indeed in the zones for receiving the binding elements that the effect of the notches is desirable.
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description, with reference to the attached drawings, and in which:
These elements, or bindings, can be of any of various types known to those skilled in the art and, therefore, they are not described in further detail here.
According to the illustrated embodiment, the front binding element 3, or toe binding, includes a binding jaw 6 connected to a structure 7 that is itself mounted on a base 8. The base 8 is extended rearwardly by a support plate 9 provided for receiving/supporting the boot.
Similarly, the rear binding element 4, or heel binding, includes a jaw 11 connected to a structure 12 that is itself mounted on a base 13. The base is extended forwardly by a support plate 14 for the sole of the boot, which is used to support a braking device 15. Conventionally, the structure 12 is slidably mounted along its base 13 by means of a mechanism by having a slide and a lock, or latch, for adjusting the position of the structure 12.
Alternatively, any of other types of binding elements can also be used, according to the invention, including bindings of the non-releasable type.
According to the illustrated first embodiment of the invention, the binding elements 3 and 4 are mounted on the ski 1 with intermediate platforms 17 and 18. Each of the platforms has a lower surface that rests on the ski, or at least that is supported on the ski, and an upper surface having a zone 171, 181 for receiving a front or rear binding element, respectively. The function of these platforms is, for example, to raise the binding elements and the boot, and to channel the transmission of the forces between the boot and the ski in order to modify the distribution of these forces in the direction of the running edges and of the gliding sole of the ski. In addition, the platforms facilitate the mounting of the binding elements, that is, the skis are delivered to the retailer with pre-assembled platforms for the retailer to mount the binding elements in one of the several predetermined positions in the area of the platforms to complete the assembly.
According to the illustrated embodiment, the platforms 17 and 18 have, when viewed from above, a size and shape that enable them to support the bases 8 and 13 of the binding elements. Optionally, as shown, the platforms have a lengthwise dimension that is greater than that of the base of the associated binding element to be mounted, so that the binding element can be mounted in any of various positions.
According to this illustrated embodiment, the thickness of the platforms is constant, but this is non-limiting. Alternatively, one could provide an increasing or decreasing thickness over the length of the platforms.
In the case of the illustrated embodiment, the platforms 17 and 18 are mounted on the ski by means of screws. Such screws 19a, 20a, 21a, 22a, are schematically shown in
As a general rule, the rows of housings, or at least some of them, are located inside the receiving zone 171 upon which the binding is mounted.
Contrary to common constructions, the housings 25a, 25b, 26a, 26b, 27a, 27b, 28a, and 28b are adjusted to the cross-sectional dimensions of the screws, which means that there is no oblong housing, and that all of the screws enable a local immobilization of the platforms on the ski, without relative sliding.
The binding elements 3 and 4 are assembled to the platforms also by means of screws. Such screws 29a, 30a, 31a, 32a are schematically shown in
The mounting is conventionally carried out by screwing each one of the screws into respective ones of the holes of the series, i.e., the ones that correspond to the correct or desired longitudinal position of the binding element.
The number of holes per series is non-limiting. One could also provide to have only one hole defining a single position of the binding element. As mentioned above, one could provide series of housings.
The holes of the series of holes are adjusted to the dimensions of the screws so that the screws are tightened in their respective holes and enable a local connection of the bases on the platforms, without relative sliding.
Transverse notches or grooves are localized on the upper surface and on the lower surface of the platforms in the receiving zone 171. In the illustrated embodiment, the depths of a notches are greater than half of the thickness of the platform in this zone, although this is not essential and other depths could be employed.
Also shown in the illustrated embodiment, a notch opening out onto one platform surface is located longitudinally at a short distance from at least one other notch opening out onto the opposite platform surface. In this context, a short distance means one centimeter or approximately one centimeter. The notches are thus grouped by sets of notches that alternatively open onto each opposite surface of the platform. For each platform, these sets of notches demarcate platform blocks and form, between these blocks, extensible and retractable connecting zones.
The object is to locally divert the neutral layer of the platform, so that it follows, longitudinally along the platform, an undulation which facilitates a retraction or a longitudinal elongation of the platform during bending and counter-bending movements of the ski. The object is also to locally lower the neutral plane within the thickness of the platform so as to bring the neutral plane of the platform closer to the ski.
In a particular embodiment, such as that which is illustrated, there is at least one set of notches between two adjacent rows of housings and at least one set of notches between two adjacent rows of holes for each platform. Also in such embodiment, there is a set of notches between a row of housings and each adjacent row of holes. It is however possible to have a row of holes and a row of housings on the same block, or else two rows of holes on the same block, provided that there is no interposed row of housings.
This way, for each platform, each row of holes or housings is located on a distinct block of the platform, the blocks being isolated ones from the others by the sets of notches that form extensible or retractable zones along a longitudinal direction. A single platform block can bear both a row of holes and a row of housings, or two directly adjacent rows of holes. The sets of notches enable the various blocks to move closer to or away from another during the bendings or counter-bendings of the ski in order to follow the relative displacement of the screws for assembling the platforms to the ski, and of these screws relatively to the screws for assembling the bases on the platforms, while keeping the constant spacing of these assembly screws for the same binding element.
As shown in
The platform is thus divided into three blocks 17a, 17b, 17c. The first block 17a has a row of housings and a row of holes, the two other blocks have a single row of housings and holes, respectively.
Similarly, the rear platform 18 has two rows of housings formed by the housings 27a, 27b, and 28a, 28b, and two rows of holes formed by the series 35a, 35b, and 36a, 36b. The rows of holes and at least part of the rows of housings are located in the receiving zone 181.
The two sets of notches formed by the notches 39a, 39b, 39c, and 40a, 40b, 40c, define three blocks 18a, 18b, and 18c. The first block has two rows, the others only have one row of holes or housings.
According to what is shown in
According to the alternative embodiment shown in
The three blocks of each platform 42, 43 are separated by sets of vertical notches 46, 47 and 48, 49, respectively. According to the embodiment shown, due to the notches, the transition zones between two consecutive blocks have the shape of leaf springs opposed by the top. The transition zones allow for the blocks to move toward or away from each other to allow the platforms to follow the bending and counter-bending movements of the ski.
For the previously described embodiments, the binding elements are mounted on two distinct platforms. This is non-limiting, i.e., in an alternative embodiment a single platform that carries the two binding elements, each on a receiving zone supported by a platform portion, could be provided.
To exemplify this,
The front and rear portions 53, 54 are constructed the same way as the previous platforms 17 and 18, and have receiving zones 531, 541 and sets of notches in each of the receiving zones.
According to the embodiment shown, the intermediate portion includes an additional set of notches, namely, three notches 56a, 56b, 56c. This set of notches enables the intermediate portion to extend or, on the contrary, to retract, according to the bending and counter-bending movements of the ski.
Instead of a set of notches, a system with sliding elements or a block of deformable material, such as a shock-absorbing or a visco-elastic block, could be provided. For example, such material could be fitted within the notches.
According to the embodiment shown in
According to the alternative embodiment in
The platform 72 has in its upper portion a receiving zone 721 with two projecting lateral extensions 72a and 72b that form rails for guiding and retaining the two rounded edges 74a and 74b of a plate 74, which thus form a slide. The binding element 70 is assembled to the plate 74 via its base 75.
In this manner, the binding element can be displaced in the receiving zone 721 along the longitudinal direction of the platform 72. It can be immobilized by any known appropriate means, for example by means of a toothed latch, the teeth of which are engaged in housings or recesses made in the platform, or else in the catches of an attached plate that is immobilized in relation to the platform.
As shown, the platform 72 is assembled to the ski 71 by means of screws, such as the screws 76 and 77, which are shown in
Between the rows of assembly screws, the platform has at least one set of notches in the receiving zone 721. In this case, there are two sets of notches, one made of the transverse notches 79a, 79b, 79c, and the other made of the transverse notches 80a, 80b, 80c. For each of the sets, part of the notches open out onto the top of the platform, and the other part onto the bottom of the platform.
The notches that open onto the top of the platform, in this case the notches 79a, 79c, and 80a, 80c, create discontinuities in the lateral extensions 72a and 72b that form the guiding rails.
The sets of notches separate the platform into blocks, here three blocks 73a, 73b, 73c. In this particular arrangement, at least one block out of three has a row of screws for assembling the platform onto the ski. This is determined by the length of the blocks in relation to the length of the slide. In the case where one block or more is not directly assembled to the ski by means of screws, the length of the rounded edges 74a, 74b of the plate is provided to be greater than the length of a block, so that at least part of the slide is engaged with a block directly assembled to the ski. The length of the blocks can vary from one block to the next.
With a construction of this type, the blocks move closer to and farther from one another with the bending and counter-bending movements of the ski while maintaining the connection between the platform and the plate of the binding element.
Furthermore, the two binding elements could be connected by means of a metallic plate or blade such as described, for example, in documents FR 2 501 514, U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,422, EP 1 314 458, and US 2005/0116444.
Apart from the sets of notches, the platform can have other notches such as the notches 82 and 83 opening out on the lower surface of the platform in order to soften the platform when it is bent.
The position of the rails and slide between the platform and the binding element could also be reversed to allow for a guiding system having a hollow shape in the area of the platform and projecting in the area of the binding element.
Finally, recesses such as the recesses 85 and 86, shown in
The platform 88 also has rows of holes for assembling the binding elements. As shown, these rows are formed by series of holes 96a, 96b, 97a, 97b, and 98a, 98b, 99a, 99b located on each one of the arms and provided for each of the binding elements, respectively.
As provided above, sets of notches divide each of the arms into blocks, each of the blocks having, with the block associated with the other arm, a row of housings and/or a row of holes in accordance with what has been described above. Thus, the arm 89 is cut at the front of the bridging into three blocks 89a, 89b, 89c and at the rear 89d, 89e, 89f. Similarly, the arm 90 includes three blocks 90a, 90b, 90c at the front of the bridging section 91, and three at the rear, i.e., 90d, 90e, 90f. The notches 100a, 100b, 100c for the arm 89, and 101a, 101b, 101c and for the arm 90 are aligned with one another and form a set of notches. The three blocks 89a, 89b, 89c form, with the three blocks 90a, 90b, 90c of the other arm, a platform portion with a zone for receiving the binding element. It is the same for the other portions of the arms. The number of blocks, the number of sets of notches, and the number of notches per set are non-limiting. The notches between the two arms could also be shifted to create a skewed effect.
The bridging section 91 could be located more toward the front or the back of the arms.
Similar to the platform of
As in the previous case, the sets of notches divide the arms into blocks, 105b, 105c, 105d, 105e, 105f, 105g for the arm 105, and 106a, 106b, 106c, 106d, 106e, and 106f, for the arm 106. The blocks of the two arms located toward the front form the front portion of the platform with a zone for receiving the front binding element, the blocks located toward the back form the rear portion with a rear receiving zone. The sets of notches are, at least in part, in each one of the receiving zones.
As shown, an anchoring pin 109, 100 is associated with each of the blocks. This is non-limiting and, as previously described, an anchoring pin could be provided every two blocks, or even every three blocks or more, depending upon the length of the blocks involved. Alternatively, two blocks or more associated with an anchoring pin could be provided.
The anchoring pins of the arms can be nested in the ski structure during the manufacture of the ski in the mold. They can also be assembled later, for example by gluing, during a repair phase of the ski.
Similarly, pins could be used instead of screws for the modes of construction described above.
According to the alternative embodiment shown in
Thus, in
As described above, at least one set of notches is located in the zone for receiving a binding element.
For this embodiment, each of the blocks is preferably assembled to the ski. As shown, the assembly is formed by anchoring pins 115 shaped like an upside down fir-tree, which originate from each of the blocks and which are provided to be nested in the ski structure.
The assembly could also be obtained with attached anchoring pins or screws.
As described above, the blocks are separated by sets of notches 123, 124, 125; and at least one set is located in the zone for receiving a binding element on the platform 122.
The platforms of any of the embodiments described and illustrated can be made of any appropriate material, including a molded plastic material.
In order to prevent snow and debris from settling within the notches, they could be filled with a flexible material, such as solid foam material.
This description is only given by way of example and other embodiments of the invention could be adopted without leaving the scope thereof.
For example, the various alternative constructions or embodiments which have been described and illustrated can be combined with one another. The arrangement of the notches at the top or bottom of the platforms is non-limiting and can be reversed.
Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the field of alpine skiing; it applies to the field of snowboarding and generally to any gliding or rolling board having one or more elements for binding a boot, and at least one interface platform between the boot and the board.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05.03777 | Apr 2005 | FR | national |
