The invention relates to a rail system according to the preamble of patent claim 1 as well as to a riding board according to the preamble of patent claim 10.
Especially the summer time when there is no snow on the ground or areas with low snowfall offer the opportunity to provide devices with which it is feasible to travel down a mountain slope without having to depend on snow.
Known is a leisure apparatus that comprises a board with which it is possible to travel down a track surface (US 2006/0214385 A1). The length of the track surface can herein be variable.
Known is further an illuminated track for snowboards, which track is comprised of a rail whose surface is transparent and on which snowboards, skateboards or the like equipment can travel (US 2006/0174428 A1). This track is disposed on supports such that the track runs above the ground.
Known is furthermore a vehicle for a rail system of a roller coaster comprising means of traveling which connect the vehicle with the rail system and which can absorb horizontal as well as also vertical forces (DE 10 2005 038 360 B3). This vehicle comprises moreover a board which has at least a standing surface as well as means for the spring- and shock-absorbed bearing of the board on the traveling means.
Lastly, a rail system is known which is also disposed on supports (JP 2004 057733). The rails in this system are connected with one another using connection elements.
The present invention addresses the problem of providing a rail system on which at least one board can travel.
The problem is resolved according to the features of claims 1 and 10.
The invention thus relates to a cost-effective rail system on which a board can travel. Since the rail system can be readily assembled and disassembled again, the track can be varied quite easily. The rail system for this purpose is disposed on a slope. This can be carried out, for example, thereby that the rail system is developed on a mountain slope. By means of a board, a so-called riding board specifically fabricated for this purpose, on which a person can stand, this person can subsequently travel down the slope. The riding board herein comprises a braking system.
It is, however, also feasible to provide a riding board with two boards connected via rails with one another, on which a person can stand. Both boards are so connected with one another that they form a braking system. For this purpose the boards on the rails connecting them must be moved away from each other.
Each of these two variants of the riding boards comprises on its underside several wheels which can be disposed on the rail system. A user thus glides not on the rail system but rather rolls down the slope on this rail system. The user can regulate the downward travel speed thereby that the riding boards comprise a braking system.
In the following the rail system as well as the two variants of the riding boards are depicted in the Figures and in the following are explained in further detail. In the drawing depict:
a and
a and
Evident are also several persons 9 to 11 each traveling down a slope on a riding board 12 to 14 in the direction of arrow 15. Person 11 stands herein on only one board 20 while persons 9, 10 are standing with one foot each on a board 16, 17 and 18, 19. The two boards 16, 17 as well as 18, 19 are connected using rails, not visible in
The person herein holds in one hand a rope 237 connected with the board 17 of the riding board 12. Should person 9 jump or fall off the riding board 12, this person 9 can quickly remove the riding board 12 from the rail system 1. Therewith is prevented that the riding board 12 travels without the person 9 in the direction of arrow 15, e.g. down the slope, and in this way hinders or even endangers the persons following.
As is evident in
Evident is also that the person 11 standing on the riding board 14 holds a traction device 21, for example a rope, which is connected with the riding board 14. By means of the traction device 21 the braking system of the riding board 14 can be controlled. However, the braking system is not evident in
It is, however, evident that the top parts 233, 234 jointly are at least partially disposed on the base part 230. The top parts 233, 234 are consequently disposed offset with respect to the base parts. Through this disposition a stable rail system 1 is obtained which can withstand high pressures generated when traveling on the rail system 1.
As can be seen in
Evident are also two middle parts 235, 236 which form a portion of the top parts 233, 234. Since they are disposed in the top parts 233, 234, these middle parts 235, 236 are indicated by dashed lines. These middle parts 235, 236 are also offset, which contributes significantly to the stability of the rail system 1.
When assembling the rail system 1, first, the middle part 23 is connected by means of connection elements with the base part 26. Subsequently the side parts 24, 25 are disposed on the middle part 23 and the connection elements are tightened whereby the side parts 24, 25 are fixed on the middle part 23. The connection elements are, however, not shown in
The wall 30 includes further four sections 32 to 35 realized as hooks. Herein two sections 32, 33 and 34, 35 each are disposed on each side of the middle part 23. Each of these sections 32 to 35 encompasses at least partially an L-shaped section 36 to 39 of the side parts 24, 25. Side part 24 is mirror symmetric with respect to side part 25 and has substantially the shape of an “E”.
Through this disposition of side parts 24, 25 and middle part 23 the top part 22 is, in principle, a resilient element which withstands high pressures.
Side parts 24, 25 are each disposed with their L-shaped section 36, 39 on the base part 26. The L-shaped sections 36, 39 are connected with a section forming the sidewall 40, 41 of the side parts 24, 25. The sidewall 40 and 41 of the side part 24 and 25, respectively, extends obliquely upwardly, wherein the internal angle β between the L-shaped section 36 and the sidewall 40, and the L-shaped section 39 and the sidewall 41, respectively, is less than 90°. This angle β is herein preferably 60° to 80° and especially preferred is 75°.
The L-shaped sections 38 and 37 are disposed in the central region of the particular sidewall 40 and 41, respectively. The L-shaped section 37 is herein disposed above the section 36 and the L-shaped section 38 above section 39. The angle β is here also preferably 60° to 80° and especially preferred is 75°. The upper region 42 and 43 of the side parts 24 and 25, respectively, is realized substantially U-shaped and laterally forms closure with the upper side 29 of middle part 23.
The base part 26, which is substantially structured in the shape of a box, includes a floor 44 which is connected across two sidewalls 45, 46 with a ceiling. On this ceiling 47 rest the two side parts 24, 25 of top part 22. The middle part 23 is not in contact with ceiling 47 since it is suspended between the two side parts 24, 25 of top part 22. It is herein obvious to a person of skill in the art that the base part 26 also suffices without floor. The base part 26 can thereby be pressed at least partially into the substrate 51. The base part 26 is thereby securely disposed in the substrate 51.
The sidewalls 45, 46 of base part 26 additionally include windows through which a securement means can be guided from the outside. These windows are located obliquely opposite to one another. In
In the proximity of window 48 the wall is structured in the shape of a roof, wherein in
Next to opening 27 are disposed two relatively large openings 66, 67, through which also connection elements can be guided. By means of these connection elements the base part 26 is secured with the substrate on which it is disposed. Such connection elements are, however, not depicted in
In
The roof-shaped section 74 serves consequently as a holding element or support surface for the securement element 75 guided through the guide-through 71. It is understood that, depending on the form of the securement element, the section 74 can also be structured differently.
Beneath opening 27 is located a cavity 88, disposed directly above the substrate 51 and laterally encompassed by two walls 89, 90. These walls 89, 90 are each located opposite a wall 91, 92 and, together with the floor 44 and the ceiling 47, form each a hollow volume 68 and 93, respectively. Next to these hollow volumes 68, 93 bordering on walls 91 and 92, respectively, one cavity 94, 95 each is located. These cavities 94, 95 are also directly in contact with the substrate 51. Above each of the cavities 94, 95 is an opening 66, 67. Through these openings 66, 67 securement means, for example spikes, can be guided. These securement means, not depicted here, serve for connecting the base part 26 with the substrate 51. For this purpose the securement means are guided from above through the openings 66, 67 and introduced into the substrate 51. It can consequently be clearly seen that the walls 45, 46, 54, 83, 84, 52, 72, 73, 89 to 92 of sections 70, 80, 81 and 87 form between the floor 44 and the ceiling 47 of base part 26, in principle, strut members with cavities and hollow volumes disposed therein, which contribute especially to the stability of the rail system 1, since these withstand high pressures. The material of which the rail system 1 is comprised can herein be a metal, a metal alloy and/or a synthetic material. However, the rail system is preferably comprised of Al.
However, it is understood that the base part 98 can also have a floor, with which in this case the base part 98 is in contact with the substrate 51.
Seen can be further two securement elements 113, 114, which, with an upper region 225, 226, are at least partially disposed in base part 98 and with a lower region 227, 228 are disposed in the substrate 51. Since the upper regions 225, 226 of securement elements 113, 114 are disposed behind a connection element 104, these are shown only schematically. The securement elements 113, 114 are disposed with their lower region 227, 228 deeply in the substrate 51, whereby the rail system 98 is securely anchored in the substrate 51.
The top part 22 corresponds to the top part depicted in
The connection element 104 is preferably a bolt with a threading disposed in the middle part 23. It is herein feasible for a counterthreading to be disposed in the middle part 23 in which the bolt is supported. However,
The riding board 97 disposed on the rail system 96 has a frame 115, which is provided with several pairs of wheels. Since in
The frame 115 is comprised of two opposing, substantially U-shaped sections 119, 120, which are connected with one another via one of their two limbs 121, 122. The connection of these two limbs 121, 122 forms a section 123, which forms the top side of the riding board 97. On this section 123 is disposed a board 124 on which a person, not depicted here, can stand. This involves, consequently, a variant of a riding board on which a person can stand with both feet.
In the central region of section 123 is located the wheel pair 117, which comprises two wheels 126, 127 disposed rotatably on a shaft 125. The shaft 125 rests in a bearing 128, wherein the shaft 125 includes on both sides fixing elements 129, 130 which ensure that the shaft 125 does not become detached from the bearing 128. It can be seen that the wheel pair 117 is located in the frame 115 in front of the two wheel pairs 116, 118, e.g. is disposed offset with respect to them. As the wheel pair 118, the wheel pair 116 is also disposed in two parallel extending elements 131, 132 and 133, 134, respectively, wherein the elements 131, 134 form each one limb 131, 134 of the U-shaped section 120 and 119, respectively, of frame 115. The element 133 and 132 is herein connected via a strut member 135 and 136, respectively, with the section 123 of frame 115.
The wheel pairs 116, 118 have each two wheels 139, 140 and 141, 142, respectively, disposed movably on a shaft 137 and 138, respectively. It is understood that the wheel pairs 116, 118 can be disposed on ball bearings. Shafts 137, 138 are herein bearing supported in elements 131, 132 and 133, 134, respectively. As is the case in wheel pair 117, wheel pairs 116, 118 also include shafts 137, 138, which are provided at their ends with fixing elements 143 to 146. These fixing elements 143 to 146 prevent the shafts 137, 138 from becoming detached from the elements 131 to 134.
Wheels 126, 127, 139, 140, 141, 142 of these wheel pairs 116 to 118 can herein also be ball bearings. These ball bearings can additionally be rubberized.
Although in
a and 12b show schematically a braking system 63 of the riding board 97 with the wheel pairs 147 to 149, 116 to 118. The braking system 63 comprises one rod-shaped element 156, 157 on each side of the riding board 97. These rod-shaped elements 156, 157 are disposed via a spring element 158, 159 each on the rearward section 160 of the riding board 97. Thus the travel direction of the riding board 97 is indicated by the arrow 161.
On both elements 156, 157 are disposed means 162, 163, by means of which braking blocks 164, 165 can be moved in the direction of arrows 166, 167. Between these braking blocks 164, 165 is disposed the top part 22 which in
Evident are two end blocks 168, 169 which are located opposite one another. On the elements 156, 157, moreover, one band 170, 171 each is disposed. These bands 170, 171 are guided through openings 172, 173 from the underside of the riding board 97 such that a person standing on the riding board 97 can grasp these. For this purpose the two bands 170, 171 are joined to form a traction device 174, for example a rope 174. This traction device 174 can be held by a person, not depicted in
However, such a person 11 is depicted in
By pulling the traction device 174, the position depicted in
The braking blocks 164, 165 comprised substantially of flexible material have herein been moved with their broader regions in the direction of arrows 166, 167, e.g. in the direction of top part 22 of the rail system. Therewith the braking blocks 164, 165 come into contact with the top part 22 which launches a braking process.
When the traction device 174 is released again, the elements 156, 157 are retracted through the spring elements 158, 159 in the direction of arrows 177, 178. The spring elements 158, 159 thereby arrive again in the position depicted in
As can be seen in
In
The riding board 64 also comprises several wheel pairs 193 to 204, wherein each of the frames 191, 192 is provided with six wheel pairs each. The disposition of these wheel pairs 193 to 204 corresponds to that of the riding board 97. Each of the frames 191, 192 includes a braking system 213, 214, each of which comprises two braking blocks 205, 206 and 207, 208, respectively, as well as two end blocks 209, 210 and 211, 212, respectively. These braking blocks 205 to 208 are preferably comprised of rubber or another flexible material. Thus far the braking system 213, 214 is similar to the braking system 63 of riding board 97. However, the rails 189, 190 assume the function of elements 156, 157 of the braking system 63. At both ends of rails 189 and 190 means 215, 217 and 216, 218, respectively, are disposed with which the braking blocks 205 to 208 can be moved in the direction of arrows 219, 220, e.g. in the direction of the top part 22 depicted in
As can be seen in
Unlike in the braking system 63 of riding board 97, herein the means 161, 162 of the elements 156, 157 are not moved but rather are the frames 191, 192 with the braking blocks 205 to 208. The braking process proper, however, does not differ, since in
If the braking process is to be terminated, the frames 191, 192 with the boards disposed thereon must be moved in the direction of arrows 223 and 224, respectively, e.g. toward one another. This takes place thereby that the person moves his legs again in the direction of arrows 223, 224. Therewith is obvious that through a relative movement of the means 162, 163, 215 to 218 with respect to the braking blocks 164, 165, 205 to 208 the braking process can be controlled.
These braking blocks 164, 165, 205 to 208 are comprised of a substantially flexible material, such as for example rubber. Further, these braking blocks are readily attachable on the riding board and are readily detachable again from the riding board. If such a braking block is consequently worn down, it can be removed readily from the riding board and be replaced by a new one.
Although the embodiment examples of the invention have been described above in detail, the invention is not limited to these embodiment examples. A person of skill in the art understands that the invention comprises several variants with which the same result is obtained as with the embodiment examples described here. It is therefore obvious to the person of skill in the art that with the embodiment examples described here the scope of protection of the claims is not limited and that there are further variants, modifications and alternatives which fall within the protective scope of the claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2008 023 90937 | May 2008 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP09/55516 | 5/7/2009 | WO | 00 | 1/3/2011 |