Abstract:
An artificial snow skiing surface has a number of spaced-apart rigid projections extending from a base. The surface is formed by joining like tile members that attach at side-by-side and end-to-end joints to form the mat. The joints and inherent flexibility of the tiles enable the mat to conform to irregular or non-planar substrates.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to an artificial snow-skiing surface, and particularly to a tile member for joining with like tile members for forming the surface. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Snow skiing, including free-form snow skiing and snowboarding, are very popular. In addition to traditional flat, downhill ski slopes, half pipes and terrain parks have become popular with skiing enthusiasts. 
         [0003]    Many skiing enthusiasts would like to ski year-round. But most skiers cannot afford to travel during the summer months to reach skiing facilities thousands of miles away. 
         [0004]    Artificial snow skiing surfaces have been developed to enable skiing during the summer months. One such conventional snow skiing surface has an appearance similar to a shag carpet. The carpet is laid out and skiers ski on top of the carpet. The carpet must be kept wet for skiing to reduce friction between the carpet and the skis to enable skiing. Even when the carpet is wet, however, friction generates high drag on skis or snowboards, impairing the skiing experience. 
         [0005]    Thus there is a need for an improved artificial snow skiing surface for slopes, half pipes, and terrain parks. The improved surface should be inexpensive and easy to assemble, and provide a realistic snow skiing experience without being wet. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The invention is an improved artificial snow skiing surface for slopes, half pipes, and terrain parks. The improved surface is inexpensive and easy to assemble, and provides a realistic snow skiing experience without being wet. 
         [0007]    An artificial snow skiing surface in accordance with the present invention is formed as a mat placed on a substrate (such as the ground or the walls defining a half pipe) to form an artificial skiing surface. The mat includes a base comprising upper and lower sides. A number of rigid, spaced-apart projections extend from the upper side of the base and away from the base to free end portions for bearing against skis or snowboards. The projections are spaced sufficiently close together so that a number of end portions simultaneously engage and support a ski or snowboard on the upper surface of the mat to provide an artificial snow skiing surface. 
         [0008]    In preferred embodiments of the invention, the skiing mat is formed from a number of like tile members that join together to form the skiing surface. 
         [0009]    Each tile member is preferably made using a nylon resin for inherently low friction without the need for wetting the surface for use. The tile member is manufactured by injection molding for high volume production at low per-tile cost. 
         [0010]    The tile members preferably join together using a hook-and-rail structure that permits the sides and ends of adjacent tiles to rotate relative to each other. This enables the tiles to cover a non-planar surface, such as the transition walls of a half-pipe or moguls on a ski slope. 
         [0011]    An artificial skiing surface formed with the tile members of the present invention is easily assembled on the ground or other substrate. Tiles can be pre-assembled into easily handled four-foot by eight-foot sheets to reduce on-site assembly. 
         [0012]    Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying six drawing sheets illustrating two embodiments of the invention. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a first embodiment tile member for forming the ski mat of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the tile member; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an end view of the tile member taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a first sectional view of the tile member taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a second sectional view of the tile member taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a partial front view of the tile member shown in  FIG. 1  attached side-by-side to a second tile member; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the tile members shown in  FIG. 6  taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 7  illustrating pivoting of one tile member relative to the other tile member; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a partial front view of the tile member shown in  FIG. 1  attached end-to-end to a second tile member; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the tile members shown in  FIG. 9  taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 10  illustrating pivoting of one tile member relative to the other tile member; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a view similar to  FIG. 9  showing the two tiles full length and side-by-side attachment of a third tile at two alternative locations along the two tiles; 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a front view of six tile members assembled together to form a portion of the ski mat; 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a front view of tile members assembled to form a larger portion of the ski mat; 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  illustrates a portion of the ski mat forming a skiing surface for a uniform downhill grade; 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  illustrates a portion of the ski mat forming a skiing surface for a half-pipe; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 17  is a sectional view similar to  FIG. 4  of a second embodiment tile member. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]      FIGS. 1-5  illustrate a first embodiment tile member  10  for forming a ski mat or artifical snow skiing surface in accordance with the present invention. Member  10  is an elongate body having a base  12  and a number of spaced apart projections  14  extending away from the base. The projections  14  form part of the skiing surface as will be explained in greater detail below. Side hooks  16  are spaced along the base  12  for side-by-side attachment to an adjacent tile. An end hook  18  is located at one end  20  of the tile for end-to-end attachment to an adjacent tile. 
         [0031]    Base  12  includes two spaced apart, parallel longitudinal rails  22 ,  24  that extend along opposite sides of the base. As best seen in  FIG. 4 , each rail  22 ,  24  has a circular cross section. An end rail  26  located at the other end  28  of the base extends between the two rails  22 ,  24  and has a circular cross section identical to rails  22 ,  24 . A number of spaced-apart rungs  30  also extend between the rails  22 ,  24 . Member  10  is open between the rungs  30 . The rung adjacent base end  28  is spaced from end rail  26 . The rung adjacent base end  26  is located at that end of the base. Each rung  30  has a thickness equal to the rail diameter. 
         [0032]    Projections  14  extend from the upper sides of rungs  30 , with each projection  14  extending from a respective rung  30 . The projections  14  are shaped like a portion of a hemisphere with the base of the projection on the rung  30  and a convex outer surface  31  extending to an upper end or upper surface  32 . 
         [0033]    Each side hook  16  is formed on the upper side of a rung  30  and extends from the projection  14  outwardly to a free end spaced outwardly away from side rail  24 . A throat  34  is formed in hook  16  to capture and retain the side rail of the adjacent tile member. Endhook  18  is formed on the upper side of the rung adjacent base end  26  and extends from projection  14  outwardly to a free spaced outwardly away from base end  20 . Endhook  18  includes a throat  36  to capture and retain the end rail of an adjacent tile member. 
         [0034]    Illustrated tile member  10  is about twelve inches long and one inch wide. The base  12  is approximately one-eighth inch thick, and each of the eight projections  14  extends about a quarter-inch above the base. 
         [0035]    Tile  10  is preferably made as a homogeneous, integral, one-piece member by injection molding using a polyamide (nylon) resin. A suitable resin is Material 2150T3U2 Wt-103 available from Technical Polymers, Buford, Ga. This is a polyamide resin having friction-reducing additives. The molded tile  10  has good toughness, low friction, and does not plastically compress under load when used as a ski mat. A conical hole  34  is molded into each rung and projection to improve cooling of the molded part and reduce material costs. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate portions of two like tiles  10   a ,  10   b  attached side-by-side to one another for forming a ski mat. Rail  24  of tile  10   a  is adjacent rail  22  of tile  10   b , with the projections  14  on the same side of the mat. Side hooks  16  of tile  10   a  are between the rungs  30  of tile  10   b . Side rail  22  is snapped into hooks  16  as shown in  FIG. 7  to connect the two tiles. 
         [0037]    Rail  22  can rotate within the hooks  16  to form pivot joints between tiles  10   a ,  10   b  that permit pivoting of tile  10   b  with respect to tile  10   a  about rail  22 .  FIG. 8  illustrates tile  10   b  in phantom in two different pivot positions. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate two like tiles  10   c ,  10   d  attached end-to-end to one another for forming a ski mat. End  20  of tile  10   c  is adjacent end  26  of tile  10   d , with the projections  14  on the same side of the mat. End hook  18  of tile  10   c  is centered over end rail  28  of tile  10   d . End rail  28  is snapped into the throat of end hook  18  as shown in  FIG. 10  to connect the two tiles. 
         [0039]    Rail  28  can rotate within hook  18  to form a pivot joint that permits pivoting of tile  10   c  with respect to tile  10   d  about rail  28 .  FIG. 10  illustrates tile  10   d  in phantom in two different pivot positions. 
         [0040]      FIG. 12  illustrates the assembly  36  formed by joining tiles  10   c  and  10   d  end-to-end. The side hooks  16  and rungs  30  are uniformly spaced along the length of the assembly. This enables another tile  10  to attach to the side of the assembly anywhere along the length of the assembly.  FIG. 12  illustrates in phantom a portion of a tile  10   e  attached to the side of assembly  36  at two different locations. As shown in the figure, tile  10   e  can span the joint between tiles  10   c ,  10   d.    
         [0041]    Tiles  10  are attached end-to-end and side-by-side to form a ski mat of the desired size to cover the substrate.  FIG. 13  illustrates eight tiles  10  connected as four rows  38   a - 38   d  of two tiles joined end to end. Tiles are joined side-by-side with the side hook nearest the end rail of one rail attached between the rung and end rail of the adjacent tile. Other attachment patterns can be used to stagger joints differently if desired. The ability of adjacent tiles to pivot relative to one another along their sides and ends, and the inherent flexibility of the tiles themselves enables the ski mat formed from the tiles to closely conform to curves, changes in slope or curvature, or other surface irregularities. 
         [0042]    The tiles shown in  FIG. 13  cover an area of about four feet by four inches.  FIG. 14  illustrates a preassembled mat  40  formed from tiles  10 . Mat  40  is about four feet wide and eight feet long, and can be rolled up for storage. A number of mats  40  are made up prior to installation, transported to the job site, and then unrolled for use. Adjoining mats  40  are connected end-to-end and side-by-side as described above to cover the entire ski surface. 
         [0043]      FIG. 15  illustrates a ski mat  110  formed from a number of like tiles  10 . Mat  110  is placed or assembled directly on the ground or other substrate  112 , such as plywood with projection surfaces  32  forming the upper surface of the mat. The mat can be kept in place by friction between the base of the tiles  10  as shown, or mechanical fasteners, such as adhesives or U-shaped nails/staples can mechanically fasten the rails  22 ,  24  to the substrate. The openings in tiles  10  between rungs  30  enable rainwater to quickly drain off the mat. 
         [0044]      FIG. 16  illustrates ski mat  210  like mat  110  covering a portion of the floor  212  and transition wall  214  of a half pipe. Tiles  10  can be mechanically fastened or glued to the substrate of the half pipe. 
         [0045]    When skiing on a ski mat  110  or  210  formed from interconnected tiles  10 , the skis, snowboard, toboggan or the like simultaneously bears against a number of the surfaces  32  forming the upper surface of the mat. The surfaces  32  are sufficiently close together to provide practically uniform support of the ski, snowboard, toboggan, or the like. The surfaces  32  are essentially point surfaces, so parasitic drag is reduced. The user experiences downhill performance very similar to that experienced on snow. In addition, the edges of skis or snowboards can push against the sides  31  of the projections  14  for making turns or other changes in direction. 
         [0046]    Ski mats  110 ,  210  are formed from like tiles  10 . In other embodiments the tiles forming the mat can be different sizes. For example, shorter-length tiles can be used to cover moguls or sharper discontinues. The denser joint spacings may make it easier to conform portions of the mat to the substrate than when using a uniform tiling. 
         [0047]      FIG. 17  illustrates a second embodiment tile  310 . Tile  310  is similar to tile  10  so only differences will be discussed. Webs  312  are formed between the rungs  330  and extend between the side rails  322 ,  324  along the bottom of the base. The webs  312  close the gaps between rungs  330  to provide additional fastening surfaces to attach the tiles to a substrate. Openings or perforations can be formed in webs  312  for water drainage. The outer end of side hooks  316  and the end hook extend to just above the plane of the webs. 
         [0048]    Illustrated tiles  10 ,  310  are rectangularly shaped to permit a regular, periodic arrangement of tiles to cover a substrate. Other periodic tiling shapes are known and can be adapted for use with the present invention. The size, number, spacing, and shape of projections carried by the tile can also vary in other embodiments. Other connecting structures can be used instead of hooks and rails. 
         [0049]    In yet other embodiments a ski mat in accordance with the present invention can be formed as a one-piece, integral unit. 
         [0050]    While I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention, it is understood that these are capable of modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.