Abstract:
A device for providing a ski with additional stiffness with respect to bending in the transverse and longitudinal directions of the ski. The stiffening elements which provide the stiffening may be combined with ski bindings.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a device for stiffening a ski, preferably comprising of a carrier part or base part of a ski binding. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     EP 04 92 658 A1 discloses a carrier plate which is provided for the arrangement of ski bindings and of which one end is secured such that it is fixed to the ski and a displaceable end is guided so that it can move in the longitudinal direction of the ski. The displaceable end changes its spacing with respect to an abutment, which is fixed to the ski, when the ski bends upon skiing over bumps in the ground. Depending on the size of the spacing between the displaceable end of the carrier plate and the abutment and/or depending on the spring characteristic of a spring member arranged between the abutment and the displaceable end of the carrier plate, more or less high shearing forces are transmitted between the carrier plate and the abutment when at least one ski end bends, relative to the rest of the ski, in the upwards direction of the ski. In this manner, the rigidity of the ski with respect to bending deformations in the vertical longitudinal plane of the ski can be adjusted or changed. On soft pistes or in deep snow a pliable ski is usually desired, whereas on hard or icy pistes a flexurally rigid ski is generally advantageous. 
     EP 02 23 976 B1 discloses a ski which is secured with respect to torsion by a ring-bellows spring. In this arrangement, two ring-bellows springs are arranged in front of, and behind, the central region provided for receiving a ski boot. The springs counteract twisting of the ski ends relative to the central region, but are comparatively compliant with respect to other bending deformations of the ski. 
     It is known from EP 02 52 910 B1 to arrange an additional plate in the central region of a ski, on the upper side thereof. The plate passes in the longitudinal direction beyond the region provided for receiving the ski boot, and is connected to the ski in the manner of a torsion box to correspondingly increase the twist rigidity thereof. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,400 discloses a ski with adjustable rigidity. Arranged in the longitudinal direction within the body of the ski are twistable bars, the stressing of which can be changed by rotation. These bars act in a manner similar to the prestressing cables in prestressed concrete bridges. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It has been found that skis can undergo a pronounced bending in a horizontal longitudinal plane when the ends of the ski are bent vertically upwardly. The ski adopts a more or less arcuate form, and tends to move in an arcuate path in the snow. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved arrangements for changing the rigidity of a ski in the longitudinal horizontal plane. This object is achieved according to preferred embodiments of the invention by a stiffening member which extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski and largely impedes bending movements of the ski in the horizontal longitudinal plane of the ski and generally allows bending movements of the ski in the vertical longitudinal plane of the ski. In other words, in some of the preferred embodiments of the invention,the ski resists bending in the lateral or transverse directions of the ski, but is less resistant to bending in the longitudinal direction of the ski. 
     The present invention is based upon the finding that a ski can undergo relatively pronounced bending deformations even in the lateral or horizontal longitudinal plane of the ski, in particular when the ski ends are bent in the upwards direction with respect to the central region of the ski. The above-mentioned bending deformations result in the ski adopting, in plan view, a more or less pronounced arcuate form and trying to move through a corresponding arcuate path. The present invention counteracts bending deformations of this type, and accordingly the skiing in a straight path is considerably improved and provides a feeling of skiing along a path free from unwanted lateral movements. 
     According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the stiffening member is configured as a relatively rigid longitudinal member which cannot largely effect bending deformations of the ski in the vertical longitudinal plane thereof. As a result, the longitudinal member is not subjected to any lateral bending deformation when the ski slides over bumps or depressions in the ground, and the ski can be bent to a large extent in the vertical longitudinal plane of the ski. The longitudinal member only resists bending deformation when the ski is urged to bend in the horizontal longitudinal plane of the ski. The longitudinal member provides a comparatively high degree of resistance, with respect to horizontal bending stress, since mutually superimposed vertical and horizontal bending stresses are avoided in the longitudinal member. 
     It may expediently be provided, in design terms, that the longitudinal member includes a first part which is fixed to the ski and is anchored such that it cannot rotate about the vertical axis of the ski, and a second part which is spaced apart from the first part in the longitudinal direction, and is secured on the ski such that it can move in the longitudinal direction of the ski, but is relatively immovable in the transverse direction of the ski. The second part is preferably connected to the first part such that it can pivot about a transverse axis of the ski. In accordance with the foregoing arrangement of the longitudinal member, the ski will be largely responsive to bending movements in the vertical longitudinal plane of the ski, while bending movements of the ski in the horizontal longitudinal plane will be prevented or reduced. 
     In an alternative configuration of the present invention, an arrangement is provided in which both the bending rigidity of the ski in the vertical longitudinal plane of the ski and the bending rigidity of the ski in the horizontal longitudinal plane of the ski are effected. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the alternative configuration, the longitudinal member includes a movable part which can move in the longitudinal direction of the ski. The movable part is directed against an abutment part which is fixed to the ski, such that, at least in the event of pronounced upwards bending of a ski end, shearing forces can be transmitted between the movable part and the abutment part. 
     In a second preferred embodiment of the alternative configuration, two longitudinal members are arranged with mutually facing parts which can move in the longitudinal direction of the ski. The two longitudinal members also are arranged with parts which are remote from the mutually facing parts and cannot move in the longitudinal direction of the ski. These parts are connected to the ski such that they cannot rotate about the vertical axis of the ski, the intention being, at least in the event of pronounced upwards bending of a ski end, that shearing forces can be transmitted, in turn, between the mutually facing parts. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment, the longitudinal member can also be secured at three regions, which are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the ski. The longitudinal member is relatively immovable in the transverse direction of the ski, and can be secured at least at two of the above-mentioned regions such that it is relatively movable in the longitudinal direction of the ski. In this embodiment, the longitudinal member may be configured, in a particularly simple manner, as a plate for securing or anchoring the ski binding. 
     In another embodiment, a longitudinally extending rigid member is movable in the longitudinal vertical plane relative to the ski of the ski flexes (or counterflexes). A control member fixed to the longitudinally extending member retains the bending of the ski in a longitudinal path by controlling the movement of generally opposed, parallel, longitudinal walls fixed relative to the ski and which move relative to the control member disposed between the walls as they move in the longitudinal direction. The vertical walls can be flexible and can be curved, to enable their movement relative to the control member in the transverse direction in response to transverse forces acting on the ski. 
     The control of the stiffness of the ski is accomplished by control means of the longitudinal member, which controls guide means operatively attached to the ski. The control means of the longitudinal member generally establishes the path of movement of the guide means of the ski. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein: 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 are top plan views of a ski having bending forces acting thereupon. 
     FIG. 3 is a side plan view of a portion of a ski configured with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a component of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a side plan view of a ski configured with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 6. 
     FIG. 8 is a side plan view of a ski configured with a modified version of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. 
     FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 8. 
     FIG. 10 is a side plan view of a ski configured with another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a ski configured with still another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a side plan view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 11. 
     FIGS. 13 to 18 show various configurations for the guide members shown in FIGS. 6-12. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a lateral force F acting on a ski 1. Force F bears approximately over the entire length of ski 1 on the underlying surface in a central region of ski 1. This force is somewhat greater than the lateral guiding force of said central region of ski 1. In response to force F, counter-forces f become effective at the ends of ski 1, since the ends of ski 1 cannot readily follow a sideways movement of ski 1. Insofar as the forces F and f have relatively small values, ski 1 remains to the greatest extent rectilinear in plan view, as is represented in FIG. 1. 
     The forces F and f, as shown in FIG. 2, assume such large values that ski 1 bends considerably in the horizontal longitudinal plane of the ski. The bending in the horizontal longitudinal plane of the ski may be facilitated in that the ends of ski 1 are simultaneously bent upwards with respect to the plane of the drawing. This may occur, for example, when skiing through a depression in the ground. 
     It is notable that extensive bending of the ski in the horizontal longitudinal plane of the ski (see FIG. 2) can occur, since skis give the impression of having a high degree of rigidity with respect to such bending. Nevertheless, skiing tests have shown that the stability of a ski during skiing is improved considerably if measures are taken against bending of the type represented in FIG. 2. 
     In the case of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-5, a ski binding is arranged in a basically conventional manner on a ski 1, said binding essentially comprising a heel part 2 and a front jaw 3 which secure a ski boot (not shown) in the heel region and in the toe region, respectively. Heel part 2 and front jaw 3 are connected to one another via a plate 4. Plate 4 is secured to the ski in the region of heel part 2, such that it is fixed to the ski, and is secured in the region of the front jaw 3, such that it retains a certain degree of movability in the longitudinal direction of the ski and is immovable in the transverse direction of the ski. The longitudinal movability ensures that ski 1, for example when skiing through depressions in the ground, can bend in its vertical longitudinal plane without plate 4 counteracting bending of this type. Only the front-jaw end of plate 4 is displaced in the longitudinal direction of the ski when the ski bends in this manner. 
     It will be appreciated that it is possible to permit the movable end of plate 4 (i.e., the front-jaw end) to interact with an abutment (not shown) which is fixed to the ski. The abutment is normally located at a specific spacing from the forward facing end of plate 4, in the longitudinal direction of the ski, or is coupled to plate 4 via a compression-spring member, which may be subjected to play. Accordingly, in the event of ski 1 bending in the vertical longitudinal plane of the ski, more or less high compressive forces can be transferred between the plate 4 and the abutment. These forces will counteract extreme bending of ski 1 when skiing through depressions in the ground. 
     An important aspect of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-5 is pin 5 and slotted-link part 6, best seen in FIG. 5. Pin 5 is a control means fixedly arranged on the underside of plate 4, in a central region between heel part 2 and front jaw 3, while slotted-link part 6 is a guide member fixed to the ski. Pin 5 guides or controls the movement of slotted-link part 6 by the relative displacement of the guide slit and part 6, and hence, ski 1. However, the ski cannot be displaced in the transverse direction of the pin 5. Consequently, the central region of the ski is stiffened to a considerable extent with respect to bending of the type represented in FIG. 2 (i.e., with respect to bending in the horizontal longitudinal plane of the ski). 
     Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is shown a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. A rigid bar part 7 is arranged, in each case behind heel part 2 and in front of front jaw 3, such that it can pivot about a transverse axis of the ski by means of a joint or articulation 8. However, rigid bar part 7 cannot pivot with respect to the vertical axis of the ski. Each end of bar part 7 which is remote from the respective articulation 8 is secured on the ski 1, by means of a guide member 9, such that it can move in the longitudinal direction of the ski, but is relatively immovable in the transverse direction of the ski. Consequently, bending of the ends of the ski, relative to the central region of the ski, in the transverse direction of the ski, is impeded. It will be appreciated that the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 allows control of the transverse bending to be effected independently for the toe end and the heel end of the ski. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 show a modified version of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Heel part 2 and front jaw 3 are connected to one another via a plate 4 in order to further increase the bending rigidity of the ski in the transverse direction of the ski. 
     Referring now to FIG. 10, there is shown yet another embodiment of the present invention. Bar parts 7 are configured in a plate-like manner, and are arranged between heel part 2 and front jaw 3. Bar parts 7 are connected to heel part 2 and front jaw 3 via a joint or articulation 8, such that they can pivot about a transverse axis of the ski. The mutually facing free ends of bar parts 7 are guided in a ski-side guide member 9 such that they can move in the longitudinal direction of the ski, but are relatively immovable in the transverse direction of the ski. Consequently, bar parts 7 impede bending of ski 1 in the horizontal longitudinal plane of the ski, such as when one of the fastening regions of ski 1 for the heel part 2 and/or the front jaw 3 tries to rotate about a vertical axis of the ski relative to that portion of the ski 1 which is beneath guide member 9. 
     If the ends of the ski are bent upwards to a pronounced extent relative to the central region of the ski, as may be the case, for example, when skiing through depressions in the ground, bar parts 7 can butt against one another by their mutually facing free ends. As a result of the pronounced upward bending, pronounced shearing forces will occur between articulations 8 and/or the ski-side anchorings thereof. The shearing forces will counteract any further bending of the ski in the vertical longitudinal axis of the ski. 
     In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the mutually facing ends of bar parts 7 are normally spaced relatively far apart in the longitudinal direction of the ski. Correspondingly, the bending rigidity of the ski 1, which arises when the mutually facing free ends of bar parts 7 butt against one another, becomes effective only at a relatively late point in time, i.e., in the event of a very high degree of bending of the ski in its vertical longitudinal plane. 
     Alternatively, the spacing between bar parts 7 can also be dimensioned to be smaller or can be shortened by the insertion of intermediate pieces. Furthermore, a compression-spring member, such as in the form of an elastic cushion or a spring, may also be arranged between the mutually facing free ends of bar parts 7. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, there is shown still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, an essentially rigid plate 10, which receives heel part 2 and front jaw 3, is fastened to ski 1. In order to fasten plate 10 on ski 1, plate 10 has, beneath heel part 2, a shoulder-like thickened portion which is secured fixedly on ski 1 by means of screws or the like. 
     Plate 10 comprises a control means, which is otherwise spaced above the upper side of ski 1, is secured beneath front jaw 3 such that it can move in the longitudinal direction of the ski. However, plate 10 is secured on a guide member 9 attached to the ski, to make it relatively immovable in the transverse direction of ski 1. Consequently, plate 10 stiffens ski 1 with respect to bending in the horizontal longitudinal plane of the ski. Moreover, plate 10 also effects a certain degree of stiffening when the front end of ski 1 is bent in the upwards direction relative to the rest of the ski. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 13 to 18, there are shown various embodiments for guide member 9 shown in FIGS. 6 to 12. 
     Referring now to FIG. 13, there is shown a top plan view of a first embodiment of guide member 9. Guide member 9 is a control means, comprised of a plate part 12 which is fastened on the ski 1 by means of screws 11 and has an upwardly open groove 13 which is aligned in the longitudinal direction of the ski and into which is located a control pin 14 or the like, which is a control means fixedly arranged on bar parts 7 (see FIGS. 6 to 10) or on plate 10 (see FIGS. 11 and 12). 
     FIG. 14 shows a side plan view of the guide member 9 depicted in FIG. 13. The underside of plate part 12 may exhibit front and rear sloping surfaces 15 in order to permit ski 1 to bend, to the greatest extent unhindered, in the vertical longitudinal axis of the ski, in the region of plate part 12. However, within groove 13, control pin 14 or the like controls or impedes bending of the ski in the transverse direction. 
     FIG. 15 illustrates another embodiment of guide member 9. In this embodiment groove 13 is replaced by guide mouldings 16 which may be arranged on plate part 12. Guide mouldings 16 form a groove-like channel which extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski and is intended for receiving control pin 14 or the like. Guide mouldings 16 may be resiliently secured in the transverse direction of the ski by means of springs 17 (e.g., helical steel springs), with the result that control pin 14 or the like may be able to control the yielding of mouldings 16 somewhat, against spring force, in the transverse direction of the ski. Springs 17 may, if appropriate, be arranged such that they are adjustable. 
     If ski 1 tries to bend in the sideways direction (i.e., in the horizontal longitudinal plane of the ski), control pin 14 responds with a force against the force of springs 17 in the sideways direction, with the result that the above-mentioned bending of the ski 1 is resiliently impeded. 
     FIG. 16 shows a modified version of the guide member 9 shown in FIG. 15. In this modified version, plastic springs 18 are substituted for steel springs 17. 
     Referring now to FIG. 17, there is shown yet another embodiment of guide member 9. In this embodiment, there are arranged on plate part 12 two spring members 19, which leave between them a channel that extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski and is intended for receiving control pin 14. As a result of their elasticity, spring members 19 make it possible for control pin 14 received between them to respond with a counter-force to a force exerted by ski 1 and members 19 in the transverse direction, with the result that sideways bending of the ski 1 is countered by a resilient resistance. 
     Moreover, spring members 19 are shaped such that they form a narrowed portion in the longitudinal direction of the ski, in front of and behind control pin 14 located in a normal or central position. Each narrowed portion can be resiliently expanded by control pin 14. Accordingly, control pin 14 resists movement in the longitudinal direction of the ski against a certain resistance. When the ski bends in the vertical longitudinal plane of the ski and, correspondingly, the control pin 14 effects a movement of spring members 19 of guide member 9 relative to the ski in the longitudinal direction of the ski, control pin 14 engages spring members 19 and counteracts said bending movement with a friction resistance, which effects a corresponding damping. 
     A similar result can be obtained with guide mouldings 16 shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. In this respect, the mutually facing sides of mouldings 16 can be formed to correspond to the shape of spring members 19 shown in FIG. 17. Accordingly, guide mouldings 16, under the force of springs 17 and 18, are separated as they engage pin 14 upon movement in the longitudinal direction of the ski. 
     Plate parts 12 may also be fastened on ski 1 in a manner other than by the screws shown in FIGS. 13 and 15 to 17. In this respect, FIG. 18 shows a front plan view of plate part 12 having angular clamping webs 20. Clamping webs 20 may be arranged on plate part 12 to engage laterally around ski 1 from above. 
     The foregoing descriptions are specific embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated that these embodiments are described for purposes of illustration only and that numerous alterations and modifications may be practiced by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all such modifications and alternations be included insofar as they come within the scope of the invention as claimed or the equivalents thereof.