Abstract:
An interface device to be positioned between a gliding board, such as a ski, and at least one boot-retaining element, as well as a gliding apparatus that includes such device. The interface device includes: a right lateral arm including a lower surface that can be positioned on the gliding board; a left lateral arm arranged parallel to the right lateral arm and including a lower surface that can be positioned on the gliding board; the right lateral arm and the left lateral arm being used for supporting and fastening the at least one of retaining elements on the gliding board; and including a bridging section arranged between the right lateral arm and the left lateral arm. The bridging section is higher than the lower surface of the right lateral arm.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of French Patent Application No. 06.01888, filed on Mar. 2, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    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 equipped with such an interface device. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Background and Relevant Information 
         [0005]    Interface devices between an element for retaining a boot and a gliding board, such as between a binding and a ski, are known from the prior art. They are especially used to isolate the retaining elements from the gliding board and to enable the boot to be elevated. They are also used to allow the position of the retaining elements to be adjusted with respect to the gliding board. Furthermore, they are often designed so that the retaining elements hinder the flexion of the ski as little as possible. 
         [0006]    The document DE 100 63 923 discloses an interface device adapted to receive front and rear binding elements. As can be seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4  of this document, the interface device is made of two separate parallel rails arranged on a gliding board, and on which the front and rear binding elements can slide. A problem with such a construction is the deformation of the gliding board in torsion along its longitudinal axis. The torsional moments exerted on the longitudinal axis are conventionally referred to as Mx moments. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides an interface device between an element for retaining a boot and a gliding board, which makes it possible to overcome the limitations of the devices known from the prior art. More particularly, the invention provides an interface device between an element for retaining a boot and a gliding board, which raises the boot, does not change the behavior of the gliding board, particularly in flexion, and improves the behavior of the gliding board, particularly the resistance to deformation of the gliding board against the forces that cause torsional moments along its longitudinal axis (Mx), thereby enabling a precise steering of the gliding board and a better grip over its entire length, while enhancing the reactive capabilities of the gliding board. 
         [0008]    In addition, the invention provides an interface device that makes it possible to quickly mount the retaining elements on the gliding board. 
         [0009]    Further, the invention provides an interface device that improves the dynamic behavior of the gliding board when subjected to forces tending to bend and/or twist the board. 
         [0010]    More particularly, the invention provides for an interface device between a gliding board and a boot-retaining element, such device including the following:
       a right lateral arm having a lower surface that can be positioned on the gliding board;   a left lateral arm arranged parallel to the right lateral arm and having a lower surface that can be positioned on the gliding board;   the right lateral arm and left lateral arm are used to support and to fix at least one retaining element on the gliding board;   a bridging section is positioned between the right lateral arm and the left lateral arm.       
 
         [0015]    In a first embodiment of the invention, the interface device includes a front portion having two lateral arms, and a rear portion having a piece mostly constituted of a single main element. 
         [0016]    According to a particular optional detail, the bridging section is higher than the lower surface of the right lateral arm. 
         [0017]    According to another optional detail, the thickness of the bridging section in a particular embodiment is less than 40% of the value of the total thickness of the interface device. 
         [0018]    According to a further optional detail, the lower surface of the bridging section has, together with the lower surface of the interface device, a non-zero height, so that the lower surface of the bridging section is not in contact with the upper surface of the gliding board. 
         [0019]    In a second embodiment of the invention, the front portion of the interface device includes a raising platform and a stiffener, the stiffener being positioned beneath the raising platform and also used for distributing the pressures exerted by the ski on the snow. The raising platform includes two parallel arms, on each of which is arranged a rail used for fastening the retaining elements, a bridging section connecting the two arms for improving the resistance to deformation of the gliding board/interface device assembly, when such assembly is subjected to transverse forces with respect to the longitudinal plane of the gliding board. The bridging section can be part of the stiffener and comprise a raised portion of the stiffener. 
         [0020]    The stiffener of the invention modifies only slightly the dynamic behavior of the gliding board because of the following: its length; its relative thinness with respect to the raising platform; it is made of a denser material than that of the raising platform; and because it is positioned beneath the raising platform, that is, as near to the upper surface of the gliding board as possible and, therefore, as near to the neutral axis of the gliding board as possible. The raising platform should have a minimal effect on the behavior of the ski despite having a more substantial thickness than that of the stiffener. 
         [0021]    The stiffener, and therefore the bridging section, can be made of a more noble material than the raising platform, such as aluminum, or a composite material, whereas the raising platform can be made of plastic material. The stiffener can also be made of a more rigid plastic material having a higher density than the plastic material used to make the raising platform. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    The invention will be better understood from the description that follows, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a view of the prior art; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the interface device of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0026]      FIGS. 4 to 8  are cross-sectional views of alternative constructions of the second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the interface device of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a top view of the stiffener of the interface device of  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]      FIG. 1  illustrates a ski provided with an interface device according to the prior art. Two lateral parallel rails anchored to the ski, are used to fasten the front and rear retaining elements, that is, the toe piece and the heel piece, which are shown in broken lines in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  shows an interface device according to a first embodiment of the invention. The interface device  51  includes a front portion  91  and a rear portion  101 . The rear portion  101  is constituted as a solid interface, meaning that the two lateral rails form a unitary piece, which is a raising piece made by plastic injection molding. The rear portion  101  is fixed to the gliding board by four screws. 
         [0032]    In order to prevent the rear portion  101  from hindering the flexion of the gliding board, the two rear screws  25  of the rear portion  101  are movable in longitudinal translation with respect to the rear portion  101 , whereas the two front screws  24  are fixed. 
         [0033]    For the rear screws  25  to be movable in translation with respect to the rear portion  101 , they are positioned in a slide  26 , which can move in translation in a housing extending through the end of the rear portion  101 . The slide  26  includes a block  37  topped by a plate  27 , the lateral wings of the plate being supported on the rear rails  28  of the rear portion  101 . 
         [0034]    The two rear rails  28  extend longitudinally over the entire length of the rear portion  101 . The rear rails  28  are used for adjustably positioning the rear retaining element, which includes, at its base, a plate adapted to slide on the rear rails  28 . 
         [0035]    The front portion  91  includes two lateral arms  151 ,  161  that are independent of one another. Each of the arms  151 ,  161  includes a plurality of notches  141 , which prevent the front portion  91  from hindering the flexing movements of the gliding board. The front portion  91  is fixed to the gliding board by a plurality of pins  17 , or dowels, which are glued in holes provided in the gliding board. Screws or other expedient allowing the front portion  91  to be affixed to the ski, could alternatively be used instead of pins. 
         [0036]    The front portion  91  is made by plastic injection molding. Alternatively, the front portion could be made from other materials as well as with other methods of manufacture. 
         [0037]    Each of the lateral arms  151 ,  161  of the front portion  91  includes a front rail  29 , which longitudinally extends over its entire length. As for the previously described rear rails  28 , the front rails  29  are used for positioning the front retaining element on the interface device. 
         [0038]    The interface device  51  according to the first embodiment of the invention also includes a blade  30  used for longitudinally blocking the front and rear retaining elements on the front and rear rails. 
         [0039]    A bridging section  231  is positioned between the two lateral arms  151 ,  161 . This bridging section includes three projections  35  on each of its lateral edges. The projections  35  of the right lateral edge are inserted in the corresponding slots  36  horizontally arranged in the right lateral arm  151 , whereas the projections  35  of the left lateral arm  161  are inserted inside the corresponding slots  36  horizontally arranged in the left lateral arm  161 . Preferably, the slots  36  are slightly longer than the projections  35  so as to allow for a sliding movement of a certain amplitude of the bridging section  231  with respect to the front portion  91 . 
         [0040]    The number of projections, such as projections  35 , is non-limiting, and a bridging section having one, two, four or more projections on each of its lateral edges can be used. 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 2 . The bridging section  231  has a thickness E 3  that is relatively small with respect to the thickness of the interface device. The thickness E 3  of the bridging section is less than 40% of the total thickness of the interface device. The surface of the bridging section  231  has a height H 3  with respect to the base surface of the lateral arms  151 ,  161 , that is, with respect to the upper surface of the gliding board on which the interface device is positioned. The lower surface of the bridging section  231  has a height H 4  with respect to the base surface of the lateral arms  151 ,  161 . The height H 4  is non-null, i.e., greater than zero. Therefore, the lower surface of the bridging section is not in contact with the upper surface of the gliding board. The bridging section  231  allows forces having a transverse component with respect to the longitudinal plane of the gliding board to be transmitted, i.e., strengthening the interface device and the ski or gliding board to which it is attached in torsion, thereby reducing torsional deformation of the interface device and of the gliding board. 
         [0042]    The bridging section  231  is made of aluminum or any other material that is sufficiently rigid to fulfill its function relating to strengthening the interface and gliding board in torsion. It can alternatively be made of plastic material, fiber (glass, carbon, etc). 
         [0043]    An alternative version of the first embodiment of the invention includes a rear portion made according to the front portion, meaning that it includes two independent arms connected together by a bridging section. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 , and  8  show cross-sectional views of alternative versions the first embodiment of the invention, showing that the bridging section can be configured differently. In this regard, the heights H 3 , H 4  can be varied, as well as the shape of the bridging section and, possibly, the shapes of the arms  151 ,  161  in the area of attachment to the bridging section. 
         [0045]      FIG. 9  shows a second embodiment of the invention. The interface device  52  includes a front portion  92  and a rear portion  102 . The rear portion  102  is constructed as a conventional interface, meaning a raising element made by plastic injection molding. The rear portion  102  is fixed to the gliding board by four screws. 
         [0046]    In order to prevent the rear portion  102  from hindering the flexion of the ski board, the two rear screws  25  of the rear portion  102  are movable in longitudinal translation with respect to the rear portion  102 , whereas the two front screws  24  are fixed. 
         [0047]    For the rear screws  25  to be movable in translation with respect to the rear portion  102 , they are positioned in a slide  26 , which can move in translation in a housing extending through the end of the rear portion  102 . The slide  26  includes a block  37  topped by a plate  27 , the lateral wings of which are supported on the rear rails  28  of the rear portion  102 . 
         [0048]    The rear portion  102  includes two rear rails  28 , which extend longitudinally over its entire length. In a known manner, the rear rails are used for positioning the rear retaining element, which includes, at its base, a plate provided to slide on the rear rails  28 . 
         [0049]    The front portion  92  includes a longitudinal stiffener  82  and a raising platform  72 . The raising platform.  72  includes two lateral arms  152 ,  162 , connected to one another by their end that is the nearest to the rear portion  102 . The raising platform  72  includes an average thickness of about 10 mm. The thickness diminishes toward the front of the raising platform and slightly augments toward the rear of the platform. A 10-mm thickness is a non-limiting characteristic of the invention, and raising platforms could have greater or lesser thicknesses, depending upon the gliding board onto which the interface device is fixed and depending upon the sport that is envisioned, including slalom skiing, alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, freeride skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, telemarking, off-track skiing, and others. 
         [0050]    Each of the right and left arms  152 ,  162  includes a plurality of notches  142 , which prevent the raising platform  72  from hindering the flexing movements of the gliding board. The raising platform is fixed to the gliding board due to a plurality of pins  17 , or dowels, which are glued in holes provided in the gliding board. Screws could alternatively be used instead of pins. 
         [0051]    The stiffener  82 , in a particular embodiment, is constituted by an aluminum plate with a thickness of about 1 mm. The plate includes openings  18  provided to be traversed by the pins  17  of the raising platform  72 . The stiffener is therefore fixed to the gliding board via the raising platform  72 . 
         [0052]    The stiffener  82  could also be thicker than 1 mm, and particularly have a non-constant thickness, and possibly have shapes and bosses allowing for adjusting its rigidity. 
         [0053]      FIG. 10  shows a cross-sectional view of the front portion  92  of the interface device  152 . This drawing shows that the thickness E 2  of the raising platform  72  is greater than the thickness E 1  of the stiffener  82 . 
         [0054]    The stiffener  82  includes a first planar, or flat, portion  19 , which is provided to rest on the gliding board, and which supports the right lateral arm  152  of the raising platform  72 , as well as a second planar, or flat, portion  20 , which is provided to rest on the gliding board, and which supports the left lateral arm  162 . 
         [0055]    The stiffener  82  includes two secant portions  21 , which extend each of the first and second planar portions  19 ,  20  outward, and form, with the first and second planar portions, an angle α that is equal to 90°, or substantially equal to 90°. 
         [0056]    The first planar portion  19  and the second planar portion  20  are connected to one another by a bridging section  232 , which is raised with respect to the planar portions  19 ,  20 . In other words, if the height of the upper surface of the first and second planar portions  19  and  20  with respect to the upper surface of the gliding board equals H 1 , then the height of the upper surface of the bridging section  232  is H 2 , which is greater than H 1 . The thickness E 4  of the bridging section  232  is relatively small with respect to the overall thickness of the interface device, which is equal to “E 1 +E 2 ”. In the present case, the thickness E 4  is substantially equal to E 1 . The lower surface of the bridging section  232  has a height H 5  with respect to the lower surface of the interface device. The height H 5  is not equal to zero. Thus, the lower surface of the bridging section  232  is not in contact with the upper surface of the gliding board. 
         [0057]    Raising the bridging section  232  with respect to the planar portions  19 ,  20  increases the torsional strength of the interface device. 
         [0058]    Furthermore, each of the right and left arms  152 ,  162  takes support onto the bridging section  232 , which improves the hold of the interface device when the retaining elements, which are fixed thereto, are subjected to forces having a transverse component with respect to the longitudinal plane of the gliding board. 
         [0059]      FIG. 11  shows a top view of the stiffener  82 , where the bridging section  232  can be seen only in the central zone of the stiffener. The two planar portions  19  and  20  are also connected to one another at the rear end of the stiffener  82 . The two planar portions could be connected to one another over their entire length. In addition to the openings  18 , the stiffener  82  is also traversed by weight-reducing cut-outs  31 . 
         [0060]    The raising platform  72  includes two front rails  29  that extend longitudinally over its entire length. As with the rear rails  28  previously described, the front rails  29  are used for positioning the front retaining element on the interface device. 
         [0061]    The interface device  52  according to the second embodiment of the invention also includes a blade  30  used for longitudinally locking the front and rear retaining elements on the front and rear rails. 
         [0062]    The invention is not limited to the several embodiments described hereinabove by way of examples, but also covers any equivalent embodiment. More particularly, although only interface devices equipped with rails onto which the retaining elements can slide, allowing their position to be adjusted, have been described here, the invention can just as well be applied to interface devices for which the retaining elements are fixed by screws or by any other fixing mechanism. 
       LIST OF ELEMENTS 
       [0000]    
       
           1 —gliding board 
           2 —front retaining element 
           3 —rear retaining element 
           17 —pin 
           18 —opening 
           19 —first planar portion 
           20 —second planar portion 
           21 —secant portion 
           24 —front screw 
           25 —rear screw 
           26 —slide 
           27 —plate 
           28 —rear rails 
           29 —front rails 
           30 —blade 
           31 —lightening cut-out 
           35 —projection 
           36 —slot 
           37 —block 
           51 ,  52 —interface device 
           82 —stiffener 
           72 —raising platform 
           91 ,  92 —front portion 
           101 , 102 —rear portion 
           141 ,  142 —notches 
           151 ,  152 —right lateral arm 
           161 ,  162 —left lateral arm 
           231 ,  232 —bridging section