SEESAW SKI-TRACK

Abstract: The seesaw ski-track (3) according to the invention has a stationary central part (4) and on either side thereof up and downward moving wings (5). Inexperienced skiers can now step up easily onto the central part (4), as this remains at one and the same level during operation.

Description: The invention relates to a seesaw ski-track. A seesaw ski-track is known from BE-A-903891. Here, getting onto the seesaw ski-track while it is in motion is difficult because skiers stepping on who are not yet well accustomed to the seesaw ski-track always have to take a step-up or a step-down constantly fluctuating in height, while other skiers are passing at that point with considerable speed. The invention has for its object to facilitate stepping on and off. To this end the seesaw ski-track has a stationary central part provided with entrance means and two wings reciprocally pivotable up and down relative to the central part on separately located axes. The central part hereby remains on one and the same level and can thus merge with an entrance at the same level. Mentioned and other features according to the invention will become apparent from the description following hereinafter with reference to a drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a cut away perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a seesaw ski-track according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, of the seesaw ski-track of fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows on a larger scale detail III from fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a top view of detail IV from fig. 2; Fig. 5 shows on a larger scale a perspective view of detail V from fig. 4; and Fig. 6 shows a section along the line VI-VI from fig. 4 on a larger scale. Erected in a hall 1 for instance with a canteen 2 or stand with adjoining changing rooms on one side is a seesaw ski-track 3. The seesaw ski-track 3 has a fixed central part 4 and two wings 5 which can pivot relative to central part 4 on lying axes 6 which are arranged at an interval from each other a equal to the length of central part 4. Each wing 5 consists of three wing sections 8, 9 and 10 connected for pivoting with one another on axes 7, and a platform 11 which is pivotable on an axis 12 relative to wing section 10. Each wing section 8-10 and each platform 11 consists of a steel truss construction, upper longitudinal girders 13 of which bear alternately low and high cross slats 14 and 15, on which artificially formed snow 16 is held in position (fig. 5). Lower longitudinal girders 17 of the wing sections 8, 9 and 10 are connected to one another by means of screwed rods 18 with left and right hand screw thread, with which the difference in slope between two adjoining wing sections 8, 9 and 10 is adjustable. In raised position of a wing 5 the slope of wing sections 8, 9 and 10 is steeper from the centre towards the outside. The platform 11 on the free wing end on the other hand always remains substantially horizontal. For this purpose platform 11 is linked to the fixed central part 4 with at least one hinged bar 19 which forms part of a parallelogram system having in the corners the axes 6 and 12 and the pivot shafts 20 of the hinged bar 19. It is remarked that the hinged bar 19 is provided with length adjusting means 21, for instance a screw socket coupling with left and right hand screw thread, so that when screwed rods 18 are adjusted the length of hinged bar 19 can be altered accordingly. Instead of a pressure loaded hinged bar 19 under the wing 5, a tensile strained bar or cable may also be arranged on each side of the wing 5 at a higher level than the ski surface. Both wings 5 are coupled to each other by means of coupling rods 23 which engage for pivoting on lower longitudinal girders 17 of wing sections 8. Only one of the wings 5 is provided with a hydraulic cylinder assembly 24, whereof the cylinder 25 is suspended for pivoting at its piston rod end from a fixed bracket 26 above a pit 27, while the piston rod 28 thereof grips onto a wing 5. With actuation of cylinder 25 the driven wing 5 swings up and down between the positions indicated in fig. 2 with full and dashed lines, thereby carrying the other wing 5 in cadence with it, such however that the other wing 5 moves upward when the one wing 5 moves downward and vice-versa. The reciprocating cycle can preferably be controlled, to last for example between 10 and 20 seconds in the case of a total length b of the swing in the order of magnitude of 50m, and an up and downward lifting height c of an order of for instance 5m. This lifting height can preferably be adjusted to a maximum for example of 6.5m. It can also be arranged that the seesaw ski-track 3 moves intermittently with controllable, perhaps differing interval breaks and optionally at a different speed each time. The width d of the ski track is for example 25m. Arranged all around except at the entrance 30 is a safety net 29 that is attached to a bar fence 31 erected to the outside of safety net 29 and at at distance from it. Between wing sections 8, 9 and 10, platform 11 and central part 4 the safety net 29 is preferably elastic. Stretched above the axes 6 and 12, that is, above the hinge joints 35 with which wings 5 are attached to the central part 4 and the platforms 11, is a strip of elastic material, for example rubber. Above the axes 7 the joints between adjoining wing sections 8, 9 and 10 are filled up for instance with a strip of elastic material. The dimensions mentioned and the forms of wing parts may be other than drawn. Thus for example the central part 5 can be considerably longer.

Claims: Seesaw ski-track (3), characterized in that the seesaw ski-track (3) has a stationary central part (4) provided with entrance means and two wings (5) reciprocally pivotable up and down relative to said central part (4) on separately located axes (6). Seesaw ski-track (3) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the two wings (5) are coupled to each other by means of coupling means (23) and are jointly driven up and down. Seesaw ski-track (3) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one wing (5) is driven by at least one, preferably hydraulic, cylinder piston rod assembly (24) whereof the cylinder (25) is suspended close to its piston rod end on a fixed hinge joint. Seesaw ski-track (3) as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that each free wing end consists of a platform (11) which remains substantially horizontal and is to this end pivotable relative to the sloping part of the associated wing (5), this platform (11) being coupled by means of a parallelogram system to the central part (4). Seesaw ski-track (3) as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that each wing (5) consists of a plurality of wing sections (8, 9, 10) which, with the exception of a platform (11) at the free end, have a steeper inclination away from the central part. Seesaw ski-track (3) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the difference in the angle of slope between two adjoining wing sections (8, 9, 10) is adjustable. Seesaw ski-track (3) as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the lifting height is adjustable.

Inventors: DRIESSEN, LUDOVICUS JULIUS ALPHONSUS
Applicants: DRIESSEN, LUDOVICUS JULIUS ALPHONSUS
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A63C19
IPC codes: A63C19