SKI BOARD WITH GEOMETRICALLY CONTROLLED TORSION AND FLEX

Abstract: A ski board (10) having geometrically controlled torsion and flex is shown and described. The top surface of the ski board (10) is contoured to have a raised profile area (16) extending from a tip (17) of the ski towards the center (14) of the ski, and another raised profile area (24) extending from the tail (25) towards the center of the ski. The top surface of the ski board is further contoured to have concave areas (19, 20, 26, 27) extending laterally from opposite sides of each of the raised profile areas to the edges (21, 22) of the ski board. In this manner, the front region (12) and rear region (13) of the ski board are each provided with a stiff central portion and a torsionally soft portion on either side of the stiff central portion. The soft torsional characteristics of the ski allow it to twist around the stiff central portions, providing increased edge contact with the snow, which in turn increases the stability of the ski.

Description: SKI BOARD WITH GEOMETRICALLY CONTROLLED TORSION AND FLEX Field of the Invention This invention relates to short skis, also referred to as "ski boards." Background of the Invention Within the last several years, an alternative to traditional downhill skis and to snowboards, known as "short skis" or "ski boards," has gained in popularity. The ski boards are used with conventional downhill ski boots, and are produced in accordance with traditional ski manufacturing techniques. However, unlike traditional, adult downhill skis, that typically have a length of 160-210 cm, ski boards typically have a length of 80-90 cm. Currently available ski boards also have a flat upper surface and a thickness that tapers uniformly from the center to both the tip and the tail, similar to a conventional downhill ski. A person skiing on ski boards uses a traditional downhill skiing technique. However, currently available ski boards do not track well, but rather skid on the snow, making it difficult to hold an edge and maintain a desired level of control. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved ski board, and in particular, for a ski board that is more easy and stable to use. The present invention fulfills these needs, and provides further related advantages. Summary of the Invention Briefly, the present invention provides an improved ski board that is more stable and easy to use. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ski board has a body provided with a fiterend region and a second end region on either side of a center region. The top surface of the first end region is contoured to have a first raised profile area extending from proximate the tip of the body towards the center region along a longitudinal axis of the body. A first and second concave area extend laterally from opposite sides of the raised profile area to opposite edges of the body. Similarly, the top surface of the second end region is contoured to have a raised profile area extending from proximate the tail of the body towards the center region along the longitudinal axis of the body. Concave areas extend laterally from opposite sides of the raised profile area to the edges of the body. By providing a contoured ski board in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ski is stiff along its longitudinal axis, but is torsionally soft on opposite lateral sides of the longitudinal stiff region, both in the first and second end regions. The ski therefore is allowed to twist around its longitudinal axis, thereby increasing contact between the edges of the ski and the snow, which in turn provides stability and more control. Brief Description of the Drawings The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a ski board provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the ski board of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional elevational view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2; FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional elevational view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2; and FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional elevational view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 2. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment As illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, a ski board 10 is provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention with a body 11 having a first end region 12 and a second end region 13 disposed longitudinally on opposite sides of a center region 14. The center region 14 is adapted to receive one of several conventional boot bindings, including a fixed binding, also known as a plate binding, a standard releasable ski binding, and a step-in snowboard binding. The ski board 10 may therefore be used with conventional downhill ski boots, and stiff or soft snowboard boots, depending on the type of binding selected. In a preferred embodiment, the ski board 10 is no longer than 90 cm, allowing it to be safely used with a fixed binding. As seen in FIGURES 1-3, the top surface 15 of the first end region 12 is contoured to have a first raised profile area 16 that extends substantially from a first end or tip 17 of body 11 along a longitudinal axis 18 towards the center region 14. In a preferred embodiment, the first raised profile area 16 tapers in width midway between the center region 14 and the tip 17, such that the first raised profile area 16 has a substantially hourglass shape. In an alternative embodiment, the first raised profile area 16 extends from the center region 14 to proximate the tip 17, but is displaced laterally from the longitudinal axis towards either a first edge 21 or a second edge 22. In another alternative embodiment, the first raised profile area 16 may have a substantially constant width, extending straight from the center region 14 toward the tip 17, either along or laterally displaced from the longitudinal axis. A first concave area 19 and a second concave area 20 extend laterally from opposite sides of the first raised profile area 16 to the first edge 21 and second edge 22, respectively. Beyond the transition area between the first raised profile area 16 and the concave areas 19 and 20, the concave areas 19 and 20 have a constant thickness. In this manner, the first end region 12 has a stiff central portion coinciding with the first raised profile area 16, and a first and second torsionally soft portion coinciding with the first and second concave areas. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the first raised profile area 16 substantially spans the tip 17, such that the first and second concave areas 19, 20 are arcuate and do not extend to the tip 17. Similarly, as illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2, and 4, the top surface 23 of the second end region 13 has a second raised profile area 24 extending substantially from a second end or tail 25 along the longitudinal axis 18 towards the center region 14. As best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, the tail 25 is more blunt than the tip 17. In a preferred embodiment, the second raised profile area 24 tapers in width midway between the center region 14 and the tail 25, such that the second raised profile area 24 has a substantially hourglass configuration. In an alternative embodiment, the second raised profile area 24 extends from the center region 14 to proximate the tail 25, but is displaced laterally from the longitudinal axis towards either the first edge 21 or the second edge 22. In another -4- alternative embodiment, the second raised profile area 24 may have a substantially constant width, extending straight from the center region 14 toward the tail 25, either along or laterally displaced from the longitudinal axis. Although in a preferred embodiment both the first end region 12 and second end region 13 of the ski board 10 are contoured in a similar manner, alternatively, they may be contoured differently, or only one of the first and second end regions may be contoured. A third concave area 26 and a fourth concave area 27 extend laterally from opposite sides of the second raised profile area 24 to first edge 21 and second edge 22, respectively. Beyond the transition area between the second raised profile area 24 and the concave areas 26 and 27, the concave areas 26 and 27 have a constant thickness. In a preferred embodiment, the second raised profile area substantially spans the tail 25, such that the third and fourth concave areas 26, 27 are substantially arcuate. In this manner, the second end region 13 is provided with a second stiff central portion coinciding with the second raised profile area 24, and with a third and fourth torsionally soft portion coinciding with the third and fourth concave areas. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the center region 14 is lower than the first and second raised profile areas, but is still higher than the concave areas. Alternatively, the center region 14 may be level with the first and second raised profile areas. Therefore, the ski board 10 is stiff along the longitudinal axis 18, but is torsionally soft on opposite lateral sides of the longitudinal stiff region, both in the first end region 12 and second end region 13. The ski therefore is allowed to twist or flex a predetermined degree evenly around the longitudinal axis, thereby increasing contact between the edges 21 and 22 of the ski and the snow, which in turn provides better stability. It is believed that preferred results are achieved when the torsional stiffness of the ski board 10 is 10-12°, and more preferably, 12°, according to ASTM standard F779 with a moment of 13.125 foot-pounds. A ski board provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention therefore flexes into a smooth curve, while maintaining fore/aft stability. In contrast, most currently available ski boards have a substantially flat top surface resulting in a stiffer construction both longitudinally and torsionally. Due to this combined stiffness, it is therefore believed that a conventional ski board applies most of its load at the contact points, which are the points on the edges at the largest width in the tip and at the largest width of the tail. Conventional ski boards, therefore, do not flex into a smooth curve, and do not utilize the full edge of the ski in turning, thereby resulting in decreased stability. As further illustrated in FIGURE 5, the thickness 28 of the ski board 10 increases longitudinally from the tip 17 toward the center region 14 and decreases in thickness longitudinally from the center region 14 to the tail 25. This geometry, together with the contours described above, are configured to provide the board with a selected longitudinal or bending stiffness such that the center region deflects substantially 1 inch when 90-110 pounds of force or less are applied to the center region 14 of the body 11, when the ski is supported at its fore and aft contact points. In contrast, conventional ski boards have a bending stiffness of 130-220 pounds, using the same standard of measurement. The stiff central portions of the ski board therefore provide a rigid, yet spring-like comfort to the ski. Although the ski board 10 may be produced in a variety of ways, in a preferred embodiment, the raised profile areas and the concave areas are built into the core construction. Thus the core is either formed by a shaped unitary core, or alternatively, by laminates of core material, to achieve the desired contour. The core is then suitably sandwiched between glass load-carrying layers, a cap and baser- While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims: The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 1. A ski board comprising: a body having a first end region, a second end region, and a center region disposed between the first and the second end regions; a top surface of the first end region being contoured to have a first raised profile area extending from at least proximate a first end of the body towards the center region, and a first and a second concave area extending laterally from opposite sides of the first raised profile area to a first and a second edge of the body, respectively; and a top surface of the second end region is contoured to have a second raised profile area extending from at least proximate a second end of the body towards the center region, a third and a fourth concave area extending laterally from opposite sides of the second raised profile area to the first and second edges of the body, respectively. 2. The ski board according to Claim 1, wherein the body has a longitudinal stiffness such that the center region deflects substantially one inch when 110 pounds or less of force is applied to the center region of the body and the ski is supported at its fore and aft contact points. 3. The ski board according to Claim 1, wherein the body has a torsional stiffness that allows it to twist more than 10°. 4. The ski board according to Claim 1, wherein a width of the first raised profile area tapers between the center region and the first end of the body, such that the first raised profile area has a substantially hourglass shape, and wherein a width of the second raised profile area tapers between the center region and the second end of the body, such that the second raised profile area has a substantially hourglass shape. 5. The ski board according to Claim 1, wherein the first raised profile area and the second raised profile area extend substantially along a longitudinal axis of the body. 6. A ski board comprising: a body having a first end region coupled to a center region that in turn is coupled to a second end region, the first end region having a first stiff central portion extending from a tip of the body along a longitudinal axis towards the center region, the first end region having a first and a second torsionally soft portion extending laterally from opposite sides of the first stiff central portion to a first and second edge of the body, respectively, and the second end region having a second stiff central portion extending from a tail of the body along the longitudinal axis towards the central region, the second end region having a third and fourth torsionally soft portion extending laterally from opposite sides of the second stiff central portion to the first and second edges of the body, respectively. 7. The ski board according to Claim 6, wherein the first stiff central portion is elevated above the first and second torsionally soft portions and the second stiff central portion is elevated above the third and fourth torsionally soft portions. 8. The ski board according to Claim 6, wherein the body has a longitudinal stiffness such that the center region deflects substantially one inch when 110 pounds or less of force is applied to the center region of the body and the ski is supported at its fore and aft contact points. 9. The ski board according to Claim 6, wherein the body has a torsional stiffness that allows it to twist more than 10°. 10. The ski board according to Claim 6, wherein the first stiff central portion has a substantially hourglass-shaped profile, and wherein the second stiff central portion has a substantially hourglass-shaped profile. 11. A ski board comprising: an elongate body defining a center binding region, first and second ends, first and second longitudinal edges, and an upper surface, wherein the upper surface of the body is contoured to define elongate first and second reduced thickness portions of the body disposed adjacent the first and second longitudinal edges, respectively, between at least one of the first and second ends and the center binding region. 12. The ski board according to Claim 11, wherein the body has a torsional stiffness that allows it to twist more than 10°. 13. A ski board comprising: a body having a first end region, a second end region, and a center region disposed between the first and the second end regions; and a top surface of the first end region being contoured to have a first raised profile area extending from at least proximate a first end of the body towards the center region along a longitudinal axis of the body, and a first and a second concave area extending laterally from opposite sides of the first raised profile area to a first and a second edge of the body, respectively. 14. The ski board according to Claim 13, wherein the body has a longitudinal stiffness such that the center region deflects substantially one inch when 110 pounds or less of force is applied to the center region of the body and the ski is supported at its fore and aft contact points. 15. The ski board according to Claim 13, wherein the first raised profile area has a substantially hourglass-shaped profile. 16. The ski board according to Claim 13, wherein a top surface of the center region is higher than a top surface of the first and second concave areas. 17. A ski board comprising: an elongate body defining a center region, first and second ends, first and second longitudinal edges, and an upper surface, wherein the upper surface of the body is contoured to define at least one elongate reduced thickness portion of the body disposed adjacent at least one of the first and second longitudinal edges, between at least one of the first and second ends and the center region.

Inventors: HALL WILLIAM B, HALL, WILLIAM, B.
Applicants: K 2 CORP, K-2 CORPORATION
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A63C5
IPC codes: A63C5