Abstract:
A portable ski and/or snowboard edge sharpener and method. The edge sharpener includes an abrasive grinding wheel, a belt driven drive train that connects the electric motor and the grinding wheel drive mechanism and decreases the grinding wheel&#39;s speed of rotation relative to the rotational speed of the motor, a grinding wheel mount allowing the operator to select and use grinding wheels of different grits and materials and grinding wheel control mechanisms allowing the operator to control the cut depth and the grinding wheel angles relative to the longitudinal and transverse planes of the ski edge surface to be sharpened. This configuration allows the operator to repeatedly sharpen a ski edge at a specific and chosen angle with a specific and chosen surface finish. Other features include, position lockdown devices being part of each of the control mechanisms and a vacuum system to capture residue from the grinding operation.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
     This application claims priority to Patent Application No. 61/999,259 filed Jul. 22, 2014 which is incorporated herein for any and all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a device that offers a portable method for sharpening ski and snowboard edges in the field as well as in the shop. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Sharp metal edges are required to maximize the performance potential of a ski. The frequency and quality of edge sharpening is generally geared to the requirements of the ski and skier as well as the conditions they typically encounter. Soft, natural snow does not require particularly sharp edges, nor does it tend to dull a ski&#39;s edges very quickly when skied upon. Conversely, hard, man-made snow and water-injected race courses require very sharp ski edges and also cause ski edges to dull relatively quickly. 
     Depending on the skier&#39;s skill level and preference, and local conditions, the skier may choose to sharpen the ski edge to less than 90 degrees to increase the performance of the ski. The angle generally falls between 85 and 89 degrees depending upon the type of skis, the anticipated hardness of the snow and the skier&#39;s skill level and preference. 
     Precise repeatability and accuracy is desirable in any ski sharpening tool, but especially those used by experts and racers who may have several pairs of skis that are sharpened frequently. In such cases, the edge angle, sharpness and finish applied to the ski edge by the sharpening tool must be as close in quality and accuracy as the last sharpening, and be consistent between edges and across skis in order to provide the skier with the expected uniformity and performance level. 
     Most current models of powered ski edge sharpeners require a plug-in electrical source which limits their use to an area where an electrical outlet is available, have limited repeatability and accuracy, are relatively expensive or have some combination of these drawbacks. 
     Thus, it would be advantageous to develop a new ski edge sharpener for overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks and others. 
     SUMMARY 
     A ski edge sharpener according to the embodiments of the present invention comprises an abrasive grinding wheel (precision made and super abrasive in one embodiment), a belt driven drive train that connects the electric motor and the grinding wheel drive mechanism and decreases the grinding wheel&#39;s speed of rotation relative to the rotational speed of the motor, a grinding wheel mount allowing the operator to select and use grinding wheels of different grits and materials and grinding wheel control mechanisms allowing the operator to control the depth of cut and the grinding wheel angles relative to the longitudinal and transverse planes of the ski edge surface to be sharpened. This configuration allows the operator to repeatedly sharpen a ski edge at a specific and chosen angle with a specific and chosen surface finish. In one embodiment, position lockdown devices are a part of each of the control mechanisms. In another embodiment, the ski edge sharpener also includes a vacuum system to capture residue from the grinding operation. Advantageously, the ski edge sharpener described herein is a battery-operated, rechargeable device providing portability which prior art plug-in devices lack. 
     Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric view of the overall ski edge sharpener according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a right side view of the ski edge sharpener with the drive and battery case right plate, right handle, the top wheel guard and vacuum cover, switch and right edge guide lock down screw removed for observing internal aspects of the ski edge sharpener according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a right front side isometric view of the ski edge sharpener with the drive and battery case rear plate, right plate and front plate, grinding wheel guard and vacuum assembly, grinding wheel and right handle removed for observing internal aspects of the ski edge sharpener according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a right front isometric view of the ski edge sharpener with the drive and battery case front plate, grinding wheel guard, vacuum assembly and right handle removed for observing internal aspects of the ski edge sharpener according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a right rear isometric view of the ski edge sharpener with the drive and battery case rear plate and right plate, motor mount and right handle removed for observing internal aspects of the ski edge sharpener according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an isometric view of the fan assembly of the ski edge sharpener according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a left front isometric view of the ski edge sharpener with the edge guide, grinding wheel guard and vacuum assembly, grinding wheel and left and right handles removed for observing internal aspects of the ski edge sharpener according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a left front isometric view of the ski edge sharpener with the tilt plate, gear and battery case front and right plates, grinding wheel guard and vacuum assembly and left and fight handles removed for observing internal aspects of the ski edge sharpener according to the embodiments of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a right front bottom isometric view of the ski edge sharpener with the grinding wheel, grinding wheel guard and vacuum assembly, and left and right handles removed for observing internal aspects of the ski edge sharpener according to the embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive feature illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed. 
     The term ‘ski’ as used herein refers to any ski or snowboard with metal edges designed to be sharpened. The term ‘skier’ as used herein refers to the user of the skis or snowboard. The term ‘operator’ as used herein refers to the user of the ski edge sharpener. The components of the ski edge sharpener may be made of any suitable material including, but not limited to, metals, alloys, composites, polymers and combinations thereof. The components of the ski edge sharpener may be fabricated using any suitable technique including, but not limited to, molding, casting, machining, additive processes and combinations thereof. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , ski edge sharpener  5  comprises a drive and battery case  10 , drive assembly  15 , battery pack assembly  20 , base plate  25 , tilt plate assembly  30 , edge guide assembly  35 , arbor assembly  40 , grinding wheel guard and vacuum assembly  45 , handles  50  and  55  and on-off switch  60 . 
     Drive and battery case or housing  10  comprises a drive and battery case front plate  65 , drive and battery case rear plate  70 , drive and battery case left plate  75 , drive and battery case right plate  80 , drive case top plate  85  and battery case top cover  90 . Drive and battery case plates  65 ,  70 ,  75 ,  80  and drive case top plate  85  are rigidly affixed to one another. The case may completely or partially contain the components, such as the drive assembly  15 , battery pack assembly  20  and motor  105 , etc. Battery case top cover  90 , which affords easy access for replacement or charging battery pack assembly  20 , is attached to the top of drive and battery case  10  by top cover attachment screws  95  and  97 . 
     Battery pack assembly  20  sits on top of drive case top plate  85 . Two wires (not shown) pass from battery pack assembly  20  through wire hole  100  in drive case top plate  85  and connect to motor  105 . One of the wires (not shown) is connected in series through on-off switch  60  prior to connecting to motor  105 . On-off switch  60 , when in the on position, completes the electric circuit from battery pack assembly  20  to motor  105 . 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 2-4  which each show internal aspects of the ski edge sharpener  5 , motor  105  is rigidly attached to motor mount  110 . Attached to the motor shaft (not shown) is motor shaft bushing  120 . Attached to motor shaft bushing  120  is motor pulley  125 . Motor mount bearing  130  is press fit into motor mount  110 . Motor shaft bushing  120  passes through and is supported by motor mount bearing  130  which absorbs transverse loads placed on motor shaft  115  by drive belt  135 , preventing the transverse loads from being placed on the motor shaft internal bushing (not shown). ‘0’ rings (not shown) are placed in recesses (not shown) along motor mount top surface  140  and motor mount bottom surface  145 . Such an arrangement allows for vibration dampening caused by the rotation of motor  105 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 3 , rear bearing  150  is press fit into arbor shaft rear bearing support  155 . Front bearing  160  is press fit into drive and battery case front plate  65 . Arbor shaft  165  is supported by rear bearing  150  and front bearing  160 . Attached to arbor shaft  165  is arbor pulley  170 . Drive belt  135  goes around motor pulley  125  and arbor pulley  170  and transmits the counter-clockwise rotational drive, as depicted by arrow  172 , from motor  105  to arbor pulley  170 . The counter-clockwise rotational speed difference between motor  105  and arbor shaft  165  is controlled by the relative size differences between motor pulley  125  and arbor pulley  170 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 4 , arbor  175  is mounted on arbor shaft  165 . Arbor front bolt  180  passes through arbor washer  185  and threads into arbor shaft proximal end  190 . Arbor washer  185  presses against arbor inner shoulder  195 . At arbor shaft distal end  200 , arbor shaft rear bolt  205  passes through arbor shaft rear washer  210  and threads into arbor shaft distal end  200 . The tightening of the arbor shaft rear bolt  205  causes arbor outer shoulder  215  to come in contact with front bearing inner race  220  and arbor shaft rear washer  210  to come in contact with rear bearing inner race  225 . Additional tightening of the arbor shaft rear bolt  205  causes bearing inner races  220  and  225  to be drawn toward one another thereby removing any horizontal movement in arbor shaft  165 . When all undesirable horizontal movement in arbor shaft  165  has been removed, the adjustment is complete. Once horizontal movement of arbor shaft  165  is eliminated, arbor  175  is then rigidly affixed to arbor shaft  165  by arbor set screw  230 . Grinding wheel  235  is then rigidly attached to arbor  175  by grinding wheel attachment bolt  240  passing through fender washer  245  and screwing into arbor  175 . 
     Now referring to  FIG. 7 , tilt plate  250  is connected to base plate  25  by leaf spring hinges  255  and  260 . Leaf spring hinges  255  and  260  are rigidly attached to tilt plate  250  and rigidly attached to base plate  25 . With such an arrangement, tilt plate  250  is rigidly attached to base plate  25  except for rotational movement allowed by leaf spring hinges  255  and  260  around leaf spring hinge flex points  265  and  270 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 8 , left edge guide hinge  325  is attached to base plate  25  by left edge guide hinge retaining screw  330 . Right edge guide hinge  335  is attached to base plate  25  by right edge guide hinge retaining screw  340 . In one embodiment, left edge guide hinge  325  and right edge guide hinge  335  are identical. Left edge guide hinge  325  is attached to edge guide  345  by left edge guide hinge retaining screw  350 . Right edge guide hinge  335  is attached to edge guide slide  355  by right edge guide hinge retaining screw  360 . Left edge guide hinge  325  is allowed to rotate around retaining screws  330  and  350 . Right guide hinge is allowed to rotate around retaining screws  340  and  360 . Based on this arrangement, the fixed angle between base plate surface  365  and edge guide surfaces  370  and  375 , which are coplanar with each other, remains constant throughout the range of motion of edge guide  345 . 
     The angle between base plate surface  365  and edge guide surfaces  370  and  375  can be adjusted by changing the position of edge guide slide  355  in edge guide slot  380 . This adjustment is held in place by edge guide slide adjustment screw  385  passing through slot  390  in edge guide slide  355  and threading into edge guide  345 . 
     Now referring to  FIG. 9 , edge guide adjustment screw  405  is threaded through edge guide  345  and contacts base plate surface  365 . Adjusting edge guide adjustment screw  405  moves edge guide  345  toward or away from base plate  25 . Left hinge return spring  410  is attached to left edge guide hinge  325  at  415  and to base plate  25  at  420 . Right hinge return spring  425  is attached to right edge guide hinge  335  at  430  and to base plate  25  at  435 . Hinge return springs  410  and  425  pull edge guide hinges  325  and  335 , respectively, closing the gap between edge guide surfaces  370  and  375  and base plate surface  365 . Edge guide adjustment screw  405  works against the pull of return springs  410  and  425  giving edge guide adjustment screw  405  control over the distance between edge guide surfaces  370  and  375  and base plate surface  365 . This adjustment controls the depth of cut grinding wheel  235  will make on ski edge  440 . When edge guide  345  is in the proper position, both left edge guide hinge clamp screw  445  and right edge guide hinge clamp screw  450  are tightened locking edge guide  345  into the selected position. 
     In operation, grinding wheel  235  can be tilted from a vertical orientation by tilt adjustment screw  275  and locked in the selected tilt position by tilt plate lock down screw  310 . Grinding wheel  235  can be rotated horizontally in relation to ski edge  440  by adjusting the location of edge guide slide  355 . The cut depth of grinding wheel  235  on ski edge  440  can be adjusted by adjusting edge guide adjustment screw  405  and locked in the selected cut depth position by edge guide clamp screws  445  and  450 . 
     Surrounding grinding wheel  235  is grinding wheel guard and vacuum assembly  45 . Grinding wheel guard and vacuum assembly lower section  470  is rigidly attached to drive and battery case front plate  65 . As best shown in  FIG. 6 , inserted into the end of fan  485  is grinding wheel attachment bolt  240  which passes through fender washer  245  and screws into arbor  175 , thus securing both grinding wheel  235  and fan  485  in place. Since fan  485  and grinding wheel  235  are attached to each other, they rotate together. The rotation and design of fan  485  creates a vacuum around grinding wheel  240  and expels air through grinding wheel guard assembly  45  and out nozzle  495 . The air flowing around grinding wheel  235  and into grinding wheel guard assembly  45  captures the residue from the grinding operation and expels it out through nozzle  495  into an attached collection bag (not shown). Grinding wheel guard and vacuum assembly upper section  500 , when attached to grinding wheel guard and vacuum assembly lower section by grinding wheel guard and vacuum assembly hold down screws  505  and  510 , close the grinding wheel guard and vacuum assembly. Removing grinding wheel guard and vacuum assembly upper section  500  by loosening upper section hold down screws  505  and  510  gives access to fan  485  and grinding wheel  235 . Unscrewing fan  485  from grinding wheel  235  allows for the removal and replacement of grinding wheel  235 . 
     In operation, tilt adjustment screw  275  is placed in the desired tilt adjustment hole  280  and seated. Tilt plate lock down screw  310  is then seated in a hole of tilt plate lockdown  315  thereby fixing the tilt angle of tilt plate  250  in relation to base plate  25 . Adjusting the position of edge guide slide  355  fixes the horizontal angle between edge guide surfaces  370  and  375  and base plate surface  365 . Adjusting edge guide adjustment screw  405  determines the depth of cut of grinding wheel  235 . With the ski bottom surface  460  facing up and held in a horizontal position, the bottom surface  455  of base plate  25  slides along the ski bottom surface  460 , edge guide surfaces  370  and  375  contact and slide along ski edge  440 , and grinding wheel surface  465  is in contact with ski edge  440  at the proper vertical and transverse angles and at the proper depth. Handles  50  and  55  allow the operator to easily grip ski edge sharpener  5  during operation. 
     Because of the counter-clockwise-direction of rotation of grinding wheel  235 , grinding induced burr creation has been and is greatly reduced. The absence of burrs reduces friction generated by the ski edge contacting the snow or ice and prevents jagged sections on the ski edges from forming when a burr breaks or chips off during ski use. In addition, the grinding wheel rotational speed, grinding wheel grit size and grinding wheel material combine to surface harden ski edge  440 , thus prolonging and reducing the action of the snow or ice in dulling the edge sharpness. While counter-clockwise rotation is shown to greatly reduce grinding induced burrs, it is conceivable that in other embodiments, clockwise rotation may be used. 
     While the foregoing written description of the embodiments of the present invention enable one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention herein should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiments, methods, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.