Patent GB-631879-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to skis
IPC: A63C5/12
Filed: 1946-09-26
Abstract: 631,879. Skis. GOMME, Ltd., E., and GOMME, E. D. Sept. 26, 1946, Nos. 28826/46, 35232/46, 35233/46, 35234/46, 692/47, 7030/47 and 13971/47. [Class 132 (i)] A ski comprises a high-strength metal soleplate having a non-metallic veneer secured to its under surface. The metal may be hard aluminium alloy or steel, particularly stainless steel. The veneer may comprise wood or plastic or may be impregnated with plastic. Thus, paper or wood veneer may be so impregnated. The plastic may comprise urea of phenol formaldehyde, polyethylene, chlorinated polyethylene, synthetic rubber or vinyl resin. The polarity of the wood or plastic surface may be reduced by heating it with stearamido methyl pyridinium chloride, thus transforming the polar OH group of the wood or plastic into a less polar ether group containing a long chain. Preferably, the sole plate is provided with a slot or shallow groove extending from the rear of the ski along a part of the length thereof. Preferably also, the soleplate is secured to a backing member, which may be of variable thickness along its length and which may be formed from plastic, or plywood. This plywood may be formed so that its layers are arranged edge-on to the soleplate or so that the grains in the wood in adjacent layers are arranged at an angle, preferably 45 degrees, to the longitudinal axis of the ski and transversely to one another. The soleplate may be arranged to project on either side of the backing member. An upper metal reinforcing plate, for example of aluminium alloy, may be attached to the backing member. Wood veneer may be bonded between the soleplate and backing member and between the backing member and the upper plate. The upper plate may be so formed as to provide a varying resistance to bending along its length. For example, it may have a slot varying in width, or a hollow-pressed rib varying in depth or width or both, along the length thereof. The upper plate may be shaped to provide a footsupporting platform. The ski shown in plan view in Fig. 1, underplan view in Fig. 3, longitudinal section in Fig. 2 and cross-section in Fig. 4, has a metal soleplate 10 with veneer 12 secured to its under surface a plywood backing member 14 and an upper plate 15. The soleplate 10 has a shallow groove 11 extending partly along the length thereof, while the upper plate 15 has a longitudinally extending hollow rib 16 which merges with a hollow-pressed footsupporting platform 17. The underside of platform 17 may be filled with synthetic resin or a wood block. Veneer coating 12 stops short of the edges of soleplate 10 leaving a small marginal strip 13 which may be roughened, for example by serrating. The width of the backing member 14 may be such that soleplate 10 projects beyond it and the projecting edges may be serrated. Specification 577,823, [Group VIII], is referred to. The first four Provisional Specifications make no mention of the non-metallic veneer attached to the under surface of the soleplate. According to the second, third and fifth Provisional Specifications the use of a metal soleplate is optional and the third Provisional Specification states that the soleplate may be of wood.