Patent Publication Number: US-3875825-A

Title: Ski sharpener

Description:
United States Patent [191 Buttafuoco [451 Apr. 8, 1975 1 1 SKI SHARPENER 22 Filed: Feb. 7. 1974 21 Appl.No.:440,460  
 Primary E.\&#39;aminerLeonidas Vlachos Attorney, Agent. or Firm-Max Schwartz [57] ABSTRACT A device for sharpening skis having metal edges. The metal edges comprise metal strips inset at the bottom edges and overhanging the body of the ski. This becomes dull and dented in use, requiring scraping and refinishing. The device comprises a generally rectangular plastic member having a handle on the upper side. At the bottom, the center portion is cut out to provide a central well portion which fits over the bottom of the ski. A steel blade with a flat file edge is resiliently mounted in each side wall of the well so that the blades are resiliently urged against the edges of the metal strips. The device is stroked back and forth along the ski bottom to grind the metal edges. A file member may be inset in the well portion at right angles to the blades, to contact the bottom of the ski including the metal strip. This provides a finishing action at the bottom and the sides simultaneously.  
 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SKI SHARPENER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many skis are now constructed with a metal strip inset along the edges at the bottom. with the metal overhanging the body of the ski. This provides for speed and greater control. However. the metal becomes dented and dull at the edges after repeated use. This necessitates the entire replacement of the strip or a tedious hand sharpening job.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a manually operable device for simply and easily sharpening and renewing the edges of the metal strips on a ski. A rectangular member. preferably of plastic material. is provided with a handle on the upper surface and a cut out well in the center of the bottom surface to accommodate a ski. A metal blade with a file face is resiliently mounted in the side wall on each side of the well cut out to bear against the side edges of the metal strips with a resilient spring pressure. Now. the handle is grasped and the device is pulled back and forth along the bottom of the ski until the desired finishing is done. To scrape and polish the broad side of the metal strips. the device may be provided with a metal inset with a file face positioned in the bottom of the well out out. This will pass over the bottom of the ski to grind and finish the ski bottom and strips while the blades are sharpening the side edges.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:  
  FIG. I is a perspective view ofa device of the present invention in position on a ski;  
 FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device;  
 FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 33 on FIG. 2; and  
  FIG. 4 is an enlarged section of a ski with the device mounted thereon.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings. FIGS. 1 and 4 show the general construction of a ski with the metal strips. The ski body may be wood, plastic, metal or any other conventional material. The top 12 is clear and usually carries the boot harness. At the bottom 14 of the ski, a metal strip 16 is inset along each edge. The strips 16 are flush with the bottom surface 14 but the side edges of the strips 16 overhang the body of the ski to provide the biting action in the snow.  
  The sharpener of the present invention may be made of a plastic material. When it is made of a transparent lucite, the mechanism will be visible as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The device comprises a generally rectangular block of material 18 having an elongated handle portion 20 on its upper surface. On the opposite surface, the body portion 18 is cut away at 22 to provide a well area of sufficient width to loosely straddle a ski bottom 14, FIG. 4.  
  The side walls 24 of the cut out 22 are provided with horizontal recesses 26. A flat file blade 28 is horizontally slidably positioned in each recess. Each blade is rectangular and elongated, FIG. 2, the rear edges having longitudinally extending integral tabs 30. A pin 32 is mounted vertically in the body 18 on each side of the blade 28 to act as stops when the tabs abut the pins 32. This prevents the blades from sliding out of the recesses 26. In back of each blade 28, the recess 26 is provided with spaced openings 34 in each of which a coil spring 36 is mounted. The springs 36 extend from the openings 34 to an integral lug 38 on the back edge of each blade 28. The inner faces 40 of the blades 28 are file cut.  
  It should be noted that when the ski 10 is turned over. bottom side 14 up. the device will straddle the ski. FIG. 4, with the file face 40 of the blades 28 being held resiliently but firmly against the side edges of the strips 16. The blades 28 are much thicker than the strips 16 to prevent scoring or ridges from forming on the strips. Now, when the handle 20 is manually grasped and the device is pulled back and forth along the ski bottom, the file faces 40 will rub against the side edges of the strips 16 and grind, polish and sharpen the edges of the strips.  
  To simultaneously work on the flat bottom side of the strips, and incidentally on the bottom 14 of the ski. an additional rectangular metal member 42 is imbedded in the bottom of the cut out 22 with a file cut surface 44 facing down. FIGS. 3 and 4. The surface ww is just above the blades 28. Now. when the device is placed on the ski, FIG. 4, a grinding and polishing occurs not only at the side edges. but also on the bottom surface of the ski and the strips 16. The device should be approximately 6 inches in width to comfortably straddle the ski.  
  The device is simple in construction and easy and economical to manufacture and assembly. Its operation is simple and the spring pressed blades will accommodate variations in the ski widths. Other advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art.  
 I claim:  
  1. A ski sharpener comprising a generally rectangular block of material having a handle on one surface. a cut out portion on the other surface sufficiently wide to loosely straddle a ski bottom having metal strips along each side edge overhanging the ski edge, file means slidably mounted on each wall of said cut out engaging the ski strips to grind and sharpen the edges of the strips when the device is manually reciprocated along the ski bottom, and a pair of coil springs mounted behind each file means for resiliently urging said file means against the ski strips.  
  2. A ski sharpener as in claim 1, wherein said cut out is provided with a recess in each side wall thereof, said file means comprising a flat blade slidably mounted in each recess, the outer edge of each blade having a file cut surface, said coil springs being mounted behind said blades.  
  3. A ski sharpener as in claim 2, wherein said block is provided with spaced vertical stop pins adjacent each side of said blades, said blades having integral extending lugs engaging said stop pins&#39;to hold said blades in said block.