Abstract:
A ski construction such as a ski, monoski, or snow board includes a principal base support ( 2 ) which has a sliding sole ( 6 ) that is raised to form a tip ( 8 ) at its front end. An upper surface of the ski defines a housing or pocket ( 20 ) with a central contracted region defined by lateral projections ( 18   a   , 18   b ). One of a family of elongated complementary elements ( 3 ) with hollow profiles ( 12   a   , 12   b ) is frictionally received in the pocket. The complementary elements can have different lengths, thicknesses, stiffness, constructions, or material properties. By selecting among the family of complementary elements, a common principal support base can be configured to have a variety of skiing characteristics which complement the skiing abilities of a variety of skiers, skiing conditions, and the like.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a snow sliding equipment such as a ski, monoski, snow board, or the like. It concerns more particularly an improvement relative to a sliding board comprising a support base and a complementary element intended for receiving the retention binding of the user&#39;s boot. 
   Over the past few years, the practice of sliding as a sports activity has become more and more adapted and developed with the practitioners of said sport making every increasing demands with respect to product quality. This is the case, for example, with respect to the sport of sliding on snow. 
   Numerous models of snow sliding boards are already known, and specifically ski models which comprise a beam of elongated shape, whose front extremity is raised to form the spatula, while the lower surface comprises a sliding sole bordered by metal edges. 
   In spite of efforts developed by the equipment builders to satisfy their clientele, to this day, there does not exist a ski which fully combines user comfort and satisfactory performance on the ski slopes, regardless of type of terrain, and regardless of type of user. Certain tentative endeavors have been made, such as for example the constructions disclosed in French Patents 2 670 392 and 2 675 391. However in order to satisfy the diversity imposed by the market, each equipment builder proposes a sizeable number of models, each of which presents its own characteristics. This requires the manufacturer to handle a significant number of models, which reduces production series and adds significantly to the fabrication costs. Applicant, with its ski disclosed by French Patent No. 2 726 193 has already proposed a ski construction according to which a body is provided on which a foot plate is fixed, and different foot plates can correspond to one body. However, in spite of enormous progress afforded by said constructions, there exists the realization that improvements are still possible. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention proposes multi-use skis, formed by a support base and a complementary element, the combined shapes of which give the whole ski its required characteristics, as well as comfort in handling the ski. In addition, the structure of the ski according to the invention permits limiting the number of stiffnesses for the same model. 
   Thus, the sliding board according to the invention is of the type which comprises a principal part, which is called body or support base, on the upper surface of which is fixed, at least in the zone of the sole-plate, a complementary longitudinal element intended to receive the retention binding or bindings of the boot of the user, said support base having the shape of an elongated beam comprising a sliding sole, whose front extremity is raised in order to form a spatula, and is characterized in that the complementary longitudinal element is in the shape of an elongated plate, whose width, measured between its lateral edges is smaller than the width of the support base and at least one of its lateral edges comprises a hollow profile, in a manner so that the complementary element would include a front part connected to a rear part by a smaller size zone and in that the lateral retention of the complementary element is realized, at least in part, by embedment of the complementary element within a housing realized in the support base, which comprises at least one lateral retention edge comprising an internal lateral projection intended to cooperate with the hollow profile of the complementary element. 
   According to an additional characteristic, the length of the complementary element ranges between 30% and 60% of the length of the support base. 
   According to another characteristic, the housing realized in the support base is a built-in housing, limited laterally by two lateral retention edges, projecting laterally relative to the surface of the bottom of the housing and whose central zone includes for each of the edges an internal lateral projection extending towards the median plane. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the smaller size zone of the complementary element is approximately located in the central zone of the complementary element and each of the lateral edges comprises a hollow profile; thus, the left lateral edge comprises a left hollow profile, while the right lateral edge comprises a right hollow profile. 
   It should be added, according to said preferred embodiment, that the hollow profiles have a round profile, while the corresponding projections have a complementary round shape so that each of the projections form one retention projection, making sure of lateral and longitudinal retention of the complementary element relative to the support base. 
   According to an alternate embodiment, the complementary element is formed by two adjacent individual and independent complementary elements, each of the individual elements comprising its own hollow profile on its external lateral edge, which is supported laterally on the corresponding edge of the support base, while the internal lateral projections of the edge cooperate with the corresponding hollow profile. 
   It should be noted that a set of several different complementary elements can correspond to a given support base, said elements can either be of different lengths, different thickness, or have different mechanical characteristics intended to confer to the ski formed by the support base and its complementary element, different performance characteristics. 
   It should also be added that several complementary elements of different lengths and different shapes can correspond to a given support base, notably at the level of their front and rear extremities. 
   According to another alternate embodiment, several complementary elements correspond to a given support base, with at least one of said complementary elements including at least one disengagement from the extremity in the front and/or in the rear and in that the housing and notably its bottom surface is designed to cooperate with one or the other of the complementary elements, whose front and/or rear extremity comprise at least one zone in stepped-up form in such manner so as to correspond to the disengagement of the extremity or extremities of the complementary element. 
   According to another alternate embodiment, the complementary element is formed by two adjacent individual complementary elements, while it may be provided that these latter may be separated by a longitudinal space, which includes an intermediate element having shock-absorbing properties. Said element is, for example, of elastically deformable material such as of caoutchouc, of rubbery elastomer, of visco-elastic cacutchouc or of any equivalent material. 
   According to other variations, an intermediate element is provided which possesses shock-absorbing properties, and which is located between the complementary element and the lateral retention edge or edges. 
   Still further advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other characteristics and benefits of the invention are apparent from the description below in comparison with the attached drawings, which are provided by way of example only, and are not limited to same. 
       FIGS. 1  to  9  represent a first embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a lateral or side view of the ski whose complementary element is not positioned on the support base. 
       FIG. 2  is a lateral view of the ski with the complementary element put in place on the support base. 
       FIG. 3  is a bird&#39;s eye or top view of the complementary element only. 
       FIG. 4  is a bird&#39;s eye view of the support base only, without the complementary element. 
       FIG. 5  is a bird&#39;s eye view of the ski whose support base is equipped with its complementary element. 
       FIGS. 6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c ,  6   d ,  6   e  are transverse sectional views of the support base only, according to sections A—A, B—B, C—C, D—D, E—E of  FIG. 4 , in larger scale. 
       FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b ,  7   c ,  7   d ,  7   e  are sectional views according to A—A, B—B, C—C, D—D, E—E, in larger scale of the ski, i.e. of the support base equipped with its complementary element. 
       FIG. 8  is an expanded perspective view of the ski, prior to placement of the complementary element on the support base. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the ski with the support base equipped with its complementary element. 
       FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  12  illustrate various embodiments in partial views from above. 
       FIGS. 13 ,  14 , and  15  are lateral views similar to  FIG. 1 , indicating alternate embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 16  is a partial lateral view in longitudinal section, indicating an embodiment variation relative to the connection between the support base and the complementary element. 
       FIGS. 17 and 18  depict lateral views of two design variations of the complementary element. 
       FIG. 19  illustrates a support base with three possible complementary elements. 
       FIGS. 19   a ,  19   b ,  19   c  indicate in bird&#39;s eye view, three different skis, formed by an identical support base but equipped with either one of the complementary elements of the preceding Figure. 
       FIGS. 20 and 21  are bird&#39;s eye views, depicting two other embodiment variations. 
       FIG. 22  depicts a design variation of the ski of FIG.  21 . 
       FIGS. 23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c ,  23   d ,  23   e , and  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c ,  24   d ,  24   e  are views similar to  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b ,  7   c ,  7   d ,  7   e , depicting two embodiment variations. 
       FIGS. 25 and 26  are bird&#39;s eye views of two other embodiment variations. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The ski bearing general reference  1  is a group of elongated shapes having a median longitudinal vertical plane P of general symmetry whose front is raised in order to form the spatula  8 . 
   The ski  1  is formed by a principal part which we are going to call body or support base  2  on the upper surface of which is fixed, at least in a foot-plate zone  4 , a complementary element  3  intended to receive the retention binding of the boot of the user. 
   The support base  2  is the element which is in contact with the snow and has the shape of an elongated beam, presenting on its lower surface a sliding sole  6  bordered laterally by lateral edges  7   a ,  7   b  made of metal. 
   The support base  2  is an elongated beam whose front extremity is raised in order to form a spatula  8  of the ski. Said support base  2  has its own thickness, slope line, width and stiffness distribution and can be on any type and any form. 
   Consequently, the elongated beam forming the support base  2  can be of any known design type such as for example, sandwich type, box type, mixed mode and formed by a group of elements and components known on their own. 
   With particular reference to  FIG. 3 , the complementary element  3  in the form of an elongated plate, comprises two lateral edges  9   a ,  9   b  which extend between a front extremity  10  and a rear extremity  11 . 
   The width T 1  of the complementary element  3 , i.e., the width T 1  measured between its lateral edges  9   a ,  9   b  is smaller than the width T 2  of the support base  2  at the location of measurement. According to a characteristic of the invention, the complementary element  3  is designed so that at least one of its lateral edges  9   a  and/or  9   b  comprises a hollow profile  12   a  and/or  12   b , in such fashion that said complementary element  3  includes a front portion  13  connected to a rear portion  14  by means of a smaller size or narrow  15  zone. It should be noted that the length L 1  of the complementary element  3  is smaller than the length L 2  of the support base  2 . By way of example, one noes that the length L 1  of the complementary element  3  can comprise between 30% and 60% of the length L 2  of the support base  2 . Consequently, the length L 1  of the complementary element can, for example, have a length ranging between 50 and 100 centimeters. 
   According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the smaller sized zone  15  is located approximately in a central zone  16  of the complementary element  3  and each of the lateral edges  9   a ,  9   b  comprises a hollow profile  12   a ,  12   b . Thus, the left lateral edge  9   a  comprises a left hollow profile  12   a ; whereas, the right lateral edge  9   b  comprises a right hollow profile  12   b.    
   As is the case with respect to the support base  2 , the complementary element  3  has its own configuration and structure. It has its own distribution in regarding to thickness, size and stiffness and can be of any construction type. Consequently, said complementary element  3  can be a single block element realized out of one single material. However, it can also be designed in any other fashion, such as for example, so that the front portion  13  is of a different material and/or conception than the rear portion  14 . 
   The support base  2  is such that the upper surface comprises a housing or pocket  17  realized it the support base intended to assure retention, specifically lateral retention, of the complementary element  3  in said support base  2 . 
   According to a characteristic of the invention, the lateral retention of the complementary element  3  is realized by at least one lateral internal projection  18   a ,  18   b  protruding towards the median plane P and intended to cooperate with the corresponding hollow profile  12   a ,  12   b  of the complementary element  3 . 
   In the preferred design mode of the invention, the housing  17  realized in the support base  2  is an embedded housing, limited in lateral direction by two lateral edges for lateral retention  19   a ,  19   b  protruding relative to the bottom surface of the housing  20  and whose central zone comprises for each of the edges an internal lateral projection  18   a ,  18   b.    
   Thus, the support base  2  comprises a right edge  19   b  including a right projection  18   b  and a left edge  19   a  including a left projection  18   a.    
   It is understood that according to the preferred mode of the invention, the right projection  18   b  is prolonged toward the front by a right front edge  19 ′ b  and toward the rear by a right rear edge  19 ′ b , while the left projection  18   a  is prolonged toward the front by a left edge  19 ′ a  and toward the rear by a left rear edge  19 ′ a.    
   Precisely, according to the preferred mode, the hollow profiles  12   a ,  12   b  have a round profile, while the corresponding projections  18   a ,  18   b  have a complementary round shape. Thus, each of the projections forms a retention projection assuring lateral and longitudinal retention of the complementary element  3  in relation to the support base  2 . 
   It is understood, of course, that the hollow profile or profiles  12   a ,  12   b  as well as the projecting profile or profiles  18   a ,  18   b  can have other shapes as is illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , —namely triangular, rectangular, even square. 
   In addition, the left retention projection  18   a  with its left front edge  19 ′ a  and its left rear edge  19 ″ a  is symmetrical relative to plane P of the right projection  18 ′ b  with its right front edge  19 ′ b , its rear edge  19 ″ b . The arrangement, however, may also be different, such as for example as represented in  FIG. 12 , where the two lateral projections  18   a ,  18   b  are displaced longitudinally, i.e. that one of the projections, for example, is situated more to the rear than the other of the projections. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 13-15 , according to a complementary characteristic, a set of several complementary elements  3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c - 3 ′ a ,  3 ′ b ,  3 ′ c - 3 ′ a ,  3 ″ b ,  3 ″ c - 3 ′″ a ,  3 ′″ b ,  3 ′″ c  correspond to one support base  2 . 
   Consequently, several complementary elements of different lengths can correspond to a given support base  2  and, for example, three complementary elements  3 ′ a ,  3 ′ b ,  3 ′ c  with different lengths L 1 , L 2 , L 3  as is illustrated in FIG.  13 . Likewise, to one given support base  2  can correspond several complementary elements  3 ″ a ,  3 ″ b ,  3 ″ c  with different thickness e 1 , e 2 , e 3  as is illustrated in FIG.  14 . It should also be noted that several complementary elements  3 ′″ a ,  3 ′″ b ,  3 ′″ c  with different mechanical characteristics can correspond to a given support base  2 , as is illustrated in  FIG. 15 , intended to confer to the ski  1  formed by the support base  2  and its complementary element  3  different performance characteristics. The different characteristics can be obtained by different thickness of the complementary elements or by means of a different structure, by different materials, even by different geometry. 
   Fixation of the complementary element  3  on the support base  2  takes place, of course, by embedment in the corresponding housing  17 , but also be connection of its lower surface  21  with a bottom surface  20  of housing  17 , said connection might be realized, for example, by means of glue, or welding. Said connection can be done on the entire surface of the complementary element  3  or only on a portion of the surface, such as for example, in the zones of the front portion  13  and the rear portion  14 . 
   Needless to say, it can also be provided that the connection of the complementary element  3  on the support base  2  is realized mechanically, such as, for example, by embedding the projection  22  in the corresponding holes  23 , as illustrated in FIG.  16 . 
   One notes that the thickness  2  of the complementary element  3  can be constant, as shown in  FIGS. 1  to  16 , or varied, as illustrated in  FIG. 17 , in order to be, for example, thicker in the center of the smaller size zone  15  or thinner in the zone  16  of lesser thickness. It is understood, of course, that the thickness of the complementary element could be such that the front would be thicker than the rear, or conversely, in such manner that the upper surface  24  of the complementary element  3  is inclined relative to the surface of the sole  6  as is illustrated in  FIGS. 23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c ,  23   d ,  23   e , and  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c ,  24   d ,  24   e . According to the variation illustrated in  FIGS. 23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c ,  23   d ,  23   e , the thickness of the complementary element  3  progressively diminishes toward the rear; whereas, according to the variation illustrated in  FIGS. 24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c ,  24   d ,  24   e , the thickness of the complementary element  3  progressively diminishes toward the front. Thus, embedment of the complementary element  3  in the housing  17  can be either total or partial, that is to say that the upper surface  24  of the complementary element can, at least in certain locations, go beyond the lateral edges. 
   In addition, the lower surface  21  of the complementary element  3  can be level, as is illustrated in  FIGS. 1  to  17 , or rounded, for example, concave, as illustrated in  FIG. 18 , and, in such as, the surface of the bottom  20  of housing  17  has the corresponding curvature. 
   One has already noted previously that a set of several complementary elements can correspond to a given support base. 
   According to the preferred mode of the invention illustrated an  FIGS. 19 ,  19   a ,  19   b ,  19   c , to support base  2  correspond several complementary elements  3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c  having different lengths or different shapes, notably at the level of their front and rear extremities. Consequently, the first complementary element  3   a  that is to say the one shortest in length L 1  is a plate whose lower surface  21  is flat in order to cooperate with the central portion  20   a  of the bottom  20  of the embedment housing  17  whereas the second complementary element  3   b  of intermediate length L 2  comprises an extremity disengagement at the front  24   a  and at the rear  24   b , while the extremity of the third complementary element  3   c  with the greatest length L 3  comprises a first front extremity disengagement  24   a  and a second front extremity disengagement  25   a  and a first rear extremity disengagement  24   b  and a second rear disengagement  25   b . It should be added that the housing  17  and specifically its bottom surface  20  is configured for cooperation with any one of the complementary elements  3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c . Thus, the front extremity  17   a  and the rear extremity  17   b  comprise a zone in the shape of steps, in such manner so as to correspond to the disengagements of the extremities of the complementary element  3 . The front extremity  17   a  of housing  17  as well as the rear extremity  17   b  of the housing are configured relative to shape and dimensions to receive and cooperate with the different complementary elements  3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c . It is clear that thanks to three different complementary elements  3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c  on the base of a single support  2  it is possible to realize three different skis, the first one la represented by the support base  2  and the first complementary element  3   a , the second one  1   b  represented by the support base  2  and the second complementary element  3   b  and the third one  1   c  represented by the support base  2  and the third complementary element  3   c —these three different skis being respectively represented in  FIGS. 19   a ,  19   b ,  19   c . 
     FIGS. 20 and 21  representing two other design variations, according to which the complementary element  3  is formed by two adjacent individual complementary elements  3 A,  3 B. It should be noted that each of these individual elements includes its own hollow profile  12   a ,  12   b  on its external lateral edge which is supported laterally on the corresponding edge  19   a ,  19   b  of the support base  2  while the internal lateral projection of the edge cooperates with the corresponding hollow profile. 
   According to the variation illustrated in  FIG. 20 , the two individual complementary elements  3 A,  3 B are separated by a longitudinal space  30 . 
   According to the design variation of  FIG. 21 , the longitudinal space comprises an intermediate element  31  which can, for example, be a shock-absorbing element realized of elastically deformable material. 
     FIG. 22  depicts a design variation of the ski of  FIG. 21 , according to which the intermediate shock-absorbing element  31  extends toward the front and toward the rear beyond the extremities of the individual complementary elements  3 A,  33  in order to form enlarged front  310  and rear  311  end zones, being placed in the front  17   a  and rear  17   b  extremities of housing  17 . 
     FIGS. 25 and 25  are bird&#39;s eye views of two other embodiment variations. According to these two variations, the intermediate element possesses shock-absorbing properties and is arranged between the complementary element  3  and the lateral retention edges  19   a ,  19   b.    
   According to the design mode illustrated in  FIG. 25 , a left lateral element  311   a  having shock-absorbing properties has been arranged between the two lateral retention edges  19   a ,  19   b  and a right lateral element  311   b  which shock-absorbing properties extending over the full length of the complementary element  3 . It is understood, of course, that one does not go outside the scope of the invention if the lateral shock-absorbing element were provided on only one side or would not extend over the entire length of the complementary element  3  but only over a portion of its length. It is clear that the lateral element with shock-absorbing properties  311   a ,  311   b  in this design mode was arranged “sandwich-like” between the lateral border or borders  9   a ,  9   b  of the complementary element  3  and the lateral retention edge or edges  19   a ,  19   b.    
   Thus, according to the design mode represented in  FIG. 26 , the lateral element having shock-absorbing properties  311 ′ a ,  311 ′ b  extends only up to the level of the lateral internal projection  18   a ,  18   b . In said variation, one does not go outside the frame-work of the invention if the lateral element having shock-absorbing properties were provided on only one side. It is clear that the lateral element having shock-absorbing properties  311 ′ a ,  311 ′ b  was arranged in “sandwich-like” fashion in this mode of embodiment between the internal lateral projection or projections  18   a ,  18   b  of the support base  2  and the hollow profile or profiles  12   a ,  12   b  of the complementary element  3 . 
   The lateral element or elements having shockabsorbing properties  311   a ,  311   b - 311 ′ a ,  311 ′ b  of design modes according to  FIGS. 25 and 26 , is/are made of elastically deformable material, such as, for example, a visco-elastic material, and, for example of caoutchouc, of rubber-elastomer, or visco-elastic caoutchouc, or of any other equivalent material. 
   It should be added that the external flanks of the lateral edges  19   a ,  19   b  are of beneficial round shape. 
   It is understood, of course, that the invention is not limited to the embodiment modes described and represented by way of example, but includes also all equivalent techniques as well as combinations of same.