Avalanche rescue shovel, and manufacturing methods
AssigneePeakcarbon d.o.o.
InventorMatic Meža
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lightweight avalanche shovel includes a blade, a shaft and a handle, all of which are made at least in part from carbon fibers. The overall shovel weight is lower than typical avalanche shovels while maintaining UIAA certification standards. For example, the shovel weight may be approximately 300 g.
Claims15
A blade for a carbon avalanche rescue shovel, wherein the blade comprises:
- an upper carbon laminate comprising at least one carbon layer, wherein the laminate has at least 400 g/m2 fibers present in the laminate;
- a lower carbon laminate made from at least one carbon layer, wherein the laminate has at least 400 g/m2 fibers present in the laminate;
- wherein the lower and upper carbon laminates are glued together;
- wherein one end of the blade has an edge that is provided with a stainless-steel plate inserted between both carbon laminates, and wherein
- the stainless-steel plate is provided with a plurality of openings or holes;
- and
- the stainless-steel plate extends at least 0.5 cm into the blade;
- a central socket arranged to receive one end of a telescopic shaft, wherein the central socket is in the center of the blade and wherein the central socket is shaped using a laminate comprising at least one unidirectional carbon layer with fibers of the layers arranged at an angle and the layers of the laminate have a sum grammage of at least 600 g/m2 of fibers present in the laminate;
- an epoxy filler, selected in the group comprising silica-based, microballoons, carbon powder, glass powder, or microcellulose powder, provided at the sides of the socket;
- and
- reinforcement ribs provided both right and left of the central socket.
A shaft for a carbon avalanche rescue shovel, wherein the shaft is formed as a telescopic tube comprising a first tube and a second tube with a slightly smaller diameter or smaller dimensions to fit into the first tube and to allow extension and retraction of the telescopic second tube, wherein the telescopic shaft is made from a 1 mm thick laminate of carbon layers, wherein the direction of carbon fibers is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shaft as well as perpendicular to the longitudinal of the shaft.
A handle for a carbon avalanche rescue shovel, wherein the handle is shaped as a T-like element, with a first part parallel to the telescopic shaft and arranged to be inserted in one end of the telescopic shaft, and a second part perpendicular to the first part, and wherein:
- the second part of the handle is made from layers of carbon, wherein the fiber orientation is longitudinal and transverse,
- a layer of carbon is located on one side of the first part, extending over the middle section of the second part, and covering the other side of the first part opposite the first side;
- and
- a second layer of carbon is added which is wrapped around the first part and the fiber orientation is perpendicular to the telescopic shaft and the first part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.