US 4,221,400 A · Method and apparatus for selectively adjusting the stiffness of a ski

Abstract

Method and apparatus for selectively adjusting the stiffness of a ski using prestressed, curved rod members. The rod members are positioned lengthwise of the ski in bores and the stiffness of the ski can be selectively adjusted by rotating the rod members about their longitudinal axes. For a stiff ski, each rod member is rotated so that the prestressed curve faces upwardly and for a soft ski, each rod member is rotated so that the prestressed curve faces downwardly. By rotating the rod members between these extremes, intermediate degrees of stiffness can be obtained. One or more rod members can be used and when plural rod members are used, the stiffness of the ski can be adjusted both lengthwise and crosswise. Indicating means are provided for showing the rotational position of each rod. The rod members can be placed directly in drilled out bores in the ski, in drilled out bores of a housing which can then be inserted in the ski, or in tubes mounted within or atop the ski. The force of each rod member can be varied along its longitudinal axes if desired and one disclosed embodiment includes prestressed, curved hollow rod members about prestressed curved solid rod members whereby the hollow and solid rod members can be individually rotated to vary the ski's stiffness. The rod members can be disposed within or atop the main body of the ski and can be adapted to adjust the stiffness of any flexible body.

Claims10

Dependent claims

In a flexible body such as a ski having at least one bore with a substantially circular cross section extending substantially therethrough, the improvement including:

means for adjusting the stiffness of said ski, said adjusting means including at least one prestressed, curved rod member received within said at least one bore, said rod member having a substantially circular cross section and a longitudinal axis and being rotatably received within said bore whereby the stiffness of said ski can be selectively adjusted by rotating the rod member within said bore about said longitudinal axis to any one of a number of rotational positions and,
means for indicating the rotational position of said rod member within said bore, said indicating means including a series of slots, each of said slots extending interiorly of said ski into fluid communication with said bore, said indicating means further including a series of markings on said rod member, said series of slots and said series of markings intersecting whereby at least one of said slots and at least one of said markings align as said rod member is rotated within said bore to indicate the rotational position of said rod member within said bore.

In a flexible body such as a ski having at least one bore with a substantially circular cross section extending substantially therethrough, the improvement including:

means for adjusting the stiffness of said ski, said adjusting means including at least one rod member having a longitudinal axis and a substantially circular cross section and being rotatably received within said bore for rotation about said longitudinal axis in at least a first rotational direction through an arc of substantially 360.degree. to any one of a number of different rotational positions along said arc, said rod member being prestressed into a curved shape whereby the stiffness of said ski can be selectively adjusted by rotating the rod member within said bore in said first rotational direction about said longitudinal axis and whereby a different degree of stiffness is imparted to said ski at every rotational position of said prestressed, curved rod member along said arc.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for selectively adjusting the stiffness of a ski

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for selectively adjusting the stiffness of a ski

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10