US 5,397,149 AGranted

Device for modifying the natural pressure distribution of a ski over its sliding surface, and a ski equipped therewith

AssigneeSalomon S.A.

InventorsBernard Couderc, Pierre Szafranski

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Abstract

A device adapted to modify the pressure distribution of a ski, such as especially an alpine ski, over its sliding surface. The device includes a sensor element adapted to sense the vertical biases of the boot, and also a linking device in order to transmit, at least towards one of the ends of the ski, in the form of a flexional moment, at least a portion of the vertical, downward thrust of the boot sensed by the sensor element. The linking device includes a calibration device to induce a pre-stress. The linking device also has a sensor which is sensitive to the presence or absence of the boot so as to automatically control the calibration device in accordance with the presence or absence of the boot. A ski brake is also provided. The brake arms are borne by one of the levers constituting the linking device and the calibration device.

Claims41

Dependent claims

A device for modifying the pressure distribution of a ski over a sliding surface of the ski, the ski having an elongate base which is equipped with at least one binding element adapted to retain a boot in a central zone of the ski and at least one support element on which the sole of the boot rests, wherein the device comprises:

a sensor element for sensing vertical forces exerted by the boot;
a linking device connected to the sensor element and adapted to be secured to the base of the ski, to thereby extend between and link the sensor element and the base of the ski, so as to transmit at least towards one of the ends of the base, in the form of a flexional moment directed for bending an end of the base of the ski, at least a portion of a vertical downward thrust of the boot being sensed by the sensor element, said linking device being connected at fixed longitudinally spaced points with respect to the ski;
a calibration device for inducing, in the linking device, a variable pre-stress between two values, a predetermined non-zero value for sliding with the sole of the boot in engagement with the sensor element, and a zero value with the sole of the boot disengaged from the sensor element, wherein the linking device comprises an activation mechanism responsive to the presence or absence of the boot for automatically controlling a pre-stressing of the calibration device when the boot is engaged with the at least one binding element, wherein said liking device produces opposing longitudinally directed forces to the ski at said fixed points.

A ski brake adapted to brake the movement of a ski upon release of a boot that is held on the ski by at least one binding element, said ski brake comprising:

at least one braking arm movable between a working position in which the arm projects beneath the lower surface of the base of the ski, and a resting position in which the arm is positioned along lateral edges of the base of the ski;
activation means for returning the at least one braking arm from the working position to the resting position during engagement of the boot in the binding elements;
an energy means for elastically returning the at least one braking arm into the working position during release of the boot;
an assembly of two levers having outer portions hingedly connected with respect to the ski and being journalled at inner portions with respect to each other for movement about a longitudinal and transverse axis in the manner of a non-stable knuckle joint movable under the action of the boot between an open position and a flattened position against the upper surface of the base of the ski, wherein one of the levers bears the at least one braking arm and one of the levers extends from an area of a rear portion of a front binding element to an area proximate a rear portion of the sole of a boot when positioned upon the ski;
linking means for connecting the two levers to the base of the ski, the linking means comprising means for generating a calibration pre-stress when the boot is engaged in the at least one binding element and for activating the knuckle joint into a flattened position.

2 more elements

a sensor element for sensing vertical forces exerted by the boot;
a linking device connected to the sensor element and adapted to be secured to the base of the ski, to thereby extend between and link the sensor element and the base of the ski, so as to transmit at least towards one of the ends of the base, in the form of a flexional moment directed for bending an end of the base of the ski, at least a portion of a vertical downward thrust of the boot being sensed by the sensor element, the linking device comprising two levers having outer portions hingedly connected with respect to the ski and being journalled at inner portions with respect to each other for movement about a horizontal and transverse axis in the manner of a non-stable knuckle joint which is movable between an open position and a flattened position, wherein each lever comprises a free end Journalled to the remaining lever about a transverse and horizontal axis, wherein one of the levers carries the sensor which is sensitive to the presence of the boot.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.