Abstract: A spoke for a tension wheel, the spoke being made of a composite material and including a tension body, the body having a median portion and two ends, the body being extended beyond each end by a fastening segment, the body and the fastening segments being connected by a transitional zone. The spoke has at least one portion with a cross-sectional surface reinforced relative to the cross section of the median portion, the reinforced cross-sectional portion extending through at least one transitional zone between the tension body and the embedded fastening segment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel including a rim, a hub, at least one spoke connecting the rim to the hub, the spoke being made of composite material. Each spoke of the wheel includes a device enabling a reversible connection with the hub of the wheel, the connection device being at least partially incorporated within the spoke by co-molding therewith.

Abstract: A spoke for a traction-spoke wheel, the spoke being made of a composite material and including a tapered traction body, the body having a median portion and two ends, the body being extended beyond each end by a fastening segment, the body and the fastening segments being connected by a transitional zone. The spoke has at least one portion with a cross-sectional surface reinforced relative to the cross section of the median portion, the reinforced cross-sectional portion extending through at least one transitional zone between the traction body and the embedded fastening segment.

Abstract: A tension-spoke wheel including a rim, spokes, and a central hub, the exterior of the rim having a tire-receiving channel that defines a median plane, and an interior of the rim having spoke fastening zones that define a median plane for fastening the spokes, the hub having a median plane and two flanges for fastening the spokes, one of the flanges being closer to the median plane of the hub than the other, and at least the spokes fastened to the flange that is closer to the median plane of the hub lacking individual tensioning mechanisms. The spokes fastened to the flange that is closer to the hub median plane are fastened to the rim on the side of the median plane of the tire-receiving channel that is opposite the closer flange.

Abstract: An underwater diving system including at least one breathable air tank that remains at the water surface, the air tank being flexible and integrated into a bag, such as a backpack. The flexible air tank is entirely contained within the bag when the air tank is empty, and is partially deployed outside the bag when the air tank is inflated with breathable air.

Abstract: A diving system that includes a flexible breathing gas reservoir designed to float at sea surface and including a power supply circuit through which a diver is connected to the flexible reservoir to obtain breathing gas. The system includes a device for interrupting the power supply circuit which interrupts the breathing gas supply of the diver when the pressure in the reservoir is lower than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A reinforcement for a boot, in particular a sports boot, more particularly a cross-country ski boot. The boot reinforcement makes it possible to improve the torsional stiffness, efficiency, durability, lightness, cost, foot protection, and industrial workability. To achieve this goal, the boot reinforcement according to the invention includes a front zone A from the front end up to the beginning of the plantar arch, a median zone B corresponding to the plantar arch, a rear zone C. The reinforcement includes, at least in the zones B and C, at least one “sandwich” structure constituted by at least one core inserted between at least two layers, and, in the zone A, it is flexible in a substantially longitudinal direction and torsionally stiff. The layers of the sandwich structure are made of composite, carbon fibers/polymeric resin, whereas the core of this sandwich structure is made of synthetic foam, wood or honeycomb.

Abstract: An aquatic sports garment having an outer layer, provided with at least one multi-layered zone including at least the outer layer and an underlying layer which, in a protective zone, lines the skin in an elastically deformable manner so as to protect it from contact with the outer layer, in that the underlying layer has a fixing zone, whereby it is fixed directly or indirectly to the outer layer, and wherein, at least in the protective zone, the two layers are free from one another.

Abstract: A sole for a sports boot, such as for cross-country skiing, and, more particularly, a sole for a sports boot which makes it possible to improve the torsional stiffness, flexional flexibility, efficiency of the boot, durability, lesser weight, protection of the foot, cost savings, industrial workability. To this end, the sole has a front portion, a rear portion more rigid in longitudinal bending than the front portion, and a reinforcement. The front portion has a front half-sole affixed to the reinforcement, the rear portion has a rear half-sole affixed to the reinforcement, and the front and rear half-soles are assembled to one another in a junction zone, preferably by cementing and/or riveting and/or welding. In practice, the reinforcement is made of a composite material. The front half-sole is first fixed on the front portion of the reinforcement. The rear half-sole is then fixed by cementing on the rear portion of the reinforcement, such that its front portion overlaps the rear of the front half-sole.

Abstract: A self-contained diving unit to be refilled by a manual pump making possible to compress gas in a tank. The pump is integrated into the diving unit. The diving unit can also include an outer case that encloses the tank in particular In addition, the pump is positioned within the outer case of the diving unit and outside the tank.

Abstract: A retention device for a boot for use on glide boards adapted to be used for snowboarding. At least one attaching device of the retention device is offset laterally with respect to the median longitudinal plane of the boot and is positioned in the vicinity of only one side of the boot, either the lateral side or the medial side of the boot.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for retaining a boot on a gliding board. The device includes especially a dorsal support element and a base, the dorsal support element being journalled on the base along a substantially transverse Y-Y' axis of the device, wherein at least one braking mechanism opposes a journal movement of the dorsal support element with respect to the base along the Y-Y' axis, in at least one journal direction, and wherein a return mechanism maintains the dorsal support element substantially in contact with the lower part of the leg.

Abstract: A device for retaining a snowboard boot includes a base on which the sole of the boot is adapted to rest, a turned-up heel support portion extending upwardly from the base at the rear of the device, and a dorsal support element. The dorsal support element extends upwardly from the heel support portion and is journalled on the heel support portion along an axis substantially contained in the median vertical longitudinal plane of the base. The device includes an elastic return device that elastically opposes inclination of the dorsal support element on at least one of the lateral sides of the device by rotating about the axis during rocking of the boot. The device provides binding support during lateral bending while preserving freedom of movement.

Abstract: An apparatus for retaining a snowboard shoe on a board which includes a first anchoring device for the sole of the shoe; a second anchoring device affixed to the sole; a base affixed to the board and on which are mounted an arrangement for rotationally guiding and vertically retaining the first anchoring device and a mechanism for latching the second anchoring device, the mechanism including a jaw member having a housing for receiving the second anchoring device, and a latch journalled on the jaw member. The latching mechanism includes an elastic return device biased during the displacement of one portion at least of the latching mechanism which is driven by the thrust exerted by the second anchoring device moving vertically, substantially along an arc whose radius is equivalent to the distance separating the two anchoring devices during the tilting of the shoe about the axis of rotation of the first anchoring device.

Abstract: A boot having a flexible upper for snowboarding. The boot includes a flexible upper portion and a rigid reinforcing frame, wherein the rigid reinforcing frame includes a lower reinforcement portion surrounding the heel at least; a dorsal reinforcement portion surrounding the rear area of the lower part of the leg; both parts are connected via a narrow connecting portion that includes, on the lateral side, a stiffening arrangement that stiffens the connecting portion only during lateral tilting of the dorsal reinforcement portion on the lateral side of the boot. Because of the aforementioned construction, the boot retains its qualities of comfort and, at the same time, ensures the transmission of the essential forces by virtue of a frame that provides flexibility on the medial side of the boot and support on the lateral side of the boot.

Abstract: Interface device between a ski and front and rear bindings (3, 4), designed to hold in place the ends of a boot on the ski. The device comprises a longilinear plate (15), each end of which is fastened to the ski to the front and rear of the bindings. One end (16) of the plate is attached to the ski. The other end (23) of the plate is movable in relation to the ski, and linkage (24) exerts a force against a block (20) fastened to the ski, thereby pretensioning the plate (15) under traction, and, by reaction, prestressing the central portion of the upper ski surface under compression. Preferably, this pretensioning ceases beyond a determinate ski flection.

Abstract: A cross-country ski and an apparatus for supporting a shoe or boot on a cross-country ski which has an upwardly projecting longitudinally extending rib. The apparatus includes a front support element positioned on either side of the longitudinally extending rib proximate an area of the ski at which a front binding is to be located, and a rear support element longitudinally spaced from the front support element and located on either side of the longitudinally extending rib proximate an area of the ski at which the heel of a shoe or boot is to be located during the course of skiing. The materials from which the front and rear support elements are made and their respective mechanical response characteristics are selected with respect to the ability level of the skier and with respect to the type of skiing that is to be performed.