SNOW SLIDING BOARD
The invention relates to a slow sliding board, in particular a ski, with a board body and a chord, which is supported and/or anchored on the board body at at least one supporting point. In this case, the chord is guided longitudinally displaceably in at least one control region and coupled with the snow sliding board with respect to longitudinal flexing in the control region in such a way that a force resulting from flexing of the snow sliding board in the control region acts along the chord on a steering region at a longitudinal end of the snow sliding board in such a way that the snow sliding board is flexed in the steering region. The snow sliding board has in this case a transmission device, which transmits the force along the chord into the tensile force on the steering region. A force path between the board body and the steering region thereby comprises the following elements in the following sequence: supporting point, chord, transmission device, steering region. In particular, the transmission device comprises an auxiliary chord, the auxiliary chord being arranged substantially in the longitudinal direction of the board body and interacting by a first longitudinal end with the steering region in such a way that, with the force along the chord, the tensile force on the board body can be produced by interaction of the auxiliary chord and the chord.
The invention relates to a slow sliding board, in particular a ski, with a board body and a chord, which is supported and/or anchored on the board body at least one supporting point, the chord being guided longitudinally displaceably in at least one control region and coupled with the snow sliding board with respect to longitudinal flexing in the control region in such a way that a force resulting from flexing of the snow sliding board in the control region acts along the chord on a steering region at a longitudinal end of the snow sliding board in such a way that the snow sliding board is flexed in the steering region.
PRIOR ARTModern snow sliding boards, such as carving skis for example, are based on the idea of achieving improved curved running of the ski by pronounced waisting in a middle region of the ski. For this purpose, the carving ski must be flexed in such a way that, when the ski is tilted about its longitudinal axis, the waisted edge rests on the underlying running surface substantially over its entire length. This allows a curve to be run ideally along the edges, without the ski slipping, that is to say moving transversely to the longitudinal direction of the edge with respect to an underlying running surface. The required flexing under loading in the middle region of the ski (weight of the skier, centrifugal force) is achieved in the case of conventional carving skis by the resistance of the snow at the end regions of the ski. The buildup resistance of the snow on which the ski is running and the displacement resistance of the snow which has to be pushed to the side come into effect here. Consequently, a greater force acts on the ends of the ski in comparison with a middle region of the ski, in order to achieve the desired flex. On account of the increased loading, undesired slipping, overcontrolling or “digging in”, or braking, may occur for example in the end regions of the ski base. In particular in competitive skiing, such as slalom ski racing, for example, valuable time is lost due to the increased sliding resistance and due to the “digging in”.
There are known prior-art skis that have an upper-chord and lower-chord construction. Such sandwich types of construction are known to be aimed at achieving a flat or uniform distribution of pressure over the length of the ski under central loading in a region of the ski intended for the binding. However, with the commonly used sandwich construction, the flat pressure distribution is only achieved under static loading, or best of all when skiing straight. As soon as curved running is initiated, the end regions of the ski are subjected to greater loading, in order to achieve flexing of the ski, which on account of waisting of the ski is required for edge contact with the underlying running surface in the middle region along its length. The main points of loading between the ski and the underlying running surface then lie at the end regions of the ski, i.e. the pressure distribution along the ski or the edges is no longer uniform or flat.
In the case of various known Alpine skis, it is additionally attempted to increase the pressure on the ends of the ski. For example, US 2004/0046362 (Rossignol) attempts to increase the pressure on end regions of the ski by using rigid elements, for example compression bars, to distribute loading of a ski binding mounted on a plate that is at a distance from the ski body to the end regions of the ski, in order to increase the bearing pressure there.
DE 199 17 992 A1 (Emig et al.) describes an Alpine ski in which the share of the load bearing that is accounted for by the ends of the skis when loading is applied to a central region of the ski is increased by a chord system. The chord system of the ski in this case substantially comprises a wavy upper chord, in particular curved convexly upward in the binding region, and an end lower chord, connected to the upper chord, the lower chord and the upper chord repeatedly crossing over one another.
The increased loading of the end regions of the ski in the case of these known configurations has the disadvantage that the end regions become buried deeper in the snow, or “dig in”, in the end regions on account of the greater loading, as a result of which there is increased sliding resistance. In particular, the front end of the ski or the ski tip experiences a great buildup resistance due to the snow to be displaced, and slows down skiing.
A new approach to a solution is followed by FR 2779658 (Salomon SA). This provides a tension chord arranged in the snow sliding board, arranged such that it is guided displaceably in the longitudinal direction of the snow sliding board. The chord is fixed at its end regions to the snow sliding board, one end being fastened to the snow sliding board above the neutral axis and the other end region being fastened below the neutral axis. If positive longitudinal flexing of the snow sliding board then takes place in the region of the chord in which it is guided below the neutral axis, a tensile force is obtained along the chord, raising or flexing the snow sliding board at the fastening of the chord above the neutral axis. Consequently, a front end region of the snow sliding board is bent up, and thereby relieved, when there is flexing of the rear end region. The tension chord according to FR 2779658 has the disadvantage, however, that the tensile force in the chord or the path of displacement of the chord with respect to the snow sliding board is comparatively small, for which reason only comparatively small relief of the front end region is obtained.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe problem addressed by the invention is that of providing a snow sliding board in the technical field mentioned at the beginning, in particular a ski, which avoids the problems in the prior art and, in particular, offers the possibility of improving the flexing behavior of a snow sliding board and adapting it dynamically to the loads.
The solution to this problem is defined by the features of the first claim. According to the invention, a snow sliding board, in particular a ski, comprises a board body and a chord, which is supported and/or anchored on the board body at least one supporting point, the chord being guided longitudinally displaceably in at least one control region and coupled with the snow sliding board with respect to longitudinal flexing in the control region. In this case, a force resulting from flexing of the snow sliding board in the control region acts along the chord on a steering region at a longitudinal end of the snow sliding board in such a way that the snow sliding board is flexed in the steering region. The invention is distinguished by the fact that there is a transmission device, which transmits the force along the chord into the tensile force on the steering region.
To simplify matters, the invention is explained hereafter on the basis of an embodiment as a ski. However, the invention is not thereby restricted to a ski but can also have advantageous configurations generally in the case of other snow sliding boards, such as snowboards for example. “Ski” and “ski body” as well as “end region of the ski” etc. are used hereafter instead of the terms “snow sliding board”, “board body”, “end region of the board” etc., without restricting generality. Furthermore, the terms “top/upper” and “under/lower” are used hereafter, the running surface of the ski being formed “under” the ski or on the “underside”, and a side of the ski that is intended for the mounting of a binding lying on “top” of the ski or on an “upper side” of the ski. Similarly, “front” refers hereafter to a direction or a region in an intended running direction, and correspondingly “rear” refers to a direction or a region in the opposite direction. “Longitudinal flexing” of the ski refers hereafter to a curvature of the ski in a plane which is perpendicular to a running surface of the ski and in which a longitudinal axis of the ski lies. In this case, the ski is curved in such a way that the projection of the longitudinal axis onto the running surface lies in this plane even in the flexed state of the ski. Hereafter, “longitudinal flexing” also refers simply and synonymously to “flexing”. “Positive flexing” (“positive flex”) of the ski or of longitudinal regions of the ski then refers to longitudinal flexing of the ski in which the ends of the ski are curved upward, away from the underlying surface, that is in other words in which the running surface (lower chord) of the ski is extended and the upper side of the ski (upper chord) is compressed.
The ski body of a ski according to the invention with a transmission device may comprise a known prior-art ski body, such as for example a ski body mentioned at the beginning with an upper-chord and lower-chord construction. However, in this case the transmission device and the chord are advantageously largely integrated in the ski or in the ski body. Thus, instead of increasing loading of the ends of the ski, in the case of skis with a dynamic chord system of the type according to the invention an end region of the ski or a steering region of the ski is actively lifted off away from an underlying running surface, or relieved, when curved running is initiated. The lifting off takes place in this case as a result of flexing in a control region of the ski. This provides dynamic and active steering of the ski into the curved running. Skis with dynamic chord systems are consequently distinguished from “passive” or static skis by much improved smooth running and curved running. In particular, the effect is achieved that, even during curved running, when for example the ski is flexed by the central loading caused by the skier, for example on account of waisting, substantially flat pressure distribution is maintained. Similarly, vibrations and instances of negative flexing (“negative flex”), for example as a result of instances of impact caused by the underlying running surface or of the ski, can also be damped by such chord systems and the tensile force acting on the steering region.
The invention is thus based on the idea of making a displacement of the chord in the control region with respect to the ski body or a resultant force effect along the chord better able to be used for the dynamic steering of the ski. Moreover, the transmission device according to the invention makes a much more versatile construction of a dynamic steering ski possible, whereby the ski can be adapted better to the respective requirements and needs.
By contrast with known skis with dynamic chords, a ski according to the invention has for this purpose an additional transmission device, which transmits a force in or along the chord into a tensile force on the steering region. In particular, the transmission device transmits the force along the chord that is obtained from flexing of the ski in the control region into a tensile force on the steering region. The tensile force thereby acts in a steering region at one longitudinal end of the ski on the ski body in such a way that the snow sliding board is flexed in the steering region. In particular, there may even be a number of chords on the ski, for example guided substantially parallel, which can exert a tensile force on a steering region by way of one or more transmission devices.
For the purposes of the invention, transmission devices are understood as meaning additional elements on the ski which transmit a force in the chord to the steering region, for example such that it is deflected, increased or reduced in terms of the magnitude, but also displaced in parallel while being of the same magnitude. For this purpose, transmission devices according to the invention comprise for example lever elements fixedly attached to the ski, lever elements pivotably attached to the ski or general articulated joints or gear mechanisms and deflecting rollers. In particular, the transmission device may also comprise auxiliary chords, which for example remove the force along the chord and transmit it to the steering region or to further elements of the transmission device. Auxiliary chords may, however, also transmit a force from other elements of the transmission device to the steering region without directly interacting with the chords. Generally, the auxiliary chords may bring about a stepping-up or stepping-down of the force and/or a deflection of the force on their own or together with further elements of the transmission device. For the purposes of the invention, a transmission device is consequently to be understood as meaning a device which allows a force transmission between a chord and a steering region that goes beyond the known interaction of a chord with the ski body and/or the ski. In particular, simple fastening of a chord, such as for example a screw with which the chord is screwed to the ski body, is not a transmission device for the purposes of the invention.
According to the invention, the transmission device can transmit at least a positive flex in the control region to the steering region. However, it may also be provided that the transmission device also transmits a negative curvature in the control region, for example in the same sense, to the steering region. In other words, with a ski according to the invention, the transmission device can be used to produce as a result of longitudinal flexing of the ski with a positive or negative sense of curvature in the control region similarly curved longitudinal flexing of the ski in the steering region. The coupling of the control region with the steering region by way of the transmission device is in this case a forced coupling, which transmits flexing in one of the regions (control region/steering region) to the other region, respectively. However, it is also conceivable that the coupling is not a forced coupling and, although the transmission device can transmit flexing in the control region to the steering region, flexing in the steering region is not transmitted to the control region. In other words, the transmission device in a ski according to the invention can therefore only allow the production of positive longitudinal flexing of the ski in the steering region as a result of positive longitudinal flexing of the ski in the control region.
A displacement of the chord with respect to the ski body in the case of longitudinal flexing is achieved when the chord is guided on or in the ski body outside, i.e. above or below, a neutral axis of the ski body. With the displacement of the chord achieved by the flexing, a force can be transmitted between the ski body and the chord in the direction of displacement along the chord, supported or anchored on the ski body at the supporting point. According to the invention, on account of the transmission device, the force in the chord in the case of positive flexing of the ski in the control region may be both a tensile force and a compressive force, i.e. the chord may be both a compression chord and a tension chord.
By contrast with known skis, one possible embodiment of a ski according to the invention also comprises, for example, a structurally simple compression chord provided on the upper side of the ski. The compressive force along the compression chord resulting from positive longitudinal flexing can, according to the invention, be transmitted by the transmission device into a tensile force on the steering region. With particular advantage, in the case of such configurations, the compression chord and the transmission device may be formed altogether on an upper side of the ski, where they are for example easily accessible for maintenance and for example also do not restrict fashioning of the running surface of the ski. The transmission device consequently achieves the effect that a ski according to the invention can be adapted in a more versatile way to the respective requirements.
Various terms used in the present text are explained hereafter.
The steering region refers to a region along the length of the ski in which flexing is brought about as a result of the tensile force transmitted by the transmission device, or in which the tensile force acts. The steering region is in this case flexed without, or with reduced, bearing/compressive force by the underlying running surface or resistance of the snow as a result of the tensile force in such a way that a pressure of the edges that is substantially uniform substantially over the entire length of the running surface acts on the underlying running surface. In particular, curved running is possible along the edges substantially without excessive pressure on the steering region or regions in the end region or regions of the ski. The flexing of the ski that is required specifically in the case of modern carving skis is consequently dynamically supported or dynamically provided in the end regions of the ski by the chord and the transmission device according to the invention. In dependence on the flexing in the control region, the ski for example steers the front ends of the skis into the curve. This makes curved running much easier. The flexing of the ski that is necessary for “carving” (curved running along the waisted edge) is no longer produced just by supporting of the end regions of the ski on the underlying running surface, as in the case of conventional skis, but instead the ski curves or flexes dynamically in the steering region under loading in the control region.
In a preferred embodiment of a ski, the steering region lies in a region at the front longitudinal end of the ski, i.e. in an end region at the front in the running direction. Depending on the loading or flexing in the control region of the ski, a corresponding curvature can consequently be produced dynamically in a front region of the ski. The steering region of the ski may, however, also be formed in a rear end region. In particular, a steering region may be respectively formed at both longitudinal ends of the ski, which may be a preferred embodiment particularly in the case of modern freestyle skis or snowboards. Such skis or boards are bent up at both longitudinal ends and also allow skiing backward or, in the case of snowboards, both longitudinal ends are equally able to point in the running direction. A steering region at both ends consequently allows the advantages of a dynamic chord system to be used in each running direction at a given time. For example, a chord may thereby act in each case on the associated steering region by way of a respectively associated transmission device. However, it is also conceivable that a single chord serves both steering regions by way of a single transmission device. While such configurations may well be preferred variants, they are structurally much more demanding than a configuration of the ski with only one steering region.
The control region refers to a region along the length of the ski in which the chord is guided displaceably with respect to the board body largely in the longitudinal direction of the ski. In the control region, flexing of the ski is “felt”, whereas by contrast in the steering region flexing is produced in dependence on the flexing in the control region. If the control region comprises a central longitudinal region of the ski in which the mounting of a ski binding is provided, the weight loading caused by the skier or the additionally acting centrifugal forces occurring during curved running act(s) particularly well on the control region. The control region advantageously also comprises an end region of the ski which is in particular opposite from the steering region. This is advantageous to the extent that, when heel pressure required for displacing the snow is applied by the skier, steering into a curve is made easier. As a result of the heel pressure, the rear region of the ski flexes against the resistance of the snow to be pushed to the side. This flexing is then transmitted to the front steering region and the ski dynamically steers into the curve. On the one hand the front ends of the ski are thereby relieved, i.e. the share of the load bearing they account for is reduced, and on the other hand the front ends of the ski are flexed, whereby the edges of the ski lie uniformly on the underlying running surface and support running along the waisted edges (“carving”).
It is also conceivable here that the control region comprises a front end region and a middle region and that the rear end region is subjected to the tensile force and forms the steering region. This achieves the effect, for example, that, when there is flexing of the front region, as may occur for example on account of the buildup resistance of snow when steering into curved running, the rear region of the ski is likewise curved and can consequently be made to follow the curve more easily. The ski in this case responds to the loading of different ends of the ski with simplification of the behavior in curves by flexing of the rear ends of the ski (steering region at the rear). The flexing of the ski in the control region is “felt” by the chord, in that it is displaced with respect to the ski body as a result of the flexing. For this purpose, the chord is guided displaceably in the longitudinal direction in the control region and is anchored or supported on the ski body by way of a supporting point. The control region advantageously adjoins the supporting point in order to achieve optimum utilization of the available region along the length in which the chord is displaceably guided. In principle, the control region may also be arranged at a distance from the supporting point.
All known straight or possibly arcuate guides that are suitable in principle for use in the case of a snow sliding board or ski come into consideration here as possible longitudinal guides. In the case of a chord formed as a compression bar, for example, formation of slots on the chord, by which the chord is guided on the ski body by screws or bolts that are anchored for example in the ski body, can also be imagined. A configuration of the guide as a conventional groove in the ski body in which the chord is displaceably arranged is likewise conceivable. In this case, the guide may be formed for example as a dovetail guide, the chord forming a slide of the guide. In the case of a tension chord, the chord may, however, also be designed as a sheathed cable or strip and be guided for example in a correspondingly formed, for example tube-like, casing (for example a Bowden cable). Irrespective of the actual configuration, the guide must ensure that, in the case of longitudinal flexing, the chord is displaceably guided with respect to the ski body with substantially, i.e. within the limits of production or guiding tolerances, only one degree of freedom.
In other words, the guide is designed in such a way that, at least in the control region, there is a coupling of the ski body with the chord with respect to positive longitudinal flexing of the ski. In particular, the coupling may also be a forced coupling. In the case of longitudinal flexing, the chord then likewise undergoes flexing, which corresponds substantially to the flexing of the ski body. The two flexings may in this case deviate from one another within the limits of guiding tolerances and/or the distance from a center of curvature. With preference, the chord is in this case centrally guided, i.e. the chord is arranged substantially in the middle of the ski with respect to a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski. However, configurations of the ski in which a laterally offset guide is preferred are also conceivable. For example, there may be a number of chords arranged on the ski such that they are laterally offset and substantially symmetrical with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to a surface of the ski and includes the longitudinal direction of the ski.
The guidance of the chord may, however, also deviate in certain regions from the longitudinal direction. It may well be desired or required that the chord is for example diverted or deflected at a longitudinal end remote from the supporting point, for example in a direction transverse to or counter to the longitudinal direction (for example in the case of a flexible compression bar) or else deviates from a longitudinal direction to various degrees in other longitudinal regions.
The aforementioned supporting point may be an anchorage in the ski body with, for example, a screw or a bolt or else an adhesive region in which the chord is glued to the ski body. It is also conceivable that the chord is integrally formed onto the supporting point, for example onto the ski body. However, the supporting point need not be fixed with respect to the ski body, but may also be formed such that it can be set, for example displaced in the longitudinal direction.
In order to allow the flexing to be transmitted more easily by the displacement of the chord or in order to achieve a greatest possible effect, the greatest possible displacement of the chord with respect to this ski body when there is a given flexing of the ski in the control region is desirable. Therefore, the control region is formed with preference to be as long as possible or required on the ski. In order to achieve good utilization of the longitudinal flexing, in a preferred embodiment the supporting point lies in an end region of the ski that is opposite from the steering region. Generally, the supporting point is arranged with preference in a rear end region of the ski. In particular in the case of a ski according to the invention with a chord formed as a compression chord, a supporting point may, however, also be arranged with preference in a front region of the ski, preferably the steering region. The control region in this case extends for example from the steering region, i.e. from the longitudinal position of the supporting point, rearward. A freely displaceable longitudinal end of the compression chord is then arranged for example at the rear end of the ski. With the transmission device according to the invention, the force that can be picked up at the free end of the chord can be transmitted along the chord again to the steering region in the front region of the ski, in particular for example by an auxiliary chord.
In order to maximize the region along the length of the ski that is covered by the control region, the control region and the steering region may also overlap to largely any extent desired. In particular, there are also conceivable embodiments that have a control region which comprises substantially the entire length of the ski, where for example the steering region may form a subregion of the control region. The length ratios between the control region and the steering region and between the overall length of the ski and the steering region or control region are in principle freely selectable and can be freely adapted to the requirements for the ski. In particular, it is also conceivable that the steering region extends substantially over the entire length of the ski.
The invention is not in this respect restricted to an end arrangement of the supporting point. It is quite conceivable that an arrangement of the supporting point that is for example in the middle in the longitudinal direction may be of advantage for a ski. The chord may then extend for example from the longitudinal middle of the ski in the forward or rearward direction into a control region. It is then possible for example for two control regions to adjoin the supporting point, a front control region and a rear control region with respect to the supporting point. Supported or anchored at the middle supporting point, it is then possible as a result of the flexing of the ski in the control regions for a force along the chord to be produced in the chord in the middle region, in each case on both sides of the supporting point, and to be transmitted as tensile forces to corresponding steering regions at the ends of the ski. However, it is also conceivable to use for example two chords on opposite sides. One of the chords then has for example a rear control region and acts on a front steering region and the second chord has a front control region and acts on a rear steering region.
A ski according to the invention is not restricted to configurations with only one transmission device and/or only one chord. Although, unless otherwise indicated, the invention is described hereafter for the sake of simplicity as an embodiment with only one chord and one associated transmission device, there may also be any number of chords and associated transmission devices, without restriction. In particular, there may be a number of chords on the ski, guided substantially parallel. The individual chords may in this case be dimensioned for example such that they are narrower and/or lighter. The effects of the individual chords may for example be cumulative, for example to produce a common tensile force on the steering region. In this case there is for example only one transmission device, which transmits the forces of the number of chords into a common tensile force on the steering region. It is also conceivable, however, that the individual chords act with different tensile forces on different regions of an individual steering region. In this way it is possible for example for the flexing of the steering region to be individually controlled in different portions of the length. Apart from the flexing, however, twisting of the ski may also be produced, in that different tensile forces act in different portions of the width of the steering region or a direction of the tensile force does not point in the longitudinal direction but obliquely thereto. In this case, for example, each chord may be assigned a transmission device which transmits the force along the chord to the respective region in the steering region.
Moreover, there may also be a number of steering regions on the ski, for example a steering region respectively at both longitudinal ends of the ski. However, it is also conceivable in principle that there is only one chord and the transmission device according to the invention transmits the force along the chord into a number of tensile forces, which act at various positions in the steering region or in a number of steering regions.
The longitudinal position in which the tensile force acts can be adapted to requirements. With preference, the tensile force acts on the ski body from above, i.e. from a direction above the ski body or from a direction from above, in the ski body. Therefore, starting from the region in which the tensile force acts on the ski body, a force vector of the tensile force points out of the ski in an upward direction or has a force component which is perpendicular to the ski body at the point of action. This achieves the effect that the steering region is flexed in the positive sense, whereby the ski is lifted off from an underlying running surface in the steering region.
The tensile force which acts on the steering region of the ski is a result of an interaction of the ski body or the ski with the longitudinally displaceably guided chord. In particular, when there is flexing of the ski in the control region, a force effect between the ski body and the steering region passes through the following elements in the specified sequence: supporting point, chord, transmission device, steering region on the ski body. The list of enumerated elements of the force path is not exhaustive here and it is possible for further elements to be included between the enumerated elements and/or arranged at the ends of the force path. In particular, further elements which transmit the effect of the tensile force, for example in terms of its magnitude, and/or deflect it into a desired direction, may be arranged for example between the transmission device and the steering region. Further supporting points at which the tensile force is partially supported or further deflected are conceivable here on the ski body. In particular, it is conceivable for example that a supporting element at which the transmission device acts with the tensile force is integrally formed onto or attached to the ski body. This allows for example an angle of traction of the tensile force that is improved according to requirements to be achieved, that is to say an improved angle of action of the tensile force on the ski body.
In a preferred embodiment, the transmission device of the ski comprises at least one auxiliary chord. The auxiliary chord is in this case arranged substantially in the longitudinal direction of the ski body and interacts, in particular by at least one longitudinal end, with the steering region. In particular, the auxiliary chord interacts with the steering region in such a way that a tensile force produced in the auxiliary chord acts on the ski body in the steering region. The auxiliary chord and the chord interact in such a way that, with the force along the chord, the tensile force acting on the steering region can be produced in the auxiliary chord. The auxiliary chord may in this case act directly on the ski body or interact with the ski body or the ski in the steering region by way of deflecting, transmitting or supporting elements. Pretensioning of the auxiliary chord is not required, but may, depending on requirements, form a preferred embodiment. The auxiliary chord may, for example, be pretensioned to give a predetermined tension or the pretensioning can be set by the skier. Consequently, the flexing behavior of the ski in the steering region can be adapted, for example to personal needs of the skier and/or to the current conditions of the snow and piste. Although in principle no pretensioning in the auxiliary chord is required, a configuration in which the auxiliary chord has no play, i.e. is substantially taut, is at least preferred. Consequently, a tensile force is transmitted to the steering region already in instances of minor flexing.
The setting of pretensioning in the auxiliary chord or else, in the case of a chord formed as a tension chord, pretensioning in the chord itself, may in this case be performed by conventional tensioning devices in the chord or in the auxiliary chord. The use of so-called chord tensioners, which are provided on the chord itself, is conceivable here. However, it is also conceivable to produce the pretensioning by displacing or being able to set the longitudinal position of the supporting point. By displacing the supporting point with respect to the ski body it is possible, for example, for a tension to be adapted directly in the chord or a tension to be changed indirectly in the auxiliary chord. The presetting of the tension may be performed, for example, by the skier before setting off.
In a preferred embodiment, the auxiliary chord is connected to the chord by a second longitudinal end. The second longitudinal end in this case refers to a longitudinal end of the auxiliary chord that does not act on the steering region of the board body but is instead opposite from this longitudinal end. The fact that the second longitudinal end of the auxiliary chord is connected to the chord allows a displacement or force effect to be transmitted directly to the auxiliary chord. In particular, the second longitudinal end of the auxiliary chord is in this case connected to a free longitudinal end of the chord, i.e. to a longitudinal end of the chord that is remote from the supporting point. This allows the displacement of the chord that occurs on the free longitudinal end to be transmitted directly to the auxiliary chord. The auxiliary chord may in this case be fastened to the chord or else integrally formed on it or else be connected to it in some other way.
Such an embodiment in the case of a ski according to the invention in which the chord is a compression chord, which can substantially withstand compressive loading, and the auxiliary chord is a tension chord, which can substantially withstand tensile loading, is particularly preferred. With suitable guidance of the auxiliary chord, a compressive force along the chord can consequently be transmitted in a simple manner into a tensile force in the auxiliary chord, which then acts on the steering region of the board body by way of the first longitudinal end of the auxiliary chord.
In a further preferred embodiment, the auxiliary chord is likewise anchored on the ski body by a second longitudinal end. In particular, the auxiliary chord is in this case taut or pretensioned, for example in the sense of a tendon, so that a deflection substantially transversely in relation to the auxiliary chord can produce the tensile force on the steering region. In this case, the auxiliary chord can be formed in particular with pretensioning that can be set. The pretensioning may in this case be such that it can be regulated or preset, for example by the skier. Depending on the degree of the deflection transversely in relation to the auxiliary chord, a tensile force which acts on the ski body, and in particular on the steering region, by way of the anchorages of the longitudinal ends of the auxiliary chord in the ski body can be produced in the auxiliary chord. In this case, the steering region is flexed in particular between the two extreme longitudinal positions in the longitudinal direction of the anchorages of the longitudinal ends of the auxiliary chord.
A further conceivable embodiment, however, is one in which the second longitudinal end of the auxiliary chord is anchored at the same longitudinal position as the first longitudinal end. The auxiliary chord then forms a loop. The loop may in this case be guided around deflecting rollers, for example in a rear end region of the steering region, and interact there with the chord of the ski in such a way as to obtain a tensile force on the two anchored longitudinal ends in the direction of the rear end of the ski as a result of a force in chord.
Also conceivable in principle are further variants in which the auxiliary chord is for example connected to the chord by both longitudinal ends and, for example, the auxiliary chord, for example an element provided on the board body in the steering region, is subjected for example to a tensile force as a result of a force along the chord. In principle, however, configurations of the transmission device in which the auxiliary chord acts with a longitudinal end, i.e. the first longitudinal end, directly or indirectly on the steering region are preferred, since an additional deflecting element, for example, is consequently not required.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the transmission device according to the invention has additional transmission elements, which are movably or rigidly provided on the board body, it being possible by interaction of the transmission elements and the chord for the tensile force on the steering region of the board body to be produced with the force along the chord. The transmission elements may, for example, close a force path between the chord and the auxiliary chord and/or deflect the guidance, for example of the auxiliary chord, or transmit it in terms of forces or moments. The transmission elements, the chord and in particular also the auxiliary chord interact in such a way that the tensile force acting on the steering region can be produced in the auxiliary chord with the force along the chord.
Since the force along the chord is obtained from a displacement of the chord in relation to the ski body, it is generally of advantage to arrange the transmission element such that it is fixed in place with respect to the ski body, in particular to fasten it to the ski body. Depending on the configuration of the transmission device, it is for example fastened to the ski body as an additional device or may be integrally formed or fashioned directly on the ski body. As a result of the fixed fastening of the transmission device to the ski, the transmission device is supported on the ski and the force along the chord is transmitted into the tensile force on the steering region without for example displacement of the transmission device with respect to the ski body. The fixed arrangement of the transmission device with respect to the board body may involve a comparatively simple type of construction. However, it is quite conceivable that in certain variants of the invention the transmission device is also advantageously formed partially or completely displaceably with respect to the ski body. In particular, for example, deflection rollers which are fixedly connected to the chord and are displaced with the latter with respect to the ski body are conceivable. These rollers may in this case interact for example with an auxiliary chord which is anchored on the ski body. Which of the configurational possibilities is to be preferred here depends on the actual implementation of the invention and is at the discretion of a person skilled in the art.
The transmission elements advantageously comprise a lever element, on which the force along the chord acts directly or indirectly and which is fixedly connected to the board body, in particular with largely fixed alignment in relation to the board body. This achieves the effect that, when a force acts on the lever element in the longitudinal direction of the ski, a turning moment can be produced on the board body with respect to a transverse axis and, if of a sufficiently great magnitude, is able to lift the steering region of the ski off an underlying surface, i.e. produce longitudinal flexing in the steering region. The turning moment is obtained in this case in particular as a result of the tensile force transmitted to the board body via the lever element.
Conceivable here in particular is a lever-like element, which is fixedly connected or fastened to the ski body in the steering region, at a largely fixed angle in relation to the ski body at a base of the lever element. If in this case the tensile force acts on the lever at a certain distance from the base (and consequently from the board body or from a surface of the board body), a turning moment on the ski body is obtained with respect to the base. On account of the flexibility of the ski body, the latter is flexed by the turning moment on the ski body. On account of the rigidity of the ski body, the turning point is in this case not exactly defined and may shift in the direction of tension, in particular in dependence on the flexing of the steering region at a given time.
Particularly preferred in this respect is a configuration of the lever element which extends substantially parallel to a surface of the board body and at a distance therefrom in the direction of a rear end of the snow sliding board, the lever element having a free end. The free end is in this case preferably toward the rear end of the ski, in particular toward that end of the ski that is remote from the steering region. With such a lever element, a comparatively great lever effect can be achieved with a small overall height. This is so because the fact that the lever element is fastened to the board body at a base and extends rearward from the base, at a distance from the surface of the board, largely parallel to the ski means that a comparatively long lever arm can be arranged on the surface of the ski, with a correspondingly great lever action. If a force then acts on the free end of the lever arm toward the upper side of the board, a great turning moment is obtained at the base, which acts on the steering region of the ski and flexes it. The overall height largely corresponds in this case to just a thickness of the lever element plus the distance of the lever arm from the upper side of the board. The lever arm has with preference a great rigidity, in order that the force effect on the free end is transmitted to the ski body with the greatest possible efficiency. When modern materials are used, such as composite materials for example, the lever arm can be made particularly thin with great rigidity, whereby a comparatively small overall height can be achieved altogether, largely independently of the length of the active lever arm. In this embodiment, the effective lever arm is given substantially by the length of the free end of the lever arm. In a variant, the lever element may, however, likewise achieve a good lever action, but in this case the total overall height is predetermined by the active lever arm, which would, from a certain lever arm length, lead to awkward and excessively high constructions.
In particular, there are also conceivable configurations that have a number of lever elements which are served by respectively associated (auxiliary) chords. In a modification, the number of lever elements may be arranged at different longitudinal positions, so that it is possible to monitor the longitudinal flexing produced in the steering region in dependence on the longitudinal position. The number of lever elements may, however, also be distributed only or additionally transversely in relation to the longitudinal direction of the ski, whereby twisting of the ski can also be produced.
In a further preferred embodiment, the transmission elements comprise deflecting elements for deflecting a force effect. In particular, the deflecting elements may in this case comprise deflecting rollers, around which the auxiliary chord in particular is guided in certain regions. However, the deflecting rollers may, for example, also guide and deflect the chord formed as a tension chord.
With preference, the deflecting rollers are mounted on the ski body rotatably about vertical axes of rotation. In particular, there are for example two deflecting rollers, which are attached to the ski body on both sides of a chord guided centrally on the ski body.
The auxiliary chord thereby interacts with the chord in such a way that, when there is a displacement of the chord with respect to the ski body, a region of the auxiliary chord is taken along by the chord. For this purpose, on the chord there may be a driver, for example a further deflecting roller, which takes the auxiliary chord along when there is a displacement of the chord. The auxiliary chord may, however, also be anchored on the chord and as a result be taken along during a displacement. It is also possible here for there to be a number of auxiliary chords, which are for example anchored in each case by one longitudinal end in the steering region on the ski body and by the other longitudinal end on the chord. Suitable arrangement of the deflecting rollers on the ski body and corresponding guidance of the auxiliary chord in certain regions around the deflecting rollers achieves the effect that, when there is a displacement of the chord with respect to the ski body, a tensile force acts on the steering region at the end of the auxiliary chord or auxiliary chords that is anchored on the steering region side.
If the chord is a compression chord, which can withstand compressive loading, the tensile force on the steering region is achieved in particular by a compressive force in the compression chord acting on the auxiliary chord in a forward direction by way of the driver or by way of the anchorage of the auxiliary chord on the compression chord. The forwardly directed compressive force on the auxiliary chord is deflected by the deflecting rollers into a tensile force along the auxiliary chord, which acts at the anchored longitudinal end of the auxiliary chord as a tensile force substantially in a direction toward a rear end of the ski. The tensile force thereby acts in particular between the longitudinal end of the auxiliary chord that is anchored in the ski body and the fastening of the deflecting elements, for example the deflecting rollers, to the ski body. In particular, the region between the anchored longitudinal end of the auxiliary chord and the fastening of the deflecting rollers to the ski body consequently defines the steering region of the ski, i.e. the longitudinal region of the ski that is flexed as a result of the tensile force.
However, it is also similarly conceivable that a tension chord, which can withstand tensile loading, acts with the tensile force on the steering region of the ski by way of an auxiliary chord deflected by deflecting rollers. Instead of deflecting rollers, the deflection may, however, also be achieved by other elements. In principle, any device that is suitable for deflection or any suitable element may be used. For example, pins or notched projections may be integrally formed onto or attached directly to the ski body or to the compression chord. The auxiliary chord and/or the chord formed for example as a tension chord is/are then guided for example around these pins or projections forming deflecting elements. In this case, the auxiliary chord or the chord is preferably guided around the deflecting elements displaceably, i.e. with slip.
The tensile force or the tension path may be substantially the same size in terms of magnitude as the force or the displacement in the chord. If, however, a stepping-up or stepping-down of the force is desired, the deflecting rollers may in particular also be eccentrically mounted, so that a different lever action is obtained with respect to the axis of rotation, depending on the point of action of the auxiliary chord on the deflecting roller.
With preference, the transmission elements of the transmission device comprise an adjustable, in particular height-adjustable, supporting element, which can be adjusted by the force along the chord or a displacement of the chord. An adjustable supporting element is used with preference in the case of a configuration in which an auxiliary chord is anchored in the steering region on the ski body by both longitudinal ends in the sense of a tendon. An adjustable supporting element may, however, also be present in the case of chords formed as tension chords as an additional element intensifying the tensile force, which is adjusted for example by way of a chord that is additionally present on the ski. The supporting element is described hereafter on the basis of the example of an auxiliary chord anchored on the board body by both longitudinal ends.
The auxiliary chord is largely taut, so that a deflection substantially transversely in relation to the auxiliary chord can produce a tensile force along the auxiliary chord. The adjustable supporting element is supported on the auxiliary chord in such a way that during adjustment it deflects the auxiliary chord transversely in relation to the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary chord. The supporting element may in this case be supported on the ski body. One advantage of support on the ski body is, for example, that the main bending point of the flexing can be controlled or can be fixed. Depending on where the supporting element is supported on the ski body, the flexing, in particular the form of the flexing, can be controlled. For example, it is possible that a minimum radius of curvature of the flexing, i.e. maximum flexing, is produced at the location of the support of the supporting element on the ski body. The supporting element in this case preferably comprises a lever which is articulated on the board body such that it can be pivoted about a transverse axis and can be pivoted on the basis of the force along the chord or on the basis of a displacement of a free end of the chord and interacts with the auxiliary chord in such a way that the force along the chord, in particular by way of the adjustment of the supporting element, brings about a deflection of the auxiliary chord transversely in relation to a longitudinal direction of the auxiliary chord. The auxiliary chord may in this case be substantially formed purely as a tension chord, but may also have a certain intrinsic rigidity, for example in the sense of a flexible bar. It follows from this that, when there is a deflection of the auxiliary chord transversely in relation to the longitudinal direction, on account of the rigidity, the force component at the ends, in particular on the anchoring points of the auxiliary chord in the board body, can be increased in the direction of deflection, i.e. a tensile force at the longitudinal ends of the auxiliary chord is provided with an additional force component that acts transversely or obliquely in relation to the auxiliary chord.
The supporting element may be supported on the auxiliary chord or on the chord at discrete points or support the auxiliary chord or the chord over a certain portion of its length. If the supporting element is in this case adjusted, it acts on the auxiliary chord or the chord over the entire supported region along the length, whereby a much higher tensile stress can be produced than is possible in the case of support purely at discrete points.
However, it is also conceivable that there are two auxiliary chords and the supporting element is supported on the two auxiliary chords. It is then conceivable, for example, that the supporting element is supported on the other auxiliary chord, respectively, and deflects both auxiliary chords, for example in equal parts. This is conceivable in particular in the case of an embodiment in which the supporting element deflects the auxiliary chord laterally in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of the ski. A direction parallel to the surface of the ski may form a preferred embodiment if, for example, the overall height of the transmission elements or the transmission device as a whole is to be kept as small as possible.
One possible configuration of such a supporting element may be, for example, a four-bar linkage with four corner joints and four joint arms. The four-bar linkage is then arranged on the ski body for example with a plane of the four-bar linkage parallel to the surface of the ski in such a way that two opposite corner joints of the four-bar linkage are arranged on a center longitudinal axis. A front joint of the two corner joints arranged in the longitudinal direction is then supported for example on the ski body, while the opposite corner joint is fastened to the front end region of the chord. If a displacement of the chord then takes place, the two further, free corner joints are moved or pushed inward or outward transversely in relation to the longitudinal direction of the ski, depending on the force in the chord, i.e. tensile or compressive force, or rearward or forward displacement of the chord. Then there are formed at the free corner joints, for example, drivers that are correspondingly supported on a respective auxiliary chord spanning the steering region in the sense of a tendon and take along the auxiliary chords outward or inward and consequently deflect them laterally, parallel to the surface of the ski.
An embodiment with a height-adjustable supporting element which deflects the auxiliary chord away from the ski has the advantage that the deflection of the auxiliary chord has the effect not only of producing the tensile force in the auxiliary chord but also of making it possible for the angle of traction, i.e. the angle at which the tensile force acts on the ski body at the anchored longitudinal ends of the auxiliary chord, to be changed by the supporting element in such a way that an improved effect of the tensile force for flexing the steering region is obtained. In particular, in the case of an embodiment with a height-adjustable supporting element that is arranged between the ski body and the auxiliary chord, this results in a height adjustment of the supporting element and a lateral deflection of the auxiliary chord away from the ski. With the deflection away from the ski, the angle of traction of the tensile force produced in the auxiliary chord is also increased, so that the component of the tensile force that is effective for the flexing of the steering region is also increased. One possible configuration of the height-adjustable elements comprises, for example, a lever which is articulated on the ski body such that it can be pivoted about a transverse axis and is arranged between the auxiliary chord and the ski body in such a way that the auxiliary chord is guided by way of an end of the lever remote from the joint and the lever can be pivoted as a result of the compressive force of the compression chord.
However, it is also conceivable to make the adjustable supporting element displaceable or adjustable in the longitudinal direction between the two fastening points of the auxiliary chord, it being arranged between the auxiliary chord and the ski body. The supporting element is then, for example, likewise displaced in the longitudinal direction as a result of a displacement of the chord. If the auxiliary chord has a variable distance from the ski body between the fastening points, a tensile stress in the auxiliary chord supported on the supporting element can be increased or reduced by the displacement of the supporting element.
In a further preferred embodiment, the transmission elements of the transmission device may comprise a gear mechanism, which interacts in a positively and/or non-positively engaging manner with the chord and preferably with the auxiliary chord. In particular, there is at least one gear wheel which interacts in a positively and/or non-positively engaging manner with the chord, preferably acts between the chord and the auxiliary chord. The gear wheel is, for example, mounted on the ski body rotatably about a vertical axis. If the gear wheel is formed for example by a toothed wheel, teeth which engage in the toothed wheels are formed for example in certain regions on the chord and on the auxiliary chord. In particular, the chord and the auxiliary chord then engage in the at least one toothed wheel on opposite sides of the mounting. When there is a displacement of the chord in a first direction, the toothed wheel rotates in the corresponding sense and forces the auxiliary chord into a displacement in the opposite direction. However, it is also conceivable that the chord and the auxiliary chord interact by way of a number of toothed gear wheels, which also allow stepping-up or stepping-down of the transmission of forces or moments as required. Similarly, one or more non-positively engaging gear wheels that form the gear mechanism are also conceivable.
In principle, gear mechanisms may, however, also be used in the transmission device in such a way that the gear elements do not interact directly with the chord and/or the auxiliary chord. In this case, however, further elements of the transmission device are required, which is generally likely to be undesirable on account of the increasing complexity of the transmission device.
However, it is also conceivable that the transmission elements of the transmission device comprise an articulated joint arrangement. For example, a configuration that comprises a joint arm which is mounted rotatably about a vertical axis of rotation at one of its longitudinal ends on the ski body is possible. The chord and the auxiliary chord than act on the joint arm for example on the same side of the rotatable mounting. This achieves for example a stepping-up or stepping-down of the force, depending on which of the chords acts on the joint arm with the smaller lever action. However, any other desired configurations of articulated joints can also be used, for example four-bar linkages, pantographs or similarly known articulated joint arrangements. In principle, any articulated joint and/or gear mechanism arrangement that appears suitable for the transmission of forces can be used in the case of a ski according to the invention.
An implementation of the invention in which the transmission elements of the transmission device comprise a rocking joint with two opposite arms with respect to the mounting of the joint is preferred. The rocking joint is then preferably mounted on the ski body rotatably about a vertical axis. The chord formed as a compression chord or tension chord acts pivotably on one of the arms and the auxiliary chord preferably acts on the second, opposite arm. It is also possible, however, for a further rocker or a gear mechanism to interact with the opposite arm for the transmission of the tensile force, so that the transmission device altogether acts with a tensile force on the steering region. In particular, the chord may in this case act on the joint arm at a different distance from the mounting of the joint, i.e. with a different lever arm, then the auxiliary chord. This produces a stepping-up or stepping-down of the transmission of forces or moments. The lever arm on the rocking joint of the auxiliary chord may, however, also be the same size as the lever arm of the chord, thereby resulting in a transmission of the moments of the same magnitude.
The transmission device according to the invention may be advantageously used equally in the case of chords that can withstand compressive loading and chords that can withstand tensile loading. Depending on the chord, the requirements for the transmission device consequently also differ.
For certain skis, a tension chord, which can substantially withstand tensile loading, is advantageously used. For example, in various cases guiding of a tension chord can be implemented more easily on the ski body than guiding of a compression chord. The tension chord may be formed for example as a cable or strip, which comprises a metal, a mesh of metal, a mesh of fibers or other materials that appear suitable. The force along the tension chord is then a tensile force, which can for example act on the steering region directly through the chord or by way of a transmission device. In the case of a configuration of a dynamic ski with a tension chord, the chord is guided in the control region below the board body, in particular below a neutral axis of the board body or of the ski. Consequently, when there is positive flexing in the control region, a tensile force is produced in the tension chord, which force can be removed by the transmission device and transmitted to the steering region.
However, in the case of a dynamic ski, a compression chord, which can substantially withstand compressive loading, may be used according to the invention. Apart from the ski body, the ski of a corresponding embodiment comprises the compression chord that can withstand compressive loading, which is supported and/or anchored on the ski body at the at least one supporting point. In the at least one control region, the compression chord is in this case guided substantially parallel and longitudinally displaceably with respect to the ski body in the longitudinal direction of the snow sliding board.
The force along the compression chord as a result of the flexing of the snow sliding board in the control region is in this case a compressive force, the compression chord being guided in the control region above the board body, in particular above a neutral axis of the board body, and in particular the compression chord being forcibly coupled with the snow sliding board with respect to the longitudinal flexing in the control region. Configurations with a compression chord may be preferred on account of the better monitoring and easier removal of the force produced in the chord. In particular in high-performance applications, a compression chord is generally to be preferred, since they can typically withstand compressive and tensile loading and consequently allow additional functionality along with a simpler configuration. In particular, the flexing in the control region can be forcibly coupled with the steering region in a simple manner and with little effort. A compression chord displaceably guided in the longitudinal direction and forcibly coupled in the control region is able to convert a positive flex and a negative flex of the control region of the ski into a forward or rearward displacement of the compression chord, respectively. This displacement can then be transmitted by way of a suitably formed transmission device into flexing of the steering region of the ski, it then being possible for this region to be flexed in the same sense as or in the opposite sense from the control region, depending on requirements. Such configurations are only made possible by the transmission device according to the invention, which makes it possible for the compressive force occurring in the compression chord to be transmitted into the tensile force on the steering region. Moreover, a compression chord makes it possible for the ski to be configured in such a way that the main parts of the chord, the transmission device and the auxiliary chords are formed on the upper side of the ski body.
In order to be able for example to convert compressive force produced in the compression chord by the displacement in the control region optimally for the flexing of the steering region, the tensile force is preferably directed at the steering region in such a way that it is substantially counter to the compressive force of the, or in the, compression chord. This is preferred in particular if the supporting point is arranged at a longitudinal end of the ski that is remote from the steering region. With such a substantially anti-parallel alignment of the tensile force in relation to the compressive force, the total amount of force of the tensile force acts in the longitudinal direction of the ski, and consequently can be used in principle for the flexing of the steering region. In particular, however, even in the case of a tension chord, the tensile force along the chord may be directed counter to the tensile force on the steering region.
However, it is quite conceivable here that a deviation of the direction of the tensile force from the longitudinal direction or the direction of the force in the chord, for example the compressive force of the compression chord, may form a preferred modification of the invention. Such deviations may be required in order to transmit the tensile force from a compression bar centrally guided in the control region, for example, to regions of the steering region that are arranged laterally with respect to a central axis of the ski.
In particular in cases of embodiments in which a compression chord is supported on the board body at a supporting point near the steering region, it may however also be preferred that the direction of the tensile force on the steering region is directed substantially in the same direction as the force along the chord, in particular the compressive force of the compression chord. A particularly preferred embodiment in this case comprises a compression chord which is supported by way of the supporting point in a front region of the ski, on the steering region. The free end of the compression chord is then arranged at a rear end of the ski and is displaced rearward when there is flexing in the control region. At the free end, there is anchored, for example, an auxiliary chord that can withstand tensile loading, which is guided in the control region below the ski to the steering region, where it is anchored on the board body above the ski. In the case of such an arrangement, not only the compression chord “feels” the flexing of the ski but also in addition, and with an intensifying effect, the auxiliary chord guided below the ski, which is additionally extended as a result of the flexing. The forces in the chord and in the auxiliary chord are consequently directed in the same direction. The tact that the auxiliary chord is acted on directly in the steering region means that the tensile force on the steering region is also directed in substantially the same direction as the force along the chord. This also results in particular in an example of a configuration of the transmission device that not only transmits the force along the chord but additionally assumes the function of an intensifier, which increases the force along the chord in that the flexing of the ski is better used. The additional tensile force also produced in the auxiliary chord itself as a result of flexing of the ski adds further to the force transmitted through the auxiliary chord from the compression chord.
In principle, configurations with forces directed in the same direction and forces directed in opposite directions are conceivable, although it has to be considered on the basis of the actual requirements for the ski which solution offers the greater advantages. The transmission device must be designed according to the configuration in such a way that ultimately the force along the chord is transmitted in an optimum way into the tensile force on the steering region.
In various embodiments of the invention a transmission of the force along the chord as a tensile force on the steering region of the ski on a one-to-one basis in terms of magnitude is possibly desirable. However, with a different transmission of the forces in terms of magnitude, the ski according to the invention can be used in a still more versatile manner. The transmission device then has a stepping-up or stepping-down of the forces or moments occurring. For example, it is conceivable to intensify the force effect on the steering region by the tensile force having a greater magnitude than the force along the chord. This allows for example a greater flexing effect in the steering region to be achieved already when there is minor flexing in the control region. In a variant of the invention, the stepping-up or stepping-down can be set by the skier, so that the ski can be adapted to the conditions at a given time. Altogether, such a transmission device consequently allows a transmission of the compressive forces in the compression chord into tensile forces on the steering region that differ from the compressive force in terms of direction and/or in terms of magnitude, according to requirements. A difference of the tensile force in terms of magnitude in comparison with the force along the chord may, however, also be achieved for example by a dynamic design of the auxiliary chord, for example in that the auxiliary chord is elastic. The auxiliary chord then transmits the forces of the chord in various ways, for example in dependence on the extension at a given time. In principle, a dynamic form of the auxiliary chord and/or of the chord may form a preferred embodiment for all ways of implementing the invention. A chord that is elastic, for example, may have extensibility such that vibrations occurring are damped in the chord without significantly impairing the force-transmitting effect of the chord. The same applies to the auxiliary chord, which may likewise be elastically formed. It is, however, conceivable that a certain extensibility may also play a part in the functionality of the chord or the auxiliary chord or the transmission device in that the respective chord transmits forces to varying degrees in dependence on the extensibility. On account of the elasticity, however, a force may also be stored in the chord and retrieved when required, which under certain circumstances can be advantageously used.
In a preferred embodiment, as a result of the tensile force, the snow sliding board is flexed largely uniformly in the steering region substantially over the entire width of the snow sliding board with respect to a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction. As already mentioned at the beginning, a steering region may, however, also be advantageously subjected to different tensile forces at different points, whereby twisting of the ski is for example also produced in addition to the flexing. It is conceivable in this case for example for the tensile force transmitted by the transmission device to act in the steering region for example at two points of action that are at different distances from the central axis.
For a ski that can be used in a versatile manner, however, it may be advantageous to make flexing in the steering region uniform transversely to the longitudinal direction, so that it is not necessary during use to distinguish between a right ski and a left ski. There are, however, other application areas (for example ski racing, professional skiing) in which optimization of the flexing behavior in the steering region may also be of benefit in a direction transverse to the ski. In particular, the transmission device according to the invention can be used in these cases to transmit the tensile force to the steering region in such a way that, apart from the flexing, twisting transversely to the longitudinal direction of the ski can also be produced. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the board body is subdivided in a region along the length of the steering region into a number of portions that are largely independent with respect to longitudinal flexing. In this case, at least one of the number of portions is subjected to the tensile force. In a variant, the number of portions are subjected to tensile forces that are different for example in terms of magnitude and/or in terms of direction. However, it is not required for the individual portions to be selectively subjected to tensile force. Subdivision of the steering region into a number of portions may also be a preferred configuration, for example, in the case of the symmetrical tensile forces on the steering region already described above.
It is preferred in this respect for the steering region to be subdivided into an inner portion and an outer portion. Inner and outer refer here to the arrangement of the skis when they are being used by a skier. During use, each ski has a side that is respectively facing the other ski, which is referred to hereafter as inner lying. Correspondingly, a side facing away from the other ski is referred to as outer lying.
In an embodiment that is preferred according to the requirement, largely the entire tensile force acts on the inner lying portion, while the outer lying portion is subjected to no tensile force. In the case of such an embodiment, only the inner lying region of the steering region is flexed, while the outer lying portion remains largely unchanged. Particularly advantageous here is an embodiment of the ski according to the invention with a steering region subdivided into two halves. The transmission device is then formed for example in such a way that it only transmits a tensile force to the respectively inner lying portion of the steering region. In a modification, the transmission device transmits tensile forces of various magnitudes to the respective portions of the steering region.
Subdivision of the steering region into the aforementioned portions may, however, also be advantageous in the case where it is subjected to a tensile force symmetrically in terms of magnitude. In particular, the portions of the steering region are in this case likewise formed symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the ski. In a preferred embodiment of this nature, a steering region has, for example, a middle dividing slit, and a transmission device of the ski comprises an auxiliary chord which acts with one of its two longitudinal ends in each case in one of the two portions formed by the slit. The transmission device then comprises, for example, a deflecting roller which is fastened to the chord and around which the loop thus formed by the auxiliary chord is partially guided, in such a way that, when there is a displacement, the deflecting roller tensions the auxiliary chord, i.e. produces a tensile force in the auxiliary chord. On account of the guiding around the deflecting roller, the tensile force along the entire auxiliary chord is largely constant in terms of magnitude at every point in time. Depending on the flexing in the respective portion at a given time, for example during curved running, however, a different angle of action of the tensile force is obtained, which can be advantageously used and allows further adaptation of the ski according to the invention.
Consequently, given a suitable tensile force distribution, the portions of the longitudinal region allow specific flexing of the steering region portion by portion, which makes it possible to adapt the steering of the ski to a desired behavior in curves. In particular, for example, the tensile force distribution between the various portions can be preset by the skier in order to be able to adapt the ski to the requirements at a given time.
It can consequently be stated in principle that a steering region subdivided into portions further improves the versatile way in which the ski according to the invention can be used. Altogether, symmetrical and asymmetrical configurations of the steering region portions that are independent with respect to longitudinal flexing are conceivable, it also being possible for the tensile force or the tensile forces to act on the respective portions symmetrically or asymmetrically in terms of magnitude and/or in terms of direction.
In a further modification of the invention, the control region of the ski may also have largely independent portions with respect to longitudinal flexing. In this way it is possible to achieve the advantage that, for example, a chord arranged in one of the portions of the control region does not “feel” flexing of another of the portions, i.e. the flexing in the other portion does not result in any displacement, or only results in minor displacement, of the chord with respect to the board body. With the control region subdivided in this way, more selective control of the displacement of the chord can consequently be achieved, it being possible in particular to achieve particularly strong or particularly weak displacement.
In all the aforementioned embodiments it is conceivable to provide a number of chords on a ski. The number of chords may in this case act for example directly or indirectly on one or more of the steering regions of the ski (in particular in the case of tension chords). The chords may, however, also act on one or more steering regions of the ski by way of a common transmission device according to the invention or subject the steering region or regions or portions of the steering regions of the skis to corresponding tensile forces by way of a number of transmission devices, for example belonging to each chord.
In all cases, the chords are in this case preferably guided substantially parallel and in the longitudinal direction of the ski, in order to be able to transmit compressive or tensile forces as a result of longitudinal flexing of the ski optimally along the chords. Depending on the requirement, it is also conceivable, however, that deviation from a parallel alignment, for example a converging arrangement, is preferred in another embodiment, in order for example also to be able to convert the transverse flexure (torsion) during twisting of the ski in the control region. In this case, it is also conceivable, for example, that an asymmetrical arrangement of the chords with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski forms a preferred configuration. It is preferred, however, for the number of chords to be symmetrically arranged, in order to be able to convert the longitudinal flexing in the control region symmetrically into force effects.
One possible embodiment comprises, for example, two compression chords guided substantially parallel, with control regions in various longitudinal regions of the ski, the compression chords with in each case an associated transmission device acting with a tensile force on a respective steering region, the two steering regions of the two chords being arranged opposite one another on the ski. One of the compression chords may have, for example, a front/middle control region and act on a steering region in the rear end region of the ski, while the second compression chord, substantially parallel thereto, has a rear/middle control region and acts with a tensile force on a steering region in the front end region of the ski. It goes without saying that this embodiment may also be modified, for example a different design of the control regions and/or a common deflecting device for both compression chords.
A similar configuration is conceivable with a system comprising two chords, the control region of a first chord having a front/middle control region and acting on a steering region in the rear end region of the ski and the second chord having a rear/middle control region and acting on a steering region in the front end region of the ski.
Configurations with compression and tension chords according to all the embodiments described can, in principle, be freely combined. In particular, there are conceivable skis according to the invention in which one or more compression chords and one or more tension chords interact with one another or interact with the transmission device in such a way that the flexing effects, i.e. the forces produced along the chords that are transmitted by the transmission device as tensile forces to the steering region are completely or partially cumulative. It is possible here for two or more of the various embodiments of the invention described above and below to be combined with one another in a single configuration of a ski according to the invention.
A further problem addressed by the invention is that of providing a snow sliding board in the technical field mentioned at the beginning, in particular a ski, with a tension chord that can substantially withstand tensile loading for monitoring pressure, which offers the possibility of making the flexing behavior of the snow sliding board more versatile and improving it.
To solve the further problem addressed, a snow sliding board according to the invention comprises a board body and a tension chord which can substantially withstand tensile loading and is anchored on the board body at least one supporting point, the tension chord being guided longitudinally displaceably in at least one control region and coupled with the snow sliding board with respect to longitudinal flexing in the control region. The snow sliding board is characterized in that there are means which transmit a force resulting from flexing of the snow sliding board in the control region along the tension chord into a tensile force which acts on the board body in a steering region at a longitudinal end of the snow sliding board in such a way that the snow sliding board is flexed in the steering region. In particular, the snow sliding board is lifted off from an underlying surface, i.e. positively flexed, in the steering region.
This aspect of the invention and the modifications described hereafter can also be applied in the case of all the embodiments described above of a ski according to the invention with a transmission device, or be combined with them for the purposes of the invention.
In this respect, it is conceivable for example that chord systems with and without a transmission device are provided on the same ski.
As above, “ski”, “ski body”, “end region of the ski” etc. are used hereafter as representative of “snow sliding board” and the corresponding terms, but not restrictively. Further conventions such as “front”, “rear”, “top/upper” and “under/lower” are used with respect to the ski or the ski body as in the foregoing part of the application.
With preference, the tension chord in the steering region is guided above the ski body, in particular above the neutral axis of the board body. Guiding the tension chord in the steering region above the ski body and acting on achieve the effect that a tensile force produced in the tension chord can act on an upper side of the ski in the steering region on the ski body. Guiding the tension chord in the control region below the ski body achieves the effect that, when there is positive flexing of the ski, a tensile stress is produced in the tension chord. This is, in particular, a result of the anchorage on both sides (supporting point, acting in the steering region) of the tension chord on the ski body. Any material suitable for transmission of a tensile force with a suitable configuration comes into consideration as the tension chord. In particular, the tension chord may be formed for example by a strip or a cable, which for example comprises fibers, for example of aramid, or a metal. Similarly, however, a tension chord may also be formed from a comparatively rigid material and at the same time also withstand compressive loading. However, other configurations of other materials and/or forms are also conceivable. The aforementioned examples of materials and forms do not represent an exhaustive enumeration here, and are understood as exemplary variants.
According to the invention, the tension chord does not have to be pretensioned, but is intended not to have any play, in order to result in a notable increase in the tensile force in the tension chord even when there is minor flexing. However, it is also conceivable that the tension chord has pretensioning to the extent necessary, which can for example also be set by the skier, in order to adapt the reaction of the steering region of the ski to flexing in the control region, for example to the personal needs or to the discipline in which the snow sliding board is being used.
The tensile force can consequently be used in such a way that, when there is positive flexing of the control region, the steering region likewise undergoes positive curvature or flexing. The curvature in the same sense is achieved in this embodiment of the invention by the compression chord (ski body) and the tension chord crossing over, for example at a transition from the control region to the steering region. A crossover may be formed, for example, by the tension chord simply being made to pass through the ski body. For this purpose, the ski body is for example provided with a through-opening, through which the tension chord can be made to pass from the underside of the ski in the control region to the upper side of the ski in the steering region.
In particular, in a preferred embodiment there is a further steering region, the means transmitting the force along the tension chord as a tensile force to both steering regions, so that the snow sliding board is flexed in both steering regions when there is flexing in the control region.
With preference, the two steering regions are formed at opposite longitudinal ends of the ski, i.e. a steering region respectively at a front longitudinal end and at a rear longitudinal end.
In a preferred embodiment, the tension chord is guided parallel in the longitudinal direction in multiply alternating portions in the control region, in particular in the manner of a block and tackle. At the extreme longitudinal positions, i.e. at the respectively front and rear reversal points of the alternating multiple longitudinal guidance, the tension chord is mounted in such a way that a longitudinal displacement of one of the portions or a force along one of the portions can be transmitted to a further portion that is connected to this portion. In particular, the tension chord is in this case mounted with slip on the ski body. The tension chord is preferably mounted in such a way that it is guided in the control region from the underside around the mounting in or on the ski body back to the underside. In the case of longitudinal displacement in one of the parallel portions, this displacement can be transmitted to the next, in particular adjacent, portion. This produces a construction similar to a block and tackle, which on account of the alternating multiple guidance in the control region allows flexing in the control region to “felt” more intensely, i.e. flexing produces a greater displacement of the tension chord in the steering region that would be the case with simple longitudinal guidance. In first approximation, the longitudinal displacement of the tension chord in the steering region in comparison with simple guidance is multiplied by the number of parallel portions in the control region.
Particularly preferred is a snow sliding board according to the invention with a tension chord and a board body which is subdivided, substantially in the region along the length of the steering region, into a number of portions that are largely independent with respect to longitudinal flexing. In this case, the individual portions are advantageously subjected to different tensile forces. In particular, the steering region is subdivided into an inner portion and an outer portion, the tension chord acting with the tensile force on the inner lying portion, while the outer lying portion is not subjected to any tensile force, or only a small tensile force. As already described further above, in a subdivision of the steering region into portions that are largely independent with regard to longitudinal flexing, symmetrical and asymmetrical configurations are conceivable, it also being possible for the tensile forces to act on the respective portions symmetrically or asymmetrically in terms of magnitude and/or direction.
Further advantageous embodiments and combinations of features of the invention emerge from the following detailed description and the patent claims as a whole.
The drawings used to explain the exemplary embodiment schematically show:
In principle, the same parts are provided with the same designations in the figures.
WAYS OF IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTIONIn the representation of
The transmission device 4 is arranged substantially in a front third of the ski 1. In the embodiment represented, the transmission device 4 comprises two auxiliary chords 13.1 and 13.2, which can substantially withstand tensile loading, and two deflecting rollers 14.1 and 14.2, which are arranged in each case above the ski body 2 symmetrically with respect to a plane E, which is perpendicular to an upper side of the ski 16 and includes the longitudinal axis A. The auxiliary chords 13 have in this case a small, substantially diminishing, extensibility. The deflecting rollers 14.1 and 14.2 are in this case arranged set back on both sides of the compression bar 3 from the rest position 11 toward the rear end of the ski 6. The deflecting rollers 14.1 and 14.2 are rotatably attached to the ski body 2, with axes 15.1 and 15.2 arranged perpendicularly in relation to the surface of the ski 16. The auxiliary chords 13.1 and 13.2 are anchored, in each case by a longitudinal end 17.1 and 17.2, on one side, from above, in or on the ski body 2 in the bent-up region 21. The region between the anchored longitudinal ends 17 and the deflecting rollers 14 forms a steering region 12 of the ski 1, the deflecting rollers 14 being arranged at a rear longitudinal end 19 of the steering region and the anchored longitudinal end 17 being arranged at a front longitudinal end 18 of the steering region 12. The control region 10 consequently overlaps with the steering region 10 by the amount along the length by which the deflecting rollers 14 are offset to the rear with respect to the longitudinal end 8.
With their further longitudinal ends 20.1 and 20.2, the auxiliary chords 13.1 and 13.2 are fastened in a region at the front longitudinal end 8 of the compression bar 3. From the longitudinal ends 17.1 and 17.2, the auxiliary chords 13 are brought up to the deflecting rollers 14.1 and 14.2 from the outside, in each case with respect to a plane E which is perpendicular to the surface of the ski 16 and includes the longitudinal direction A, and guided around said rollers substantially by a half turn. After the half turn, the auxiliary chords 13.1 and 13.2 are guided away from the deflecting rollers 14.1 and 14.2 and to the region at the longitudinal end 8 of the compression bar 3 at which the longitudinal ends 20.1 and 20.2 are anchored.
In the representation of
If the front longitudinal end 8 of the compression bar 3 is then displaced toward the front end of the ski 9, a compressive force 30 which is likewise directed toward the front end of the ski 9 acts along the compression bar 3 via the supporting point 7. Since the longitudinal ends 20 of the auxiliary chords 13 are anchored on the compression bar 3, they are likewise moved or pushed toward the front end of the ski 9. The tensile forces 32.1 and 32.2 thus produced on the longitudinal ends 20.1 and 20.2 are transmitted by way of the auxiliary chords 13.1 and 13.2 that can withstand tensile loading along the auxiliary chords 13.1 and 13.2 to the longitudinal ends 17.1 and 17.2. Since the auxiliary chords 13.1 and 13.2 are guided around the respective deflecting rollers 14.1 and 14.2 by substantially a half turn, the tensile forces 31.1 and 31.2 resulting on the longitudinal ends 17.1 and 17.2 are directed counter to the compressive force 13, i.e. toward the rear end of the ski 6. Since the longitudinal ends 17 are anchored in the ski body, the tensile forces 31 act on the steering region 12 of the ski 1.
As a result of the flexing in the control region 10, the front longitudinal end 8 of the compression bar 3 has been displaced with respect to the rest position 11 by an amount along the length 34 toward the front end of the ski 9. This produces a compressive force 30 along the compression bar 3 by way of the support at the supporting point 7 on the ski body 2. The compressive force 30 acts as tensile forces 32.1 and 32.2 in the direction of the front end of the ski 9 on the longitudinal ends 20.1 and 20.2 of the auxiliary chords 13.1 13.2. The auxiliary chords 13.1 and 13.2 transmit the tensile forces 32.1 and 32.2 via the deflecting rollers 14.1 and 14.2 to the longitudinal ends 17.1 and 17.2 anchored in the ski body 2, where the tensile force acts as tensile forces 31.1 and 31.2 on the front longitudinal end 18 of the steering region 12, substantially in the direction of the rear end of the ski 6.
As a result of the tensile forces 31, which act as tensile stress in the steering region 12 between the deflecting rollers 14 and the anchored longitudinal ends 17, the steering region 12 of the ski 1 undergoes flexing. In other words, the longitudinal ends 18 and 19 of the steering region 12 are drawn toward one another by the regions lying there at which the tensile forces act, whereupon the ski 1 flexes in the steering region.
The flexing is produced in particular by the tensile forces 31 acting on the ski body 2 from above. This results in an undiminishing force component 36, which is perpendicular to the surface 16 of the ski 1 at the anchorage of the longitudinal ends 17, i.e. in the region where the tensile forces 31 act. This results in a force which is directed away from the underlying surface and is able to raise a front region of the ski, in particular the steering region 12, away from an underlying surface and make it flex. The flexing in the steering region 12 has in this case a curvature 35, which in the representation of
The embodiment described in
Given suitable forming of the deflecting rollers 14, for example with eccentric mounting, not only can a deflection of the compressive force 30 of the compression bar 30 into a tensile force 31 be achieved, but a stepping-up or stepping-down of the forces in terms of magnitude is also possible. Consequently, as a result of comparatively minor flexing in the control region, relatively major flexing can be produced in the steering region 12, i.e. the flexing of the control region 10 can be “mechanically intensified”.
From the longitudinal end 23.1, the auxiliary chord 22 is brought up to the deflecting roller 14.1 from the outside with respect to the plane E and guided around said roller by substantially a half turn. After the half turn, the auxiliary chord 22 is guided in the opposite direction by substantially a half turn around the deflecting roller 14.3 of the compression bar and from there brought up to the deflecting roller 14.2 from the inside. Once again in the opposite direction from the guidance around the roller 14.3, i.e. in the same direction as the guidance around the deflecting roller 14.1, the auxiliary chord 22 is guided by a half turn around the deflecting roller 14.2 and from there to the anchored longitudinal end 23.2. The auxiliary chord 22 consequently has substantially w-shaped guidance, the arms of the W shape corresponding to regions 24.1 and 24.2 of the auxiliary chord 22 that lead, substantially in parallel, from the deflecting rollers 14.1 and 14.2 that are attached to the ski body 2 to the anchored longitudinal ends 23.1 and 23.2. The three points of the W shape are formed by the deflecting rollers 14.1-14.3. When there is a displacement of the front end 8 of the compression bar toward the ski tip 9, the deflecting roller 14.3 pushes with a force 30 on a region 24.3 of the auxiliary chord 22, which is arranged substantially between the deflecting rollers 14.1 and 14.2 and is guided around the deflecting roller 14.3. This produces a tensile force 32.1 or 32.2 along the auxiliary chord around the deflecting rollers 14.1 and 14.2, which acts as tensile force 31.1 and 31.2 on the anchored longitudinal ends 23.1 and 23.2 of the auxiliary chord. The auxiliary chord 22 may also be guided here in a u-shaped manner around the deflecting rollers 14.1 and 14.2, the deflecting roller 14.3 having no contact or only tangential contact with the auxiliary chord 22 in the rest position of the ski, i.e. without external loading. Only when there is a forward displacement of the end 8 of the compression bar is the W shape of the auxiliary chord guidance described above obtained.
This embodiment has the advantage over the embodiment of
The ski 101 has a ski body 102, a compression chord formed as a compression bar 103 and a transmission device 104. In the representation of
The transmission device 104 of the ski 101 is formed substantially in a front third of the ski 101. In the embodiment represented, the transmission device 104 comprises two auxiliary chords 113.1 and 113.2, which can substantially withstand tensile loading and are arranged in each case above the ski body 102 symmetrically with respect to a plane D, which is perpendicular to the surface of the ski 116 and comprises the longitudinal axis B. The auxiliary chords 113 preferably have in this case a small, substantially diminishing, extensibility. The auxiliary chords 113.1 and 113.2 are anchored, in each case by a front longitudinal end 117.1 and 117.2, on the ski body 102 at a front end 118 of a steering region 112. In particular, the anchorages of the longitudinal ends 117.1 and 117.2 of the auxiliary chords 113.1 and 113.2 lie in the bent-up region 121.
Rear longitudinal ends 120.1 and 120.2 of the auxiliary chords 113.1 and 113.2 are likewise anchored in the ski body 102. The longitudinal ends 120 in this case lie at a rear longitudinal end 119 of the steering region 112. The anchorage of the longitudinal ends 120 is preferably offset from the rest position 111 toward the rear end of the ski 6 by a length which corresponds substantially to the distance of the rest position 111 from the anchorage of the longitudinal ends 117, i.e. the distance from the front longitudinal end 118 of the steering region 112. The rest position 111 is consequently arranged substantially in the middle of the steering region 112 with respect to the longitudinal direction B, in particular between the anchored longitudinal ends 117 and 120.
Furthermore, the deflecting device 104 comprises a height-adjustable supporting element 114. The supporting element 114 has a lever 115 articulated by a joint on the ski body 102. The lever 115 is in this case pivotable about an axis of rotation C transverse to the longitudinal direction B and parallel to the surface of the ski 116. The axis of rotation C of the lever 115 in this case lies substantially in a region along the length at the rest position 111. The supporting element 114 is formed in such a way that it can be arranged between the auxiliary chords 113 and the ski body 102. In particular, the supporting element 114 is arranged in such a way that an end 117 of the lever 115 that is remote from the joint supports the auxiliary chords 113 and is supported against the ski body 102. The distance of the end 117 of the lever 115 that is remote from the joint from the surface of the ski 116 depends on the respective pivoted position of the lever 115. Consequently, a height adjustment of the supporting element 114 can be achieved by the lever 114 being brought into various pivoted positions.
In the embodiment of the invention as shown in
Positive flexing of the control region 110 consequently produces in the auxiliary chords 113.1 and 113.2 a tensile stress 131.1 and 131.2, respectively, as a result of the concomitant displacement of the compression bar 103, by way of the lever 115 of the supporting element 114. The tensile forces 131 act on the ski body 102 at the longitudinal ends 117 and 120, respectively, that are anchored in the ski body 102.
In the case of the embodiment of
The auxiliary chords 113 may, for example, in this case have pretensioning, which may, for example, be such that it can be regulated. Depending on requirements, for example the ability of the ski or the skiing discipline, the pretensioning of the auxiliary chords 113 can then be adapted. For this purpose, a further tensioning device (not represented) may be provided, for example allowing the skier to change pretensioning in the auxiliary chords 113, for example by way of an actuating unit. However, pretensioning of the auxiliary chords 113 is not absolutely necessary. Such a tensioning device may also be provided in the case of other embodiments, in order to make the ski more versatile and to ensure adaptability to the respective requirements.
The auxiliary chord 213 is anchored on the ski body 202 in the region at the front longitudinal end 217, in the front region of the steering region 212. In particular, the longitudinal position of the anchored longitudinal end 217 forms a front longitudinal end 218 of the steering region 212. The auxiliary chords 213 can substantially withstand tensile loading, but can also withstand compressive loading, so that a forced coupling of the compression bar 203 with the auxiliary chords 213, and consequently with the front region of the ski, is obtained by the transmission device 204 with rocker 214.
If a compressive force 230 of the compression bar 203 then acts in the direction of a front end of the ski 209, the compressive force 230 is transmitted via the rocker 214 into a tensile force 231 in the auxiliary chords 213. The tensile force 231 acts on the ski body 202 by way of the longitudinal ends 217 anchored in the ski body at the front end of the steering region 212, and consequently exerts a force in the direction of the rear end of the ski on the front region of the ski. Consequently, the steering region 212 is flexed in particular, and the ski 201 is lifted off from an underlying surface in the steering region 212. The different lengths of the two arms 215.1 and 215.2 achieves the effect that the tensile force 231 is smaller in terms of magnitude than the compressive force 230, but a displacement path of the auxiliary chords 213 is greater in comparison with the displacement of the compression bar 203.
The transmission device 304 has two auxiliary chords 313.1 and 313.2, which are anchored on the ski body 302 in the region at the longitudinal ends 317.1 and 317.2, in a front region of the steering region 312. In particular, the longitudinal position of the anchored longitudinal ends 317 forms a front longitudinal end 318 of the steering region 312. The auxiliary chords 313 are in this case arranged substantially parallel on the ski body 302, symmetrically spaced apart laterally from a longitudinal axis of the ski 301. The auxiliary chords 313 can substantially withstand tensile loading, but can also withstand compressive loading, so that a forced coupling of the compression bar 303 with the front region or the steering region 312 of the ski 301 is obtained by the gear mechanism 314.
The gear wheels 315 are arranged on the ski body in such a way that they can in each case interact with a region at a rear longitudinal end 320.1 and 320.2 of the auxiliary chords 313 and with a region at a front longitudinal end 308 of the compression bar 303. In this case, regions at rear longitudinal ends 320.1 and 320.2 of the auxiliary chords 313.1 and 313.2 overlap in the longitudinal direction with a front region of the compression bar 303. The auxiliary chords 313 thereby act on the gear wheels 315 from the outside with respect to a plane which is perpendicular to the surface of the ski 316 and includes the longitudinal axis of the ski 301, while the compression bar 303 acts on the gear wheels 315 on an opposite side with respect to the axes G and H, i.e. from the inside with respect to the plane. The compression bar 303 and the auxiliary chords 313 can in this case interact in a positively and/or non-positively engaging manner with the gear wheels 315. In particular, the gear wheels 315 may be formed as toothed wheels, the auxiliary chords 313 and the compression bars 303 then having corresponding teeth which can engage in the toothed wheels.
A forward compressive force 330 in the compression bar 303 is consequently transformed by way of the gear wheels 315 into a tensile force 331 in the auxiliary chords 313, a force which acts via the anchorages of the longitudinal ends 317 on the front region of the ski, in particular on the front longitudinal end 318 of the steering region 312.
The tension chord 403 of the ski 401.1 in
The arrangement represented in
In the arrangement of a ski 401.3 that is represented in
The compression bar 503 is in this case arranged in a rear region 510 of the ski 501. The compression bar 503 is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the ski 501 and in the middle with respect to a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, in such a way that a rear longitudinal end 505 of the compression bar 503 ends offset by an intended displacement region 540 toward the tip 509 of the ski 501 at a rear end 506 of the ski body 502, so that, when there is a displacement toward the rear end 506 of the ski 501, the compression bar 503 does not protrude beyond it. In a region on the front longitudinal end 508, the compression bar 503 is connected to the ski body 502, or anchored on it, at a supporting point 507.1. Over the remaining length of the compression bar 503, the latter is guided displaceably with respect to the ski body 502 in the longitudinal direction (guiding device not represented), so that the region 510 forms the control region 510. In the control region 510 of the ski 501, the compression bar 503 is displaceable with respect to the ski body 502, in particular when there is flexing of the ski 501, such that it is supported on said body by way of the supporting point 507.1. When there is positive flexing of the control region 510, i.e. for example when the rear end of the ski 506 is lifted off from an underlying surface in comparison with a middle region of the ski 501, a displacement of the rear longitudinal end 505 of the compression bar 503 takes place from a rest position 511 with respect to the ski body 502 in the direction of a rear longitudinal end 506 of the ski 501. The rest position 511 is in this case defined by the position of the longitudinal end 505 when no external loads are acting on the ski 501 and is offset at the distance 540 from the rear end of the ski 506 toward the tip 509 of the ski 501.
The transmission device 504 extends substantially over the entire length of the ski 501. In the embodiment represented, the transmission device 504 substantially comprises an auxiliary chord 513, which can substantially withstand tensile loading and is arranged in the control region 510 below the ski body 502 or below a neutral axis of the ski body 502 with respect to longitudinal flexing of the ski.
The auxiliary chord 513 preferably has in this case a small, substantially diminishing, extensibility. However, configurations in which the auxiliary chord 515 is dynamically designed and has intrinsic elasticity are quite conceivable.
The auxiliary chord 513 is split in a front region into two front end regions 513.1 and 513.2. The auxiliary chord 513 consequently has two front longitudinal ends 517.1 and 517.2, by which it is anchored on an upper side 516.1 of the ski body 502 and guided in a steering region 512 in the longitudinal direction toward the rear end of the ski 506 above the ski body 502 as far as apertures 514.1 and 514.2 in the ski body 502, which are formed in the region along the length at the supporting point 507.1. The apertures 514.1 and 514.2 are open on the upper side 516.1 and on an underside 516.2 of the ski body 502 and are arranged on the ski body 502 on both sides of the compression bar 503, or the supporting point 507.1. The apertures 514.1 and 514.2 are formed in the ski body 502 and are preferably covered by further layers (not represented) of the ski 501, such as for example a sliding coating on the underside 516.2 or a cladding of the ski 501 on the upper side 516.1. The apertures 514.1 and 514.2 preferably go over into a guiding channel (not represented) on the underside 516.2 of the ski body 502, in which the auxiliary chord 513 is guided in the direction of the rear longitudinal end 506 or to a rear aperture 514.3. However, the apertures need not pass through the ski body 502. For guiding a tension chord, it is also possible for a guiding channel to be simply formed in the ski body below the neutral axis, the guiding channel being open at its longitudinal ends on the upper side of the ski body, so that the tension chord guided in the channel can enter and leave the channel. Further configurational possibilities as to how the guiding of the tension chord in the board body can take place in other ways too, so as to produce a tensile force in the tension chord when there is flexing of the ski body in the control region, are also quite clear here to a person skilled in the art.
The auxiliary chord 513 leaves the steering region 512, passing from above downward through the apertures 514.1 and 514.2, it being supported on the ski body 502 for example at the edges of the openings of the apertures 514.1 and 514.2. The steering region 512 is consequently delimited substantially in the forward direction by a longitudinal position 518 of the anchorages 517.1 and 517.2 and in the rearward direction by a longitudinal position 519 of the apertures 514.1 and 514.2.
The two end regions 513.1 and 513.2 of the auxiliary chord 513 are brought together under the ski body 502 in the region of the apertures 514.1 and 514.2 in a rear region 513.3 of the auxiliary chord 513. The auxiliary chord 513 is guided from the apertures 514.1 and 514.2 below the ski body 502 in the longitudinal direction to the rear end of the ski 506, to the further aperture 514.3, which is arranged in the region of the rear longitudinal end 505 of the compression bar 503 in a longitudinal position 522.
The auxiliary chord 503 is guided through the aperture 514.3 back to the upper side 516.1 of the ski body 502, where it is fixedly connected by a rear longitudinal end 520 to the rear longitudinal end 505 of the compression bar 503 at a supporting point 507.2. The region along the length that is delimited by the longitudinal positions 519 and 511 of the apertures 514.1/514.2 and the rear longitudinal end 505 of the compression bar 503 consequently corresponds substantially to the control region 510 of the ski 501.
When there is positive flexing of the ski body 502 in the control region 510, the rear longitudinal end 505 of the compression bar 503, which is supported on the ski body 502 at the supporting point 507.1 and is guided displaceably above the ski body 502, is displaced rearward from the rest position 511. Consequently, a compressive force 530.1, which is directed toward the rear end 506 of the ski 501, is produced with respect to the ski body 502 in the compression chord 503. In the auxiliary chord 513, which is fixedly connected to the compression bar 503 at the rear longitudinal end 505 thereof, at the supporting point 507.2, the displacement of the compression bar 503 results in a tensile force 530.2, which is likewise directed toward the rear end 506 of the ski 501. The tensile force 530.2 is consequently directed in the same direction as the compressive force 530.1, which is produced in the compression bar 503. Since the auxiliary chord 513 is guided below the ski body 502 substantially in the entire control region 510, it is additionally tensioned by the flexing of the ski 501, whereby the total tensile force 530 at the end region 513.1 of the auxiliary chord 513 is increased in comparison with the force 530.1 along the chord 503. The flexing in the control region 510 is felt as it were doubly: on the one hand through the compression bar 503 above the ski body 502 and on the other hand through the auxiliary chord 513 that can withstand tensile loading below the ski body 502.
The tensile force 530.2 along the auxiliary chord 513 then acts via the anchoring points 517.1 and 517.2 as tensile forces 531.1 and 531.2 on the position 518 at the front end of the ski 509. The displacement of the auxiliary chord 513 with respect to the ski body 502 that is concomitant with the force effect consequently results in bending up or flexing of the ski 501 in the steering regions 512 by the tensile forces 531.1 and 531.2.
In a modification, the auxiliary chord 513 may be supported in the steering region 512 by an additional supporting element 515, in order for example to improve an angle of action of the tensile forces 531 on the ends of the ski 509 in the position 518 (represented by broken lines in
In the same way as the embodiments previously described, the embodiment last described should be regarded as a schematic and illustrative example and can be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the auxiliary chord may, for example, be formed as a simple tension chord with only two longitudinal ends, one at the front longitudinal end and one at the rear longitudinal end of the ski. It is in this case conceivable for example that the compression bar has in the region of a single front aperture in the ski body a slot which is formed in the longitudinal direction and through which the auxiliary chord guided in the middle of the ski passes once it has been guided out of the aperture on the ski body from the underside to the upper side of the ski body. In this way it is possible, for example in the case of an auxiliary chord that is centrally guided over the entire length of the ski, to achieve the effect that the auxiliary chord can leave the ski body in the region of the central compression bar and the compression bar nevertheless remains displaceable. In other configurations, however, there may for example also be two or more compression bars and only one central auxiliary chord, it being possible in this case for the compression bars to be arranged for example on both sides of the auxiliary chord with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski. It goes without saying that, irrespective of the number of compression bars, there may also be a number of auxiliary chords and, when required, the compression bar or compression bars may for example also go over in an end region into two longitudinal ends in each case (by analogy with the auxiliary chord 513 of
A steering region 612 of the ski 601 thereby extends from a front delimitation 618 in the region of the ski tip 609 in the direction of the rear end of the ski 606 over the bent-up region 621. In the direction of the rear end of the ski 606, the steering region 612 is limited at a longitudinal position 619 of an aperture 614.1 for an auxiliary chord 613 in the ski body 602.
The compression bar 603 is arranged in the rear region 610 of the ski 601. The compression bar 603 extends from a longitudinal position 615 in a region behind the rear longitudinal delimitation 619 of the steering region 612 substantially as far as the rear end of the ski 606. The compression bar 603 is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the ski 601 in such a way that a rear longitudinal end 605 of the compression bar 603 ends offset by an intended displacement region 640 toward the tip 609 of the ski 601 at the rear end 606 of the ski body 602, so that, when there is a displacement toward the rear end 606 of the ski 601, the compression bar 603 does not protrude beyond it. At the longitudinal position 615, the compression bar 603 is anchored on the ski body 602 in an end region at a front longitudinal end 608, by way of a supporting point 607.1. The compression bar 603 is arranged offset from and parallel to a central axis J of the ski body 602, transversely to the central axis J. The compression bar 603 is arranged in an inner lying half 623 of the ski 601, “inner lying” referring to a region that is facing the other ski when the ski 601 is being used, or in a pair of skis.
Over the length of the compression bar 603, the latter is guided displaceably with respect to the ski body 602 in the longitudinal direction (guiding device not represented), so that the region along the length 610 forms the control region 610. In the control region 610 of the ski 601, the compression bar 603 is displaceable with respect to the ski body 602, in particular when there is flexing of the ski 601, such that it is supported on the ski body 602 by way of the supporting point 607.1. When there is positive flexing of the control region 610, a displacement of the rear longitudinal end 605 of the compression bar 603 takes place from a rest position 611 with respect to the ski body 602 in the direction of a rear longitudinal end 606 of the ski 601. The rest position 611 is in this case defined by the position of the longitudinal end 605 when no external loads are acting on the ski 601 and is offset at the distance 640 from the rear end of the ski 606 toward the tip 609 of the ski 601.
The transmission device 604 extends substantially over the entire length of the ski 601. In the embodiment represented, the transmission device 604 substantially comprises an auxiliary chord 613, which can substantially withstand tensile loading and is arranged in the control region 610 below the ski body 602 or below a neutral axis of the ski body 602 with respect to longitudinal flexing of the ski. The auxiliary chord 613 preferably has in this case a small, substantially diminishing, extensibility.
In a front end region 613.1 in the steering region 612, the auxiliary chord 613 is guided above the ski body 602 in the longitudinal direction, i.e. substantially parallel to the central axis J. A front longitudinal end 617 of the auxiliary chord 613 is anchored at the front delimitation 618 of the steering region 612 of an upper side 616.1 of the ski body 602. The auxiliary chord 613 passes through the aperture 614.1 at the rear longitudinal end of the steering region 612 to the underside of the ski body 616.2. The aperture 614.1 is open on the upper side 616.1 and on an underside 616.2 of the ski body 602 and is formed on the ski body 602 in front of the compression bar 603 in the longitudinal direction. The aperture 614.1 is formed in the ski body 602 and, as also in the examples described above, is preferably covered by further layers (not represented) of the ski 601, such as for example a sliding coating on the underside 616.2 or a cladding of the ski 601 on the upper side 616.1. The aperture 614.1 preferably goes over into a guiding channel (not represented) on the underside 616.2 of the ski body 602, in which the auxiliary chord 613 is guided in the direction of the rear longitudinal end 606 or to a further, rear aperture 614.2. The rear aperture 614.2 is arranged in the region of the rear longitudinal end 605 of the compression bar 603, in a longitudinal position 622.
The auxiliary chord 603 is guided through the aperture 614.2 back to the upper side 616.1 of the ski body 602, where it is fixedly connected by a rear longitudinal end 620 to the compression bar 603 at the rear longitudinal end 605, at a supporting point 607.2. The region along the length that is delimited by the longitudinal positions 615 and 611 of the supporting point 607.1 or the rear longitudinal end of the compression bar 603 consequently corresponds substantially to the control region 610 of the ski 601.
When there is positive flexing of the ski body 602 in the control region 610, the rear longitudinal end 605 of the compression bar 603 is displaced rearward from the rest position 611, such that it is supported at the supporting point 607.1. Consequently, a compressive force 630.1, which is directed toward the rear end 606 of the ski 601, is produced with respect to the ski body 602 in the compression chord 603.
In the auxiliary chord 613, which is fixedly connected to the compression bar 603 at the rear longitudinal end 605 thereof, at the supporting point 607.2, the displacement of the compression bar 603 results in a tensile force 630.2, which is likewise directed toward the rear end 606 of the ski 601. The tensile force 630.2 is consequently directed in the same direction as the compressive force 630.1, which is produced in the compression bar 603. Since the auxiliary chord 613 is guided below the ski body 602 substantially in the entire control region 610, it is additionally tensioned by the flexing of the ski 601, whereby the total tensile force 630 at the end region 613.1 of the auxiliary chord 613 is increased in comparison with the force 630.1 along the chord 603. The flexing in the control region 610 is felt as it were doubly: on the one hand through the displacement of the compression bar 603 above the ski body 602 (chord) and on the other hand through the extension of the auxiliary chord 613 that can withstand tensile loading below the ski body 602 (transmission device). The total force 630 is consequently made up by the compressive force 630.1 of the compression bar 603 and the force additionally produced in the auxiliary chord as a result of an extension.
In the embodiment presently being described, the ski 601 is subdivided from the front end of the ski 609 to the rear end 619 of the steering region 612 along the central axis into two portions 625.1 and 625.2. The portion 625.1 is in this case arranged in the inner lying half 623 of the ski body 602, while the portion 625.2 is formed in an outer lying half of the ski 624. “Outer lying” likewise refers here to the arrangement of two skis when they are being used by a skier. The two portions 625.1 and 625.2 are in this case subdivided by a slit 627, the slit 627 extending along the central axis to the longitudinal position 619. The slit 627 may in this case have a certain width, so that the two portions 625.1 and 625.2 are spaced apart from one another transversely in relation to the longitudinal direction J. The two portions 625.1 and 625.2 may, however, also butt against one another substantially directly, i.e. a width of the slit 627 substantially diminishes.
The slit 627 or the subdivision of the steering region into the two portions 625.1 and 625.2 achieves the effect that the ski body 602 can be differently flexed in the steering region 612, in dependence on a position transverse to the longitudinal axis J. In particular, the portions 625.1 and 625.2 can be bent up largely independently of one another. Depending on the magnitude or direction with which a tensile force transmitted from a chord or the transmission device 604 acts on the respective portions 625.1 or 625.2, corresponding flexing can be achieved in the respective portions 625.1 or 625.2. In particular, flexing can be adapted to the needs or requirements.
In the embodiment represented, the total tensile force 630 of the auxiliary chord 613 acts via the anchoring point 617 as tensile force 631 at the position 618 on the portions 625.1 of the steering region 612. The tensile forces 630 and 631 in this case largely correspond to one another in terms of magnitude (apart from frictional losses or the like). The displacement of the tension chord 613 with respect to the ski body 602 that is concomitant with the force effect consequently results in bending up or flexing of the ski body 602 in the portion 625.1 by the tensile forces 631. The portion 625.2, which is largely decoupled from the portion 625.1 with respect to longitudinal coupling by the slit 627, does not undergo any tensile force that could bring about flexing. The portion 625.2 therefore remains largely in its rest position.
The steering of the ski 601 into curved running consequently produces bending up of the steering region 612 in an inner lying portion 625.1 as a result of longitudinal flexing in the control region 610. As a result of the division into two of the steering region 612, into an inner lying portion 625.1 and an outer lying portion 625.2, two active edges are obtained during curved running along an inner edge 635 on the underside 616.2 of the ski body 602 in the steering region: on the one hand the inner edge of the ski body 602 and on the other hand an inner edge 636 of the outer portion 625.2 that is produced by the slit 627. Consequently, flexing of the inner lying portion 625.1 produces a smaller edge radius on the edge 635 of the ski body 602 in the steering region 612, while no additional dynamic curvature in addition to the static curvature of the bent-up region 621 is obtained on the inner edge 636 of the outer portion 625.2. As is evident, the steering of the ski 601 into curved running can in this way be significantly improved. Moreover, advantageously, only a much smaller force has to be expended by way of the chord system or the transmission device 604 for the flexing of the portion 625.1 than if the ski 601 had to be flexed over the entire width in the steering region 612. It is quite clear here to a person skilled in the art that a subdivision of the steering region 612 into a number of portions is conceivable in principle in the case of all embodiments and, depending on the requirement, can form an advantageous embodiment.
By contrast with other embodiments represented, the compression part 603 of
In the representation of
On account of a provided flexibility of the ski body 702, at least in the steering region 712, the ski body 702 undergoes flexing as a result of the turning moment, so that the ski body 702 is brought from the rest position into the bent-up position 723. The axis of rotation with respect to which the turning moment acts at a given time cannot in this case be defined on the one hand in a fixed location with respect to the ski body 702 and on the other hand in a simple manner, since the flexing does not take place about a fixed axis but comprises flexible flexing of the ski body 702. The turning moment acting on the lever element 715 therefore does not act for each flexing state with respect to the base 735 but strictly speaking only at the first moment in time of the force effect 731, before any flexing has taken place.
While the configuration of
The ski 801 has in this case a compression chord 803, which is supported on the ski body 802 at a supporting point 807 and is arranged on an upper side 816.1 of the ski body 802.
At a rear longitudinal end of the compression chord 803 that is not represented, the compression chord 803 is connected to the auxiliary chord 813. The system comprising the chord 803 and the auxiliary chord 813 and its interaction thereby correspond largely to the chord systems represented in
An auxiliary chord 813 of the transmission device 804, formed as a tension chord, in this case acts on the lever element 815 in the region of the free end 836 and is guided in a largely perpendicular direction in relation to the ski body 802 to an aperture 814 in the ski body 802 and through it to an underside 816.2 of the ski body 802. The auxiliary chord 813 is in this case guided in such a way that a force 830 along the auxiliary chord 813 is transmitted into a force 831 on the free end 836 of the lever element 815 in such a way that the force 831 is directed toward the ski body 802 and the free end 836 of the lever element 815 is drawn toward the ski body 802.
A length 838 of the longer arm 815.2 thereby substantially determines the active lever arm for a turning moment that acts on the lever element 815 with respect to the base 835 as a result of the tensile force 831 acting on the lever element 815. Since the lever element 815 is fixedly fastened to the ski body 802, the turning moment produced in this way is transmitted to the ski body 802, and consequently results in flexing of the ski body 802 from a rest position 822 (solid line) into a bent-up position 823 (broken line).
The L-shaped form of the lever element 815 consequently allows a comparatively long lever arm (length 838) to be provided on the ski 801 in such a way that only a small overall height is obtained (distance 837 plus a thickness of the longer arm 815.2). It is consequently possible overall to create a lever element 835 of the transmission device 804 with a great lever action, which is suited particularly well for a ski 801, since the small overall height thus achieved allows the transmission device 804 to be designed in such a way that it rises up only slightly above the surface 816.1 of the ski body 802.
The forming of a transmission device with an L-shaped lever element can therefore also represent a preferred variant for further embodiments of the invention, for example such as various of those described further above.
The steering region of a ski according to the invention may be significantly longer than the bent-up portion, as is known from conventional skis. Similarly, in the case of a steering region divided up into largely independent portions, for example with a slit as in
It can similarly be stated that the arrangements represented and described can be combined with one another largely as desired, depending on the requirement for the ski. For example, configurations in which 2, 3 or more tension chords are arranged on the ski are conceivable. In particular, for example, an arrangement as shown in
In the case of a further implementation of the invention with a tension chord that can withstand tensile loading, supporting of the tension chord in the steering region by a supporting element is also conceivable. The supporting element is then arranged for example in one or in all steering region(s) of the ski between a surface of the ski body and the tension chord in such a way that the tension chord is supported on the supporting element against the ski body. One effect that this achieves is that the angle of action of the tensile force at the anchorage of the tension chord on the ski body can be changed, for example so that the tensile force acts on the ski body at a greater angle. In addition, however, such a supporting element may also be used to produce or set pretensioning in the tension chord. If the supporting element is height-adjustable, for example, the tensioning in the tension chord can be intensified when the height of the supporting element is increased. Similarly, an increase in the tensioning can be achieved if a supporting element with a height that remains the same is displaced in the longitudinal direction toward the respective aperture adjacent the steering region. The displacement has the effect that the tension chord is raised and the tensioning in the chord is intensified. If there is a supporting element, it may be that it can for example be changed or set by the ski, in order for example to perform ski- and/or discipline-specific presettings before skiing. However, it is also possible to achieve the capability of setting the pretensioning in the tension chord in some other way, without a supporting element, for example by a shortening or lengthening of the tension chord that can be set or by further known measures for producing static tensioning in the chord. In principle, the tension chord may in this case comprise a strip, cable or any other element that can withstand tensile loading.
All the embodiments described are to be understood as illustrative examples of ways of implementing the invention and can be extended or modified. It should be pointed out here in particular that the representations of the figures only serve the purpose of giving an idea of the functional principle of the ski according to the invention, and do not describe a detailed embodiment.
One possible modification of the embodiments represented concerns the auxiliary chords or the tension chord, which do(es) not necessarily have to be guided in a fully unrestrained manner, as represented in the figures. It is quite conceivable also to guide the chords in the steering region in a casing, for example, or on the ski body, provided that this is possible without restricting the functionality of the invention. In particular, it should be pointed out that, in the case for example of an arrangement of a chord above or below a ski body, partial arrangement of the chord in the ski body is also included. In particular, it is conceivable in the case of all configurations that chords and transmission devices and further structural elements are arranged under an outer sheath of the ski, so that the elements cannot be seen from the outside.
Furthermore, the way in which the ski body is constructed can be freely chosen, largely without any restriction. In particular, the ski body may comprise conventional, largely static systems comprising an upper chord and a tension chord, as are sufficiently well-known from the prior art. The ski body may, for example, also have a layer structure with or without a core, but in principle may also be formed in one piece. For use in the case of a ski according to the invention, there are substantially no limits to the configuration of the ski body.
It is in principle conceivable in the case of all the embodiments that, for example to improve the effect on the steering region, the tensile force or any other forces occurring is/are directed or supported, transmitted and/or deflected by further structural elements. In particular, the tensile force may be deflected onto the front steering region by additional elements according to the requirement or for the purpose of optimization.
In the case of a configuration of the ski with a rocker, it is conceivable that two rockers are provided, a further compression chord and a further auxiliary chord then also being present on the ski. The rocker represented in
To sum up, it can be stated that the invention provides a snow sliding board, in particular a ski, which offers the possibility of dynamically adapting the flexing behavior to the loads. In particular, a steering region of the snow sliding board can be flexed or steered into position in dependence on flexing in a control region, a transmission device transmitting a force along a chord of the ski to a steering region of the ski in a way corresponding to requirements.
Claims
1. A snow sliding board, in particular a ski, with a board body and a chord, which is supported and/or anchored on the board body at least one supporting point, the chord being guided longitudinally displaceably in at least one control region and coupled with the snow sliding board with respect to longitudinal flexing in the control region in such a way that a force along the chord resulting from flexing of the snow sliding board in the control region acts on a steering region at a longitudinal end of the snow sliding board in such a way that the snow sliding board is flexed in the steering region, characterized in that there is a transmission device, which transmits the force along the chord into the tensile force on the steering region.
2. The snow sliding board as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the transmission device comprises an auxiliary chord, the auxiliary chord being arranged substantially in the longitudinal direction of the board body and interacting by a first longitudinal end with the steering region in such a way that, with the force along the chord, the tensile force on the board body can be produced by interaction of the auxiliary chord and the chord, with in particular the auxiliary chord being connected to the chord by a second longitudinal end.
3. The snow sliding board as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the auxiliary chord is fastened to the board body by a second longitudinal end, in particular in such a way that a deflection substantially transversely in relation to the auxiliary chord produces a tensile force along the auxiliary chord and, in particular, the auxiliary chord is thereby pretensioned.
4. The snow sliding board as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the transmission device has transmission elements, which are movably or rigidly provided on the board body, it being possible by interaction of the transmission elements and the chord, in particular also the auxiliary chord, for the tensile force on the steering region of the board body to be produced with the force along the chord.
5. The snow sliding board as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the transmission elements comprise a lever element, on which the force along the chord acts directly or indirectly and which is fixedly connected to the board body, in particular with largely fixed alignment in relation to the board body, and preferably extends substantially parallel to a surface of the board body and at a distance therefrom in the direction of a rear end of the snow sliding board, the lever element having a free end.
6. The snow sliding board as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the transmission elements have deflecting elements for deflecting a force effect, in particular comprise deflecting rollers, and the auxiliary chord is preferably guided around the deflecting rollers in certain regions, and in particular the deflecting rollers are in this case eccentrically mounted.
7. The snow sliding board as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the transmission elements have an adjustable, preferably height-adjustable, supporting element, which comprises a lever which is articulated on the board body such that it can be pivoted about a transverse axis and can be pivoted on the basis of the force along the chord and interacts in particular with the auxiliary chord in such a way that the force along the chord brings about a deflection of the auxiliary chord transversely in relation to a longitudinal direction of the auxiliary chord.
8. The snow sliding board as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the transmission elements comprise an articulated joint, in particular there is a rocking joint with two opposite arms with respect to the mounting of the joint.
9. The snow sliding board as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the chord is a tension chord that can substantially withstand tensile loading and the force along the tension chord as a result of the flexing of the snow sliding board in the control region is a tensile force, the tension chord being guided in the control region below the board body.
10. The snow sliding board as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the chord is a compression chord that can substantially withstand compressive loading and the force along the compression chord as a result of the flexing of the snow sliding board in the control region is a compressive force, the compression chord being guided in the control region above the board body and, in particular, the compression chord being forcibly coupled with the snow sliding board with respect to the longitudinal flexing in the control region.
11. The snow sliding board as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the direction of the tensile force on the steering region is directed substantially counter to the direction of the force along the chord, in particular the compressive force of the compression chord.
12. The snow sliding board as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the direction of the tensile force on the steering region is directed substantially in the same direction as the force along the chord, in particular the compressive force of the compression chord.
13. The snow sliding board as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the force along the chord and the tensile force on the steering region are of different magnitudes.
14. The snow sliding board as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the board body is subdivided substantially in the region along the length of the steering region into a number of portions that are largely independent with respect to longitudinal flexing, and at least one of the number of portions is subjected to the tensile force.
15. The snow sliding board as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that there are a number of chords, in particular substantially in parallel.
16. A snow sliding board, in particular a ski, with a board body and a tension chord which is anchored on the board body at least one supporting point, the tension chord being guided longitudinally displaceably in at least one control region and coupled with the snow sliding board with respect to longitudinal flexing in the control region, characterized in that there are means which transmit a force resulting from flexing of the snow sliding board in the control region along the tension chord into a tensile force which acts on the board body in a steering region at a longitudinal end of the snow sliding board in such a way that the snow sliding board is flexed in the steering region.
17. The snow sliding board as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that there is a further steering region, and the means transmit the force along the tension chord as a tensile force on both steering regions, so that the snow sliding board is flexed in both steering regions.
18. The snow sliding board as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the tension chord is guided substantially parallel in the longitudinal direction in multiply alternating portions in the control region in the manner of a block and tackle, the tension chord being mounted at the extreme longitudinal positions in such a way that a longitudinal displacement of one of the portions can be transmitted to a further portion that is connected to this portion, in particular the tension chord is mounted with slip between the alternating portions in the control region at the extreme longitudinal positions.
19. The snow sliding board as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the board body is subdivided in a region along the length of the steering region into a number of portions that are largely independent with respect to longitudinal flexing, and at least one of the number of portions is subjected to the tensile force.
20. The snow sliding board as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the auxiliary chord is fastened to the board body by a second longitudinal end, in particular in such a way that a deflection substantially transversely in relation to the auxiliary chord produces a tensile force along the auxiliary chord and, in particular, the auxiliary chord is thereby pretensioned.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 12, 2008
Publication Date: Apr 8, 2010
Applicant: SEPP BURCHER SPORT AG (RIEDERALP)
Inventor: Sepp Bürcher (Riederalp)
Application Number: 12/531,021
