SPORTING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a sports item (1), comprising a carrier (3) for a coupling device (25) for accommodating a user and including at least one distributing device (2) for the loads and/or forces to be transmitted to the sports item (1), which at least one distributing device (2) connects the carrier (3) to the sports item (1) via a joint arrangement, the latter having at least one pivoting arm (4, 5; 6, 7), which is pivotably connected, in each case via a joint (8, 9; 10, 11), to the sports item (1) at one arm end of the pivoting arm and to the carrier (3) at the other arm end of the pivoting arm, wherein the carrier (3) is movable from a starting position, counter to the restoring force of at least one elastic restoring element, to a balancing position in which the carrier is brought closer to the sports item (1). The sports item (1) according to the invention is characterized in that the at least one restoring element is an elastically deformable spring element (12; 13), which is held at one end on the carrier (3) and at the other end on the sports item (1).

Claims

1. A sports item (1), comprising a carrier (3) for a coupling device (25) for accommodating a user and comprising at least one distributing device (2) for at least one of loads or forces to be transmitted to the sports item (1), said at least one distributing device (2) connects the carrier (3) to the sports item (1) via a joint arrangement having at least two pivoting arms (4, 5; 6, 7), which are oriented in a longitudinal direction of the sports item (1) and are spaced laterally apart from each other, the pivoting arms (4, 5; 6, 7) are pivotably mounted on both sides, in each case via a pivot axle serving as a joint (8, 9; 10, 11), with one arm end mounted on a holder (15) held on the sports item (1) and with another arm end mounted on the carrier (3), the carrier (3) is movable from a starting position, counter to a restoring force of at least one elastic restoring element, to a balancing position in which the carrier is brought closer to the sports item (1), said at least one restoring element is an elastically deformable spring element or damping element (12; 13) which is held at a first end on the carrier (3) and at a second end on the sports item (1), and the pivoting arms (4, 5; 6, 7) arranged on both sides of the holder (15) and on the carrier (3) are connected to the holder (15) and on the carrier (3) via a common plug-in axle, and the pivot axle of at least one of the joints (8, 9; 10, 11) of the joint arrangement is varied in position by an eccentric.

2. The sports item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one spring element or damping element is an elastically deformable tube (32, 33).

3. The sports item as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one tube serving as the spring element is oriented with a tube longitudinal axis transverse to the longitudinal extent of the sports item (1).

4. The sports item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one spring element is a resiliently flexible spring plate (12; 13).

5. The sports item as claimed in claim 4, wherein the spring plate (12; 13) has a flexibility defined by at least one of an edge-side indentation or protrusion or at least one plate opening (14).

6. The sports item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distributing device (2) has at least one holder (15) held on the sports item (1), said holder (15) is connected to the at least one pivoting arm (4, 5) via the at least one joint (8, 9).

7. The sports item as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one spring element is a resiliently flexible spring plate, on the carrier (3) and on the holder (15) of the at least one distributing device (2), at least one respective holding slit (30, 31) is provided, and the at least one spring plate (12; 13) is inserted with an adjacent plate edge into at least one of said respective holding slits (30, 31).

8. The sports item as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one holding slit (30) provided on the carrier (3) widens from a slit base in a direction of the slit opening.

9. The sports item as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one holding slit (30, 31) provided on the carrier (3) or on the holder (15) is, with the exception of the slit base, open on three sides.

10. The sports item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivoting arms (4, 5; 6, 7) are arranged on both sides of the at least one spring element.

11. The sports item as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one tube (32, 33) is provided as the spring element and is held at one end on the holder (15) and at the other end on the carrier (3).

12. The sports item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivoting arms (4, 5; 6, 7) arranged on both sides of the at least one spring element secure the at least one spring element, on the carrier (3) and on the holder (15).

13. The sports item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivot axle of at least one of the joints (8, 9; 10, 11) of the joint arrangement is variable in position in such a way that a distance between the one long side of the carrier (3) and the sports item (1) is made smaller or larger compared to a distance from another long side of the carrier (3).

14. The sports item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plug-in axle (16) passes through two spaced-apart guide openings (18, 19) in which the plug-in axle (16) is held rotatably, and the plug-in axle (16) is guided rotatably in at least one of the two guide openings (18, 19) with an eccentrically arranged axle segment (17) designed as the eccentric.

15. The sports item as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least the pivoting arm (4, 5; 6, 7) adjacent to the eccentric is connected to the plug-in axle (16) for conjoint rotation therewith.

16. The sports item as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are multiple ones of the eccentric, and of the joints (8, 9) mounted rotatably on the holder (15), the pivot axle of at least two of the joints (8, 9) arranged on opposite sides of the holder (15) is varied in position in each case by one of the eccentrics.

17. The sports item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plug-in axle (16) is held exchangeably on the holder (15) assigned to it.

18. The sports item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one distributing device (2) of the sports item (1) is assigned a spacer (27, 27′) which sets a minimum distance of the carrier (3) from the sports item (1), and the at least one spacer (27, 27′) is designed such that, at the minimum distance of the carrier (3) from the sports item (1), a distance between one long side of the carrier (3) and the sports item (1) is made smaller or larger compared to a distance from another long side of the carrier (3).

19. The sports item as claimed in claim 18, wherein at least one of the carrier (3) or the pivoting arms (4, 5; 6, 7) act on the spacer (27, 27′) at the minimum distance of the carrier (3) from the sports item (1).

20. The sports item as claimed in claim 19, wherein the spacer (27, 27′) has a rod-shaped or slat-shaped design and is oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal extent of the sports item (1).

21. The sports item as claimed in claim 20, wherein the spacer (27, 27′) is produced from elastic material.

22. The sports item as claimed in claim 21, wherein the spacer (27, 27′) has a different elasticity in different partial areas (28, 29) of its longitudinal extent, in such a way that, at the minimum distance of the carrier (3) from the sports item (1), the distance between the one long side of the carrier (3) and the sports item (1) is made smaller or larger compared to the distance from the other long side of the carrier (3).

23. The sports item as claimed in claim 22, wherein there is a plurality of the spacers (27, 27′) that have different heights in an area of the one long side of the sports item (1) compared to the other long side of the sports item (1), in such a way that, at the minimum distance of the carrier (3) from the sports item (1), the distance between the one long side of the carrier (3) and the sports item (1) is made smaller or larger compared to the distance from the other long side of the carrier (3).

24. The sports item as claimed in claim 18, wherein the at least one spacer (27, 27′) has an abutment face inclined with respect to a plane lying in the running surface of the sports item (1).

25. The sports item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the deformability of the at least one spring element is such that a distance of the carrier from the sports item (1) decreases when taking a curve.

26. The sports item as claimed in claim 1, wherein axle segments (17, 26) of the plug-in axle (16) that are mounted rotatably in guide openings (18, 19) of holder (15) or the carrier holder (21) are comprised of a spherical cross-sectional thickening of the plug-in axle (16).

27. The sports item as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sports item (1) is a sliding body.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0064] FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 9, 10, 12 to 16, 18 to 20 and 22 show various embodiments of a sports item 1, which is formed here as a ski from a pair of skis consisting of two skis. The sports item 1 has at least one distributing device 2 for the forces and loads to be transmitted to the sports item 1. This at least one distributing device 2 connects the sports item 1 to a carrier 3, which carrier carries a ski binding (indicated by broken lines in FIG. 13) or similar coupling device 25 for accommodating the user. It is clear from FIG. 12 that the carrier 3 is preferably connected to the sports item 1 via two distributing devices 2 spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the sports item 1. Each of the distributing devices 2 forms a joint arrangement which connects the carrier 3 to the sports item 1 and which has at least one pivoting arm 4, 5; 6, 7 which is pivotably connected, in each case via a joint 8, 9; 10, 11, to the sports item 1 at one arm end of the pivoting arm and to the carrier 3 at the other arm end of the pivoting arm. By means of a pivoting movement of the pivoting arms 4, 5; 6, 7, the carrier 3 is movable from the unloaded starting position shown for example in FIGS. 2, 3, 19 and 22, counter to the restoring force of at least one elastic restoring element, to a balancing position in which the carrier is brought closer to the sports item 1 and which is shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 12, 13 and 20, in which balancing position the carrier 3 is brought closer to the sports item 1.

[0065] Each distributing device 2 has at least one restoring element, which restoring element is designed as an elastically deformable spring element or damping element. These elastically deformable spring elements are held at one end on the carrier 3 and at the other end on the sports item 1. These spring elements or damping elements can be arranged or braced between the carrier 3 and the sports item 1 in such a way that a stable and secure connection between the carrier 3 and the sports item 1 is ensured even when each of the distributing devices 2 has only in each case one or two pivoting arms 4, 5; 6, 7. However, such a spring element or damping element also has at the same time a sufficient inherent elasticity to ensure that the impacts and vibrations acting on the ski are transmitted only in attenuated form to the carrier 3 and to the user held on the carrier 3. This at any rate only attenuated transmission of impacts and vibrations is felt by the user to provide substantially improved skiing comfort.

[0066] While the spring elements or damping elements of the distributing device shown in FIGS. 18 to 22 are designed as elastically deformable tubes 32; 33, the spring elements or damping elements of the distributing device shown in FIGS. 1 to 17 are designed as a resiliently flexible spring plate 12; 13.

[0067] Each of the resiliently flexible spring plates 12; 13 of the distributing devices 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 17 can be produced from any suitable resiliently elastic material. Thus, the spring plates 12; 13 can also be produced, for example, from carbon material. However, in the embodiment shown here, the spring plate 12; 13 is designed as a spring steel plate.

[0068] To design the at least one spring plate 12; 13 on the one hand with sufficient stiffness and stability and on the other hand with satisfactory spring elasticity, the spring plates 12; 13 can have an edge-side indentation or protrusion and in addition, or in this case instead, at least one plate opening 14, which plate opening of the spring plate 12; 13 affords a defined flexibility. In the embodiments of the sports item 1 shown here, the flexibility of the at least one spring plate 12; 13 is such that the distance of the carrier 3 from the sports item 1 decreases when taking a curve.

[0069] To ensure that the distributing device 2 provided between the carrier 3 and the sports item 1 can be bound securely and fixedly to the sports item 1, the distributing devices 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 22 have at least one holder 15 held on the sports item 1, which holder 15 is connected to the at least one pivoting arm 4, 5 via the at least one joint 8, 9.

[0070] In the distributing devices 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 17, at least one holding slit 30, 31 is provided on the carrier 3 and on the at least one holder 15. To be able to accommodate and fix the resiliently flexible spring plate 12; 13 between the carrier 3 and the at least one holder 15, the at least one spring plate 12; 13 is inserted with its adjacent plate edge into the holding slits 30, 31. To ensure that the spring elasticity of the at least one spring plate 12; 13 can be utilized over as large a partial area as possible of its longitudinal extent, the at least one slit 30 provided on the carrier 3 widens from the slit base in the direction of the slit opening. It will be seen from FIG. 9 that the at least one holding slit 30, 31 provided on the carrier 3 and/or on the holder 15 is, with the exception of the slit base, open on three sides.

[0071] The distributing devices 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 22 have in this case at least two pivoting arms 4, 5; 6, 7, which are arranged in parallel pairs, are oriented in the longitudinal direction of the sports item 1, and in particular are laterally spaced apart from each other. Since the pivoting arms 4, 5 and 6, 7 are each arranged on both sides of the at least one spring element or damping element, these pivoting arms 4, 5 on the one hand and 6, 7 on the other hand can ensure that the spring elements or damping elements arranged between them, for example the carrier plates 12; 13 held in the holding slits 30, 31, are secured on the carrier 3 and on the holders 15.

[0072] The pivoting arms 4, 5; 6, 7 are each mounted pivotably, on both sides and laterally, on the carrier 3 and on the associated holder 15 via a pivot axle serving as joint 8, 9; 10, 11. The pivot axle of at least one of the joints 8, 9; 10, 11 of the joint arrangement can be varied in position in such a way that the distance between the one long side of the carrier 3 and the sports item 1 can be made smaller or larger compared to the distance from the other long side of the carrier 3.

[0073] The distributing devices 2 of the sports item shown in the figures can each be assigned a respective spacer 27, 27′. Such a spacer 27, 27′ can fix the minimum distance of the carrier 3 from the sports item and is preferably designed such that, at a minimum distance of the carrier 3 from the sports item 1, the distance between the one long side of the carrier 3 and the sports item 1 can be made smaller or larger compared to the distance from the other long side of the carrier 3.

[0074] The embodiments of the sports item 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 22 are distinguished by having substantially improved directional stability in steep positions and in particular at tight curves. It is desired to be able to increase the distance 3 on its long side located on the inside of the curve and, in addition or instead, to be able to reduce it on its long side located on the outside of the curve.

[0075] In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 to 16, the pivoting arms 4, 5; 6, 7, in the area of their joint 10, 11 directed toward the carrier 3, act on the spacer 27, 27′ when the carrier 3 adopts the fixed minimum distance from the sports item 1. The spacer 27, 27′ here has a rod-shaped or slat-shaped design and is oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal extent of the sports item 1. It will be seen from the illustrative embodiments shown in FIGS. 14 to 16 that the spacer 27, 27′ can be produced from any suitable material, if appropriate also from metal. However, in order to achieve the smoothest possible transition of the ski behavior adapting to changes in the specific skiing situation, spacers 27, 27′ are preferred which are produced from elastic material. From a comparison of FIGS. 14 and 15, it is clear that the spacer 27′ shown there has a different elasticity in different partial areas 28, 29 of its longitudinal extent, in such a way that, at the minimum distance of the carrier 3 from the sports item 1, the distance between the one long side of the carrier 3 and the sports item 1 is made smaller or larger compared to the distance from the other long side of the carrier 3. By contrast, a different embodiment 27 of the spacer is shown in FIG. 16. The spacer 27 shown in FIG. 16 has different heights in the area of the one long side of the sports item 1 compared to the other long side of the sports item 1, in such a way that, at the minimum distance of the carrier 3 from the sports item 1, the distance between the one long side of the carrier 3 and the sports item 1 is likewise made smaller or larger compared to the distance from the other long side of the carrier 3.

[0076] If the joints 8, 9; 10, 11 permit sufficient play of the carrier 3 relative to the sports item 1, particularly in the transverse direction of the sports item 1, the spacers 27, 27′ are sufficient for improving the skiing action of the sports item 1 in steep positions or in tight curves. However, the embodiment shown here is preferred in which, in addition to the spacers 27, 27′, the pivot axle of the at least one of the joints 8, 9; 10, 11 of the joint arrangement of each distributing device 2 can be varied in position in such a way that the distance between the one long side of the carrier 3 and the sports item 3 can be made smaller or larger compared to the distance from the other long side of the carrier 3.

[0077] To be able to bring about such a change of position of the pivot axle on at least one of the joints 8, 9; 10, 11, the pivot axle of at least one of the joints 8, 9; 10, 11 of the joint arrangement can be changed in position by an eccentric. In the exploded perspective view in FIG. 9, it will be seen particularly clearly that the pivoting arms 4, 5; 6, 7 arranged on both sides of each holder 15 (with the holder 15 for this purpose above a common plug-in axle 16) are guided rotatably in at least one of the two guide openings of each holder 15 with an eccentrically arranged axle segment 17 designed as an eccentric. It will be clearly seen from FIGS. 1 to 10 that the pivoting arm 4, 6 adjacent to the at least one eccentric axle segment 17 is connected to the plug-in axle 16 for conjoint rotation.

[0078] An embodiment not shown here can also have a plug-in axle 16 which is arranged in each case with an eccentric axle segment 17 in the guide openings of the holders 15. The eccentricities of these two axle segments 17 arranged on such a plug-in axle 16 can be adapted to each other such that the distance between the one long side of the carrier 3 and the sports item 1 is made smaller or larger compared to the distance of the other long side of the carrier 3, for example as a result of an inclined position of the sports item when taking a curve.

[0079] As a result of the eccentricity of the eccentric axle segments serving as the pivot axle of the pivoting arms 4, it is possible to ensure that the sports item 1, for example in tight curves, has an increased angle position with respect to the carrier 3 carrying the user, which position additionally makes it easier to take such a tight curve. The contact pressure acting on the sports item 1, for example in tight curves, causes a spring deflection of the distributing devices 2 held on the sports item 1, independently of the curve radius, and an edging of the carrier 3 relative to the sports item 1.

[0080] FIGS. 10 and 12 show a preferred embodiment of the sports item 1 according to the invention, in which in each case two distributing devices 2 spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the sports item are provided with parallel pivoting arms 4, 5; 6, 7. The pivoting arm pairs of the distributing devices 2 are in this case each held, by a holder 15, at a distance from each other on the sports item 1 or on the holder 15. These pivoting arm pairs 4, 5; 6, 7 ensure that the carrier 3, upon spring deflection of the distributing devices 2, can come closer to the holders 15 in an almost unchanged parallel setting with respect to the longitudinal direction of the sports item 1. The carrier 3 here has a carrier plate 20 which, on its underside, has a carrier holder 21 for each of the pivoting arm pairs 4, 5; 6, 7. The holding slits 30 for the spring plates 12, 13 are provided on the carrier holders 21 of the carrier 3. FIG. 2 shows the sports item 1 in a starting position, in which no centrifugal forces act on the distributing device 2 of the sports item. This starting position also corresponds, for example, to a straight line of travel of the user with the aid of the sports item 1. In this case, the carrier 3 carrying the user is held in a neutral position with the aid of the spring plate 12; 13. In this neutral position, the eccentric provided here on one side and shown in more detail in FIG. 3 is not yet active. When taking a curve, centrifugal forces act on the distributing device 2 of the sports item 1 and press the carrier 3 in the direction of the sports item 1. The spring plate 12; 13 is thereby tensioned. The spring plate 12; 13 is also acted on and tensioned by the forces acting transversely with respect to the sports item. The position of the pivot axle of at least one of the pivoting arms is thus changed in such a way that the distance of the carrier from the sports item 1 on the carrier long side located on the inside of the curve is increased by comparison with the carrier longitudinal axis on the outside of the curve. As a result of this increased angle position of the carrier 3 on one side relative to the sports item 1, which position is further promoted by the spacers 27, 27′, the directional stability of the sports item 1 is also increased when taking tight curves. This increased angle position of the carrier 3 relative to the sports item 1, which position is indicated on the right-hand side of FIG. 4, has the effect that the initiated curve can be taken with less force being applied and can also be exited likewise. FIG. 5 indicates that the increased distance of the carrier 3 from the sports item 1, for example on one side when taking a curve, can also be relatively small, while still being noticeable to the user through an appreciable improvement of the skiing properties. In FIGS. 9 and 11, the plug-in axle 16 can be seen in different embodiments with its eccentrically arranged axle segment 17 here provided on one side. For reasons of clarity, the spring plate 12; 13 also required has not been shown. The inner face of the sports item 1 is here located on the side directed toward the observer. From a comparison of FIGS. 3 and 5, it is clear that, upon an inward deflection of the carrier 3 and a pivoting movement of the pivoting arm oriented in the direction of the sports item 1, the eccentric formed by the axle segment 17 moves continuously downward. Even with a slight axle rotation of the plug-in axle 17, which takes place as a result of the centrifugal forces that act for example when taking a curve, the distance between the carrier 3 and the sports item 1 increases, as a result of which an increased angle position is adopted. It is a particular advantage of the distributing devices 2 arranged on the sports item 1 that they can also compensate for or attenuate uncomfortable vibrations, for example when skiing across uneven or ice-covered pistes.

[0081] Whereas, in the carrier 3 shown in FIGS. 1 to 16, the carrier plate 20, on the one hand, and the carrier holders 21 having the holding slits 30 for the spring plates 12, 13, on the other hand, form components that are produced separately from each other, the holding slits 30 for the spring plates 12, 13 in the carrier 3 shown in FIG. 17 are incorporated directly into the flat face of the carrier 3 directed toward the sports item. Moreover, from the perspective detailed view in FIG. 17, it will be clear that the plug-in axles 16 are connected to one of the pivoting arms 4, 5 assigned to each other in pairs so as to form a fork-shaped component, wherein the free axle ends of the plug-in axles 16 held on the pivoting arm 5 can be inserted into and fixed in corresponding axle openings or bearing openings on the assigned and adjacent pivoting arm 4.

[0082] The distributing device 2 shown in FIGS. 18 to 22 has spring elements or damping elements which are here each designed as an elastically deformable tube 32, 33 oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal extent of the ski 1. From a comparison of FIGS. 21 and 22, for example, it will be clear that the tubes serving as spring elements or damping elements and forming part of the distributing device shown in FIGS. 18 to 22 are held, via connection seams 34, 35 arranged on opposite tube sides, between the carrier 3 of the distributing device 2, on the one hand, and between the sports item 1 and in particular the holder 15 mounted on the sports item 1, on the other hand.

[0083] While the tubes 32, 33 serving as spring elements or damping elements have an at least almost circular cross section in the unloaded state shown in FIGS. 19 and 22, these tubes 32, 33 deform elliptically in the loaded state, i.e. the compressed state, according to FIG. 20. When vertical pressure is applied to the carrier 3, the latter moves slightly downward and rearward, counter to the direction of travel, according to the circle of rotation D shown in FIG. 20, such that the tube sections 32, 33 located between carrier 3 and sports item 1 are deformed elliptically. As a result of a corresponding eccentricity of at least one of the pivot axles of the pivoting arms 4, 5; 6, 7 and/or as a result of at least one spacer inclined transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski, the pivot axle of at least one joint 8, 9; 10, 11 of the joint arrangement in the distributing device 2 shown in FIGS. 18 to 22 is likewise variable in terms of its position, in such a way that the distance between the one long side of the carrier 3 and the sports item 1 can be made smaller or larger compared to the distance from the other long side of the carrier 3. In this way, it is also possible, in the distributing device 2 shown in FIGS. 18 to 22, to achieve the already above-described advantages in terms of damping properties and directional stability of the sports item 1 equipped with such a distributing device.

[0084] From a comparison of FIGS. 6 and 11, it will be seen that the plug-in axles 16 are mounted in the holder 15 by way of two axle segments 17, 26 spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the plug-in axle 16. To promote tilting of the carrier 3 relative to the sports item 1, and at the same time to facilitate the pivoting movement of the pivoting arms 4, 5; 6, 7, provision is made, in the embodiment of the plug-in axle 16 shown in FIG. 12, that this plug-in axle 16 has a spherically shaped cross-sectional thickening in the area of each of the axle segments 17, 26 serving as bearing points. These spherically shaped cross-sectional thickenings on the axle segments 17, 26 of the plug-in axle 16 shown in FIG. 12 act in practice like a ball joint.

[0085] The sports item 1 can be designed as a sliding body and, for example, as a roller carrier or, as in the present case, as a ski.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0086] 1 sports item [0087] 2 distributing device [0088] 3 carrier [0089] 4 pivoting arm [0090] 5 pivoting arm [0091] 6 pivoting arm [0092] 7 pivoting arm [0093] 8 joint [0094] 9 joint [0095] 10 joint [0096] 11 joint [0097] 12 spring plate [0098] 13 spring plate [0099] 14 plate opening [0100] 15 holder [0101] 16 plug-in axle [0102] 17 (eccentric) axle segment [0103] 18 guide opening [0104] 19 guide opening [0105] 20 carrier plate [0106] 21 carrier holder [0107] 25 coupling device [0108] 26 (non-eccentric) axle segment [0109] 27 spacer [0110] 27′ spacer [0111] 28 partial area [0112] 29 partial area [0113] 30 holding slit [0114] 31 holding slit [0115] 32 tube [0116] 33 tube [0117] 34 connecting seam [0118] 35 connecting seam