Connection unit

Abstract

A restricted, preferably spring elastic and dampened movability of transversal struts (5a, b) in the longitudinal direction (10) with respect to a skid (2a) supporting the transversal struts prevents a transmission and build-up of vibrations through the connection units (3) at the piece of winter sports equipment (1).

Claims

1. A connection unit (3) for moveably connecting two skids (2a, b) extending parallel adjacent to one another in a longitudinal direction (10) typically in a horizontal direction and forming a piece of winter sport equipment (1), the connection unit comprising: at least one transversal strut (5a, b) extending transverse to the longitudinal direction (10) and having a free end (6a, b) on each side; at least one bearing block (7a, b) at each free end (6a, b) of each transversal strut (5a, b) in which bearing block the transversal strut (5a, b) is supported pivotable about a pivot axis (17a, b) that is oriented in a longitudinal direction (10) in top view; a base plate (14) for attaching on one of the skids (2a, b) which supports the bearing block (7a, b); characterized in that the transversal strut (5a, b) is attached moveable within limits in the longitudinal direction (10) and/or the transversal direction (11) through a compensation device (23) relative to the base plate (14) supporting the transversal strut, wherein said compensation device includes a spring element or a damper element.

2. The connection unit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the compensation device (23) is arranged between the bearing block (7a, b) and the respective base plate (14) or alternatively between the bearing block (7a, b) and the transversal strut (5a, b).

3. The connection unit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the compensation device (23) causes a movability in the longitudinal direction (10) and/or in the transversal direction (11) through a linear movement, or a pivoting about a vertical compensation axis at which a respective transversal strut (5a, b) is eccentrically mounted with its end.

4. The connection unit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the compensation device (23) includes both said spring element and said damper element (13) and an effective direction of the spring element and the damper element coincide and the effective direction coincides with the moving direction of the compensation device (23).

5. The connection unit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the compensation device (23) or a spring element (24) or a damper element (13) are respectively effective in all three directions in space.

6. The connection unit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the compensation device (23) or a spring element or a damper element are respectively only effective in the longitudinal direction (10) and the transversal direction (11) of the sliding surface (4a, b) of the skids (2a, b).

7. The connection unit (3) according to claim 4, characterized in that the spring element and the damper element are respectively only effective in the longitudinal direction (10) in the positive and also in the negative longitudinal direction (10).

8. The connection unit (3) according to claim 4, characterized in that a maximum travel of the spring element and/or the damper element is +/−60 mm at the most, but at least +/−3 mm.

9. The connection unit (3) according to claim 4, characterized in that an effect of the spring element or of the damper element is adjustable.

10. The connection unit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that each bearing block (7a, b) is supported in longitudinal direction (10) and/or in transversal direction (11) on both sides relative to the skids (2a, b) in the longitudinal direction (10) in longitudinal supports (15) at the base plate (14) and in particular there between in the center a spring element or a damper element is arranged on a longitudinal center of the skids (2a, b).

11. The connection unit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the base plate (14) or the bearing block plate (19) include open recesses (16) that are open towards its forward and rear face wherein the recesses are also open in downward direction for inserting combined spring-/damper elements (13), made from an elastic material.

12. The connection unit (3) according to claim 1 including two transversal struts (5a, b) and at least one reset element (25) which becomes effective either when displacing one of the transversal struts about its pivot axis (17a, b) in the bearing block (7a, b), or during a movement of the two transversal struts (5a, b) relative to one another respectively in a direction of their reset into their normal positions.

13. The connection unit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot axis (17a, b) is arranged in parallel or at a slant angle relative to the longitudinal direction (10) and the position of the pivot axis (17a, b) is arranged as far downward in the bearing block (7a, b) as possible, protruding with the joint (12a, b) into the elevation range of the skid (2a, b).

14. The connection unit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that a slant angle of all four pivot axes (17a, b, 17′a, b) at both ends of the connection unit (3) is identical or the two bearing blocks (7a, b) at one end of the connection unit (3) are combined in a common bearing block (7).

15. The connection unit (3) according to claim 12, characterized in that the reset element (25) includes at least one spring element and one damper element optionally functionally combined with the spring element and the reset element is made from an elastic material, and/or one or plural reset elements (25), in particular rubber blocks (8) are arranged between the two transversal struts (5a, b) and in case of one rubber block (8) are respectively attached with a face at one of the transversal struts (5a, b).

16. The connection unit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the transversal struts (5a, b) are rigid in one direction perpendicular to the pivot axis (17a, b) of the bearing blocks (7a, b) thus not spring elastic and are spring elastic in a direction of the pivot axes (17a, b) or the transversal struts (5a, b) have protrusions (24) at their ends wherein the protrusions are oriented downward at a slant angle and extend in a plane of the transversal struts wherein the protrusions are pivotable with their free ends about a pivot axis (27) relative to the pivot joint (12).

17. The connection unit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot axes (17a, b) are offset relative to one another by 10-20 mm, and the pivot axes (17a, b) include an angle between 0° and 60°, relative to the horizontal longitudinal direction (10).

18. The connection unit (3) according to claim 16, characterized in that the pivot axes (27) enclose an angle between 30° and 90°, relative to the horizontal longitudinal direction (10) and—the at least one transversal strut (5a, b) is length adjustable.

19. A piece of winter sport equipment comprising: two skids (2a, b) on which a user is attached with one respective boot with a binding (18), one respective connection unit according to claim 1 in front and behind the bindings (18) which connect the two skids (2a, b) with one another in a transversal direction (11), characterized in that both connection units (3a, b) include a compensation device (23), wherein each said compensation device includes a spring element or a damper element.

20. The piece of winter sport equipment according to claim 19, characterized in that for an effective direction of said spring element or said damper element in the longitudinal direction (10) for at least one of the connection units (3a, b) the damping effect when moving towards the binding (18) is stronger than away from the binding (18) in particular at least 10% stronger, however at the most 200% stronger.

21. The piece of winter sport equipment according to claim 19, characterized in that the pivot axes (17a, b) are arranged at a slant angle relative to the horizontal longitudinal direction (10) so that they taper downward towards the center of the skids (2a, b), thus the bindings (18) and an effect of the reset elements (25) between the transversal struts (5a, b) at the rear connection unit (3b) is stronger than at the forward connection unit (3a).

22. The piece of winter sport equipment (1) according to claim 19, characterized in that the forward connection unit (3a) and the rear connection unit (3b) are identical, and the transversal struts of the rear connection unit (3b) are longer than the transversal struts of the forward connection unit (3a).

Description

C) EMBODIMENTS

(1) Embodiments of the invention are subsequently described in more detail with reference to drawing figures, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1a illustrates a piece of winter sport equipment according to the invention in top view;

(3) FIG. 1b illustrates the piece of winter sport equipment according to the invention in a lateral view;

(4) FIG. 1c, d illustrates a first embodiment of the connection unit in a detail view;

(5) FIG. 1e illustrates a second embodiment of the connection unit in a detail view;

(6) FIG. 2a illustrates an individual connection unit in a frontal view and in a rear view;

(7) FIG. 2b illustrates an individual connection unit in a top view;

(8) FIG. 2c illustrates the connection unit in a side view, and

(9) FIG. 2d illustrates a bearing block in top view;

(10) FIG. 3a illustrates a connection unit in edged condition;

(11) FIG. 3b illustrates the piece of winter sport equipment with step offset in top view.

(12) For better comprehension the piece of winter sport equipment 1 is initially described as a whole and the connection unit 3a, b is described in general and the description of the spring-damper unit according to the invention is provided at the end based on reference to FIGS. 1d, e.

(13) As illustrated in FIGS. 1a and b, the piece of winter sport equipment according to the invention is made from two skids 2a, b extending in longitudinal direction parallel adjacent to one another, wherein the user is attached respectively with one foot thus boot on a respective skid and which are connected with one another by two transversally extending connection units 3a, b one in front of the bindings 18 for the boots and one behind the bindings 18 for the boots.

(14) The two skids 2a, b respectively carry a commercial safety binding in their center portion wherein the safety binding in this case includes a binding plate 20 which is attached on a top side of the skid 2a, b and forward and rear binding jaws 18a, b that are applied in the rear portion and front portion of the binding plate, wherein the boot is fixated between the binding jaws.

(15) Connection units 3a, b are arranged in front of the forward binding jaw 18a and the rear binding jaw 18b wherein the connection units respectively extend transversally from one skid 2a to another skid 2b, wherein the connection units are respectively attached with one of their ends at one of the skids 2a, b.

(16) As apparent best from FIGS. 2a-d each of the connection units 3a, b in this case is made from two transversal struts 5a, b whose long cross sectional axis is arranged at a slant angle to the main plane of the sliding skids.

(17) The transversal struts 5a, b, are respectively pivotably supported with their free ends 6a, b in a bearing block 7a, b configured as a pivot joint 12a, b, which are combined on each side to form a common bearing block 7 and wherein each bearing block 7 is attached on one of the two skids 2a, b as best evident from FIGS. 1a, b.

(18) The pivot axes 17a, b of the ends 6a, b of the transversal struts 5a, b in the bearing block 7a, b thus extend in longitudinal direction 10 of the sliding skids 2a, b, however advantageously not in parallel to the approximately horizontal main plane of the piece of winter sport equipment which corresponds to the contact surface of the sliding surfaces 4a, b of the sliding skids 2a, b in the neutral position on flat ground but is inclined thereto at an angle of approximately 0-60° thus sloping downward in this case to the center of the ski thus to the binding 13.

(19) When edging the skids 2a, b as illustrated for example in FIG. 3a the two transversal struts 5a, b are moved relative to one another in transversal direction 11. Rubber elements 8 are arranged herein as reset elements 25 between the two transversal struts 5a, b, for example in their center portion and attached with one respective end of these for example cylindrical rubber elements 8 at one of the transversal struts 5a, b in particular threaded or also volcanized thereon.

(20) Thus in an extension of transversal struts 5a, b plural rubber elements 8 can be arranged for this purpose in particular prefabricated pass through bore holes can be provided in the transversal struts 5a, b.

(21) Since the pivot axes 17a, b of the two transversal struts 5a, b extend in the slotted holes 7a, b as apparent from FIGS. 2c and d, thus respectively in top view in the longitudinal direction 10, in side view however they are offset relative to one another in the longitudinal direction 10 and are advantageously oriented parallel to one another. Each connection unit 3a, b with its two transversal struts 5a, b represents a force parallelogram.

(22) This has the consequence that when edging one of the skids, e.g. 2a, thus pivoting the skid 2a about its longitudinal axis 10 relative to the two connection units 3a, b attached thereon, also the other skid 2b edges in the same direction of rotation due to the force parallelogram of the connection unit thus the other skid edges about the longitudinal axis 10 which facilitates practical applications.

(23) In case a length of the two transversal struts 5a, b of a connection unit 3a, b is identical, the two skids 2a, b are also edged by the same angle.

(24) The transversal struts 5a, b are thus made e.g. from a flat material, in particular from steel, aluminum, titanium and spring steel. Protrusions 24 extend from the in particular arcuate upward cambered transversal struts 5a, b at ends in downward direction to the bearing block 7a, b and are pivotably supported about the pivot axis 27 at their free ends at the pivot joint 12a, b.

(25) The cylindrical rubber elements 8 are thus bolted down with their longitudinal axes extending essentially parallel to the pivot axis 17a, b in the bearing block 7 between the flat transversal struts 5a, b where they contact respectively with one of their faces. Thus, the rubber elements 8 respectively have the same slant angle at their rubber axes 9 like the pivot axis 17a, b and the cross section of the flat transversal struts 5a, b and the protrusions 24 have an inverse slant angle relative to the skid 2a, b since they extend at a right angle relative to the direction of the pivot axis 17 a, b and the rubber elements 8.

(26) In order to bring the transversal struts 5a, b into alignment with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rubber elements 8 instead of an offset of the pivot axis 17a, b in longitudinal direction 10 the protrusions 24 of the two transversal struts 5a, b are provided with different lengths as apparent from FIG. 2c.

(27) Furthermore the transversal struts 5a, b are pivotable about the longitudinal extension of the protrusions 16a, b which are bolted down transversally protruding at the pivot joint 12 a, b for this purpose and the threaded connection is used for another pivot axis which is necessary since the two skids cannot only be edged relative to one another but can also have an offset in longitudinal direction 10 for the desired relative step movement.

(28) FIG. 2 a illustrates a connection unit in a front view, so that the slightly arcuate transversal strut 5a, b is visible from its broad side with three bore holes in this case for possibly bolting down one respective rubber element 8. Each end of the transversal strut 5a, b terminates with its protrusion 16a, b attached thereto in one of the bearing blocks 7, thus a pivot link 12a, b.

(29) FIG. 3a illustrates the connection unit in the same viewing direction as FIG. 2a that means from the front, however with bearing blocks which are arranged at a slant angle, this means displaced about the pivot axes 17a, b relative to the transversal struts 5a, b and thus placed at a slant angle analogously as it is the case when edging the piece of winter sport equipment with two skids.

(30) FIG. 2b additionally also illustrates the three rubber elements 8 that are bolted down, in this case between the transversal struts 5a, b.

(31) As apparent best from the side view in FIG. 1b a typical situation of a binding plate 20 between the actual ski binding 2a, b is used as a starting point for attaching the connection units 3a, b on the skids 2a, b.

(32) Thus one binding plate 20 which is significantly longer than the actual ski binding is attached on the skid 2a or b in that it is bolted down firmly in the center relative to the skid 2a or b in a side view.

(33) The forward and rear ends of the binding plate 20 are also bolted down relative to the skid 2a, b in order to support them at the skid, however the bolt head can move along a top side of the binding plate 20, for example in a longitudinal groove which is necessary when the skid 2a, b is bent in vertical direction, which can change the distance between the central threaded connection and the forward or rear connection. This shape does not stiffen the skid 2a, b in its center portion to an impermissible extent and can then still be vertically deformed at this location.

(34) The actual binding including the forward and rear binding vice 18a, b is then only bolted down on the binding plate 20, the threaded connection, however, does not reach into the skid 2a, b.

(35) Since the binding plate 20 is longer than the actual binding 18 the connection units 3a, b a can be applied in a portion in front and behind the binding on the binding plates 20 in case the binding plates are provided and long enough however the connection units 3a, b can also be attached separately and directly on the sliding skids 2a, b as illustrated in the drawing figure.

(36) However attaching the connection units 3a, b on the binding plate 20 is simpler:

(37) Namely the binding plates 20 are often configured so that the binding vices 18a, b only have to be pushed in longitudinal direction 10, e.g. from behind onto the binding plates 20 already bolted onto the sliding skid and are then already fixated in a form locking manner in all transversal directions 11 in that the binding plate 20 as evident from FIG. 1c has a cross section wherein the binding plate is bolted with a bottom side of the cross section onto the skid 2a or b. Thus, the cross section includes downward elbowed outer walls which do not quite reach the top side of the skid 2a, b so that a respective downward open contour of the bottom side of the binding vices 18a, b as illustrated in FIG. 1c can reach under this downward elbowed edge in a form locking manner so that it is fixated in a form locking manner in a horizontal transversal direction 11 and also in the vertical direction.

(38) In the same manner, thus with the same C shaped profile at a bottom side of each bearing block plate 19 for sliding in longitudinal direction 10 onto the binding plate 20 which then simultaneously forms the base plate 14 or a separate base plate 14 configured analogously at the edges which is then bolted onto the respective skid 2a, b, each bearing block 7 of the connection unit 3a, b can be configured so that also the connection units 3a, b can be simply slid on in longitudinal direction 10 and can be secured at the desired position solely by introducing vertical clamping screws 21.

(39) A particularity of the invention is represented by the attachment of the bearing blocks 7 which are moveable within limits in the longitudinal direction 10, advantageously also spring loaded and dampened, thus of their bearing blocks plates 19 relative to the skids 2a,b.

(40) A first embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 1e and FIG. 2a at the left bearing block 7.

(41) The base plate 14 that is fixated with bolts on the skid 2a includes support rods at its lateral edges wherein the support rods extend in the longitudinal direction 10 and have for example a circular cross section and are used as a longitudinal support for the base plate. Furthermore rubber elements configured as combined spring-/damper elements 13 are bolted onto the base plate 14 and are offset in longitudinal direction 10 and are configured in this case as approximately annular discs which are bolted onto the base plate 14 with their outer ends that are oriented away from the center of the base plate 14.

(42) In longitudinal direction 10 the bearing block plate 19 is attached above the base plate 14 moveable relative thereto wherein the bearing block plate includes a support sleeve 15′ at its ends wherein the support sleeve is supported on the support rods 15. In a center of the bearing block plate 19 arranged above the base plate 14 a stop element 22 protrudes from the bearing block plate in downward direction between the rubber elements 13 with a length that corresponds to a distance between the rubber elements 13.

(43) In case the bearing block plate 19 is moved in longitudinal direction 10 either due to uneven ground or for other reasons it presses against one of the rubber elements 13 and compresses it which dampens the longitudinal movement of the bearing block plate 19 increasingly and is subsequently moved back into its initial position due to the elasticity of the rubber element 13 which has a spring effect in that the rubber element unloads again.

(44) The bearing blocks 7 and thus the connection units 3 are moveable within limits relative to the skids 2 which prevents a buildup of resonances or a transfer of resonances from a skid 2a to another skid 2b.

(45) FIG. 1 d and FIG. 2a right side illustrate an even simpler embodiment with the same effect.

(46) The base plate 14 is in turn fixated again through bolts on the skid 2b and includes the downward elbowed rims which do not reach the skid as illustrated and described in FIG. 1c. There above and supported moveable in longitudinal direction 10 relative thereto there is the bearing block plate 19 which reaches under the edges of the base plate 14 with its lateral rims so that the bearing block plate 19 is supported in the longitudinal direction 10.

(47) In the end portions in longitudinal direction 10 of the base plate 14 there are recesses 16 which are open towards the faces of the base plate 14 and additionally for example towards the top side and/or to the bottom side of the base plate 14. In these recesses 16 for example disc shaped fitted rubber elements 13 are inserted which are kept in position for example through an overreaching edge of the base plate 14.

(48) At ends of the bearing block plate 19 a stop element 22 respectively extends downward from the bearing block plate again into the elevation level of the rubber elements 13 and with a width which is less than the opening width of the recesses 16 in the base plate 14.

(49) Thus, when the bearing block plate 19 is moved in the longitudinal direction 10 one of the stop elements 22 presses against one of the rubber elements 13, deforms it and is thus dampened with respect to its movement and the spring elastic reverse movement of the rubber element 13 presses the bearing block plate 19 back again in its neutral position in which the stop elements 22 contact the respective rubber elements 13 advantageously without any preload.

(50) The spring and damping functions that are combined in the rubber element 13 can also be implemented separately, for example by a spiral spring and a hydraulic damper which however makes the structure much more complex.

(51) FIG. 1 c illustrates a mere longitudinal movability between the base plate 14 and the bearing block plate 19 without spring or damping.

REFERENCE NUMERALS AND DESIGNATIONS

(52) 1 winter sport equipment 2 a, b skid 3 a, b connection unit 4a, b sliding surface 5 a, b transversal strut 6 a, b free end 7 a, b bearing block 8 rubber element 9 rubber axis 10 longitudinal direction 11 transversal direction 12 a, b pivot joint 13 spring-/damper element, rubber element 14 base plate 15 longitudinal support 16 recess 17 a, b pivot axis 18 binding 18 a, b binding jaw 19 bearing block plate 20 binding plate 21 clamping screw 22 stop element 23 compensation device 24 protrusion 25 reset element 26 27 pivot axis