Reinforcing frame for a ski

Abstract

The invention relates to a ski, including: a paddle region which forms a front end of the ski; a rear end region; and a binding region, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski between the paddle region and the rear end region, for fastening a ski binding; a core; an upper strap; a lower strap; and a reinforcing frame which extends in the paddle region and/or in the rear end region.

Claims

1. A ski, comprising: (a) a paddle region which forms a front end of the ski; a rear end region; and a binding region, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski between the paddle region and the rear end region, for fastening a ski binding; (b) a core; (c) running edges; (d) an upper strap; (e) a lower strap; and a reinforcing frame which extends in the paddle region and/or in the rear end region, (f) wherein the reinforcing frame comprises: a left-hand side limb which extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski; a right-hand side limb which extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski; and a transverse limb which extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski and connects the side limbs, and wherein the side limbs exhibit a limb distance from each other transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski, and (g) wherein at least a part of the reinforcing frame is made of metal, and (h) wherein the limb distance is constant over at least most of the length of the reinforcing frame.

2. The ski according to claim 1, wherein the side limbs each have a width, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski, which is smaller than the limb distance.

3. The ski according to claim 1, wherein the side limbs each have a width, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski, which decreases towards the binding region.

4. The ski according to claim 1, wherein the left-hand side limb extends along the left-hand side edge of the ski, starting from the transverse limb, and the right-hand side limb extends along the right-hand side edge of the ski, starting from the transverse limb.

5. The ski according to claim 1, wherein in a plan view onto the reinforcing frame, the transverse limb forms the tip or rear end of the ski.

6. The ski according to claim 1, wherein the side limbs extend from the transverse limb towards the binding region, at most up to or up to and into the binding region, wherein the binding region extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski up to and below a front jaw and a rear jaw of the ski binding, when the ski binding is fastened.

7. The ski according to claim 6, wherein the side limbs terminate axially before the binding region, as viewed from the transverse limb.

8. The ski according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing frame comprises a film material, a plate material and/or a fibre-composite material.

9. The ski according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing frame comprises a front reinforcing frame part for the paddle region, and a rear reinforcing frame part for the rear end region.

10. The ski according to claim 9, wherein the front reinforcing frame part and the rear reinforcing frame part are not connected to each other and do not overlap.

11. The ski according to claim 9, wherein a length of an extent of the front reinforcing frame part in the longitudinal direction of the ski and a length of the extent of the rear reinforcing frame part in the longitudinal direction of the ski differ in size.

12. The ski according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing frame is arranged above the core.

13. The ski according to claim 12, wherein a length of an extent of the front reinforcing frame part in the longitudinal direction of the ski and a length of the extent of the rear reinforcing frame part in the longitudinal direction of the ski differ in size.

14. The ski according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing frame is a light metal frame made of an aluminium alloy.

15. The ski according to claim 14, wherein the light metal frame has a thickness of at most 1.2 mm.

16. The ski according to claim 14, wherein the light metal frame has a thickness of at least 0.2 mm.

17. The ski according to claim 14, wherein the light metal frame has a thickness of at most 0.7 mm.

18. The ski according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing frame comprises a fibre-composite material.

19. The ski according to claim 18, wherein the fibre-composite material is formed from carbon, glass, aramid, stone (for example basalt), natural fibre (for example bamboo), plastic (for example thermoplastics) and/or ceramics.

20. The ski according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing frame forms part of at least a paddle region and a rear end region of the finished ski.

21. The ski according to claim 1, wherein the side limbs each have a width, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski, which decreases continuously towards the binding region.

22. A ski, comprising: (a) a paddle region which forms a front end of the ski; a rear end region; and a binding region, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski between the paddle region and the rear end region, for fastening a ski binding; (b) a core; (c) running edges; (d) an upper strap; (e) a lower strap; and a reinforcing frame which extends in the paddle region and/or in the rear end region, (f) wherein the reinforcing frame comprises: a left-hand side limb which extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski; a right-hand side limb which extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski; and a transverse limb which extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski and connects the side limbs, and wherein the side limbs exhibit a limb distance from each other transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski, and (g) wherein at least a part of the reinforcing frame is made of metal, and (h) wherein the reinforcing frame exhibits a substantially constant thickness over its entire extent.

23. A ski comprising: (a) a paddle region which forms a front end of the ski; a rear end region; and a binding region, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski between the paddle region and the rear end region, for fastening a ski binding; (b) a core; (c) running edges; (d) an upper strap; (e) a lower strap; and a reinforcing frame which extends in the paddle region and/or in the rear end region, (f) wherein the reinforcing frame comprises: a left-hand side limb which extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski; a right-hand side limb which extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski; and a transverse limb which extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski and connects the side limbs, and wherein the side limbs exhibit a limb distance from each other transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski, and (g) wherein at least a part of the reinforcing frame is made of metal, and (h) wherein the reinforcing frame or the metal part of the reinforcing frame is punched or cut out of a film material or plate material made of an aluminium alloy.

24. A ski, comprising: (a) a paddle region which forms a front end of the ski; a rear end region; and a binding region, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski between the paddle region and the rear end region, for fastening a ski binding; (b) a core; (c) running edges; (d) an upper strap; (e) a lower strap; and a reinforcing frame which extends in the paddle region and/or in the rear end region, (f) wherein the reinforcing frame comprises: a left-hand side limb which extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski; a right-hand side limb which extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski; and a transverse limb which extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski and connects the side limbs, and wherein the side limbs exhibit a limb distance from each other transverse to the longitudinal direction of the ski, and (g) wherein at least a part of the reinforcing frame is made of metal, and (h) wherein the reinforcing frame is a light metal frame comprising a front reinforcing frame part and a separate rear reinforcing frame part, wherein the front reinforcing frame part and the rear reinforcing frame part are horseshoe-shaped.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) In the following, an example of a reinforcing frame and an example of a position of the reinforcing frame layer within the structure of the ski are described on the basis of figures, without restricting the invention to the examples shown. Features essential to aspects of the invention which can only be gathered from the figures form part of the scope of the disclosure and can advantageously develop the subject-matter of aspects of the invention, individually or in combinations shown.

(2) The figures show:

(3) FIG. 1 an example embodiment of a reinforcing frame;

(4) FIG. 2 a front reinforcing frame part of the reinforcing frame of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 3 an example of a layered structure of a ski.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) FIG. 1 shows a ski 1 in a plan view from above. The ski 1 comprises a front paddle region A, a middle or binding region B on which a ski binding (not shown) can be fitted, and a rear end region C.

(7) The ski 1 comprises a reinforcing frame 10 which in the example embodiment shown comprises a front reinforcing frame part 14 and a separate rear reinforcing frame part 15. The front reinforcing frame part 14 and the rear reinforcing frame part 15 are each formed in the shape of a horseshoe or in the shape of a U, wherein the open sides of the horseshoes or Us lie opposite each other on the ski in the longitudinal direction X of the ski.

(8) Other than as shown in the example embodiment, the reinforcing frame 10 can form a closed frame, or the reinforcing frame 10 is formed solely by the front reinforcing frame part 14 or solely by the rear reinforcing frame part 15.

(9) The front reinforcing frame part 14 and the rear reinforcing frame part 15 extend in the longitudinal direction X of the ski 1 from a tip 16 of the ski or, respectively, an end 17 of the ski up to and onto or into the binding region B. The front reinforcing frame part 14 and the rear reinforcing frame part 15 do not overlap.

(10) In the example embodiment, an extent of the front reinforcing frame part 14 in the longitudinal direction X of the ski is larger than a corresponding extent of the rear reinforcing frame part 15. In other examples of reinforcing frames (not shown), the extent of the two reinforcing frame parts 14, 15 in the longitudinal direction X of the ski can be equal, or the extent of the rear reinforcing frame part 15 can be larger than the extent of the front reinforcing frame part 14.

(11) The reinforcing frame 10 can for example be a light metal frame made of a high-tensile aluminium alloy, or the reinforcing frame 10 can be formed from another material or from a composite structure which comprises multiple layers of material. One of these layers of material in the composite structure can be a layer made of a light metal film, and another layer can be made of a fibre-composite material. This other material can likewise form a layer of the composite structure from which the reinforcing frame 10 is formed.

(12) The front reinforcing frame part 14 and the rear reinforcing frame part 15 can also exhibit a different structure or can be formed from different materials. The front reinforcing frame part 14 can thus for example be produced exclusively from a light metal, whereas the rear reinforcing frame part 15 can be produced exclusively from carbon or from a composite structure, and vice versa.

(13) FIG. 2 shows the front reinforcing frame part 14 of the reinforcing frame 10, separated off from the ski 1, as a semi-finished product such as can for example be stored in a warehouse for further processing. All of the following description of the front reinforcing frame part 14 applies mutatis mutandis to the rear reinforcing frame part 15 which is not shown in FIG. 2. The following description does not therefore distinguish between the front reinforcing frame part 14 and the rear reinforcing frame part 15 but rather describes a reinforcing frame part 14, 15 in general.

(14) The reinforcing frame part 14, 15 comprises side limbs 11, 12, which extend in the longitudinal direction X of the ski, and a transverse limb 13 which connects the side limbs 11, 12 and forms all or part of a front end 16 or, respectively, a rear end 17 of the ski 1 (not shown).

(15) The side limbs 11, 12 are a left-hand side limb 11 and a right-hand side limb 12 which together with the transverse limb 13 form the horseshoe-shaped reinforcing frame part 14, 15. The left-hand side limb 11 and the right-hand side limb 12 are designed identically and, in the example embodiment, mirror-inverted with respect to a plane which is perpendicular to a plane which spans a surface of the reinforcing frame part 14, 15 and includes a central longitudinal axis L.sub.M (see FIG. 1) of the reinforcing frame part 14, 15.

(16) The left-hand side limb 11 and the right-hand side limb 12 each comprise an exterior edge 11a and 12a and an interior edge 11b and 12b. The interior edges 11b, 12b extend substantially parallel to each other and exhibit a distance y.sub.1 from the interior edge 11b to the interior edge 12b. A width y.sub.2 of the side limbs 11, 12 changes continuously along their axial extent, wherein in the example embodiment, the width y.sub.2 constantly decreases in the direction of axial extent of the side limbs 11, 12, over a majority of said extent, starting at or near the transverse limb 13.

(17) The width y.sub.2 of the side limbs 11, 12 is identical in any section transverse to the central longitudinal axis L.sub.M of the reinforcing frame part 14, 15, wherein in the example embodiment, the distance y.sub.1 is larger than the width y.sub.2 of one of the side limbs 11, 12 and preferably larger than the sum of the widths y.sub.2 of the left-hand side limb 11 and the right-hand side limb 12 or, in other words, larger than 2y.sub.2, at all points.

(18) FIG. 3 shows an exploded representation of an example of a ski 1, comprising all the layers which are joined together to form the finished ski 1. In order to describe aspects of the invention, it is not necessary to define and describe all the layers shown in the example.

(19) Starting from the bottom, FIG. 3 shows: edges 6; a travelling surface layer 5; a lower strap 3; an intermediate layer; a paddle part 9a in the region A of the ski 1 and an end part 9b in the region C of the ski 1, made for example of carbon; a core 7; a reinforcing plate 4 in the region B of the ski 1, for the ski binding; an upper strap 2; the reinforcing frame 10 consisting of the front reinforcing frame part 14 and the rear reinforcing frame part 15; and lastly, a cover 8 which forms an upper side of the ski 1. The cover 8 can be transparent, at least in regions, such that the reinforcing frame 10 can form a design element in the finished ski 1.

(20) As shown in the example, the reinforcing frame 10 can be arranged directly below the cover 8 and above the core 7. The reinforcing frame 10 can itself form a part of the cover 8 or can be arranged below the upper strap 2 but above the core 7. If the reinforcing frame 10 itself forms part of the cover 8, the reinforcing frame 10 can comprise a protective coating made of a clear varnish or similar material, in order to maintain an appealing visual appearance of the surface of the ski 1 for as long as possible. The reinforcing frame 10 itself can also comprise a surface which can be printed on, such that for example a brand name, logo or other information can be printed directly onto the reinforcing frame 10.

(21) Other than as shown in the example in FIG. 3, the front reinforcing frame part 14 and the rear reinforcing frame part 15 can also be assigned to different layers. One of the reinforcing frame parts 14, 15 can then be arranged above the upper strap 2, and the other below or next to the upper strap 2, which in this case would comprise a corresponding cropped region. If a reinforcing frame part 14, 15 is arranged next to the upper strap 2 within this sense, it effectively forms a part of the layer of the upper strap 2 in the structure of the ski shown.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(22) 1 ski

(23) 2 upper strap

(24) 3 lower strap

(25) 4 reinforcing plate

(26) 5 travelling surface layer

(27) 6 edges

(28) 7 core

(29) 8 cover

(30) 9a paddle

(31) 9b end region

(32) 10 reinforcing frame

(33) 11 side limb

(34) 12 side limb

(35) 13 transverse limb

(36) 14 front reinforcing frame part

(37) 15 rear reinforcing frame part

(38) 16 front end

(39) 17 rear end

(40) A paddle region

(41) B binding region

(42) C rear end region

(43) X longitudinal direction of the ski

(44) L.sub.M longitudinal centre axis of the reinforcing frame

(45) y.sub.1 distance

(46) y.sub.2 width