Abstract
A climbing aid for a ski has a plane base element which is connected on the inner side to a fastener to be detachably fastened to a running surface of the ski and which is connected on the outer side to backwards-slipping prevention elements acting contrary to a direction of travel. A flexible plastic support material forms the base element, and the backwards-slipping prevention elements are integrally formed with the plastic support material. In lateral regions, the base element has backwards-slipping prevention elements with push-off wings positioned obliquely to the direction of travel and, in the central region, has backwards-slipping prevention elements with push-off wings arranged substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel. The push-off wings of the backwards-slipping prevention elements of a first type are of lesser length and/or of lesser height than the push-off wings of the backwards-slipping prevention elements of a second type.
Claims
1. A climbing aid for a ski, the climbing aid comprising: a fastening device; a plane base element connected on an inner side to said fastening device in order to be detachably fastened to a running surface of the ski, said plane base element having an outer side with backwards-slipping prevention elements acting contrary to a direction of travel, said plane base element formed from a flexible plastic support material, said backwards-slipping prevention elements are integrally formed in said flexible plastic support material, said plane base element containing lateral regions having said backwards-slipping prevention elements with push-off wings positioned obliquely to the direction of travel and, in a central region, having said backwards-slipping prevention elements with said push-off wings disposed substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel; and said plane base element, in at least one of said lateral regions or in said central region, has side wards-slipping prevention elements extending in the direction of travel.
2. The climbing aid according to claim 1, wherein said push-off wings of said backwards-slipping prevention elements in said lateral regions are disposed at an angle of 30 to 60 to the direction of travel.
3. The climbing aid according to claim 1, wherein said backwards-slipping prevention elements in said lateral regions and in said central region are of identical design.
4. The climbing aid according to claim 1, wherein said plane base element is manufactured of a polyolefin material.
5. The climbing aid according to claim 1, wherein said backwards-slipping prevention elements have ramp elements rising contrary to the direction of travel and each forming one of said push-off wings.
6. The climbing aid according to claim 1, wherein said push-off wings have a height of 0.2 to 1 mm.
7. The climbing aid according to claim 1, wherein said push-off wings form acute-angled undercuts.
8. The climbing aid according to claim 1, wherein said backwards-slipping prevention elements are disposed in a plurality of rows which are offset from each other.
9. The climbing aid according to claim 1, wherein said plane base element contains a hinge connection and at least two longitudinal sections which are connected with each other by said hinge connection.
10. The climbing aid according to claim 9, wherein said hinge connection has a connection element disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of said plane base element, said connection element having a higher flexibility than said flexible plastic support material.
11. The climbing aid according to claim 9, wherein said hinge connection is formed from said flexible plastic support material, said hinge connection has at least one notch formed therein and extending over an entire breadth of said plastic support material.
12. The climbing aid according to claim 11, wherein said flexible plastic support material has at least one notch formed therein on said inner side and at least one notch formed therein on said outer side.
13. The climbing aid according to claim 9, further comprising a connection layer, said flexible plastic support material is under laid with said connection layer having at least one of a lower layer thickness or a higher elasticity than said flexible plastic support material, wherein a respective gap is formed between said two longitudinal sections of said flexible plastic support material.
14. The climbing aid according to claim 9, wherein said plane base element has a detachable connection and said at least two longitudinal sections are connected with each other by said detachable connection.
15. The climbing aid according to claim 14, wherein said detachable connection has cooperating form locking elements which are adapted to prevent detaching of said detachable connection in a longitudinal plane of said plane base element and to allow detaching perpendicular thereto.
16. The climbing aid according to claim 1, wherein said fastening device is an adhesive layer for an adhesive, detachable fastening to the running surface of the ski.
17. The climbing aid according to claim 16, further comprising an adhesive agent layer disposed between said flexible plastic support material and said adhesive layer.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0044] FIG. 1 is a side view of a climbing aid according to the invention to be detachably fastened to a ski, wherein the climbing aid comprises a flexible plastic support material with scale-like backwards-slipping protection elements;
[0045] FIG. 2 is a side view of the ski with the climbing aid in the climbing position mounted on the ski;
[0046] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the ski with the climbing aid;
[0047] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a production plant for producing the climbing aid according to the invention;
[0048] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a section of a further embodiment of the climbing aid in which scale-like backwards-slipping prevention elements are arranged in rows offset from each other;
[0049] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a section of a further embodiment of the climbing aid in which, in plan view, approximately trapezoid backwards-slipping prevention elements are provided;
[0050] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a section of a further embodiment of the climbing aid with different backwards-slipping prevention elements;
[0051] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a section of a further embodiment of the climbing aid in which, in the lateral regions, obliquely positioned backwards-slipping prevention elements and, in the central region, backwards-slipping prevention elements arranged perpendicular to the direction of travel are provided;
[0052] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a section of an embodiment of the climbing aid modified relative to FIG. 8;
[0053] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a section of a further embodiment of the climbing aid in which, at the lateral edge regions, shorter and less pronounced backwards-slipping prevention elements than in the central region are provided;
[0054] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a section of a further embodiment of the climbing aid with ramp-shaped backwards-slipping prevention elements which extend over the entire breadth of the climbing aid;
[0055] FIG. 12A is an enlarged view of a section of a further embodiment of the climbing aid with pimple-shaped backwards-slipping prevention elements;
[0056] FIG. 12B is an enlarged view of a section of a further embodiment of the climbing aid with pimple elements of a different design;
[0057] FIGS. 13A and 13B are enlarged views of the climbing aid in a condition corresponding to the climbing position on the ski (FIG. 13A) and/or in a rolled-up transport condition (FIG. 13B).
[0058] FIGS. 14A and 14B are views of a further embodiment of the climbing aid in which two longitudinal sections are provided which are connected by a hinge connection, wherein the climbing aid in FIG. 14A is illustrated in a condition corresponding to the climbing position mounted on the ski and in FIG. 14B in a folded transport condition;
[0059] FIGS. 15A and 15b are views of a further embodiment of the climbing aid in which the plastic support material comprises notches alternatingly on the inner side and on the outer side, so that the climbing aid can be transitioned between a condition corresponding to the climbing position mounted on the ski (FIG. 15A) and a folded transport condition (FIG. 15B);
[0060] FIG. 16 is a view of a further embodiment of the climbing aid in which the longitudinal sections of the plastic support material are underlaid with a relatively thin connection layer, so that the longitudinal sections of the climbing aid are foldable at the gaps;
[0061] FIG. 17 is a view of a further embodiment of the climbing aid in which the longitudinal sections are connected with each other in a positive locking manner;
[0062] FIG. 18 is a view of an embodiment of the climbing aid which is modified with respect to FIG. 7;
[0063] FIG. 19 is a view corresponding substantially to FIG. 15A, wherein, however, a plurality of narrower notches are provided for forming the hinge connection; and
[0064] FIG. 20 is a view corresponding substantially to FIG. 8, wherein longitudinal sidewards-slipping prevention elements are additionally provided in the lateral regions.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0065] FIG. 1 illustrates a climbing aid 1 to be detachably fastened to a ski 1. The climbing aid 1 is used in ski tours so as to enable climbing over hillsides covered by snow and ice. The climbing aid 1 consists of a plane base element 2, i.e. a base element extending in the longitudinal plane, which base element is connected on the inner side to fastening means 3 to be detachably fastened to a running surface 4 of the ski 1 without a tool. In the illustrated embodiment the fastening means 3 are formed by an adhesive layer 5 which can be connected with the running surface 4 in the direction of the arrow P. In the climbing position mounted on the ski 1 (FIG. 2) the climbing aid 1 extends substantially over the entire length and substantially over the entire breadth of the ski 1, including its longitudinal edges of steel, so that the required transfer of force on the snow surface is ensured. For detaching of the climbing aid 1 the adhesive connection is released.
[0066] As may further be gathered from FIGS. 1 and 2, backwards-slipping prevention elements 6 are provided on the outer side of the climbing aid 1, i.e. on the side facing the snow surface, said backwards-slipping prevention elements 6 preventing a backward slipping of the ski 1 contrary to the direction of travel W during climbing. The backwards-slipping prevention elements 6 are substantially distributed over the entire length and breadth of the climbing aid 1.
[0067] In the illustrated embodiment, a flexible plastic support material 2 is provided as a base element 2, wherein the backwards-slipping prevention elements 6 are formed integrally with the plastic support material 2. Accordingly, the backwards-slipping prevention elements 6 are formed as a profile of the plastic support material 2. In the illustrated embodiment the plane base element 2 with the backwards-slipping prevention elements 6 formed therein is made of the same material as the running surface 4 of the ski 1, wherein preferably a polyolefin material such as polyethylene is used.
[0068] As may further be gathered from FIGS. 1 to 3, in the illustrated embodiment ramp elements 7 rising contrary to the direction of travel W are provided as backwards-slipping prevention elements 6, said ramp elements 7 comprising at least in sections push-off wings 8 extending obliquely to the direction of travel W. In accordance with FIGS. 1 to 3 the ramp elements 7 are of scale-like design, wherein the ramp elements 7 are arranged in a plurality of rows extending obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the climbing aid 1, each row comprising a plurality of ramp elements 7. The sheet and/or film-like plastic support material 2 is adhered to the running surface 4 in correspondence with the known climbing skins in the direction of the arrows P. In a forward movement of the ski 1 in the direction of travel W the ski 1 can slide forward, but is prevented from sliding contrary to the direction of travel W by the push-off wings 8 of the backwards-slipping prevention elements 6 which push-off wings 8 preferably extend substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ski.
[0069] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a production plant for producing the climbing aid 1. In an extruder 10 the plastic material is molten and subsequently pressed through a nozzle 11. In the illustrated embodiment a flat nozzle is used by means of which a sheet and/or film-like material web 12 is produced. The material web 12 is subsequently conveyed through cooperating rollers 13, 14 which are charged with a predetermined pressure P. The roller 14 is provided with a profile 15 which reproduces the profiling of the base element 2 in the negative. In engagement with the pair of rollers 13, 14 the profile 15 is pressed into the material web 12 with the pressure P, wherein the finished base element 2 consisting of the plastic support material 2 with the backwards-slipping prevention elements 6 corresponding to the profile 15 of the roller 14 is obtained.
[0070] With this simple production method it is possible to produce climbing aids 1 with various configurations of the backwards-slipping prevention elements 6, wherein FIGS. 5 to 12 illustrate strongly magnified sections of preferred embodiments of the base element 2, to which the invention is not restricted, though.
[0071] In accordance with FIG. 5, scale-like, i.e. locally restricted, backwards-slipping prevention elements 6 are provided which are arranged in rows offset from each other, wherein the offset between the rows in the illustrated embodiment corresponds substantially to half the breadth of the scale-like backwards-slipping prevention elements 6. The push-off wings 8 of the backwards-slipping prevention elements 6 are curved in an arc in the illustrated embodiment.
[0072] FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the scale-like backwards-slipping prevention elements 6 which comprise straight push-off wings 8 substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel W. In plan view, the backwards-slipping prevention elements 6 are approximately trapezoid.
[0073] In accordance with FIG. 7, backwards-slipping prevention elements 6 which are rectangular in plan view and the longitudinal sides of which are oriented in the direction of travel W, wherein the narrow sides extend perpendicular to the direction of travel W are provided on the one hand. The front narrow sidesseen in the direction of travel Wof these backwards-slipping prevention elements are designed as push-off wings 8. Moreover, further, substantially rectangular backwards-slipping prevention elements 6 are provided, wherein the push-off wings 8 are each formed on the rear longitudinal sidesseen in the direction of travel Wof these backwards-slipping prevention elements 6.
[0074] FIG. 8 illustrates a further embodiment of the climbing aid 1 in which the base element 2 comprises, in the lateral regions, i.e. adjacent to the longitudinal edges, backwards-slipping prevention elements 6 positioned obliquely to the direction of travel. The push-off wings 8 of the lateral backwards-slipping prevention elements 6 are arranged in the illustrated embodiment at an angle of 45 to the direction of travel W. Moreover, in the central region between the lateral regions of the base element 2, backwards-slipping prevention elements 6 are provided which comprise push-off wings 8 arranged substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel. This kind of design has the advantage that the resistance to sliding in the direction of travel W, in forward direction, especially in the case of hillside crossing, can be reduced, but sufficient resistance to backward slipping is given by the orthogonal arrangement of the backwards-slipping prevention elements 6 in the central region. In the embodiment of FIG. 9 the backwards-slipping prevention elements 6 in the lateral regions and in the central region are of substantially identical design, wherein the backwards-slipping prevention elements 6, 6 are each arranged in a plurality of rows along the base element 2. In the illustrated embodiment the backwards-slipping prevention elements 6, 6 comprise straight push-off wings 8.
[0075] The embodiment according to FIG. 9 differs from that of FIG. 8 in particular in that the push-off wings 8 of the backwards-slipping prevention elements 6, 6 are in sections curved in an arc.
[0076] In accordance with the embodiment of the climbing aid 1 illustrated in FIG. 10, the base element 2 comprises, at the two lateral regions, backwards-slipping prevention elements 6a of a first type and, in the central region, backwards-slipping prevention elements 6b at least of a second type. The push-off wings 8 of the backwards-slipping prevention elements 6a of the first type at the sides have lesser length and/or lesser height than the push-off wings 8 of the backwards-slipping prevention elements 6b of the second type. Substantially the same effect as with the embodiment pursuant to FIG. 9 can be achieved herewith. Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment, in the central region, backwards-slipping prevention elements 6c of a third type are provided, which correspond substantially to the backwards-slipping prevention elements 6b of the second type, but have smaller size. The backwards-slipping prevention elements 6b of the second type and/or the backwards-slipping prevention elements 6c of the third type are designed in the form of symmetrical, isosceles trapezoids.
[0077] FIG. 11 illustrates a climbing aid 1 in plan view, in which the backwards-slipping prevention elements 6 extend in the form of ramp elements 7 along the entire breadth of the climbing aid 1. The result is a saw tooth-like profile of the base element 2.
[0078] In accordance with FIG. 12A, pimple elements 16 projecting substantially perpendicularly from the longitudinal plane of the base element 2 and arranged in rows offset from each other are provided as backwards-slipping prevention elements 6.
[0079] FIG. 12B illustrates a climbing aid 1 with an alternative design of the pimple elements 16 which are each composed of a plurality of small plates 16 slightly offset from each other. Moreover, central webs 16 are provided which are composed of elongate small plates.
[0080] As may be gathered from FIGS. 13A, 13B for transport purposes the climbing aid 1 may be rolled up from a condition corresponding to the climbing position on the ski 1 (FIG. 13A) to a transport condition (FIG. 13B). Since the base element 2 is produced of a plastic support material 2 it is, other than with climbing skins, not necessary here that the adhesive layer 5 be covered with a separating film before the climbing aid 1 is rolled up.
[0081] FIGS. 14A, 14B shows an embodiment of the climbing aid 1 in which the base element 2 comprises a plurality of longitudinal sections 17 which are connected with one another in pairs by a respective hinge connection 18. In accordance with FIGS. 14A, 14B, the hinge connection 18 comprises a connection element 19 arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the base element 2, said connection element 19 having higher flexibility, i.e. lower resistance to deformation, than the plastic support material 2. For this purpose, the climbing aid 1 may be produced in the 2-component injection molding process. The longitudinal sections 17 of the climbing aid 1 can, on the one hand, be arranged in a condition corresponding to the mounting position on the ski 1, which is illustrated schematically in FIG. 14A by a plane orientation of the longitudinal sections 17. On the other hand, the climbing aid 1 may be folded along the hinge connections 18 if the climbing aid 1 is to be stored after use. FIG. 14B illustrates the folding of the longitudinal sections 17 schematically with arrows 20. In FIGS. 14A to 16 the adhesive layer 5 and the backwards-slipping prevention elements 6 are not illustrated for the sake of clarity.
[0082] FIGS. 15A, 15B illustrate an embodiment of the climbing aid 1 in which the plastic support material 2 comprises notches 21 for forming the hinge connections 18. The notches 21 are formed by groove-shaped recesses of the plastic support material 2. In order to improve the swiveling capacity of the longitudinal sections 17 at the notches, the notches 21 extend over the entire breadth of the plastic support material 2. In the illustrated embodiment the notches 21 are provided alternatingly on the inner side and on the outer side of the plastic support material 2. Due to the hinge connections 18 formed by the notches 21, the climbing aid 1 can be transferred from a condition corresponding to the climbing position, which is illustrated schematically in FIG. 15A as a plane arrangement of the longitudinal sections 17, to a folded transport condition (FIG. 15B) which is particularly suited for storing the climbing aid 1 in a backpack.
[0083] FIG. 16 illustrates an embodiment of the climbing aid 1 in which the plastic support material 2 is connected over the entire length with a connection layer 22 having a smaller layer thickness than the plastic support material 2. The longitudinal sections 17 of the plastic support material 2 are arranged to be spaced by gaps 23, wherein the gaps 23 are designed as hinge connections 18 in the illustrated embodiment. In the region of the gaps 23 the climbing aid 1 has higher flexibility and/or lower resistance to deformation than in the remaining sections, so that the storing of the climbing aid 1 is facilitated by the folding of the longitudinal sections 17 along the hinge connections 18. An elastic film or a flexible mesh may, for instance, be provided as a connection layer 22, wherein, due to the spacing between the adjacent longitudinal sections 17, the foldability of the climbing aid 1 is ensured.
[0084] FIG. 17 illustrates an embodiment of the climbing aid 1 in which the longitudinal sections 17 are connected with each other by means of connections detachable without tools. The detachable connections comprise cooperating positive locking elements 25 in the kind of a groove and tongue connection which is detachable in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the base element 2. In the connected condition, the positive locking elements 25 effect that the connection in the longitudinal plane of the base element 2 is blocked, so that unintentional detaching of the connection in use is reliably prevented. In this embodiment, the longitudinal sections 17 may be formed by injection molded parts.
[0085] FIG. 18 shows a further embodiment of the climbing aid 1 in which a detachable connection is provided between adjacent longitudinal sections 17. The detachable connection comprises as positive locking elements 25 at least one male connecting part 26 at the one longitudinal section 17 and at least one matching female connecting part 27 at the other longitudinal section 17. In the illustrated embodiment connecting parts 26, 27 are punched from the plastic support material 2.
[0086] FIG. 19 illustrates a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 15A in which a plurality of narrower notches 21 are provided for forming the hinge connections 18. FIG. 19 additionally shows schematically an adhesive agent layer 28, in particular of a fleece material, which is provided on the underside of the flexible plastic support material 2 which faces the running surface of the ski 1, so as to improve the application of the adhesive. The adhesive agent layer 28 is preferably applied after the extrusion of the film web forming the plastic support material 2.
[0087] FIG. 20 illustrates a modification of the embodiment pursuant to FIG. 8 in which the base element 2 comprises, in the lateral regions, sidewards-slipping prevention elements 6 in the form of narrow longitudinal webs which extend in the direction of travel W. This embodiment has turned out particularly advantageous for hillside crossing. The longitudinal webs overlap the backwards-slipping prevention elements 6. In the illustrated embodiment the base element 2 comprises, in the lateral regions, two respective rows of sidewards-slipping prevention elements 6 offset in the direction of travel W.
