LOWER FLANGE HAVING A BRACKETING EFFECT

Abstract

A ski, wherein the ski includes: a ski core; a ski coating which forms an underside of the ski; a lower flange which is arranged between the ski core and the ski coating; steel edges; and side walls; wherein the lower flange includes at least a front region and/or a rear region which is broader, in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the ski, than a distance between the steel edges in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ski in the region.

Claims

1. A ski, comprising: a ski core; a ski coating which forms an underside of the ski; a lower flange which is arranged between the ski core and the ski coating; steel edges; and side walls; wherein the lower flange comprises at least a front region and/or a rear region which is broader, in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the ski, than a distance between the steel edges in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ski in said region.

2. The ski according to claim 1, wherein the lower flange extends up to and onto an upper side of the side walls which faces away from the steel edges, in the front region and/or in the rear region, on both sides.

3. The ski according to claim 1, wherein the lower flange is bracket-shaped, at least in the front region and/or in the rear region.

4. The ski according to claim 1, wherein the lower flange comprises bracket-shaped or fin-shaped lateral ends which extend in the front region and/or in the rear region.

5. The ski according to claim 1, wherein the lower flange comprises multiple parts, including: another lower flange which extends between the steel edges in the longitudinal direction of the ski, in the region of the ski coating, substantially over the entire ski; and a second part which forms the broadened portion or a bracket or a fin in the front region and/or rear region.

6. The ski according to claim 5, wherein the second part of the lower flange comprises a middle part which is joined to the other lower flange over its whole surface.

7. The ski according to claim 1, wherein the lower flange can consist of a single material or different materials.

8. The ski according to claim 5, wherein the other lower flange consists of i) the same material, ii) the same materials, iii) at least partially different materials, or iv) different materials.

9. A lower flange for incorporating in a ski, wherein the lower flange is broader, in a two-dimensional flat shape in the front region and/or rear region, than the finished ski in said region.

10. The lower flange according to claim 9, wherein the lower flange is arranged between a core of the ski and a coating of the ski, the lower flange comprising at least a front region and/or a rear region which is broader, in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the ski, than a distance between edges of the ski in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ski in said region.

11. The ski according to claim 1, wherein the lower flange comprises multiple parts, including: another lower flange which extends between the steel edges in the longitudinal direction of the ski, in the region of the ski coating, substantially over the entire ski; and at least one further part which forms the broadened portions or a bracket or a fin in the front region and/or rear region.

12. The ski according to claim 11, wherein the at least one further part of the lower flange comprises a middle part which is joined to the other lower flange over its whole surface.

13. The ski according to claim 11, wherein the other lower flange and the at least one further part consists of i) the same material, ii) the same materials, iii) at least partially different materials, or iv) of different materials.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Example embodiments of a ski in accordance with aspects of the invention and of lower flanges in accordance with aspects of the invention shall be described in more detail in the following on the basis of figures. Features essential to the invention which can only be gathered from the figures form part of the scope of the invention and can advantageously develop, individually or in combinations shown. The figures show:

[0023] FIG. 1 the essential component parts of a ski in accordance with the invention, separated from each other;

[0024] FIG. 2 the parts from FIG. 1, partially connected to each other;

[0025] FIG. 3 a first example embodiment of a lower flange in accordance with the invention, as a semi-finished product;

[0026] FIG. 4 a second example embodiment of a lower flange in accordance with the invention, as a semi-finished product; and

[0027] FIG. 5 a third example embodiment of a lower flange in accordance with the invention, as a semi-finished product.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] FIG. 1 shows the essential parts which a ski 1 according to an aspect of the invention comprises. The individual parts are shown separately from each other in a sectional view through a binding region of the ski 1. The ski 1 comprises a ski coating 2, steel edges 3, another lower flange 4, side walls 5, a lower flange 40 or a part of it, and a ski core 6. The ski 1 can optionally also comprise an upper flange (not shown) and a cover (not shown) which forms the visible upper side of the ski.

[0029] As can be seen, the other lower flange 4 is cropped such that it can be placed onto the ski coating 2 between the steel edges 3. The lower flange 40 is shaped such that its middle part 7 lies on the other lower flange 4. The ends 40b, 40c of the lower flange 40 which point transverse to the longitudinal axis of L the ski are bracket-shaped, such that they can abut the respective side wall 5 on an inwardly facing longitudinal side 51 and on the upper side 52.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows the ski 1 in a partially assembled state. The steel edges 3 are lying on the ski coating 2, the other lower flange 4 is lying on the ski coating 2, and the side walls 5 are lying on an upper side 3a of the steel edges 3. The lower flange 40 is not yet in place; however, it can be clearly seen that the middle part 7 will lie on the other lower flange 4 and on an upper side 3a of the steel edges 3, and the lateral ends 40b, 40c of the lower flange 40 will lie on or, respectively, abut the longitudinal side 51 and the upper side 53 of the respective side wall 5.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a lower flange 40 of a first example embodiment comprising a region 40a, which is a front region in the skiing direction or longitudinal direction L of the ski, and the sides 40b, 40c. As shown, the lower flange 40 can be punched or cut out of a two-dimensional, i.e. flat, mat or sheet material. If the material is flexible enough, it is possible to deform it only once the ski 1 is being assembled; or if the material can be cured, it can for example be pre-formed by supplying heat and/or applying pressure. If it is a rigid material, then the lower flange 40 can for example be deformed and/or pre-formed in a press, with or without supplying heat, before it is incorporated into the ski 1.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a lower flange 50 of a second example embodiment comprising a region 50a, which is a rear region in the skiing direction or longitudinal direction L of the ski, and the sides 50b, 50c. As can be seen, the rear region 50a terminates in front of the rear end of the lower flange 50.

[0033] Finally, FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a lower flange 60 comprising a front region 60a including the sides 60b, 60c, and a rear region 60d including the sides 60e, 60f. Between the front region 60a and the rear region 60d, the breadth of the lower flange 60 as measured transverse to the skiing direction corresponds to the breadth of the other lower flange 4, such as has been described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. This intermediate region can for example comprise the region in which a ski binding or a separate front jaw and a separate rear jaw can be connected to the ski 1.

[0034] A longitudinal extension of the front regions 40a, 60a and rear regions 50a, 60d can be freely selected, meaning that they can also extend into the region in which the ski binding or the ski retaining units can be connected to the ski. The tip 41 and the end 42 of the lower flange 40 can still be part of the front region 40a; 60a or rear region 50a; 60d. Finally, it is also possible for the lower flange 40 to extend over the entire length of the ski or other lower flange 4.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0035] 1 ski [0036] 2 ski coating [0037] 3 steel edge [0038] 3a upper side of the steel edge [0039] 4 other lower flange [0040] 40 lower flange [0041] 40a front region [0042] 40b lateral end [0043] 40c lateral end [0044] 41 tip [0045] 42 end [0046] 5 side wall [0047] 50 lower flange [0048] 50a rear region [0049] 50b lateral end [0050] 50c lateral end [0051] 51 longitudinal side of the side wall [0052] 52 upper side of the side wall [0053] 6 ski core [0054] 60 lower flange [0055] 60a front region [0056] 60b lateral end [0057] 60c lateral end [0058] 60d rear region [0059] 60e lateral end [0060] 60f lateral end [0061] 7 middle part [0062] L longitudinal axis of the ski