Ski grippers

Abstract

A ski gripping system has a ski, a gripping strip and a piece of skins. The gripping strip is mounted longitudinally and laterally to an outer side of the ski along a center portion/grip zone of the ski. A width of the gripping strip is from 17 mm to 60 mm, a height of the gripping strip is from 15 mm to 25 mm, and a length of the gripping strip is from 600 mm to 800 mm. A longitudinal bottom inner edge of the gripping strip is level with an underside of the ski. An underside of the gripping strip is laterally outward sloping 5 degrees upward relative to the underside of the ski. The piece of skins is attached to the underside of the gripping strip.

Claims

1. A ski gripping system comprising: a ski; a gripping strip; a piece of skins; the gripping strip being mounted longitudinally and laterally to an outer side of the ski along a center portion/grip zone of the ski; a width of the gripping strip being from 17 mm to 60 mm; a height of the gripping strip being from 15 mm to 25 mm; a length of the gripping strip being from 600 mm to 800 mm; a longitudinal bottom inner edge of the gripping strip being level with an underside of the ski; an underside of the gripping strip being laterally outward sloping 5 degrees upward relative to the underside of the ski; and the piece of skins being attached to the underside of the gripping strip.

2. The ski gripping system according to claim 1 comprising: the underside of the gripping strip having an 2 mm deep interleaving covering most of its surface; a longitudinal inner edge of the interleaving going 5 mm from an outer edge of the underside of the ski; and the underside of the ski constituting a sliding surface.

3. The ski gripping system according to claim 2 comprising: the piece of skins fitting in and being attached into the interleaving on the underside of the gripping strip; and the piece of skins constituting a gripping surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a line drawings of a ski and ski gripper/strip as seen from below according to the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a cross section of the ski and Ski Gripper/strip shown in FIG. 1 at the ski midpoint.

(3) A: Ski

(4) B: Ski's underside/sliding surface

(5) C: Ski Gripper/strip

(6) D: Underside of Ski Gripper/strip

(7) E: Skins/gripping surface

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) Ski Grippers, or gripping strips for skis, is a device initially meant to replace grip waxing of skis, which at times can be quite problematic and time consuming. And the problem of wearing the grip wax off the skis in hard and icy conditions is being eliminated. But Ski Grippers can also replace so-called waxless skis, and use of skins for mountain and touring skis.

(9) On a pair of skis, a strip (C) of wood or another material is mounted longitudinally and laterally to the outer side of each ski (A) along the ski center portion/grip zone. To secure continuous contact with the substrate throughout its length, the strip must be mounted with at least 3 attachment points, one at the strip's midpoint and one at each strip end. The strip should be mounted tightly to the ski (A), to avoid snow or anything to wedge in between.

(10) The ski's and the strip's abutting bottom edges may be smooth high, or the strip's edge slightly higher, to be sure that the strip's edge will not cut into the substrate in the sliding phase. The strip's width can span from 17 mm (adapted to ski tracks for the narrowest skis), and up to about 60 mm, depending on ski width and on how much grip which is desired. The strip's height can be from about 15 mm to about 25 mm, dependent on ski thickness, and the length from about 600 to about 800 mm, dependent on ski length. The strip's underside (D) is, laterally from inner to outer edge, sloping about 5 degrees upward relative to the ski's underside (A), which underside constitutes the sliding surface (B). The strip's underside (D) has an interleaving covering most of it's surface, with a depth of about 2 mm, into which interleaving a piece of skins fits and is attached, which skins constitutes the gripping surface (E). The inner edge of the gripping surface (E) will then go about 5 mm from the outer edge of the sliding surface (A), and the anterior, outer, and rear edges of the gripping surface (E) will go about 2 mm from the respective adjacent bottom edges of the strip.

(11) Due to the described angle between the sliding surface (B) and the gripping surface (E), only the gripping surface (E) will be in contact with and rest on the substrate to give optimal grip, when this side is laid flat on the substrate. When the sliding surface is laid flat on the substrate, only this side will be in contact with and rest on the substrate to give optimal glide, due to the described distance as well as to the angle between the two surfaces. Hence in order to get grip, stepping a bit over onto the outer side of the foot is required, which is easier than stepping over the opposite way. And with the Ski Grippers mounted on the outer side of the skis, the skis' inner bottom edges are retained for plow breaking in downhills. The skis' outer bottom edges will of course not be suitable for breaking or swinging, unless the Ski Grippers are taken off the skis. In looser snow conditions, the ski will of course more or less sink down, so that the gripping surface will come in contact with the substrate in the sliding phase, and reduce the glide a bit. So a separate part, not included in this application, a short front end with a tip, is intended to be used with the Ski Grippers, to clear trail for the gripping surface.