Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
417
sackground of the Invention
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a running surface for
skis, whereby at least one portion of the running surface
is provided with profilings, such as steps or scales
which have surfaces rising at least partially in the back-
ward direction, and with ribs extending in the longitudinal
direction of the ski.
Description_of the Prior Art
lQ A ski of the above-mentioned kind has, for ex
ample, already been described in the Austrain patent
No. 330.625. Further suggestions have also been made
to provide the running surface of the ski with pro-
filings, such as scales or steps, which offer far less
resistance against forward gliding than against back-
ward sliding (e.g. United States Patent No. 3.408.086,
laid open German Specification 1.954.075). ~unning
surfaces of this kind are first of all intended for
cross-country skis. Scaled or stepped running bases which
~0 haye been known so far either pro-vide satisfactory glid-
ing characteristics for the forward gliding bu~ at the
same time insufficient resistance against backward sliding
(climbing characteristics~ or they provide suffIcient
climbing characteristics kut insufficient gliding char-
acteristics for foward gliding.
It was the obiect of seyeral known suggestions
with regard to stepped or scaled running bases to
417
improve the tracking of the ski by a special arrangement
of the profilings of the running surface, i.e. in such a
way that the usual central guiding groove can be omitted
or be of very shallow cross-section.
A former suggestion (Austrian Patent No.
151.363) pro~ides a stepped running surface and breaking
and guiding members on the individual steps, said members
haying a skid-shaped edge at their front end and a break-
ing tip at their rear end. Such a construction of the
10. running surface should not only prevent backward sliding
when climbing upwards but aboye all provide a better
guiding of the ski on crus.ty or icy tracks, the skid-
shaped edges of the breaking and guiding mem~ers obvious-
ly having or complementing the function of gripping means
. on crusty tracks.
.
Summary o the I.nyention
It is the object of the present invent~on to
produce running surfaces for sk~s for cross-country skis
in particular, which come close to an ideal relation be-
tween satisfactory forward gliding characteristics and
sufficient resistance against backward s~.iding on the one
: hand and which, on the other hand, makes the guiding of
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the ski (tracking) possible without the usual central guiding groove or im-
proves the guiding in addition to one (or several longitudinally extending)
guiding groove(s).
The invention provides a running surface for skis, at least part
of the running surface being provided with two kinds of profilings compris-
ing:
a) first profilings, having surfaces with an inclined front portion
rising in the backward direction of the ski and a planar rear portion that is
parallel to the major plane of the running surface, and
b) second profilings in the form of ribs extending in the longi-
tudinal direction of the ski, said ribs surmounting at lcast said planar
rear portion of the surface of said first profilings by a substantia~ly
constant height (c) with respect to the surface of said first profilings,
and said ribs terminating above said planar rear porticn of the surface of
said first profilings in a rearwardly directed face.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided
a method for producing a r~mning surface of skis, the latter having at least
one part of a running surface provided with two kinds of prcfilings, com-
prising the steps of: providing a plurality of longitudinally extending
ribs in said running surface without cutting of said surface; and cutting
the running surface transversely to produce a plurality of first profilings
in the area of said longitudinally extending ribs each having a forward
inclined portion and a rear planar portion.
The ribs according to the invention superi~posed on the profilings,
i.e. s~ales, steps or the like, do not only influence the longitudinal
guiding, i.e. the tracking of the ski, but their faces being turned into
the backward direction also increase the resistance of the ski against
backward sliding, also in the case of hard snow or icy tracks, without im-
pairing the forward gliding characteristics to the same extent. Due to
the invention the scales, steps or the like can either have a longitudinal
641~
profiling that is better suited for gliding than conventional mounting o
gliding bases, thereby obtaining improved gliding characteristics for gliding
forwards, the mounting characteristics remaining at least the same. It is,
furthermore, possible to use a conventional arrangement of profilings pro- -
viding good gliding characteristics and to improve the mounting character-
istics by means of the invention. Moreover, the ribs according to the
invention provide a good longitudinal guiding of the ski.
Brief Description of the Drawings
_ _ .
In the following, embodiments of the invention will be described
in more detail by means of the drawings without being limited thereto.
Figure 1 shows a top view of the running surface of the ski;
Figure 2 shows an enlarged view according to A of figure l;
Figure 3 shows a cross-section according to III-III of figure 2; -
Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section according to IV-IV of `-
figure 2;
Figure 5 shows a further enlarged section according to B of
figure 4;
Figure 6 shows a section of the running surface of the ski being
a different embodiment of figure 2;
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Fig. 7 shows a top view of the running surface of
the ski;
Fig. 8 ~hows an enlarged longitudinal section
according to VIII VIII of fisure 7;
Fig. 9 shows a top view of the running surface of :~
the ski;
Fig. 10 shows an enlarged longitudinal section -~-
according to X-X of figure 8;
Fig. 11 shows a top view of a portion of a running -
surface of a running base;
Fig. 12 shows a longitudinal section of the running
base according to XII-XII of figure 11;
Fig. 13 shows a top view of a portion of the running
surface of a running base of a ski;
Fig. 14 shows a longitudinal section of the running
base according to XIV-XIV of figure 13;
Fig. 15 shows a further-top view of the running surface
of a ski;
Fig. 16 shows an enlarged portion according to C of
figure 15;
Fig. 17 shows a cross-section according to XVII-XVII
of ~igure ~6; ~
Fig. 18 shows a longitudinal section according to
XVIII-XVIII of figure 16; and
Fig. 19 shows a further enlarged portion according to
D of f igure 16.
17
Description of the Preferred_Embodiments
In the embodiment according to figures 1 through 5
a running base 2 which is advantageously of
plastics, polyethylene for example, is mounted
in the lower part of the body 1 ~f the ski.
The running surface in the central portion of
the ski is provided with stepped profilings which
are superimposed by longitudinally extending
ribs 3. The running surface of the front and
rear portion of the ski has longitudinally
extending ribs 4 which surmount the plane 5
of the running surface.
The stepped profilings have a surface 6 rising
in the backward direction and having a planar
portion in front of the step edge 7, said portion being
positioned in the extension of the plane 5 of the
running surface of the front and rear step-free
portion of the ski~ The planar portion of the
surface 6 is of great importance to good gliding
characteristics of the ski resp. of its running
base. The greater the length a of said planar
portion, the~better the gliding characte~istics :
of the longitudinal profile of the steps. In the
embodiment the ratio between length a of the
planar portion of the surface 6 of the step and length b
of the rising portion is, therefore, bigger than one
( b ~ 1 ) .
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6417
In the embodiment according to figures 1 through 5
the portions of the surfaces 6 do not surmount
the plane 5 of the running surface. The plane 5
-of the running surface is, however, partially ~
near step edge 7 - surmounted by the ribs 3 superimposed
on the steps and by the ribs 4 in the step-free
portions. . . .-
The ribs 3 extend from the lowest portion of a step
--~ at a constant height over the surface 6 preferably -.... -
o onto the step edge 7. The height c of ribs 3 is
advantageousl:y relatively reduced, i.e. less than
the depth d of the steps. The height o:the ribs
- ~ ~~ is, for-éxample, 0,1 to 0,3 mm, the depth of the . .-
steps 0,4 to 0,6 mm. The width e of the ribs 3
.~ 15 is smaller than the width f of the gliding
portions of the surface 6 positioned between two
ribs (fig. 2). --
This measure and, furthermore, the feature providing s-
that the height c of the ribs is smaller than (or
e~ual to) the depth d of the steps, and, moreover,
the feature providing that the length a of the planar
portion of the surface 6 is bigger than (or equal to)
the length b of the rising portion of the surface 6
attribute to an ideal realization of the object of
; 25 the invention, particularly with regard to good
forward gliding characteristics of the ski.
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~ 6 ~ ~ 7
The ribs 4 in the front and rear step-free portion
of the ski advantageously have the same height
and width~ the same distances and the same cross-
sectional profile as the ribs 3 in the stepped --
~ortion. Figure 3 illustrates an advantageous
cross-sectional profile of the ribs 3 (and of the
ribs 4). Other cross-sectional profiles of the ribs 3
resp. 4 are also possible.
.
In the embodiment according to figures 1 through 5
the ribs 3 of two adjacent steps are aligned.
Moreover, the ribs 4 of the step-free portions of
the running surface are aligned with the ribs 3
of the steps. As can be seen in figure 6, the ribs 3
of two adjacent steps can also be staggered. The
ribs 3 of the first step are, moreover, staggered
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, in respect of the ribs 4 of the step-free portion
of the running surface.
... . . ...
In the embodiment according to figures 7 and 8, too,
a running base 2 of plastics is mounted on the body 1
2Q ~ of the ski, the running surface of the central portion
, of the ski being provided with stepped profilings
which are superimposed by longitudinally extending
ribs 3.
As compared to the embodIments according to figures
1 through 5, figures 7 and 8 illustrate that the
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... . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . .
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5tep-free portions of the running surface have the
usual central guiding groove 8. (Several
longitudinally extending guiding grooves could
be provided, too.)
Figures 7 and 8, furthermore, illustrate that the
surface 6 of the steps rising in the backward
direction terminates in front of the step edge 7 ~
in a plane lying deeper than the plane 5 o~ the
running surface of the step-free portion of the ski,
i.e. deeper by the height of the ribs 3, so that
the ribs 3 do not surmount the plane 5 of the
running surface but that their head portions lie
in the plane 5 of the running surface.
In the embodiment according to figures 9 and 10, too,
a running base 2 of plastics is mounted on the body 1
of the ski, the running surface of the central
portion of the ski being provided with stepped ~ -
profilings which are superimposed by longitudinally
extending ribs 3.
As compared to the afore-mentioned embodiments
figures 9 and 10 illustrate that a running groove 8
which extends continuously and substantially over
the entire length of the ski and also over the
stepped portion. Figures 9 and 10,furthermore,
illustrate that the surface 6 of the steps rising
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in the backward direction terminates in front
of the step edge 7 in a plane lying deeper than
the plane 5 of the running surface of the -
step-free portions of the ski surface by more
than the height of the ribs 3, so that the head
portions of the ribs 3 lie below the plane 5
of the running surface.
' = ......... .'
In the embodiment according to figures 7 and 8
as well as in the embodiment according to
figures 9 and 10 a special form similar to figure 6 --
having staggered ribs 3 is possible. The features
of figures 7 and 8 resp. figures 8 and 9 with
regard to the step height in the step-free portion
I in respect of the plane 5 of the running surface
I 15 can, for example, also be applied in the
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,~ embodiment according to figures 1 through 5.
i
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The illustrated embodiments show "straight" stepped
profilings as the terminating lines of the steps
resp. step edges 7 take a straight, transversal
portion in respect of the longitudinal axis of
the ski. This is, no must, however;
the terminating lines of the steps resp. step
~ edges can also be curved.
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Z~ The illustrated embodiments show stepped profilings
~ 25 of the running surface of the ski. The invention can be
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equally applied to scaled running bases. Figures 11
and 12 show a portion of a scaled running ~ase
with p~sitive scales being superimposed by ribs 3
according to the invention. Figures 13 and 14
show a portion of a scaled running base with `
negative scales also being superimposed by ribs 3
according to the invention. In figures 11 and 13 - -
the upward direction is orientated towar~s the
ski tip and the downward direction towards the
10 rear and of the ski. According to figures 11 . --
through 13 one rib 3 each is disposed on each scale.
It is also possible, however, to dispose two or
more ribs extending parallel to one another on
each scale.
In the embodiment according to figures 15 through 19
a running base 2, preferably of plastics, e.g. of
- polyethylene, is mounted on the lower surface of
the body 1 of the ski. The central portion of the
running surface of the ski has stepped profilings
which are superimposed by longitudinally extending
..
ribs 3 in the portion 6' of the surface~ The running
surface of the front and rear portions of the ski
has longitudinally extending ribs 4 surmounting the
plane 5 of the running surface.
The stepped profilings have a surface portion 6"
rising in the backward direction and changing over
69~
into a plane surface portion 6' said surface
portion 6' lying in the extension of the plane 5
of the running surface of the front and rear
step-free portions of the ski. The plane
portion 6' of the surface is of essential importance
to the gliding characteristics of the ski resp~
of the running base. The greater the length a of
said planar portion 6', the better the gliding
characteristics of the longitudinal profile of
the steps. In the embodiment the ration between
length a of the planar portion 6' of the step
surface and length b of the rising portion 6" is
bigger than one (b > 1 ) .
In the embodiment according to figures 15 through 19
the planar surface portions 6' do not surmount the
plane 5 of the running surface. The plane 5 of the
running surface is, however, surmounted by the ribs 3
superimposed on the steps and by the ribs 4 in the
step-free portions.
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The ribs 3 only extend over the planar surface
portions 6' of the stepped profilings and terminate
in a backward directed face 3' (tGwards the ski end).
The face 3' is advantageously vertically positioned
in respect of the plane 5 of the running surface but
it can also include a small angle with the vertical
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line of the plane of the running surface. Moreover,
the face 3' can be planar or curved, concave in
particular. The feature of the backward directed
face 3' of the ribs 3 is of paxticular importance
to good mounting characteristics of the ski. The
front end of the ribs 3 directed towards the
ski tip are inclined and gradually and smoothly
change over into the surface portion 6" of the
steps rising in the backward dlrection. These
measures are important with regard to good forward
gliding characteristics.
In this embodiment, too, the height c of the ribs 3
is advantageously relatively reduced, i.e. less than
the depth d of the steps. The height of the ribs is,
for example, 0,1 to 0,3 mm the depth of the steps
O,4 to 0,6 mm. The width e of the ribs 3 is
smaller than the width f of the gliding portions
of the step surface 6' positioned between two
ribs (fig. l6).
20- This measure and, furthermore, the feature providing
that the height c of the ribs is smaller than
(or e~ual to) the depth d of the steps and, moreover,
the feature providing that the length a of the
planar portion of the step surface 6' is bigger than
(or equal to) the length b of the rising portion of the
step surface 6" also produce good forward gliding
characteristics of the ski.
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69117
The ribs 4 in the front and rea~ step-free portion
of the ski advantageously have the s~me height
and width, the same distances and the same
cross-sectional profile as the ribs 3 in the
stepped portion. Figure 17 illustrates an
advantageous cross-sectional profile of the ribs 3
~and of the ribs 4). Other cross-sectional profiles
of the ribs 3 resp. 4 are also possible.
In the embodiment according to figures 15 through 19
the ribs 3 of two adjacent steps are aligned. Moreover,
the ribs 4 ~f the step-free portion of the running
surface are aligned with the ribs 3 of the steps.
The ribs 3 of two adjacent steps can also be
staggered. Furthermore, it is possible to provide
step-free portions of the running surface of the
! ski without ribs 4 and to provide the usual central
guiding groove instead. The central guiding groove
can also extend over the profiled portio~ of the
running surface of the ski.
In the embodiment according to figures 1 through 5
as well as in the embodiment according to figures 15
through 19 the width e of the ribs 3 resp. 4 is
smaller than the width f of the gliding portions
lying between the ribs. This is no must, however;
on the contrary, the ribs 3 resp. 4 can also be
broader than the intermediate portions between the ribs.
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The running surface according to the invention can
be produced by non-cutting (e.g. by stamping by
means of stamping rolls) or cut,ing methods.
The running surface according to figures 14 through 19
is particularly suited for a process comprising a
first step in which the profilings without ribs
are produced by a non-cutting method, e.g. by
stamping, and a second step in which several
grooves are milled by a cutting method at least
into that portion of the running surface of the ski
which has profilings, said grooves having a planar
bottom surface, being spaced beside one another and
extending in the longitudinal direction of the ski,
whereby the depth of the grooves is smaller than the
depth of the profilings. The planar bottom surfaces
of the milled grooves, thus, form the planar surface
portions of the profilings and the webs remaining
between the grooves form the ribs according to the
invention being superimposed on the planar surface
portions of the profilings.
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The production can, for example, also be carried out
by producing the running surface with the longitudinal
ribs in a first production step, preferably by a
non-cutting method, e~g. by extrusion, without steps,
scales or similar profilings, whereupon, in a second
step, the portions of the steps, scales or simliar
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profilings lying below the pl~ne of the running
surface are milled transverse in respect of
the longitudinal axis of the ski.
In the illustrated embodiments the steps resp.
the scale rows extend over the whole width of the
ski. This is, however, no essential feature of
the invention. Bordex or central strips, for
example, can remain without stepped or scaled
profilings, whereby the surfaces of said strips
can, for example, be positioned in the plane 5
of the running surface of the front and rear
step-free resp. scale-free portions of the
running surface of the ski. The border strips
can, e.g. in the case of touring skis, take up
steel edges.
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