Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~3~7
SKI FOR TI~E HA~DICAPPED
. . . _
Technical Fleld
The present invention relates to a ski for the handi-
capped with a seating shell having at least one sea-ting area
and a further area, disposed in front of the seating shell in
the longitudinal direction of the ski, for supporting the
legs. Supporting parts are pivotably attached -to both sides
of the seating shell, the ends of which, in the pivoted posi-
tion, are supported on the ground to prevent tipping.
Prior Art
An apparatus of this kind is known ~rom German Pa-tent
277983, although there it is called a "sports sled". Its
seating shell is quite flat, and a crossbar is provided for
the shoes to rest on. The knee area, in particular, is entirely
in the open. For lateral support in order to prevent tipping,
and for braking as well, hand-operated supporting parts are
pivotably articulated on the shell. This sports equipment is
practically unsuitable Eor the handicapped, especially for
paraplegics, who while at the standstill and when starting
are unable to use their feet to prevent tipping, and who
must have their hands free for operating the bar of a s~i
lift and for other manipulations and so cannot hold onto
the supporting parts.
A further, similar apparatus is also known from U.~.
Patent 4,310,169, in which the seating shell is secured
directly to a mono-ski and spaced only slightly apart from
it. The legs can be firmly strapped to the mono-ski in
c~ /efe
the area sf thè knees by a belt. The ~e~e~e-here is
relatively unprotected; skiing through relatively deep snow
is impossible because the seatin~ shell is so close to the
~round, and even on a smooth slope snow continually gets
into the seating shell. Furthermore, "wedeln", that is,
skiin~ downhill in short swings back and orth at a constant
speed, is difficult to achieve with good balance, because
the athlete's center is gravity is so low to the ground.
From U. S. Patents 4,193,609 and 3,325,179 and Swiss
Paten-t 479317, a skibob which is ideally suited for "wedeln"
is known. However, because no protection for the legs is
provided, parapelgics and those whose legs have been amputated
cannot use this equipment.
~ ~3,~3~
U. S. Patent ~ ~3~ discloses a sled with three
skis and a seating shell comprising an upper and a lower part.
Athletic skiing, in which centrifugal force during "wedeln"
is compensated for by leaning considerably away from the
vertical, is impossible with this sled.
From French Patent ~16334 and U. S. Patent ~,114,912,
skiing apparatus with fixed lateral support runners are known.
But these models, too, are unsuitable for the severly handica?ped
because they lack the required vrotection for the legs.
It is known to use a sled mounted on two skis in order
to transport handicapped persons. It is hardly possible for
the handicapped person himself, however. to use this
e~uipment for skiingl and in particular an athletic "wedeln"
cannot possibly be accomplished.
From Austrian Patent 28~641, an appaxatus is known
for attaching sleds to tow lifts~ in which a loop of a belt
can be opened via an openin~ button of a lock.
3~
OBJ~CT AND Sll~ ARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the presen-t invention to provide
a way to enable persons who are handicapped in terms of the
mobility of their legs -to engage in athletic skiing activity.
S Accordingly, the invention is direct to providing the simplest
and safest possible equipment ~ith which even the handicapped,
such as paraplegics, can ski.
This object is attained by means of a s~i for the
handicapped embodied in accordance with the invention. The
invention also relates to various advantageous improvements
to this equipmen-t.
It has been found -that with this type of ski or skiing
equipment, even paraplegics whose lower body is completely
paralyzed can ski down any ski slope, even if it is bumpy
or co~ered with deep snow. All tha-t is required is a training
period of a few days. Control is accomplished by shifting -the
weight, if need be with the aid of ski crutches--that is, small
skis attached either fixedly or movably to short crutches which
are used from the sitting position in the seating shell.
A secure upright position of -the mono-ski even while
at a standstill is possible, without requiring that the
handicapped skier use his hands to support himself, because of
}5~ 7
the ~cs-i-ng of the tow and support bar. This element-is
embodied by two supporting parts articulated onto both sides
of the seating shell and joined to one another via crossbars.
In a position of readiness, the tow and suppor-t bar is pulled
away from the seating shell by means of a spring, b~ the ends
of the bar towards the rear in the skiing direction, in such
a manner that the ends of the supporting parts ~est on the
ground.
--3--
~3~
The danger of accidents is lessened substantially
if the tow bar holder can be lowered at least partially in
housing by bein~ ~ivoted counter to the directior. of skiing.
Unhindered "wedeln" is made possible by providing means
S on the seating shell for arrestin~ the tow and support bar in
the ~osition for skiin~; in this position, the tow and su?port
~ar and the supporting parts predominantly rest on the seatin~
shell.
A considerable increase in stability, even on a soft
surface, can be attained by providing that the end area of the
supporting parts is pivotable via a joint so as to rest
against the underpart of the shell. In the readiness or
waiting position, this end area can be ~ivoted outward to
increase the distance between the supports and the vertical
of the center of gravity, while when the tow and sup?ort bar
is in ~he arrested position for starting to ski the end area
rests on the underpart of the shell.
The invention will now be described in detail in terms
of preferred exemplary embodiments shown in the dra~ings.
3rlef Description o the D ~
Fig. 1 illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of the
invention;
Fig. 2 is a side view o~ the exemplarY embodiment of
Fig. l;
Fig. 3, located on the' same sheet as Fig. 1, illustrates
a first embodiment of a tow bar holder;
Fig. 4, located on the same sheet as Fig. 1, is a view
of the tow bar holder of Fig. 3 seen in the direction of the
line IV-IV of Fig. 3;
--4--
Fig. 5, located on the same sheet as Fig. 1, illustra~_s
another embodiment of a tow bar holder;
Fig. 6, located on the same sheet as Fig. 1, illustrates
a further embodiment of a tow bar holder;
Fig. 7 illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of the
invention;
Figs. 8 and 9 are two side views of a further en~odiment
of the invention;
Fig. 10 illustrates still another exemplary embodiment
of the invention.
Fig. 11 is a section taken along the line XI-XI of
Fig. 10 through a resilient bearing;
Fig. 12 is a YieW from undexneath an embodiment for
cross-country skiing; an~
Fig. 13 is a side view of the embodiment of Fig. 12.
Description o~ the Preferred Embodiments
A seating shell 3 i8 attached via a strut 2
to a single or mon~-ski 1, such that it is articulated in
the longituclinal plane. The seating shell 3 co~prises a
lower portion 4 and an upper portion 5. The upper portion is
removable for entering and leavin~ the shell and can be
arrested on the lower portion 4 by means of locl;ing brackets
6. The rear portion of the seating shell 3 is the seating area
7, with a side panel 31 and a baclc panel 33 which are extended
upward approximately as far as the arr.lpits of a person
seated in the seating shell 3. The seatin~ area 7 is supported
on the mono-ski l by a shock absorber 9. The strut 2 and
the mono-ski 1 are joined by a joint 2' whicl- enables
tipping of the seating shell 3 relative to the rnono-ski 1
a,~ 0~O,~/
about an axis that is vcrt-i-e&~ to the mono-ski 1.
For use, a person takes a seat in the seating shell
3 (see Fig. 1). To facilitate this and improve stability,
the bottom of the seating shell 3 is not horizontal but
instead is molded in such a way as to correspond to being
seated on a flat surface with the knees drawn up somewhat;
in other words, it includes a somewhat elevated support area
10 for the backs of the knees. The upper portion 5 is
embodied correspondingly higher in the area 11. The foot
area 12 accomodates the feet, and a corresponding enlargement
o~ the upper portion 5 at 13 is capable of receiviny the ends
of the feet as well as a blanket or other items, if such
items must or should be carried along. The upper portion 5
has flattene~ areas 34 toward the ~ront, which are oblique
on the sides, so that in the event of an upset, the apparatus
will not become buried in the snow because of some corner
or edge that would otherwise be present.
After the upper portion 5 is removed, a person, even
a paraplegic, can take a seat in the seatin~ shell 3 (see
Fig. 1). The upper portion 5 is then arrested on the lower
portion 4 again by means of the lockin~ brackets 6. By
shifting his weight and using ski crutches for support, a person
can now ski.
The ski for the handicapped has a tow and support bar
15 (see Fig. 2). This tow and support bar 15 comprises two
supporting parts 16 at both sides of the seating shell 3. They
are both joined together via crossbars 17 and 18. This entire
tow and support bar 15 comprisin~ the two supporting parts 16
and the two crossbars 17 and 18 is articulated at 19 on both
sides of the seating shell 3 and is biased by a spring 20,
which is disposed between the support 2 and the crossbar 17,
o~
into the readiness ~ waiting position shown, in which t~le
ends of the supporting par-ts 16 press a~ainst the ground and
thus support the ski for the handicapped. The s]ci accordingly
is capable of standing on the ground on its own, wi-thout
being supported by the handicapped person. To widen the
base on which it stands still further, the lower end area
of the supporting parts 16 can be spread outward by a
respective joint 16 " ' (see Fig. 2) or a joint 16 " ' and rod
linkage 16 " " (see Figs. 8-10). At the same tirne, better
corltact of the supporting parts 16 on the lower portion 4
in th~ skiing or operating position can be attained thereby.
To this end, the rearward ends 21 of the supporting parts are
pulled upward counter to the force of the spring 20 (~Y~4~
Fig. 1 with the position in Fig. 2 indicated by dot-dash lines).
The tow and upport bar 15 is now held in this posltion by a
locking elemen-t 22, which the crossbar 18 "snaps" into, and
which can be released once again by means of a single manipula-
tion.
To insert a T-bar o~ a tow lift/ a tow bar holder 40
is provided (see Figs. 3, 4~ on the upper ends of the supporting
parts 16, formed by a belt 41. This holder has a lock 42,
which in a manner similar to the seat belt of an automobile
is easil~ opened by pressing on a button 43. It is held in
the tensed position by ~eans of two bars 16', 16'' made of
spring steel.
Alternatively, a tow bar holder 23 (Fig. 5) may be
e~, ~ O o/fie~/
-c~b~i~e~-such that two hooks 23', 23 " are attached to the
upper ends of the supporting parts 16. The T-bar oE the
tow lift is inserted into these hooks 23' f 23 " .
As shown in Fig. 6, a tow bar holder 44 can also be
attached directly to the seating shell 3. This holder is
embodied by the belt 45 and a lock 46, which can be opened by
pressing on the button 47.
In the exemplary embodiments of the ski for the
handicapped according to Fig. 7, the seating shell 3 is held
on the mono-ski 1 by a spring 50 embodied in the form of a
band of steel or, to reduce the weight, of fiberglass- or
carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic. This s ring 50 is
articulated on the seating shell 3 in the vicinity of the
back panel 33 and approximatly centrally on the lower portion
4 and 51 and 52~
Alternatively to the fas-tening possibilities shown,
Fig. 1 may also be modified such that the shock absorber is
embodied by a C-shaped spring.
The seating shell 3 is fabricated of carbon-fiber- or
fiberglass-reinforced plastic, in order to provide irnpac-t
damping.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figs. 8 and 9,
the spring 50 is in the form of an arc segment, Wi th one
end articulated pivotably about a shaft at ri~ht angles to
the lonyitudinal axis, approximatel~r centrally on the bottom
of the lower portion 4. The free end is guided longitudinally
displaceably in a guide 56 in the rounded transition between
the bottom and the back panel 33 of the lower portion 4~ The
guide surface is embodied such that it is wear-resistant and
slides well.
The mono-ski 1 is adjustably connected with the spring
50 by two vibration dampers 49 disposed axially spaced apart
from one another. To vary the sliding properties of the mono-
ski 1 for disabled skiers of not only varying body weights
but also varying skiing abiliti~s, the distance between the
vibration dampers 49 and their longitudinal disposition on
the mono-ski 1 is adjustable within wide limits by ~eans of
an adjusting rail ~8 provided on the mono-ski 1.
At the upper end of the supporting part 16, a curved
tow bar holder 23 is mounted on both sides via an easily
releasable plug connection. The releasing device for the
tow bar holder 23, with its hooks 23' and 23'', which is
actuatable by means of a button 47 via a Bowden cable 47' or
a rod linkage (not shown), is built into this plug connection.
As shown in Fig. 9, these hooks 23', 23'' can be pivoted
away in the skiing direction (see dot-dash lines) to unlock
the T-bar of the tow lift, while to avoid injuries while
skiing downhill they can be folded away counter to the skiing
direction, perhaps even being lowered at least partially
within the tow bar holder 23.
To further reduce the danger of injury, a receiving
groove 39 for the tow bar holder 23 is provided in the upper
portion 5; in the position for downhill skiing, the tow ~ar
holder 23 is moved into this groove 39. In the starting and
waiting position, the lower ends of the supporting part 16
rest on the ground, because of the pivoting action of the
spring 20, and keep the ski Eor the handicapped in the
vertical position (Fig. 8), while in the skiing position
the lower ends of the supporting part 16 rest on the lower
portion ~ as well, in a streamlined and accident-proo~ manner.
To make is more difficult for snow and water to get
into the seating shell 3, the upper edge of teh upper portion
5 is provided with a water deflector 25, and the edge simultaneously
serves to support the chest of paraplegics~
_g_ ~
~3~3~
In the further exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 10,
the spring 50 is embodied shorter and it does not support
itself with its free end on the lower portion 4. Instead, a
shock absorber 9 and an addi-tional spriny 50' are disposed on
the rear end of the lower portion ~ between the lower portion
4 and the mono-ski 1.
In Fig. 11, the vibration damper ~9 is shown in cross
section. It has two U-shaped rails 49' and 49'', of different
widths, the openings of which face one another. An elastomer
or rubber bridge 57, 58, 58' is provided be-~ween each of the
base parts and the arms, and there is some space at least
partway between the arms of the rail 49'' and the bridge 57,
so as to attain greater rigidity and damping in the longi~udinal
direction as compared with tipping about the transverse axis.
~uJ
Figs. 12 and 13 ~ how it is possible to convert
the ski for the handicapped into a cross-country apparatus.
On the underside of the lower portion 4, two adjusting rails
53, 54 are disposed crosswise and spaced apart from one another,
into which two skis 1', 1'', instead of a mono-s]ci 1, can be
inserted via struts 2', 2''. The skis 1', 1'' are spaced apart
from one another and are adjustable. To reduce weight, the
upper portion 5 can be ommitted for cross-countr~ skiing. In
that case, however, seat bel-ts or the like must be disposed
in the lower portion, unless they are already provlded; for
instance, a lap belt similar to that in an automobile can be
provided in the seating shell 3, or in the case of a person
whose entire lower body is paralyzed a Y belt may be provided,
passing between the legs and secured to the rear panel 33 or
the side panels 31.
J
--10--
