High efficiency ski for sailing on snow or ice

• US 6,257,620 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2000
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bernard Carroll Kenney
• Original Assignee: Bernard Carroll Kenney
• Inventors: Kenney, Bernard Carroll
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISCHMANN, BRYAN R
• Application Number:
  US09/511,293
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 280/609, 280/28, 280/602, 280/608, 280/610, 280/810, 280/845, 280/14.21, 280/28.14, 114/43, 441/68, 441/74
• US Class Current: 280/810
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 5/11 combined with sails or the like ; Accessories specially adapted for sail-skiing
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 15/002 having skis or runners
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 17/02 Runners attachable to or replacing vehicle wheels B62B19/00

Abstract

A ski is disclosed for efficiently sailing on snow or ice. The ski has greater thickness than a conventional downhill ski. The substantially triangular shape of the cross-section of the ski is longitudinally constant so as to generate simultaneously both lift and lateral forces with minimum drag. The surface of the ski in contact with the snow or ice is made from or treated with a low friction material. The ski has a longitudinally upward concave curvature to facilitate turning. The ski tip is formed with deadrise like the bow of a boat or, in the alternative, may be a thin shovel like the tip of a conventional ski. The ski incorporates an edge or blade extending downwardly below the central part of the ski to enhance the lateral to drag force ratio on ice.

Claims

1. A sailing ski comprising:

an upper surface and a lower surface and having greater thickness than a conventional downhill ski,

said lower surface is made from or coated with a low friction material,

the cross-section of said ski is substantially triangular and the shape of the cross-section is longitudinally constant,

the bottom apex of said triangular cross-section has an included angle of 120 degrees +/−

40 degrees, the precise value of said angle depending upon the design weight and sail area of the sailing craft and the relative magnitude of the lift and lateral forces required,

said ski is not cambered longitudinally but is curved along its length in the opposite sense, upwardly concave,

said ski has at least one longitudinal edge or blade extending downwardly near the longitudinal center of said ski,

said ski has means for attaching to a platform, sailboard, iceboat or sailing craft.

2. A ski as in claim 1 wherein:

at least one apex of said triangular shape is truncated.

3. A ski as in claim 1 wherein:

the size of the cross-section is longitudinally constant except near the tip.

4. A ski as in claim 3 wherein:

at least one apex of said triangular shape is truncated.

5. A sailing ski comprising:

an upper surface and a lower surface and having greater thickness than a conventional downhill ski,

said lower surface is made from or coated with a low friction material,

said lower surface is v-shaped in cross-section consisting of a port segment and a starboard segment with equal deadrise,

said deadrise of said lower surface is longitudinally constant,

said ski is not cambered longitudinally but is curved along its length in the opposite sense, upwardly concave,

said ski has at least one longitudinal edge or blade extending downwardly near the longitudinal center of said ski,

said ski has means for attaching to a platform, sailboard, iceboat or sailing craft.

6. A ski as in claim 5 wherein:

said longitudinal curvature increases near the tip and said lower surface tapers towards a point at said tip.

7. A ski as in claim 6 wherein:

said deadrise of said ski varies longitudinally near said tip as the lower surface tapers towards a point at said tip.

8. A ski as in claim 5 wherein:

said ski is truncated near the tip and the ski tip is of the form of a thin shovel.

9. A ski as in claim 5 wherein:

said lower surface is asymmetrical in cross-section with different deadrise angles to port and starboard.

10. A ski as in claim 5 wherein:

said lower surface is substantially v-shaped in cross-section and at least one of the segments of said lower surface is transversely curved.

11. A ski as in claim 10 wherein:

said lower surface is asymmetrical in cross-section with different deadrise angles to port and starboard.

12. A sailing ski comprising:

an upper surface and a lower surface and having greater thickness than a conventional downhill ski,

said lower surface is made from or coated with a low friction material,

the shape of said cross-section of said ski is comprised of conjoined triangles and, except near the tip, the shape and the size of the cross-section are longitudinally constant,

said ski is not cambered but is curved along its length in the opposite sense, upwardly concave,

said ski has at least one longitudinal edge or blade extending downwardly near the longitudinal center of said ski,

said ski has means for attaching to a platform, sailboard, iceboat or sailing craft.

13. A ski as in claim 12 wherein:

said tip of said ski is of the form of a thin shovel and is curved longitudinally.

14. A ski as in claim 12 wherein:

at least one apex of said conjoined triangular shape is truncated.

15. A ski as in claim 12 wherein:

said lower surface is substantially w-shaped in cross-section and at least one of the segments of said lower surface is transversely curved.