Method of manufacturing a ski

• US 20010054805A1
• Filed: 08/21/2001
• Published: 12/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C&A Pro
• Original Assignee: C&A Pro
• Inventors: Cormican, Dale D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,764,635 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/22
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 17/02 Runners attachable to or replacing vehicle wheels B62B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2027/025 Snow mobiles characterised by the skis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49863 with prestressing of part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a ski for creating a preload force upon a front portion of a ski in combination with a resilient preload member. The method basically comprising the steps of molding an elongate ski body having a front portion in a position P1, removing the elongate ski body from the mold after solidified, applying a force upon a front portion of the elongate ski body thereby bowing the front portion into position P2, securing a preload member to the front portion and a middle portion of the elongate ski body, and releasing the force applied to the front portion whereby the resiliency of the front portion deforms the preload member until the front portion is into position P3. Position P1 of the elongate ski body is preferably less than 20 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the elongate ski body.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a ski, comprising the steps of:

(a) molding an elongate body comprised of a resilient material having a front portion having a front end, a middle portion, and a rear portion having a rear end, wherein said elongate body has a longitudinal axis extending from said rear portion to said middle portion and wherein said front portion has an initial position P1 which has an initial angle with respect to said longitudinal axis;

(b) removing said elongate body from a mold utilized for molding said elongate body;

(c) applying a bending force to said front portion of said elongate body thereby manipulating said front portion into a bowed structure having an intermediary position P2 which has an intermediary angle with respect to initial position P1;

(d) securing a preload member having a first end and a second end to said middle portion and to said front portion of said elongate body respectively, wherein said preload member is comprised of a resilient material and resilient structure; and

(e) allowing said front portion to return to a final position P3 which has a final angle with respect to said initial position P1.

2. The method of manufacturing a ski of

claim 1

, wherein said elongate body is comprised of a ultra high molecular weight plastic.

3. The method of manufacturing a ski of

claim 1

, wherein said initial angle is less than 5 degrees.

4. The method of manufacturing a ski of

claim 1

, wherein said initial angle is less than 10 degrees.

5. The method of manufacturing a ski of

claim 1

, wherein said middle portion includes a saddle portion that receives said first end of said preload member.

6. The method of manufacturing a ski of

claim 1

, wherein said initial angle is less than 20 degrees.

7. The method of manufacturing a ski of

claim 1

, wherein said initial angle has a range of between −

5 to +5 degrees.

8. The method of manufacturing a ski of

claim 7

, wherein said intermediary angle is at least 10 degrees.

9. The method of manufacturing a ski of

claim 1

, wherein said intermediary angle is at least 10 degrees.

10. The method of manufacturing a ski of

claim 1

, wherein said preload member is comprised of a first segment and a second segment, wherein said first segment is comprised of a relatively straight structure and wherein said second segment is comprised of a relatively straight structure, and wherein said first segment and said second segment have an angle between thereof greater than 90 degrees.

11. A method of manufacturing a ski, comprising the steps of:

(a) molding an elongate body comprised of a resilient material having a front portion having a front end, a middle portion, and a rear portion having a rear end, wherein said elongate body has a longitudinal axis extending from said rear portion to said middle portion and wherein said front portion has an initial position P1 which has an initial angle with respect to said longitudinal axis;

(b) removing said elongate body from a mold utilized for molding said elongate body;

(c) securing one end of said preload member having a first end and a second end to either said middle portion or to said front portion of said elongate body respectively, wherein said preload member is comprised of a resilient material and resilient structure;

(d) applying a bending force to said front portion of said elongate body thereby manipulating said front portion into a bowed structure having an intermediary position P2 which has an intermediary angle with respect to initial position P1;

(e) securing a remaining end of said preload member; and

(f) allowing said front portion to return to a final position P3 which has a final angle with respect to said initial position P1.

12. The method of manufacturing a ski of

claim 11

, wherein said elongate body is comprised of a ultra high molecular weight plastic.

13. The method of manufacturing a ski of

claim 11

, wherein said initial angle is less than 5 degrees.

14. The method of manufacturing a ski of

claim 11

, wherein said initial angle is less than 10 degrees.

15. The method of manufacturing a ski of

claim 11

, wherein said middle portion includes a saddle portion that receives said first end of said preload member.

16. The method of manufacturing a ski of

claim 11

, wherein said initial angle is less than 20 degrees.

17. The method of manufacturing a ski of

claim 11

, wherein said initial angle has a range of between −

5 to +5 degrees.

18. The method of manufacturing a ski of

claim 17

, wherein said intermediary angle is at least 10 degrees.

19. The method of manufacturing a ski of

claim 11

, wherein said intermediary angle is at least 10 degrees.

20. The method of manufacturing a ski of

claim 11

, wherein said preload member is comprised of a first segment and a second segment, wherein said first segment is comprised of a relatively straight structure and wherein said second segment is comprised of a relatively straight structure, and wherein said first segment and said second segment have an angle between thereof greater than 90 degrees.