SNOW RIDING IMPLEMENT

• US 20080042400A1
• Filed: 08/10/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amer Sports Ski Acquisition Co. (Amer Sports, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Armada SKIS Incorporated
• Inventors: Trimble, Alan, Smith, Brian H.C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,690,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/609
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 5/03 Mono skis; Snowboards
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 5/0405 Shape thereof when projected on a plane, e.g. sidecut, camber, rocker
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 5/07 comprising means for adjusting stiffness

Abstract

A ski in accordance with the invention increases in width from a tip or shovel portion to a mid-portion. The mid-portion includes at least a slight sidecut. The ski then decreases in width from the mid-portion to a tail portion. The ski also includes an undersurface with a substantial portion being rockered. A substantial portion of the mid-portion of the ski is not rockered.

Claims

1. A snow-riding device having edges running along sides thereof between a forward end and a rearward end, the device comprising:

a tip at the forward end;

a tail at the rearward end;

a mid-portion having a waist, a forward end, and a rearward end, the waist having a width smaller than the average of the widths of the forward and rearward ends, such that a sidecut is created along the mid-portion;

a fore-body between the tip and the forward end of the mid-portion, the fore-body having a rearward end where it meets the mid-portion and a forward end where it meets the tip, the fore-body being wider at its rearward end than at its forward end; and

an aft-body between the rearward end of the mid-portion and the tail, the aft-body having a rearward end where it meets the tail and a forward end where it meets the mid-portion, the aft-body being wider at its forward end than at its rearward end.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device includes a longitudinally rockered undersurface along substantial portions of the fore-body and aft-body.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the device includes a longitudinally rockered undersurface along a substantial portion of the mid-portion.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the rearward end of the aft-body is higher than the forward end of the fore-body relative to a plane extending across the lowest portions of the undersurface.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the forward end of the fore-body is wider than the rearward end of the aft-body.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the length of the mid-portion forms between about 20% and about 60% of a total length of the device.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the length of the mid-portion forms between about 25% and about 40% of the total length of the device.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the mid-portion forms about 32% of the total length of the device.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the waist of the mid-portion is narrower than the forward and rearward ends of the mid-portion.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the mid-portion is adapted to receive a binding and wherein the mid-portion has a length substantially equal to a length of the binding.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the waist of the mid-portion has a width between 1% and 10% less than a widest width along the device.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the waist of the mid-portion has a width between 1.2% and 5% less than the widest width along the device.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the widest width along the device is where the forward end of the mid-portion meets the rearward end of the fore-body.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the rearward end of the aft-body is narrower than the forward end of the fore-body.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the sides of the fore-body are substantially straight.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the sides of the aft-body are substantially straight.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the sides of the fore-body are substantially convex.

18. The device of claim 1, further comprising a camber adjustment mechanism engaging the device to adjust the camber of the undersurface.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the camber adjustment mechanism comprises a cable secured to the device forward of the mid-portion and rearward of the mid-portion and a tensioner engaging the cable and ski to enable adjustment of the tension of the cable.

20. A snow riding device comprising:

a shovel end and a tail end each having a rounded tip portion;

a concave sliding surface formed on an underside of the device extending between the shovel end and tail end;

a binding secured to an upper surface of a central portion of the device; and

sidewalls comprising;

a concave portion formed in the central portion having concave sidecuts; and

outwardly narrowing portions extending from the concave sidecuts to the rounded raised portions of the shovel end and tail end, the narrowing portions increasing in width moving from just inward of the raised portions toward the concave portion.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein an uppermost point of the tail end is higher than an uppermost point of the shovel end relative to a horizontal plane parallel to the concave sliding surface proximate the central portion.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein the device comprises a shovel end and a tail end, the central portion of the device being between the shovel and tail ends, the shovel end being wider than the tail end.

23. The device of claim 20, wherein the concave portion forms between about 20% and about 40% of a total length of the device.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the device has a narrowest point at the concave portion having a width between 1% and 10% less than the widest point of the device.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the concave portion forms between about 25% and about 35% of the total length of the device.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the device has a narrowest point at the concave portion having a width between 1.2% and 5% less than the widest point of the device.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the concave portion forms about 30% of the total length of the device.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the device has a narrowest point at the concave portion having a width about 1.5% less than the widest point of the device.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the concave portion forms about 32% of the total length of the device.

30. The device of claim 20, further comprising a camber adjustment mechanism engaging the device to adjust the camber of the undersurface.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the camber adjustment mechanism comprises a cable secured to the device proximate the shovel and tail ends and a tensioner engaging one or more of the cable and ski to enable adjustment of the tension of the cable.