Short, wide ski and binding

• US 5,871,225 A
• Filed: 04/26/1994
• Issued: 02/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Powdermagic, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Powdermagic, Ltd.
• Inventors: Sutherland, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAR, MICHAEL Y
• Application Number:
  US08/233,216
• Time in Patent Office: 1,757 Days
• Field of Search: 280/601, 280/607, 280/609, 280/617, 280/618, 280/633
• US Class Current: 280/609
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 5/025 Short skis
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 9/005 with means for adjusting the position of a shoe holder or of the complete binding relative to the ski

Abstract

A short, wide snow ski is provided having additional surface area which maintains a skier closer to the surface of powder snow. This provides the advantage of higher speeds through deep power, and in addition, the ski tips are less likely to catch on obstructed objects hidden under the snow. Other advantages of planing near the top of the snow level are more effective steering, straighter tracking, and better balance.

Claims

1. A pair of short snow skis for downhill skiing, each ski of said pair having a width, length and snow engaging surface area selected to accomplish floating, planing and foot steering, each ski having a width at a widest point of the ski within a range of from about 111/2 cm to about 121/2 cm and a total ski length of from about 150 cm to about 165 cm.

2. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 1, wherein each ski of said pair further comprises a binding plate for adjusting a position of a ski boot worn by the skier longitudinally on the ski, the binding plate having attachment means for receiving a ski boot binding, releasable locking means for affixing the binding plate in different positions in a longitudinal direction of the ski, and the binding plate permitting the ski to flex longitudinally whereby the position of the ski boot on the ski can be adjusted to an optimum longitudinal position on the ski dependent on snow conditions.

3. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 2, wherein said binding plate includes flanges for engaging channels respectively formed along opposite side edges of the ski to accommodate relative sliding movement of the binding plate longitudinally along the ski.

4. A pair of skis as claimed in claim 3, wherein said channels are positioned relative to the length of the ski to allow positioning of said binding plate both fore and aft of a static balance point of the skier on the skis.

5. A pair of short snow skis as claimed in claim 2 wherein the binding plate includes forward and rearward, laterally extending cross members and an integrally formed center member, outer edges of each cross member being bent around to engage a groove formed in opposite edges of the ski, a top surface of the ski providing a rail for the binding plate to slide along.

6. The pair of skis as claimed in claim 5 wherein the binding plate further includes an attachment for one of a downhill ski binding and a cross country ski binding.

7. The pair of short snow skis as claimed in claim 6 wherein a position of the binding plate on the ski is secured by a screw having a threaded portion which mates with a threaded opening in a top surface of the ski.

8. The pair of short snow skis as claimed in claim 7 wherein a series of openings are provided in a top surface of the ski to accommodate a wide range of reciprocal movement of the binding plate on the ski surface.