IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0283050
(2005-11-21)
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등록번호 |
US-7793969
(2010-10-04)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
6 인용 특허 :
15 |
초록
▼
Skis and methods of skiing are provided. In some implementations, the skis include a preload, and/or have a relatively low spring rate. In one aspect, the skis include (a) a ski body having a front and a back, the front and back terminating, respectively, at a tip and tail at opposite ends of the sk
Skis and methods of skiing are provided. In some implementations, the skis include a preload, and/or have a relatively low spring rate. In one aspect, the skis include (a) a ski body having a front and a back, the front and back terminating, respectively, at a tip and tail at opposite ends of the ski body; and (b) a suspension system connected to the ski body so as to apply a load to the front and back of the ski body. In some cases, the suspension system is configured to provide the ski with a spring rate that diminishes as the ski is flexed from a normal unloaded state or a predetermined state of deflection to a state of greater deflection.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A ski comprising: a ski body having a first end and a second end; and a suspension system connected to the ski body so as to apply a vertical downward force to the first and second ends of the ski body, the suspension system comprising a spring applying the vertical downward
What is claimed is: 1. A ski comprising: a ski body having a first end and a second end; and a suspension system connected to the ski body so as to apply a vertical downward force to the first and second ends of the ski body, the suspension system comprising a spring applying the vertical downward force to at least one of said ends of the ski body, the spring being under compression when the ski is free of external forces, wherein the suspension system is configured to provide the ski with a spring rate that diminishes as the ski is flexed from a normal unloaded state or a predetermined state of deflection to a state of greater deflection, the suspension system further comprising a second spring applying a second vertical downward force to the other end of the ski body and a support structure that is attached to a longitudinally central area of the ski body, wherein the vertical downward forces applied to the first end and the second end of the ski body are different that one another, and wherein each of the vertical downward forces applied to the first end and the second end are at least partially determined by a fore/aft rotation of the support structure about a pitch axis relative to the ski body. 2. The ski of claim 1 wherein the suspension system is configured so that the downward force of a skier's weight is applied to three or more distinct points along the length of the ski body whenever the ski is in contact with a surface. 3. The ski of claim 2 wherein the first end and second end terminate, respectively, at a tip and tail at opposite ends of the ski body, and the suspension system is configured so that at least one of the points of applied downward force is located directly under a boot mounting position, at least one other point is located between the boot mounting position and the tip of the ski body, and at least one other point is located between the boot mounting position and the tail of the ski body. 4. The ski of claim 2 wherein the ski body defines a running length between the first end and the second end, and the suspension system is configured so that at least one of the points of applied downward force is located in a front longitudinal third of the running length of the ski body, at least one other point is located in a center longitudinal third of the ski body, and at least one other point is located in a rear longitudinal third of the running length of the ski body. 5. The ski of claim 2 wherein the ski body defines a running length between the first end and the second end, and the suspension system is configured so that at least one of the points of applied downward force is located in a front longitudinal quarter of the running length of the ski body. 6. The ski of claim 5 wherein the suspension system is configured so that at least one of the points of applied downward force is located in a front longitudinal sixth of the running length of the ski body, at least one other point is located in a center longitudinal third of the running length of the ski body, and at least one other point is located in a rear longitudinal sixth of the running length of the ski body. 7. The ski of claim 1 wherein the suspension system is configured so that at a predetermined degree of deflection the spring rate exhibited by the ski will be at least 10% less than a maximum spring rate exhibited by the ski at lesser degrees of deflection. 8. The ski of claim 1 wherein the suspension system is connected to the ski body by a mounting system, the mounting system being configured so that when the ski body is flexed beyond a predetermined degree of deflection the load applied to the ski body by the suspension system decreases or exhibits a decreasing spring rate. 9. The ski of claim 1 wherein the spring comprises a pneumatic spring or pneumatic shock. 10. The ski of claim 1 wherein the spring is selected from the group consisting of pneumatic springs, coil springs, torsion springs, leaf springs, bow springs and elastomer springs. 11. The ski of claim 1 wherein the suspension system is configured to allow a minimal initial deflection before a predetermined state of deflection at which point further significant deflection is precluded until the force applied by the skier exceeds a predetermined amount. 12. The ski of claim 1 wherein the suspension system is configured so that, to cause the ski body to deflect 0.25 inch, it is necessary to apply a force of 20 pounds or greater. 13. The ski of claim 12 wherein the force required for a 1.0 inch deflection is less than three times the force required for a 0.25 inch deflection. 14. The ski of claim 1 wherein the spring rate exhibited during the first 0.25 inch of deflection of the ski body is at least 110% of the spring rate exhibited during the next 0.25 inch of deflection. 15. The ski of claim 1 wherein the suspension system is configured so that the additional force which must be applied to deflect the ski body from 0.25 inches deflection to 0.50 inches deflection is at least 10% less than the force which must be applied to deflect the ski body from 0.0 inches deflection to 0.25 inches deflection. 16. The ski of claim 15 wherein the suspension system is configured so that the force required for a 0.40 inch deflection is at least 10% greater than the additional force required for a 0.80 inch deflection. 17. The ski of claim 1 further comprising a mounting system that attaches the support structure to the ski in a manner that substantially precludes yaw and roll movement between the support structure and the ski body. 18. The ski of claim 1 further comprising a boot binding carried by the support structure. 19. The ski of claim 1 wherein the support structure is releasably attached to the ski body. 20. The ski of claim 1 wherein the ski body defines a running length between the first end and the second end, and the spring is attached between the support structure and a front longitudinal third of the running surface of the ski body. 21. The ski of claim 20 wherein the spring is a leaf spring. 22. The ski of claim 1 wherein the suspension system further includes a second spring attached between the support structure and a rear longitudinal third of the ski body. 23. The ski of claim 22 wherein the second spring is a leaf spring. 24. The ski of claim 1 wherein the ski body comprises a glider. 25. The ski of claim 1 wherein the ski body includes a tunnel edge. 26. The ski of claim 1 wherein the suspension system is configured so that at a predetermined degree of deflection the spring rate exhibited by the ski will be at least 25% less than a maximum spring rate exhibited by the ski at lesser degrees of deflection. 27. The ski of claim 1 wherein the ski body defines a running length between the first end and the second end, and the spring is attached between the support structure and a front longitudinal quarter of the running length of the ski body. 28. The ski of claim 1 wherein the spring is attached between the support structure and a front longitudinal sixth of the running length of the ski body. 29. The ski of claim 27 wherein the second spring is attached between the support structure and a rear longitudinal sixth of the running length of the ski body. 30. The ski of claim 1 wherein the ski body defines a running length between the first end and the second end, and the suspension system further includes a second spring attached between the support structure and a rear longitudinal quarter of the running length of the ski body. 31. The ski of claim 1, wherein the spring rate is measured statically. 32. A ski comprising: a ski body having a first end and a second end; a suspension system connected to the ski body so as to apply a vertical downward force to the first and second ends of the ski body, the suspension system comprising a spring applying the vertical downward force to at least one of said ends of the ski body, the spring being under compression when the ski is free of external forces, wherein the suspension system is configured to provide the ski with a spring rate that diminishes as the ski is flexed from a normal unloaded state or a predetermined state of deflection to a state of greater deflection, wherein the suspension system comprises a support structure that is attached to a longitudinally central area of the ski; and a mounting system that attaches the support structure to the ski in a manner that substantially precludes yaw and roll movement between the support structure and the ski body, wherein the mounting system comprises elements configured to allow elastic movement between the support structure and the ski body in the vertical and longitudinal directions as well as around the pitch axis. 33. A ski comprising: a ski body having a first end and a second end; and a suspension system connected to the ski body so as to apply a vertical downward force to the first and second ends of the ski body, wherein the suspension system is configured to provide the ski with a spring rate that diminishes as the ski is flexed from a normal unloaded state or a predetermined state of deflection to a state of greater deflection, wherein the suspension system is connected to the ski body at a longitudinally central area of the ski by a mounting system being configured to provide the ski with the spring rate that diminishes as the ski is flexed from the normal unloaded state or predetermined state of deflection to the state of greater deflection, wherein the mounting system comprises elastomeric elements configured to allow elastic movement between the suspension system and the ski body. 34. A ski configured to have a spring rate that diminishes as the ski is flexed from a normal unloaded state or a predetermined state of deflection to a state of greater deflection, comprising: a ski body having a first end and a second end; a support structure attached to a longitudinally central area of the ski; a first spring attached between the support structure and a front longitudinal third of the running length of the ski body, the first spring being under compression when no external forces are being applied to the ski; and a second spring attached between the support structure and a rear longitudinal third of the running length of the ski body, the second spring being under compression when no external forces are being applied to the ski, wherein the first and second springs each apply a vertical downward force to the front and rear longitudinal thirds of the running length of the ski body respectively, wherein each of the vertical downward forces applied to the front and rear longitudinal thirds of the running length of the ski body are at least partially determined by a fore/aft rotation of the support structure about a pitch axis relative to the ski body. 35. The ski of claim 34 wherein the first and second springs are leaf springs.
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