초록 ▼

A ski for use on ice or snow is disclosed. The ski includes a ski body having a tip portion, a tail portion, and a longitudinal running length extending between the tip portion and the tail portion and a substantially flat bottom surface for sliding on snow or ice. The ski also includes a suspension

A ski for use on ice or snow is disclosed. The ski includes a ski body having a tip portion, a tail portion, and a longitudinal running length extending between the tip portion and the tail portion and a substantially flat bottom surface for sliding on snow or ice. The ski also includes a suspension system comprised of a substantially rigid support structure secured to the longitudinally central region of the said ski body at two attachment locations separated by a distance of at least 5 inches along the longitudinal axis of the ski body, and at least one resilient element configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body in the area between the two attachment locations.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A ski for use on ice or snow comprising: a ski body comprising a tip portion, a tail portion, and a longitudinal running length extending between the tip portion and the tail portion and a substantially flat bottom surface for sliding on snow or ice;a suspension system comprised of a substantiall

1. A ski for use on ice or snow comprising: a ski body comprising a tip portion, a tail portion, and a longitudinal running length extending between the tip portion and the tail portion and a substantially flat bottom surface for sliding on snow or ice;a suspension system comprised of a substantially rigid support structure attached to a longitudinally central region of the ski body at two attachment locations separated by a distance of at least 5 inches along the longitudinal axis of the ski body, wherein one of the attachment locations is forward and one aft of a central longitudinal region of the ski body that exhibits a low flexural modulus relative to a flexural modulus of the ski body at the two attachment locations; andat least one spring element configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body in an area between the two attachment locations,wherein expansion of the spring element that is configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body between the two attachment locations causes the tip and/or tail of the ski body to bend upward, decreasing camber and increasing rocker,wherein compression of the spring element that is configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body between the two attachment locations causes the tip and/or tail of the ski body to bend downward, increasing camber and reducing rocker; andone or more compressible elements positioned between the support structure and the ski body either forward of or behind the two attachment locations where the one or more compressible elements are configured so that further upward deflection of the ski body beyond a predetermined degree of deflection will cause a spring rate of the ski body to be greater than that exhibited prior to being deflected to the predetermined degree of deflection. 2. The ski of claim 1 wherein the opposing force exerted b the spring element is concentrated in an area centrally located between the two attachment points. 3. The ski of claim 1 wherein the spring element is selected from the group consisting of coil springs, torsion springs, torsion bars, leaf springs bow springs, pneumatic springs, and elastomers. 4. The ski of claim 1 wherein the spring element comprises a damping element. 5. The ski of claim 1 wherein the opposing force between the support structure and the ski body exerted by the spring element is adjustable. 6. The ski of claim 1 further comprising stiffening elements that increase a longitudinal flexural modulus of the ski body at the attachment locations where the support structure is attached to the ski body such that a resulting longitudinal flexural modulus of the ski at the attachment locations is greater than the longitudinal flexural modulus of the ski body in a region between two attachment locations. 7. The ski of claim 1 wherein the spring element configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body in the area between the two attachment locations is adjustable and the opposing force can be increased to concentrate the skier's weight in the center of the ski body between the two attachment locations, and decreased to spread the skiers weight from the center of the ski body longitudinally both fore and aft to over the two attachment locations. 8. The ski of claim 1 further comprising two mounting brackets that couple the support structure to the ski body and at least one of the mounting brackets allows longitudinal movement between the ski body and the support structure. 9. The ski of claim 8, wherein the two mounting brackets each comprise elements configured to substantially preclude yaw and roll movement between the support structure and the ski body while allowing elastic movement between the support structure and the ski body in vertical and longitudinal directions as well as around a pitch axis. 10. The ski of claim 1 wherein the one or more compressible elements positioned between the support structure and the ski body either forward of or behind the two attachment locations are adjustable and can alter the predetermined degree of deflection that will cause the spring rate of the ski body to be greater than that exhibited prior to being deflected to the predetermined degree of deflection. 11. The ski of claim 10, wherein the adjustability of the predetermined degree of deflection of the ski body is independently adjustable for a front half of the ski body and for a rear half of the ski body. 12. The ski of claim 1 further comprising at least one compressive resilient element, one end of the compressive resilient element coupled to either a front or rear quarter of the running length of the ski body, and the other end coupled to a front end or rear end of the support structure respectively, or to elements within the support structure. 13. The ski of claim 12 wherein the at least one compressive resilient element comprises a damping element. 14. The ski of claim 1 further comprising two compressive resilient elements, one end of the first compressive resilient element coupled to a front quarter of the running length of the ski body, and the other end coupled to a front end of the support structure or to elements within the support structure, and one end of the second compressive resilient element coupled to a rear quarter of the running length of the ski body, and the other end coupled to a rear end of the support structure or to elements within the support structure. 15. The ski of claim 12 wherein the at least one compressive resilient element is preloaded so that the compressive resilient element will not compress until the compressive force exceeds a specific threshold, and, prior to the specific threshold force being exceeded, elongation or expansion of the preloaded compressive resilient element is precluded. 16. The ski of claim 12 wherein compression of the spring element that is configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body between the two attachment locations, increases the force that a forward compressive resilient element applies to the forward quarter of the running length of the ski body and/or that an aft compressive resilient element applies to the rear quarter of the running length of the ski body, respectively causing the tip and/or tail of the ski body to bend downward, increasing camber. 17. The ski of claim 12 wherein expansion of the spring element that is configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body between the two attachment locations, decreases the force that a forward compressive resilient element applies to the forward quarter of the running length of the ski body and/or that an aft compressive resilient element applies to the rear quarter of the running length of the ski body, respectively causing the tip and/or tail of the ski body to bend upward, increasing rocker and decreasing camber. 18. The ski of claim 12 wherein the compressive resilient element is adjustable to increase or decrease the natural camber or rocker of the ski body. 19. The ski of claim 12 wherein at a predetermined degree of deflection, the ski body will exhibit a spring rate at least 25% less than a maximum spring rate exhibited by the ski prior to the predetermined degree of deflection. 20. The ski of claim 11 wherein the ski body is constructed with intrinsic positive camber. 21. The ski of claim 20 further comprising a first tensile element, one end of the first tensile element coupled to a front quarter of the running length of the ski body, and the other end coupled to a front end of the support structure or to elements within the support structure, such that the tensile forces reduce the natural camber of the ski body. 22. The ski of claim 21 further comprising a second tensile element, one end of the second tensile element coupled to a rear quarter of the running length of the ski body, and the other end coupled to a rear end of the support structure or to elements within the support structure, such that the tensile forces reduce the natural camber of the ski body. 23. The ski of claim 21 wherein compression of the spring element that is configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body between the two attachment locations, decreases the force that the first tensile element applies to the front quarter of the running length of the ski body causing the tip of the ski body to bend downward, increasing camber. 24. The ski of claim 22 wherein compression of the spring element that is configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body between the two attachment locations, decreases the force that the first and second tensile elements apply to the ski body causing the tip and tail of the ski body to bend downward, increasing camber. 25. The ski of claim 21 wherein expansion of the spring element that is configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body between the two attachment locations, increases the force that the first tensile element applies to the front quarter of the running length of the ski body causing the tip of the ski body to bend upward, increasing rocker and decreasing camber. 26. The ski of claim 22 wherein expansion of the spring element that is configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body between the two attachment locations, increases the force that the first and second tensile elements apply to the front quarter and rear quarter of the running length of the ski body respectively, causing the tip and tail of the ski body to bend upward, increasing rocker and decreasing camber. 27. The ski of claim 12 wherein the coupling of the compressive resilient element to the front and/or rear running length of the ski body, impedes roll movement along the longitudinal axis between the ski body and the support structure, increasing the overall torsional rigidity of the ski. 28. A ski for use on ice or snow comprising: a ski body comprising a tip portion, a tail portion, and a longitudinal running length extending between the tip portion and the tail portion and a substantially flat bottom surface for sliding on snow or ice;a suspension system comprised of a substantially rigid support structure attached to a longitudinally central region of the ski body at two attachment locations separated by a distance of at least 5 inches along the longitudinal axis of the ski body, wherein one of the attachment locations is forward and one aft of a central longitudinal region of the ski body that exhibits a low flexural modulus relative to a flexural modulus of the ski body at the two attachment locations; andat least one spring element configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body in an area between the two attachment locations,wherein expansion of the spring element that is configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body between the two attachment locations causes the tip and/or tail of the ski body to bend upward, decreasing camber and increasing rocker,wherein compression of the spring element that is configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body between the two attachment locations causes the tip and/or tail of the ski body to bend downward, increasing camber and reducing rocker; andat least one compressive resilient element, one end of the compressive resilient element coupled to either a front or rear quarter of the running length of the ski body, and the other end coupled to a front end or rear end of the support structure respectively, or to elements within the support structure. 29. The ski of claim 28 wherein the opposing force exerted by the spring element is concentrated in an area centrally located between the two attachment points. 30. The ski of claim 28 wherein the spring element is selected from the group consisting of coil springs, torsion springs, torsion bars, leaf springs, bow springs, pneumatic springs, and elastomers. 31. The ski of claim 28 wherein the spring element comprises a damping element. 32. The ski of claim 28 further comprising two compressive resilient elements, one end of the first compressive resilient element coupled to a front quarter of the running length of the ski body and the other end coupled to a front end of the support structure or to elements within the support structure, and one end of the second compressive resilient element coupled to a rear quarter of the running length of the ski body, and the other end coupled to a rear end of the support structure or to elements within the support structure. 33. The ski of claim 28 wherein the at least one compressive resilient element comprises a damping element. 34. The ski of claim 28 wherein the at least one compressive resilient element is preloaded so that the compressive resilient element will not compress until the compressive force exceeds a specific threshold, and, prior to the specific threshold force being exceeded, elongation or expansion of the preloaded resilient element is precluded. 35. The ski of claim 28 wherein compression of the spring element that is configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body between the two attachment locations, increases the force that a forward compressive resilient element applies to the forward quarter of the running length of the ski body and/or that an aft compressive resilient element applies to the rear quarter of the running length of the ski body, respectively causing the tip and/or tail of the ski body to bend downward, increasing camber. 36. The ski of claim 28 wherein expansion of the spring element that is configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body between the two attachment locations, decreases the force that a forward compressive resilient element applies to the forward quarter of the running length of the ski body and/or that an aft compressive resilient element applies to the rear quarter of the running length of the ski body, respectively causing the tip and/or tail of the ski body to bend upward, increasing rocker and decreasing camber. 37. The ski of claim 28 wherein the compressive resilient is adjustable to increase or decrease the natural camber or rocker of the ski body. 38. The ski of claim 28 wherein at a predetermined degree of deflection, the ski body will exhibit a spring rate at least 25% less than a maximum spring rate exhibited by the ski prior to the predetermined degree of deflection. 39. The ski of claim 28 wherein the spring element configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body in the area between the two attachment locations is adjustable and the opposing force can be increased to concentrate the skier's weight in the center of the ski body between the two attachment locations, and decreased to spread the skiers weight from the center of the ski body longitudinally both fore and aft to over two attachment locations. 40. A ski for use on ice or snow comprising: a ski body comprising a tip portion, a tail portion, and a longitudinal running length extending between the tip portion and the tail portion and a substantially flat bottom surface for sliding on snow or ice;a suspension system comprised of a substantially rigid support structure attached to a longitudinally central region of the ski body at two attachment locations separated by a distance of at least 5 inches along the longitudinal axis of the ski body, wherein one of the attachment locations is forward and one aft of a central longitudinal region of the ski body that exhibits a low flexural modulus relative to a flexural modulus of the ski body at the two attachment locations; andat least one spring element configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body in an area between the two attachment locations,wherein expansion of the spring element that is configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body between the two attachment locations causes the tip and/or tail of the ski body to bend upward, decreasing camber and increasing rocker,wherein compression of the spring element that is configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body between the two attachment locations causes the tip and/or tail of the ski body to bend downward, increasing camber and reducing rocker; andat least one compressive resilient element, one end of the compressive resilient element coupled to either a front or rear quarter of the running length of the ski body, and the other end coupled to a front end or rear end of the support structure respectively; or to elements within the support structure,wherein the at least one compressive resilient elements is preloaded so that the compressive resilient element will not compress until the compressive force exceeds a specific threshold, and, prior to said specific threshold force being exceeded, elongation or expansion of the preloaded compressive resilient element is precluded. 41. The ski of claim 40 wherein the spring element configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body in the area between the two attachment locations is adjustable and the opposing force can be increased to concentrate the skier's weight in the center of the ski body between the two attachment locations, and decreased to spread the skiers weight from the center of the ski body longitudinally both fore and aft to over the two attachment locations. 42. The ski of claim 40 wherein compression of the spring element that is configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body between the two attachment locations, increases the force that a forward compressive resilient element applies to the forward quarter of the running length of the ski body and/or that an aft compressive resilient element applies to the rear quarter of the running length of the ski body, respectively causing the tip and/or tail of the ski body to bend downward, increasing camber. 43. The ski of claim 40 wherein expansion of the spring element that is configured to exert an opposing force between the support structure and the ski body between the two attachment locations, decreases the force that a forward compressive resilient element applies to the forward quarter of the running length of the ski body and/or that an aft compressive resilient element applies to the rear quarter of the running length of the ski body, respectively causing the tip and/or tail of the ski body to bend upward, increasing rocker and decreasing camber.