US3404900A - Slalom snow ski - Google Patents

Description

AVA n .ABLE cop? J. L. RIPPETOE SLALOM snow SKI Oct. 8, 1968 Filed Nov. 21, 1966 INVENTOR JAMES L. R/PPETOE ATTQRNEY prevent relatiye movement between the boot and the base, .and a second bindin'g attached to the upper surface to the rear ofth e first bindinggwhich second binding receives the toe of the, skiersoth'er boottherein and substantially prevents transverse or forward movement thereof relative ,to' the fbaseLIhe base hasatta'ched to the under surface 'thereof'adownwardly extending rib which extends along the longitudinal direction at approximately the transverse center of the base, a sufficient distance to intersect a perpendicular line through the 'center of gravity of the skier. l-J .i-

taf This invention pertains to a slalom snow ski on which the 'skier placesboth boots, as opposed to a pair of snow fskis, generallyknown in the'field; in the use of which a 'skier places ,one boot on each ski. More specifically, this invention pertains to a,slalom-snow ski having a releasable binding attached to the upper surface thereof for temporarily clamping "one'b'ootof the skier in a relatively immovable position, a second binding positioned behind the first binding'for receiving the toe of the second boot of the skier itherein, and. a stabilizing rib fixedly attached to the under surface thereof and adapted to aid the skier in maneuvering the ski.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved slalom snow ski.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a slalom snow ski having a stabilizing rib fixedly attached to the under surface thereof 'for aiding the skier in operating and maneuvering the ski.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a slalom snow ski whereon one boot is temporarily, immovably fixed to the upper surface thereof, and a binding is provided to the rear thereof for receiving the toe of the skiers second boot, once he has established equilibrlum.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the accompanying specification, claims, and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the figures:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention, somewhat diminished in size, illustrating the operating position;

FIG. 2 is a view in top plan of the slalom snow ski;

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation of the slalom snow ski;

FIG. 4 is a view in bottom plan of the slalom snow ski;

FIG. 5 is .an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from the line 55 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view as seen from the line 6-6 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view as seen from the line 7--7 in FIG. 2.

In the figures, the numeral 10 generally designates a slalom snow ski having a base 11, a releasable binding generally designated 12, and a second binding designated 3,404,900 rai idoct. s, 19 68 is. The base 11 or the ski i0 is constructed with aoh aed illustrated in FIG. 3. .The base 11 may be constructed from any suitable material, such as wood, plastic, metal, or the like,'and in this embodiment, 'has a'transverse width somewhat wider than the average, well-known snow ski. The additional width of the base 11 in this embodiment provides the skier with transverse stability, and reduces, somewhat,-the tendency of a skier to fall sideways when both feet are positioned in tandem.-It should be understood that the particular construction of the base 11 in this embodiment is designed to provide a skier with the maximum amount of maneuverability and stability, however, this construction might be altered by those skilled in the art, and it is intended that any such alterations come within the scope of this invention.

The releasable binding 12 includes a toe clamping device 15, and a heel clamping device 16. In this embodiment, the toe clamping device 15 is the type which rotates about a pivot point 17- upon the application of a sufficient amount of pressure in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ski 10. The heel clamping device 16 is the cable type, having springs 18 afiixed thereto for urging the boot firmly into the toe clamping device 15, and substantially preventing any movement of the boot relative to the base 11 of the ski 10. Both the toe clamping device 15 and the heel clamping device 16 are utilized on pairs of snow skis, and, therefore, the operation thereof will not be elaborated upon further. It should be understood that the releasable binding 12, illustrated in the figures, is simply one type of av releasable safety binding which can be utilized in conjunction with the base 11, and many other types of releasable bindings, safety or non-safety, could be utilized in conjunction. therewith, and would come within the scope of this invention.

The second binding -13 includes a flexible strap in this embodiment fixedly attached to the upper surface of the base 11 along either side of the strap. The binding 13 is mounted somewhat to the rear of the binding 12, and canted at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the base 11 to provide the skier with additional transverse balance. The binding 13 is adapted to receive only the toe of the second boot therein, and to substantially prevent forward or transverse movement thereof. In the operation, the skier places one boot in the binding 12 and clamps it immovably to the base 11. He then begins downhill or forward movement, and once he has established balance or equilibrium, the second boot is engaged in the binding 13 by sliding it forwardly thereunder. It should be understood that various modifications of the second binding 13 might be provided by one skilled in the art, which modifications might include making the binding adjustable for different size boots and mounting the binding 13 for limited pivotal movement to accommodate right and leftfooted skiers. However, it is intended that all such modifications come within the scope of this invention.

The under surface of the base 11 is generally flat and smooth, except for the slight arc therein previously mentioned, and has affixed thereto a downwardly extending rib generally designated 20. The rib 20 is aflixed to the under surface of the base 11 by any convenient means, such as screws 21. The rib 20 is positioned at approximately the transverse center of the base 11, and, in this embodiment, extends beneath the bindings 12 and 13 to a point adjacent the rear end of the base 11. The front end of the rib 20, which lies some-what in front of the toe clamping device 15, is tapered generally inwardly from the sides and the bottom toward the under surface of the base 11 to form a smooth, substantially unbroken curve with the under surface of the base 11 and reduce the drag adaptedto receivethe toe of'the'forward boot; and the vertical width remains approximately the same to a point designated 22, generally beneath the area adapted to receive the heel of the forward bootr'At the point22, the

rib 20is stepped inwardly "toward the under surface of the base-11 asubstantial distance. The remainder of the -rib"-20"'hasa uniformvertical width. In the use of: the slalom ski 10, most of the skiers weightrests on the forwardboot clamped in the releasable binding 12, while the rear boot in the binding 13 is utilized for balance and control. Since the majority of the skiers weight is on the forward boot, a perpendicular line through the skiers center of gravity will pass generally through the area of the base 11 adapted to receive the first boot. The portion of the rib 20 having the additional vertical width lies generally below the area of the base 11 adapted to receive the first boot so that it intersects the perpendicular line through the center of gravity of the skier. The rib 20 is provided with additional vertical-width at the point of intersection with the vertical line through the skiers center of gravity to increase the stability of the slalom snow ski 10. The step in the rib 20, at the point 22, is provided to reduce the drag produced by the rib 20. What is claimed is:- 1. A slalom snow ski comprising: --(a) av base having a generally fiat under surface and constructed of some suitable material; -.(b) a releasable binding attached to the upper surface of said base and adapted to receive a boot therein, said binding being constructed to clamp said boot to said base in a manner to substantially prevent movement of said boot during skiing; (c) a second binding attached to the upper surface of said base immediately behind said releasable binding for receiving a second boot therein; and (d) a downwardly extending rib having a transverse width which is narrow relative to the transverse width of said base and being attached to said under surface of said base at approximately the transverse center thereof, said rib extending longitudinally along the under surface of said base in underlying relationship to a boot engaged in said releasable binding at 1; nterrseqt a gravity of o ot so} perpendicular line through the center of a skiercorrectlyposition'ed thereonz- 2. A slalom snow ski as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base is constructed with elongated, generally elliptical ends and substantially straight edge portions therebetween, said base is further con'structed with a slight arc therein along the'lofigitudinjal dimension thereof.

3. A slalbmsnoi/jfski' 581,5 ffort'hfih clainPlWherein the releasable binding is bflhegsaifety-type which releases a boot cl'ainped'thereiiiftupcin.tlie lapplicatioii of a sufficient amount of pressure in a transverse direction.

4. A slalom snow "ski'as'set"forth'in claim 1 wherein the second bindingincludes-a =fixed strap for substantially preventing forward or transverse, movement of a boot received therein and freely allowing'rearward movement thereof. ,1

5. A slalom snow ski as set forth "in'claim' l wherein the downwardly extending rib extend'slfrom s'omewhat in front of the tip of a boot positioned in the releasable binding to adjacent the rear end of 'the b as', said: rib in addition extending downwardly 'a g reateramotlnt adjacent the point of intersection with'the perpendicular line through ,the center 'of gravity.

6. A slalom snow ski as'set forth in claim 5 wherein the downwardly extendingrib has an upwardly extending step therein somewhat behind the'fpoint 'of intersection of said rib with the perpendicular line through the center of gravity. 7

I References Cite UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,858,137 10/1958 Marker 1.1." 280-1135 2,914,335 11/1959-Rivard t .9- 310'xR 2,984,497 5/1961 Hagen '-280--11.-3S 3,056,148 10/1962 Abbott et al.r 10219- 310 3,134,992 6/1964 Tyll :9 310 FOREIGN PATENTS 1 204,938 8/1959 Austria LEO FR IAGLI A, Primary Examiner." i l MILTON L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner. I

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