CA1288789C - Air assisted ski - Google Patents
Air assisted skiInfo
- Publication number
- CA1288789C CA1288789C CA000506156A CA506156A CA1288789C CA 1288789 C CA1288789 C CA 1288789C CA 000506156 A CA000506156 A CA 000506156A CA 506156 A CA506156 A CA 506156A CA 1288789 C CA1288789 C CA 1288789C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- ski
- vents
- air
- prow
- grooves
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000010408 sweeping Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 claims 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 5
- 238000009739 binding Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000027455 binding Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 2
- 241000490229 Eucephalus Species 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000013022 venting Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B1/00—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils
- B63B1/32—Other means for varying the inherent hydrodynamic characteristics of hulls
- B63B1/34—Other means for varying the inherent hydrodynamic characteristics of hulls by reducing surface friction
- B63B1/38—Other means for varying the inherent hydrodynamic characteristics of hulls by reducing surface friction using air bubbles or air layers gas filled volumes
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
- A63C5/00—Skis or snowboards
- A63C5/04—Structure of the surface thereof
- A63C5/0422—Longitudinal guiding grooves
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y02T70/00—Maritime or waterways transport
- Y02T70/10—Measures concerning design or construction of watercraft hulls
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Road Paving Structures (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An air-assisted ski for snow or water having a plurality of air receiving vents and a scooped out prow on the undersurface of the upwardly curved forward end are provided. Both the vents and the scooped out prow open into longitudinally disposed grooves on the running surface of the ski. As the ski moves, air is received in the vents and in the prow and is forced into the grooves to improve forward motion of the ski.
An air-assisted ski for snow or water having a plurality of air receiving vents and a scooped out prow on the undersurface of the upwardly curved forward end are provided. Both the vents and the scooped out prow open into longitudinally disposed grooves on the running surface of the ski. As the ski moves, air is received in the vents and in the prow and is forced into the grooves to improve forward motion of the ski.
Description
-" ~L28~378~3 This invention relates to an improved ski for use on water or snow.
As any snow or water skier knows friction on the running surface of the ski when in motion can signi-ficantly affect the speed and stability of the ride. A
number of prior art patents have attempted to solve the problem of stability and to some degree the forward motion of the ski by providing one or more longitudinally disposed grooves on the under or running surface of the ski. None have, however, fully utilized the use of forced air by appropriate air venting means such as in the present application. These patents include U.S.
Patent numbers 2,071,220 (Schniebs), 3,099,025 (Merkley et al.), 3,295,859 tPerry), 3,304,095 ~Carlton), 3,378,275 ~Poppen), 3,395,411 ~Pope, Jr., et al.), 3,428,979 ~Johnson), and 3,534,972 ~Salerno~.
In the present inventor's prior Canadian Patent No. 1,059,173, an air assisted ski is disclosed having a plurality of longitudinal grooves on the undersurface.
Air vents are provided in the ski which are deslgned to force air into the two outside longitudinal grooves.
This invention provides an improved ski over th~ above Canadian patent especially with respect to ~aster and more stable forward motion.
~288789 Accordingly the invention is an air-assisted ski comprising an elongated ski body having an upwardly curved forward end, a terminal end, an upper surface to which the foot of the user can be secured, and an under-surface for contacting a skiing surface; a scooped out prow provided in the undersurface of said upwardly curved forward ena; a pair of transversely spaced, longitudi-nally extending, opposing paralle grooves provided on said undersurface terminating at the rearward end thereof at said ski terminal end and terminating at the forward end at said scooped out prow; at least one pair of spaced apart air vents extending through said top surEace and registering with and opening into said parallel grooves, said air vents being inclined at a substantial angle from the vertical and extending in a rearward direction through said ski body; and a raised portion extending above said ski upper surface at the rear of said air vents so that air sweeping past said vents and said scooped out prow is intercepted by said raised por-tion of said vents and the forward end of said ski body and is forcibly induced through said air vents and said scooped out prow and from there into said parallel grooves to create a cushion of air upon which said under-surface at least partially rides.
The air vents preferably begin at the outer edge of the upward surface of the ski and are inwardly .
-` ~28~78~3 directed to the center of respective grooves. Preferably a single center ridge is provided between the grooves which blends into the scooped out prow at the forward end of the slci. In the preferred embodiment, the air vents are oval-shaped and are provided at approximately 8 inch intervals The air vents are also inclined at an angle from the vertical of between 75 to 80. The parallel grooves and prow are also preferably provided with a semi-elliptical cross section.
Other features and advantages of the present invention are set forth in or apparent from the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, in which:
Figure l is a side elevation of a ski according to the invetion;
Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional side ele-vational view of the ski;
Figure 3 is a plan view of the ski;
Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the ski;
Figure 5 is a rear end elevational view of the ski; and Figure 6 is a front end elevational view o the ski.
In the drawings, a ski 10 is formed with a con-ventional upwardly curved forward tip 12 from which an elongated ski body 14 extends rearwardly, terminating in ~21~7~39 a terminal end 16. The top surface 18 of ski 10 is pro-vided wi~h conventional ski-bindings, shown generally as snow bindings 11 for snow or water use, for securing the ski to the boot or foot of the user. To this point, this ski is no different from those skis readily available on the market.
To incorporate applicant's concept to ski 10, a pair of grooves 20, arcuate and preferably semi-oval in shape, are provided in ~ansversely spaced, longitudi-nally extending, parallel relation on the undersurface 22 (running surface) of ski 10~ Intermediate grooves 20 and parallel thereto, in a general central location on under-surface 22, is a longitudinally extending center ridge 24. A scooped out prow 26 having an arcuate and pre-ferably a semi-oval cross section, as shown in Figure 5, is provided in undersurface 22 in forward tip 12. Center ridge 24 blends smoothly into scooped out prow 26 so that grooves 20 are contlnuous with scooped out prow 26. The rear ends of grooves 20 open through the rear end 16.
With this construction, as shown ~est in Figure 4, con-ventional steel edges 28 are provided on the ski 10.
In the manner according to the invention, a plurality of parallel opposing pairs of oval air vents 30 are provided through top surface 18 at the outer edge of ski body 14 and extending into grooves 20. Each pair of air vents 30 is spaced longitudinally about every 6 to 10 ''''' .
. ~;''' . ' ,......... .
~2~3878!~
inches, or preferably about every 8 inches. As shown in broken lines in Figure 3 the vents 30 on one side may be staggered in regard to the vents on the other side of the : ski 10. Air vents 30 are registerable with grooves 20 and are preferably inclined at an angle "X" from the ver-tical of between about 75 to 80 degrees. In addition, ; the longitudinal axes of air vents 30 in top surface 18 are preferably inclined at an angle "Y" of between 10 to 15 degrees to the longitudinal a~is of ski 10. However, the longitudinal axes of air vents 30 on undersurface 22 in inte-mediate grooves 20 are approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis oE ski 10. Vents 30 are also further adapted by having a raised lip 32 extending from the rear of the oval opening of vents 30 on upper surface 18 and inclined slightly in the direction of forward tip 12. Lip 32 may be an integral part of the ski or may be screwed or glued to the ski after manufactured.
In operation, when skiing down a snow slope or along the surface of water, raised lips 32 intercept the air sweeping by vents 30 and forcibly induce or scoop the air into the oval openings of vents 30 and finally into grooves 20. In addition, air sweeping under forward tip 12 is intercepted by scooped out prow 26 and forcibly induced into grooves 20 as wellO Thus~ a cushion of air ~ is created in grooves 20 upon which the ski undersurface 22 at least partially rides. Center ridge 24 and steel ~38~78~
, edges 28 provide additional stability. By the use of inwardly directed air vents 30 starting at the outer edge of top surface 18, the use of air vents 30 on either side of the ski bindings provided on ski 10 is possible. I
vents 30 did not start at the outer edges, the substan-tial length of grooves 20 beneath the ski bindings could not be adequately provided with air from vents 30. The provision of air vents 30 at the outer edge on the top surface 18 also assures that as much air as possible is forced down into grooves 20 during forward motion. Thus, in accordance with the invention, there is produced an air-assisted ski having improved speed and stability over the prior art.
While vents 30 have been depicted with the raised lip 32 forward of the bottom frontmost end of vent 30 so that the bottom of vent 30 is located totally to the rear of the top of vent 30, the exact relative posi-tioning of the top and bottom of vents 30 depends ~n -the thickness of ski 10. Thus, with a thinner ski, raised lip 32 could also be located to the rear of the bottom frontmost end of vent 30.
~ : ..... .
'; ~ ' , ~
.
: :, .
As any snow or water skier knows friction on the running surface of the ski when in motion can signi-ficantly affect the speed and stability of the ride. A
number of prior art patents have attempted to solve the problem of stability and to some degree the forward motion of the ski by providing one or more longitudinally disposed grooves on the under or running surface of the ski. None have, however, fully utilized the use of forced air by appropriate air venting means such as in the present application. These patents include U.S.
Patent numbers 2,071,220 (Schniebs), 3,099,025 (Merkley et al.), 3,295,859 tPerry), 3,304,095 ~Carlton), 3,378,275 ~Poppen), 3,395,411 ~Pope, Jr., et al.), 3,428,979 ~Johnson), and 3,534,972 ~Salerno~.
In the present inventor's prior Canadian Patent No. 1,059,173, an air assisted ski is disclosed having a plurality of longitudinal grooves on the undersurface.
Air vents are provided in the ski which are deslgned to force air into the two outside longitudinal grooves.
This invention provides an improved ski over th~ above Canadian patent especially with respect to ~aster and more stable forward motion.
~288789 Accordingly the invention is an air-assisted ski comprising an elongated ski body having an upwardly curved forward end, a terminal end, an upper surface to which the foot of the user can be secured, and an under-surface for contacting a skiing surface; a scooped out prow provided in the undersurface of said upwardly curved forward ena; a pair of transversely spaced, longitudi-nally extending, opposing paralle grooves provided on said undersurface terminating at the rearward end thereof at said ski terminal end and terminating at the forward end at said scooped out prow; at least one pair of spaced apart air vents extending through said top surEace and registering with and opening into said parallel grooves, said air vents being inclined at a substantial angle from the vertical and extending in a rearward direction through said ski body; and a raised portion extending above said ski upper surface at the rear of said air vents so that air sweeping past said vents and said scooped out prow is intercepted by said raised por-tion of said vents and the forward end of said ski body and is forcibly induced through said air vents and said scooped out prow and from there into said parallel grooves to create a cushion of air upon which said under-surface at least partially rides.
The air vents preferably begin at the outer edge of the upward surface of the ski and are inwardly .
-` ~28~78~3 directed to the center of respective grooves. Preferably a single center ridge is provided between the grooves which blends into the scooped out prow at the forward end of the slci. In the preferred embodiment, the air vents are oval-shaped and are provided at approximately 8 inch intervals The air vents are also inclined at an angle from the vertical of between 75 to 80. The parallel grooves and prow are also preferably provided with a semi-elliptical cross section.
Other features and advantages of the present invention are set forth in or apparent from the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, in which:
Figure l is a side elevation of a ski according to the invetion;
Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional side ele-vational view of the ski;
Figure 3 is a plan view of the ski;
Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the ski;
Figure 5 is a rear end elevational view of the ski; and Figure 6 is a front end elevational view o the ski.
In the drawings, a ski 10 is formed with a con-ventional upwardly curved forward tip 12 from which an elongated ski body 14 extends rearwardly, terminating in ~21~7~39 a terminal end 16. The top surface 18 of ski 10 is pro-vided wi~h conventional ski-bindings, shown generally as snow bindings 11 for snow or water use, for securing the ski to the boot or foot of the user. To this point, this ski is no different from those skis readily available on the market.
To incorporate applicant's concept to ski 10, a pair of grooves 20, arcuate and preferably semi-oval in shape, are provided in ~ansversely spaced, longitudi-nally extending, parallel relation on the undersurface 22 (running surface) of ski 10~ Intermediate grooves 20 and parallel thereto, in a general central location on under-surface 22, is a longitudinally extending center ridge 24. A scooped out prow 26 having an arcuate and pre-ferably a semi-oval cross section, as shown in Figure 5, is provided in undersurface 22 in forward tip 12. Center ridge 24 blends smoothly into scooped out prow 26 so that grooves 20 are contlnuous with scooped out prow 26. The rear ends of grooves 20 open through the rear end 16.
With this construction, as shown ~est in Figure 4, con-ventional steel edges 28 are provided on the ski 10.
In the manner according to the invention, a plurality of parallel opposing pairs of oval air vents 30 are provided through top surface 18 at the outer edge of ski body 14 and extending into grooves 20. Each pair of air vents 30 is spaced longitudinally about every 6 to 10 ''''' .
. ~;''' . ' ,......... .
~2~3878!~
inches, or preferably about every 8 inches. As shown in broken lines in Figure 3 the vents 30 on one side may be staggered in regard to the vents on the other side of the : ski 10. Air vents 30 are registerable with grooves 20 and are preferably inclined at an angle "X" from the ver-tical of between about 75 to 80 degrees. In addition, ; the longitudinal axes of air vents 30 in top surface 18 are preferably inclined at an angle "Y" of between 10 to 15 degrees to the longitudinal a~is of ski 10. However, the longitudinal axes of air vents 30 on undersurface 22 in inte-mediate grooves 20 are approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis oE ski 10. Vents 30 are also further adapted by having a raised lip 32 extending from the rear of the oval opening of vents 30 on upper surface 18 and inclined slightly in the direction of forward tip 12. Lip 32 may be an integral part of the ski or may be screwed or glued to the ski after manufactured.
In operation, when skiing down a snow slope or along the surface of water, raised lips 32 intercept the air sweeping by vents 30 and forcibly induce or scoop the air into the oval openings of vents 30 and finally into grooves 20. In addition, air sweeping under forward tip 12 is intercepted by scooped out prow 26 and forcibly induced into grooves 20 as wellO Thus~ a cushion of air ~ is created in grooves 20 upon which the ski undersurface 22 at least partially rides. Center ridge 24 and steel ~38~78~
, edges 28 provide additional stability. By the use of inwardly directed air vents 30 starting at the outer edge of top surface 18, the use of air vents 30 on either side of the ski bindings provided on ski 10 is possible. I
vents 30 did not start at the outer edges, the substan-tial length of grooves 20 beneath the ski bindings could not be adequately provided with air from vents 30. The provision of air vents 30 at the outer edge on the top surface 18 also assures that as much air as possible is forced down into grooves 20 during forward motion. Thus, in accordance with the invention, there is produced an air-assisted ski having improved speed and stability over the prior art.
While vents 30 have been depicted with the raised lip 32 forward of the bottom frontmost end of vent 30 so that the bottom of vent 30 is located totally to the rear of the top of vent 30, the exact relative posi-tioning of the top and bottom of vents 30 depends ~n -the thickness of ski 10. Thus, with a thinner ski, raised lip 32 could also be located to the rear of the bottom frontmost end of vent 30.
~ : ..... .
'; ~ ' , ~
.
: :, .
Claims (7)
1. An air-assisted ski comprising:
an elongated ski body having an upwardly curved forward end, a terminal end, an upper surface to which the foot of the user can be secured, and an undersurface for contacting a skiing surface.
a scooped out prow provided in the undersurface of said upwardly curved forward end;
a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending, opposing parallel grooves provided on said undersurface terminating at the rearward end thereof at said ski terminal end and terminating at the forward end at said scooped out prow;
at least one pair of spaced apart air vents extending through said top surface and registering with and opening into said parallel grooves, said air vents being inclined at a substantial angle from the vertical and extending in a rearward direction through said ski body; and a raised portion extending above said ski upper surface at the rear of said air vents so that air sweeping past said vents and said scooped out prow is intercepted by said raised portion of said vents and the forward end of said ski body and is forcibly induced through said air vents and said scooped out prow and from there into said parallel grooves to create a cushion of air upon which said undersurface at least partially rides.
an elongated ski body having an upwardly curved forward end, a terminal end, an upper surface to which the foot of the user can be secured, and an undersurface for contacting a skiing surface.
a scooped out prow provided in the undersurface of said upwardly curved forward end;
a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending, opposing parallel grooves provided on said undersurface terminating at the rearward end thereof at said ski terminal end and terminating at the forward end at said scooped out prow;
at least one pair of spaced apart air vents extending through said top surface and registering with and opening into said parallel grooves, said air vents being inclined at a substantial angle from the vertical and extending in a rearward direction through said ski body; and a raised portion extending above said ski upper surface at the rear of said air vents so that air sweeping past said vents and said scooped out prow is intercepted by said raised portion of said vents and the forward end of said ski body and is forcibly induced through said air vents and said scooped out prow and from there into said parallel grooves to create a cushion of air upon which said undersurface at least partially rides.
2. A ski according to claim 1 wherein said vents begin at the outer edge of said uppersurface and are inwardly directed to the center of said respective grooves.
3. A ski according to claim 2 wherein a single center ridge located between said grooves is provided on said undersurface, said center ridge blending into said scooped out prow at the forward end of said ski body.
4. A ski according to claim 3 wherein said air vents are oval shaped and provided at approximately 6 to 10 inch intervals along said ski body, said air vents being inclined at an angle from the vertical of between 75 to 80 degrees.
5. A ski according to claim 4 wherein said vents are provided at approximately 8 inch intervals.
6. A ski according to claim 2 wherein said parallel grooves have a semi-elliptical shaped cross section when viewed in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said grooves.
7. A ski according to claim 6 wherein said scooped out prow has a semi-elliptical cross section when viewed in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said ski body.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000506156A CA1288789C (en) | 1986-04-09 | 1986-04-09 | Air assisted ski |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000506156A CA1288789C (en) | 1986-04-09 | 1986-04-09 | Air assisted ski |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1288789C true CA1288789C (en) | 1991-09-10 |
Family
ID=4132837
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000506156A Expired - Lifetime CA1288789C (en) | 1986-04-09 | 1986-04-09 | Air assisted ski |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1288789C (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7232134B2 (en) | 2004-02-05 | 2007-06-19 | Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. | Steering ski for snow vehicle |
| US7243927B2 (en) | 2001-11-20 | 2007-07-17 | Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha | Steering ski for snow vehicle |
-
1986
- 1986-04-09 CA CA000506156A patent/CA1288789C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7243927B2 (en) | 2001-11-20 | 2007-07-17 | Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha | Steering ski for snow vehicle |
| US7232134B2 (en) | 2004-02-05 | 2007-06-19 | Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. | Steering ski for snow vehicle |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |