This invention relates to a method and a device for testing cross-country skis.

On modern cross-country skis the span pressure may vary from 20 to 120 kg for the same ski length of the same manu¬ facture. Due to differences in the span pressure the skis will have different properties for ski runners of different weight.

If the ski is too hard for the ski runner he cannot manage to depress the whole ski at kick-off, which will give a constantly bad hold apart from waxing. A too loose ski, where the ski runner easily depresses the whole span, will provide bad running and the ski-wax will be quickly worn off under the hold.

Moreover, uncertainty as to the length of the span will make every skier uncertain, where the ski is to be waxed for glide or hold.

The method generally used at present to test the span pressure consists of "pressing'On the skis manually. However, this method provides an uncertain result, which is unsatisfactory for the ski runner.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a device which tests suitable skis for a person in a rapid and reliable manner. This is done by means of a device provided with the characteristic features defined in the

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appended claims.

An illustrative example of the invention will be described below with reference to the enclosed figure, which shows schematically an embodiment of the device of the invention.

In .the figure a device according to the invention is shown, which comprises two bars 1 (one hidden in the figure), which can consist of U-profiles of e.g. aluminium.

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Each bar 1 is provided with a number of microswitches 2, which are uniformly spaced along the bar 1. Each micro- switch 2 is connected to a lamp -\ on a control board 5 via a cable 3.. Like the microswitches 2 the lamps -\ are prefer¬ ably arranged in a row after each other (see Pig.).

The microswitches 2 function e.g. in such a way that when a ski is depressed to contact with a microswitch a power circuit will be closed, the lamp - on the panel 5 connected with the microswitch 2 being lit.

The bars 1 are also provided with a device for measuring the span height of the skis being tested. This device e.g. consists of a potentiometer 6, which is located about in the middle of the bar in its longitudinal direction. The potentiometer 6 is also via the cable 3 connected to an indication means on the board 5. In this illustrative example the indication means is a pointer instrument 7, which thus indicates the height of the span directly, e.g. in mm.

When testing suitable skis for a person by means of the device of the invention is is proceeded as follows .

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The pair of skis 8 to be tested are placed on the bars 1 as shown in the figure. It is then seen to it that the point where the ski has its maximum span height will be straight in front of the potentiometer 6.

The person 9 then steps onto the skis 8 and places his feet in the positions of the skis which will be entered in running. At the person's 9 load on the skis 8 they will be depressed to contact with the bars- 1 in their outer portions as seen in the longitudinal direction, the microswitches 2 arranged in the bars being actuated to close the associated power circuit and to light the corresponding lamp -\ on the board 5. By studying the number of lamps not being alit it is simple to calculate the length of the span when the constant distance between the microswitches is known. Information about the position of the span in the longitu¬ dinal direction of the ski is also obtained by. observing which lamps are not alit. Then it is very easy to mark the extension of the span on the skis, which is important information for applying ski-wax for hold and glide.

The height of the span in loaded position of the skis 8 is read directly on the pointer instrument 7.

With information about the length, height and position of the span and considering the person's individual desider¬ ata as to a soft or hard ski it is possible to decide whether the tested pair of skis is suitable.

The interpretation of the information obtained can be facilitated by using keys to a code of different types, which can preferably be arranged or. the board 5-

By means of the device described above it is thus possible _\ to test in a very simple and rapid way a suitable pair of skis for a person.

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The number of microswitches shown in the figure and the associated lamps are of course not crucial but can be in¬ creased or reduced, the exactitude, however, of the device being influenced.

It is suitable that the board 5 is placed on a stand (not shown in the figure) in order to obtain a suitable read-, ing height for the person testing the skis and also for the seller of the skis.

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Of course the invention is not restricted to the illustra¬ tive example described above but may be freely varied within the scope of the following claims.