| JPS6145784 | APPARATUS FOR GUIDING SKI BOOTS, LONG DISTANCE SKI BOOTS ADAPTED TO SAID APPARATUS AND SKI BOARD |
| JPH05184402 | SKI BOOTS |
| JPS58185103 | SKI BOOTS |
GLEESON FERGUS (GB)
| WO2001026753A1 | 2001-04-19 |
| US3644919A | 1972-02-22 | |||
| DE9308611U1 | 1993-08-12 | |||
| DE202008008727U1 | 2008-09-11 | |||
| DE9417953U1 | 1995-01-05 |
| CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for the detection of forces exerted by the leg or legs of a skier towards the back of a ski boot and informing the skier of said forces. Said apparatus comprises of a component or components to detect said forces and a component or components to transmit generated signals to a display device for the notice of the skier or another person or for recording. Said component of said apparatus for detecting said forces may have a plurality of locations, said locations including the interior of a ski boot, the exterior of a ski boot or the materials or components of a ski boot. Said materials or components of a ski boot including hinges, bindings, fastenings, walls or any materials or components which are part of the ski boot or accessories to the ski boot. 2. Apparatus to detect the consequence of forces exerted by the leg or legs of a skier as defined in claim 1. Said detection of forces being accomplished through measurement or analysis of pressure or load. 3. Apparatus to detect the consequence of forces exerted by the leg or legs of a skier as defined in claim 1. Said consequences include movement of the ski boot such as in the hinge commonly found in the ankle of some ski boots. 4. Apparatus to detect the consequence of forces exerted by the leg or legs of a skier as defined in claim 1. Said consequences include tension generated within the ski boot or components or accessories of the ski boot, such as fastenings, bindings or walls . 5. Apparatus to detect the opposite desirable force from that defined in claim 1. Said desirable force being directed towards the front of the ski boot. 6. Apparatus to detect the consequences of said "desirable forces directed towards the front of the ski boot" defined in claim 4. Said consequences include movement of the ski boot such as in the hinge commonly found in the ankle of some ski boots. 7. Apparatus to detect the consequences of said "desirable forces directed towards the front of the ski boot" defined in claim 4. Said consequences include tension generated within the ski boot or components or accessories of the ski boot, such as fastenings, bindings or walls. |
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention
Skiing is a popular sport which relies on multiple different technologies for its development, participation and popularisation. These technologies relate to clothing, skis, boots and various safety equipment used by individual skiers. Basic skiing technique is widely taught at multiple ski schools in all resorts. A fundamental element is for the skier to lean forward into the front of the boots and face downhill. Frequently the natural inclination is to lean back "towards the slope" and much teaching is directed at overcoming this. The present invention detects said backward leaning posture and by informing the skier or instructor of said posture helps improve skiing technique. In a plurality of embodiments the current invention may detect forward or backward leaning posture or other elements of skiing posture and, in said manner, inform the skier to analyse and improve technique.
A WIPO patent search produces 1385 records for the search term "ski". The search term "ski boot" produces 298 records, which when refined with the terms "pressure", "force", "load" produce 26, 49 and 4 records respectively. The patents deal with binding releases, pressure on the ski surfaces, forces transmitted from boot to skis and other matters, but none related to sensing the skier's posture in the proposed manner of the present invention. It is considered therefore that there is no prior art in the field and the present invention is entirely novel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide apparatus which improves the skiing technique of individual skiers by is quite different from all inventions previously described in the art of ski boot and ski design.
The present invention relates generally to a system which senses, records or analyses forces applied to a ski boot or any flexing or stretching movement in the ski boot consequent upon said forces and relays any such information to the skier either contemporaneously or by recording. In the embodiment illustrated in figure (1), the invention detects forces exerted in a backward direction on the ski boot by the calf of the skier and produces an electrical signal, said signal being detectable by the skier. There are multiple methods of detecting forces including, but not limited to, apparatus such as mechanical switches, load cells, piezo-electric apparatus, solenoids and other electro-magnetic devices, gas filled chambers, liquid filled chambers, tension members and many other devices. In other embodiments, the force applied to a ski boot may also be detected by movement in hinges or other devices in the ankle of a ski boot or by stretching forces, tension or loads exerted in the bindings or wall of a ski boot. There are multiple methods of transmitting, analysing and recording the signals generated by said variety of apparatus. Said apparatus include, but are not limited to, wired and wireless apparatus and mechanical, electrical and electronic apparatus .
An embodiment of the current invention is shown in figure 1, with the component parts labelled and numbered. In the illustrated embodiment , the device is attached to the top of the rear of the ski boot (12) by a fastening strap (9) to detect backward force. In the illustrated embodiment, the device is a piston (2) loaded by a spring (4) , said piston being able to move in a barrel (3) under the action of a force exerted by the skiers leg on a pad (1) . The consequent movement of said spring loaded piston displaces a flexible contact strip (6) which then contacts a plate (5) causing an electrical current to flow from a battery (8) . The current is detected and transmitted to the notice of the skier by a remote signalling device (11) . The present invention has a variety of embodiments, said variety includes location, which may be inside or outside of the boot or a component of the boot itself such as the hinges, bindings or walls; said variety includes a variety of methods of attachment of the apparatus to the ski boot or to the clothing of the skier or methods of making the device integral to the ski boot or clothing; said variety including the apparatus for detection of any forces exerted by the skier in the boot and creating a signal; said variety includes the apparatus used to transmit said generated signals to the notice of the skier; said variety includes the apparatus used to analyse and record the said generated signals to the notice of the skier or to the skier's instructor.
It is therefore demonstrated that the present invention teaches an apparatus which will be of use in learning elements of skiing technique .