Field of Invention

The invention relates to a folding ski for sporting or military activities.

Prior art

A folding ski is known from prior art. When assembled, a folding ski functions as a classic ski, its advantage being its possibility of being folded and is as such handier for carrying, transporting and storing. A collapsible ski is disclosed in patent SI 25117. The ski comprises a ski front section having a front end with a tip and a rear end, and a ski rear section having a front end and a rear end with a tail, wherein the rear end of the ski front section is inseparably connected with the front end of the ski rear section by means of an articulated connection. The articulated connection is strengthened by a connecting plate engaging the grooves formed on the ski front and rear sections.

The articulated connection is located in the area of maximum bending moments. The purpose of the connecting plate is to lock the joint in the extended position of the ski, to connect the front and rear sections of the ski, to provide the required bending stiffness and other mechanical properties of the ski as exhibited by a classic ski, i. e. unfolding ski.

The connecting plate must be formed in such a way as to enable mounting of classic alpine ski bindings so that adjustment to different sizes of ski boots is possible. The alpine ski bindings are mounted to the connecting plate so that the front portion of the alpine ski binding is fixed to the connecting plate, while the rear portion of the alpine ski binding is attached to the connecting plate in a sliding way. This allows the ski to bend freely even in the sole area of the ski boot.

Technical problem

The technical problem is to configure a folding ski structure that will act as a classic ski, which means that the assembled structure of the folding ski will act as a uniform support.

Solution to the technical problem

The relative expressions like front, rear, upper, lower etc. are defined herein from the perspective of the ski user when the ski is in its functional state.

The technical problem is solved with a folding ski comprising:

- a ski front section having a front end with a tip slightly bent upwards, and a rear end

- a ski rear section having a front end and a rear end with a tail slightly bent upwards,

- an articulated connection which inseparably connects the rear end of the ski front section to the front end of the ski rear section,

- a connecting plate intended to strengthen the articulated connection of the ski in its functional state, the connecting plate comprising a front base plate fixed to the rear end of the ski front section, a rear base plate fixed to the front end of the ski rear section, a bridging plate that is articulated hinged to the front base plate or the rear base plate and is pivotal around a pivot axis extending perpendicularly to the ski upper surface, said bridging plate being arranged such that the transverse central axis of the bridging plate is approximately in the area of the articulated connection when the ski is in its functional state, wherein a plurality of ribs and/or grooves in the shape of a circular arc are formed on the upper side of the front base plate and the rear base plate and a plurality of grooves and/or ribs are formed on the bottom side of the bridging plate so that each pair of ribs and grooves forms a positive lock connection that transfers shear forces in the longitudinal direction of the ski, and at least a part of the ribs is formed with at least one flap projecting in the longitudinal direction of the ski, and the corresponding groove is formed with a notch which receives a flap so as to form a positive lock connection which transfers vertical forces in addition to longitudinal shear and compressive forces.

The vertical parts of the ribs transfer longitudinal forces and the flaps transfer the vertical forces.

The advantage of the folding ski according to the invention over known folding skis is that the connecting plate does not allow vertical and longitudinal movements between the base plates and the bridging plate of the connecting plate. An efficient transfer of forces between the bridging plate and the base plates without longitudinal movements strengthens the ski in the area of the articulated connection to the extent that it acts as a uniform support and provides good bending stiffness. A further advantage is that the plates with grooves and ribs are not mounted on the ski directly as in known folding skis, the grooves and ribs are formed on the base plates, thus reducing the possibility of mounting errors when manufacturing the ski.

Figure 1: Folding ski with a connecting plate and bindings in a functional state

Figure 2: Front and rear base plates fastened on the folding ski

Figure 3: Folding ski with a connecting plate, side view

Figure 4: Folding ski with a connecting plate, the bridging plate being pivoted with respect to the base plates

Figure 5: Base plates with a profile, side view Figure 6: Ski with a connecting plate in the area of the articulated connection, cross- sectional view

The invention is described in more detail in the following.

The technical problem is solved with a folding ski 1 comprising:

- a ski front section 2 having a front end with a tip slightly bent upwards, and a rear end,

- a ski rear section 3 having a front end and a rear end with a tail slightly bent upwards,

- an articulated connection 4 which inseparably connects the rear end of the ski front section to the front end of the ski rear section,

- a connecting plate 5 intended to strengthen the articulated connection of the ski in its functional state, the connecting plate comprising a front base plate 6 fixed to the rear end of the ski front section, a rear base plate 7 fixed to the front end of the ski rear section, a bridging plate 8 that is hinged to the front base plate or the rear base plate and is pivotal around a pivot axis a extending perpendicularly to the ski upper surface, said bridging plate being arranged such that the transverse central axis of the bridging plate is approximately in the area of the articulated connection when the ski is in its functional state, wherein a plurality of ribs 9 and/or grooves in the shape of a circular arc are formed on the upper side of the front base plate 6 and the rear base plate 7 and a plurality of grooves 10 and/or ribs are formed on the bottom side of the bridging plate 8 so that each pair of a rib 9 and a groove 10 forms a positive lock connection that transfers shear forces in the longitudinal direction of the ski, and at least a part of the ribs is formed with at least one flap 11 projecting in the longitudinal direction of the ski, and the corresponding groove is formed with a notch 16 which receives a flap 11 so as to form a positive lock connection which transfers vertical forces in addition to longitudinal shear and compressive forces. The circular arc of the groove side closer to the pivot axis a is formed by a radius extending from the pivot axis a or a slightly smaller radius, and the circular arc of the corresponding rib side is formed by a radius extending from the pivot axis a or a slightly larger radius.

The circular arc of the rib side more distant from the pivot axis a is formed by a radius extending from the pivot axis a or a slightly smaller radius, and the circular arc of the corresponding groove side is formed by a radius extending from the pivot axis a or a slightly larger radius.

The radii of the circular arcs are selected in a way that the distance between the adjacent sides of a rib and a groove, which are in engagement, in the area of the central longitudinal axis of the ski is minimal, e. g. about 0.2 mm, and the distance between adjacent sides of a rib and a groove, which are in engagement, at the edge of the ski is greater than the minimum, e. g. about 0.8 mm.

Greater clearance between the respective adjacent sides of a groove and a rib ensures easier insertion of the ribs into the grooves when strengthening the ski with the bridging plate.

The ski further comprises a locking mechanism 12 that locks the bridging plate when the ski is in the functional position.

The bridging plate can be made of aluminium. Alternatively, the bridging plate may be made of injection- moulded plastic reinforced with fibres, in particular carbon fibres or glass fibres. The bridging plate may be further reinforced with a layer of fibre fabric, in particular carbon fibres or glass fibres. The advantage of a bridging plate made of plastic over that of aluminium is more than a halved weight of the bridging plate. Furthermore, the bridging plate can be formed of two different plastic materials by a two-component injection moulding process. The core of the bridging plate can thus be made of injection- moulded plastic having better mechanical properties, such as carbon-fibre reinforced polyamide, while the core is enclosed by an injection- moulded plastic having poorer mechanical properties (cheaper material), such as glass-fibre reinforced polyamide.

The base plates are fixed to the ski by screws 13. Alternatively, the base plates are fixed to the ski by an adhesive or rivets.

The base plates 6, 7 are provided at their ends facing the articulated connection 4 with a profile 14 having a tooth 15 which engages a respective part of the articulated connection 4. The profile 14 is formed of aluminium.