EP0706411B1 - Ski - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a ski having layers of transparent plastic material. The entire ski body, i.e. the ski itself, is transparent at least in given areas.

Description

The invention relates to a ski or a snowboard with layers of transparent plastic. Skis with Layers of transparent plastic are e.g. through the FR-A 2 512 681 has become known.

In addition to the technical, in particular technical driving properties a ski is increasingly winning that too Appearance of the ski influences the purchase decision. Here there are various means, including technical ones, that are used for Influencing the appearance of the ski can be used. So e.g. are already transparent layers as top layers for the top of the ski or as a tread surface for Protection of the decor or of decorative layers used either on the back of the transparent layer or are attached below the transparent outer layer.

The object of the invention is to use transparent To expand ski components, on the one hand to Influencing the appearance of the ski and / or on the other to achieve a technical effect.

This is achieved in that the ski or the snowboard at least partially perpendicular to the Tread level transparent over its entire cross-sectional height So it's not just a surface layer or tread layer transparent to underneath or Recognize the lettering, symbols or decorations behind it to be able to, but according to the invention is the ski or that Snowboard in its entirety perpendicular to the tread plane transparent over its entire cross-sectional height, whereby however, this may not be the case in all areas of the ski must (therefore "at least in some areas "). For example, functional parts made of opaque material, especially metal, such as for alpine skis the steel edges, binding attachment parts or reinforcing elements form zones which are formed by that exclude transparency. It is also possible, for decorative reasons or for marking opaque, i.e. attaching non-transparent inserts in the ski body, which then contrast zones to the transparent ones Form areas of the ski.

"Transparent" in the sense of the invention means not only clear, but also translucent. A measure of transparency is the degree of transmission τ = Φ d / Φ O (Φ _o = incident radiation power, Φ _d = continuous radiation power). Accordingly, within the meaning of the invention, those parts of the ski are to be referred to as "transparent" where the degree of transmission in the visible spectral range is different from zero, for example at least 10%, but is preferably considerably higher. A source of light that is located, for example, under the running surface of the ski should at least still be perceived as a glow on the ski surface. The transparency can also be "colored", so it does not have to extend across the full width of the visible spectrum. On the other hand, discoloration due to radiation (light, UV) or aging is rather undesirable. Transparent materials that are as stable as possible with respect to radiation and aging should therefore be used with regard to their transparency.

In contrast to the known prior art mentioned According to the invention, it is not sufficient that only the surface layers consist of transparent plastic, but also the inner components at least be transparent in some areas, e.g. the bearing Layers made of glass fiber reinforced plastic can exist in the transparent glass fibers with transparent resin are bound. If the reinforcement inserts partly made of transparent glass fibers and partly consist of opaque carbon fibers also special technical and design Effects are achieved. The core zones of the ski can be seen either by using transparent core material or make it transparent that inner Cavities are formed. For this, e.g. the supporting one Ski body formed from one or more hollow bodies whose walls (at least partially) are made of transparent glass fiber reinforced plastic. A another possibility would be the arrangement of a honeycomb core with standing honeycomb cell walls, which even then one Allow view perpendicular to the ski surface, if the honeycomb cell walls themselves are not made of transparent Material. Of course, they can Honeycomb cell walls also made of glass fiber reinforced, if necessary - Made of plastic.

Also for any adhesives used to connect the individual layers are used, that applies Requirement of transparency, although in zones also used non-transparent adhesives can be.

The invention not only enables the production of Skis of previously unknown appearance, but also gives an insight into the inside of the ski to Determine processing errors, e.g. a incorrect orientation of the glass fibers or air bubbles in hardened synthetic resin.

Fiber composite plastics with directional reinforcement fibers can their excellent material properties such as high strength, rigidity and corrosion resistance only fully play when it is succeeds in increasing the fibers according to the load orientate. Even small deviations from the direction of the fibers to the direction of loading cause considerable losses in the strength of the component. The control the correct orientation of the reinforcing fibers so far either failed during ski making for technological reasons or because the individual ski components were not allowed to be viewed (were opaque). Then you have consciously Fiber composite materials oversized to one to compensate for possible loss of strength, however at the expense of the total weight.

The construction of a ski that is transparent in itself allows that ongoing control of fiber orientations and enables thereby the optimized use of fiber composite materials, which in turn is necessary for lightweight construction is.

The invention can be applied to all types of Skis (alpine skis, cross-country skis, water skis etc.) apply, with the term ski also Snowboards are included.

The invention is described below with reference to the drawing explained in more detail by an embodiment.

1, 3 and 5 show ski sections of different Embodiments and Fig. 2, 4 and 6 the associated Top views of the ski.

Fig. 1 shows in cross section a ski that one at appropriate choice of materials in the sense of the invention as can train transparent skis.

The ski according to FIG. 1 belongs to the type of shell skis and consists of a flat lower assembly with the outsole 1, e.g. made of polyethylene, and the side steel edges 2. The inside of the ski is laterally and upwards from a shell 3 made of unreinforced Plastic enclosed. The inner bearing Construction of the ski is done with a hollow body 4 Walls 5,6 made of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic. The inner hollow body 4 fills the interior between the top shell 3 and the lower assembly 1.2 such that the Outer walls 5 on the inner walls of the shell 3 or lower assembly 1.2. The hollow body 4 has also vertical partition walls 6, which the Interior of the hollow body 4 in three air-filled hollow chambers divide.

To the transparency of the ski body according to the invention achieve a transparent for the outsole 1 Polyethylene and also for the shell 3 a transparent Plastic, e.g. a UV stabilized thermoplastic, such as such as thermoplastic polyurethane or polyamide used. Also for the walls 5, 6 of the hollow body 4 transparent synthetic resins, e.g. Polyester resin or Epoxy resin used as a binder for the fiber inlays the fiber deposits entirely or predominantly consist of transparent glass fibers.

Such a ski could then be viewed from above 2 appearance, with the ski body in the areas A is transparent from top to bottom, while the edge zones B, furthermore the tip and end area C, D and the binding attachment area E appears opaque because of the Steel edges 2, also the tip and end protection made of metal and a reinforcement insert or binding attachment plate in the binding attachment area. Of the Tip protection could e.g. also from a so-called Clip-on tip exist, this clip-on tip also can be at least partially transparent, in particular from transparent, preferably thermoplastic Plastic can exist.

Additional dark vertical stripes characterize the appearance the transparent ski (Fig. 4), if like Fig. 3 can be seen, e.g. on the top of the inner Hollow body 4 longitudinal inserts 7 e.g. out Resin-bonded carbon fibers are arranged. This Deposits 7 have a triangular shape in the case of FIG. 3 Cross section on and are over an intermediate wall 6 arranged.

5 and 6 also has in the embodiment the appearance of the transparent ski dark opaque stripes F, but now with flat strip-shaped inserts 8 between the top of the inner hollow body 4 and the shell 3 are formed. In addition, in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 in the rest of a glass fiber braid existing fiber reinforcements of the two lateral hollow chambers individual threads 9 made of carbon fibers braided, e.g. in an inclined position (helical), which then as a dark zigzag pattern or Cross pattern G appear.

a) in die Vertiefung der ersten (unteren) Formhälfte werden die Bauteile der unteren Baugruppe (Laufsohle, Stahlkanten) eingelegt;

b) mit Kunstharz imprägnierte Faserstoff-Flächengebilde in Röhrenform werden mit innenliegenden Schläuchen aus luftdichtem Material versehen und in der Form positioniert, z.B. auf die in die erste Formhälfte eingelegten Bauteile der unteren Baugruppe aufgelegt;

c) ferner wird die gegebenenfalls Vorgeformte Deckfolie aus Kunststoff in der Form positioniert;

d) es wird die zweite (obere) Formhälfte mit einem der Seiten- und Oberflächenkontur des Skikörpers entsprechenden Formhohlraum auf die erste Formhälfte aufgelegt;

e) die innenliegenden, luftdichten Schläuche innerhalb der Kunstharz-Faserstoff-Röhre(n) werden mit Preßluft aufgeblasen, wobei sie sich dehnen, und auch die Kunstharz-Faserstoff-Röhre(n) gedehnt wird (werden), und sich die Folie an die Forminnenwandung der zweiten Formhälfte anlegt;

f) das Kunstharz der Kunstharz-Faserstoff-Röhre(n) wird unter Aufrechterhaltung des Preßluft-Innendruckes in dem bzw. den innenliegenden, luftdichten Schläuchen und gegebenenfalls unter Wärmezufuhr ausgehärtet.

The manufacture of a ski in accordance with the illustrated exemplary embodiments can be carried out using a mold consisting of two mold halves, in the mold cavity of which the ski is shaped, the following method steps being provided:

a) the components of the lower assembly (outsole, steel edges) are inserted into the recess of the first (lower) mold half;

b) impregnated fibrous sheet-like structures are provided with inner tubes made of airtight material and positioned in the mold, for example placed on the components of the lower assembly inserted into the first mold half;

c) the optionally preformed plastic cover film is also positioned in the mold;

d) the second (upper) mold half is placed on the first mold half with a mold cavity corresponding to the side and surface contour of the ski body;

e) the inner, airtight tubes within the synthetic resin fiber tube (s) are inflated with compressed air, whereby they expand, and the synthetic resin fiber tube (s) is (are) stretched, and the film adheres to the Mold inner wall of the second mold half;

f) the synthetic resin of the synthetic resin fiber tube (s) is cured while maintaining the compressed air internal pressure in the internal air-tight hoses and, if appropriate, with the addition of heat.

After completion of the hardening process, the compressed air becomes overpressure removed in the hoses and the ski removed from the mold. After demolding, any will still be over the side surfaces of the lower component group protrude Cut off edges of the cover film. With appropriate Prevention at the ski tip and / or the rear of the ski can the hoses from the cavities of the now cured hollow body for reuse be removed. If the tubes in the ski body must remain with regard to the effect according to the invention at least partially transparent be, e.g. are made of transparent polyamide.

The illustrated embodiments of transparent Skis as well as the described example of a possible Manufacturing processes are a matter of course not to be understood in a restrictive sense, but just individual examples of numerous possibilities, the inventive idea of a transparent ski to realize.

Claims (4)

1. A ski or snowboard having layers of transparent plastic material, characterised in that the ski or snowboard is transparent at least in a region-wise manner perpendicularly to the plane of the running surface over the entire cross-sectional height of the ski.
2. A ski or snowboard as set forth in claim 1, characterised in that the load-bearing internal components (4, 5, 6) of the ski or snowboard at least partially comprise transparent glass fiber-reinforced plastic material.
3. A ski or snowboard as set forth in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the ski or snowboard has opaque inserts (7, 8, 9) in a zone-wise manner.
4. A ski or snowboard as set forth in one of claims 1 through 3, characterised in that the load-bearing body (4) is formed from one or more hollow bodies whose walls (5, 6) at least partially comprise transparent glass fiber-reinforced plastic material.

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