Radius file guide

Abstract

In embodiments, an apparatus for sharpening the edges of the ski / snowboard is provided. The apparatus may sharpen the edges of the skies without scratching the ski base. The apparatus may include a file support having holes for affixing a file. In addition, a radius base plate having a curvature is attached with the file support at right angle. In embodiments, the curvature of the plate from the tip to the tail may be symmetrical or asymmetrical and the angle between the file support and the radius base plate may vary between 90 and 96 degrees.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61 / 235,546 filed Aug. 20, 2009 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention generally relates to ski / snowboards, and more specifically to sharpening the edges of the ski / snowboards.[0004]2. Background Information[0005]Typically, the ski / snowboard tuning technician sharpens a ski with a flat based file guide. A flat file guide tends to scratch the ski base and is generally intolerant of irregularities in the ski base. Also a flat file guide requires the technician to hold a particular wrist position when starting and finishing a filing movement along the length of a ski which increases fatigue and may reduce quality of the ski edge near the start and end of a sharpening path. A need is felt for a simple tool that facilitates sharpening the ski edges without at least ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The ski sharpening apparatus disclosed herein facilitates accurate filing of ski edges without scratching the ski surface with the aid of a radius file guide. With the radius file guide, the center of the guide is in contact with the ski base which is where the file makes primary contact with the ski edge to be filed and cuts the ski edge. In addition the filings can fall through a port in the guide that facilitates directing the filings away from the ski base.

[0007]The present invention provides an apparatus for sharpening the edges of a ski / snowboard. The apparatus may facilitate sharpening the edges of the skies without scratching the ski base. The apparatus may include a file support, optionally having holes, such as for affixing a file. A radius base plate having a curvature or a plurality of non-coplanar surfaces may be attached to the file support forming various angles that facilitate preparing the ski edge angle per a user preference or manufacturer recommendation. In embodiments, the angle between the file support and the radius base plate may be fixed between approximately 90 and 96 degrees. In addition, a filings port which is substantially an aperture in the file guide may be provided in the plate, substantially at a point of contact between the radius base plate and the ski base and may extend into the radius base plate and the file support beyond the junction thereof. Such an assembly may facilitate filing the ski / snowboard edge without scratching the base of the ski / snowboard.

[0008]The radius base plate that slides along the ski base may allow the tuner to enter and exit the filing motion along the ski smoothly for smoother cutting of the ski edge because only a portion of the radius base plate is in contact with the ski base. The radius base plate facilitates a natural extension of the technician's wrist near the entry (when starting) and exit (when ending) of a filing motion along a ski while ensuring that the preferred edge angle is maintained. The curvature may be formed in one portion of the radius base plate, whereas the other portion of the radius base plate may be flat to facilitate maintaining a fixed angle between the curvature portion and the ski base.

[0016]The file guide may include a palm shaped handle for facilitating gripping of the file guide into a palm of a user or a concave shaped handle for facilitating safe gripping of the file guide into a palm of a user.

[0023]The file guide may include a palm shaped handle for facilitating gripping of the file guide into a palm of a user or a concave shaped handle for facilitating safe gripping of the file guide into a palm of a user.

Problems solved by technology

A flat file guide tends to scratch the ski base and is generally intolerant of irregularities in the ski base.

Also a flat file guide requires the technician to hold a particular wrist position when starting and finishing a filing movement along the length of a ski which increases fatigue and may reduce quality of the ski edge near the start and end of a sharpening path.

Images