Fabric for the creation of climbing skins with a velour side

Abstract

The invention relates to a backing (2), sold by the metre, for creating climbing skins (1), with a velour side (3) and an opposite, rear side (4), wherein bristle-like spikes (6) project from the velour side (3) and are formed individually or as clusters. They are aligned parallel to one another at a predetermined set-up angle (α) in relation to the surface alignment of the backing (2). According to the invention, on the velour side (3) there is formed a partial area (5) of 10 to 50% of the overall backing (2) which is free from spikes (8) or in which the spikes (7) are shorter in their freestanding length (l) by at least 1 / 3 than the spikes (6) outside this partial area (5). This partial area (5) is distributed on the backing (2) in zones which take up a small area in relation to the size of a climbing skin (1). The invention also relates to a climbing skin (1) comprising such a backing (2).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a carrier surface supplied by the meter for the production of climbing skins, comprising a velour side and a reverse side opposite it, wherein bristle-like poles protrude from the velour side, which are designed individually or in bundles and are aligned parallel to each other at a predetermined angle α for the surface alignment of the carrier surface. The invention also relates to a climbing skin for mounting on the undersides of skis or other snow sports equipment as a climbing aid or as a kick-off aid. State of the art

[0002] Climbing skins, also called ski skins, are used as climbing or pushing aids when ascending snow. They are attached to the undersides of skis, split snowboards, cross-country skis, sleds, or other snow sports equipment. They are designed to offer minimal resistance when gliding, for example, when a ski with a skin is pushed forward. Conversely, the rearward-facing poles prevent the snow sports equipment from slipping backward, both uphill on steep terrain and when pushing off, such as when cross-country skiing or climbing.

[0003] While previously only natural furs, such as goat or seal furs, were used for this purpose, today synthetic materials and natural plant fibers are increasingly used, although the use of mohair for these purposes is still very common.

[0004] In natural hides, the hairs, which are oriented and parallel to each other and embedded in the leather, serve as the poles that form the retention aids. In artificially produced hides, the poles are attached to a substrate as plates, for example, according to the scale principle, as known from EP3437701. EP 2167204 describes a method for anchoring the poles by flocking them in a layer of adhesive.

[0005] Furthermore, velour-like fabrics can be produced using weaving techniques, and their fibers can be fixed in the desired layers. This involves reshaping or folding them, for example, under the influence of heat. The fibers are then treated with a waterproofing agent to reduce water vapor penetration.

[0006] Out of consideration for animals, vegan climbing skins are increasingly in demand. The weight of climbing skins also plays a role, as they are carried while participating in the sport, if not attached to the skis, then rolled up in a backpack.

[0007] From DE 4309488 A1 a climbing skin is known in which the skin layer extends only in the edge areas of the climbing skins in order to reduce frictional resistance when gliding.

[0008] Similarly, US 3178194 describes climbing skins which have a furred area on each side, while the wider central area is free of fur.

[0009] In climbing skins according to CH 700590 B1, the lateral edges are also covered with fur. In the central area, a sliding layer is applied to the base fabric in such a way that it does not substantially impair the climbing ability of the skin during ascent. Description of the invention

[0010] The object of the present invention is to describe a backing surface for the production of climbing skins with a velour side, which glides better than conventional backing surfaces for this purpose without compromising grip when sliding backwards. A further object is to describe lighter backing surfaces. In preferred embodiments, they should also be more flexible when rolled up and require less space. Preferably, the design freedom should be increased to improve brand recognition. Furthermore, the backing surface should be able to be used economically across the entire width of the material in order to cut out climbing skins.

[0011] The invention is solved by providing a partial area on the velour side comprising 10 to 50% of the total carrier surface, preferably about 15 to 35%, which is free of poles or in which the poles are at least 1 / 3 shorter in their freestanding length than the poles outside this partial area. This freestanding length is referred to as the pole length. The partial area is arranged in small segments relative to the size of a climbing skin on the carrier surface. This eliminates the need to align the climbing skin on the carrier surface according to the partial area. Furthermore, the partial area can be divided into a plurality of individual segments or be continuous.

[0012] Unlike prior art designs, the climbing skin according to the invention is manufactured in one piece from the carrier material as a continuous length of material and does not need to be assembled from individual, different strips. This has the advantage that climbing skins can be cut from the continuous length of material in any desired contours and dimensions without having to join different covered sections with uncovered sections, for example by sewing or gluing. Thus, all climbing skins cut from the carrier material according to the invention have the same qualities, regardless of whether they are cut for a narrow cross-country ski or a wide split snowboard. Therefore, the entire width of the carrier material can be optimally utilized. The width of the climbing skins can range from a few centimeters for cross-country skis or sleds to well over 10 cm for split snowboards.

[0013] In particular, the pole-free or pole-shortened section consists of contiguous or non-contiguous areas distributed across the substrate in such a small, intricate way that they appear homogeneous within the climbing skin surface. The proportion of the section to the total substrate surface of a climbing skin is therefore independent of the chosen position on the substrate where the climbing skin was cut. Depending on this position, the deviation is barely more than 3%, and at most 5%. This allows for the production of climbing skins with virtually identical quality, making good use of the entire width of the material. Alignment with the section is unnecessary.

[0014] Such a fine-grained structure can be achieved, for example, by ensuring that the smallest distance from any point on the support surface to the edge of the next sub-surface is at most 6 mm, preferably at most 4 mm, and / or by making the sub-surface consist of parallel strips that are at most 4 mm, preferably at most 2 mm, wide. Such a uniform distribution of the sub-surface ensures the necessary flexibility for any desired cut.

[0015] The sub-area should always consist of one or a multitude of connected areas. A merely thinner distribution of poles does not result in sub-areas that are free of poles. It has been shown that such support surfaces exhibit proportionally less holding power as the thinning decreases, whereas the support surfaces according to the invention exhibit approximately the same holding power as support surfaces that, with the same pole density, have no gaps. This is because a pole lacking a lateral neighbor can, when gripped by snow, spread laterally into the gap and achieve a good locking effect, while being supported on the other sides by its neighbors. Therefore, a multitude of parallel, direction-of-travel-oriented strips of gaps or shortened poles are particularly suitable.The stripes can also be inclined at up to 45° to the direction of travel, which is defined by the projection of the polar inclination, forming, for example, a zigzag shape or a checkerboard pattern. Narrow lettering or ornaments are also conceivable. Minor compromises are accepted to achieve the desired design. An overlay, for example, of parallel lines covering approximately 25% of the circumference and widely offset, subordinate design elements, is visually appealing and simultaneously ensures good grip, with only minor compromises.

[0016] It would also be conceivable to apply individual strips of conventional, oriented velour to a backing and use them to produce climbing skins. In contrast, the carrier surface according to the invention is already manufactured in one piece as a continuous length and can be easily cut to the desired contour. No additional base material is required, thus saving both weight and labor.

[0017] The angle α of the poles is inclined, for example, between 10 and 60° to the surface orientation of the support surface, preferably between 15 and 45°. A typical pole length is approximately 2–6 mm, preferably 3–5 mm. The poles are always oriented so that they are at an obtuse angle to the intended direction of travel, in particular at an angle between 120 and 170°. Thus, the pole tips point against the direction of travel.

[0018] It has been shown that the inventive design improves the sliding properties of the support surface. The sliding resistance of climbing skins manufactured from this material is reduced by the smaller contact area of ​​the climbing skin, specifically by reducing the number of poles that touch the snow during gliding. Surprisingly, this does not reduce the grip that prevents backward slippage. The remaining 50-90%, preferably 65-85%, of the poles can reliably provide the necessary grip. Even with shortened poles, their holding force remains almost entirely intact.

[0019] Reducing the number of poles or shortening the pole lengths in the sub-areas also reduces the surface weight and volume of the climbing skin and simultaneously increases its flexibility when rolling up.

[0020] The free sections can also be designed as geometric patterns. Jagged or arrow patterns are just as possible as designs that can incorporate logos, for example. Since the individual poles or bundles of poles can be any color, any graphic design is possible. The free arrangement of the sections further expands the design freedom. For example, logos can be spaced out from the background using the sections.

[0021] However, it has been shown that it is advantageous to design the sub-areas in parallel rows running in the intended direction of travel. This creates pole-free or short-pole, continuous channels, while the rest of the area is completely covered with normal, long poles. The support provided by these designs is particularly strong because all poles are supported by other, adjacent poles located in front of, beside, and / or behind them in the direction of travel.

[0022] To produce the carrier surfaces, it is possible, on the one hand, to apply a layer of glue to the velour side, in which the poles are used as directional flock.

[0023] Another possibility for producing the support surfaces according to the invention is to produce a knitted fabric from knitted material, for example with a raschel warp knitting machine.

[0024] A third method for producing the carrier surfaces according to the invention involves weaving a fabric surface from warp and weft threads, into which bristle-like poles projecting towards the velour side are woven. For this purpose, for example, shaft velour machines or Jacquard velour machines are used. Pile nubs are formed from pile chains running in the warp direction. These nubs are cut off after weaving, forming the poles projecting on one side with the predetermined pile length. The desired angle α is then achieved by a tensioning chain. The poles can be designed as bound or unstrapped monofilaments, multifilaments, or fiber yarns. Each nub is visible as a nub on the reverse side of the carrier surface.

[0025] Such fabric surfaces can be divided into uniform grid sections, of which, according to the invention, 50-90% (preferably 65-85%) are occupied by poles and 10-50% (preferably 15-35%) are unoccupied. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the unoccupied grid sections are arranged in a row, preferably aligned in the warp direction. This has the advantage that individual pile threads woven into the fabric can be omitted. For example, the poles can completely occupy three rows of the grid sections, while every fourth row of the grid sections is unoccupied. Alternatively, two out of three or four out of five rows of the grid sections can be completely occupied, with the others remaining free. By omitting individual pile strands, the weight is reduced accordingly.Omitting every fifth pole chain saves 20% of the pole chain weight, omitting every fourth pole chain saves 25%, and omitting every third pole chain saves 33%. Omitting every fourth pole chain is preferred.

[0026] Alternatively, the pile chains can also run across the fabric surface in certain areas, thus not forming a pile nub in predefined grids. The pile chains can also form a pile nub by shifting their position across the fabric by one grid unit, allowing for the creation of any desired pattern.

[0027] As an alternative to omitting individual pole strands, the support surface can also be completely covered with poles, whereby the pole length of the poles in the sub-surfaces is shortened by at least one third, for example by milling, shearing, or etching. The poles can also be completely cut off or shortened in another way so that the pole length is reduced to zero.

[0028] The backing surface may be coated with an adhesive to reduce slippage on the snow sports equipment and / or to firmly fix the poles to the backing surface.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, only synthetic or plant-based raw materials are used for the production of the substrates according to the invention, and no animal products are used. This results in purely vegan substrates.

[0030] Climbing skins for mounting on the undersides of skis, split snowboards, cross-country skis, sleds, or other snow sports equipment can be manufactured from all the carrier surfaces mentioned here. These serve as climbing aids and / or as propulsion aids, especially for cross-country skis or sleds. Brief description of the drawings

[0031] The invention is described below with reference to the drawings. Identical reference numerals refer to the same subject matter. The drawings show: Fig. 1a) a schematic perspective view of a support surface according to the invention, b) in an alternative embodiment; Fig. 2 a schematic cross-sectional view of a support surface according to the invention; Fig. 3 a schematic view of the back side of an embodiment of a support surface according to the invention; Fig. 4 a photograph of a climbing skin made from a support surface according to the invention; Fig. 5 a photograph of the back side of a support surface according to the invention. Fig. 3 . Ways to implement the invention

[0032] The Figures 1a and 1b Figure 1 schematically shows two variants of a carrier surface 2 according to the invention, sold by the meter, for the production of climbing skins 1, showing a velour side 3 facing a reverse side 4. Bristle-like poles 6 protrude from the velour side 3, either individually or in bundles. Fig. 2Figure 1 shows a cross-section through such a support surface 2. The poles 6 are aligned parallel to each other at a predetermined angle α to the surface orientation of the support surface 2. According to the invention, a partial surface 5 of 10 to 50% of the total support surface 2 is formed on the velour side 3, which in a first variant is free of poles 6. Fig. 1a For better identification of the points 8 without poles, such a sub-area 5 is shown with a gray background. In an alternative embodiment, shown in Fig. 1b In sub-area 5, the poles 7 are at least 1 / 3 shorter in their freestanding length l than the poles 6 outside this sub-area 5. Sub-area 5 is arranged in a small segmented pattern relative to the size of a climbing skin 1 on the support surface 2. The support surface 2 can, for example, be sheared or milled into grooves of any desired pattern before finally being processed into climbing skins 1. Fig. 1bThe shortened poles 7 are arranged in a row 9. For better identification, they are shown with dashed lines.

[0033] The angle of inclination α of the poles 6 or shortened poles 7 is, for example, between 10 and 60°, preferably between 15 and 45°. The poles are oriented opposite to the later direction of travel.

[0034] As in the Figure 1 As can be seen, the sub-areas 5 in this example are designed in parallel rows 9, which run in the direction of the setup angles of the poles 6, 7 or in the later direction of travel. Alternatively, not shown, the sub-areas 5 can also be designed in geometric patterns such as zigzags, arrows or circles, or as logos.

[0035] Such carrier surfaces 2 can be manufactured in various ways. In particular, an adhesive layer can be applied to the velour side 3, in which the poles 6 are embedded as directional flock, or the carrier surface 2 can comprise a knitted fabric, for example, produced with a raschel warp knitting machine. These variants have not been shown.

[0036] The preferred carrier surface 2 comprises a woven surface 10 made of warp threads 11 and weft threads 12, in which the velour side 3 was created by weaving in protruding, bristle-like poles 6. All Figures 1-4 can represent such a fabric surface 10. Warp threads 11 and weft threads 12 are schematically shown in the Figures 2 and 3 indicated by dashed lines or, if they run perpendicular to the plane of the paper, by circles.

[0037] In Fig. 2One of the poles 6 is shown slightly more prominently in the cross-sectional area, so that its course within the fabric surface 10 is also represented as a pile chain 13. One of the weft threads 12 tensions the pole 6 at the desired inclination, so that the intended upright angle α is achieved. A pile stud 14 is visible on the reverse side 4. An adhesive 15 can be applied to the reverse side 4 to better secure the poles 6. Such fabrics can be produced using shaft velour machines or Jacquard velour machines.

[0038] In Fig. 3 The reverse side 4 of a support surface 2 according to the invention, here a fabric surface 10, is shown. Fig. 4Figure 4 shows a photograph of such a reverse side. It can be divided into uniform grid positions 16, of which 75% are occupied by poles and 25% are unoccupied by poles. One of the sub-areas 5, which forms rows 8 unoccupied by poles 6, is highlighted in gray for clarity. Only every second drawn square counts as a grid position 16, since in a row 9, which runs in the warp direction 11, at most every second square can be occupied. The poles 6 or pole studs 14 of adjacent rows 9 are each offset from one another. The rightmost three rows 9 are therefore completely occupied, whereas the fourth row 9 from the right is completely unoccupied 8 by poles and thus belongs to sub-area 5. In this example, sub-area 5 is 25% of the total area of ​​the carrier surface 2, since every fourth row 9 is unoccupied 8 by poles.

[0039] Fig. 5Figure 1 shows a photograph of a section of a climbing skin 1, which was cut from a carrier surface 2 according to the invention. The partially lighter stripes of the non-polarized sub-surfaces 5 are clearly visible. The stripe pattern repeats approximately every 3-5 mm. Reference symbol list

[0040] 1 Climbing skin 2 Carrier surface 3 Velour side 4 Back side 5 Partial surface 6 Pole 7 Shortened pole 8 Area without pole 9 Row 10 Fabric surface 11 Warp thread 12 Weft thread 13 Pile warp 14 Pile stud 15 Adhesive 16 Grid point αElevation angle lPole length

Claims

1. Carrier area (2) as bulk goods for producing climbing skins (1) with a velour side (3) and a reverse side (4) opposite to the velour side, wherein bristle-like poles (6) protrude from the velour side (3), which are arranged separate or as bundles and are aligned parallel to each other at a predetermined angle of inclination (α) to the area orientation of the carrier area (2), characterised in that a partial area (5) of 10 to 50%, preferably 15 to 35% of the total carrier area (2) is arranged on the velour side (3), which is free of poles (8) or in which the poles (7) are at least 1 / 3 shorter in their free-standing length (l) than the poles (6) outside this partial area (2), wherein this partial area (5) is distributed small-structured in relation to the size of a climbing skin (1) on the carrier area (2), so that alignment of the climbing skin (1) on the carrier area according to the partial area (2) is unnecessary.

2. Carrier area (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the partial area (5) is composed of contiguous or non-contiguous areas that are distributed across the carrier area (2) in such a small-structured manner that the proportion of the partial area (5) of climbing skins cut out from it, regardless of their contour, dimension and position on the carrier area, always deviate from each other by a maximum of 5%.

3. Carrier area (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the smallest distance from any point on the carrier area (2) to the edge of the next partial area (5) is at most 6 mm, preferably at most 4 mm.

4. Carrier area (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the partial area (5) is composed of strips that are at most 4 mm wide, preferably at most 2 mm wide.

5. Carrier area (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the angle of inclination (α) is between 10 and 60°, preferably between 15 and 45°.

6. Carrier area (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the partial area (5) is arranged in a plurality of parallel rows (9) which run in the direction of the angle of inclination of the poles (6).

7. Carrier area (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the partial area (5) is arranged in geometric patterns, for example in a zigzag pattern.

8. Carrier area (2) according to one of claims 1 to 7 , comprising a knitted fabric.

9. Carrier area (2) according to one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a woven fabric area (10) made of warp and weft threads (11, 12), into which the bristle-like poles protruding onto the velour side (3) are woven.

10. Carrier area (2) according to claim 9, characterised in that the woven fabric area (10) can be divided into uniform grid points (16), of which 65 to 85% are occupied by poles (6) and 15 to 35% are either unoccupied (8) by poles or occupied by shortened poles (7).

11. Carrier area (2) according to claim 10, characterised in that the unoccupied grid positions (8) are arranged in parallel rows (9), preferably aligned in the warp direction.

12. Carrier area (2) according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that the poles (6) each completely occupy three rows (9) of the grid points (16) and a fourth row (9) of the grid points (16) is unoccupied by poles (8).

13. Carrier area (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the reverse side (4) is provided with an adhesive (15) in order to reduce slipping on the snow sports equipment and / or to fix the poles (6) firmly to the carrier area (2).

14. Carrier area (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the length of the uncut poles (6) is 2-6 mm, preferably 3-5 mm.

15. Climbing skin (1) for mounting on the undersides of skis or other snow sports equipment as a climbing aid and / or as a recoil aid, comprising a carrier area (2) according to one of the preceding claims.

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