Interface plate for a skateboard

Abstract

The invention relates to an interface plate comprising: A body made of a first material having a first modulus of elasticity; At least one insert, fixed to the body and made of a second material having a second modulus of elasticity, said second modulus of elasticity being greater than said first modulus of elasticity. The interface plate comprises: A central core which, when the insert is assembled to the body, is arranged substantially parallel to the lower face of the body, said central core having two opposing lateral edges; and Two lateral fins which, when the insert is assembled to the body, extend respectively from each lateral edge of the central core towards the lower face of the body. Figure to be published with the abstract: Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Interface plate for a sliding board Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to an interface plate between a ski board and a binding element of a boot. The invention is particularly applicable to the field of skiing, especially alpine skiing. State of the art

[0002] As is known, a piste ski, also called an alpine ski, has a binding designed to receive the boot worn by the skier. The binding is generally composed of a front binding element called the "toe piece" and a rear binding element commonly called the "heel piece".

[0003] It is known to place an interface plate between the attachment and the sliding board. This interface plate generally has a body made of a plastic material.

[0004] The interface plate allows: - Elevate the shoe above the sliding surface of the board, - Modify the mechanical properties of the board in terms of mass distribution, flexural and torsional stiffness.

[0005] These modifications allow the skier better control of his practice, which translates into more precise guidance of the ski board, better grip on the snow, better dynamic behavior of the ski board.

[0006] Furthermore, this interface plate has several sets of mounting holes. The first sets are designed to accommodate means for attaching the interface plate to the ski. The second sets are designed to accommodate means for attaching a mounting element to the interface plate. These second sets allow, firstly, adjustment of the relative position between the two mounting elements so that the binding is adapted to a specific boot size and, secondly, adjustment of the longitudinal position of the boot relative to the ski.

[0007] A sliding board can be provided with two interface plates, one for each fixing element, or with a single interface plate, common to both fixing elements.

[0008] Such interface plates are described in patent applications FR2800623A1, FR2786403A1 and EP1166834A1.

[0009] French patent application FR3043916A1 describes the addition of several support elements between the interface plate and the ski, these support elements being, for example Made of metal, these support elements are designed to limit the impact of the interface plate on the intrinsic mechanical properties of the board. They also aim to optimize the transmission of vertical forces exerted by the user.

[0010] In practice, these support elements protrude by a height of a few tenths of a millimeter to a few millimeters from the lower face of the interface plate. They fit into two grooves on either side of the longitudinal axis of the plate.

[0011] However, this design does not allow for a direct, rigid connection between the binding element and the ski, thus preventing optimal power transmission from the boot. While these support elements allow for good transmission of vertical forces from the boot to the ski, they do not ensure a direct, rigid transmission. This is because the support elements are distributed on each side of the ski without being directly connected to each other. Consequently, the forces exerted by the skier are less evenly distributed towards these lateral support elements, and the relative positioning between them is less precise, potentially impacting the distribution of forces transmitted to the ski. Furthermore, the support elements are located far from the binding's mounting point, which also results in less efficient force transmission.

[0012] The aim of the invention is to provide an interface plate having an improved architecture compared to the prior art, enabling the aforementioned objectives to be met.

[0013] The interface plate of the invention is particularly advantageous in its integration onto a board, between a front attachment element and the board. Description of the invention

[0014] This objective is achieved by using an interface plate between a ski board and a fastening element of a shoe, the interface plate comprising: - A body comprising a lower face, intended to be oriented opposite an upper face of the sliding board, and an opposite upper face, intended to be oriented opposite the fixing element, said body being made of a first material having a first modulus of elasticity, - At least one insert, said insert being attached to the body and made of a second material having a second modulus of elasticity, said second modulus of elasticity being greater than said first modulus of elasticity,

[0015] The interface plate is characterized in that said insert comprises: - A central core which, when the insert is assembled to the body, is arranged substantially parallel to the underside of the body, said central core comprising two opposing lateral edges and, - Two lateral fins which, when the insert is assembled to the body, extend respectively from each lateral edge of the central core, towards the lower face of the body.

[0016] This particular shape of the insert provides it with a certain rigidity and allows for the precise relative positioning of its lateral fins. Furthermore, it allows for a better distribution of the support forces on the lateral edges of the board.

[0017] According to advantageous but not mandatory aspects of the invention, such an interface plate may incorporate one or more of the following features, taken in any technically permissible combination:

[0018] According to one embodiment, each lateral fin extends to an end edge that is either flush with or protrudes from the underside of the body when the insert is assembled onto the body. This particular structure allows direct contact between the plate and the ski, resulting in improved transmission of the mechanical forces exerted by the skier on the ski.

[0019] According to another embodiment, at the insert, the lateral fins are spaced apart along a transverse direction by a distance greater than 60% of the body's width along said transverse direction. This dimensioning improves the transmission of lateral pressure to the board, resulting in better force transmission, particularly to the edges, and thus improved control / guidance of the board.

[0020] According to another embodiment, the body is overmolded onto the insert. This manufacturing and integration principle for the insert is particularly advantageous because it ultimately allows for better transmission of forces between the body and the insert. Furthermore, mounting the interface plate is thus easier. By being completely encapsulated within the body, the insert is isolated and protected from external aggressions (weather, water, snow, etc.) that could lead to the degradation of the part.

[0021] According to another embodiment, the body includes a lower recess opening onto the underside of the body, inside which the insert is housed. This specific assembly allows the insert to be removed for replacement, in case of maintenance, but also to customize the interface plate by replacing it with an insert having different mechanical characteristics (material, size, etc.).

[0022] According to another embodiment, the interface plate comprises a buttress intended to fit inside said insert, between the fins. The use of this The buttress helps to improve the holding of the fixing element positioned above, by offering a greater grip to the fixing means and a component of the interface plate.

[0023] According to another embodiment, said insert is made of a metallic material. The insert made of metallic material improves the rigidity of the interface plate and ensures better transmission of mechanical forces.

[0024] According to another embodiment, said body is made of a plastic material. The body of the plate is thus easier to manufacture and allows the plate to be flexible lengthwise, to adapt to the movements of the ski when it flexes.

[0025] The invention also relates to a fastening device comprising said interface plate.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the board fastening device, comprising a fastening element and an interface plate, is characterized in that the interface plate is as defined above, and in that the central web is positioned such that at least one fastening means for the fastening element on the interface plate passes through the central web. Advantageously, the fastening means is in direct contact with the central web. In this fastening device, the fastening means, for example a screw, passes through the central web of the insert to engage with a part of the interface plate body located below or to engage directly with the insert. In the first case, this allows for a direct transfer of the force from the fastening element to the interface plate. In the second case, the mechanical strength of the fastening element on the interface plate is improved, and the force transmission is even more direct. Brief description of the figures

[0027] Other features and advantages will become apparent in the detailed description that follows, given in relation to the attached drawings listed below: - Fig. 1 shows in perspective a sliding board on which a shoe is fixed, via fastening means; - Fig. 2 shows, by an exploded view, the architecture of Fig. 1; - Fig. 3 shows the architecture of Fig. 1, in side view; Figures 4 and 5 show, through two perspective views, the architecture of an insert that forms part of the interface of the invention; - Figures 6 to 8 show, with three cross-sectional views along AA of [Fig.3], three embodiments of the interface plate of the invention;

[0028] Detailed description of at least one embodiment

[0029] For the remainder of the description, an orthonormal coordinate system X, Y, Z is defined, in which the longitudinal direction (X) corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the board, the transverse direction (Y) corresponds to the axis perpendicular to (X), the axes (X) and (Y) being located in the plane defined by the sliding or walking board, and the vertical direction (Z) corresponds to the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the sliding or walking board.

[0030] Three orthonormal planes are then defined: - a frontal or coronal plane YZ corresponding to a plane perpendicular to an X axis, - a sagittal plane XZ corresponding to a plane perpendicular to an axis Y and - a transverse plane XY corresponding to a plane perpendicular to an axis Z.

[0031] With reference to [Fig. 1], conventionally, a sliding board P, such as a ski, is designed to receive a binding system intended to attach a boot C to said sliding board. Typically, the binding system comprises a front binding element F_AV, commonly called the "toe piece," and a rear binding element F_AR, commonly called the "heel piece." The user's boot C is designed to be positioned between the front binding element F_AV and the rear binding element F_AR.

[0032] In the following description, the terms "front" and "rear" shall be understood with reference to a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (X) extending along the length of the ski and oriented from the rear attachment element to the front attachment element. Similarly, the terms "upper" and "lower," or "top" and "bottom," shall be understood with reference to the direction (Z) perpendicular to the surface of the ski and oriented upwards from the ground.

[0033] In the following description, two planes are considered to be parallel when the two planes are substantially parallel, that is to say, oriented, with respect to each other, at an angle of less than 30°.

[0034] With reference to [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 2], the invention relates to an interface plate 1 positioned between at least one fixing element F_AV, F_AR and the slide board P. The slide board P may be provided with a single interface plate, arranged between its two fixing elements F_AV, F_AR and the slide board P or with two separate interface plates, one being arranged between the front fixing element F_AV and the slide board P, and the other between the rear fixing element F_AR and the slide board P. In the accompanying figures, by way of non-limiting example, a single interface plate 1, common to the two fixing elements, is shown.

[0035] The interface plate 1 is also called the raising platform because it raises the fixing element, and therefore the shoe C, relative to the glide board P.

[0036] With reference to [Fig. 2] and [Fig. 3], the interface plate 1 comprises a body 10. The body 10 is made of a material having a specific modulus of elasticity E10, referred to as the first modulus of elasticity. Advantageously, the first modulus of elasticity E10 is less than 15 GPa, particularly to avoid excessively stiffening the ski, especially in bending. The body 10 is advantageously made of a plastic material.

[0037] The body 10 extends over part of the length of the slide board P. It is attached to the slide board P and has a lower face 100, oriented towards the upper face 200 of the slide board P and an opposite upper face 101, intended to be oriented opposite the attachment element.

[0038] The body 10 has several mounting holes designed to align with corresponding mounting holes on the upper surface of the slide P. Fastening means, such as screws, are intended to pass through the holes in the body and engage with the holes in the slide P. This fastening device, including the holes and the fastening means, allows the longitudinal position of the body 10 to be secured and adjusted on the slide P.

[0039] According to the invention, with reference to [Fig. 3], the interface plate 1 comprises an insert 11 which is integrated into the body 10 (see various embodiments in Figures 6 to 8). In this example, the insert 11 extends over only a portion of the length of the body 10. It is advantageously positioned towards the front of the body 10, and more particularly forward with respect to the center of gravity of the body 10 and the sliding board P.

[0040] This insert 11 is made of a material distinct from that of the body 10 of the interface plate 1. This material has a second modulus of elasticity Eli, higher than the first modulus of elasticity of the material composing the body 10 of the interface plate 1. Advantageously, the second modulus of elasticity Eli is greater than 20 GPa, particularly to ensure good transmission of the skier's pressure on the ski. The insert 11 is advantageously made of a metallic or composite material.

[0041] According to an embodiment allowing good force transmission, the second modulus of elasticity Eli is at least five times greater than the first modulus of elasticity E10 and preferably greater than ten times the first modulus of elasticity E10.

[0042] With reference to [Fig.4] and [Fig.5], this insert 11 is in the form of a unit piece, advantageously with a U-shaped front section. It comprises a central core 110, made in the form of a plate arranged in a plane parallel to the transverse plane XY. The central core extends over a length L110 and is laterally delimited by two lateral edges 110D, 110G. The insert 11 also comprises two extensions, in the form of two fins 11IG, 111D, each fin extending respectively from a lateral edge 110D, 110G of the central core 110 and extending, each, in a plane parallel to the sagittal plane XZ. The two fins 11IG, 111D advantageously extend substantially perpendicularly to the central core 110, downwards, towards the lower face 100 of the body 10 of the interface plate 1 when the insert 11 is integrated into the body 10.

[0043] The two fins 11 IG, 111D each have an end edge 112, 112D. According to one embodiment, when the insert 11 is housed in the body 10 of the interface plate 1, the respective edge of the two fins is flush or protrudes from the lower face 100 of the body 10 of the interface plate 1.

[0044] Thus, when the interface plate 1 is mounted on the slide board P, the latter rests on the upper face 200 of the slide board P by the support of the two edges 112, 112D respectively delimiting each fin 11 IG, 111D of the insert IL. In this way, the body 10 of the interface plate 1 does not come into contact with the upper face of the slide board P. As the material composing the insert 11 has a greater hardness than the mounting plate 10, a better mechanical transfer of the forces resulting from the supports of the shoe C to the slide board P is observed.

[0045] In these examples, the insert 11 is interposed between the upper face 101 of the body 10 and the slide board P. In this way, a direct kinematic chain is obtained for the transmission of the forces resulting from the supports of the shoe C to the slide board P. This passes through the shoe C then the fixing elements F_AV and F_AR then the body 10 of the interface plate then the insert 11 of the interface plate to come to rest on the upper face 200 of the slide board.

[0046] In conjunction with Figures 6 to 8, several embodiments can be envisaged:

[0047] [Fig.6]: According to a first embodiment, the insert 11 is embedded in the body 10 of the interface plate. The body 10 of the interface plate is, for example, overmolded around the insert 11. In this example, the interface plate 1 comprises the body 10 and the overmolded insert 11.

[0048] [Fig. 7]: According to a second embodiment, the body 10 of the interface plate 1 is hollowed out on its lower face 100, so that the insert 11 can be inserted into this hollow (102) opening onto the lower face 100 of the body. The insert 11 can advantageously be secured to the body 10 by any suitable means. This can be by clipping, gluing, or a screw. In this example, the interface plate 1 comprises the body 10 and the insert 11.

[0049] [Fig.8]: This third embodiment is analogous to the second embodiment of The difference lies in the fact that it includes a buttress 103 that fits inside the insert, in the recess formed by the U-shaped inner portion of the insert 11. Thus, the insert is sandwiched between the buttress 12 and the body 10. In this example, the interface plate 1 comprises the body 10, the insert 11, and the buttress 12. The buttress can be attached to the body by any suitable means. In this case, because the insert is sandwiched between the buttress and the body, the insert is not necessarily attached to the body. In a variation of this latter configuration, the insert is attached to the body or the buttress by any suitable means. Alternatively, the buttress is attached to the slide board by any suitable means. In this case, the insert can be attached to the body or the buttress by any suitable means.The various means of securing a component of the interface plate that can be considered include clipping, gluing, screws... .

[0050] The insert 11 is advantageously assembled to the body 10 or to the buttress in a removable manner so as to facilitate its disassembly for replacement in case of wear or to modify the mechanical characteristics of the interface plate.

[0051] It should also be noted that the fastening element F_AV (or F_AR) has one or more fastening means (fastening screws 3 in [Fig.2] and Figures 6 to 8) that pass through the central core 110 of the insert 11, and which allow the fastening element to be fixed to the interface plate 1. Two options are possible: - The screw can pass through (without contact) the central core 110 of the insert and engage with the body 10 of the interface plate 1, either above and / or below the central core 110 of the insert, for the two aforementioned embodiments or engage with the body or the buttress of the interface plate, for the third aforementioned embodiment. - The screw can engage with the central core 110 of the insert, as well as possibly in the body 10 and / or the buttress of the interface plate 1.

[0052] The first option makes it possible not to damage the threads of the screws.

[0053] The second option allows for a more direct kinematic chain because the forces are transmitted directly from the fixing screws of the fixing elements F_AV and F_AR to the insert, without passing through the body of the interface plate. This improves the transmission of forces resulting from the support of the shoe C to the gliding board P.

[0054] According to an advantageous embodiment, the insert is arranged on the interface plate so that the central core is positioned longitudinally at a fastening element F_AV or F_AR, more particularly, so that at least one fastening means for said fastening element is capable of passing through the central core. [Fig. 3], where the location of the central core is symbolized by its length L110, illustrates such an embodiment. In this example, the central core includes at least one complementary means intended to cooperate with a fastening means for said fastening element. In this example, the complementary means is a through hole and the fastening means for said fastening element is a screw. This arrangement further improves the transmission of the pressure exerted by the boot on the ski via the fastening element. Indeed, by being positioned directly above the fastening element, the vertical force is transmitted directly to the ski by compression of the components interposed between the fastening element and the ski, resulting in greater power and efficiency.According to the first option described above, this can be achieved by compressing an upper layer of the body against the central web, then by directly transmitting the force to the board via the insert, and more specifically its fins. According to the second option mentioned above, the force transmission chain goes directly from the screws to the central web, then through the fins to the board. If the insert is offset longitudinally relative to the mounting element, the transmission of forces is less efficient because the kinematic chain is less direct. There is energy loss due to the body's flexing between the mounting element and the insert, unlike with direct compression.

[0055] The interface plate of the invention is a particularly simple solution to implement for modifying the mechanical behavior of the snowboard. It allows for a direct connection between the boot, the binding element, and the snowboard. The interface plate enables the transmission of vertical forces, particularly when initiating a turn to better guide the tip, via the front binding element F_AV.

[0056] It should be noted that it would also be possible to integrate a similarly shaped insert (with two fins) on the rear part of the mounting plate, so as to cooperate with the rear fixing element F_AR of the board and allow improved mechanical transfers between the rear of the boot C and the board P. This improves control at the end of the turn with better support for acceleration and reduces skidding.

[0057] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. It is also possible to combine these embodiments. The invention extends to all embodiments covered by the appended claims. NOMENCLATURE

[0058] P: Sliding board

[0059] 200: Upper face

[0060] F_AV: Front fastening element

[0061] F_AR: Rear fixing element

[0062]

[0063]

[0064]

[0065]

[0066]

[0067]

[0068]

[0069]

[0070]

[0071]

[0072]

[0073] 3: Fastening means 1: Interface plate 10: Body 100: Lower face 101: Upper face 102: Recess 11: Insert 110: Central core 110G, 110D: Left / Right side edge 111G, 111D: Left / Right side fins 112G, 112D: Left / Right end edges 12: Buttress

Claims

Demands

1. Interface plate between a ski board (P) and a binding element (F_AV, F_AR) of a shoe (C), the interface plate comprising: - A body (10) having a lower face (100), intended to be oriented opposite an upper face (200) of the ski board (P), and an opposite upper face (101), intended to be oriented opposite the binding element, said body being made of a first material having a first modulus of elasticity (E10), - At least one insert (11), said insert being fixed to the body and made of a second material having a second modulus of elasticity (Eli), said second modulus of elasticity being greater than said first modulus of elasticity, characterized in that said insert (11) comprises: - A central core (110) which, when the insert is assembled to the body, is arranged substantially parallel to the lower face of the body,said central core comprising two opposing lateral edges (110G, 110D) and, - Two lateral fins (11IG, 111D) which, when the insert is assembled to the body, extend respectively from each lateral edge (110G, 110D) of the central core (110), towards the lower face (100) of the body (10).

2. Interface plate according to claim 1, characterized in that each lateral fin extends to an end edge (112, 112D) flush with or protruding from the underside of the body (10), when the insert is assembled on the body (10).

3. Interface plate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, at the level of the insert, the lateral fins are spaced apart along a transverse direction (Y) by a distance which is greater than 60% of the width of the body (10) along said transverse direction.

4. Interface plate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (10) is overmolded on said insert (11).

5. Interface plate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (10) includes a lower recess (102), opening onto the lower face (100) of the body (10), inside which said insert (11) is housed.

6. Interface plate according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a buttress (12) intended to fit inside said insert, between the fins.

7. Interface plate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said insert (11) is made of a metallic material.

8. Interface plate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said body is made of a plastic material.

9. A board fastening device comprising a fastening element (F_AV, F_AR) and an interface plate, characterized in that the interface plate is as defined in one of the preceding claims, and in that the central web (110) is positioned so that at least one fastening means (3) of the fastening element on the interface plate passes through the central web.

10. A fastening device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the fastening means (3) is in direct contact with the central core (110).

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