Climbing Skin Tip and Tail Design for Snow Creep Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Climbing skins for skis and snowboards face issues with snow creeping between the skin and the undersurface, leading to loss of adhesion, especially at the leading end, which affects the climbing efficiency and adhesion in cold conditions.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a climbing skin tip and tail made from a flexible, more rigid plastic polymer sheet with a minimum length of 150 mm and a curved transverse arch design, which reduces snow creep by transferring force to the side edges, preventing snow accumulation and improving glide without the need for adhesive on the back surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a climbing skin is made from fabric with pile surface and adhesive coating, then it provides good adhesion to the ski or snowboard undersurface, but snow creeps between the skin and the undersurface causing loss of adhesion over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadhesion reliabilityVSAvoidsnow creep

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The climbing skin is divided into distinct functional zones: a gliding section with a smooth plastic polymer surface for reduced friction, and a climbing section with pile surface for grip. The plastic polymer tip is separated from the adhesive-coated fabric portion, allowing the tip to be free of adhesive while the main body maintains adhesion through the fabric layer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the climbing skin have different surface properties: the tip portion uses smooth plastic polymer for gliding and snow shedding, while the rear portion uses fabric with pile surface for climbing grip. The adhesive coating is applied only to the fabric portion, not the plastic polymer tip, creating localized functional differentiation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If adhesive is applied to the entire climbing skin surface, then maximum adhesion is achieved, but the adhesive becomes contaminated with snow and loses effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadhesion strengthVSAvoidadhesive effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive coating is extracted from the plastic polymer tip portion, leaving only the fabric climbing section with adhesive. This separates the adhesive function from the gliding function, allowing the tip to be free of adhesive contamination while the fabric portion maintains bonding capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The plastic polymer tip acts as an intermediary between the ski/snowboard surface and the adhesive-coated fabric portion. It provides a snow-free interface that prevents direct contact between snow and adhesive, protecting the adhesive from contamination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the climbing skin uses traditional fabric material, then it provides sufficient grip for climbing, but it creates high friction and requires more effort for forward movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclimbing gripVSAvoidfriction force

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The climbing skin is segmented into a front gliding section with smooth plastic polymer surface that reduces friction during forward movement, and a rear climbing section with pile surface that provides grip when needed. This segmentation allows the skin to minimize friction during gliding while maintaining grip capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The surface friction parameter is changed along the length of the climbing skin: the plastic polymer tip provides low friction for easy forward movement, while the fabric portion provides high friction for climbing grip. This parameter variation optimizes both gliding efficiency and climbing performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively prevents snow from building up between the climbing skin and the ski or snowboard, enhancing climbing efficiency and ease of handling by maintaining adhesion and reducing the effort required for detachment, even in cold conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a curved transverse arch design, which reduces snow creep by transferring force to the side edges

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForce transfer through curved structure: Arch

Implementation Method 2

made from a flexible, more rigid plastic polymer sheet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMaterial rigidity:

Data Source

PatentUS9908030B2Climbing aid comprising a climbing skin and a tip and tail for use therein

Publication Date: 2018.03.06 G3 GENUINE GUIDE GEAR

AI summary

Climbing aids for use on snow comprising a climbing skin and one or both of a climbing skin tip and tail are disclosed. At least the climbing skin tip and/or tail is comprised of a flexible sheet that may be composed of a plastic polymer. Embodiments are disclosed in which the sheet is resilient and curved in a generally transverse direction to transfer forces towards the edges of the climbing aid to reduce entry of snow between the climbing aid and the undersurface of a ski or snowboard.