Collapsible Ski With Rotatable Platform For Uniform Bending

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional collapsible skis face manufacturing complexity and storage challenges due to permanently interconnected components, and existing designs compromise on bending uniformity and load distribution, especially for skilled users and competitive purposes.

Innovation Solution

A collapsible ski design featuring a front and rear part connected by a platform with rotatable and pivotable mechanisms, utilizing a connecting plate and arresting protrusions for assembly and disassembly, allowing for standardized manufacturing and storage without protrusions, while maintaining uniform bending and load distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If components are permanently interconnected to simplify storage and transport, then storage and transport are simplified, but manufacturing complexity increases and all components must remain connected during use and collapsed position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage and transportVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ski is divided into separate modular components (front part, rear part, binding parts, platform) that can be independently manufactured and then assembled. This segmentation allows each component to be produced using standardized processes without the complexity of permanently interconnecting all parts, while still enabling compact storage when collapsed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If parts are manufactured separately to simplify manufacturing, then manufacturing is simplified and standardization is enabled, but assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The platform and connecting plate incorporate self-aligning and self-locking features through their geometric design (arresting protrusions, grooves, and surfaces) that automatically guide and secure components during assembly without requiring additional tools or complex assembly procedures. The user simply needs to align and press the components together.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Strength

If a top part is permanently fixed to maintain structural integrity, then structural integrity is maintained, but bending uniformity is compromised and the top part cannot be adjusted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidbending uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The platform is designed with rotational and pivotal movement capabilities, transforming it from a static permanently-fixed component to a dynamic adjustable component. This allows the platform to adapt its position and orientation during ski use, maintaining structural integrity while enabling uniform bending characteristics and load distribution across the ski construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If the platform is permanently attached to the ski parts, then assembly is simplified, but the platform cannot be removed for activities like alpinism or military use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidremovability for different activities
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The platform and ski parts are designed with detachable connections through arresting protrusions and corresponding grooves, allowing the platform to be easily removed when not needed (e.g., during alpinism or military activities) and recovered for when ski functionality is required. This enables the system to adapt to different usage scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentEP3407988B1Collapsible ski
Publication Date: 2019.12.18 ELAN
  • EP3407988B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3407988B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3407988B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a collapsible ski, by which the front part (1) and a rear part (2) of the ski, when aligned, in such position fixed by means of a platform (3), which is by means of hinges interconnected with a bearing plate (5), which is attached onto a top surface (94) of the front part (1) of the ski and is rotatable around geometric axis, which extends perpendicularly with respect to said top surface (94) of the ski.