Coupling Device for Learning Skates with Adjustable Translation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing learning aid systems for sliding sports on skates, such as skiing, often disrupt the student's balance by modifying their pelvis position and fail to effectively control skate convergence and divergence, leading to loss of control and imbalance.

Innovation Solution

A coupling device with adjustable attachment modules and a body allowing translation between them, along with a guide strand system featuring an automatic winder and breakable portions, to maintain a forward pelvis position and control skate distance, ensuring safety and realistic gliding experiences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a harness and endless leash are used to guide the student, then the student can be restrained and guided on the slope, but the student's balance is adversely influenced and pelvis position is altered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguidance controlVSAvoidbalance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the guiding function from the student's body (pelvis) and relocates it to the skates themselves. The coupling device attaches directly to the skates, allowing the instructor to control skate position and student direction without physical contact with the student's body, thus preserving natural balance while maintaining guidance control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling device acts as an intermediary between the instructor's leash and the student's skates. Instead of the leash attaching to the student's body (which disrupts balance), it attaches to the skates through the coupling device, mediating the control force in a way that maintains the student's natural posture and balance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If a strand attached to one skate is used to regulate speed, then speed control is achieved, but skate convergence and divergence cannot be controlled leading to imbalance and loss of control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed regulationVSAvoidcontrol stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple control functions into a single coupling device structure. The body of the coupling device simultaneously controls skate distance (preventing convergence and divergence), maintains proper skate alignment, and works with the attached strand for speed regulation. This integrated approach provides comprehensive control stability while maintaining speed regulation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling device serves multiple functions: it regulates the distance between skates, prevents unwanted convergence and divergence, maintains proper skate alignment, and provides attachment points for speed control strands. This multi-functionality ensures comprehensive control stability without requiring separate devices for each control aspect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If the distance between mounting modules is fixed, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different student needs and skate positions is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestructureVSAvoiddistance adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling device incorporates a telescopic body that allows dynamic adjustment of the distance between mounting modules. The telescopic mechanism enables the structure to change length according to different student needs, skate positions, and learning stages, transforming a static fixed-distance structure into a dynamic adjustable one while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the fixed distance parameter to a variable parameter through the telescopic mechanism. The body length can be adjusted within a range, allowing the coupling device to adapt to different skate positions and student requirements while maintaining structural integrity and simplicity through controlled parameter variation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Measurement precision

If rigid connection between skates is used, then skate position control is precise, but natural movement and balance are restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition controlVSAvoidnatural movement
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling device uses a flexible telescopic mechanism instead of a rigid connection. The telescopic body can flex and adjust its length, allowing natural student movement and balance while maintaining precise control over skate position through the adjustable mounting modules and body length regulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling device transforms the rigid static connection into a dynamic flexible one. The telescopic mechanism allows the distance between mounting modules to change dynamically with student movement, maintaining position control precision while accommodating natural movement patterns and balance adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3880321B1Coupling device and assistance system for learning sliding sport on two glide board
Publication Date: 2022.12.28 ZAGURY ALAIN
  • EP3880321B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3880321B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3880321B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a coupling device (2) for coupling two skates, characterized in that it comprises a first attachment module (6) and a second attachment module (6'), each one being designed to be attached to a skate and comprising a body (7) between the two attachment modules (6, 6'), said body (7) allowing at least a degree of freedom in translation between the two attachment modules (6, 6'), the distance between the two attachment modules (6, 6') being free between a predetermined minimum distance and a predetermined maximum distance, and said body (7) permitting a removable connection between the two attachment modules (6, 6').