Folding Ski Joint Structure for Uniform Support and Bending Stiffness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing folding skis fail to provide a uniform support and adequate bending stiffness, and mounting errors are common due to direct grooves and ribs on the base plates.

Innovation Solution

A folding ski design featuring a connecting plate with base plates and a bridging plate, where ribs and grooves form a positive lock connection to transfer forces efficiently, minimizing longitudinal and vertical movements, and incorporating a locking mechanism to maintain the ski's structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a connecting plate is used to strengthen the articulated connection, then the bending stiffness is improved, but longitudinal movements between base plates and bridging plate occur reducing uniform support

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebending stiffnessVSAvoiduniform support
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The bridging plate acts as an intermediary element between the front and rear base plates, transferring forces through a positive lock connection system. The ribs and grooves engage to prevent longitudinal movements while the bridging plate pivots on the articulation axis, maintaining uniform support across the articulated connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The solution introduces a third dimension by adding vertical ribs that protrude from the base plates and engage with corresponding grooves. This vertical dimension prevents longitudinal movements while allowing the bridging plate to pivot, resolving the contradiction between maintaining uniform support and enabling articulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If grooves and ribs are formed directly on base plates, then manufacturing is simplified, but mounting errors occur reducing reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidmounting accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rib-groove positive lock connection system is designed to be self-aligning and self-locating. The geometric shapes of the ribs and grooves guide the bridging plate into the correct position during assembly, eliminating mounting errors without requiring complex external fixtures or alignment procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the bridging plate is hinged to allow pivoting, then articulation is enabled, but vertical and longitudinal movements reduce structural integrity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvearticulation capabilityVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting plate is segmented into a front base plate, a rear base plate, and a bridging plate that pivots on the articulation axis. This segmentation allows independent movement of the bridging plate while the rib-groove connections maintain structural integrity by preventing unwanted vertical and longitudinal movements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3986579B1Folding ski
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 ELAN
  • EP3986579B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3986579B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3986579B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a folding ski having an articulated connection. The technical problem is to configure a folding ski structure that will act as a classic ski, which means that the assembled structure of the folding ski will act as a uniform support. The folding ski of the invention comprises a ski front section (2), a ski rear section (3), an articulated connection (4) that inseparably connects the ski front section with the rear section, a connecting plate intended to strengthen the articulated connection of the ski, the connecting plate comprising a front (6) and rear base plate (7) and a bridging plate (8), wherein a plurality of ribs (9) and/or grooves in the shape of a circular arc are formed on the upper side of the front base plate (6) and the rear base plate (7) and a plurality of grooves (10) and/or ribs are formed on the bottom side of the bridging plate (8) so that each pair of a rib (9) and a groove (10) forms a positive lock connection that transfers longitudinal shear forces, and at least a part of the ribs is formed with at least one flap (11) and the corresponding groove is formed with a notch (16) which receives a flap (11) so as to form a positive lock connection which also transfers vertical forces.