Ski Boot Balancing Member for Sweet Spot Pressure Training

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ski training aids are often bulky, expensive, and not portable, making them impractical for use outside of dedicated venues, and they fail to specifically target the 'sweet spot' pressure area crucial for skiing technique, which can lead to ineffective training and potential deterioration of skiing skills.

Innovation Solution

A portable ski training aid that attaches to standard ski boots, allowing users to pivot and balance on a balancing member positioned under the boot to focus pressure on the sweet spot, reducing the risk of injury and providing a controlled environment for practicing weight distribution and balance techniques.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional ski training aids are used, then skiing technique training is provided, but the devices are bulky, expensive, and not portable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraining effectivenessVSAvoidportability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The training device is segmented into separate components: a balancing member that attaches to the ski boot and a separate base structure. This segmentation allows the balancing member to be portable and easily transported, while the base can remain stationary during use, resolving the contradiction between training effectiveness and portability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the essential training function (balancing and pressure distribution) from the bulky traditional apparatus and concentrates it into a minimal balancing member that attaches directly to the boot. This extraction eliminates unnecessary bulk while preserving the core training effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If traditional ski training aids are used, then balance training is provided, but they do not specifically target the sweet spot pressure area

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraining effectivenessVSAvoidpressure location accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The balancing member is designed with specific geometric characteristics (convex upper surface, concave lower surface) that create a unique tactile feedback mechanism. This local quality enhancement at the pressure point allows the user to precisely locate and maintain pressure on the sweet spot area, improving measurement precision of pressure location

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The dual-surface geometry of the balancing member provides immediate tactile feedback to the user's foot, indicating whether pressure is correctly applied to the sweet spot. This feedback mechanism ensures precise pressure location accuracy while maintaining training effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If indoor dry ski venues are used for training, then skiing practice is possible, but they are crowded and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraining accessibilityVSAvoidvenue availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The training device enables users to conduct balance training independently at home or in any location without requiring specialized venues. The self-service nature of the device eliminates the need for crowded indoor ski venues, making training accessible whenever and wherever the user chooses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If bulky training apparatus with stationary bases are used, then skiing technique mimicry is provided, but they are not portable and expensive to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetechnique training accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces expensive, complex stationary apparatus with a simple, inexpensive balancing member that can be manufactured at low cost. The simplified design maintains training accuracy while dramatically reducing manufacturing expenses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS9232829B2Ski training device

Publication Date: 2016.01.12 SKIA DESIGNS

AI summary

A combination of a ski boot and a training aid (110) attached thereto that is suitable for training a user to focus pressure on the sweet spot of a ski; wherein the training aid (110) comprises a balancing member (122) positioned underneath the ski boot at a location that would be vertically aligned with the sweet spot of a ski if the training aid were fitted to the ski boot; the training aid (110) allowing the user wearing a pair of ski boots, without skis and with a training aid attached to each boot, to pivot about the balancing members (122) until a desired balancing position is reached, whereby pressure is focussed at a spot corresponding to said sweet spot.