Ski Edge Sidewall Concave Profile Snow Ejection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional ski designs are inadequate for modern skiing conditions, particularly in handling and grip during turns on various snow surfaces, as they fail to effectively manage the ski's movement through the mass of snow and air, leading to vibrations, loss of balance, and reduced performance at larger tilts.
Innovation Solution
The ski's structural elements, including the gliding base, edge, sidewall, and top edge, are redesigned with a composite functional concave curve that allows for better grip and effective ejection of snow, utilizing aerodynamic and hydrodynamic principles to maintain edge cleanliness and control throughout turns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ski is designed with a traditional straight sidewall and edge configuration, then the manufacturing is simple and structure is straightforward, but the grip performance deteriorates at larger tilts during turns and the ski generates vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The ski sidewall is designed with a double concave curve instead of a straight profile. The first concave curve section and second concave curve section create a curved geometry that allows the ski to maintain edge contact with the snow surface at larger tilt angles during turns, improving grip performance while the curvature naturally guides snow ejection away from the edge
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the sidewall are given different geometric properties - the first concave curve section has different characteristics than the second concave curve section. This local differentiation optimizes performance for different phases of skiing and different snow conditions, with each section tailored to specific functional requirements
2Reliability
If the ski sidewall angle is increased to improve grip at larger tilts, then the edge contact is improved, but the ski sidewall hits the mass of snow and creates vibrations and reduces handling
Solution Approach 1:
The concave curved geometry of the sidewall allows the upper part of the sidewall to clear the snow surface during turns, preventing the sidewall from hitting the mass of snow. The curvature creates a natural clearance path that eliminates vibrations and unwanted snow contact while maintaining optimal edge contact through the concave sections
Solution Approach 2:
The sidewall profile is extended into a third dimension with the double concave curve, creating a complex three-dimensional geometry that simultaneously achieves multiple objectives: maintaining edge contact, clearing snow, and reducing vibrations. This dimensional complexity allows the sidewall to perform multiple functions that a simple straight profile cannot achieve
3Reliability
If the ski edge is designed to maintain contact at larger tilts, then the grip is improved, but the support force shifts from the edge to the sidewall reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The concave curved sidewall geometry channels and directs the support force back onto the edge through the curved profile. The concave sections create force vectors that guide the load through the edge rather than allowing it to shift to the sidewall, maintaining effective force distribution even at larger tilt angles
Solution Approach 2:
The concave curve acts as an intermediary geometric element that transfers and redistributes forces between the snow contact point and the ski structure. The curved profile mediates the force distribution, ensuring that the edge remains the primary load-bearing element while accommodating larger tilt angles
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
This design enhances grip and control on all snow surfaces, preventing vibrations and slips by ensuring effective snow ejection and optimal force transfer, allowing for smooth and accurate turns even at larger tilts.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing aerodynamic and hydrodynamic principles to maintain edge cleanliness and control throughout turns
Implementation Method 2
utilizing aerodynamic and hydrodynamic principles to maintain edge cleanliness and control throughout turns
Implementation Method 3
The ski edge 6, which is designed in a composite functional concave curve 15, ensures a better grip and at the same time enables an effective ejection of the mass of snow
Data Source
Figure 1a~6
Figure 7
Figure 8
AI summary
The line construction (15) of the edge (6) and sidewall of the ski (10) solves the issue of effective grip of the edges (6) and optimum smooth handling of various types of skis though all the stages of the turn at various velocities and various types of snow surface (18). Skis (1) are composed of basic structural elements such as: the gliding base (5), the edge (6), dampening layers (8), reinforcing layers (9), ski sidewall (10) and top layers (11), namely in such a structural proportion and composition that the edge (6) and its edge side (7) pass into the ski sidewall (10) in a characteristic composite concave curve (15) which ends with the top layers of the ski's top (11). Here, the composite functional concave curve (15) of the edge's (6) structural elements and the ski's sidewall (10) is always under a greater angle ∝ as the angle E of the edge side (7) which creates a functional space for ejecting the carved snow mass (16) and a space for a larger incline of the ski throughout all the stages of the turn without the danger that the top edge of the ski (11) or the ski sidewall (10) would hit the snow mass (18) and thus impair the ski or reduce the force of pressure onto the edge (6).