Ski Groove Reinforcement With Rigid Lateral Inserts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing skiing equipment with sealskins is prone to deterioration, difficult to use, requires significant physical effort, and involves complex assembly, leading to high costs and performance degradation during downhill skiing.
Innovation Solution
A skiing equipment design featuring a ski with a groove and track system, including a belt and motorized control, allowing easy uphill and downhill movement with reduced complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealskins are applied to ski bases for uphill movement, then grip and forward movement capability are improved, but the equipment becomes difficult to use requiring considerable physical effort and expert training
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical friction-based seal skin system with an electrical motor-driven track system. The motorized track actively propels the ski uphill through a ratchet mechanism, eliminating the need for users to generate considerable physical effort to maintain grip during climbing.
Solution Approach 2:
The track system with ratchet mechanism provides automatic one-way propulsion capability. Once the motor drives the track forward, the ratchet automatically prevents backward movement without requiring continuous user effort, making the system self-regulating and easier to operate.
2Adaptability or versatility
If tracks are added to skis for uphill movement, then uphill capability is improved, but the construction becomes complex and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the ski into functional segments: the main ski body remains simple and unchanged, while the track system is added as a separate modular component that can be independently installed and removed. This segmentation allows complex uphill functionality without complicating the basic ski construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The track system is designed as a universal attachment that can be applied to existing skis without modifying their fundamental structure. The same track mechanism provides both uphill propulsion and can be stowed during downhill use, serving multiple functions without requiring different equipment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If structural modifications are made to skis to implement tracks, then uphill capability is achieved, but the ski performance degrades during normal downhill use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic configuration where the track can be moved between an operational position during uphill travel and a stowed position during downhill use. The track retracts or folds away from the ski base, allowing the ski to return to its optimal downhill configuration and maintain original performance characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The track system is designed to be extractable or removable from the ski. During downhill use, the track can be completely removed or retracted, leaving the ski base in its original, optimized state for downhill performance, thus preventing any degradation of normal skiing capabilities.
4Adaptability or versatility
If heavy tracks are attached to skis for uphill movement, then uphill propulsion is achieved, but the weight increases requiring storage in backpack during downhill skiing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic configuration where the track can be moved between an operational position during uphill travel and a stowed position during downhill use. The track retracts or folds away from the ski base, allowing the ski to return to its optimal downhill configuration and maintain original performance characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The track system is designed to be extractable or removable from the ski. During downhill use, the track can be completely removed or retracted, leaving the ski base in its original, optimized state for downhill performance, thus preventing any degradation of normal skiing capabilities.
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
Enables effortless uphill and downhill skiing with high structural integrity, easy implementation on existing skis, and reduced weight for improved transportability.
Implementation Method 1
a first adhesive face capable of removably adhering to the ski base
Implementation Method 2
a second face covered with oriented textile fibers designed to interact with the snow cover in such a way as to enable forward movement without sliding backward
Implementation Method 3
wax, i.e., a layer of wax or another material used to raise the freezing point of water under the ski
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~8
AI summary
A skiing equipment (1) is provided, comprising a ski (2) defining a longitudinal direction (2a) and two ends (2b, 2c) and including at least an upper layer (21), a lower layer (22) mutually coupled, and a groove (25) passing through the upper and lower layers (21, 22) between the ends (2b, 2c) and delimited by at least two transverse edges (25a) extending transversely to the longitudinal direction (2a) and two lateral edges (25b) extending parallel to the longitudinal direction (2a); wherein each of the lateral edges (25b) includes a first insert (26) extending parallel to the longitudinal direction (2a) and including a material that is more rigid than the rest of the lateral edge (25b).