Ski Lateral Support for Edging Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing skiing and skating technologies fail to effectively utilize thrusting force for forward-directed movement due to lack of torsional rigidity in ski boots, leading to difficult edging and lateral sliding, which reduces the force directed to advancing.
Innovation Solution
A lateral support made of lightweight and stiff materials, such as polymers or composites, is integrated with the ski binding, featuring a support element and lateral rest that enhances bending rigidity and edging by attaching to the installation plate, providing a compatible groove-like form for fixation and preventing longitudinal sliding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a traditional ski binding without lateral support is used, then the device complexity is low, but the bending rigidity between ski and boot is insufficient, causing lateral sliding and difficult edging
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral support integrates the heel part of the binding with the ski edge support function into a single unified structure. The support element merges the functions of heel retention and lateral edging support, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing overall device complexity while enhancing bending rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral support employs composite construction with a stiff outer shell made of lightweight material (polymer, aluminum, or composite with fiber strengthening) combined with an inner filling material. This composite structure achieves high bending rigidity and lateral support strength while maintaining low weight, resolving the contradiction between strength and complexity.
2Productivity
If no lateral support is provided, then the ease of operation is high, but the edging efficiency is poor, reducing the force directed to forward movement
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral support provides localized stiffness and support precisely where needed - at the lateral edge of the heel area - while maintaining flexibility elsewhere in the boot-binding interface. The support element is positioned to contact the lateral rest only during edging actions, providing enhanced edging efficiency without restricting normal walking or binding operation.
3Strength
If the support element is made very tall to maximize support, then the bending rigidity increases, but the weight of the moving object increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral support uses composite construction with a stiff outer shell made of lightweight material (polymer, aluminum, or fiber-reinforced composite) combined with an inner filling material. This composite structure achieves high bending rigidity with minimal weight, allowing adequate support height while maintaining low overall weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes the height parameter of the support element within a specific range (25-80mm, advantageously 30-60mm, most advantageously 40-50mm) to achieve the necessary bending rigidity without excessive weight. The cross-sectional geometry and material properties are adjusted to maximize rigidity-to-weight ratio.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 2c~3a
AI summary
The invention relates to a support for supporting a leg during skiing or skating. It is a lateral support (5) having a longitudinal direction (L) and lateral direction (W). It comprises a bottom (8) that has an upper surface (10) and a lower surface (9), as well as an inner edge (11) and an outer edge (12). At the lower surface (9) side of the bottom (8), there is at least one means (14) to fasten to a longitudinal rail (15). The support also comprises a support element (7) which has an inner surface (16) and an outer surface (17) and which proceeds obliquely upward from the inner edge (11), so that between the plane of the upper surface (9) of the bottom and the inner surface (16) of the support element (7) there is an angle (a) that is at most 120°. The invention also relates to an assembly which comprises a support for supporting a leg during skiing or skating.