Ski Spatula Arcuate Profile for Powder Snow Stability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing skis designed for groomed snow struggle in powder snow, requiring skiers to change their technique and often result in instability and blockages due to the presence of 'flats' and inadequate visual perception of the spatula, affecting both performance and safety.

Innovation Solution

A ski design with a long spatula that eliminates 'flats' by using an arcuate profile with specific radii and convexity, ensuring continuous curvature and improved visual perception, allowing for optimal performance in both powder and groomed snow conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the spatula profile consists of a succession of portions with radii of curvature less than 3 m, then use in powder snow is improved, but skiing on groomed slopes becomes much more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuse in powder snowVSAvoidskiing on groomed slopes

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The spatula is divided into multiple portions with different radii of curvature (first portion with R1 < 3m for powder snow performance, second portion with R2 ≥ 3m for groomed slope performance), allowing each segment to optimize for different snow conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different zones of the spatula are given different geometric properties: the front portion has high curvature (R1 < 3m) for powder snow interaction, while the rear portion has lower curvature (R2 ≥ 3m) for groomed slope stability, creating local optimization for different functional requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Shape

If the spatula is made by twisting the skis to form a succession of portions, then the spatula structure is created, but flats appear which harm behavioral stability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatula structureVSAvoidbehavioral stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates flats by ensuring continuous tangency between spatula portions through proper curvature transitions, replacing the twisted construction with a smoothly curved profile where each portion is tangent to its neighbors, eliminating straight-line segments that cause instability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the succession of tip portions with different radii of curvature is used, then powder snow performance is improved, but visual perception of the tip is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepowder snow performanceVSAvoidvisual perception of the tip

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies visual enhancement by making the spatula visible through color treatment or reflective markings, compensating for the reduced visual perception caused by the complex curved profile, allowing skiers to mentally register the spatula's presence and dimensions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentEP1925344B1Curve of a ski profile

Publication Date: 2011.03.16 SALOMON SA

Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4

AI summary

The ski (1) has a central zone positioned between a front tip (5) and a rear end (6). The central zone forms a front contact line and a rear contact line with a planar surface when positioned on the planar surface. The front contact line is positioned closer to the front tip than to the rear end, and the rear contact line is positioned closer to the rear end than to the front tip. A distance separating the front contact line from the front tip is greater than 500 millimeters. A shovel is positioned between the front tip and the front contact line.