Ski Stop Device Deactivation Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ski stop devices are cumbersome to deactivate for uphill skiing, often requiring manual rotation of the heel-piece or external blocking elements, which can obstruct hooking the ski boot and complicate the process.
Innovation Solution
A ski stop device with a transversal seating and manoeuvring member, including a hook-shaped element and elastic means, allows for easy deactivation of the braking element by sliding the manoeuvring member against the elastic force, enabling the braking element to remain in a non-operating configuration without rotating the heel-piece or using external blocking elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If external blocking elements or manual rotation of the heel-piece are used to deactivate the stop device, then the braking element can be deactivated for uphill skiing, but the device becomes cumbersome and complicates the hooking process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the deactivation function into the existing heel-piece structure by adding a transversal seating and manoeuvring member that slide within the fixing element body. This integration eliminates the need for external blocking elements and allows deactivation to be performed simply by sliding the manoeuvring member, which does not obstruct the boot hooking process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the manoeuvring member with hook-shaped element and elastic means) that mediates between the user's sliding action and the braking element's position. This intermediary allows indirect control of the braking element through a simple sliding motion rather than requiring direct manual rotation of the heel-piece or external blocking.
2Ease of operation
If the braking element is maintained in the non-operating configuration without additional fittings, then the ski boot can be hooked freely, but the stop device cannot be deactivated for uphill skiing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fixing element into functional components: the body, the transversal seating, the manoeuvring member, and the elastic means. This segmentation allows the deactivation function to be added as a distinct mechanism within the fixing element without requiring external fittings, enabling independent control of the braking element while maintaining ease of boot hooking.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual rotation of the heel-piece is required to deactivate the stop device, then the braking element can be deactivated, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical rotation mechanism with a simpler sliding mechanism. The manoeuvring member slides transversally within the fixing element body along a guided path, which is mechanically simpler and faster to operate than rotating the heel-piece. This substitution reduces the time and complexity involved in deactivating the stop device.
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 simple and rapid deactivation of the braking element for uphill skiing, allowing the skier to freely raise the ski boot without reactivating the stop device, and reactivation for downhill skiing without additional fittings or manual complexity.
Implementation Method 1
elastic means, which are predisposed to maintain the manoeuvring member in the first position
Data Source
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
A stop device (D) for skis comprises: a fixing element (1) to the ski, a braking element (2) having a pair of arms (22, 23) and a pair of prongs (25, 26), hinged to the body (10) of the fixing element (1) so as to assume an operating configuration (O), in which the arms (22, 23) are lowered with respect to the ski, and a non-operating configuration (I) in which the arms (22, 23) are raised with respect to the ski. The body (10) of the fixing element (1) comprises a pair of recesses (32, 33) for accommodating the prongs (25, 26) and maintaining the braking element (2) in the operating configuration (O), and a pair of walls (41, 42) for guiding the prongs (25, 26) towards the skis, forcing them to near one another when the prongs (25, 26) are pushed out of the recesses (32, 33) and pushed towards the ski by the lowering of the ski boot. The body (10) is conformed in such a way as to comprise a transversal seating (11), and a manoeuvring member (12), comprising a hook-shaped member (14), is translatable into the transversal seating (11) against the action of the elastic means (M) in order to hook and block a prong when the prongs are lowered towards the ski, maintaining the prongs lowered and thus the braking element (2) in the non-operating configuration.