WO1996010449A1

WO1996010449A1 - Pair of multifunction snow shoes

Info

Publication number: WO1996010449A1
Application number: PCT/FR1995/001260
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephane Paret; Alain Tallaron
Original assignee: Stephane Paret; Alain Tallaron
Priority date: 1994-09-30
Filing date: 1995-09-29
Publication date: 1996-04-11
Also published as: FR2725142B1; FR2725142A1

Abstract

This pair of snow shoes is of the type where at least one of the shoes is provided, at its heel (3), with an attachment means capable of cooperating with a hole (6) in the tip (2) of the other snow shoe in order to provide for the hinged connection of the two shoes. According to the invention, the base of each shoe comprises, in its plate-like central portion (4), boot bindings (9) fixing the boot in the longitudinal direction, front openings (7) and rear openings (8) for the passage of the spikes (19) secured to a single removable plate (18) between the base (1) and the boot, lateral lower longitudinal ribs (17) projecting downwardly and outwardly in the form of edges, and finally two longitudinal areas for fixing removable seal skins (20), while the heel (3) is delimited by two chamfers (3a, 3b) giving it a rearwards-converging V shape.

Description

PAIR OF MULTIFUNCTIONAL SNOWSHOES

The invention relates to snow sports and in particular to the equipment used for walking.

It relates more specifically to snowshoes which it aims to transform so that they adapt to different snows, fresh, soft or ice-cold and can be used as sliding skates facilitating descents.

Traditionally, snowshoes designed to increase the carrying surface of the user, are bulky because of their width or their length, and therefore hinder walking. In addition, because of their shape and structure, they are not suitable for walking on direct slopes, which makes it necessary, in particular on very steep descents. to circulate by forming laces, which increases the walking time.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a pair of snowshoes adapting to all snow conditions and making it possible to descend in direct trace, in the same way as with skis, while increasing the possibilities of evolution.

Furthermore, FR-A-2 665 642 discloses a recreational vehicle for moving on snow, comprising two skates connected to each other by a removable articulation tolerating relative movements between the two skates, namely rotation in the horizontal plane and pivoting in the vertical plane. In this machine, the means for fixing the shoes arranged on each skate wedge the shoe in a transverse position, according to the surfing technique, so that the user cannot use the skates independently of one another, but only related to each other.

Another object of the invention is to transpose this articulated hitching technique to the snowshoes of a pair of snowshoes to form a very handy assembly favoring the descent, without affecting the normal functions of the snowshoes.

The invention therefore relates to a pair of rackets in which the shoe of each racket comprises a flat and substantially horizontal central part provided with means for fixing a shoe, a raised and rounded front tip and a rear heel extending the central part, and in which at least one of the rackets is provided, on its spatula, with an oblong axial lumen, while the other racket comprises, on its heel, a complementary coupling means capable of cooperating with the aforementioned lumen ensuring the articulated connection of the two rackets.

According to the invention, the shoe of each racket comprises, in its central part in the form of a plate, and situated between the tip and the heel, firstly, the means for fixing the shoe wedging it longitudinally, of second part and in the support area of the shoe, anterior and posterior openings for the passage of spikes or claws, integral with a single removable plate interposed between the shoe and the shoe, thirdly, lower ribs longitudinal direction lateral, projecting downwards and outwards, forming edges, each of these ribs being chamfered at its front and rear ends, and on the fourth hand, and under the underside of the skate and between the ribs and the openings for the passage of the studs or claws, two flat longitudinal zones for the fixing of removable seal skins, removable for sliding downhill, while the heel is delimited by two chamfers giving it a shape "V" converging backwards. Thanks to its structure, this pair of snowshoes makes it easy to walk on snow and to adapt its grip power by adding either the seal skins, or the claws, or both. The heel chamfers promote the advancement of each foot by removing the rear drag and improve walking, without disturbing the descent, where they contribute to directivity. During this, the presence of lower ribs forming edges and the large lower surface, unobstructed, possibly by removal of the seal skins and claws, allow the user to evolve as on mini skis, these developments performing with the two independent or linked snowshoes.

In the linked configuration, the two snowshoes form a new downhill machine, which can be used in fresh snow, and requiring a different practice from that existing with monoskis and snowboards.

Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the description which follows with reference to the appended schematic drawing representing, by way of example, an embodiment of the rackets according to the invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are views in elevation, respectively from the side and in plan from above, of a racket according to the invention,

FIG. 3 is a view in elevation and at the end of the racket of FIG. 2,

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views in elevation, respectively, from the side and in plan from above of an embodiment of a claw plate,

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are views similar to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 when the racket is equipped with claws and seal skins, FIG. 6 being in longitudinal section,

FIGS. 9 and 10 are views in elevation, respectively from the side and in plan from above, showing the racket equipped with a first embodiment of a pivot,

FIG. 11 is a side view in section along XI-XI of FIG. 9,

Figures 12 and 13 are views similar to Figures 9 and 10, but showing another embodiment of the pivot,

Figures 14 and 15 are respectively side views, in longitudinal section and in plan from above, of a racket when combined with a ski pole to form a shovel.

In the embodiment shown, and as shown more particularly in FIGS. 1 to 3. each of the rackets of the pair of rackets is composed of a shoe, designated by the general reference 1. comprising on its front part a spatula 2, raised and rounded, separated from a heel 3, by a flat central part 4. Each racket of a pair can be produced by deformation of a metal plate, but also by molding of a material such as aluminum or a composite material. The ratio between the length L and the width S is between 0.35 and 0.4. For example, its length is of the order of 550 mm, while its width is of the order of 210 mm, so as to ensure a good bearing surface without hampering the movements of the walker. On its upper part, the central part 4 carries the means 9 ensuring the attachment of a shoe, by placing this shoe longitudinally.

In the embodiment shown, these means consist of two L-shaped strips 15, the horizontal wing 15a is fixed by screws 40 on the central part 4. Lights 10, formed in the wings 15a, allow to adjust the transverse position of the strips 15. These strips are connected by a front part 1 1 which is flexible to allow the adjustment of their spacing. Each of them is provided with lateral perforations 13 for fixing loops 14 serving for the passage of a fixing strap, not shown, but secured to a rear heel piece 16. Of course, any other means can be used to fix a shoe on the racket. According to the invention, the shoe 1 is traversed right through, at the level of the spatula

2, by an oblong axial slot 6 and, in the central part 4, by an oblong slot 5 but also by openings composed of two pairs of slots respectively anterior 7 and posterior 8. As shown in FIG. 2, the slots 7 and 8 of each pair of slots are arranged on either side of the longitudinal axis x'-x of the racket and form, with respect to this axis, an angle a of substantially 45 °.

Furthermore, the slots of the same pair are oriented to form a truncated V, the wings of which converge towards the corresponding end of the racket, namely the front end for the slots 7 and the rear end for the slots 8 .

The central part 4 is also bordered by two lower and longitudinal ribs 17 which, as shown in FIG. 3, project downwards and outwards and form edges. In the embodiment shown, each of the ribs forms, with respect to the horizontal plane, an angle b of the order of 45 °. Finally, the front and rear ends of each rib 17 are chamfered, respectively at 17a and 17b, as shown in Figure 1, to facilitate sliding. This central part 4 is extended on the rear by the heel 3 which is delimited by two cut sides or chamfers 3a, 3b each forming an angle ç having a value of the order of 45 ° relative to the axis x'- x. These chamfers are connected by a rounded 3c.

The length of the heel is of the order of 1/5 of the total length of the racket, as is the length of the tip 2. In other words, the central part 4 extends over the 3 / 5th of the length of the racket.

This racket is intended to be used in combination with means increasing its grip on hardened or frozen snow, generally designated by 18, and with seal skins 20, synthetic and composed of hairs or spikes oriented towards the rear.

In the embodiment shown, the means 18 consist of a single metal plate, and in particular of stainless steel sheet which can be inserted between the upper face of the racket and the sole of the shoe and provided, each from its ends, two claws 19 bent at 90 °. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, each of these claws is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the plate and has a width equal to the play close to those of the slots 7 and 8 formed in the central part 4 of the racket.

Each claw has several teeth 19a. It is specified that the claws arranged in front are wider than those arranged in the rear and have more teeth. For the purpose of lightening, the plate can be provided with openings 18a. Figures 6, 7 and 8 show that the claws are higher than the ribs 17.

When this means is put in place, it is self-locked between the sole of the shoe and the racket. The width of the plate 18 is preferably equal to 2/3 of that of the sole of the shoe, so that the user does not feel any difference in support through the sole of his shoe.

The seal skins 20 are each provided, opposite the part comprising the bristles or spikes oriented by gripping, with a permanent adhesive coating allowing them to be removably bonded to one of the two longitudinal zones Z formed laterally. on each side between, respectively, the claws 19 and the corresponding lateral rib 17.

With this type of racket, the user can move very easily and even walk in a duck, case in which the chamfers 3a, 3b of the heels of the rackets oppose the support of one heel on that of the other racket . As for the ribs 17, they improve the uphill behavior and the translational guidance downhill.

Thanks to the claws 18 and the seal skins 20, the user can adapt the grip of the snowshoes according to the nature of the ground. These elements can be mounted simultaneously on the same racket, and can very easily be removed before approaching a descent, to improve the sliding of the rackets.

When these snowshoes are used downhill, the movement and its directivity are controlled according to natural reflexes. Thus, any tendency of the skier to refuse the slope by leaning on the heels causes braking by pressing the heel of the racket in the snow, this braking being all the more important the more the heel is depressed and this due to the triangular shape of this heel. Similarly, the directionality is given by pressing the foot on the right or on the left, taking advantage of the reactions on the beveled shape of the heel. For more complex changes, the walker can use the TELEMARK technique. The possibility of descending slopes by sliding, in a direct line or zigzagging, is very important because it allows the walker and hiker to reduce the time of descent, and thus for the same time, to carry out larger hikes without risk of '' be blocked before dark. The plate 18 carrying the claws can also carry crampons which, in this case, crosses the central part of the shoe by suitable openings, also distributed in V. In an embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 to 13, at least the one of the rackets of a pair is provided with a pivot 23 projecting vertically upwards from the upper part of the heel 3. In FIGS. 9 to 11, this pivot is composed of a base 24 and a case 25 extended by an attachment tenon 26. The frustoconical head 26a of this tenon is provided with two transverse flats 26b. The cross section of the head 26a at the level of the flats 26b corresponds to the cross section of the slot 6 formed in the spatula 2. The coupling of the two rackets is carried out by arranging the racket, which will be rearward, at 90 ° by compared to the racket which will be before, but so that its tip is above the pivot 23. After engagement of the head 26b of the pivot in the slot 6, the rear racket is brought back in the extension of the front racket with which it forms an ensemble that looks like an articulated monoski.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 12 and 13, the pivot 27 is composed of a base 28 and a body 29 carrying a yoke 30. The coupling of the two rackets is carried out by lifting the racket which will be the rear while maintaining it in the extension of that which will be in front, so as to engage the part situated between the lumen 6 and the tip of the spatula, inside the clevis, while the lumen 6 overlaps the rear branch 31 of the yoke 30, as shown in FIG. 12. Whatever its structure, this pivot allows, by joining the two snowshoes, to form an assembly which allows the walkers to convert into monoski skiers to descend further faster on snowy slopes.

It will be noted that, by its structure and its articulation, this new gliding device provides reactions different from those of monolithic monoskis and requires a completely new driving technique. Obviously, adding the pivot on one or both rackets does not change the behavior of the racket when it is used for walking.

If necessary, more than two snowshoes can be hitched one after the other to form a sled that can be used to carry loads or to rescue injured people.

The pivot 23 or 27 can be fixed in a non-removable manner on one of the rackets, or be fixed in a removable manner, for example by screwing its body into the base. Figures 14 and 15 show that the light 5 formed in the central part 4 can be used to engage the end 42a of a ski pole 42 to form a shovel in which the actual shovel is provided by the racket and the handle by the ski pole. Under these conditions, the stick 42 is equipped with a hook 21 which engages in the anterior lumen 6 to complete the connection of the stick with the racket. This assembly is reinforced by the elastic reaction of the washer 22 which, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, is elastically crushed on the central part 4 of the racket, between the anchoring point of the end 42a of the stick and the hook hooking point 21.

When the shoe fixing means comprise a front part 1 1, it can be provided with a notch 12 ensuring the transverse positioning of the stick.

It appears from the above that, thanks to simple means, combined together. the racket according to the invention can fulfill many functions which improve its conditions of use and the pleasure of the user.

Claims

1. Pair of multifunction snowshoes in which the skate (1) of each racket comprises a central part (4) flat and substantially horizontal provided with means (9) for fixing a shoe, a spatula (2) before, raised and rounded, and a rear heel (3) extending the central part, and in which at least one of the rackets is provided on its tip (2) with an oblong axial lumen (6), while the other racket has on its heel (2) a complementary coupling means capable of cooperating with the aforementioned slot (6) to ensure the articulated connection of the two rackets, characterized in that the pad of each racket comprises, in its central part (4) in the form of a tray, firstly, the fastening means (9) of the shoe, wedging it longitudinally, secondly and in the support area of the shoe, anterior (7) and posterior openings (8) for the passage of crampons or claws (19), ground idaries of a single removable plate (18) interposed between the shoe (1) and the shoe, thirdly, lower lateral ribs (17) in longitudinal direction, projecting downwards and outwards forming edges , each of these ribs being chamfered at its front (17a) and rear (17b) ends, and on the fourth hand, and under the underside of the shoe and between the ribs (17) and the openings (7, 8) for passage cleats or claws (19), two flat longitudinal zones (Z) for fixing removable seal skins (20), removable for sliding downhill, while the heel (3) is delimited by two chamfers (3a, 3b) giving it a "V" shape converging towards the rear.

2. Pair of rackets according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle of inclination towards the outside of each rib (17) bordering the central part (4) of the pad (1) is 45 ° relative to the plane of the shoe sole.

3. Pair of rackets according to claim 1, characterized in that the ratio between the length (L) and the width (S) of each racket is between 0.35 and 0.40.

4. Pair of snowshoes according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the openings formed in the central part of the shoe for the passage of the claws are constituted by four slots, distributed in two pairs of slots, respectively before ( 7) and rear (6), each slot being inclined at 45 ° relative to the longitudinal axis of the shoe (1) and the slots of the same pair forming a truncated V whose wings converge towards the corresponding end of the shoe, while each claw (19) is inclined 90 ° downward relative to the plate (18), has a width equal, apart from play, to that of the slot (7, 8) in which it must pass, at a height greater than that of the longitudinal ribs (17) and have several teeth.

5. Pair of snowshoes according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the two chamfers (3a. 3b) of the heel (3) of each skate form, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the skate, an angle 45 ° and are connected to each other by a rounding.

6. Pair of snowshoes according to claim 1, characterized in that each shoe (1) comprises, in its central part (4), a longitudinal lumen (5) for the passage of the tip (42a) of a ski pole (42) serving to immobilize this point when the stick, linked by a hook (21) to the light (6) formed in the spatula (2), forms the handle of a snow shovel, the shovel of which is formed by the skate.

7. Pair of rackets according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pivot (23), projecting vertically from the heel (3) of one of the rackets, comprises a base (24), a body ( 25) extended by a tenon (26) capable of pivoting in the anterior lumen (6) of the tip of the racket, this tenon having a frustoconical head (26a) with two flats giving it a section allowing it to pass through through the aforementioned oblong opening (6) when the racket, carrying this light, is arranged at 90 ° relative to the racket carrying the tenon, and to ensure the retention of the spatula (3) of the rear racket, when the two rackets are in the extension of one another.

8. Pair of rackets according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pivot (27) projecting upwards from the heel (3) of one of the rackets is composed of a base (28 ) and a coφs (29) carrying a yoke (30), the rear branch (31) of which is capable of penetrating into the oblong opening (6) of the tip of the rear racket.

9. Pair of rackets according to any one of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the stud (23, 27) is removable.