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(11) | EP 1 731 203 A1 |
(12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
published in accordance with Art. 158(3) EPC |
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(54) | AUTONOMOUS ELECTROMAGNETIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR BINDING BOOTS TO A SNOWBOARD, SKIS OR SIMILAR |
(57) The invention relates to an autonomous electromagnetic control system for binding
boots to a electromagnetic control system for binding boots to a snowboard, skis or
generally any board used for sports, surf as a skateboard or a surfboard. The inventive system is disposed on the clothing and boots of the sportsperson as well as on the board, in order to ensure the safe practice of said sports. According to the invention, the system comprises, rechargeable batteries; electric or solar chargers; power switches; electromagnetic gripper elements or electromagnets which are provided in each boot; slabs; sheets or particles of a ferromagnetic material, which are housed in the board(s) on which the boots are positioned and fixed; and optionally, a system fro the transmission/reception of commands, using electromagnetic waves or infrared rays, which is used to control the aforementioned switches and which can be equipped with a voice recognition device. In this way, a sportsperson equipped with any of the optional system configurations, comprising suit/boots and board or board(s), can slide on the corresponding surface securely and with optimal control. In addition, the system enables the user to detach him/herself from the board quickly, conveniently, remotely and autonomously, without the need for an automatic board-release system that is not controlled by the user. |
Object of the invention
Background of the invention
Types of Bindings for skis
a) Telemark binding: in this type of fixation only the front end of the boot is fixed on leaving the heel end totally free. This makes it easier for the skier to move on the downhill,
b) Cross-country biriding(Nordic skling): similar to the tele-mark binding. This fixation allows only the heel of the boot to be free so that one can make great strides and ease the forward movement on flat terrain with the help of two long poles
c) Alpine Ski binding: this fixation is composed of two devices, the heel and the front end. When the forces that are imposed on the binding reach the predetermined limits in relation to the weight and aptitude level of the skier, the boots are detached from the bindings by way of some springs. The front end is released principally because of lateral or vertical forces that are placed on it, while the heel end is detached mainly because of vertical forces.
d) Ski Mountain bindings: Combination of devices of the two former technologies. To go up, the skier is helped by some seal skin on the heels of the skis and by the free heel impact, on the other hand, going downhill, it positions the heel device and, without the skin, it slides as in the Alpine Ski type even though with more rudimentary fixations
e) Snowblade bindings: These are used In this ski discipline in which the skis are
small, between 50-100 cm in length, and on which the boot is set with a clip system.
This type of setting was first developed for the hard-boot snowboard bindings, as
a fixed or set system which only allowed manual release. In case of serious accidents
it can come off, which is more of an inconvenience than an advantage because of the
skiers loss of grip with the snow or ice.
All the developed technology in the ski market up to the present is basically focused
on getting the boot/bindings system to be more sensitive to possible vibrations, and
bending due to the increase in speed, jumps, hits or other incidents because of lack
of technique or skill. Moreover, there is an additional problem since the existence
of two skis and its length(2 meters or more) often provokes the entangling of both
with the resulting accidents, specially with beginners.
In these last few years, the patents in this sector have focused on contributing solutions
which will allow to be ahead of the appearance of the mentioned forces or inconveniences,
which are those which cause injuries, in such a way that the bindings are released
from the boots at the minimal indication of skis getting cross-braced, of jumps or
of extreme vibrations. The detection of these signs through sensors allow for the
automatic opening of the bindings. This system is not in the market yet.
The recent evolution of skiing to the so-called era of Carving should also be taken
into account, in this type of skiing, the length of the skis have been reduced considerably,
up to 40 cm. and at the same time, the width has been increased, which grants the
skier more stability, up to the extreme of not having to use poles to make turns.
The number of expert skiers, on the rise these last few years, do not wish their bindings
to be released without their wanting since that would not allow them to enjoy their
total freedom specially on steep slopes which could provoke the loss of their skis
which in turn also the gripping system. All this means that the conventional binding
systems must tend to diminish. In this way we should remember that according to the
theory of skiing it is recommended that one should not detach from their skis in dangerous
situations on steep stopes.
Types of Snowboard bindings
a) Hard boot binding Binding system for Snowboard runs, composed of hard plastic boots
of the Alpine Skier type. A peg is used to set the boot to the snowboard therefore
it can only be released manually
The binding is composed of a metal semi-arch which is set on the boots heel, making
use of a gap or crack wherein this semi-arch is inserted. A press-on shutting system
on the front end sets the toe cap to the board
An evolution of this system is based on a new way of setting boots onto the board
Before starting its use, the toe end of the boot is driven in on the front of the
binding while the back end of the boot is set by pressing, or vice-versa, loaning
down at the same time on the toe end of the boot, not needing to set it manually.
In this manner, only the release is manual. This system, called Alpine snowboard,
is presently rarely used.
b) Soft-boot binding, this is the most common system and is made up of rubber and
cloth boots(of the resting snow boot type) and some bindings composed of two slip
jackets made of a mix of nylon and carbon fiber, one for the front and(toe area) and
the other in the instep that fastens the heel, the latter has a back gadget that withstands
the forces of the back part of the calves. The grip and release are manual using some
dented steps and some rattling type pans.
An evolution of this said system called "Stop-in", has eased the automatic grip, white
the release is still manual This system is made up of metal binding screwed to the
board and of a boot which incorporates several metal components in the sole which
allows that when pressure is placed on the boot through the binding against the board,
both are set or fastened onto it by pressure To release the boot from the binding
it Is necessary to move a peg manually. In some cases the boot has no metallic device
but does have cavities on the soles' lateral material allowing for the entry of a
trigger In these cavities from the binding found on the board in no case does this
"step-in" system use other technology other than the fastening mechanism one. In the
way that it cannot be released but manually, The only new contribution of this technology
is the automatic grip process.
1. in the past the bindings were anchored by screws which were fastened to the board thanks to a hard aluminum plate inserted in its nucleus.
2 Due to the lack of safety of the former system, female inserts were devised and were situated on the board which allowed screwing on mate screws of 6 onto these inserts which turned out to be the standard in the industry. For almost a decade, patents have been focused on distribution and placing of these inserts on the board, a system to monopolize the exclusive use of this type of bindings or kinds of inserts in their boards by some manufacturers.
3. Currently, resistance tests determine the strength that one of these inserts can withstand until it detaches from the board Since one binding uses 3-4 inserts for it to be set in, it's practically impossible for the user to separate the binding from the board by separation of the inserts or by breakage of the binding.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 schematically shows the sportsperson equipped with a first preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrating some possible location points of the different elements of the system
Fig 1-A schematically shows one of the boots with the corresponding equipment of the illustrated execution in Fig.1.
Fig.2 schematically shows the sportsperson equipped with a second preferred embodiment
of the invention, illustrating possible location points of the different devices of
the system.
Fig.2-A schematically shows one of the boots with the corresponding equipment to the
illustrated execution in Fig. 2 and 3.
Fig. 3 schematically shows the sportsperson equipped with a third preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrating some possible location points of the different elements of the system.
Fig.4 schematically shows a view of the lower side of the boot where a possible location for the electromagnets or integrated electromagnetic gripperss in the sole of the boot is indicated.
Fig.5, shows a plan view of the board
Fig.6, shows a plan view of the skis.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
- some rechargeable battenes, some electric chargers and some electric switches, wherin each one of them can be positioned in any point selected between the sportspersons' clothing, the helmet, a backpack, a belt, a fannypack, the gloves, boots, and for some of them even the boards themselves.
- some electromagnets or electromagnetic grippers located in the boots;
- some means of transmission of commands for opening and closing said switches to activate and deactivate said electromagnets or electromagnetic grippers, wherein said means of transmission could be electric cables, electromagnetic waves, or infrared rays; and
- a board or boards with its top side totally covered with ferromagnetic material
wherein the fastening of the boots on the mentioned board or boards is executed by electromagnetic forces that join said electromagnets or electromagnetic grippers to the upper face of said board or boards supplied with said ferromagnetic material, all of which facilitates the possibility to separate the boots from the board or boards quickly, comfortably, remotely and autonomously, without the existence of an automatic system that allows the board or boards to be released without the sportspersons' will.- some rechargeable batteries, that can be located in the belt of the sportspersons' clothing, in a helmet or in a backpack;
- some electric or solar chargers (2) of said rechargeable batteries, some manual switches(23) and some connectors(3), all of them located in the belt(1);
- some first connection elements that fit to their respective connectors(3), two connectors(4) and two conductor cables(15) integrated in the trousers fabric that join each first connection element with one of the said connectors(4), located in the trousers(7).
- same second connection elements(4b) that fit to their respective connector(4), a cable(20) and electromagnets(6) in each boot(5), whereby the cables(20) serve as junction between said second connection elements and the electromagnets(6), and
- a snowboard(22) with its top side totally covered with ferromagnetic material (16),
wherein the fastening of the boots(5) on said board(22) is produced by electromagnetic forces whose activation/deactivation is controlled manually by the manual switches(23) located in the belt(1).- a voice recognition equipment(14) and a command transmitter(13);
- some rechargeable batteries(9), a charger-valve set(10),a receptor-switch(11), electromagnets(6), some connections(21) junction of the rechargeable battery (9) with the charger-valve (10), some connections(21a) junction of rechargeable battery (9) with the receptor-switch(11), some connections(21b) junction of receptor-switch(11) with the electromagnets(6) and the union connection between mentioned electromagnets(6), and
- a snowboard(22) with its top side totally covered with ferromagnetic material (16),
wherein the binding of the boots(5') on the said board (22) is produced by means of electromagnetic power whose activation/deactivation is controlled by voice commands detected by the voice recognition equipment(14), generated and transmitted by the transmission of orders (13) and received, decodified and executed by the receptorswitch(11) of each boot(5').- switch-transmitters(12) Integrated in the gloves of the sportsperson,
wherein the fastening of the boots(5') onto said board(22) is carried out through electromagnetic forces whose activation/deactivation is further controlled by commands generated and transmitted by the switch-transmitters(12)of the gloves and received, decoded and executed by the receptor-switch(11) of each boot(5')- the electromagnets are substituted by electromagnetic grippers, and the binding of the boots(5) onto said board(22) is carried out by means of magnetic forces whose deactivation/activation is manually controlled by the manual switches(23) located in the belt(1).
- the electromagnets are substituted by electromagnetic grippers, and the fastening of the boots(5')on the said board(22) is carried out through magnetic energy whose deactivation/activation is controlled by voice commands detected by the voice recognition aquipment(14), generated and transmitted by the command transmitter (13) and received, decoded and executed by the receptor-switch(11) of each boot(5')
- the electromagnets are substituted by electromagnet grippers, and the binding of the boots(5') on the said board(22) is carried out by magnetic force means whose deactivation/activation is controlled moreover by commands generated and transmitted by the switch-transmitters(12) of the gloves and received, decodified and executed by the receptor-switch(11)of each boot(5').
- Some rechargeable batteries that can be located in the belt of the sportsperson, in a helmet or in a backpack;
- Some electric or solar chargers (2) of mentioned rechargeable batteries, manual switches(23) and some connectors(3), all of which are located in the belt(1);
- some first connection elements that fit to the respective connectors(3), two connectors(4)and two conductor cables (15) integrated in the trousers fabric that joins each said first connection eternal to one of the said connectors(4), located in the trousers(7);
- some second connection elements (4b) that fit to the respective connector(4), cables(20) and electromagnets(6) on each boot (5), wherein the cables serve as junction (20) between mentioned second connection elements and the electromagnets(6), and
- two skis(25), each one of them totally covered on the top side with ferromagnetic material(26),
wherein the fastening of the boots(5) on the said skis(25) is carried out by means of electromagnetic forces whose activation/deactivation is controlled manually through manual switches(23) located in the belt(1)- a voice recognition equipment(14) and a command transmitter(13),
- some rechargeable batteries(9), a valve-charger set(10), a receptor-switch(11), electromagnets(6), some connections (21)junction of the rechargeable battery(9) to the valve-charger(10), some connections(21a) junction of the rechargeable battery (9) with the receptor-switch(11), some connections (21b) junction of the receptor-switch(11) to the electromagnets(6) and a joining connection between said electromagnets(6); and
- two skis(25), each one of them totally covered on its top side with ferromagnetic material (26),
wherein the binding of the boots (5') on the said skis(25) is carried out by means of electromagnetic force whose activation/deactivation is controlled through voice commands detected by the voice recognition equipment(14), generated and transmitted by the command transmitter(13) and received, decoded and executed by the receptor-switch(11) of each boot(5').- several switch-transmitters(12)integrated in the sportspersons' gloves.
wherein the binding of the boots(5')on the mentioned skis(25) Is carried out by means of electromagnetic force whose activation/deactivation is controlled by generated commands and transmitted through the switch-transmitters(12) of the gloves and received, decoded and executed by the receptor-switch (11) of each boot(5').- the electromagnets are substituted by electromagnetic grippers, and the fastening of the boots(5)on the mentioned skis(25) is carried out through magnetic forces whose deactivation/activation is controlled manually through the manual switches(23) located in the belt(1).
- the electromagnets are substituted by electromagnetic grippers, and the fastening of the boots(5') on the mentioned skis(25) is produced by magnetic forces whose activation/deactivation is controlled by voice commands detected by the voice recognition equipment (14), generated and transmitted through the command transmitter(13) and received, decoded and executed by the receptor-switch(11) of each boot (5');
- the electromagnets are substituted by electromagnetic grippers, and the binding of the boots (5') on the mentioned skis (25) is produced through magnetic force means whose deactivation/activation is controlled by commands generated and transmitted by the switch-transmitters (12) of the gloves and received, decoded and executed by the receptor-switch (11) of each boot(5')
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
Patent documents cited in the description