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(11) | EP 3 192 574 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | SKI MAINTENANCE TOOL |
| (57) The ski maintenance tool (100) comprises a support structure (1), predisposed to
be arranged resting on and/or fixed to a work plane; a frame (2); and hooking means
(3, 4) predisposed on the frame (2) and configured so as to hook and block a ski (S)
with respect to the frame (2). The frame (2) is hinged to the support structure (1)
according to a hinge axis (A), so that the frame (2) can be made to rotate with respect
to the support structure (1) about the hinge axis (A). The tool further comprises
removable blocking means (5), for blocking/unblocking the frame (2) with respect to
the support structure (1), the removable blocking means (5) being configured so as
to unblock the frame (2) from the support structure (1) in order to enable rotation
of the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1) about the relative hinge
axis (A) so as to be able to angularly orientate the frame (2) with respect to the
support structure (1) and thus arrange the ski (S) in various orientations with respect
to the work plane, and such as to block the frame (2) to the support structure (1)
in order to block and maintain the angular position of the frame (2) with respect
to the support structure (1) and thus block the ski (S) in a relative orientation
with respect to the work plane in order to enable an operator to carry out a corresponding
maintenance operation on the ski (S).
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[0001] The present invention relates to the technical sector concerning the tools used for carrying out maintenance operations on skis, such as for example waxing, maintenance of the runner, maintenance of the edges, or the operations necessary for predisposing or replacing the bindings.
[0002] In order to carry out the maintenance operations mentioned above, the mounting or replacement of the bindings, the skis have to be blocked and maintained stably positioned in a predetermined position in order to enable correct carrying-out of the work operations by an operator.
[0003] For example, in order to mount or replace the bindings, the skis must be arranged horizontally with the runner facing downwards and the upper part, on which the bindings are to be predisposed or replaced, facing upwards.
[0004] On the other hand, in a case in which, with skis already having bindings mounted, such as for example skis for Alpine skiing, operations of waxing and/or maintenance of the runner, the skis must be arranged horizontally with the runner facing upwards for facilitating the operator's work.
[0005] For the maintenance operations of the edges, which are arranged at the sides of the ski, the ski must instead be arranged on its side, first with a first side facing upwards to enable the operator to carry out the maintenance operations of the edge present on the first side and then, subsequently, rotated by 180° and again arranged on its side, in such a way that the second side of the ski is facing upwards in order to enable the operator to carry out the maintenance operations on the other edge.
[0006] At present, in order to carry out these operations, vice jaws are used which are predisposed on a workbench and which time by time are opened and closed by the operator for clamping and blocking the ski in the desired work position.
[0007] For example, when the bindings are to be predisposed or replaced on a ski, the vice jaws are opened to an amount slightly greater than the width of the ski, the ski is positioned horizontally with the runner facing downwards, and then the vice jaws are closed to lock and block the sides of the ski.
[0008] When on the other hand maintenance operations are to be carried out in the ski with the bindings already mounted, such as for example the skis used for Alpine skiing, including waxing or other maintenance operations on the runner, and maintenance operations and renovation of the edges, the performance of these operations using vices becomes quite laborious and complex.
[0009] In fact, in order to carry out the maintenance operations of the runner and the waxing, work is done in a similar way to when the bindings are being predisposed or replaced, by opening the vice jaws to an amount slightly greater than the width of the ski, the ski is positioned horizontally with the runner in this case facing upwards; then the vice jaws are closed to grip and lock the sides of the ski and block it in position.
[0010] However the use of the vice jaws complicates the operator's work operations as they prevent the operator from carrying out the operations on those parts of the ski that are gripped, and therefore hidden, by the vice jaws. With the aim of preventing undesired flexions of the ski during the working steps, the operator must then priorly predispose suitable support elements on the workbench which abut the part of the ski facing towards the workbench once the ski has been gripped by the vice jaws.
[0011] The support elements are for example constituted by height-adjustable columns (e.g. telescopic) which are fixed to the work plane: once the ski is clamped, the operator has to height-regulate the anti-flexion support elements, for example using knobs, so that the upper end thereof abuts and rests on the part of the ski facing towards the workbench.
[0012] These operations are however laborious, and especially the skis can have a different conformation and not be perfectly flat over a whole length thereof; therefore the adjustments are not easy to do and require patience and time on the part of the operator.
[0013] In order to proceed, on the other hand, to the maintenance operations or the renovation of the edges on the two sides of the ski, the vice jaws have to be opened, the operator has to handle the ski, rotating and orientating it in a sideways position, position the ski in this position in the two vice jaws, with a first side of the ski facing upwards, and then tighten the vice jaws up to when they clamp and block the ski.
[0014] Once the work operations on the edge of the first side of the ski have been concluded, the operator has to separate the vice jaws by an amount such as to enable the operator to lift the ski, rotate it by 180° and newly position on a side thereof between the two vice jaws, with the second side facing upwards, and then newly tighten the vice jaws up to clamping and blocking the ski.
[0015] The above-described operations of opening the vice jaws, manipulation of the ski, rotation of the ski on one side and then on the other, or the positioning of the ski with the runner facing upwards or downwards, and closing of the vice jaws, must often be carried out and repeated a number of times as the maintenance and/or renovation operations of the runner and the edges, as well as the waxing, can require a series of steps, such as for example a first roughing step, and then a succession of finishing steps.
[0016] Further, the presence of the anti-flexion support elements predisposed on the workbench significantly complicates the work of the operator as, when the ski is to be arranged in the sideways position for work operations on the edges, the support elements are in the way and therefore need removing, then to be newly repositioned when the ski is to be clamped by the vice jaws with the runner facing upwards or downwards. It is clear that all these operations are laborious, requiring a great deal of time and a space sufficient for enabling the operator to manoeuvre and rotate the skis and newly predisposed them between the vice jaws.
[0017] At times these operations also have to be carried out on-the-spot, for example in a case of professional skiers, before a competition, or in Alpine skiing, and therefore the carrying out of all these operations for handling and manoeuvring the ski are very laborious and require time, and are therefore disadvantageous and problematic.
[0018] Lastly, on the basis of the effective length of the skis, it is necessary to change the position of the vice jaws on the workbench, so as to near them or distance them according to the length of the ski on which to carry out the work operations.
[0019] The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a ski maintenance tool able to obviate the above-mentioned drawbacks.
[0020] In particular, an aim of the invention is to make available a ski maintenance tool which enables carrying out the various ski maintenance operations in a simple and immediate way, without having to request operations of manipulations and manual rotations of the ski on the part of the operator.
[0021] A further aim of the present invention is to provide a universal ski maintenance tool, i.e. which enables alternatively carrying out both the operations necessary for the predisposing or replacement of the bindings, and the operations of runner maintenance, waxing, maintenance and renovation of the edges, while requiring a space or area of a small entity.
[0023] Further characteristics and advantageous aspects of the ski maintenance tool of the invention are set down in the various dependent claims.
[0024] The characteristics of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the ski maintenance tool of the present invention will be described in the following with reference to the appended tables of drawings, in which:
- figure 1 illustrates, in a schematic lateral view, the ski maintenance tool according to the invention, in a particular working configuration of a support for a ski for Alpine skiing with the bindings already predisposed and with the ski arranged in a position for carrying out maintenance operations of the runner and/or the waxing;
- figure 2 is a view along plane II-II of figure 1, in a larger scale;
- figure 3 is a plan view of figure 1;
- figure 4 is a view along section plane IV-IV of figure 3;
- figure 5 illustrates, in a lateral view, the tool of figure 1 with some components in a particular operating configuration thereof which enable rotating the ski while maintaining it engaged to the tool;
- figure 6 is a view along section plane VI-VI of figure 5, in a larger scale;
- figure 7A is a front view of figure 5 while figure 7B illustrates the front view of figure 5 with the tool in a second particular working configuration in which the ski is rotated by 90°, in an anti-clockwise direction, with respect to figure 7A, for carrying out maintenance or repair operations of an edge;
- figure 8A illustrates detail H of figure 1 in larger scale;
- figure 8B illustrates detail K of figure 5 in larger scale;
- figure 9A illustrates, in a lateral view, the tool of figure 1 in a further possible work configuration for supporting a ski of a given width on which the bindings are to be predisposed or replaced;
- figure 9B is a front view of figure 9A;
- figure 10A illustrates, in a lateral view, the tool of figure 1 supporting a ski of a different width with respect to the ski of figure 9A and on which the bindings are to be predisposed or replaced;
- figure 10B illustrates the front view of figure 10A.
[0025] With reference to the appended tables of drawings, reference numeral (100) denotes the ski maintenance tool that is the object of the present invention in its entirety.
[0026] The tool (100) comprises a support structure (1) configured and predisposed to be arranged resting and/or fixed to a work plane (not illustrated as it is not a part of the invention); a frame (2); and hooking means (3, 4) predisposed on the frame (2) and configured so as to engage and block a ski (S) with respect to the frame (2).
[0027] The peculiarities of the tool (100) proposed by the present invention consist in the fact that the frame (2) is hinged to the support structure (1) according to a hinge axis (A), so that the frame (2) can be made to rotate with respect to the support structure (1) about the hinge axis (A), and in that it comprises removable blocking means (5), for blocking/unblocking the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1).
[0028] In particular, the removable blocking means (5) are configured so as to unblock the frame (2) from the support structure (1) in order to enable rotation of the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1) about the relative hinge axis (A) so as to be able to angularly orientate the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1) and thus arrange the ski (S) in various orientations with respect to the work plane, and such as to block the frame (2) to the support structure (1) in order to block and maintain the angular position of the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1) and thus block the ski (S) in a relative orientation with respect to the work plane in order to enable an operator to carry out a corresponding maintenance operation on the ski (S).
[0029] In this way, the operator can act on the removable blocking means (5) to unblock the frame (2) from the support structure (1), in such a way as then to be able to rotate the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1) and arrange it in a different angular orientation with the aim of arranging the ski in the desired work position necessary for carrying out a given maintenance and/or arrangement and/or replacement operation of the bindings.
[0030] Once the frame (2) has been orientated in the desired position, the operator will act on the removable blocking means (5), for blocking the frame (2), and therefore having a ski blocked and maintained orientated in the desired working position.
[0031] For example, figure 1 illustrates the tool (100) with the frame (2) which is orientated with respect to the support structure (1), and blocked in this position by the removable blocking means (5), so that the ski (S) engaged by the hooking means (3, 4) is positioned with the runner facing upwards, in particular arranged horizontally when the support structure (1) is resting on a work plane.
[0032] With this arrangement and configuration of the tool, the operator can carry out the maintenance operations on the runner and/or the waxing.
[0033] Once these operations have been completed, in a case where the operator has also to carry out working and/or maintenance operators on the edges, he simply has to act on the removable blocking means (5) so as to unblock the frame (2) from the support structure (1) (see for example figure 5), so as to enable rotation of the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1) about the relative hinge axis (A).
[0034] Therefore the operator will do no more than rotate the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1) about the hinge axis (A) for orientating the frame (2) into an angular position with respect to the support structure (1) so as to arrange the ski with one of the two sides thereof facing upwards: for example the operator can rotate the frame (2) by 90° with respect to the support structure (1), in a clockwise direction or an anticlockwise direction (see, in this regard, for example figures 7A or 7B, where figure 7B illustrates the position assumed by the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1) following a rotation by 90° thereof in an anticlockwise direction, looking at the figures, so as to turn a side of the ski upwards).
[0035] Once this rotation of the frame (2) has been carried out, the operator acts on the removable blocking means (5), for blocking the position of the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1), and therefore proceeds with the processing and/or maintenance operations of the edge.
[0036] When these operations are concluded, the operator can operate the removable blocking means (5) in order to unblock the frame (2) from the support structure (1) and rotate the frame (2) by 180° with respect to the support structure (1) about the hinge axis (A) in the opposite direction to the preceding direction, so as to orientate the ski with the second side thereof facing upwards, and thus newly act on the blocking means (5) in order to block the new frame (2) position, then to proceed to the work operations and/or the maintenance of the other edge of the ski.
[0037] It is clear how these operations are simple and immediate, do not require manipulation and rotations of the ski by the operator who will simply have to act on the removable blocking means in order to unblock/block the frame.
[0038] In the above-described example, the hooking means (3) present on the frame (2) of the tool (100) are configured and predisposed for engaging the bindings predisposed on skis for Alpine skiing; in this way the skis for Alpine skiing with bindings already mounted can easily be clamped to the frame of the tool so that the runner thereof is facing upwards. The tool (100) can also be predisposed and configured with hooking means (3) predisposed for clamping the bindings present on skis used for other disciplines.
[0039] The tool (100) of the invention further comprises clamping means (4) provided on the frame (2) which are predisposed for clamping and engaging the sides of a ski; in this way skis that still have to be predisposed with the relative bindings, or skis on which the bindings are to be replaced, can be hooked to the frame in such a way as to turn the runner downwards and the upper part thereof, on which the bindings are to be mounted or replaced, facing upwards (see for example figures 9A, 10A).
[0040] In a possible variant, falling within the scope of the present invention, the tool (100) can comprise only hooking means (4) which are predisposed for clamping and engaging the sides of a ski and blocking it to the frame, whether the ski is already predisposed with the relative bindings or not.
[0041] Other advantageous characteristics of the ski maintenance tool (100) of the invention are described in the following.
[0042] The support structure (1) comprises a base (11), for resting and/or fixing to a work plane (not illustrated), and two uprights (12, 13), while the frame (2) comprises a body (21) which is hinged to the two uprights (12, 13) according to the hinge axis (A), and a head (22) on which the hooking means (3, 4) are predisposed for hooking and blocking a ski (S) with respect to the frame (2).
[0043] The removable blocking means (5) are in turn configured and predisposed to unblock/block the body (21) of the frame (2) with respect to the two uprights (12, 13) of the support structure (1), so as to unblock the body (21) of the frame (2) with respect to the two uprights (12, 13) and enable rotation of the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1) about the relative hinge axis (A), so as to be able to angularly orientate the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1) and therefore arrange the ski (S) in different orientations with respect to the work plane, and in order to block the body (21) of the frame (2) with respect to the two uprights (12, 13), to block and maintain the angular position obtained by the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1) and thus block the ski (S) in a relative orientation with respect to the work plane.
[0044] In particular, the two uprights (12, 13) of the support structure (1) each comprise a relative hole (120, 130), the body (21) of the frame (2) comprising two cylindrical members (24, 25) and being predisposed between the two uprights (12, 13) of the support structure (1) so that the two cylindrical members (24, 25) are inserted rotatably in the holes (120, 130) of the two uprights (12, 13), identifying the hinge axis (A) of the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1) (see for example figures 2, 4, 6), while the removable blocking means (5) are configured and predisposed for unblocking/blocking the two cylindrical members (24, 25) with respect to the uprights (12, 13).
[0045] In a particularly advantageous aspect, in the illustrated and preferred but not exclusive embodiment, the two cylindrical members (24, 25) of the body (21) of the frame (2) are inserted in the holes (120, 130) of the two uprights (12, 13) of the support structure (1) rotatably and in such a way as to be able to translate axially along the hinge axis (A), the removable blocking means (5) being configured and predisposed so as to be activatable in order to translate the cylindrical members (24, 25), and therefore the body (21) of the frame (2), with respect to the holes (120, 130) of the two uprights (12, 13) at least between a first blocking position (P1) of the cylindrical members (24, 25) (see figures 1, 2, 4, 8A), in which the cylindrical members (24, 25) are non-rotatably blocked to the uprights (12, 13), and a second unblocking position (P2) of the cylindrical members (24, 25) (see figures 5, 6, 8B), in which the cylindrical members (24, 25) are freely rotatable in the holes (120, 130) according to the hinge axis (A) in order to enable rotation of the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1) about the relative hinge axis (A).
[0046] For this purpose, according to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, the blocking means (5) comprise (see in particular the figures 2 and 6):
a connecting member (50) predisposed on a first cylindrical member (24) of the two cylindrical members (24, 25) of the body (21) of the frame (2) so as to project from the hole (120) of the upright (12) in which the first cylindrical member (24) is inserted;
a lever (L), which is connected and hinged to the connecting member (50);
a spring (52), which is predisposed between the first cylindrical member (24) and the walls of the hole (120) in which the first cylindrical member (24) is inserted;
a first anti-rotation coupling profiled member (54), predisposed on the upright (12) in proximity of the hole (120) and a second anti-rotation coupling profiled member (55), complementary to the first coupling profiled member (54), predisposed on the body (240) of the first cylindrical member (24).
[0047] For example, the first anti-rotation coupling profiled member (54) can comprise a series of teeth or projections, arranged at predetermined angular positions with respect to the hinge axis (A), while, in turn, the second coupling profiled member (55) can comprise corresponding seatings having a complementary shape positioned on the body (240) of the first cylindrical member (24) with the same angular positions with respect to the hinge axis (A) (see for example figures 8A and 8B).
[0048] The angular positions of the teeth and the seatings define the various possible angular orientations that the frame (2) can assume, with respect to the support structure (1) when the two anti-rotation coupling profiled members are coupled to one another.
[0049] The two coupling profiled members can also have an inverted shape, i.e. the first coupling profiled member (54) comprises seatings while the second coupling profiled member (55) comprises teeth or projections.
[0050] It is also possible to include different shapes for the two coupling profiled members, easily realisable by the expert technician in the sector, and therefore still falling within the scope of the present invention.
[0051] In particular, in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the lever (L) is configured and predisposed for being activatable and manoeuvrable by the operator, so that it can be rotated with respect to the connecting member (50), between:
a first position (L1) (see for example figures 1, 2, 4 and 8A), in which it pulls the connecting member (50), and therefore the first cylindrical member (24), with respect to the hole (120) so that the spring (52) is compressed and the first coupling profiled member (54) and the second coupling profiled member (55) are coupled to one another so that the cylindrical members (24, 25) are in the first blocking position (P1), in which the cylindrical members (24, 25) are blocked to the uprights (12, 13) with no possibility of rotation, in order to block the position of the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1),
and a second position (L2) (see for example figures 5, 6 and 8B), in which the lever (L) releases the connecting member (50) with respect to the upright (12) so as to enable the spring (52) to push the first cylindrical member (24) and translate it with respect to the hole (120) so that the first coupling profiled member (54) and the second coupling profiled member (55) decouple from one another so that the cylindrical members (24, 25) move into the second unblocking position (P2) thereof in which they are freely rotatable in the holes (120, 130) according to the hinge axis (A), so that the operator can angularly orientate the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1) and therefore arrange the ski (S) in different orientations with respect to the work plane.
[0052] In the preferred but not exclusive illustrated embodiment, the lever (L) is conformed so that a first part thereof is in contact with and abutment against the upright (12) when the lever (L) is in the first position (L1) thereof, so as to maintain the connecting member (50) pulled, and therefore the first cylindrical member (24) in the hole (120) in the first blocking position (P1), and maintaining the first coupling profiled member (54) and the second coupling profiled member (55) coupled to one another against the action of the spring (52), while when it is taken into the second position (L2), following a rotation thereof with respect to the connecting member (50), it is distanced from the upright (12) so as to enable the spring (52) to push and translate the first cylindrical member (24) into the second unblocking position (P2).
[0053] With the aim of making the blocking position of the frame (2) more stable with respect to the support structure (1), the blocking means (5) can also comprise a sleeve (56) which is fixed to the second cylindrical member (25) of the two cylindrical members (24, 25) so as to be external of the upright (13) with the second cylindrical member (25) inserted in the hole (130) thereof, which sleeve (56) comprises a third antirotation coupling profiled member (57) having a complementary shape to a fourth antirotation coupling member (58) provided on the upright (13) in proximity of the relative hole (130) (see for example figures 2, 5, 6).
[0054] In this way, when the first and the second antirotation coupling profiled member are coupled to one another for blocking the frame (2) to the support structure (1), the third and fourth antirotation coupling profiled member are also coupled to one another for blocking the frame (2) and for making the position of the frame (2) stable with respect to the support structure (1).
[0055] It is clear that the technical expert in the sector can conceive of and realise other possible embodiments too, different from the ones described in the foregoing, for hinging the body (21) of the frame (2) to the two uprights (12, 13) of the support structure (1), and also different embodiments for realising the removable blocking means (5) for unblocking/ blocking the body (21) of the frame (2) to the uprights (12, 13) of the support structure (1) and enable or not the rotation of the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1) about the hinge axis (A), entirely equivalent to the ones described herein, and therefore falling within the scope of the present invention as it is claimed in the independent claim.
[0056] As mentioned in the foregoing, the tool (100) of the present invention is universal, in the sense that it is versatile in enabling an operator to work and carry out the maintenance operations on a ski with the bindings already mounted at any distance or size without any need to carry out adjustments, demounting or mounting of parts, for example on skis having bindings for Alpine skiing, and on skis on which the bindings are yet to be predisposed or the existing bindings replaced.
[0057] For this purpose, the tool (100) is such that the hooking means (3) of the ski comprise a first hooking block (31) which is predisposed in a given position on the frame (2), conformed complementarily to a toe-piece (8) of a ski binding for Alpine skiing (or for skis that are to be used in other disciplines) predisposed on a ski (S) on which maintenance operations are to be carried out, so that the toe-piece (8) can hook to the first hooking block (31), and a second hooking block (32), predisposed on the frame (2) in such a way as to be able to translate with respect thereto into various positions and at various distances from the first hooking block (31), which is conformed complementarily to a heel-piece (9) of an attachment for a ski or for Alpine skiing (or another discipline) predisposed on the ski (S).
[0058] For example, the first hooking block (31) can be fixed in a predetermined position on the head (22) of the frame (2), while the second hooking block (32) can be inserted slidably in a gully (38) present in the head (22) so as to be nearable to or distanceable from the first hooking block (31) with the aim of automatically adapting to the distance present between the toe-piece (8) and the heel-piece (9) predisposed on the ski.
[0059] In particular, in the preferred but not exclusive embodiment illustrated (see figure 4), the second hooking block (32) can be maintained in a predetermined position of maximum distance from the first hooking block (31) by means of the pulling action of a traction spring (35), for example corresponding to a maximum distance at which the bindings can be mounted on the skis.
[0060] At the moment of engaging the ski to the frame (2), the heel-piece (9) present on the ski is engaged to the second hooking block (32) and the ski is translated towards the first hooking block (31) so that the relative toe-piece (8) becomes positioned above and at the first block (31): during this translation of the ski the second hooking block (32) engaged to the heel-piece (9) translates into the relative gulley (38), extending the traction spring (35) so as to automatically adjust to the effective distance present between the heel-piece (9) and the toe-piece (8) mounted on the ski.
[0061] Having reached this position, it will be sufficient to engage the toe-piece (8) of the ski to the first hooking block (31) for completing the blocking of the ski to the frame (2).
[0062] The tool (100) is further such that the above-cited hooking means (4) of the ski (S) also comprise at least a pair of jaws, preferably two pairs of jaws (43, 44) (as illustrated for example in the figures) which are predisposed on the frame 2) so as to be positionable in a lower non-operating position (I) (see figures 1, 5), so as to enable the engaging of a ski to the frame by means of the bindings present on the ski (use of the first and second hooking block) and a raised operating position (O) (see figures 9A, 10A), at which they can be opened and locked with respect to one another in order to hook and block skis (S1, S2) of different widths to the frame (1).
[0063] The tool (100), as previously mentioned, can also be predisposed, in a possible variant, with hooking and blocking means of the ski, comprising only the pairs of jaws, without the two hooking blocks for engaging with the ski bindings included on the ski.
[0064] In particular, a particularly significant characteristic of the tool (100) of the present invention consists in the special conformation of the pairs of jaws (43, 44).
[0065] Each jaw (43, 44) has a Y-shaped, or tuning fork, conformation, with a body constrained to the frame rotatably about a transversal axis to the frame so that each jaw can be placed in the above-mentioned lowered position (I) and in the raised position (O), and two arms or legs predisposed for contacting and abutting a lateral portion of a ski which is to be engaged to the tool.
[0066] In greater detail, the body of each jaw (43, 44) comprises a through-hole (430, 440) destined to be utilized by plugs (431, 441) located laterally on the frame at different heights, so that when the through-hole (430, 440) of the body of the jaw is inserted in the highest plug (431), the jaw is in the lowered position (I) (see for example figure 5), and when the hole of the jaw is inserted in the lower plug (441), the jaw is positioned in the raised position (O) (see figures 9A, 10A).
[0067] For example, when the pairs of jaws (43, 44) are positioned in the lower non-operating position (I), the tool (100) can be used for carrying out work and maintenance operations on skis having bindings that are already predisposed, using the first hooking block (31) and the second hooking block (32) for engaging the bindings present on the skis.
[0068] When the pair of jaws (43, 44) are positioned in the raised operating position (O), the tool (100) can be used for carrying out the working operations on skis on which the bindings are to be mounted, or the existing bindings replaced, or also for clamping skis on which the relative bindings are already predisposed.
[0069] The pairs of jaws (43, 44) are configured and predisposed to lock at different degrees of locking so as to be able to clamp and block skis (S1, S2) of different width (see for example figures 9B and 10B).
[0070] In this regard, for each pair of jaws, the tool (100) comprises a transversal screw (48) which inserts, with a right-handed thread, in a jaw and inserts, with a left-handed thread, in the other jaw, with the interposing of a spring (49), in particular the transversal screw (48) crosses threaded holes present in the body of the two jaws.
[0071] In this way, as is visible in figures 9B and 10B, the jaws can be opened and/or locked to one another by varying only the distance between the relative arms as the relative body is constrained by means of the hole in the plug present laterally to the frame.
[0072] Consequently, and advantageously, the jaws can adapt, during the locking step against the ski, by flexing in a case where the sides of the ski are not perfectly parallel to one another, but for example have a conical or concave or convex development.
[0073] Further, the upper part of the two arms of each jaw is conformed as a sort of series of steps, i.e. it enables the jaws to adapt to the particular type or conformation of the ski, in the case that they have different values of width along the length thereof.
[0074] The upper part of the arms of the jaws is advantageously clad with a suitable anti-abrasion or anti-scratch material.
[0075] Lastly, a further particularity of the tool of the invention consists in the fact that it also comprises at least a pair of rest arms (41, 42) that are predisposed on the frame (2) so as to be able to assume various angular orientations with respect to the frame (2) so that ends thereof, provided with rollers (R), can be located at different heights with respect to the frame (2), with the aim of providing a rest for the ski when it is hooked and blocked to the hooking means, for example, in a possible use, when the ski is clamped and locked between the pair of jaws (43, 44) (see for example in particular figures 9A and 9B).
[0076] For example, as is clearly visible in the preferred but not exclusive embodiment illustrated in the figures, each arm (41, 42) comprises at least a slot (410) with saw-tooth seatings which is inserted in the pins or plugs (420) present laterally of the frame (2): in this way, by changing the relative position of the sawtooth seatings with respect to pins or plugs (420) it is possible to change the angular position of the rest arms (41, 42) with respect to the frame (2), and thus vary both the height of the rollers (R) relative to the frame (2) and the distance thereof from the hooking means (jaws, and/or hooking blocks) of the ski.
[0077] In this way, when the ski is engaged to the frame (either because it is engaged by means of the relative bindings to the first and second hooking block or because it is clamped between the pairs of jaws), it goes to rest on the rollers of the support arms which automatically adjust the position thereof with respect to the frame via the different positioning of the pins with respect to the saw-tooth seatings of the slot.
1. A ski maintenance tool (100), characterised in that it comprises:
- a support structure (1) predisposed to be arranged resting and/or fixed to a work plane;
- a frame (2);
- hooking means (3, 4) predisposed on the frame (2) and configured so as to hook and block a ski (S) with respect to the frame (2);
the frame (2) being hinged to the support structure (1) according to a hinge axis (A), so that the frame (2) can be made to rotate with respect to the support structure (1) about the hinge axis (A), and in that it comprises removable blocking means (5), for blocking/unblocking the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1), the removable blocking means (5) being configured so as to unblock the frame (2) from the support structure (1) in order to enable rotation of the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1) about the relative hinge axis (A) so as to be able to angularly orientate the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1) and thus arrange the ski (S) in various orientations with respect to the work plane, and such as to block the frame (2) to the support structure (1) in order to block and maintain the angular position of the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1) and thus block the ski (S) in a relative orientation with respect to the work plane in order to enable an operator to carry out a corresponding maintenance operation on the ski (S).2. The tool of claim 1, characterised in that the support structure (1) comprises a base (11), for resting and/or fixing to a work
plane, and two uprights (12, 13), the frame (2) comprising a body (21) which is hinged
to the two uprights (12, 13) according to the hinge axis (A), and a head (22) on which
the hooking means (3, 4) are predisposed for hooking and blocking a ski (S) with respect
to the frame (2), the removable blocking means (5) being configured and predisposed
to unblock/block the body (21) of the frame (2) with respect to the two uprights (12,
13) of the support structure (1), so as to unblock the body (21) of the frame (2)
with respect to the uprights (12, 13) and enable rotation of the frame (2) with respect
to the support structure (1) about the relative hinge axis (A), so as to be able to
angularly orientate the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1) and therefore
arrange the ski (S) in different orientations with respect to the work plane, and
in order to block the body (21) of the frame (2) with respect to the uprights (12,
13), to block and maintain the angular position obtained by the frame (2) with respect
to the support structure (1) and thus block the ski (S) in a relative orientation
with respect to the work plane.
3. The tool of the preceding claim, characterised in that the two uprights (12, 13) of the support structure (1) each comprise a relative hole
(120, 130), the body (21) of the frame (2) comprising two cylindrical members (24,
25) and being predisposed between the two uprights (12, 13) of the support structure
(1) so that the two cylindrical members (24, 25) are inserted rotatably in the holes
(120, 130) of the uprights (12, 13), identifying the hinge axis (A) of the frame (2)
with respect to the support structure (1), and in that the removable blocking means (5) are configured and predisposed for unblocking/blocking
the two cylindrical members (24, 25) with respect to the uprights (12, 13).
4. The tool of the preceding claim, characterised in that the two cylindrical members (24, 25) of the body (21) of the frame (2) are inserted
in the holes (120, 130) of the two uprights (12, 13) of the support structure (1)
rotatably and in such a way as to be able to translate axially along the hinge axis
(A) and in that the removable blocking means (5) are configured and predisposed so as to be activatable
in order to translate the cylindrical members (24, 25), and therefore the body (21)
of the frame (2), with respect to the holes (120, 130) of the uprights (12, 13) at
least between a first blocking position (P1) of the cylindrical members (24, 25),
wherein the cylindrical members (24, 25) are non-rotatably blocked to the uprights
(12, 13), and a second unblocking position (P2) of the cylindrical members (24, 25),
in which the cylindrical members (24, 25) are freely rotatable in the holes (120,
130) according to the hinge axis (A) in order to enable rotation of the frame (2)
with respect to the support structure (1) about the relative hinge axis (A).
5. The tool of the preceding claim, characterised in that the blocking means (5) comprise: a connecting member (50) predisposed on a first
cylindrical member (24) of the two cylindrical members (24, 25) of the body (21) of
the frame (2) so as to project from the hole (120) of the upright (12) in which the
first cylindrical member (24) is inserted; a lever (L), which is connected and hinged
to the connecting member (50); a spring (52), which is predisposed between the first
cylindrical member (24) and the walls of the hole (120) in which the first cylindrical
member (24) is inserted; a first anti-rotation coupling profiled member (54), predisposed
on the upright (12) in proximity of the hole (120) and a second anti-rotation coupling
profiled member (55), complementary to the first coupling profiled member (54), predisposed
on the body (240) of the first cylindrical member (24), the lever (L) being actionable,
so that it can be rotated with respect to the connecting member (50), between a first
position (L1), in which it pulls the first connecting member (50), and therefore the
first cylindrical member (24), with respect to the hole (120) so that the spring (52)
is compressed and the first coupling profiled member (54) and the second coupling
profiled member (55) are coupled to one another so that the cylindrical members (24,
25) are in the first blocking position (P1), in which the cylindrical members (24,
25) are blocked to the uprights (12, 13) with no possibility of rotation, in order
to block the position of the frame (2) with respect to the support structure (1),
and a second position (L2) in which the lever (L) releases the connecting member (50)
with respect to the upright (12) so as to enable the spring (52) to push the first
cylindrical member (24) and translate it with respect to the hole (120) so that the
first coupling profiled member (54) and the second coupling profiled member (55) decouple
from one another so that the cylindrical members (24, 25) move into the second unblocking
position (P2) thereof in which they are freely rotatable in the holes (120, 130) according
to the hinge axis (A), so as to be able to angularly orientate the frame (2) with
respect to the support structure (1) and therefore arrange the ski (S) in different
orientations with respect to the work plane.
6. The tool of any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the hooking means (3) of the ski comprise a first hooking block (31) predisposed
in a given position on the frame (2), conformed complementarily to a toe-piece (8)
of a ski binding for skis or for Alpine skiing predisposed on a ski (S) on which maintenance
operations are to be carried out, so that the toe-piece (8) can hook to the first
hooking block (31), and a second hooking block (32), predisposed on the frame (2)
in such a way as to be able to translate with respect thereto into various positions
and at various distances from the first hooking block (31), which is conformed complementarily
to a heel-piece (9) of a ski binding for skis or for Alpine skiing predisposed on
the ski (S).
7. The tool of any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the hooking means (4) of the ski comprise at least a pair of jaws (43, 44) predisposed
on the frame (2) so as to be positionable in a lower non-operating position (I), and
a raised operating position (O) at which they can be opened and locked with respect
to one another in order to hook and block skis (S1, S2) of different widths to the
frame (2).
8. The tool of any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises at least a pair of rest arms (41, 42) predisposed on the frame (2) so
as to be able to assume various angular orientations with respect to the frame (2)
so that ends thereof, provided with rollers (R), can be located at different heights
with respect to the frame (2), with the aim of providing a rest for the ski when it
is hooked and blocked to the hooking means.