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(11) | EP 0 114 861 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
SELF-SUSTAINING WATER SKI EIGENGESTÜTZTER WASSERSKI SKI NAUTIQUE AUTO-PORTANT |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] The invention relates to a self-supporting water ski, comprising an inflatable generally cigar-shaped float of flexible sheet material enclosing a single air chamber, the air chamber surrounding a foot receiving chamber which is accessible from the upper side of the float and has flexible walls and a flexible bottom portion as well as a flange surrounding the access opening and being connected to an upper portion of the float; the flexible walls of the foot receiving chamber in the inflated condition of the float bulging inward to hold the ankle of a user, the water ski further comprising a footboard.
[0002] Such a water ski is known from GB-A-1044899. The known water ski has a footboard extending under and beyond the bottom portion of the foot receiving chamber and lying on the bottom sheet of the inflatable float. This footboard therefore is sandwiched partly between the bottom portion of the foot receiving chamber and the bottom sheet of the float, and simultaneously acts as a kind of stiffening member, though both ends of the footboard are pivotally connected to the middle part of the footboard. Because of its location the footboard of the known water ski cannot be easily bonded in a reliable manner to the bottom portion of the foot receiving chamber nor to the bottom sheet of the float. Also the known footboard does not provide for any protection of the bottom sheet of the float.
[0003] The present invention has as an object to provide an improved self-supporting water ski, wherein the drawbacks of the known water ski have been avoided, and more generally envisions a safe and reliable self-supporting water ski of a relatively simple construction.
[0004] Therefore, according to the present invention a self-supporting water ski of the type described above is characterized in that the bottom portion of the foot receiving chamber at least around its circumference is connected directly to the inside surface of a bottom portion of the float; that the footboard is placed on the bottom portion of the foot receiving chamber and has substantially the same dimensions as the bottom portion of the foot receiving chamber; and that on the underside of the float at least two parallel stiffening members extending in the longitudinal direction of the float are connected to the float by means of eyes affixed at the exterior to the bottom portion of the float, the distance between the at least two stiffening members being such thatthe weight of the user via the footboard is transmitted to the at least two stiffening members.
[0005] In one embodiment of the present invention the self-supporting water ski is further characterized in that the bottom portion of the foot receiving chamber is formed by an inwardly extending flange connected to the inside surface of the bottom portion of the float.
[0006] In a further embodiment of the present invention the self-supporting water ski is further characterized in thatthe longitudinal sidewalls of the foot receiving chamber in the inflated condition of the float abut each other over a substantial portion of the height of said walls.
[0007] It is observed that in FR-A-996251 a self-supporting water ski is disclosed which does have on its underside longitudinal stiffening members. However this known water ski comprises separate front and rear floats, between which a foot entry space is formed having vertical walls extending a considerable distance above the upper level of the air chambers. Thus this known water ski is of a rather different type. Also, because of the separate floats, stiffening members connecting and keeping in line the floats, are also needed at the top surface of the water ski. The footboard of this known water ski is slidably carried by the bottom stiffening members and therefore in use could glide fore and aft, which is rather impractical.
[0008] The invention will now further be explained with reference to the accompanying drawing of one embodiment of the invention.
[0009]
Fig. 1 is a top view of a self-supporting water ski having a foot entry space according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the self-supporting water ski; and
Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line III-III of Fig. 2.
[0010] The drawing shows a self-supporting water ski comprising an inflatable float 3 having an incorporated foot receiving chamber 6, which is accessible from the top of the float. The foot receiving chamber has flexible walls 2, which along the top edge portion thereof are fixedly connected all around to the upper part of the float. The foot receiving chamber further has a bottom portion which is bonded to the bottom of the float.
[0012] However, it is also possible to omit the central portion of said bottom, reckoned from a given distance to the two sides. Care should be taken then that the distance to the two sides is sufficient to guarantee a proper attachment, e.g. by glueing, of the foot receiving chamber to the bottom portion of the float.
[0013] As may be seen from the drawings the walls of the foot receiving chamber are surrounded by the single air chamber of the float and therefore in the inflated condition of the float will bulge inwardly so that the foot and ankle of the user are firmly retained in place, but on the other hand can be easily withdrawn.
[0014] In the shown embodiment the walls of the foot receiving chamber in the inflated condition of the float are in longitudinal abutment against each other over a substantial portion of their height, while receding relatively to each other towards the bottom portion of the foot receiving chamber. Thus in use the foot and ankle of the user will be entirely surrounded and gripped by the walls of the foot receiving chamber.
[0015] As shown in Fig. 3 a footboard (1) is placed in the foot receiving chamber on the bottom thereof.
[0016] At the underside of the float stiffening members (4), extending in the longitudinal direction of the float, have been provided. The stiffening members may have the form of rods, sticks, tubes or laths. Two or more stiffening members may be used. In the shown embodiment the stiffening members are tubes, which are inserted through eyes 5 affixed to the exterior of the bottom portion of the float. The eyes 5 as well as the rest of the float preferably are made of synthetic plastics material.
[0018] The location of the eyes 5, and therefore of the stiffening members 4, is chosen in such manner, that the weight of the user will be directly transferred onto the stiffening members via the footboard 1.
[0019] The substantial advantage of this attachment construction according to the invention is that now there is obtained not only a proper stiffening in longitudinal direction of the float, but also damage to the bottom of the float is avoided. In this manner, the risk of leakage is minimized. True, the stiffening members and the synthetic plastics eyes may be damaged when the skier walks over land or touches the ground in skiing over the water, but these parts are much less vulnerable than the inflatable float body.
1. A self-supporting water ski, comprising an inflatable generally cigar-shaped float
(3) of flexible sheet material enclosing a single air chamber, the air chamber surrounding
a foot receiving chamber (6) which is accessible from the upper side of the float
and has flexible walls (2) and a flexible bottom portion as well as a flange surrounding
the access opening and being connected to an upper portion of the float; the flexible
walls (2) of the foot receiving chamber (6) in the inflated condition of the float
bulging inward to hold the ankle of a user, the water ski further comprising a footboard
(1), characterized in that the bottom portion of the foot receiving chamber (6) at
least around its circumference is connected directly to the inside surface of a bottom
portion of the float (3); that the footboard (1) is placed on the bottom portion of
the foot receiving chamber (6) and has substantially the same dimensions as the bottom
portion of the foot receiving chamber (6); and that on the underside of the float
(3) at least two parallel stiffening members (4) extending in the longitudinal direction
of the float (3) are connected to the float (3) by means of eyes (5) affixed at the
exterior to the bottom portion of the float, the distance between the at least two
stiffening members (4) being such that the weight of the user via the footboard (1)
is transmitted to the at least two stiffening members (4).
2. A self-supporting water ski according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom
portion of the foot receiving chamber (6) is formed by an inwardly extending flange
connected to the inside surface of the bottom portion of the float (3).
3. A self-supporting water ski according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the
longitudinal side walls (2) of the foot receiving chamber (6) in the inflated condition
of the float (3) abut each other over a substantial portion of the height of said
walls.
1. Eigengestützter Wasserski, der einen aufblas: baren im wesentlichen zigarrenförmigen Schwimmer (3) aus flexiblem bahnförmigen Material
aufweist, der eine einzige Luftkammer umschließt, die eine einen Fuß umschließende
Kammer (6) umgibt, die von der oberen Seite des Schwimmers zugänglich ist und flexible
Wandungen (2) und einen flexiblen Bodenbereich sowie. einen Flansch aufweist, der
die Zugriffsöffnung umgibt und mit einem oberen Bereich des Schwimmers verbunden ist,
wobei die flexiblen Wände (2) der den Fuß aufnehmenden Kammer (6) im aufgeblasenen
Zustand des Schwimmers sich nach innen wölben, um den Knöchel eines Benutzers festzuhalten,
wobei der Wasserski weiterhin eine Fußplatte (1) aufweist, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß der Bodenbereich, der den Fuß aufnehmenden Kammer (6) wenigstens an seinem Umfang
direkt mit der innenseitigen Oberfläche des Bodenbereichs des Schwimmers (3) verbunden
ist; daß die Fußplatte (1) am Bodenbereich der den Fuß aufnehmenden Kammer (6) angeordnet
ist und im wesentlichen die gleichen Abmessungen wie der Bodenbereich der den Fuß
aufnehmenden Kammer (6) aufweist; und daß an der Unterseite des Schwimmers (3) wenigstens
zwei parallele Versteifungsteile (4) angeordnet sind, die sich in Längsrichtung des
Schwimmers (3) erstrecken und mit dem Schwimmer (3) vermittels von Ösen (5) verbunden
sind, die an der Außenseite des Bodenteils des Schwimmers befestigt sind, wobei der
Abstand zwischen den beiden Versteifungsteilen (4) derart ist, daß die Gewichtskraft
des Benutzers über die Fußplatte (1) auf die beiden Versteifungsteile (4) geleitet
wird.
2. Eigengestützter Wasserski nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Bodenbereich
der den Fuß aufnehmenden Kammer (6) durch einen nach innen vorstehenden Flansch gebildet
ist, der mit der innenseitigen Oberfläche des Bodenteils des Schwimmers (3) verbunden
ist.
3. Eigengestützter Wasserski nach einem der Ansprüche 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Längsseitenwände (2) der den Fuß aufnehmenden Kammer (6) im aufgeblasenen
Zustand des Schwimmers (3) jeweils über einen wesentlichen Teil der Höhe der Seitenwände
aneinanderliegen.
1. Un ski nautique auto-porteur, comportant un flotteur gonflable généralement en
forme de cigare (3) en matériau feuille souple enfermant une chambre à air unitaire,
la chambre à air entourant un chambrage de réception de pied (6) qui est accessible
à partir du dessus du flotteur et comporte des parois souples (2) et une partie de
fond souple ainsi qu'un rebord entourant l'ouverture d'accès et étant relié à une
partie de dessus du flotteur; les parois souples (2) du chambrage de réception de
pied (6), dans la condition gonflée du flotteur, faisant renflement vers l'intérieur
pour maintenir la cheville d'un utilisateur, le ski nautique comprenant en outre un
repose-pied (1), et étant caractérisé: en ce que la partie de fond du chambrage de
réception de pied (6) est tout au moins autour de sa circonférence reliée directement
à la surface intérieure d'une partie de fond du flotteur (3); en ce que le repose-pied
(1) est placé sur la partie de fond du chambrage de réception de pied (6) et a rigoureusement
les mêmes dimensions que la partie de fond du chambrage de réception de pied (6);
et en ce que sur le côté de dessous du flotteur (3), au moins deux éléments de renforcement
parallèles (4) s'étendant dans la direction longitudinale du flotteur (3) sont reliés
au flotteur (3) au moyen d'oeillets (5) fixés à l'extérieur sur la partie de fond
du flotteur, la distance entre les deux éléments de renforcement (4) au moins étant
prévue de façon que le poids de l'utilisateur s'appliquant via le repose-pied (1)
soit transmis sur les deux éléments de renforcement (4) au moins.
2. Un ski nautique auto-porteur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la
partie de fond du chambrage de réception de pied (6) est formée par un rebord s'étendant
vers l'intérieur relié à la surface intérieure de la partie de fond du flotteur (3).
3. Un ski nautique auto-porteur selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que
les parois latérales longitudinales (2) du chambrage de réception de pied (6), dans
la condition gonflée du flotteur (3), viennent en butée l'une contre l'autre sur au
moins une partie essentielle de la hauteur des dites parois.