Interface device between a ski and the elements for retaining a boot on the ski, and the ski therefor

Abstract

A ski equipped with an interface device having a plate that is kept raised above the upper surface of the ski with a front portion, a rear portion, and a non-extensible linkage. The ski has in its middle sliding skid zone a zone where its two lateral side edges are substantially parallel, each of the portions of the plate being connected to the ski via two lower wings that extend beneath the plate, both wings being pressed against the lateral side edges of the ski, and each wing being fixed to the ski via a single binding journal element. The invention also is directed to an interface device and a ski considered separately.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A ski comprising: 
 a middle sliding zone;    opposite lateral sides extending in said middle sliding zone;    at least one recess positioned in each of said lateral sides, at least said recesses on said opposite lateral sides defining substantially parallel upwardly extending bottom surfaces;    at least two openings in each of said lateral sides extending through at least one of said bottom surfaces for respective binding journal elements, said two openings in each of said lateral sides being spaced apart by a distance to set back said two openings from ends of a boot to be supported on the ski.    
     
     
         2 . A ski according to    claim 1   , wherein: 
 said at least two openings comprises two series of openings in each of said lateral sides, all of said openings of said two series of openings in each of said lateral sides being spaced apart less than the length of the boot to be affixed to the ski.    
     
     
         3 . A ski according to    claim 1   , wherein: 
 the ski further comprises at least one upper surface;    said openings in said lateral sides of the ski are made during manufacture of the ski, said openings being positioned for connection to a device for mounting the boot to the ski, no connection openings extending through any of said at least one upper surface of the ski.    
     
     
         4 . A ski according to    claim 1   , wherein: 
 each of said opposite lateral sides has a determinate height in said middle sliding zone of the ski;    each of said bottom surfaces of said recesses has a height extending along more than a majority of said determinate height of said opposite lateral sides of the ski.    
     
     
         5 . A ski according to    claim 1   , wherein: 
 the ski further comprises a neutral plane;    said openings are centered in the vicinity of or along said neutral plane of the ski.    
     
     
         6 . A ski according to    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 inserts positioned in respective ones of said at least two openings in each of said lateral sides to receive respective binding journal elements therein, respective pairs of said openings on opposite lateral sides being aligned.    
     
     
         7 . A ski according to    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 a single insert extending transversely through the ski, from one of said openings in one of said opposite lateral sides of the ski to a second of said openings in a second of said opposite lateral sides of the ski.    
     
     
         8 . A ski according to    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 a first insert extending transversely through one of said openings in one of said opposite lateral sides of the ski;    a second insert extending transversely through a second of said openings in a second of said opposite lateral sides of the ski;    said first and second inserts being in alignment to define horizontal and transverse journal axis.    
     
     
         9 . A ski according to    claim 6   , further comprising: 
 at least one upper ski reinforcement layer having a lower surface;    wherein said inserts are flush with said lower surface of said at least one reinforcement layer.    
     
     
         10 . A ski according to    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 at least one lower ski reinforcement layer;    a localized reinforcement in said middle sliding zone of the ski, said localized reinforcement being integrated into the structure of said ski supported on said lower ski reinforcement layer, said localized reinforcement being provided to receive a binding journal element.    
     
     
         11 . A ski according to    claim 1   , wherein: 
 two clamps are attached and affixed onto the ski, said clamps having lateral sides extending down along said lateral sides of the ski, and being provided to receive binding journal elements.    
     
     
         12 . A ski according to    claim 1   , wherein: 
 at least one of said openings is oblong.    
     
     
         13 . A ski according to    claim 1   , having two lateral side edges, wherein the lateral side edges have two lateral recesses and wherein the openings open out on the base of these recesses.  
     
     
         14 . A ski comprising: 
 a middle sliding zone having opposite lateral sides, at least in said middle sliding zone said ski comprising a gliding sole, a lower reinforcement above said gliding sole, running edges on opposite lower sides of the ski, an outer top shell extending between said running edges, at least one upper reinforcement beneath said shell, and a core structure positioned between said upper reinforcement and said lower reinforcement;    at least one recess positioned in each of said lateral sides, at least said recesses on said opposite lateral sides defining upwardly extending bottom surfaces;    at least two openings in each of said lateral sides extending through at least one of said bottom surfaces for respective binding journal elements;    transversely extending inserts positioned in respective ones of said at least two openings to receive respective binding journal elements, said inserts positioned beneath and bearing directly on said at least one upper reinforcement.