Wax capsule and waxing device for a runner that glides over snow

Abstract

A capsule for containing wax to be applied to a surface of a runner that is adapted to glide over snow, and to a waxing device including the capsule. The capsule includes a compartment for containing wax and heat conduction device for heating the wax to a melting temperature. The compartment includes an application surface that is permeable or perforated or adapted to be perforated, to allow molten wax to exit the compartment via one or more perforations or pores, to apply the molten wax to the surface of the runner.

1 . A capsule for containing wax to be applied to a surface of a runner that is adapted to glide over snow, said capsule comprising:
 a compartment for containing wax; and   heat conduction means for heating the wax to a melting temperature;   
       wherein said compartment comprises an application surface that is permeable or perforated or adapted to be perforated, to allow molten wax to exit the compartment via one or more perforations or pores, to apply said molten wax to said surface of said runner. 
     
     
         2 . The capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule further comprises a wiper which is adapted to conform to the surface of the runner, and to push excess wax applied to the surface of the runner in a direction of movement of the capsule relative to the surface of the runner. 
     
     
         3 . The capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the heat conduction means comprises one or more electrical heating wires arranged along the application surface of the compartment, wherein preferably the electrical heating wires are arranged on an inner side of the compartment for containing wax. 
     
     
         4 . The capsule of  claim 1 , further comprising attachment means for attaching the capsule to a waxing device and/or identification means for allowing the capsule to be identified by the waxing device. 
     
     
         5 . The capsule of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor selected from the following: a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the wax, an ambient temperature sensor for sensing an ambient temperature, and/or a humidity sensor for sensing an ambient humidity. 
     
     
         6 . The capsule of  claim 1 , further comprising a portion of wax that is contained in the compartment, wherein a composition of the portion of wax preferably corresponds to an identity of the capsule. 
     
     
         7 . A waxing device for applying wax to a surface of a runner that is adapted to glide over snow, said waxing device comprising a housing adapted to removably receive a capsule according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         8 . The waxing device of  claim 7 , further comprising clamping means for clamping the capsule to the housing, said clamping means preferably comprising a hinged frame. 
     
     
         9 . The waxing device of  claim 8 , wherein the clamping means of the waxing device are complimentary to a latching means of the hinged frame. 
     
     
         10 . The waxing device of  claim 7 , further comprising a biasing means that is adapted to apply a force to an upper portion of the compartment of the capsule when the capsule is received in the housing, said upper portion of the compartment of the capsule being located opposite the application surface of the compartment of the capsule, wherein preferably the force applied to the upper portion of the compartment of the capsule biases the wax contained within the compartment toward the application surface. 
     
     
         11 . The waxing device of  claim 7 , further comprising perforating means for perforating the application surface of the capsule when the capsule is first attached to the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The waxing device of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one of the following:
 contact means for supplying energy to the heat conduction means of the capsule;   communication means for reading a sensor provided with the capsule and/or for reading an identification means of the capsule in order to identify the capsule;   a controller for controlling the energy supplied to the heat conduction means of the capsule depending on a sensed temperature or humidity received from the capsule and/or based on the identification of the capsule;   an interface comprising:
 a display for displaying a status of the waxing device, and/or 
 a port for connecting the waxing device to another computing device; 
   an energy input for connecting the waxing device to an energy source; and/or   at least one sensor selected from the following: a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the wax contained within the removable capsule, an ambient temperature sensor for sensing an ambient temperature, and/or a humidity sensor for sensing an ambient humidity.   
     
     
         13 . The waxing device of  claim 7 , further comprising a switch for activating the heat conduction means of the capsule. 
     
     
         14 . The waxing device of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the switch is manually pressed, or   wherein the switch is located at a position on the waxing device such that the switch is automatically pressed as a result of a proximity between the waxing device and the surface of the runner to which wax is to be applied.   
     
     
         15 . A method for applying wax to a surface of a runner that is adapted to glide over snow, said method comprising:
 inserting a removable capsule according to  claim 1  into a waxing device;   heating the wax to a melting temperature; and   moving the waxing device along the length of the runner so as to apply molten wax to the surface of the runner.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising a selecting step prior to the inserting step, said selecting step comprising selecting the removable capsule based on an air temperature, a snow temperature, an air humidity, and/or a geographic location, wherein the step of heating the wax to a melting temperature is preferably carried out by determining the melting temperature based on a type of wax contained in the removable capsule that was selected in the selecting step.