A ski having a stabilizing section, a pair of skis and a stabilization device

Abstract

A ski has an upwardly rising front tip, a rear tail, and a midsection extending along a longitudinal axis of the ski between the front tip and the rear tail, the midsection including a waist section adapted for mounting a binding thereon. At least one stabilizing section is located between the front tip and the waist section or between the waist section and the rear tail. The at least one stabilizing section is offset from the longitudinal axis of the ski toward a first side of the ski. The stabilizing section may offset, toward and inside or an outside of the ski, a center of mass, a level of stiffness, or a damping effect of the stabilizing section. A pair of skis comprises such left and right skis. A stabilization device may be mounted on an ordinary ski.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ski, comprising:
 an upwardly rising front tip;   a rear tail; and   a midsection extending along a longitudinal axis of the ski between the front tip and the rear tail, the midsection including:
 a waist section adapted for mounting a binding thereon, and 
 at least one stabilizing section located between the front tip and the waist section or between the waist section and the rear tail, the at least one stabilizing section being offset from the longitudinal axis of the ski toward a first side of the ski. 
   
     
     
         2 . The ski of  claim 1 , wherein the first side of the ski is an inside of the ski. 
     
     
         3 . The ski of  claim 1 , wherein the first side of the ski is an outside of the ski. 
     
     
         4 . The ski of claim any one of  claims 1 to 3 , wherein the at least one stabilizing section has a center of mass offset from the longitudinal axis of the ski toward the first side of the ski. 
     
     
         5 . The ski of  claim 4 , wherein:
 a composition of a portion of the at least one stabilizing section near a second side opposite from the first side of the ski shares a structure and composition of a major part of the midsection; and   a composition of a portion of the at least one stabilizing section near the first side of the ski is denser than the composition of the major part of the midsection.   
     
     
         6 . The ski of  claim 5 , wherein a ballast is inserted in the portion of the at least one stabilizing section near the first side of the ski. 
     
     
         7 . The ski of  claim 4 , wherein:
 a composition of a portion of the at least one stabilizing section near the first side of the ski shares a structure and composition of a major part of the midsection; and   a composition of a portion of the at least one stabilizing section near a second side opposite from the first side of the ski is less dense than the composition of the major part of the midsection.   
     
     
         8 . The ski of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one stabilizing section comprises:
 a receptacle affixed on an upper face of the midsection; and   a ballast insertable in the receptacle so that the ballast is located near the first side of the ski when inserted in the receptacle.   
     
     
         9 . The ski of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the portion of the at least one stabilizing section on a second side opposite from the first side of the ski has a first thickness; and   the portion of the at least one stabilizing section on the first side of the ski has a second thickness greater than the first thickness.   
     
     
         10 . The ski of any one of  claims 4 to 9 , wherein the center of mass of each of the at least one stabilizing section is offset from the longitudinal axis of the ski toward a first side of the ski by at least 15% of a width of the ski defined in the at least one stabilizing section. 
     
     
         11 . The ski of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an outer section adjacent to the at least one stabilizing section, the outer section being offset from the longitudinal axis of the ski toward an outside of the ski;   wherein the outer section of the ski has a first stiffness; and   wherein the at least one stabilizing section has a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness.   
     
     
         12 . The ski of  claim 11 , further comprising a core which is stiffer along its inside edge than along its outside edge. 
     
     
         13 . The ski of  claim 12 , wherein the core further comprises one or more reinforcement components selected from carbon tubes and metal sheets within the at least one stabilizing section, the one of more reinforcement components being offset in relation to a longitudinal axis of the ski toward the inside edge of the ski. 
     
     
         14 . The ski of any one of  claims 11 to 13 , wherein the second stiffness is at least 15%, 30% or 50% greater than the first stiffness. 
     
     
         15 . The ski of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one stabilizing section comprises an unbalanced composite laminate layup configured to couple a bending-torsion strain behavior of the ski. 
     
     
         16 . The ski of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an outer section adjacent to the at least one stabilizing section, the outer section being offset from the longitudinal axis of the ski toward an outside of the ski;   wherein the outer section of the ski has first vibration absorption capability; and   wherein the at least one stabilizing section has second vibration absorption capability greater than the first vibration absorption capability.   
     
     
         17 . The ski of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one stabilizing section comprises a damper oriented at an angle from the longitudinal axis of the ski. 
     
     
         18 . The ski of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one stabilizing section comprises a damper selected from a tuned mass damper, a constrained layer damper, a layer of entangled crosslink fibers, a particle damper, a hydraulic damper, a magneto-rheological damper, a piezoelectric damper, an electronically actuated damper and an elastomeric damper. 
     
     
         19 . The ski of any one of  claims 1 to 18 , wherein the portion of the at least one stabilizing section on the first side of the ski extends to and reaches a lateral metallic edge of the ski. 
     
     
         20 . The ski of any one of  claims 1 to 19 , wherein the at least one stabilizing section is located between the front tip and the waist section. 
     
     
         21 . The ski of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one stabilizing section is closer to the front tip than to the waist section. 
     
     
         22 . The ski of  claim 21 , wherein a forward end of the at least one stabilizing section reaches a line of contact between the front tip and the midsection of the ski. 
     
     
         23 . The ski of any one of  claims 1 to 19 , wherein the at least one stabilizing section is located between the waist section and the rear tail of the ski. 
     
     
         24 . The ski of any one of  claims 1 to 19 , wherein the at least one stabilizing section comprises a first stabilizing section located between the front tip and the waist section of the ski and a second stabilizing section located between the waist section and the rear tail of the ski. 
     
     
         25 . A pair of skis, comprising:
 a first ski as defined in any one of claims  1  to  24 , the portion of the at least one stabilizing section on the first side of the first ski being on a right hand side of the longitudinal axis of the first ski, the first ski being configured for being worn on a left foot of the user; and   a second ski as defined in any one of claims  1  to  24 , the portion of the at least one stabilizing section on the first side of the second ski being on a left hand side of the longitudinal axis of the second ski, the second ski being configured for being worn on a right foot of the user.   
     
     
         26 . A stabilization device for use with a ski, comprising:
 a receptacle adapted for being affixed on an upper face of a midsection of a ski between a front tip and a waist section of the ski or between the waist section and a rear tail of the ski; and   a ballast insertable in an opening of the receptacle so that the ballast is located near a first side of the ski relative to a position of a user of the ski when the ballast is inserted in the receptacle.   
     
     
         27 . The stabilization device of  claim 26 , wherein the first side of the ski is an inside of the ski. 
     
     
         28 . The stabilization device of  claim 26 , wherein the first side of the ski is an outside of the ski. 
     
     
         29 . The stabilization device of any one of  claims 26 to 28 , wherein the stabilization device is a left stabilization device adapted for being mounted to a left ski, the opening of the receptacle being on a right hand side of the stabilization device relative to the position of the user of the ski. 
     
     
         30 . The stabilization device of any one of  claims 26 to 28 , wherein the stabilization device is a right stabilization device adapted for being mounted to a right ski, the opening of the receptacle being on a left hand side of the stabilization device relative to the position of the user of the ski. 
     
     
         31 . The stabilization device of any one of  claims 26 to 28 , wherein the receptacle includes a left opening and a right opening allowing insertion of the ballast on a left hand side or on a right hand side of the ski. 
     
     
         32 . The stabilization device of any one of  claims 26 to 28 , wherein the stabilization device is reversible and is adapted for mounting on any one of a left ski and a right ski. 
     
     
         33 . The stabilization device of any one of  claims 26 to 32 , wherein a weight of the ballast is selected so that a center of mass of a given portion of the ski where the stabilization device is mounted on the ski is offset from the longitudinal axis of the ski toward a first side of the ski by at least 15% of a width of the ski defined in the given portion. 
     
     
         34 . A stabilization device for use with a ski, comprising:
 a receptacle adapted for being affixed on an upper face of a midsection of a ski between a front tip and a waist section of the ski or between the waist section and a rear tail of the ski; and   a ballast fixedly mounted in the receptacle so that the ballast is located near a first side of the ski relative to a position of a user of the ski when the ballast is inserted in the receptacle.   
     
     
         35 . The stabilization device of  claim 34 , wherein the first side of the ski is an inside of the ski. 
     
     
         36 . The stabilization device of  claim 34 , wherein the first side of the ski is an outside of the ski. 
     
     
         37 . The stabilization device of any one of  claims 26 to 36 , wherein the stabilization device is adapted for mounting on a left ski. 
     
     
         38 . The stabilization device of any one of  claims 26 to 36 , wherein the stabilization device is adapted for mounting on a right ski. 
     
     
         39 . The stabilization device of any one of  claims 26 to 36 , wherein the stabilization device is reversible and is adapted for mounting on any one of a left ski and a right ski. 
     
     
         40 . The stabilization device of any one of  claims 26 to 39 , wherein a weight of the ballast is selected so that a center of mass of a given portion of the ski where the stabilization device is mounted on the ski is offset from the longitudinal axis of the ski toward a first side of the ski by at least 15% of a width of the ski defined in the given portion. 
     
     
         41 . A stabilization device for use with a ski, comprising:
 a receptacle adapted for being affixed on an upper face of a midsection of a ski between a front tip and a waist section of the ski or between the waist section and a rear tail of the ski;   a channel formed within the receptacle and extending normal to a longitudinal axis of the ski when the stabilization device is affixed on the ski, the channel having a left end positionable proximate to a left edge of the ski and a right end positionable proximate to a right edge of the ski; and   a ballast mounted in the channel, the ballast being free to move within the channel in response to angular movements of the stabilization device.   
     
     
         42 . The stabilization device of  claim 41 , wherein a weight of the ballast is selected so that a center of mass of a given portion of the ski where the stabilization device is mounted on the ski is offset from the longitudinal axis of the ski toward a first side of the ski by at least 15% of a width of the ski defined in the given portion when the ballast displaced toward the first side of the ski. 
     
     
         43 . A stabilization device for use with a ski, comprising:
 a damper adapted for being affixed on an upper face of a midsection of a ski between a front tip and a waist section of the ski or between the waist section and a rear tail of the ski;   the damper being configured for placement at an angle from a longitudinal axis of the ski.   
     
     
         44 . The stabilization device of  claim 43 , wherein the damper is selected from a tuned mass damper, a constrained layer damper, a layer of entangled crosslink fibers, a particle damper, a hydraulic damper, a magneto-rheological damper, a piezoelectric damper, an electronically actuated damper and an elastomeric damper. 
     
     
         45 . A stabilization device for use with a ski, comprising:
 a reinforcement plate adapted for being affixed on an upper face of a midsection of a ski between a front tip and a waist section of the ski or between the waist section and a rear tail of the ski;   the reinforcement plate having a first section on a first side of the plate defined along a longitudinal axis of the ski, the first section having a first stiffness; and   the reinforcement plate having a second section on a second side of the plate opposite from the first side, the second section having second stiffness greater than the first stiffness.