| 摘要 |
A control system for downhill skis enables effective, continuous control of ski-to-surface resistance, to accommodate changing steepness and other conditions during a downhill ski run. Controllably positionable brake elements are mounted on the skis, centrally between the side edges thereof. Positioning motors are mounted on each ski and are operable to controllably project or retract the brake elements relative to the ski bottoms, continuously or in finite increments, allowing the skier to maintain a safe and comfortable skiing experience over almost any ski slope under a wide variety of ski conditions. The braking elements, preferably blade-like and oriented at right angles to the ski axis, are positioned close to the skier's feet, allowing the skis to be easily controlled in turns and other maneuvers. A spring-loaded, hinged mounting arrangement allows the mechanisms to momentarily pivot to retracted positions whenever the braking elements engage a rock or other immovable object. |
| 主权项 |
1. A ski brake for mounting on a ski, where the ski comprises a generally flat, elongated member having a bottom surface slidable over snow, a top surface, and opposite side edges, said snow brake comprising
a base member mountable on the ski and having a first, downwardly projecting portion of a size and shape to be received in a recess in the ski, said base member further having a second portion arranged to be secured to and supported by the upper surface of the ski, a motor housing pivotally connect at a forward side thereof to a forward side of said base member for pivoting movement about a transverse axis with respect to said base member, said motor housing having a downwardly projecting guide member, said base member having a through opening therein of a size and shape to receive said downwardly projecting guide member, said downwardly projecting guide member having a transversely elongated and downwardly disposed guide recess therein open at a bottom of said guide member, a snow-engaging braking element received within said downwardly disposed recess for guided upward-downward movement therein, a battery-operated, position-controllable motor mounted in said motor housing and engaged with said braking element for controllably moving said braking element between a fully retracted position, in which a lower end of said braking element is positioned to be substantially flush with the bottom surface of said ski, and a fully extended position in which said braking element is projected a predetermined distance below said bottom surface, and one or more resilient elements tending to retain said motor housing in a predetermined operational position, enabling said braking element to be projected below the bottom surface of said ski, said one or more resilient elements accommodating upward pivoting movement of said motor housing and upward and rearward pivoting movement of a projected braking element in response to engagement of the braking element with a fixed object or other condition creating excessive resistance to forward movement of said braking element. |
