US3159951A - Ski sharpening tool - Google Patents

Description

1964 A. P. WINBAUER 3,159,951

SKI SHARPENING TOOL Filed April 14. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

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SKI SHARPENING TOOL Filed April 14, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,159,951 ii-Kl SHARPENING TS-GL Alois P. Winhaner, 343 Heteheltown Road, Scotia 2, Ni. Filed Apr. 14, 1% der. No. 103,655 2 (Ilairns. (El. 51l79) The present invention relates to a machining tool for irregular surfaces, and more particulmly, to a tool for sharpening the edges of skis.

The continued effectiveness and consequent enjoyment of skis is to a great extent contingent on the provision and maintenance of sharp edges on the skis. The bottom surface of the ski on each side should preferably terminate in a continuous edge defined by two surfaces intersecting at substantially 90. The provision of sharp edges on skis not only supplies a very responsive biting edge into the ice and snow which makes them a more versatile sports tool but also acts as a safety feature resulting from the increased responsiveness of the skis reducing the hazard in this winter sport. 7

Recognizing the need for maintaining the sharpness of these edges, -manufacturerers of skis have modified the usual wood, plastic, and metal constructions and also laminated variations thereof by providing recessed edges on the skis adapted to receive strips which when attached to a the ski form a flange extending beyond the body of the ski. Because of the nature of material used to fabricate the strips, usually hardened steel, the ski retains its sharpness for an extended period. I

However, after any substmtial use, the need for sharpening becomes evident. From a consideration of the geometry of the skis, it is apparent that sharpening of the edges is not readily performed. Each ski is usually provided with a camber which is a refinement in ski design manifested in the edges of the ski having an undulation extending substantially the entire length thereof. The existence of such camber may be readily ascertained by visual examination and noting the variance in the ski width throughout its length.

In sharpening skis, it is also desirable to extend their useful life as long as practical by being able to grind the previously described flange a large number of times. This requires sharpening procedures which will preferably remove no more than a few thousandths of an inch of metal during each sharpening operation.

At the present time, this preferred practice is not possible because the ski edge is not straight but has the previously mentioned camber which relegates sharpening to a hand filing or grinding operation and its quality and consequent usefulness is made dependent on the skillof the individual performing the sharpening. V g f V g The chief object of the present invention'is to provide an improved machining tool for irregular surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide an proved toolfor sharpening skis V A fur her object of the invention is to provide a machining tool adapted to follow long irregular contours. V f Astill further. object of the invention is to provide a tool to sharpen the edge of a ski while following the undulating surface defined by its camber and performing this operation by removing a minimal amount of material to extend the life of the ski. g

These and other objects of my invention may be more readily perceived from the following description.

Briefly stated, the present invention is directed to a tool for sharpening the edge of skis comprising cutting means movably mountedwith respect to guide means which engage the edge of the ski to be sharpened to regulate the amount'of material removed from the skis The tool may further include means for resiliently urgingthe 3,159,951 Patented Dec. .8, 1964 guide means into engagement with the skito follow the contour of the edge.

The attached drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of. an apparatus for practicing the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a'bottom view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in plan illustrating a ski being sharpened by the apparatus shown in FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view of FIGURE 3 looking along line FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 3 taken along the line 55;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view of the bottom portion of a ski illustrating sharpening in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken through the ski in FIGURE 6 a ong the line 66; and

FIGURE 8 is a sectional View through the ski in FIG- URE 6 along the line 7-7.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 illustrates a plan view of an apparatus for practicing the present invention. The apparatus is a tool comprising a frame 2 which is generally a planar member with an opening 3 therein having a pair of parallel tracks 4 and 5 extending thereacross.

Tracks 4 and 5 are adapted to engage bearing block 6 to permit longitudinal movement of the bearing block in the frame for a purpose more fully described hereinafter.

Bearing block 6 includes a bearing construction 7 including a shaft 10 journalled therein. A grinding wheel which performs the machining, cutting, or sharpening action of the present tool may be mounted on the shaft supported by bearing construction 7. Adjacentthe other end of the shaft journalled by the bearing construction may be mounteda suitable sheave 9. Bearingblock 6 may also include a protuberance 11 having a suitable internal thread adapted to engage lead screw 12. which may be rotatably supported in the frame in a manner wherein rotation of the lead screw results in movement of bearing block 6 and consequentlinear movement of the grinding wheel 8'to another position, for example, asshown by dotted position 8. Such positioning of the grinding wheel permits adjustment of the grinding surface thereof to regulate. the amount of material removed along the ski edge during a sharpening operation. A knob 13 mounted on lead screw 12 may be provided to facilitate the movement of the grinding Wheel and, if desired, lead screw 12 may be selected in a manner'wherein each rotation of knob 13 removes a known amount of material from the skiedge,

In order to drive the grinding wheel, a drive means such as an electric motor may be connected to the grinding wheel. In the present embodiment, motor 16 is mounted on frame 2, motor 16 having a sheave output 18 .connected by belt 17 to sheave 9 on the bearing block. In this manner, a driving connection is made between the motor and the grinding wheel. Since the bearing block is movably mounted relative to the motor, belt; 17 is preferably fabricated of a elastomeric material such as rubber to maintain the desired driving connection between sheaves 9 and 18. It will be appreciated that other 'drive connections may'be'made between motor 16 and grinding 'wheel 8 'within the scope' of the present invention, for example, motor 16 may be mounted on bearing block 6.

FIGURE 21s a bottom view of the 'tool shown in FIG- URE 1 and illustrates shaft 10 upon which grinding wheel 8 is mounted. Nut 20 is provided to threadingly engaging shaft 10' and maintain the grinding wheel thereon. Two aligned pairs of gusset plates 21, 22 and 23 and and 22 being shorter than plates 23 and 24 for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter. Shaft 25 extends from plate 21 to plate 22 and rollers 28 and 29 are rotatably mounted on shaft 25.

cylindrical in shape whereas rollers 29 and 31' may have cylindrical portions 331 and 35 and flanged portions 34 and 36. a I

In sharpening a ski, it is desirable to have the edge being sharpened engage theflanged portions 34 and 36 of rollers 29 and 31 while the flatportions of the ski are engaged by rollers 28 and 30 and the cylindrical portions 33 and 35 of rollers 2:9 and 31. Since, as previously noted, the edge of the ski'undulates slightly, it is desirable to supply means to urge edge of the ski into continued contact with flanges 34 and 36.

From FIGUREZ it can be seen that flanges 34 and 36 act as guide means to determine and fix a relationship between the position of the ski edge and the grinding surface of grinding wheel 8. Biasing means 40 functions to urge the ski into engagement with flanges 34 and 36 thereby fixing the position of the ski edge with respect to the movable grinding wheel.

Biasing means 40 may comprise a housing 41 attached to the bottom side of frame 2, housing 41 having a cavity with support means for a carrier member 42 and spring 43 for resiliently urging carrier member 4-2 toward flanges 34 and 36 of rollers 29 and 31 which engage the edge of the ski being sharpened. A roller 44 may be mounted Similarly, shaft 26 6X tends between plates 23 and 24- having rollers 30 and 31 journalled on shaft 26. Rollers 2S and 34B are generally on carrier member-'42 to engage the other edge of the to permit easy movement of the tool on the ski. This function may be performed within the spirit of the invention by other positioning means such as a'planar surface.

Similarly, flanges 3d and 36 need not necessarily be mounted on rollers 31 and 29 to practice this invention. If desired, this guiding function may bersupplied by a pair of protuberances associated with frame 2 and adapted to engage the surface to be sharpened at points straddling the immediate area being sharpened.

FIGURE 3 illustrates a plan view of a ski with the tool comprising the present invention engaged in a sharpening operation. From this plan view, it can be seen that ski 50 has two edges 51 and 52, edge 51 being the edgethat is undergoing the sharpening operation. This view also illustrates the camber. of the ski in that edges 51 and 52 bow slightly inward in the middle part of the ski.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation view of the tool shown during a sharpening operation. In this view, supports 54 which attach motor 16 on frame 2 are shown. This view also shows the positioning effect of plates 24 and 23 which are longer than plates 21 and '22. Frame 2 upon which the grinding wheel supporting means is mounted becomes angularly disposed with respect to the upper surface of the ski due to the difference in plate lengths. Furthermore, the grinding wheelaxis is disposed at an acute angle to the direction oftravel of the tool during the sharpening process. .Thepurpose of this particular grinding surface, which is arcuate, grinds a planar surface andthere is an assurance that the-ski edges terminate. in

right angles. This feature also causes even wear on the grinding wheel.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the ski and tool taken through line 55 shown in FIGURE 3. In this view rollers 28 and 29 are shown riding on the flat surface of the ski with flange 34 of roller 29 engaging the edge of metal strip 55 which is being sharpened. Roller 44 ski with a minimum removal of material from the ski edge. This 7 particular feature permits the ski to be sharpened a great number of times to extend ski life.

In the sharpening operation, the tool is initially mounted on the ski with the cylindrical surfaces of rollers 28, 29, 30, and 31 engaging the flat portion of the ski. The flanges-of rollers 29 and 31 may be brought into contact with the edge of the ski to be sharpened and roller 44 of biasing means 40 may be brought into engagement with the opposite edge of the ski. Knob 13 may then be manipulated to rotate lead screw 12 which threadingly engages protuberance 11 of bearing block 6. Bearing block 6 which rides on tracks 4 and 5 may then be moved toward the This movement of the bearing block brings grinding wheel 8 into substantial engagement with the edge of the ski as is shown in FIGURE 6 which is a fragmentary plan view of the ski and a portion of grinding wheel 8. Upon Contact of the wheel with theski, motor 16 may be started. As previously mentioned, lead screw 12 may be selected in a manner that a known increment of movement is made by each rotation of knob 13. For

example, the lead screw may be selected to advance the grinding wheel two thousandths of an inch with each revolution. In this case, a two thousandths of an inch metal removal may be desired and the knob is turned one revolution.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of the ski in FIGURE 6 showing that strip 55 along edge 51 of the ski has a bottom surface 61 and an edge surface 62. In a new ski or a newly sharpened ski, these surfaces are substantially disposed at right angles and the surfaces meet along a line edge 63. In FIGURE 7, a worn edge is shown in that the meeting edge 63 is rounded. With this condition, a skier will note that the skis are not very responsive and maneuvering is difficult. Consequently, this may be deemed a safety hazard.

The ski sharpening tool may be mounted on one end of the ski and the tool may be advanced or, if desired, the ski may be advanced so that a uniform amount of material is removed from surface 62 of strip 55. The passing of grinding edge 60 across the strip 55 is shown in FIGURE 8 which is a sectionalview taken across line 7- -7 in FIGURE 6. In FIGURE 8, it can be seen that surfaces 61 and 62 terminate in a sharp right angle edge 64 which will result in the ski being more responsive in use.

The present invention is directed to a tool for generally machining long contoured surfaces and, more particularly, the edges of skis. The tool includes cutting means, guide means for engaging the surface to be sharpened and for positioning the cutting means with respect to the surface, and means for urging the guide means into contact with the surface. In the particular embodiment described,

invention, it will be appreciated that the invention may be otherwise embodied within th'escope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a tool for sharpening the edges of skis, the combination of a frame, a bearing block, a pair of tracks associated with said frame and adapted to engage said hearing block for movably supporting the bearing block on said frame, means for adjusting the position of the bear-' ing block on said frame, a grinding wheel journalled in said bearing block, motor means connected to said grinding Wheel, a pair of rollers having flanges being operatively connected to said frame, said flanges being adapted to engage the edge of the ski being machined, said tracks associated with said frame being oriented for movement of'the grinding wheel with respect to the rollers adapted to engage the edge of the ski, a third roller movably mounted with respect to said frame and adapted to engage the opposite edge of the ski and spring means for biasing the third roller into engagement with the opposite edge of References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,988,138 Peck Jan. 15, 1935 2,714,789 Peeks Aug. 9, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 3, 1958

Claims (1)

1. IN A TOOL FOR SHARPENING THE EDGES OF SKIS, THE COMBINATION OF A FRAME, A BEARING BLOCK, A PAIR OF TRACKS AS SOCIATED WITH SAID FRAME AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID BEAR ING BLOCK FOR MOVABLY SUPPORTING THE BEARING BLOCK ON SAID FRAME, MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF THE BEARING BLOCK ON SAID FRAME, A GRINDING WHEEL JOURNALLED IN SAID BEARING BLOCK, MOTOR MEANS CONNECTED TO SAAID GRINDING WHEEL, A PAIR OF ROLLERS HAVING FLANGES BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME, SAID FLANGES BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE EDGE OF THE SKI BEING MACHINED, SAID TRACKS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FRAME BEING ORIENTED FOR MOVEMENT OF THE GRINDING WHEEL WITH RESPECT TO THE ROLLERS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE EDGE OF THE SKI, A THIRD ROLLER MOVABLY MOUNTED WITH RESPECT TO SAID FRAME AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE OPPOSITE EDGE OF THE SKI AND SPRING MEANS FOR BIASING THE THIRD ROLLER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OPPOSITE EDGE OF THE SKI.

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