Richard D Gavalis

US Patent:

58034781, Sep 8, 1998

Filed:

Jun 7, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/472124

Inventors:

Richard Clifford Gavalis - Valley Forge PA

International Classification:

A63C 500

US Classification:

280601

Abstract:

A ski is provided including a front tip and a rear tail, wherein a shovel portion is defined adjacent the ski tip and a tail portion is defined adjacent the ski tail. A middle portion of the ski is located between the tip and tail portions. The middle portion is very stiff, and the tail portion is very flexible. The peak stiffness coefficient of the middle portion is at least 200,000 lb-in. sup. 2. There is no upper limit to the stiffness of the middle portion. The tail portion of the ski has a peak stiffness coefficient of less than 10 percent of the peak stiffness coefficient of the middle portion of the ski. The peak stiffness coefficient of the tail portion of the ski is less than 20,000 lb-in. sup. 2. The high stiffness of the middle section of the ski is preferably achieved through the use of at least two carbon graphite fiber plates (or similar stiff material) incorporated into the body of the middle and shovel portions of the ski.