Fiber reinforced plastic ski and method of making the same

Claim 1

A fiber reinforced plastic ski comprised of: an integral, laminated base of fiber-reinforced plastic material, which extends the length of said ski; said base having integral side members extending upward to contact an upper plate; said base also having a lower running surface member, which extends the length of said ski and is laminated beneath said base; said running surface member having a lower surface beneath said ski; a laminated substantially flattened upper plate of fiber reinforced plastic material, which extends the length of said ski and meets said side members; with said base and its said side members, said upper plate defines an interior cavity within said ski; said upper plate having an upper surface above said ski, and having edges along said upper surface; at least one reinforcing rib, integrally formed as part of said base, extending upward from said base and into contact with said upper plate, which is substantially the same height as said side members and is disposed within said interior cavity; along the length of said base running next to both sides of said running surface member, each side of said base is cut out for receiving a respective lower edge member; two lower edge members, each extending the length of said ski, and extending down to be even with said ski running surface, being received within the said respective base cut out therefor; each said lower edge member including a surface which faces said lower surface of said ski; each said lower edge member also defining a lower edge for said ski; each said lower edge member including a portion, displaced away from said ski lower surface, which extends toward the other said lower edge member; retaining means for said lower edge members; said retaining means being laminated into said laminated base for being securely held in position; said lower edge member retaining means including vertically offset pawl elements, which respectively either engage one of said edge members from above or engage it from below by engaging the said displaced portion thereof; said upper plate having a respective upper edge member embedded in its said upper surface along both said upper edges and extending the length of said ski.