Streamlined tip for a ski

Claim 2

In a ski having an upper surface and an opposed running surface; a ski tip comprising: an upward and forwardly directed bend at the forward end of said running surface; said running surface at the bent tip having a generally triangular section which narrows toward the front; two outwardly facing side covering surfaces, both extending in a direction upwardly from said running surface portion of the ski and also extending forwardly of said triangular surface; said side covering surfaces meeting at a ridge that extends generally along the longitudinal central plane of said ski tip and said ridge extending forwardly and being generally inclined upwardly further from said triangular surface; said ridge having a downward curvature with respect to the main axis of the ski tip at the front extremity of said tip; an upper surface connected to both said side surfaces and extending over the top of said ski tip and merging into the upper surface of the ski, for defining a closed ski tip which includes said side covering surfaces and said upper surface.

Claim 3

The ski tip of claim 1, wherein said upper surface is generally rounded over the top thereof in a transverse cross-section through said ski tip and said upper surface meets said side covering surfaces along downwardly sloping sides of said upper surface.

Claim 4

The ski tip of claim 2, wherein said upper surface of said ski tip has a generally S-shaped longitudinal cross-section turning downwardly at the front end thereof.

Claim 5

The ski tip of claim 3, wherein said side surfaces are concavely profiled.

Claim 6

The ski of claim 1, wherein the tip section comprises a fairing mountable at the front of a ski, said fairing having the said triangular construction, sides, ridge and upper surface.

Claim 7

The ski of claim 1 wherein at speeds of 10 to 40 meters per second, the air drag ratio of said ski is reduced to the order of 25% of the drag ratio of a ski having a standard tip.

Claim 8

A ski, comprising: a main body of the ski, having an upper surface and having an opposite running surface; the ski having a front; said ski front having a streamlining tip at said ski upper surface; said tip comprising: said ski running surface having a portion that is bent upwardly and forwardly of the remainder of said running surface, said portion being located at said tip and forming there a generally triangular surface, which narrows in the direction toward said front of said ski; two outwardly facing side covering surfaces, extending in a direction upwardly from said running surface portion and extending forwardly of said triangular surface; said side covering surfaces meeting at a ridge that extends generally along the longitudinal central plane of the ski, and said ridge extending forwardly and being generally inclined upwardly further from said triangular surface; and having a downward inclination from the main axis of the tip at the front extremity of the ski; an upper surface meeting both said side covering surfaces and extending over the top of said ski tip, and merging into said ski upper surface, for defining a closed said ski tip, including said side covering surfaces and said upper surface.

Claim 9

A ski, comprising: a main body of the ski, having an upper surface and having an opposite running surface; the ski having a front; said ski front having a streamlining tip at said ski upper surface; said tip comprising: said ski running surface having a portion that is bent upwardly and forwardly of the remainder of said running surface, said portion being located at said tip and forming there a generally triangular surface, which narrows in the direction toward said front of said ski; two outwardly facing side covering surfaces, extending in a direction upwardly from said running surface portion and extending forwardly of said triangular surface; said side covering surfaces meeting at a ridge that extends generally along the longitudinal central plane of the ski, and said ridge extending forwardly and being generally inclined upwardly further from said triangular surface; and having a downward inclination from the main axis of the tip at the front extremity of the ski; an upper surface meeting both said side covering surfaces and extending over the top of said ski tip, and merging into said ski upper surface, for defining a closed said ski tip, including said side covering surfaces and said upper surface.

Claim 10

The ski of claim 7, wherein said triangular surface has side edges leading forwardly from said running surface and leading forwardly to said ridge; said side edges of said triangular surface being comprised of metal.

Claim 11

The ski of claim 8, wherein at least part of said ridge is comprised of metal.

Claim 12

The ski of claim 7, wherein said upper surface is generally rounded over the top thereof in a transverse cross-section through said ski tip and said upper surface meets said side covering surfaces along downwardly sloping sides of said upper surface.

Claim 13

The ski of claim 10, wherein said upper surface of said ski tip has a generally S-shaped longitudinal cross-section, turning downwardly at the front end thereof.

Claim 14

The ski of claim 11, wherein said ski tip generally has the shape of a thrush head or a dolphin head.

Claim 15

The ski of any of claims 7, 10 or 11, wherein said side surfaces are concavely profiled.

Claim 16

The ski of claim 13, wherein said side covering surface meets said upper surface at respective rounding for each said side covering surface.

Claim 17

The ski of any of claims 7, 10 or 11, wherein at the forward end of said tip, said tip has a forwardly projecting, narrow diameter, narrowed tip nose.

Claim 18

The ski of claim 7, wherein said ski tip is a hollow defined by said upper surface, said side surfaces and said triangular surface.