Laminated ski with integrated top strap and process of manufacture

Abstract

A ski comprises a laminated top strap integrated in a U-shaped shell, a bottom strap including a running surface layer and at least one additional reinforcement layer, and running edges along the two sides of the running surface layer and abutting free ends of the shanks of the U-shaped shell along a longitudinally extending line running in a horizontal plane of contact between the running edges and shank ends. The shell and the bottom strap define an inner hollow space and a ski core is arranged in this space. Support elements are arranged on the upper and lower core sides, the support elements defining longitudinally and transversely extending recesses therebetween and between the upper and lower core sides and the top and bottom straps. These recesses communicate with intermediate hollow spaces defined between the side walls of the ski core and the shanks of the U-shaped shell, and these intermediate hollow spaces include a chamber extending along the ski, projecting outwardly and continuously tapering towards an outer face of the running edge and ending at the longitudinally extending line. Intermediate layers are arranged between the base of the U-shaped shell and the core, and a plastic material fills the recesses and the intermediate hollow spaces including the continuously tapering chambers, the plastic material being bonded to the shell, the core, the top strap and the bottom strap.