Everything Old is New Again - Traction Industry History

Old Is New Again

The finest wear rods and... we can prove it!

Everything Old is New Again?

If you don't know history, you are DOOMED to repeat it...
and pay for it... and pay for it... and pay for it.

Flat-topped host bars... Bring the ski closer to the ground, exposing it to premature damage, at the same time diminishing handling because the keel is smaller.

For more information, check out:
First flat topped trail wear rod
Flat top - An innovation? - Not!
Typical carbide rod wear patterns

61 degree & 70 degree carbides... Initially the lower the number, the more aggressive the turning is. However, after crossing a couple of roads, it does not matter what degree it started at. By weight, thinner means less.

For more information, check out:
Roetin advertising history 1974
Super Studs advertisement
World Series of Snowmobiling advertisement

More carbide wear pads... The host bar always wears at it's weakest point, so the host bar material erodes around the front carbide until it falls away and wears down the line to the back end.

For more information, check out:
Wear pads - never had them!
Typical carbide rod wear patterns

More protruding carbide... Initially more aggressive, but also more destructive, the increased focused pressure dulls the carbide faster and is more apt to catch on edges. They do not prolong the life of the wear rod, so, by weight, you throw away more carbide.

Stainless steel rods... Do not last any longer than standard rods but can cost 3 times as much.

For more information, check out:
Host bar drag test
Stainless steel sq. bar advertisement

Heat treated... Case hardening is worn away, crossing a road or two, because it is shallow. Through hardening, rods would tend to be brittle and break.

For more information, check out:
Wear rod article
Spanner ad - 1972 Snowmobile Times

Skis With Multiple Wear Rods... These types of skis were used in the 70's and 80's. But, they didn't catch on with the snowmobiling public.

For more information, check out:
Skis With Multiple Wear Rods
Twin Track Ski

Kinked Host Bar... kinks in the host bar focus the pressure at the front of the kink which is the point of attack... so it wears out faster!

For more information, check out:
Kinked Host Bars

Push-Thru Studs... since they reduced the cost of repairs (mainly because of the old t-nuts), there is something telling about this timeline.

For more information, check out:

T-Nut Metal Tests

First Plastic Ski... 1980 Chrysler Snow Runner
www.sno-runner.com/Historyandpictures.html

For more information, check out:
Chrysler Ski Photo
Tri-ribbed Bottom
Advertisement

Steel Ski Designs... 1963 through present.

In order to receive a patent, your idea has to be new and unique. When you file for a patent, you are obligated to make all prior art pertinent to your concept, known to the Patent Office (ie: downhill snow skis, cross-country skis, snowboards, waterskis). If you offer only patented items and/or selected other prior art, any patent you may receive would not hold up in court. Creative writing is not relevant unless if is based on verifiable facts.

Previous Steel Ski Designs and more

Plastic Ski Patents

Richard L. Labelle 3,817,544 - September, 1972
USI 5,040,818 - January, 1990
Ski-doo 5,165,709 - July, 1990
USI 5,145,201 - August, 1991
Simmons 5,360,220 - July, 1993
Simmons 5,836,594 - March, 1994
SLP Ultra 5,700,020 - June, 1996
SLP Tri Keel 6,012,728 - July, 1997
C & A Pro 6,086,101 - January, 1998
Pierre Desrochers 6,105,979 - September, 1998

www.uspto.gov

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