AU607590B2 - Adjustable toe water ski binder - Google Patents

Description

P17/2/83 F MM UIii wi raue iviarK Att1ornleys 367 Collins Street Melbourne, Australia ii.

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 0759 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: .5 *W r APPLICANT'S REF.: B5375AS Name(s) of Applicant(s): Address(es) of Applicant(s): ROBERT S SCHEURER P.O. Box 539 Wichita Falls Te~xas 76307 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Robert S Scheurer Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service is: PHILLIPS, ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 3 67. Collins Street Melbourne, Australia, 3000 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: ADJUSTABLE TOE WATER SKI BINDER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s):

II.-

1 I 1111

I/K

P 19/11/77

L

367 Collins Street Melbourne, Australia

V

^u-l ~.rqrupr

I

la r C t C C ADJUSTABLE TOE WATER SKI BINDER This invention relates to ski equipment, and in particular to adjustable ski binders.

In water skiing, as in other forms of skiing, it is important to precisely position the center of gravity of the skier relative to the ski. Slidably adjusting the heel cup axially to change the length of the binding moves the center t C T of gravity, resulting in changed ski performance. In slalom ski bindings, it is important to place the trailing toe 1lo binder closely adjacent to the leading heel cup. When the c"'c leading heel cup is slid forward to adjust the foot size of the forward foot binder, the heel piece moves away from the rear toe piece, thereby changing performance characteristics of the ski.

The present invention provides a rapidly and easily adjustable toe piece to quickly adjust and clamp the toe piece in position and to maintain the heel piece and center t:-

I

i ir ;:1 ii rof gravity of the skier in a fixed position. The center of gravity, sometimes referred to as the center of force, applied on the ski by the skier may be considered to be the center of the skier's ankle bone. When attaching a ski to the foot, one part of the binder is slid open before inserting the foot and the binder part is closed to capture the foot. When persons with different size feet use the same binders, centers of force are shifted longitudinally on the ski. After the bindings have been adjusted for one 0 person, the center of gravity may be shifted slightly by changes in binding adjustment to accommodate use by a .o different person. Additionally, the rear toe in a slalom mount may then be located too far behind the heel after such binding adjustments are made.

provides easy fastening of the binding in its cosed 0 position by simply pushing down on two cams and e y release In the preferred embodim t, the toe binder o includes an instep and toe coy having peripheral edges, grip means for gripping th peripheral edges, slide means adjustable bi ing is to be mounted, for guiding the slide means fo ard and rearward, and first locking means connected mthe slide means for cooperating with second locking includes a i stend t hecbining in ied Ss connectable o a device such as a ski on which the rrfians onnctedto fixd hel sppu.1 l

;I

f 4 o 4 20 W 0 0 o 0 0 0000 0000 0 0• 0000

C

0 o 00 1 0601(1 0 o 0 0 oooG

C

I I In accordance with the invention there is provided an adjustable foot binder apparatus for water skis including: a flexible toe cover having an opening for receiving a person's foot and having a laterally outwardly extending peripheral flange portion; a toe plate having an inner portion configured for supporting the outward extending flange portion of the flexible cover and fastener means mounted on a peripheral edge portion of the toe plate for securing the toe cover flange portion onto the toe plate; a flexible heel cup having an opening for receiving a person's heel and having a peripheral outwardly extending flange on a lower edge thereof; a heel plate having an edge portion for attachment to the peripheral flange of the heel cup; fastener means extending through the heel plate for securing the heel cup onto a water ski at a fixed position thereon; a guide bar adapted for attachment onto a water ski at a fixed position thereon and extending longitudinally therewith for guiding longitudinal sliding movement of the toe plate with respect to a ski; first and second adjustable locking means respectively connected to the heel plate and to the toe plate for locking the toe plate in a preselected position with respect to the heel plate; and, said toe plate having an upper plate portion for supporting a skier's foot, and having a track passage extending beneath the upper plate portion for receiving the guide bar, the toe plate and the upper portion being integrally formed in a one-piece construction.

The following description refers in more detail to the various features of the present invention. To facilitate an understanding of the invention, reference is made in the description to the accompanying drawings wherein the present invention is illustrated in preferred embodiments. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the drawings.

-3b

AQA

1, CVH F 7 1-'NT O 720 1

I

t -4- Figure 1 is a plan view of a foot binder with the adjustable toe piece of the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of a heel plate; Figure 3 is an end elevation of the heel plate shown in Figure 2, showing the mountings of the heel cup and cam; Figure 4 is a bottom view of the heel plate shown in Figures 2 and 3; Figure 5 is a top plan view of the toe plate shown in Figure 1; C C Figure 6 is a side elevation of the toe plate shown in Figure 0 00 °Figure 7 is a bottom view of a clamp for securing the flexible toe and instep cover to the toe plate; Figure 8 is an end elevation of the toe plate and clamp shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7; Figu Figures 9, 10 and 11 are details taken along lines 9-9, 10-10 and 11-11 of the upper clamping member shown in i' Figure 7; aCO Figure 12 is a top plan view of the toe plate; Figure 13 is a sectional view of the toe plate shown in Figure 12; and, i I ii 1 i 7 i44

I

Figure 14 is a sectional view similar to Figure 13 illustrating an alternative embodiment in which the toe plate and upper plate are integrally formed in a cne-piece construction.

In the description which follows, like parts are indicated throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details of the present invention.

71 414 Cr I C C( C C CC C IZ I2O 1- C In the preferred form of the invention as shown in the drawings, a ski is generally indicated by reference number 1. A binder generally indicated by the numeral 2 has a toe cover portion 4 and a heel cup portion 6 The two portions are joined by locking means generally indicated by the numeral 8. The toe portion 4 has a toe retainer generally indicated by the numeral 10 which covers the toe and instep of the skier's foot. A peripheral outward extending flange 12 of the toe cover 10 is held tightly onto the toe piece 4 by fasteners which extend into a generally U-shaped rearward opening cap clamp member 14 and similar Ushaped toe plate 16. Lateral portions 18 of toe plate 16 which extend outward from cap 14 have longitudinally extending openings 20 which slide along non-threaded outer portions of screws 22 which are anchored in the ski 1.

Enlarged heads or washers 24 ride atop the lateral areas 1B of the toe plate 16, holding the toe plate firmly against the ski while permitting it to slide for adjustment.

I

j I. n 1~ -i ae

I

t r Cr r I I o 80 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 o o o ol o a o o o a 0 oo e o 0 a s 0r A forward opening, flexible heel retainer cup has an outward extending flange portion 32, which extends beneath a heel plate 34. Fasteners 36 pass throulgh the peripheral flange 32 and clamp the flange 32 to the ski i.

The heel plate has internal extensions 38 which mount the locking means 8. Pins 40 extend through the openings 42 which extend upward from longitudinally extending tunnels 44 in the heel pieces 6. Eccentric cams 46 with operating levers 48 are mounted on the pins 40 as over-the-center clamps to clamp rearward extensions to the toe piece within the tunnels 44 to fix the toe piece in place on the ski.

A top plan view of an alternative heel plate 50 is shown in Figure 2. Heel plate 50 is a hollow molded piece with a generally rounded upper surface 52 and an outer wall 54 surrounding an internal hollow space 56 as can be seen with reference to the bottom view shown in Figure 4. Inner wall 58 has a lip 60 which slightly compresses flange 32 to trap the flange between the ski 1 and the plate Countersunk holes 62 are provided to receive screws which extend through the flange 32 into the ski. As shown, the screw holes 62 are formed in inward cylindrical extensions 64 of the inner wall 58. Opening 66 extends upward from a tunnel 70 and a hole 68 aligned with the opening 66 receives a pin 40 as shown in Figure 1 for mounting the cam 46.

Tunnels 70 as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 differ slightly from the tunnels 44 shown in Figure 1. While the forward ends 72 of the tunnels are open, the rearward ends Ia Si I ;re 1 -7r a. are closed. The l thick section of the top 76 of the tunnel and the outerwall 78 of the tunnel 70 supports the locking means without requiring the outer screw.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the cam lever 48 is positioned within recess 79 so that the upper surface of the cam lever is flush with the top of the heel plate and so that the outer end of the cam lever 48 may extend beyond the heel plate for ease in release.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the toe plate has an 1 0 open center 80 so that the foot of a user may rest directly upon the ski 1. Alternatively, the toe plate may extend across the surface of the ski beneath the foot of the user.

4 t The inner edge 82 of the toe plate is curved inwardly and rearwardly to create the desired shape of the flexible boot and to bring the arch portion inward for foot 1i support. Holes 84 are countersunk 86 from the bottom of the j plate to receive the heads of fasteners which extend upward through the flange of the flexible toe cover and into the cap piece where they are secured. The rearward extensions i 90 have detents 92 in their upper surfaces to receive the eccentric cams which are mounted in the heel piece.

I"-

As shown in Figure 7, the clamping member 14 has an outer wall 102 which extends downward to the upper surface of the plate 16. An inner wall 104 has a lip 106 which compresses the flange 12 of the toe cover to hold the flange tightly against the plate.16. An area 108 between the walls il---i 102 and 104 is recessed to provide weight reduction. Holes 110 in cylindrical portions 112 receive fasteners which extend through the peripheral flanges of the toe cover. The holes may be threaded to receive the fasteners or selfthreading fasteners may cut threads in the material around the holes. The holes may be countersunk to aid in the centering of the screws.

As shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11, the distance between the bottom of the cylindrical portions 112 and the lip 106 and the base 114 of the cap 14 may vary to take into account the thicker cross section of the top cover near the H stress receiving instep portion.

Referring to Figures 12 and 13, a toe plate 116 is mounted for fore and aft sliding movement along stationary T-track or plate 118 which is secured onto an upper surface of a ski 120 by any conventional means including screws, bolts or other fasteners and adhesive bonding. T-track 118 could also be integrally formed as a projection of the upper surface of the ski during the molding process of the ski.

2O The T-track 118 guides the toe plate 116 while foot size J adjustments are made.

The toe cover 120 is connected to an upper surface of the toe plate 116 by fitting a peripheral edge portion 122 of the toe cover 120 onto the upper surface and sandwiching the edge portion 122 between the toe plate 116 and a U-shaped bar 124. The toe plate 116, the edge portion 122 and the U-shaped bar 124 are interconnected by means of k -9scxe 126 or other suitable fasteners or fastener means which extend through bores provided in the various components.

An upper plate 128 is fixedly connected to the toe plate 116 by screws or bolts 130 or by other suitable fasteners or fastening means. An upper surface 132 of the upper plate 128 carries a portion of the skier's foot, while the opposite surface slides over and engages an upper surface of the T-track 118.

4) C C C CC V. (CC

CC

C C The upper plate 128 is provided with an upstanding edge 129 that helps guide the toe cover 120 upwardly to keep the toe cover from rubbing on the sides of the skier's foot.

The upstanding edge 129 also makes it easier to remove and insert the skier's foot.

It should also be understood that the toe cover 120 can be open in the front to expose the toes of the skier's foot. In that~a, it may be necessary to open the Ushaped bar 124 by removing the forward portion thereof. It may also be necessary to remove the forwardmost portion of the upstanding edge 129. If the open-toed embodiment is used, the U-shaped bar 124 may instead be broken into two parallel opposite side portions which are screw connected in the same manner as illustrated inFigure 13.

Referring now to Figure 14, toe plate 116A and upper plate 128A are integrally formed in a molding process.

Preferably, the T-track 118 has a shoulder portion 134 which t i 1 mates with stepped portion 136 of the toe plate 116A. The shoulder and step arrangement limits the movement of the toe plate 116A to fore and aft movement. The desired location of the toe plate 116 is locked into place by the rearward extensions 138 which are used in a similar fashion to rearward extension 90. In the foregoing preferred embodiment, the upper plate portion 128A forms a bridge over the T-shaped passage.

Because the T-track 118 provides substantial tO support and stability on both sides of the toe plate, one of the two extensions 138 may be eliminated, and this would avoid the requirement for corresponding and cooperating structure in the heel binding.

0060 o 00 06 0 o o 0 o o In either case, whether one or two extensions are used, the extensions may be arranged such that the cam can be mounted on the side instead of on top. In other words, with slight variations, the embodiment of Figure 1 could be arranged such that the extensions are turned 90 degrees and also the lever 48 could be mounted for rotation on the side of the heel binding.

In another variation, the embodiments of Figures 1, 12 and 14 could be modified such that the front of the toe binding is "open-toed", meaning that instead of being substantially U-shaped, the forwardmost portion of the toe binding which extends across and in front of the user's toes would be removed, leaving an open area through which the toes could extend. In the embodiment of Figure 12, the toe f\ t i .good -llcover 120 would have an open forward portion and the Ushaped bar would consist of two parallel opposite side portions which are not interconnected at the front as shown in Figure 12.

The length of the T-track 118 is proportional to the amount of adjustment desired in the toe binding. Stops may be provided at either end of the toe plate to prevent the toe plate from separating from the T-track, if desirable.

Ic While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, modifications and variations may be constructed without departing from the 1 scope of the invention which is defined by the following claims.

06 4 a a 4 a L t L

Claims (7)

1. 2. The apparatus of claim i, wherein the first locking means include extensions projecting from opposite sides of the toe plate, and the second locking means include receivers formed in opposite side portions of the heel plate.
2. 3. The apparatus of claim i, wherein the first and second locking means include extensions and receivers, and cams for locking the extensions in the receivers.
3. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the receivers are o r ;r 4 4 tunnel shaped.
4. 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second locking 4104 S means further includes pins positioned in the heel plate and S positioned above the receivers, cams mounted on the pins, and levers connected to the cams for moving the cams selectively toward and away from the extensions in the receivers to lock the exten- 4 4 sions in place or release the extensions.
5. 6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the extensions have upward facing detents for receiving the cams in selected positions.
6. 7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the extensions i? I ;t id i i;" f I a 'I V ~r -13- L_- i -ir- -iiii-iiiniii'- project rearward from ends of the heel plate and wherein the receivers open forward to receive the extensions.
7. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fastener means includes: a side bar adapted to overlie the peripheral edge of the flexible toe cover; and, means for retaining the side bar and toe cover on 8 the peripheral edge portion of the toe plate. 9 00 000 a0. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide bar 00ooo0 o0 o includes a plate having a T-shaped cross section slidably support- ing the toe plate. r1 p-sin-the toe plate~ 0 3a. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fastener means S' includes a side bar adapted to overlie the peripheral edge of the toe plate, thereby defining a slot therebetween, the outward extending flange portion of the flexible toe cover being retained Sin said slot. r i I I', 2. The apparatus of claim I, wherein the upper plate portion having an external surface adapted to support a skier's -14- N '-NS foot, and said track passage being a T-shaped channel intersecting a lower portion of the upper plate portion and having inner stepped side walls, said upper plate portion bridging over said T-shaped channel, and the guide bar being a T-shaped bar slidably supporting the upper plate portion. r t t Adjustable foot binderapparatus for water skis substantially as hereinbefore described with respect to Figure 14 of the accompanying drawings. DATED: 11 July 1990 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Atorneys for: ROBERT S. SCHEURER ,0 ft ^i I 'I~C 612? C C '4' S I tcC C