CH615831A5 - Ski safety binding - Google Patents

Abstract

The ski binding comprises an under-foot plate tending to be held constantly on the ski by at least one flexible link subjected to the action of an elastic tension device; adjustment means interact with one end of the flexible link in order to adjust the useful length of the latter. It comprises a rotating support (30) on which is fastened, in an off-centre manner, the end (25) of a flexible link (7). An elastically movable tooth (34) of the support (30) interacts with any one of the pins (bolts) (32) arranged around the rotating support (30). The position of the end (25) may thus be adjusted by effecting approximately a half-revolution with the support (30), by acting on the slot provided on the latter with a screwdriver. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to ski safety bindings, comprising an underfoot plate intended to be fixed under the sole of a shoe, said underfoot plate tending to be held on the ski, at at least approximately one of its ends. at least, by at least one flexible link subjected to the action of at least one elastic tensioning device; adjustment means cooperate with at least one end of the flexible link to adjust the useful length of the latter.

In known ski bindings of this kind, the means for adjusting the length of the cable are arranged on the ski, behind the underfoot plate. They consist of a threaded rod, integral with the end of the flexible link, and arranged in a housing fixed to the ski, housing in which the screw can move axially but not in rotation; a nut, disposed outside the housing, cooperates with the end of the screw to move the latter axially, and thus move the end of the flexible link. Such fasteners have drawbacks, since the adjustment means are relatively long to actuate, the adjustment nut having to make several turns so that the entire adjustment range is covered. In addition, an accidental loosening of the nut, therefore of the adjustment of the length of the flexible link, is possible; certainly, one could use a locking locknut, but it would then be necessary to use two different tools, or at least carry out several successive operations such as: unlocking the locknut, adjusting, relocking the locknut.

The ski binding, object of the invention, makes it possible to avoid these drawbacks. In the latter, in fact, the adjustment means, while being very simple and comprising few constituent elements, allow adjustment over the entire adjustment range provided, in an almost instantaneous manner. In addition, these adjustment means are accidentally foolproof, and they only require the use of a single tool, the adjustment being carried out in a single operation.

The ski binding, object of the invention, comprises adjustment means which are constituted by a support element mounted rotating around an axis at least approximately perpendicular to the external part of the flexible link; said support element supports means for fixing the end of said flexible link, eccentric relative to the axis of rotation of said support element, and comprising at least one profiled part, movable elastically relative to the support element, tending to be held resiliently engaged with at least any one of several parts of conjugate profile provided opposite on a fixed element relative to the profiled part; means are provided either on the movable profiled part of the support element, or on said movable profiled part, and on the support element itself

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615 831

even, to temporarily disengage the profiled parts cooperating with one another and drive the support element in rotation, relative to the fixed element, in any one of the two directions of rotation.

According to one embodiment of the invention, in which the front end of the underfoot plate cooperates with a profiled part provided at the rear of a head pivotally mounted on the ski around an axis perpendicular to the latter, head to which is connected one end of the flexible link subjected to the action of the elastic tensioning device which is arranged in the plate, the support element is mounted rotating on the pivoting head, and the fixed profiled parts are integral with said pivoting head . According to another embodiment, the support element is mounted rotating on the ski and the fixed profiled parts are integral with said ski.

According to one embodiment of the invention, applicable to the abovementioned embodiments, the rotating support element is constituted by an element at least approximately circular over at least part of its periphery, disposed in a substantially circular housing which serves as its centering and which is provided in the fixed element. The movable profiled part of said support element is constituted by at least one tooth provided on a part of the circumference of the circular element attached elastically to the latter by a narrowed part of small dimensions; the parts of the fixed element, of profile conjugate to that of said tooth, consist of wolf teeth provided on at least part of the periphery of the circular housing; the declutching and rotary drive means consist of a raised or recessed imprint provided either on the upper part of the part of the circular element attached to the latter by a narrowed part, or on each of the upper parts of said part of the circular element attached by a narrowed part, and of the circular element itself; each imprint is shaped to cooperate with an imprint of combined profile provided on an operating tool. According to another embodiment, the rotating support element, which is circular or not, is pivoted around a shaft and its movable profiled part is constituted by at least one tooth provided on a part of the periphery of the support element,

part articulated on the latter, this tooth constantly tending, under the action of an elastic means, to be engaged with the parts of the fixed element, of profile conjugate to that of said tooth, which are constituted by teeth- de-loup provided vis-à-vis said tooth, on at least a portion of a circle; the declutching and rotary drive means consist of a raised or recessed imprint provided either on the upper part of the articulated part on the support element, or on each of the upper parts of said articulated part on the support element and the support element itself; each imprint is shaped to cooperate with an imprint of combined profile provided on an operating tool.

According to a variant applicable to the abovementioned embodiments, the means for fixing the end of the flexible link, eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotary support element, consist of a notch, opening onto the periphery of the 'support element on at least part of the height of the latter, the bottom of which is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said support element and shaped to receive a stop element integral with the end of the flexible link. Two clearances substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the support element are provided, one in the support element,

to let pass the part of the flexible link close to the stop element during the rotation of said support element, the other in the fixed element, to let pass the part of the flexible link following that which is immediately close to the stop element.

The accompanying drawing illustrates, by way of example, embodiments of ski bindings in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows, seen in longitudinal section along I-I of FIG. 2, a first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 shows, seen along II-II of FIG. 1, the same first embodiment.

Figs. 3 and 4 represent, views partially along II-II of FIG. 1, certain parts of this first embodiment shown in particular operating positions.

Fig. 5 partially shows, seen in longitudinal section along V-V of FIG. 6, a second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 partially shows, seen along VI-VI of FIG. 5, the same second embodiment.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the ski binding comprises an underfoot plate 1 designed to be fixed under the sole 2 of a shoe 3, by a front retaining element 4 and by a rear retaining element 5. The underfoot plate 1 constantly tends to be held in abutment on a ski 6 by a flexible link 7 subjected to the action of an elastic tensioning device 8. The rear end 9 of the flexible link 7 comprises a stop element which is held in a fixing plate 11 fixed to the ski 6; a rotating element makes it possible to retain, or not, the stop element 10 under the fixing plate'll. The flexible link 7 passes in the groove of a return element 13, for example fixed, held in position in the plate 1 by two tabs 14, then is wound about 180 °, successively around two pulleys 18 and 19 pivoted on a drum 16 around two diametrically opposite shafts. The flexible link 7 then passes between the two walls of a fixed guide 17 provided along the axis of the plate 1, substantially in front of the latter, then it passes through a clearance 20 provided in the longitudinal axis, and below, a head 21 pivotally mounted on the ski 6 around a vertical shaft 22 integral with said ski 6 by means of a fixing plate 23 fixed to the ski. The clearance 20 is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the support element 30. The flexible link 7 finally comprises, at its front end 24, a stop element 25 which is connected to a part of the pivoting head 21.

This part of the pivoting head 21 is constituted by a support element 30, circular on a part of its periphery, arranged in a circular housing 31 provided in the head 21. This circular housing 31 serves as centering for the support element 30 which is swiveling; it includes on a part of its periphery, over approximately 180 °, wolf's teeth 32 as well as an additional wolf's tooth 33 spaced apart from the others. The support element 30 comprises a tooth 34, of profile conjugate to that of the teeth 32 and 33. This tooth 34 is provided on a part 35 of the circumference of the circular support element 30, attached elastically to the latter by a part narrowed 36 of small dimensions. When the support element 30 is in place in its housing 31, the tooth 34 constantly tends to move apart elastically in order to be housed in one of the teeth 32 or 33, in the case where it is located opposite -vis of one of said teeth. A notch 37 is provided in the support element 30, over part of the thickness of the latter; it opens onto the periphery of said element 30; its bottom 38 is substantially parallel to the vertical axis of rotation of the support element 30, and it is shaped to receive the stop element 25. When the latter is housed there, it is eccentric relative to to the axis of rotation of the rotating support element 30; a clearance 41 is provided perpendicular to the axis of rotation of this support element 30, to allow the end portion 24 of the flexible link 6, close to the stop element 25, to pass during the rotation of the support element 30.

Disengaging means and rotational drive are provided on the upper face 42 of the support member 30; they are constituted, in this example, by a recess 40 intended to cooperate with the blade of a screwdriver, disposed on the part 25 of the support element 30. When the underfoot plate 1 is pressed against the ski 6, two inclined front parts 43 and 44 of said plate 1 are in contact with respectively two faces 45 and 46 inclined in opposite directions, provided at the rear of the pivoting head 21.

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The drum 16, forming part of the elastic tensioning device 8, has on its periphery a notch 64 in V intended to cooperate with a roller 65 pivoted on a sliding plunger 66 constantly tending to be pushed along 67 by a compression spring 68. A adjusting screw 69 allows, by its rotation, to move axially a nut 70 and thus compress more or less the spring 68. The axial position of the nut 70 can be identified through a window 71 provided in the side wall of the plate 1. On the other hand, a reference 74 is arranged on the outer periphery of the drum 16, opposite a second window 75 formed in the plate 1. The notch 64 and the roller 65 cooperate to lock the drum 16 in rotation, and allow this rotation only when a sufficient predetermined separation force is exerted between the plate 1 and the ski 6. This force can be adjusted by the screw 69; when this force is exceeded, the faces 43 and 44 emerge from the faces 45 and 46, either laterally, by simultaneously driving the head 21 in rotation, or upwards, and the plate 1 deviates from its rest position on the ski 6 (fig. 1). A flange 76 in an arc, provided at the rear of the fixing plate 23, is housed in a groove 77 of corresponding shape, provided under the rear part of the head 21, to constantly maintain the latter in position close ski and avoid lifting it.

The elastic tensioning device 8 also comprises, inside the drum 16, a spiral spring 50, one end 51 of which is inside, is connected to a bung 53 secured to the plate 1. The drum 16 is pivoted around a shaft 49 integral with the plate 1. The second end 52 of the spring 50 is connected to a portion of the periphery of the interior housing of the drum 16. The role of the spiral spring 50 is to bring the plate 1 resting on the ski 6 after the period during which she found herself removed from; it constantly tends to drive in rotation, along 56, the drum 16 and the pulleys 18 and 19, which keeps the flexible link 7 taut and tends to keep the plate 1 pressed against the ski 6, the faces 43 and 44 then being locked under the faces 45 and 46. A notch 59, formed on the outer periphery of the drum 16, is provided to cooperate, after a certain voluntary rotation of said drum 16 along 60, with a sliding lock 61 which can be housed therein manually. using the lug 58. An elastomeric stop element 62, integral with the plate 1, cooperates with a groove 63 of the lock 61 to keep the latter released from the notch 59, when it is not desired that the lock 61 is in engagement with the notch 59. A plate 57 makes it possible to close the housing of the plate 1, containing the whole of the elastic tensioning device 8.

To install the stop element 25 of the flexible link 7, it is first necessary to cancel the action of the elastic tensioning device 8 on the flexible link 7; for this, it suffices to manually rotate the drum 16 along 60 to bring the drum into the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4; in this position, the sliding bolt 61 has been brought manually into engagement with the notch 59 of the drum 16. The flexible link 7 is thus relaxed.

It is then necessary to bring the support element 30 into the position shown in FIG. 3; for this, a screwdriver blade is introduced into the recess 40; a following twist 78 is then carried out on said blade, which has the effect of bending the part 35 around the narrowed part 36, until the tooth 34 escapes from the wolf teeth 32. The element- support then turns itself along 78 until its tooth 34 comes to reside elastically in tooth 33 of the pivoting head 21 (fig. 3). In this position, the notch 37 is disposed substantially in the extension of the recess 20 of the head 21. The stop element 25 is then introduced into the bottom 38 of this notch 37 after passage through the recess 20.

The support element 30 is then actuated using the screwdriver, but this time along 79, until its tooth 34 is engaged with the tooth 32 'of the head 21. In this position, the element stop 25 is in its position closest to the elastic tensioning device 8 and the rotation of the notch 37 has been sufficient so that the stop element 25 can no longer disengage from said notch 37. The adjustment proper of the position of the stop element 25, therefore of the free, useful length of the flexible link 7 is then possible. It suffices to continue driving in rotation along 79 the support element 30, the tooth 34 forming a pawl jumping elastically successively from one tooth 32 to the next, the stop element 25 moving away at the same time progressively from the device of elastic tension 8, and thus shortening the free length of the flexible link 7. The various elements are thus for example in an intermediate position, as shown in FIG. 4. To check whether the useful length of the flexible link is correct, it suffices to move back the latch 61 and to release the drum 16 which automatically resumes its position in FIG. 1. The adjustment must be considered correct when the reference 74 of the drum 16 is correctly positioned relative to the window 75; we can then conclude that the useful length of the link is correct, and that the underfoot plate 1 is maintained without untimely play on the ski 6. It can also be concluded that the notch 64 is correctly positioned angularly with respect to the roller. 65. If the adjustment is not correct, it suffices to lock the lock 61 again in the notch 59 and to turn the support element 30 in the desired direction. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the support element 30 is shown in a position corresponding substantially to its extreme adjustment position; it has made about half a turn from its position in fig. 3. The orientation of the teeth-of-wolf 32 is firmly opposed to any untimely rotation along 78 of the support element 30, therefore to the relaxation of the flexible link 7, during the use of the binding. Similarly, when the plate 1 is not pressed against the ski, during a fall of the skier, any rotation along 79 of the same support element 30 is prohibited by the elastic tooth 34. The useful, free length of the flexible link 7 can in no way be inadvertently deregulated, while being able to be very quickly adjusted again, on the occasion of a cable change for example.

According to an alternative embodiment, a second recess 40 'is provided on the upper face of the support element 30 proper; it is also intended to cooperate with the blade of the screwdriver; in this variant, the imprint 40 ′ is provided for actuating more easily, along 79, the support element 30, and the imprint 40 is provided for actuating the latter in the opposite direction, along 78.

In the second embodiment, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the rotating support element 30, located in the rotating head 21, is eliminated and replaced by a support element 80 mounted rotating on a fixing plate 81 which replaces the fixing plate 11 of the first embodiment; this fixing plate 81 is screwed onto the ski, at the rear of the under-foot plate 1. The support element 80 is pivoted on a vertical shaft 82 secured to a plate 83 disposed under the fixing plate 81. It is arranged in an approximately circular housing 84 provided in the fixing plate 81; this housing 84 comprises on a part of its periphery, over approximately 180 °, wolf teeth 32, as well as an additional wolf tooth 33 spaced from the others. The support element 80 comprises a tooth 85, of profile conjugate to that of the teeth 32 and 33. This tooth 85 is articulated at 86, for example around one of its ends, swollen, which is placed in a housing 87 partially circular provided in the support element 80. A spring 88 constantly tends to accommodate the tooth 85 in one of the teeth 32 or 33. A clearance 20 is also provided in the fixing plate 81, just below a part 90 in the form of a bridge, against which

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the flexible link 7 is in support. A cover 91 (fig. 5) covers the entire device. All the other elements are identical to those of the first embodiment described above. The operation of the assembly is similar.

615 831

The ski binding, object of the invention, can be used in particular in all cases where the underfoot plate of a safety binding must be held firmly on the ski, during skiing.

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2 sheets of drawings

Claims (5)

615 831 1. Safety binding for skiing, comprising an underfoot plate intended to be fixed under the sole of a shoe, said plate being held on the ski at at least one of its ends by at least one flexible link (7) subjected at the action of at least one elastic tensioning device (8), adjustment means cooperating with at least one end of the flexible link to adjust the useful length of the latter, characterized in that said adjustment means are constituted by a support element (30) mounted rotating about an axis at least approximately perpendicular to the end part of the flexible link, said support element (30) supporting fixing means (38) of the end of said flexible link, offset relative to the axis of rotation of said support element, and comprising at least one profiled part (35) movable elastically relative to the support element, tending to be held elastically engaged with at least any one of several profile parts c onjugée (32) provided vis-à-vis an element (21) fixed relative to the profiled part, means (40,40 ') being provided either on the movable profiled part of the support element, or on said movable profiled part and on the support element itself, to temporarily disengage the profiled parts cooperating with each other, and to rotate the support element to the fixed element in any of the two directions of rotation. 2. A binding according to claim 1, in which the front end of the underfoot plate cooperates with a profiled part (45, 46) provided at the rear of a head (21) pivotally mounted on the ski around. an axis perpendicular to the latter, head to which is connected one end of the flexible link (7) subjected to the action of the elastic tension device which is disposed in the plate, characterized in that the support element (30) is mounted rotatably on the pivoting head, and in that the fixed profiled parts (32) are integral with said pivoting head. 2 3. Attachment according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the rotating support element (30) is constituted by an element at least approximately circular over at least part of its periphery, disposed in a housing substantially circular which serves as its centering and which is provided in the fixed element (21), the movable profiled part of said support element being constituted by at least one tooth (34) provided on a part of the periphery of the circular element attached elastically to the latter by a narrowed portion of small dimensions, the parts of the fixed element of profile conjugated to that of said tooth being constituted by wolf teeth (32) provided on at least part of the periphery of the circular housing, the means clutch and rotary drive consisting of an imprint (40) in relief or recess provided either on the upper part of the part of the circular element attached to the latter by a narrowed part, so it on each of the upper parts of said part of the circular element attached by a narrowed part, and of the circular element itself, each cavity being shaped to cooperate with a cavity of conjugate profile provided on an operating tool. 4. Attachment according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the rotating support element (80) is pivoted around a shaft (82), and in that its movable profiled part is constituted by at at least one tooth (85) provided on a part of the periphery of the support element, part articulated on the latter, this tooth constantly tending, under the action of an elastic means (88), to be in engagement with the parts of the fixed element, of profile conjugate to that of said tooth, which consist of wolf teeth (32) provided with respect to said tooth, on at least one portion of a circle, the declutching and rotary drive means being constituted by an imprint (40, 40 ') in relief or in recess provided either on the upper part of the articulated part on the support element, or on each of the upper parts of said articulated part on the support element, and of the element- support itself, each imprint being shaped to cooperate with an imprint of conjugate profile provided on an operating tool. 5. Attachment according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the means for fixing the end of the flexible link, eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotary support element, are constituted by a notch (37), opening onto the periphery of the support element (30) over at least part of the height of the latter, the bottom of which is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said support element and shaped to receiving a stop element (25) integral with the end of the flexible link, two clearances substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the support element being provided, one (41) in the support element for pass the part of the flexible link close to the stop element during the rotation of said support element, the other (20) in the fixed element to let the next part of the flexible link pass.