CH640421A5 - Ski safety binding - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a safety binding for skiing, and more particularly to bindings which are arranged to slide longitudinally and urged by springs to elastically hold the boot in the longitudinal direction, the invention being advantageously used for a safety binding whose position longitudinal on the ski is adjustable, in order to adapt this binding to the length of the boots to be immobilized on the ski.

Numerous devices are already known making it possible to adjust the longitudinal position on a ski either with a front stop or with a heel piece, or even both at the same time. However, it is the heel piece holding the heel of the boot at the rear that is most often moved relative to the front stop, to adapt the front stop / heel piece assembly to a ski boot of a length determined. Generally, these known devices comprise at least one corresponding movable toothing integral with the ski and the teeth of which mesh with part of the toothing of the binding, the movable toothing being integral with a latch biased by a spring. The longitudinal adjustment is carried out by unlocking the movable teeth, then moving the binding to another suitable position, then relocking in position. Other devices provide a fixed toothing with respect to the ski and a corresponding movable toothing biased by a spring and integral in longitudinal displacement of the binding. In these two types of embodiments, the body of the binding is slidably disposed in a slide. Generally, to be sure that there is no play in the position of non-maintenance of the boot between the binding body and the slide, these latter two elements are adjusted without play. But this is not without drawbacks. In fact, during putting on, there should be play between the sliding part of the body and the slide to facilitate its retreat from the binding against the action of the thrust springs. This is also true in the case of ski flexion. Indeed, the ski flexion, and in particular in a hump passage, is accompanied by a retreat of the heel against the action of the thrust springs. It is therefore necessary that the sliding part does not get stuck in the slide so that we are sure that this retreat will be without problem. Note that, if the heel piece does not move back, this is detrimental to safety.

The present invention proposes to remedy these drawbacks by means of a particularly simple adjustment device making it possible to construct the binding, possibly leaving a clearance between the sliding part and the corresponding slide.

To this end, the binding according to the invention comprises a body movable longitudinally relative to a slide against the action of an elastic system, characterized in that it comprises

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means for making up for the play between the body and the slide, said means allowing, on the other hand, the release of said play in the event of longitudinal movement of said movable body against the action of said elastic system.

According to a particular form of the invention, the means for making up the clearance are formed by cooperation of an element linked to the ski called a lock and of a part of the body of the binding, said cooperation being broken in the event of longitudinal displacement of the fixation against the action of the elastic system.

According to another particular form of the invention, the cooperation is such that the action of the bolt on the body is an effort comprising at least one component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ski, and said cooperation takes place by a ramp system .

According to another particular form of the invention, the lock linked to the ski is either permanently fixed to the latter, or temporarily lockable. In the latter case, the lock is movably disposed in the body of the binding and urged by an elastic system to cooperate with means for holding in the fixed position on the upper face of the ski. Such an arrangement then allowing unlocking of the lock to change the longitudinal position of the binding on the ski.

According to another particular form of the invention, the elastic system urging the lock is the elastic system of longitudinal mobility of the binding ensuring the longitudinal maintenance of the shoe.

According to another embodiment, the lock cooperates directly or indirectly with the body of the binding. In the latter case, the movable lock is placed in a case and it is a part of the case which is pinched between the lock and the body to ensure the take-up of the games. This arrangement is particularly advantageous because, during a change in the longitudinal position of the binding, unlocking the lock also causes the clearance to be released to make sliding easier for adjustment.

Various embodiments of the present invention will be described below, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

fig. 1 to 8 represent a first embodiment;

fig. 1 is a side view in longitudinal section of the binding in the inactive position of non-maintenance of the shoe;

fig. 2 is a side view in longitudinal section of the binding in the active shoe holding position;

fig. 3 is a bottom view of the body alone of the binding according to the invention;

fig. 4 is a side view in longitudinal section on IV-IV of FIG. 3 and also shows the movable lock and the spring;

fig. 5 is a perspective view of the movable lock;

fig. 6 is a bottom view of the body with the adjustment system in place;

fig. 7 is a rear view of the fixing in the inactive position; fig. 8 is a partial view on a large scale showing how the action of the latch is effected on the body of the binding;

fig. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and is an alternative embodiment;

fig. 10 to 14 show another embodiment;

fig. 10 is a partial view on a large scale showing the adjustment device, the binding being in the inactive position of non-maintenance of the shoe;

fig. 11 is a similar view in the active position for holding the boot;

fig. 12 is a similar view in which the lock is unlocked during longitudinal adjustment movement;

fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the adjustment device;

fig. 14 is a perspective view of the adjustment device;

fig. 15 and 16 show on a large scale other embodiments of the ramp system.

Figs. 1 to 8 represent a first embodiment in which there is a binding bearing the general reference 1 mounted on a ski 2. To do this, the body 3 of the binding is, as is well known per se, slidingly arranged in a slide 4 extending longitudinally and which is fixed to the ski, for example by a front plate 5 and lateral flanges 26 which are immobilized on the ski by screws 27. The fixing is adjustable in longitudinal position on the ski and comprises, in the body of the binding, a locking system constituted by a movable lock 6 resiliently urged by a spring system 7 towards a locking position in which it cooperates with means for holding in position advantageously arranged on the slide. To this end, the central part 9 of the slide comprises a succession of hollows or holes 8 arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the movable lock 6 is constituted by a plate carrying, on its underside, protrusions 10. Said lock comprises, inter alia, an operating member 11 extending backwards and forwards, a support 12 for the springs produced on a leg 13 folded vertically. In the locked position, the projections 10 of the bolt 6 cooperate with the recesses 8 of the slide 4. The springs 7 urging the bolt are therefore, on the one hand, bearing on the face 12 of the tab 13 and, on the other hand , are supported on the face 14 of the body 3. The springs 7 are arranged longitudinally and serve as longitudinal thrust springs.

The locking system is placed in a housing 15 made under the body (see figs 3,4 and 6). This housing 15 comprises three zones: a zone 18 for the rear part of the movable lock, a second zone 17 for the longitudinal displacement of the body 3 relative to the lug 13 of the lock and a third zone 16 for the springs 7. The mobile lock has two longitudinal lateral folds 19. These two folds each include a ramp 20 inclined and directed upwards to cooperate at rest (fig. 1) with ramps 21 made laterally and symmetrically in the area 17 of the housing 15. These ramps are inclined and directed downward forming an angle a with the plane of the ski. The body 3 is kept sliding in the slideway 4. For this purpose, the body 3 comprises two lateral sliding projections 22 held by two folds 23 of the slideway while providing a vertical clearance e (fig. 7) between the lower face 30 of the body and part 90 of the slide.

Fig. 1 shows the attachment in the inactive position, that is to say without shoe. In this position, the binding is pushed forward along F with a force F4 thanks to the springs 7 which bear on the bolt positioned and locked relative to the ski in the slide. The forward movement along F takes place until the ramps 21 of the housing 15 are in contact against the inclined ramps 20 of the movable lock 6. The contact is made by elastic action of the springs 7. FIG. 8 is a partial view on a large scale showing how this contact is made. The action of the latch 6 on the body 3 of the binding is therefore done by the action of the ramps 20 of the latch 6 on the ramps 21 of the body 3. The action of the ramp 20 on the body is the force Fl5 which is biased and which has two components: a horizontal component F3 and a vertical component F2. The horizontal component F3 is equal and opposite to the force F4 (fig. 1) which is the action of the springs 7 on the face 14 of the body 3. 2

The vertical component directed upwards F2 therefore forces the body upwards. Since there are two lateral contacts, the body will be lifted upwards by the force 2 x F2 to come to be placed and wedged upwards in the slide, as shown in fig. 7. The play e is therefore caught elastically. In a manner known per se during the fitting, there is a retraction of the heel against the action of the thrust springs 7. During this movement, the ramps 21 leave the ramps 20 of the latch to provide a space 70. There is therefore no longer contact between them, therefore more contact force Fj, therefore more vertical action F2 . The vertical play is no longer caught up and the body can be placed where it wants vertically in the slide. The longitudinal sliding of the body is therefore greatly facilitated.

Fig. 2 shows the active position for holding the shoe 25. It can be seen that the ramps 20 of the lock 6 are no longer in

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contact with the ramps 21 of the body 3. In the event of ski flexion, the heel piece can therefore slide easily in the slide against the action of the recoil springs.

The adjustment in the longitudinal position is carried out with a screwdriver by lifting the movable latch 6 to release the projections 10 from the recesses 8 of the slide. This unlocks the movable lock. Then, the fastener 1 is moved to choose another appropriate longitudinal position and the lock is released to relock it relative to the slide. To this end, the slide 4 comprises a succession of regularly spaced recesses 8.

Fig. 9 shows a variant where the movable lock 6 of the previous embodiment is replaced by a fixed lock relative to the ski 60. For this purpose, the lock 60 is integral with the slide 4 and includes a bearing face 12 for the springs 7 and an inclined ramp 200 directed upwards to cooperate with an inclined ramp 210 directed downwards produced under the body 3.

Figs. 10 to 14 represent another embodiment. In it, the body of the binding is identical to the first embodiment, apart from a housing 160 mentioned in dotted lines in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6. On the other hand, the adjustment system is more elaborate and mainly comprises a movable lock 6 urged by two push springs 7. There is also a support piece 31, a piston 32. In addition, the latch 6, the piston 32, the support piece 31 and the springs 7 are arranged in a case 33, which is placed in the housing 15 of the body 3. The piston 32 is preferably made of plastic and has a generally parallelepiped shape and includes two longitudinal blind holes 320 for the springs 7. It comprises, among other things, two guide projections 321, a bearing face 322 for the lock and a flange 323 for vertical retention for the lock. The support piece 31 includes a support face 310 for the springs and a projection 311. The case 33 is made of sheet steel and includes a central sliding part 330 and, towards the front, a vertical fold 331 comprising a hole 332 in which the projection 311 of the support piece 31 takes place. Towards the rear, the case 33 comprises two lateral folds 333 extending upward with an inclination. The folds 333 include a bearing face 334 cooperating with the ramps 21 of the body and a bearing face 335 cooperating with the ramps 20 of the latch 6. In the inactive position (fig. 10), it can be seen that the folds 333 are pinched between the ramps 21 of the body and the ramps 20 of the lock thanks to the action of the piston 32 urged by the springs 7. Note that the projection 311 of the support piece 31 bears on the bottom of the housing 160. As in the embodiment previous, the body is lifted upwards thanks to the force 2 xF2.

Fig. 11 shows the carriageway fastening with the body receding against the action of the thrust springs 7. During this recoil, the ramps 21 move away from the lock, providing, as in the previous case, a space 70. There is therefore has more forces F2 and the body 5 is no longer stressed upwards. The decline is therefore made easier. According to this embodiment, the adjustment system has the distinction of vertically releasing the body from the binding to make it easier to move it longitudinally for adjustment.

Fig. 12 shows the adjustment device unlocked for a longitudinal displacement for adjustment. To unlock, it suffices to lift the bolt by tilting it in the case according to P against the thrust of the piston 32 urged by the thrust springs 7. It can therefore be seen that, during this movement, the projections 10 leave the corresponding hollows 8, that the piston is pushed forward 15 along F, and that the case 33 is tilted upward along P, leaving a clearance 71 between case and slide, which makes longitudinal movement of the binding easier, because the adjustment device shown in fig. 14 no longer rubs on the adjustment part 9. It can be seen that, during the tilting of the case along P, there has been simultaneous translation of the latter towards the front along F (fig. 12). For this purpose, the projection 311 is such that the wall 312 of the support piece 31 is located at a distance L from the support face 14 of the body and L is greater than the thickness 1 of the wall 331 of l case 33.

In fig. 7, it can be seen that the two folds 23 of the slide extending longitudinally converge towards one another at points A situated above the surface of the ski, the two folds 23 thus forming an angle ß acute. Thus, when the body 3 is urged upwards according to F6, it also results in a take-up of the lateral clearance by wedging the lateral tabs 22 of the body in the folds 23 conver-30 gents of the slide.

In the various previous embodiments, the ramps 21 produced in the body are directed downward and forward. These ramps cooperate with the ramps 20 of the lock which are on the other hand directed upwards and backwards. The ramp system is therefore produced by a ramp cooperating with another ramp, but it could be otherwise. Indeed, there could be only one ramp either on the body (fig. 15) or on the latch (fig. 16), the contact between the two being made at a point 80. We would not go out of the scope of the invention whatever the ramp system, provided that it is such that there is a force tending to make up for the clearances.

It would not go beyond the scope of the invention if the lock extended. parallel to the surface of the ski to produce a transverse force F2, in order to make a temporary lateral play take-up.

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Claims (22)

640,421 1. Safety binding for skiing, comprising a body (3) movable longitudinally with respect to a slide (4) against the action of an elastic system (7), characterized in that it comprises means for catching the games between the body and the slide, said means (6,20,21) allowing on the other hand the release of said games in case of longitudinal displacement of said movable body against the action of said elastic system. 2. A binding according to claim 1, characterized in that the means comprise a lock (6) linked to the ski cooperating with the body (3) of the binding. 2 3. A binding according to claim 2, characterized in that the action of the lock (6) on the body (3) of the binding is a force comprising at least one component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ski. 4. Attachment according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that it comprises a ramp system (20, 21) ensuring the cooperation of the lock (6) with the body (3). 5. A binding according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the latch (6) and / or the body (3) of the binding comprise a ramp. 6. Attachment according to claim 5, characterized in that the ramp (20) formed on the latch (6) is oriented towards the body. 7. Attachment according to claim 5, characterized in that the ramp (21) formed on the body (3) of the attachment and oriented towards the latch. 8. Binding according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the lock (6) is fixed to the ski. 9. A binding according to claim 8, characterized in that the latch (6) is disposed movably in the body (3) of the binding and is resiliently biased towards a locking position in which it cooperates with means for holding in position , fixed on the upper face of the ski (2). 10. Attachment according to claim 9, characterized in that the movable lock (6) cooperates with the body (3) of the attachment by means of a case (33) in which it is arranged. 11. A binding according to claim 10, characterized in that the case (33) is movable longitudinally and vertically in the body of the binding. 12. Attachment according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the latch (6) is resiliently biased by the elastic system (7) of longitudinal mobility of the movable body of the attachment. 13. Attachment according to one of claims 2 to 12, characterized in that the latch (6) and the elastic system (7) are arranged in a housing (15) produced under the body (3) of the attachment. 14. Attachment according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the locking of the movable lock (6) is done by means comprising two profiles fitting into each other under the action of the system elastic, one of the profiles projecting and the other hollow, one forming part of the slide (4) and the other being integral with the movable lock (6). 15. Binding according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the lock (6) comprises two ramps (20) arranged laterally on either side of the longitudinal axis of the ski, ies known ramps cooperating with two ramps (21) integral with the body (3) also arranged laterally on either side of the longitudinal axis of the ski. 16. A binding according to claim 15, characterized in that the ramps (20) are formed on lateral folds (19) of the movable lock and are inclined so that they are directed upwards and rearwards from the fixation. 17. Attachment according to one of claims 10 to 16, characterized in that the case (33) also comprises the elastic system (7), said elastic system bearing on either side on a support piece (31) and, on the other hand, on a piston (32) actuating the movable lock (6). 18. A binding according to claim 17, characterized in that the support piece (31) is supported on the body (3). 19. Attachment according to one of claims 10 to 18, characterized in that the lock is movable in the case and that the ramps (20) of the lock cooperate with ramps (335) of the case and that said case (33) also comprises ramps (334) cooperating with the ramps (21) of the body. 20. Attachment according to one of claims 10 to 19, characterized in that the support piece (31) comprises a projection (311) passing through the front wall (331) of the case to bear in a housing support (160) made in the body. 21. Attachment according to claim 20, characterized in that the thickness of the projection (311) is greater than the thickness of the front wall (331) of the case to allow movement of said case towards the front. 22. Attachment according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic system is constituted by springs bearing, on the one hand, on the bearing face (14) of the body and, on the other hand, on the front wall (13) of the lock (16).