EP0084813B1 - Safety ski binding - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a safety binding of a boot on a ski with lateral jaws, that is to say comprising two lateral jaws carried on arms pivotally mounted on the ski, under the action of an elastic member, parallel to the plane of said ski, between a closed position in which these jaws cooperate with the sole of the boot and an open position for which the latter is released, the active clamping parts of the jaws having in plan view a generally conical shape flaring backwards.

The principle of lateral jaw fasteners has been known for several years, in particular by patents FR 1 411 638 and 2 021 237, but until now have not been the subject of sufficiently satisfactory and safe embodiments to be successfully marketed. .

Fasteners with side jaws of the aforementioned type are also already known in particular from document FR-A-2311 567. In the fastener described by this document, the two side jaws have on their internal face at the rear end a first ramp parallel to the plane skiing, and at the front end a second ramp located in a vertical plane; the lateral edges of the ski boot have ramps corresponding to those mentioned above of the jaws, so that the first ramps of the jaws and of the boot cooperate with each other under the action of the elastic member to apply the second ramp of the shoe against the second ramp of the jaw. As is apparent from the drawings illustrating this embodiment, the two jaws act in the manner of a single claw on each side of the sole, the contact surfaces being relatively small, the ramps being in fact constituted by rectilinear edges. According to a variant, the jaws also have a third ramp formed from a face inclined up and down towards the outside of the binding and located adjacent to a face also inclined extending the edge forming the second ramp; this third ramp is intended to ensure better grip of the foot for the tilting stresses of the shoe around its longitudinal axis.

The solution recommended by the previous document mentioned above, although constituting to some extent an improvement to the first fasteners with lateral jaws, nevertheless has the following drawbacks. First of all, the small contact surfaces mentioned above do not allow secure retention of the boot on the ski, the front end of the boot can for example have an unacceptable lateral play. In addition, the contact between the second ramps of the jaws and those of the shoe constitutes a center of rotation of the shoe, which is only suitable for triggering in the event of a simple twisting of the shoe, and not in the case of "front or rear" falls or so-called combined front or rear falls with torsion, for which this embodiment does not have sufficient reliability.

The object of this invention therefore consists in providing a safety fastener with side jaws which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of known fasteners.

Consequently, a first object of this invention, tending to achieve the above-mentioned object, consists of a fixing of the type mentioned above and which is characterized by the fact that the internal wall of each active clamping part of the jaws, intended to cooperate in closed service position with a middle portion of the sole of the boot, forms a prolonged ramp making with the plane of the ski an acute angle increasing front to back continuously, or else has two ramps separated by a certain distance, the posterior ramp making with the plane of the ski an acute angle greater than that of the anterior ramp.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, each lateral jaw is connected to a rod sliding longitudinally by connecting rods hinged together, this rod itself being subjected to the action of the elastic member, for example a spring fixed longitudinally on skiing behind the pivot points of the arms carrying the jaws. In this embodiment, the rear end of the rod cooperates with one end of a bent rocker, the other end of which is connected by a link articulated to a piston subjected to the action of the elastic member. The rocker has in this case two stable positions corresponding to the respectively open and closed positions of the jaws.

Finally, a second object of the present invention consists of a ski boot intended to be fixed to a ski by means of the safety binding described above, this boot being characterized by the fact that it comprises a sole, the middle part of which has lateral flanges of generally conical shape seen in plan and forming on each side of the sole a ramp making with the plane thereof an acute angle increasing from front to rear, these flanges being intended to cooperate in the service position with the side jaws of the fastener.

The accompanying drawings illustrate schematically and by way of examples several embodiments of the safety binding and of the shoe according to the invention.

Figure 1 is a general side view of a first embodiment of the binding in the closed position on a partially shown ski boot.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the shape of the two lateral jaws of the binding according to FIG. 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are respective views ment in perspective and from below of a first embodiment of the sole of the ski boot.

Figure 5 is a top view of the side jaws of the fastener according to Figure 1 in the open position with their actuating system with rods.

FIG. 6 is a view in longitudinal section of the elastic tension member with the transmission device by connecting rods in the position corresponding to that of FIG. 5.

Figures 7A and 7B are top views of the fastener in the closed position, respectively representing the side jaws and the elastic tension member.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the elastic tension member with the transmission device by rods in the position corresponding to that of Figures 7A and 7B.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the jaws of a second embodiment of the binding, with a first embodiment of the centering members of the sole.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view from below of the sole of a second embodiment of the ski boot intended to cooperate with the binding of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the sole according to FIG. 10.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are views respectively from above (AA) and from below (BB) of the sole according to FIG. 11.

FIGS. 14 to 16 are cross-sectional views of the sole according to the lines CC, DD and EE respectively of FIG. 11.

Figure 17 is a perspective view of the jaws of the second embodiment of the binding, with a variant of the centering members of the sole.

FIGS. 18 and 19 are respectively lateral and bottom views of the sole of the ski boot intended to cooperate with the binding of FIG. 17.

FIGS. 20 to 22 are cross-sectional views of the sole according to the lines AA, BB and CC respectively of FIG. 19.

FIG. 23 is a schematic view illustrating the position of the middle portion of the sole according to FIGS. 18 and 19 on the centering shoes of the binding according to FIG. 17.

Figures 24 and 25 are respectively side and plan views of an adjustable stopper completing the second embodiment of the binding.

Figure 26 is a side view of a third embodiment of the binding according to the invention.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 4, a first embodiment of the safety binding comprises two base plates 1, 2 fixed on a ski 3 and between which are mounted two lateral jaws 4, 4 'which can be moved laterally under the action of an elastic member contained in a housing 5 fixed on the ski, the elastic member being able to be actuated by a lever 6. Each jaw 4, 4 ′ has a portion 7, 7 ′ directed from bottom to top and from the outside inwards and making an acute angle increasing from front to back with the plane of the ski so as to give this portion a slightly twisted appearance. The minimum angle a may be of the order of approximately 30 °, while the maximum angle β may be of the order of approximately 60 °.

According to a variant shown in phantom in Figure 1, each jaw 4 may have a recessed mediating portion 7a leaving only the two external portions 7b, 7c forming kinds of claws.

The first embodiment of the ski boot 8 partially illustrated in 'Figures 3 and 4 comprises a sole 9, the middle part 10 has lateral flanges 11, 11' forming on each side of the sole a ramp forming with the plane of the latter an increasing acute angle from front to back and giving it a shape corresponding to that of the space between the jaws 4, 4 'in the closed position. Thus, in the service position illustrated in FIG. 1, the jaws 4, 4 ′ exactly match the lateral ramps 11, 11 ′ of the middle part 10 of the sole 9 of the shoe 8.

In addition, to ensure easy lateral release of the shoe 8 when the jaws are in the open position, either following a fall, or voluntarily, the sole 9 still has two transverse grooves 12, 13 respectively delimiting forward and towards the rear the middle part 10. The rear end of this middle part 10 also has a recess 14, located on the longitudinal axis of the sole and which is intended to cooperate, in the service position, with a cone centering 15 fixed on the upper plate 2 of the binding, back with respect to the lateral jaws 4, 4 'and on the median longitudinal axis of the ski.

According to a variant illustrated in phantom in Figures 2 and 3, the upper rim of the portion 7 of each jaw 4 may have two open notches 50, of approximately square or rectangular shape, the internal side walls of which are flared, with slopes of about 45 °, from the outside to the inside. These notches 50 are intended to cooperate in the service position with tabs 51 of shape corresponding to said notches. With this variant, the torsional force in the event of a fall is better transmitted to the jaws, and moreover the centering of the shoe is improved.

The sole of the ski boot intended to be fixed by means of the binding according to the invention may have come from a workpiece with its various characteristics described above.

An example of an actuating device for the lateral jaws 4, 4 ′ will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. The jaws 4, 4 ′, the planar shape of which is conical, widening towards the rear, also comprises twisted portions 7, 7 'cooperating in the service position with the sole of the shoe horizontal portions 16, 16' constituting the extensions of two arms 17, 17 '. These arms 17, 1T are pivotally mounted on the plate 1 of the attachment on axes vertical 18, 18 ', so that the jaws 4, 4' move by pivoting the arms 17, 17 'parallel to the ski surface between an open position (Figures 5 and 6) and a closed position (Figures 7A, 7B and 8), the twisted portions 7, 7 'of the jaws 4, 4' enclosing in this closed position the flanges also twisted of the middle portion of the sole of the shoe.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7A, a rod 19 is slidably mounted longitudinally between the two arms 17, 17 ′ carrying the jaws 4, 4 ′, the sliding movement being centered thanks to a stud 20 secured to the plate 1 cooperating with a longitudinal slot made in this rod 19. The front end of this rod 19 is connected to the lateral jaws 4, 4 ', more particularly to their horizontal portions 16, 16', by means of two pairs of rods 22, 23; 22 ', 23'. Each pair comprises a first link 22, 22 ', one end of which is articulated at the end of the rod 19, the other end of this link 22, 22' being itself articulated on a second link 23, 23 ', which is articulated on the horizontal portion 16, 16 'of the jaw 4, 4'. The different joints are produced by vertical pivot axes 24, 24 'respectively; 25, 25 '; 26, 26 '. Finally, the outer edge of each second link 23, 23 'is in contact with a roller 27, 27' fixed on the plate 1 and provided with a rotating ring so as to guide and facilitate the transition from one position to the 'other.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 7B and 8, the rod 19 is connected by its rear end to an elastic member constituted here by a spring 28 mounted fixed relative to the ski, longitudinally behind said rod 19. This connection is ensured by a lever 29, one of the ends of which cooperates with the rod 19 and the other end is connected by a link 30 to a piston 31 secured to the spring 28. More particularly, and as illustrated in FIG. 7B, a transverse axis 32, fixed between the corresponding ends of two rockers 29, 29 'arranged laterally parallel to one another, cooperates with the groove formed between two transverse projections 33, 33' which is provided with the rear end of the rod 19. Similarly , each of the two rockers 29, 29 'is connected to the piston 31 by a link 30, 30', a transverse axis 34 being fixed to the articulation between the rockers 29, 29 'and the links 30, 30' and a transverse axis 35 whose ends serv ent of articulation to the rods 30, 30 'cooperates with said piston 31. A guide rod 36 is moreover fixed longitudinally by one of its ends to the piston 31, passes through the spring 28 and is received by its other free end in an adjusting nut 37, intended to adjust the elastic force of the spring 28 by screwing or unscrewing it in the wall of the housing 5. Finally, the transverse axis 38 connecting the bent portions of the two rockers 29, 29 'parallel is pivoted in the side walls of the housing 5.

The linkage mechanism between the rod 19 and the elastic member 28 makes it possible, thanks to the presence of the latches 29, 29 ′, to define two stable positions corresponding to the respectively open and closed positions (FIGS. 6 and 8) of the lateral jaws 4, 4 ′ .

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the manipulation lever 6 is pivotally mounted around the ends of the axis 38 outside the housing 5, and is pierced on each side with a slightly arched opening 40 in which the ends move of the transverse axis 34 serving as an articulation between the two rockers 29, 29 'and the two links 30, 30'.

The operation of the safety fastener as it has just been described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 is as follows.

The binding of the boot 8 on the ski 3 is obtained by placing the latter between the lateral jaws 4, 4 ′ open, so that the boot is centered thanks to the centering cone 15 cooperating with the corresponding withdrawal 14 made in the 'rear of the middle part 10 of the sole 9. Then it is enough to pull on the tension lever 6 to lift it and thus cause the reversal of the position of the rockers 29, 29' which causes the rearward movement the rod 19 (see FIG. 8) and thereby the closing of the jaws 4, 4 ′ on the middle part 10 of the sole 9 of the shoe 8.

The design of the link rod 19-elastic member 28 by means of a rocker system allowing a displacement of the bearing axis of the link connected to said elastic member constitutes a lever arm modifying gradually, thus gradually decreasing the moment of force necessary to pass from the open position to the closed position and vice versa. The opening, respectively closing, of the jaws is therefore carried out automatically immediately after passing the balance point of the rocker (reversal point). It can be seen that the spring 28 is less compressed in the service position (FIG. 8) than in the open position (FIG. 6), and therefore less stressed mechanically, which tends to give it greater longevity.

In addition, the link system 22, 22 '; 23, 23 'to ensure the connection between the front end of the rod 19 and the jaws 4, 4' allows a maximum opening thereof for a very reduced longitudinal displacement of the rod 19 and thereby the spring 28. This is important to allow complete release of the boot when the jaws are in the open position, either by voluntary manipulation of the lever 6 obtained by lowering it, for example by pressing the tip of the ski pole into the notch 41 provided for this effect at the upper end of said lever 6 and pushing it down, either because of a fall that led to the operation of the security system. Indeed, the length of the middle part 10 of the sole 9 being less than the minimum distance between the jaws 4, 4 'in the open position, the boot 8 can rotate 90 ° on each side of the ski above these jaws 4,4 'thanks to the presence of the transverse grooves 12, 13 delimiting in front and back this middle part 10. It is thus remedied one of the most serious disadvantages of safety fasteners with side jaws, the shoe release being assured in any position.

In addition, the use of articulated links makes it possible to obtain a longer service life of the device, the friction being significantly reduced compared to known systems.

Finally, and above all, the conical planar shape of the jaws 4, 4 ′ combined with the presence of ramps at variable angle from front to rear makes it possible to effectively and simultaneously control the forces of lateral torsion and of front and rear fall, which is not the case with known devices of the same type. This effect is further improved by the presence of two open notches made in the upper rim of each jaw and stoppers of corresponding shape with which the middle portion of the sole of the shoe is provided, as previously described as a variant. In addition, due to the presence of a single centering element 15 cooperating with a recess 14 open towards the rear of the middle part 10 of the sole 9, the shoe 8 can, where appropriate, that is to say say in the event of a sudden front impact due for example to a frontal impact with a hidden obstacle, disengage directly by sliding forward.

The second embodiment of the binding according to the invention shown in FIG. 9 comprises two base plates 101, 102 fixed on a ski 103 and between which are mounted two lateral jaws 104, 104 ′ which can be moved laterally under the action of a member elastic contained in a housing 105 fixed on the ski, the elastic member being able to be actuated for example by a lever (not shown). Each jaw 104, 104 ′ has a portion 106 directed from the bottom up and from the outside towards the inside and forming an acute angle increasing from front to back with the plane of the ski so as to give this portion a slightly twisted. The minimum angle (forward) can be on the order of approximately 30 °, while the maximum angle (rearward) can be on the order of approximately 60 °.

The actuating device (not illustrated) of the lateral jaws 104, 104 ′ may be, for example, the same as that described above with reference to the first embodiment of the invention.

In addition, between the lateral jaws 104, 104 ′ is disposed a centering member constituted by a plate 107 having a conical imprint 108 whose tip is directed towards the front of the ski 103 and with which is intended to cooperate, in the position of service, the middle portion 109 of the sole 110 of a second embodiment of the ski boot 111 according to the invention intended to cooperate with the above safety binding.

This sole 110, more particularly illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 16, may have come from a single piece of manufacture made of an appropriate plastic material and has three distinct portions connected to each other, namely an anterior portion 112, a middle portion 109 and a heel 113, the connection between the three portions consisting of ribs 114, 114 '. One or the other of these portions can of course also be simply attached to the lower surface of the shoe.

The middle part 109 of the sole 110 has upper lateral edges 115, 115 ′ forming on each side of this middle part 109 a ramp directed from the bottom up from the outside towards the inside of the latter. This ramp 'forms with the plane of the sole an increasing angle from front to back and corresponding on each side to the shape of the jaws 104, 104' of the binding (see Figures 11, 12, 14 and 15). In addition, each ramp 115, 115 'has a protruding formation 116, 116' intended to cooperate, in the service position, with a notch 106 of corresponding shape made in the upper edge of the twisted portion 106 of the jaws 104, 104 '.

On the other hand, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 13, the middle portion 109 of the sole 110 has two conical centering portions 117, 118 respectively at the front and rear ends of this middle portion 109. The angle of each cone respectively 117, 118 corresponds to the respective respective angles of the conical imprint 108 of the plate 107 of the safety binding, when the middle portion 109 of the sole 110 of the ski boot 111 is in the service position between the jaws 104 , 104 'of said attachment.

Thus, in the service position, the ski boot 111 being placed longitudinally on the ski 103, the middle portion 109 of the sole 110 is clamped between the jaws 104, 104 'of the binding, the device for closing the latter having been activated. In this position the jaws 104, 104 'are clamped on the flanges 115, 116, 115', 116 'of said middle portion 109 while the conical portions 117, 118 thereof cooperate with the conical imprint 108 of the wafer 107 of said fixation.

The operation of this binding in the event of the skier falling is the same as that described above with reference to the first embodiment. In addition, the presence of the conical imprint and the two centering cones of the sole makes it easier to initiate the opening movement of the jaws, and above all causes the shoe to be released upward, without risking that it does not hang the jaws of the binding. Perfect security both for opening the jaws and for the complete release of the shoe is therefore ensured.

A variant of the second embodiment of the binding according to the invention, illustrated in FIG. 17, differs from this in that the plate with conical imprint is replaced by four centering shoes 120, 121, 120 ′, 121 ′ attached to the upper face of the base plate 102 of the binding of which only one lateral jaw 104 is represented. Each shoe 120, 121, 120 'and 121' has an upper face serving as a ramp, the slope of this ramp being inclined on the one hand towards the upper surface of the base plate 102 from the outside to the inside , and on the other hand slightly inclined downwards from front to back for the front shoes 120, 120 'and from back to front for the back shoes 121, 121'.

The variant illustrated in FIG. 17 is intended to cooperate with a sole of a ski boot, as illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19, and which comprises three parts, respectively a front part 122, a heel 123 and a part median 124. Preferably, this sole came from a plastic manufacturing part, the three constituent parts being joined by conical portions 125, 126.

The middle part 124 of the sole has lateral flanges 127, 127 'forming on each side of this part a ramp directed from the bottom up from the outside towards the inside of the latter. This ramp forms with the plane of the sole an increasing angle from front to back and corresponding on each side to the shape of the jaws 104, 104 'of fixing (see sections of Figures 20 and 21).

In addition, as indicated above, the middle portion 124 is delimited towards the front and towards the rear by two conical transverse portions 125, 126, whose faces 128, 129, 128 ', 129' inclined from bottom to top and from center of the sole towards the outside thereof correspond to the upper faces of the centering shoes 120, 121, 120 ', 121' with which they are intended to cooperate in the service position (see FIG. 22).

Thus, in the service position, the lateral flanges 127, 127 'of the central part 124 of the sole are clamped by the lateral jaws 104, 104' of the binding, and the faces 128, 129, 128 ', 129' of the portions transverse conical 125, 126 cooperate with the respective centering shoes 120, 121, 120 ', 121' of the binding.

The operation of this variant is similar to that of the first described previously. However, in this case, the movements of forces acting by the centering are clearly greater, since the cooperating transverse conical portions - conical portions of the sole and centering shoes of the binding - are arranged outside the middle portion of the sole serving for the actual tightening by the lateral jaws, and no longer below as described previously (see diagram in Figure 23). In addition, the angles are greater and the vertical clearance of the shoe during a fall in torsion is clearly favored. Security is therefore further increased. Finally, the presence of cones at the front and at the rear of the middle part of the sole makes it possible to obtain a front-rear centering which did not exist in the previous embodiment. Preferably, the middle part of the sole of the shoe according to the invention, intended to be clamped by the lateral jaws of the binding, has a length less than the minimum distance between these jaws in the open position, so as to allow clearance full boot even when it is perpendicular to the axis of the ski.

Figures 24 and 25 illustrate an adjustable stop intended to be disposed in front of the jaws (not shown) of the second embodiment of the binding according to the invention. This adjustable stop comprises a stud 130 secured to the front end of a blade 131 slidably mounted longitudinally in an axial opening 132 provided between the two base plates 101, 102 of the binding. This blade 131 is provided with notches 133 intended to cooperate with a locking member 134 operable from the outside in order to fix the longitudinal position of the adjustable stop. Thus, this stop has on the one hand the advantage of making it easier for the skier to put on the binding by determining the front position against which the front end of the sole of the shoe must be placed and, on the other hand, allows the aerodynamic external shape given to the stud 130 to deflect the snow on the sides and avoid the accumulation of it against the tip of the shoe.

Finally, FIG. 26 illustrates a third embodiment of the binding according to the invention, in which the elastic member contained in a housing 205 fixed on the ski 203 and controlling the opening and closing of the jaws 204 having twisted portions 207b, 207c is disposed in front of it, that is to say in front of the tip of the ski boot 208. For the rest, the operation of this embodiment is the same as that described with reference to the first form of execution of the binding according to the invention. The rocker, whose axes 234, 238 are reversed with respect to the first embodiment, is actuated by the lever 206 and acts on the arms (not shown) pivoted between the base plates 201, 202 in front of the jaws 204b, 204c and carrying these. As before, the jaws 204b, 204c cooperate by tightening in the service position with a ramp 211 that has the middle portion of the sole of the ski boot 208.

Claims (26)

1. Safety binding for a boot (8) on a ski (3) comprising two lateral clamps (4, 4' ; 104, 104' ; 204) carried by arms (17, 17') pivotably mounted on the ski under the influence of a resilient member (28), parallel to the plane of sait ski between a closed position in which these clamps coact with the sole (9 ; 110 ; 122) of the boot and an open position in which this latter is released, the active clamping portions (7, 7' ; 106) of the clamps presenting in plan a generally conical shape opening rearwardly, characterized by the fact that the internal wall of each clamping portion of the clamps, adapted to coact in closed position with a medial portion (10 ; 109 ; 211) of the sole of the boot, forms a protracted ramp (7, 7'; 106) making with the plane of the ski an acute angle that increases continuously from front to rear, or has two ramps separated by a certain distance, the rear ramp (7b ; 207b) making with the plane of the ski a greater angle than that of the front ramp (7c ; 207a).

2. Binding according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that each clamp is connected to a longitudinally sliding strip (19) by pivotally interconnected rods (22, 22' ; 23, 23') and by the fact that the strip is subjected to the action of the resilient member.

3. Binding according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the rear end (33) of the strip (19) coacts with an end of a crank (29) whose other end is connected by a rod (30) to a piston (31) subjected to the action of the resilient member (28).

4. Binding according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that a manipulable lever (6) is secured to said crank (29) and by the fact that the latter has two stable positions corresponding to the open and closed positions of the clamps.

5. Binding according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the fact that a medial portion (7a ; 106') of each active clamping portion of the clamps (4 ; 104) is recessed.

6. Binding according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the fact that the active clamping portion of each clamp (4, 4') has at least one hollow (50) whose internal walls flare from the exterior toward the interior of the clamp, each hollow being adapted to coact in operative position with cleats (51) of corresponding shape with which the medial portion (10) of the sole of the boot is provided.

7. Binding according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least a centering member for the sole of the boot.

8. Binding according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the centering member (13) is secured projecting on the medial longitudinal axis of the upper surface of the binding, behind the lateral clamps (4, 4'), this member being adapted to coact in operative position with a recess (14) in the medial portion (10) of the sole of the boot.

9. Binding according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the centering member of the sole of the boot is disposed between the clamps.

10. Binding according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that the centering member is constituted by a small plate (107) having an impression (108) of tapered shape flaring from front to rear and from bottom to top.

11. Binding according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that the centering member comprises four blocks (120, 120', 121, 121') disposed in lateral pairs so as to define a central space adapted to receive the medial portion (124) of the sole of the boot.

12. Binding according to claim 11, characterized by the fact that each centering block (120, 120', 121, 121') has a downwardly inwardly inclined surface, and by the fact that the inclined surface of the forward blocks (120, 120') is also downwardly rearwardly inclined and that that of the rear blocks (121, 121') is also forwardly downwardly inclined.

13. Binding according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by the fact that it comprises a forward stop (130) whose position is longitudinally adjustable.

14. Ski boot adapted to be secured on a ski by means of the safety binding according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it comprises a sole (9 ; 110 ; 122) whose medial portion (10 ; 109 ; 121) has lateral edges of generally conical shape as soon in plan and forming on each side of the sole a ramp (11 ; 115, 115' ; 127, 127') which makes with the plane of the latter an acute angle increasing from front to rear, these edges being adapted to coact in operative position with the lateral clamps of the binding.

15. Boot according to claim 14, characterized by the fact that the length of said medial portion is less than the minimum distance between the clamps in open position.

16. Boot according to claim 14 or claim 15, characterized by the fact that said medial portion is delimited forwardly and rearwardly by transverse channels (12, 13).

17. Boot according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized by the fact that the rear end of said medial portion (10) has on the medial longitudinal axis a rearwardly opening recess (14) adapted to coact in operative position with the centering member of the binding according to claim 8.

18. Boot according to one of claims 14 to 17, characterized by the fact that said medial portion is provided laterally with at least one cleat (51) of a form corresponding to the recess according to claim 6 in each clamp and adapted to coact in operative position with the latter.

19. Boot according to claim 14 or claim 15, characterized by the fact that said medial portion has at least one formation adapted to coact with said centering member of the binding.

20. Ski boot according to claim 19, adapted to be secured to a ski by means of the binding according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that the medial portion has at its respective front and rear ends tapered transverse portions (117, 118) adapted to coact in operative position with the tapered impression of said small plate, so as to ensure lateral centering of the boot the conical portions being flared on each side of the longitudinal central axis of the medial portion outwardly from the center.

21. Boot according to claim 20, characterized by the fact that the respective of the tapered portions of the medial portion of the sole are equal to the corresponding angles of the tapered centering impression when said medial portion is in operative position gripped between the lateral clamps of the binding.

22. Boot according to claim 19 adapted to be secured to a ski by means of the binding according to claim 11, characterized by the fact that the medial portion is exteriorly bounded forwardly and rearwardly by tapered transverse portions (125, 126) adapted to coact in operative position with centering blocks of the binding, the conical portions being flared on each side of the central longitudinal axis of the sole outwardly from the center.

23. Boot according to claim 22, adapted to be secured to a ski by means of the binding according to claims 11 and 12, characterized by the fact that each lateral surface (128, 128' ; 129, 129') of the tapered portion is inclined on the one hand downwardly inwardly, and on the other hand downwardly rearwardly for the forward tapered portion and downwardly forwardly for the rear tapered portion.

24. Boot according to one of claims 22 or 23, characterized by the fact that the length of the medial portion corresponds to the shortest longitudinal distance between the respective forward and rear centering blocks.

25. Boot according to one of claims 14 to 24, characterized by the fact that the sole is of one- piece construction.

26. Boot according to one of claims 14 to 24, characterized by the fact that the medial portion of the sole widens toward the lower surface of the sole.

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