EP0088673B1 - Device for cross-country-ski - Google Patents

Abstract

The cross-country skiing assembly comprises a ski shoe and a ski binding for fixing the shoe on a ski. A toe block at the front end of the shoe has a fastening contour which is capable of cooperating with a complementary fastener on a shoe-retaining stirrup of the ski binding. A spring-loaded locking and releasing lever of the ski binding permits automatic positioning of the ski shoe by downward engagement. The shoe-retaining stirrup is pivotally mounted on a cross-pin which is adjacent to the front end face of the toe block.

Description

The present invention relates to a set for cross-country skiing which comprises a boot and a device for fixing the front part thereof on a ski.

US Pat. No. 4,191,396 discloses an assembly for cross-country skiing in which the front part of the sole has a significant extension which is received in a housing of complementary shape articulated on the ski around a transverse axis. disposed at the front of the toe of the shoe. In this known embodiment, there is also provided an elastic locking member cooperating with the front part of the shoe so as to allow it to be automatically put into place by fitting into the retaining stirrup and to prohibit its removal under the stresses to which the boot is subjected during the use of the ski. The joint thus produced allows correct heel lifting during ski walking. However, the position of the articulation axis, in front of the sole extension and therefore well in front of the toe does not allow natural and efficient walking by the skier. Indeed, practical tests show that the ideal location of the pivot axis of the boot on the cross-country ski is just at the tip of the foot. Furthermore, the installation of the boot in the binding is carried out from back to front, which is inconvenient since the ski risks advancing during this operation. Finally, it should be noted that the presence of a sole extension is unsightly and constitutes a discomfort for the skier when he is not on his skis, in particular for walking and driving.

Also known from German patent DE-A-3,023,774, a fastening device for cross-country skiing in which the front end of the boot is held in a stirrup which itself is pivotally mounted on the ski around a transverse axis which is itself arranged just in front of the toe of the shoe, which makes it possible to a certain extent to eliminate the drawbacks due to the fixing carried out in accordance with the American patent seen previously. However in the embodiments illustrated by this German patent, the fitting of the boot in its stirrup is again carried out in a movement substantially parallel to the plane of the ski and not by a more natural movement from bottom to top for the skier wearing this binding, such a movement from bottom to top, which is also accompanied by the automatic installation of a locking lever immobilizing the front of the shoe in its stirrup.

The present invention proposes to produce an assembly for cross-country skiing in which the fitting of the boot into the binding is carried out by fitting from top to bottom, this fitting being done completely automatically, that is that is to say without manual intervention of the skier, while once the boot in place in the binding, the latter can pivot on the ski in a region close to the end of the foot, with a high amplitude.

To this end, the cross-country ski assembly which is the subject of the present invention, comprising a boot and a device for fixing the latter to a ski, in which the front part of the boot, present in top view, a hooking contour. while the fastening device comprises a retaining stirrup provided with hooking means of complementary shape, the stirrup being articulated on the ski around a transverse axis disposed just in front of the toe of the boot, a member locking mechanism urged by an elastic member being arranged to cooperate with the front part of the shoe so as to allow it to be automatically put into place by fitting into the retaining clip and to prohibit its removal under the stresses to which the shoe is subjected during the use of the ski, is characterized in that the front part of the boot has a front face inclined forwards from bottom to top, capable of pushing the member towards the front of the ski of locking during the fitting of the boot and an upper notch capable of receiving by snap-fitting a beak of the locking member after fitting of the front of the boot in the retaining clip, by engagement of top to bottom of a pair of substantially vertical lateral slots formed in the hooking contour of the front part of the boot on transverse projections turned towards the inside of the ski and carried by the retaining stirrup, the lock being constituted by a lever which pivots about the same transverse axis as the stirrup.

The fixing device preferably comprises an elastically deformable element, arranged to oppose a progressively increasing resistance to the pivoting movement of the retaining stirrup. This element is preferably removable.

Advantageously, the retaining stirrup and the locking member rotate as a unit during ski touring; it is then possible to make the elastically deformable element act against the locking member to oppose the pivoting of the assembly.

The locking member is advantageously provided with a recess accessible by the tip of a ski pole in order to facilitate the release of the binding.

To properly immobilize the shoe in the lateral direction in the retaining stirrup, it is possible to provide thereon a pair of longitudinal ribs adapted to cooperate with lateral sides formed in the sole of the shoe.

• - La figure 1 est une vue de face du dispositif de fixation monté sur un ski, coupé par le plan vertical longitudinal 1-1 de la figure 2,
• - La figure 2 est une vue de dessus du dispositif de la figure 1,
• - La figure 3 est une vue de dessus de la partie antérieure de la chaussure de ski,
• - La figure 4 est une vue de face de la partie de la chaussure de la figure 3,
• - La figure 5 est une vue analogue à la figure 1, montrant l'opération de mise en place de la chaussure dans la fixation,
• - La figure 6 est analogue à la figure 5, mais montre la chaussure après mise en place dans la fixation,
• - La figure 7, analogue aux figures 5 et 6, montre l'ensemble en position d'utilisation (pas du skieur),
• - La figure 8 est une vue analogue à la figure 1, mais représentant une autre forme de réalisation du dispositif de fixation selon l'invention,
• - La figure 9 est une vue de dessus du dispositif de la figure 8,
• - La figure 10 est une vue en coupe analogue à la figure 8, mais représentant l'ensemble en position d'utilisation (pas du skieur).

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear during the description which will now be made with reference to the accompanying drawings which represent, by way of example, a preferred embodiment a set for cross-country skiing according to the invention.

• FIG. 1 is a front view of the binding device mounted on a ski, cut by the longitudinal vertical plane 1-1 of FIG. 2,
• FIG. 2 is a top view of the device in FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a top view of the front part of the ski boot,
• FIG. 4 is a front view of the part of the shoe from FIG. 3,
• FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the operation of fitting the boot into the binding,
• - Figure 6 is similar to Figure 5, but shows the shoe after installation in the binding,
• FIG. 7, similar to FIGS. 5 and 6, shows the assembly in the position of use (not of the skier),
• FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing another embodiment of the fixing device according to the invention,
• FIG. 9 is a top view of the device in FIG. 8,
• - Figure 10 is a sectional view similar to Figure 8, but showing the assembly in the use position (not the skier).

The ski binding device, more simply called "binding", represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises a base plate 1 fixed on a ski S by means of three screws 2. It also comprises a retaining bracket 3 which is constituted a horizontal plate 4 delimited by lateral edges 5, 6, extending vertically along the edges of the ski. The front edges 6 (directed to the left of the figures) are higher than the rear edges 5. The rear part of the edges 6 which overhangs the edges 5 is folded at right angles towards the inside of the ski to form vertical and transverse projections 7.

The base plate 1 is provided with a pair of side cheeks 8, extending vertically, which the edges 6 of the stirrup 3 embrace in the manner of a yoke. A transverse rod 9 crosses the cheeks 8 and the edges 6 of the stirrup 3 to serve as a pivot axis for the latter. Between the cheeks 8 is mounted a locking member 10 in the form of a lever which is also articulated on the axis 9. It will be noted that the axis 9 is located a short distance above the ski S. In the top of the lever 10 is hollowed out a bowl 11 open towards the top and towards the rear of the ski while the rear part of the lever 10 carries a prominence, or spout 12.

Around the axis 9 is disposed a torsion spring 13, one of the end branches of which bears against the plate 1 and the other against the lever 10. This spring biases the lever 10 to rotate it around the 'axis 9, clockwise. This pivoting is limited by the fact that the part 14 of the lever 10 which is located under the spout 12 abuts against the plague 4 of the stirrup 3, which is itself in abutment against the ski. The spring 13 is located inside a cavity 15 which is isolated from the outside environment (snow, ice, mud ...) by means of two superimposed sealing tongues 16,17 formed respectively on the base plate 1 and on the locking lever 10. In the walls of the cheeks 8, towards the inside of the ski, grooves 18 are formed forming slides, arranged slightly obliquely relative to the vertical. An element 19 of elastically deformable material such as synthetic rubber is inserted in the slides 18 so as to occupy the space between the cheeks 8. At its lower part, the element 19 carries an elastic tab 20 which penetrates into a hole in base plate 1 to retain it.

The underside of the rear part of the elastic element 19 is hollowed out, so that this part takes the form of a tongue 21 which extends above the ski, in the direction of the locking lever 10. The lateral edges 21 a of the tongue 21 are slightly longer than its central part 21 b.

The cross-country ski boot intended to cooperate with the binding which has just been described is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This boot C has a front part 22 forming an integral part of the sole 23 and projecting slightly at the front of the vamp 24. The front part 22, which has a height significantly greater than that of the sole 23, is hollowed out by two lateral slots 25 constituting a hooking contour intended to cooperate with the projections 7 of the binding, as will be explained further. Part 22 has a front face 26 slightly sloping backwards when moving from top to bottom. On the top of the part 22 is hollowed out a central notch 27.

The assembly works as follows.

To put his shoe in place in the binding, the skier has the front part 22 of his shoe above the stirrup 3 so that the slots 25 are opposite the projections 7 of the stirrup. He presses the tip of the foot down, the slots 25 engaging on the projections 7 while the inclined front face 26, which acts like a ramp, pushes the locking lever 10 forward, against the spring 13. When the underside 28 of the front part of the sole, which is slightly recessed to compensate for the thickness of the plate 4 of the stirrup 3, comes into contact with the latter, the locking spout 12 automatically snaps into the notch 27, under the thrust of the spring 13.

This operation is shown in Figures 5 and 6.

During the ski tour, represented in FIG. 7, the lifting of the heel of the skier causes the pivoting of the retaining stirrup 3 and of the locking member 10 around the axis 9, in the opposite direction to that of Clockwise. During this phase the spring 13 is first stressed. Then the front wall of the lever 10 meets the edges 21a of the tongue 21, causing their relatively easy deformation, then the tongue 21 itself, causing its progressive bending. The elastic resistance opposing the lifting of the heel is therefore increasingly strong; the amplitude of lifting of the heel is limited to an angle of approximately 90 degrees, angle for which the tongue 21 is bent and compressed to the maximum. At the end of the step, the tongue 21 relaxes, helping the heel of the boot to descend onto the ski.

It will be noted that the front part of the sole has vertical sides 29 which, in the road position, are embedded between the edges 5 of the stirrup 3. Thanks to this arrangement, the shoe is perfectly maintained in the lateral direction in the stirrup 3 and ski guidance is excellent.

To remove the binding, push the release lever 10 forwards, either by hand or by pressing the point of the stick into the bowl 11, and extract the front part of the shoe from the stirrup 3 by lifting the tip of the boot, the heel resting on the ski.

This background set is both simple and efficient. The position of the pivot axis 9, just at the tip of the boot and very low on the ski is ideal. The front overhang of the front part 22 is of short length and does not in any way hamper the skier in his activities other than skiing.

The elastic element 19 being removable, by unclipping it in the base plate 1, it is possible to replace it with another element of different hardness in order to adapt it to the style of the skier and / or to the course layout.

Figures 8 to 10 show another embodiment of the present fixing device. In it there is provided an elastic member 19a which alone assumes the functions previously assigned to the elastic element 19 and the spring 13, and which, when walking, works on compression and not on bending.

However, the general design of the fixing device remains the same as previously, so that the various constituent elements of this device are designated by the same reference numbers assigned the index "a".

The single elastic member 19a provided in this embodiment consists of a pad made of elastic material, for example cellular polyurethane. This buffer is disposed above the base plate 1a of the corresponding device and its front end 30 is engaged inside a retaining end piece 3, integral with this base plate. This elastic member tends to push the locking lever 10a into the shoe retaining position C, which makes the presence of an additional spring, such as the spring 13 provided in the previous embodiment, superfluous.

However, this elastic member also has the function of ensuring the role assigned to the elastic element 19 existing in this previous embodiment. During ski touring, the lifting of the heel of the boot causes the retaining stirrup 3a and the locking member 10a to pivot about the axis 9a, counterclockwise. . The stirrup 3a and the locking member 10a thus press on the elastic pad 19a which is compressed. The elastic resistance opposing the lifting of the heel is therefore increasingly strong. At the end of the step, the elastic buffer 19a relaxes, helping the heel of the boot to descend onto the ski.

As in the previous embodiment, the release of the binding is achieved by pushing the lever 10a forward, either by hand or by pressing the tip of a stick in the bowl 11a of this lever. This maneuver is obviously carried out against the pressure exerted by the single elastic member 19a provided in this embodiment.

The corresponding fixing device therefore has the same operating characteristics and advantages as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 7.

Claims (7)

1. Cross-country skiing assembly comprising a shoe (C) and a ski-binding device for fixing this latter on a ski (S), in which the front portion of the shoe has a fastening contour when looking from above whilst the ski-binding device comprises a retaining stirrup (3, 3a) provided with fastening means of complementary shape, the stirrup being pivoted on the ski (S) about a cross-pin (9, 9a) placed immediately in front of the tip of the shoe (C), a locking member (10, 10a) acted upon by an elastic element (13,19a) being adapted to cooperate with the front portion (22) of the shoe (C) in such a manner as to permit automatic positioning of the shoe by engagement within the retaining stirrup (3, 3a) and to prevent withdrawal of the shoe under the stresses to which the shoe is subjected during use of the ski, characterized in that the front portion (22) of the shoe is provided with a forwardly and upwardly inclined front face (26) which is capable of thrusting-back the locking member (10, 10a) towards the front end of the ski during positioning of the shoe and with a top recess (27) for receiving a nose (12,12a) of the locking member (10, 10a) by snap-action engagement after positioning of the front end of the shoe within the retaining stirrup (3, 3a) by downward engagement of a pair of substantially vertical lateral grooves (25) formed in the fastening contour of the front portion (22) of the shoe (C) on transverse projections (7, 7a) which are directed towards the interior of the ski (S) and carried by the retaining stirrup (3, 3a), the locking member (10,10a) being constituted by a lever which pivots about the same cross-pin (9, 9a) as the stirrup.

2. Cross-country skiing assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the ski binding device comprises an elastically deformable element (19,19a) so arranged as to set up a progressively increasing resistance to the retaining stirrup (3, 3a) when this latter pivots about its pivot-pin (9, 9a) in the direction corresponding to lifting of the heel of the shoe.

3. Cross-country skiing assembly in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that the elastic element (19,19a) is detachably mounted in the ski-binding device.

4. Cross-country skiing assembly in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that the elastic element (19,19a) acts in opposition to the locking lever (10,10a) in order to set up resistance to the pivotal movement of the retaining stirrup (3,3a).

5. Cross-country skiing assembly in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the locking member (10, 10a) is provided with a cup-shaped recess (11,11a) adapted to receive the tip of a ski stick in order to facilitate disengagement of the shoe from the ski-binding.

6. Cross-country skiing assembly in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the retaining stirrup (3, 3a) is provided with a pair of longitudinal lateral ribs (5, 5a) adapted to cooperate with lateral flanks (29) formed on the sole of the shoe (23) in order to securely maintain this latter in the lateral direction.

7. Cross-country skiing assembly in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a single elastic element constituted by an elastic pad (19a) which is intended to work in compression and which is capable both of maintaining the locking member (10a) in the shoe-retaining position and of setting up elastic resistance to pivotal displacement of the shoe-retaining stirrup (3a) while ski-walking is in progress.

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