EP0139815A2 - Safety ski binding - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a safety binding of a boot on a ski which comprises two lateral jaws (2) mounted for movement under the force of an elastic member (5) between a closed service position in which these jaws coact with the sole of the boot (C) and an open position. It also comprises structure (3) interacting with the heel of the ski boot and having a sole grip member (29) mounted for movement by the force of the same elastic member between a service position in which this member maintains the rear end of the sole of the boot on the ski and an open position, the whole being so arranged that the opening or the closing of the lateral jaws effects the opening or the closing respectively of the sole grip member, and vice versa.

Description

The present invention relates to a safety binding of a boot on a ski, and more particularly to a safety binding comprising in particular lateral jaws intended to hold the boot in the service position on a ski.

The principle of lateral jaw fasteners has been known for several years, in particular by the patents FR 1,411,638 and FR 2,021,237, but until now has not resulted in embodiments sufficiently reliable to be marketed. Improvements have been made for example to improve the clearance of the boot in the event of the security opening of the binding, as described in patent FR 2,420,358, or to improve the very functioning of this type of binding and give them greater reliability in the event of a fall, as disclosed in the European patent applications of the same owner respectively EP O 084 813 and EP O 085 313.

Recent tests show that the distribution of the five main causes of accidents due to skiing on snow is as follows:

The safety bindings currently sold with front stop and heel are built to allow the release of the shoe in the event of torsion and front fall, the rear fall is not or poorly protected by a possible release.

It can therefore be seen that the significant risks are caused by combined torsional falls in association with a front fall or a rear fall, these two risk factors alone representing almost 56% of accidents. The reasons for these causes of accidents are mainly due to parasitic friction of the ends of the shoe during combined falls before and torsion, these creating an additional torque in torsion of the order of 3 to 4 mDan adding to the torsional torque preset by the fixing stop. In addition, the transverse twist of the shoe relative to the longitudinal axis generates, during combined falls, wedges between the shoe and the front stop jaws which also cause an increase in the torque. The total torque thus generated largely reaches the critical resistance values of the skier's leg. The same phenomenon also occurs during combined rear-torsion falls.

The aim of the present invention therefore consists in providing a safety binding which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of known safety bindings with front stop and heel piece, by creating the conditions such that the binding is capable of completely neutralizing the additional torque due to parasitic friction and that the effects of jamming due to the twisting of the shoe in the front stop are eliminated.

This object is achieved by the safety fastening of a boot on a ski, object of the invention, which comprises two lateral jaws mounted movable under the action of an elastic member between a closed service position in which these jaws cooperate with the sole of the shoe and an open position, and which is characterized in that it comprises a heel piece having a movable sole-clamping element under the action of the same elastic member between a service position in which said element maintains the rear end of the sole of the boot on the ski and an open position, the whole arranged so that the opening, respectively the closing , lateral jaws causes the opening, respectively the closing, of the sole-clamping element, and vice versa.

Thus, thanks to the mechanical connection of the two systems for holding the boot on the ski (comprising a total of 3 support points), the forces exerted in the event of a combined fall on the lateral jaws (torsion) and on the sole clamp (fall before) act in the same direction and add up to cause the opening of the binding, the torque is therefore reduced and said opening facilitated by the combination of the two types of force.

In addition, this invention also relates to a ski boot intended to be fixed on a ski by means of the safety binding defined above, and which is characterized in that it comprises a sole having imprints cooperating in service position with the side jaws of the binding.

The accompanying drawing illustrates schematically and by way of examples the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 are views respectively in longitudinal section and in plan of an embodiment of the fastener in the closed service position. Figure 1 'shows a side view of a variant of the actuation lever.

Figures 3 and 4 are respectively side and plan views of the embodiment according to Figures 1 and 2 in the open position.

Figures 5 and 6 are side views of a first variant of the heel, respectively closed service position and in open position.

Figure 7 is a side view of a second variant of the heel in the closed service position.

Figures 8 and 9 are views respectively in longitudinal section and in plan of another embodiment of the fastener shown in the closed position. Figures 10 and 11 are respectively side views partially in section and from above the heel of the binding according to Figures 8 and 9 shown in the open position.

Figures 12 and 13 are views partially in horizontal section of details of the step-in mechanism of the binding according to Figures 8 and 9.

Figures 14,15 and 16 are respectively side views, in cross section and in plan (with partial section along the line X-X) of an embodiment of the lateral jaws of the binding.

FIG. 17 is a partial perspective view of a shoe intended to be fixed on a ski by means of the binding according to the invention, and FIG. 18 is a partial view from below of the sole of this shoe.

Figures 19,20 and 21,22 are respectively side and plan views of a first and a second embodiment of the support plate associated with the fixing according to the invention.

With reference first to Figures 1 to 4, an embodiment of the binding according to the invention will be described in detail. This binding, fixed for example by screwing on the upper surface of a ski S, comprises two parts mechanically connected to each other, on the one hand a front device 1 for retaining the ski boot C in torsion and including two jaws lateral 2, and on the other hand a rear device 3 for longitudinal retention (for front and rear falls) or heel piece, which in particular comprises a housing 4, in which an elastic member 5 is mounted, and an actuating lever 6 also serving means of tightening the heel T of the boot C in the service position on the ski.

The two devices respectively front 1 and rear 2 are mechanically coupled, so that the elastic member 5 of energy accumulation actuates these two devices and that the opening, respectively closing, of one of the devices causes the opening, respectively closing, of the other device, and vice versa.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the front device 1 comprises two arms 7 carrying the jaws 2 and mounted pivoting each around a vertical pivot 8 so as to be able to move parallel to the surface of the ski S between a position closed service (Figures 1 and 2), the jaws 2 enclosing in this position the side edges of the middle portion of the ski boot C, and an open position (Figure 3) in which said boot is released. The aforementioned displacement is caused by the action of the elastic member 5 of the heel piece 2 to which the arms 7 are connected by means of a rod 9 sliding longitudinally.

The front end of this rod 9 is connected to the arms 7 carrying the lateral jaws 2 by means of two pairs of rods 10, 11. Each pair of rods comprises a first straight rod 10, one end of which is articulated at the end of the rod 9 and the other end is articulated on a second bent link 11, by means of articulation pins 12, 13. This is pivotally mounted at its bent portion on a vertical pivot 14 integral of the upper surface of the ski and has an elongated opening 15 with which cooperates an articulation pin 16 secured to the arm 7, so as to allow the lateral opening of the jaws 2 under the effect of a longitudinal translational movement of the rod 9 forward.

The rear end of the rod 9 is on the other hand connected to the elastic member 5 that has the heel piece 3 by means of bent rods 17, one end of which is provided with a transverse axis 18 cooperating with a fork 19 that presents the end. rear of said rod 9. The other end of the bent rods 17 is provided with a transverse axis 20 pivoted in one of the parts 21 of a spring case forming part of the heel piece 3.

The rear or heel device 3 comprises a housing 4 fixed to the ski S in the walls of which is fixed a pin 22 on which the actuation lever 6 is pivotally mounted. In addition, the heel piece 3 also comprises a spring case mounted pivoting about two transverse axes 23 fixed in the walls of the case 4, the spring case being formed of two parts 21, 24 sliding one inside the other so to act as a piston to compress the elastic member 5, here a helical spring, the force of the latter being adjustable by means of an adjustment screw 25-accessible from the rear of the heel piece 3. The other part 24 of the spring housing is articulated on the lever 6 by means of an axis 26. Finally, the bent connecting rods 17 are pivotally mounted at their bent portion on axes 27 fixed in the walls of the housing 4.

In the wall of the part 24 of the spring housing articulated on the lever 6 are made two millings 28, the fixed pivot axes 23 of said spring housing 21, 24 being in the service position (Figure 1) in the center of these millings 28, the dimensions of which are greater than those of the fixed axes 23.

In addition, the lever 6 has a sole clamp 29, pressing in the service position on the upper edge of the heel T of the ski boot C (Figure 1) so as to maintain the latter on the ski S, in combination with the two lateral jaws 2. The lever 6 also has a member 30 for automatic fitting ("step-in"), the operation of which will be described below.

Finally, in the illustrated embodiment, the safety attachment also comprises a base plate 31 and a lateral guide element 32.

The base plate 31 is fixed, for example by screwing, to the upper surface of the ski S and is intended to serve as a housing for the mobile mechanical elements of the binding, in particular the arms 7 carrying the jaws, the actuating rod 9 and the two sets of articulation rods 10, 11, and to receive on its upper face the sole of the ski boot. This base plate 31 has the particularity of presenting at its front end a deformable portion 31 'in overhang and subjected to an elastic action tending to keep this portion parallel to the surface of the ski S. In the example illustrated, the elastic action is exerted by two small helical springs 33, the space between the upper surface of the ski and the deformable portion 31 'being further filled with a plastic foam 34, preferably with flexible closed cells, in order to avoid ice formation or the presence of snow or other materials in this space. Preferably, at least the deformable portion 31 ′ of the base plate 31 is provided on its upper face with a coating intended to improve the coefficient of friction with the sole of the shoe C, for example a coating in "Teflon".

The lateral guide element 32 is formed by a transverse blade pivotally mounted on the base plate 31 by means of a screw 35 passing through its center, the the ends of the blade being bent substantially vertically so as to form centering fins.

In the closed service position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the elastic member 5 exerts its force on the transverse axes 20 and 26, and consequently on the rod 19 by means of the rods 17 on the one hand and on lever 6 on the other hand. The same moment of force exerted by the spring 5 therefore applies on the one hand to maintain the lateral jaws 2 in a tight position against the sole of the ski boot C and on the other hand on the sole clamp 29 of the lever 6 acting on the edge of the heel T of said shoe. In this service position, the axis 23 and the countersinks 28 play no role.

As regards the safety opening of the binding, its operation can be broken down into two movements depending on the nature of the fall causing this opening; this decomposition is theoretical, since in reality we are only exceptionally in the case of a "pure" front fall or a "pure" twist, the two types of force being almost always combined and simultaneous.

If we first consider the theoretical case of the "pure" front drop, this results in an upward movement of the heel T of the ski boot C and thereby of the sole clamp 29 of the lever 6, the latter pivoting about the axis 22 by pushing the axis 26 backwards. In the first phase of this movement, the spring 5 is compressed and the spring housing 21, 24 pivots about the axis 20; at the same time, the countersinking 28 made in the part 24 of the spring housing moves downwards. From the moment when the upper wall of the countersink 28 comes into contact with the fixed axis 23, the spring housing 21, 24 then pivots around this axis 23.

The movement then continues, by rotation of the vier 6 around the fixed axis 22 and bent rods 17 around the fixed axes 27, to a position called "rocker" in which the axes 22, 26, 20 and 27 are located substantially in one and the same plane. Once this tilting position has been exceeded, the mechanism is in the open position illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In the open position, the lever 6 is almost horizontal, the axis 26 being located below the fixed axis 22, and the heel T of the shoe C is completely released from the sole clamp 29 of the lever 6. In addition , the spring 5 is in its compressed position, while the axis 18 of the bent rods 17 is located in front of the fixed axes 27 of pivoting of these rods so that the rod 9 is also moved forward and thus causes the opening of the jaws 2 allowing the complete release of the shoe. The complete release of shoe C is further clearly facilitated by the particularity described above of the base plate 31 which has at its front end an elastically deformable portion 31: In fact, thanks to the fact that this portion 31 ′ can deform in crashing both longitudinally forward and transversely from one side or the other downward, thus providing the front of the shoe with a favorable sliding slope, friction and jamming between the sole and the plate base are greatly reduced and the release of the shoe facilitated.

If we now consider the theoretical case of the "pure" torsional fall, and starting again of course from the closed service position (Figures 1 and 2), the torsional movement of the shoe C tends to open the jaws 2 thereby advancing the rod 9; in a first phase, this displacement causes the bent rods 17 to pivot about the fixed axes 27 and by consequently the compression of the spring 5, the spring housing 21, 24 first pivoting about the axis 26. Simultaneously, the countersink 28 formed in the part 24 of the spring housing moves upwards; as soon as the lower wall of the countersink 28 comes into contact with the fixed axis 23, the spring housing 21, 24 then pivots around this axis 23. This movement causes the lever 6 to pivot about the fixed axis 22 until 'to the rocking position described above. Once this tilting position has been exceeded, the axes 26 are moved to the position in FIG. 3, and the lever 6 then reaches its horizontal position allowing the heel T of shoe C to be released from the pressure of the sole clamp 29 of said lever 6.

In the open position illustrated in Figure 3, the binding is directly ready to be driven out automatically. Indeed, the automatic footwear member 30 (step-in), which is in one piece with the lever 6, can be actuated by pressing from top to bottom of the heel T of the shoe C. By pressing on this member control 30 of the step-in, the lever 6 is pivoted around the fixed axis 22 and the axes 26 moved upwards by pivoting the spring housing 21, 24 around the axis 20 at first. As soon as the bottom wall of the countersink 28 comes into contact with the fixed axis 23, the spring housing 21, 24 pivots about this axis 23, and the axis 20 is moved down to the position rocker described above. Once this rocking position is exceeded, the binding closes automatically, that is to say that the rod 9 is moved in the effect of the spring 5 towards the rear, which causes the jaws to clench. 2, and that the sole clamp 29 of the lever 6 comes to bear on the upper edge of the heel T of the ski boot C (Figure 1).

The difference in dimensions between the millings 28 and the fixed pins 23 constitutes a clearance allowing the fitting of the binding even with an extra thickness of snow or ice, under the sole, laterally between the jaws and the sole or at the rear between this and the sole clamp of the heel piece, this play thus serving to automatically compensate for said excess thickness.

In the embodiment described above with reference to Figures 1 to 4, the rod mechanism 9 - rods 10, 11 - arm 7 - jaws 2 is similar to that described in patent applications EP 0 084 813 and EP 0 085 313, except for the fact that the arms 7 are pivoted on pins 8 situated in front of the jaws 2.

Of course, other opening-closing mechanisms of the side jaws can be used in the present invention than that described above by way of example, for example a mechanism with retractable jaws as described in patent FR 2,420. 358.

As regards the heel piece comprising an elastic energy storage member and a lever combined with a sole clamping member, it may also be different from that described above by way of example.

As illustrated in FIG. -spring 24. The upper part 6a of the lever further comprises an opening 26 'in which said axis 26 can move, so that there is a clearance between the two parts 6a and 6b allowing the upper part 6a of the lever to be, in the open position of the binding, no longer in a horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 3, but slightly inclined upwards with respect to this position, the axis 26 then being in abutment with the bottom wall of the opening 26 '.

A first variant of the heel piece is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this embodiment, the lever 36 is articulated at the end of one of the arms of angled links 37 by means of transverse axes 38, the links 37 being pivotally mounted at their bent portion on axes 39 fixed transversely in the walls of a main housing 40. The connecting rods 37 further comprise an axis 41 cooperating with the fork 19 which has the rear end of the rod 9, this rod being as previously intended to actuate the opening and closing of the side jaws (not shown).

In addition, a spring housing formed by two parts 42, 43 sliding one inside the other and containing a helical spring (not shown) is pivotally mounted by its rear part 42 around axes 44 fixed in the walls of the housing. main 40. The front part 43 of the spring housing is articulated on the lever 36 by means of a transverse axis 45.

The description of the operation of this first variant will, as previously, be broken down into two theoretical types of falls.

In the case of a theoretical fall before "pure", and under the vertical action of the shoe C, the sole clamping member 46 of the lever 36 will be pushed upwards and make the lever 36 pivot around the axes 38 rods 37 by causing the compression of the elastic member contained in the spring housing 42, 43; the movement continues until the axes 38, 45 and 44 are found in one and the same plane, that is to say in the so-called "rocking" position. Once this position is exceeded, the mechanism reaches the position where verture (Figure 6) in which the axes 45 are located below the plane passing through the axes 38 and 44, the rod 9 for actuating the side jaws then being moved into its advanced open position.

In the case of a theoretical "pure" torsional fall, the rod 9 moves forward under the action of the opening of the jaws by rotating the rods 37 on the axes 39. In doing so, the rods 37 transmit their force on the lever 36 through the axis 38, to rotate it around this axis, and act on the axis 45 to compress the spring contained in the spring housing 42, 43; this movement continues until the tilting position described above is reached, then the open position (Figure 6).

With regard to the voluntary opening of the binding, the mechanism works initially by applying a force from top to bottom on the lever 36 (for example with the tip of a stick) in the same way as in the case described above of the "pure" front fall.

Then, a cleat 47 mounted on the lever 36 abuts against the fixed axis 39. From this moment, the links 37 and the lever 36 are integral and pivot together around the axis 39 to the rocking position in which axes 39, 38, 45 and 44 are located in one and the same plane; once the tilting position has been exceeded, the mechanism reaches the open position illustrated in FIG. 6.

With regard to the automatic fitting of the binding (step-in), this takes place as soon as the heel T of the shoe C comes to press on the step-in member 48 of the lever 36 so as to pivot it. ci and the links 37 which are integral with it around the axis 39, in abutment against the cleat 47; thus, by pivoting the above tilting position is reached in the opposite direction, and the mechanism then moves in such a way so that the closed service position is reached (Figure 5), that is to say with the sole clamp 46 of the lever 36 resting on the upper edge of the heel T of the shoe C, the rod 9 being simultaneously displaced backwards so as to close the lateral jaws (not shown) on the sides of the sole of said shoe.

In the second variant shown in Figure 7, in the service position, the lever 50 is pivotally mounted directly on an axis 51 fixed on the walls of the main housing 52 and is provided with an axis 53 cooperating with the fork 19 that has l rear end of the rod 9 for actuating the side jaws (not shown). In addition, a spring box, formed as in the first variant, of two parts 54, 55 sliding one inside the other and containing a spring (not shown) of energy accumulation, is pivotally mounted by its part rear 55 on an axis 56 fixed in the walls of the housing 52, the front part 54 of this spring housing being articulated on the lever 50 by means of an axis 57.

A sole-clamping element 58 is pivotally mounted on the fixed axis 51, the pivoting movement of this element being limited by the presence of a stop 59 integral with the lever 50. In addition, the lever 50 is also provided with a clamping finger 60 subjected to the action of a spring 61, the force of which can be adjusted by means of a nut 62; the finger 60 slides obliquely on the lever 50 so as to come into the service position press under the action of the spring 61 on the sole clamp element 58, itself pressing on the upper edge of the heel T of the ski boot vs.

The operation of this second variant is similar to that of the embodiments described above, the tilting position being reached when the axes 51, 57 and 56 are located in one and the same plane. In the theoretical case of the "pure" front fall, the force tending to lift the heel T acts initially on the finger 60 through the sole clamp 58. It is only when the finger 60 is fully retracted against the action of the spring 61 and that the sole clamp 58 abuts against the lever 50, that the latter begins to pivot around the fixed axis 54 and to move the articulation axis 57, compressing the housing - spring 54.55, up to the tipping point. As before, the open position is reached once the tipping point has been passed.

The embodiment illustrated in Figures 8 to 10 differs from that shown in Figures 1 to 4 by several essentially constructive aspects.

First of all, with regard to the lateral tightening mechanism, this comprises jaws 62 carried by arms 63 whose pivot axis 64 on the upper surface of the ski S is located behind said jaws 62. Each of these jaws 62 have a front claw 62a and a rear claw 62b, cooperating in the closed service position (see FIG. 1) with imprints corresponding to the shape of said claws and which have the sole of the ski boot C.

As before, the lateral jaws 62 are connected to a heel piece 65 by means of a rod 66 and a system of articulated links 10, 11. Likewise, the front end 31 ′ of the base plate 31 intended to receive the shoe C is cantilevered above a space filled with a plastic foam 34; moreover, the upper face of this elastically deformable front end 31 ′ is provided with a sliding plate 67, for example made of Teflon, favoring the die ski boot C: finally, a positioning stop 68 is slidably mounted longitudinally in front of the base plate 31 and can be fixed in a determined position by means of a fixing screw 69.

As regards the heel piece 65, it consists of a variant of that illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this embodiment, the spring case, also formed from two parts 70, 71 sliding one inside the other and containing a helical spring 72, is pivotally mounted on its rear part 70 around axes 73 fixed in the walls of the main housing 74 of the heel piece 65. The front part 71 of the spring housing is articulated on the actuating lever 75 pivotally mounted on an axis 76 fixed transversely in the walls of the housing 74 of the heel piece 65, by means of a triangular link 77.

The triangular link 77 is therefore articulated by its angles on the front end of the front part 71 of the spring housing, on the actuation lever 75 and on one of the ends of the angled link 78, by the respective pivot axes 79 , 80.81. The angled rods 78, serving as rockers, are pivoted on axes 82 fixed in the walls of the housing 74, and have at their other end a transverse axis 83 engaged with a fork 66 'which has the rear end of the rod 66 .

In addition, a sole clamping element 84 is fixed to the lever 75 and pivots with it around the axis 76; this sole-clamping element 84 is also integral with said lever 75 by the axis 80, however a clearance is provided between this axis 80 and the sole-clamping element 84 (in dotted lines in FIG. 8) so as to allow, as in previous achievements, how the binding works even in the presence of a thin layer of ice or snow between the sole of the shoe C and the base plate 31, or even between the sole-clamping element 84 and the upper edge of the heel T.

Finally, this embodiment also includes an automatic shoeing mechanism ("step-in") combined with a brake or stop. The latter is formed of two lateral branches 85 connected by a spring loop. 86, this latter being surmounted by a horizontal support plate 87. The lateral branches 85 are held on each side by two cylindrical axes 88 mounted transversely in the side walls of the housing 74. Each cylindrical axis 88 has on its external surface a helical rib 89 cooperating with a groove formed inside the passage through the wall of the housing 74, so that the axes move transversely in the passages made in the walls of the housing 74 by turning on themselves.

The operation of this embodiment is the same as in the case of the embodiments already described. The axes 81 and 82 of the angled link 78 move parallel to the axes 76 and 80, and the "rocking" position between the closed service position (FIG. 8) and the open position (FIG. 10) when the axes 81, 82 and 76, 80 are in approximately horizontal planes.

As for the step-in mechanism, it works as follows: in the open fitting position, the cylindrical axes 88 are in the position furthest from each other (FIG. 12) under the combined action of the buckle- spring 86 and a spring 90 disposed transversely between the two axes 88; in this open position, the lateral branches 85 are spread outwards from the ski and protrude under the sole of this, while the loop 86 and the plate 87 are above the upper surface of the ski. As soon as pressure is exerted on the support plate 87 by pressing the heel of the ski boot, the cylindrical axes 88 are pushed towards one another by the pivoting of the branches 85 and against the action of the spring 90, this until the internal ends of the two axes 88 abut against a slope 91 presented by the rod 66 (Figure 13); if the pressure is increased, the cylindrical axes 88 pressing on this slope 91 tend to push the rod 66 backwards until the "rocking" position is exceeded, which causes the jaws 62 on the sole to close. the shoe C and the support of the sole-clamping element 84 on the heel T thereof.

In all the variants of the binding according to the invention described with reference to the appended drawing, a system is therefore provided making it possible to compensate for the play necessary for the binding, and more precisely both the lateral jaws and the sole clamp of the heel piece , can be effectively closed on the ski boot even in the presence of a thin layer of snow or ice, for example under the sole of said boot.

In Figures 14 to 16 is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the side jaws, in which each of these jaws has two separate parts; on the one hand a front part 2a folded inwards and from the bottom upwards with an acute angle of approximately 30 ° relative to the plane of the ski, and on the other hand a rear part 2b which is substantially vertical and forms with the longitudinal axis of the ski an obtuse angle of approximately 70 °.

The front part 2a of the jaws is intended to ensure the lateral support of the shoe (against torsional forces), and to keep the boot C on the ski against rear fall forces on the one hand and partially front fall forces (in combination with the sole clamp 29 of the heel piece). As for the rear part 2b, it plays the role of longitudinal centering means of the shoe C, in opposition with the sole clamp 29 of the heel piece; this substantially vertical rear part 2b does not hinder the release of the shoe in the event of a "pure" front fall, since the jaws in this case move outward to allow immediate release towards the front of the shoe.

FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate an embodiment of the ski boot C, the sole of which has in its middle portion an imprint forming an opening 93 and a cleat 94, the latter having a face inclined at about 30 ° from bottom to top and from outside to inside. The imprint is preferably produced during manufacture with the sole, and the inclined face of the cleat 94 is intended to cooperate with the part 2a of the clamping jaw of the binding. In addition, the imprint 93 made in the sole also has a longitudinal rib 95 with conical walls 95 'on each side, the inclination going from bottom to top and from the inside to the outside (see Figure 18). , therefore having a cross-section in the shape of a V. In the event of opening of the lateral jaws, the conical walls 95 ′ serve to facilitate the ejection of the jaw 2 coming after the release of the latter from the cleat 94, l 'anterior edge of the front portion 2a of said jaw indeed coming into abutment with the conical wall 95'.

In Figures 19 and 20 is illustrated a first variant of the support plate 31. In this variant, the support plate 31 is provided with "Teflon" plates 96 fixed on its upper surface, more particularly at the level of the lateral jaws 2 and on its anterior end. At least the front portion 31 'of the support plate 31 is made of a spring material, of the "Delrin" type for example, so that this front portion 31' in overhang is flexible and deformable like a plate -spring. In addition, the lateral guide element 32 pivotally mounted on a screw 35 is subjected to the action of two leaf springs 97. Finally, an adjustable stop 98 is slidably mounted longitudinally in front of the support plate 31, a fixing screw 99 cooperating with orifices made in the horizontal part of this stop 98. This stop 98, the adjustment of which is carried out according to the size of the boot to be fixed on the ski, is only intended to facilitate for the skier the longitudinal position of the shoe on the binding.

In this variant, the sole of the shoe (not shown) therefore rests on three slightly raised surfaces, namely the two "Teflon" plates 66 and the lateral guide element 32. The friction with the sole is therefore limited to these three surfaces, and the release of the shoe in the event of a combined torsion-front and torsion-rear fall is facilitated. In addition, the possibility of elastic deformation downwards and laterally of the anterior portion 31 ′ of the support plate 31 makes it possible to reduce the lever arms and thus to reduce the combined torque by approximately 20% compared to a plate- classic support not elastically deformable.

Finally, in the second variant illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22, the support plate 100 is pivotally mounted around a screw 101 provided at the rear of said plate, this rear portion 100 'being further provided with lateral fins. 102 serving as lateral guide elements. Thus, in the event of torsion, the shoe can be easily released by the pivoting of the entire plate 100 covering the actuation mechanism of the side jaws 2. The pivoting support plate 100 is automatically brought back into position by the jaws 2.

Compared to known safety bindings, that according to the invention has greater reliability, especially in the statistically most frequent cases of combined torsion-fall forward and rear torsion-fall. This greater reliability is due to the fact that the forces acting on the binding, that is to say the torsional torque on the side jaws and the vertical force on the sole clamp element, add up to cause the opening of the binding, while in known bindings they are antagonistic, the front overload for example making it more difficult to open the front stop.

The binding according to the invention therefore allows a very significant reduction in the sum of the stresses undergone by the skier's leg during falls known as "combined front or rear with torsion" by the fact that the various components of the opening forces torsion and falls forward for example, share the work of triggering a single retaining mechanism and no longer two as is the case with a conventional binding with front stop and heel. Indeed, the forward fall forces causing the opening of the heel, also lead to the opening of the jaws of the torsion restraint system, thereby reducing the torsional torque accordingly. We can even conclude that when there is a combined forward and torsional fall, the holding forces in both the forward and torsional directions are both less than their nominal adjustment value since each of them participates in the opening. the other.

In addition, the mechanism used is simple, compact and formed of relatively few parts. The possible jams on the boot, for example during the flexing of the ski, are greatly reduced. In addition, the presence of a single compression spring, acting almost simultaneously on the side jaws and the heel, simplifies the operations of adjusting the binding. Finally, the binding according to the invention has the advantage, commercially, and also with a view to its use on rental skis, that the binding mechanism comprising three clamping zones, namely two lateral zones and one rear, allows the boot on the same binding installed on a ski of shoes of different sizes. Only the distance between the heel and the lateral jaws must be standardized and correspond to that between the heel and the lateral cleats of the sole of the shoes.

Claims (20)

l .. Safety binding of a boot on a ski comprising two lateral jaws mounted movable under the action of an elastic member between a closed service position in which these jaws cooperate with the sole of the boot and an open position, characterized by the fact that it includes a heel piece having a sole-clamping element mounted to be displaceable under the action of the same elastic member between a service position in which said element maintains the rear end of the sole of the boot on the ski and an open position, the whole being arranged such that the opening, respectively the closing of the lateral jaws causes the opening, respectively the closing, of the sole-clamping element, and vice versa. 2. Binding according to claim 1, characterized in that each lateral jaw is carried by an arm pivotally mounted on an axis perpendicular to the plane of the ski and is connected by means of articulated links at one end of a sliding rod longitudinally, and by the fact that the other end of the rod cooperates with a rocker which comprises the heel piece and which is subjected to the action of the elastic member, so that this rocker has two stable positions corresponding to the positions respectively service and open fixing. 3. A binding according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sole-tightening element of the heel piece is secured to a lever pivotally mounted on a transverse axis and parallel to the plane of the ski and is subjected to the action of the elastic organ. 4. A binding according to claim 3, characterized in that the sole-clamping element came from a workpiece with the lever. 5. A binding according to claim 3, characterized in that the sole-clamping element is pivotally mounted relative to the lever and so as to be integral with play of the latter. 6. Attachment according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the elastic member comprises a spring housing formed by two parts, respectively front and rear, sliding one inside the other and containing a compression spring, the front part of this spring housing being articulated on the lever. 7. Attachment according to claim 6, characterized in that the rocker is formed of a bent element of which one end is in engagement with the actuating rod of the side jaws and the other end is articulated on the rear part of the housing -spring, this bent element being pivotally mounted by its bent portion on a fixed transverse axis. 8. Attachment according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the spring housing is pivotally mounted on a fixed transverse axis and passing through a lateral countersink of said housing, the dimensions of this milling being greater than those of said axis transverse, so that this axis is substantially at the center of the countersink in the closed service position of the fastener and abuts against the upper or lower wall of the countersink when passing from this closed position to the open position. 9. Fastening according to claim 6, characterized in that the rocker is formed of a bent element, one end of which is in engagement with the actuating rod of the side jaws and the other end is articulated on the lever, this element bent being pivotally mounted by its bent portion on a fixed transverse axis, and by the fact that the rear part of the spring housing is pivotally mounted on another fixed transverse axis. 10. Attachment according to claim 6, characterized in that the lever is formed by a portion of the lever which has three transverse axes arranged in a triangle, the lower axis being in engagement with the actuating rod of the side jaws, the upper axis corresponding to the articulation between the lever and the front part of the spring housing, and the third axis being a fixed axis around which the lever pivots, and by the fact that the rear part of the spring housing is pivotally mounted on a fixed transverse axis. 11. Binding according to one of claims 3 to 10, characterized in that the lever has a spout disposed substantially horizontally in the open position of the binding and serving as an actuating member for the automatic fitting. 12. Fastening according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the elastic member comprises a spring box formed by two respectively front and rear parts sliding one inside the other and containing a compression spring, by the fact that the rear part of this spring box is pivotally mounted on a fixed transverse axis and the front part of said box is articulated on a first fixed angle of a triangular link, by the fact that a bent element serving as a rocker is pivotally mounted by its bent portion on a fixed transverse axis, that it is engaged by one of its ends with the actuating rod of the lateral jaws and is articulated by its other end on a second angle of said triangular link, and by the fact that this triangular link is articulated by its third angle on an actuating lever, this lever being pivotally mounted on a fixed transverse axis, and a sole-clamping element being also pivotally mounted on the same fixed transverse axis and being integral with play of said lever. 13. A binding according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises a brake formed by two lateral branches connected to each other by a spring loop, each branch being held by a transverse cylindrical axis mounted to slide and pivot in a side wall of the heel so that said leg pivots with the cylindrical axis between an active position corresponding to the open position of the binding and in which it projects below the sole of the ski and a rest position corresponding to the position closed of the binding and in which it is arranged above and substantially parallel to the plane of the ski, and by the fact that the internal end of the cylindrical axes abuts with a portion of the actuating rod during the transition from the active position of the branches to their rest position for automatic fitting. ₁ 4. Attachment according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a support plate is fixed above the actuation mechanism of the side jaws and has at its front end a deformable portion mounted in carrier overhang and subjected to an elastic action tending to maintain this portion substantially parallel to the upper surface of the ski when no pressure is exerted on it. 15. A binding according to claim 14, characterized in that the elastic action is obtained by the elasticity of said front portion in cantilever or by at least one spring disposed under this portion. 16. Attachment according to one of claims 14 and 15, characterized in that the support plate has at its front end an adjustable stop slidably mounted longitudinally. 17. Attachment according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that each jaw has an anterior portion inclined at an acute angle from bottom to top and from the outside to the inside, and a posterior portion substantially vertical and making an obtuse angle with the longitudinal axis of the ski. 18. Ski boot intended to be fixed on a ski by means of the safety binding according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a sole having imprints cooperating in the service position with the lateral jaws of the binding. 19. Shoe according to claim 18, intended to be fixed on a ski by means of the safety binding according to claim 17, characterized in that the sole has on each side of its median part at least one imprint comprising a cleat, this cleat having a face inclined at an acute angle from bottom to top and from the outside towards the inside cooperating in the service position with the inclined front portion of the lateral jaw, as well as a longitudinal portion situated in front of said cleat and having in cross section the shape of a V. 20. Shoe according to claim 19, characterized in that the imprints, the cleats and the V-shaped portion came from manufacture with the sole.

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