EP0160308B1 - Heel hold-down - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a heel holder, as specified in the first part of claim 1 or 3.

Such a heel holder is described in FR-A-1 485 708. In this known solution, the release lever is supported during an arbitrary release with the hook-shaped end region of its load arm on a stop of the bearing block which projects upwards from the base plate. The binding housing and the release lever are thus functionally separated from one another in the release position of the heel holder. Cooperation between these two parts during the closing process of the heel holder takes place through the control lever acted upon by the projection of the binding housing. However, this means that the release lever can have no influence on the closing process of the heel holder.

An embodiment similar to the heel holder treated at the beginning is described in FR-B-2 116 767. This version has a bearing block, in the upper area of which a pivot axis for a binding housing with hold-down device and step spur is arranged. In the lower area of the bearing block, a further pivot axis is provided for a two-part control lever, which bears against a control element of the binding housing and is under the influence of a release spring which can be adjusted in its preload. The trigger spring is supported on the control lever by a U-shaped spring abutment, which is articulated with its two legs to the two parts of the control lever by means of semi-axles. The two semiaxes penetrate circular-shaped elongated holes in the side walls of the pedestal and carry the legs of a U-shaped, one-armed release lever at the protruding ends, which is supported on the approaches of the pedestal.

The main disadvantage of this design is that the skier has to bend down to open the heel holder, since opening can only be achieved by pulling on a rope. In addition, when the trigger is released, the trigger spring, the other end of which is anchored to the bearing block, is not only compressed, but also bent, which is an additional work and is perceived as unpleasant by weak skiers.

DE-A1-3332972 describes a heel holder with a base plate and a bearing block which is mounted on the side and can be swung out laterally and in which a binding housing with a hold-down device and a step spur is pivotably mounted. However, while in the known heel holder the pivot axis for the binding housing is in the lower region of the pedestal, according to the preamble of claim 1 this pivot axis should be arranged in the upper region. Another difference is that in the known embodiment, the pivot axis for the control lever is in the binding housing, whereas in the subject of the invention this pivot axis is arranged in the bearing block. As a result, the control element in the known embodiment must also be arranged on the bearing block and not, as in the case of the subject matter of the invention, on the binding housing. Finally, the release lever in the known construction has one arm, which results in systematically different force or torque transmission ratios from the subject matter of the invention.

The further known EP-A1-118 758 describes a heel holder similar to the first embodiment, in which the binding housing is mounted in the lower region of the bearing block and the control lever is articulated on the binding housing and is supported on a control curve of the bearing block.

In this embodiment, the release lever engages in the spring housing via a bolt, the entire spring housing being pivoted upward about its pivot axis by pivoting the release lever up. This swiveling up can only take place when the slide acted upon by the release spring releases from the catch of the control lever against the force of the release spring. In this state, the binding housing can pivot freely upwards and release the ski boot. The release of the ski boot can also be promoted by using an opening spring which urges the binding housing into its open position. The trigger lever is mounted on the same axis as the control lever. This known solution therefore differs from the considered state of the art solely on the basis of this difference. However, there is also no further classifying feature, according to which the release lever would engage with its load arm on a projection of the binding housing.

The heel holder described in AT-B-374 698 already differs from the type specified in the preamble of claim 1 or 2 in that the two-armed trigger lever is mounted in the bearing block and not in the control lever. In addition, this trigger does not correspond to the classifying features of claim 1.

DE-U-7 147 822 also describes a heel holder which has a housing-like bearing block in which a release lever and a sole holder support piece which is held in the closed position by locking means are articulated. Furthermore, a pivot lever is accommodated in the bearing block, which is connected to the sole holder piece via an elongated hole and an axle bolt and which is acted upon by a tension spring. This construction is fundamentally different from the heel holder according to the invention, since it lacks both a control lever and a control element assigned to it.

Finally, two heel holders are described in FR-A-2 265 422, in which a sole holder is pivotally mounted in a bearing block which is adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the ski and which is attached to it Back carries a flat guide surface for a role. This is mounted in a telescopic, a compression spring holding member which can be pivoted about an axis fixed in the bearing block. Thus, even in this known solution, the classifying features of the preamble of claim 1 or 3 according to the state of the art are not met.

The invention aims to eliminate the disadvantages of the known constructions and to provide a heel holder which can be easily opened by pressure and in which the power transmission from the release lever to the binding housing is fully effective until the elastic limit is exceeded. Furthermore, the possibility is to be created to also be able to use the release lever, which is present anyway, to close the binding housing. This measure is particularly advantageous for the fitter when adjusting the heel holder on the respective ski boot, but also for the user if he has the heel holder, e.g. B. for transportation, arbitrarily wants to close by hand.

Starting from a heel holder according to the preamble of claim 1 or 3, this aim is achieved according to the invention by the features of the characterizing part of one of these claims. Through these measures, the release lever for the power transmission can be fully used in an arbitrary exit. At the same time, the possibility was created to use the same release lever to arbitrarily close the heel holder.

The two configurations according to claims 1 and 3 differ only in the arrangement and configuration of the cooperating approaches on the binding housing and projections on the release lever.

The features of claim 2 determine the position of the release lever in the open state of the heel holder according to the first embodiment and by the features of claim 6 according to the second embodiment in a particularly simple manner.

The features of claim 4 define a defined position in the driving position of the heel holder for the second embodiment of the release lever. Furthermore, these features also take into account the changed lever ratios, which result from the pivoting movement of the control lever and thus from the shifting of the position of the pivot axis of the trigger lever during an arbitrary triggering process, in a structurally particularly simple manner.

The features of claim 5 ensure easy closing of the open heel holder by manual operation.

Due to the features of claim 7, the solution according to the invention for both embodiments is intended to prevent damage to the control lever even if the trigger lever is pivoted under the use of force.

In the FR-A-1 485 708 mentioned at the outset, the axis of the release lever is immovably arranged in the control lever. If the heel holder is opened arbitrarily, which is very common in practice and is sometimes carried out by depressing the release lever with the other ski, the release force component in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the release lever may damage the control lever.

In the version according to EP-A-118 758 there are also intersecting elongated holes, but these are recessed in an extension of the spring housing and in the binding housing and are penetrated by a bolt which does not form the pivot axis for the release lever.

Furthermore, in the heel holder according to AT-B-374698, elongated holes are cut out in the control lever and in the release lever, which intersect and are penetrated by a bolt which is fastened in a sliding block acted upon by a detent spring. When the heel holder is opened arbitrarily, this pin serves to pivot the control lever against the force of the release spring by means of the release lever which can be pivoted about an axis mounted in the bearing block. In this case, too, the pin does not form the pivot axis of the release lever.

In the first embodiment of FR-A-2 265 422 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) there are intersecting slots which are penetrated by an axis and one of which is in the inner tube of a telescopic holding member and the other in a release lever is spared. However, these slots have the task of allowing the compression spring to be easily tensioned by the release lever.

Furthermore, the pivot axis of the release lever is also outside the intersection of the two slots. Thus, the known design differs from the solution according to the invention in essence.

A solution, as characterized in claim 7, can therefore not be found in any of the publications cited last.

In the drawing, two example embodiments of heel holders according to the invention are shown purely schematically. 1 and 2 show vertical longitudinal central sections through a first embodiment in the driving position and in the open position. 3-5 show a second embodiment in the vertical longitudinal center section in the driving position, in the central position of the release lever, in which the control lever touches the release point, and in the end position of the release lever.

The heel holder shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is designated by 1 in its entirety. It has a base plate 2, which has a bend 2a at its end facing the ski boot, which bends a control cam for lateral triggering. On the base plate 2 is an approximately housing-shaped bearing block 3 on a vertical Axis 4 pivotally mounted. This bracket 3 engages with an offset 3a arranged on its base in a slot 2b of the base plate 2 and is prevented from moving perpendicularly to the base plate by a cover plate 5 attached to the base plate. In this way, the bearing block 3 cannot be lifted off the base plate 2 at its end adjacent to the ski boot.

A transverse pivot axis 6 is arranged in the upper boundary wall of the bearing bracket 3, on which a binding housing 7, which carries a hold-down device 8 and a step spur 9 at its front end, is pivotably mounted. In the front boundary wall of the binding housing 7, a downwardly open, cross-sectionally rectangular groove 7a is formed, in which a roller 10 is mounted on an axis 10a, which roller is assigned to the control curve on the bend 2a of the base plate 2. Furthermore, on its side facing away from the ski boot, the front boundary wall carries a control cam (7b, 7c), which consists of an upper branch 7b and a lower branch 7c, which branches meet at the release point of the heel holder 1.

In the lower region of the side walls of the bearing block 3 on the side facing the ski boot there is a second axis 11 on which a control lever 12 is pivotably mounted. The control lever 12 has a nose 12a on its side facing the ski boot, which nose is intended to rest against the control curve 7b, 7c. On the side of the control lever 12 opposite the nose 12a, a groove running in the transverse direction, with a segment-shaped or semicircular cross-section, is recessed, in which a pressure piece 13 is pivotably mounted. This is acted upon by a release spring 14, the other end of which is supported on a spring plate 15, which at the same time forms a pointer for the magnitude of the preload of the release spring and can be adjusted in the direction of the axis of the release spring 14 by means of an adjusting screw 16. The adjusting screw 16 is rotatable in the bearing block 3, but is secured against axial displacement. The pointer of the spring plate 15 is guided in a slot 3b of the bearing block 3 and in this way secures the spring plate 15 against rotation.

Between the lug 12a and the groove in the shape of a segment of a circle, the control lever 12 has an elongated hole 12b which runs approximately radially to its pivot axis 11 and through which an axis 17 passes, which also passes through elongated holes 3c in the side walls of the bearing block 3 and on which a release lever 18 is fastened is. By this measure, impacts which are exerted on the release lever 18 in the direction of its axis can be kept away from the control lever 12. The release lever 18 is - seen in the longitudinal direction of the ski - essentially U-shaped, the two legs mounted on the axis 17 being guided in slots in the binding housing 7 running in the longitudinal direction of the ski. The end 18a of the load arm of each leg of the release lever 18 is approximately hook-shaped and forms a first projection 18a with which it engages under a shoulder 7d of the binding housing 7. In addition, the release lever 18 also carries a second projection 18b, which in the driving position bears against the extension of the extension 7d of the binding housing 7. This defines the position of the release lever 18 in the closed position of the binding housing 7. In contrast, in the open position of the binding housing 7, the shoulder 7d of the binding housing bears against the second projection 18b of the release lever 18. Since the release lever 18 is supported on the one hand on the pivot axis 6 and on the other hand on the control lever 12 acted upon by the release spring 14, the binding housing 7 is secured against further opening because, in order to bring about a further pivoting, the force of the release spring 14 would have to be overcome. Of course, the resistance to further opening of the binding housing 7 increases with an increase in the set release force.

In the event of an involuntary release of the heel holder 1, the nose 12a of the control lever 12 initially slides over the upper branch 7b to the intersection of the two branches 7b, 7c, which defines the release point. The nose 12a then moves along the lower branch 7c, this movement being supported by the release spring 14.

However, if an arbitrary release is to be initiated, the release lever 18 is pivoted clockwise. The binding housing 7 is raised by means of the first projection 18a of the load arm of the release lever 18 which engages under it until the lug 12a of the control lever 12 has passed the release point of the control curve formed by the two branches 7b and 7c. Then the heel holder 1 opens automatically under the influence of the release spring 14.

The embodiment 1 'of a heel holder shown in FIGS. 3-5 is very similar to the first. It differs from this only in that the binding housing 7 'carries on each side not one but a pair of lugs 7'd and 7'e which protrude into the slots in which the legs of the release lever 18' during their pivoting movement are led. The release lever 18 'carries on each leg an approximately perpendicular to its longitudinal axis projection 18'a, which projects between each of the pairs of lugs 7'd, 7'e of the binding housing 7'.

The process in the involuntary triggering corresponds to that in the first embodiment.

However, the arbitrary release of the heel holder 1 'is somewhat different. First of all, the upper shoulder 7'd lies on the top 18'b of the projection 18'a (see FIG. 3). If the release lever 18 'is now pivoted clockwise (see FIG. 4), the binding housing 7' is raised by the projection 18'a until the release point, ie the intersection of the branches 7'b and 7'c of the control curve, has just been exceeded. From At this point, the upper shoulder 7'd of the binding housing 7 'moves away from the upper side 18'b of the projection 18'a of the release lever 18', and the lower shoulder 7'e of the binding housing 7 'comes into contact with a control curve 18'. d, which is formed by the load arm of the release lever 18 '. At the same time, this opening movement of the heel holder 1 'is supported by the release spring 14. This movement ends when the trigger lever 18 'comes to rest on the pivot axis 6 of the binding housing 7'. However, since the pivoting movement of the binding housing 7 'continues under the influence of the release spring 14, the lower projection Te of the binding housing comes to rest against the underside 18'c of the projection 18'a of the release lever 18'. The open position of the heel holder 1 'is thus reached (see FIG. 5).

Of course, it is possible to step into the heel holder 1 'with the ski boot without pivoting the release lever 18'. However, if the release lever 18 'is pivoted counterclockwise during the boarding process at the same time as the tread 9 is depressed, the work to be done by the foot of the user is substantially reduced, especially since the lower lugs Te' of the binding housing 7 'from the projection 18 are reduced by the release lever 18' 'a of the trigger lever 18' can be moved down with a very large transmission ratio.

A similar procedure is also possible in the first embodiment.

Claims (7)

1. A heel clamp (1) comprising a base plate (2) secured to a ski or mounted on a guide rail secured to the ski for adjustment and positioning thereon in the longitudinal direction of the ski, and a bearing block (3) mounted on said base plate (2) and provided at its upper portion with a pivot axle (6) for a clamp housing (7) including a clamp-down member (8) and a step projection (9), and at its lower portion, with a further pivot axle (11) for a control lever (12) abutting a control element (7b, 7c) of said clamp housing (7) under the action of an adjustable-bias release spring (14), said control lever (12) carrying a hingedly mounted two-armed release lever (18) having a load arm with a hook-shaped end portion forming a first projection (18a) engaging a lug (7d) of said clamp housing (7), characterized in that said lug (7d) is formed immediately adjacent the rear face of the forward portion of said clamp housing (7) carrying said clamp-down member (8), said lug including a lower portion acting as a stop, and an extension projecting upwards and forwards, in that said release lever (18) is of substantially U-shaped configuration - as seen in the longitudinal direction of the ski -, the respective first projections (18a) of the two legs of its load arm resulting from said U-shaped configuration engaging the stop formed by the lower portion of said lug (7d) of said clamp housing (7) from below in the use position of the heel clamp (1), while a respective second projection (18b) of said legs is supported on said extension of said lug (7d) of said clamp housing (7), each second projection (18b) of said legs being disposed at a vertically spaced position above each respective first projection (18a), and in that said bearing block (3) is optionally mounted for lateral pivotal displacement relative to said base plate (2) (fig. 1).

2. A heel clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that in the opened state of said heel clamp (1), the second projection (18b) on each leg of the load arm of said release lever (18) is supported from the rear on said lug (7d) of said clamp housing (7), while the actuator arm of said release lever (18) is supported on said pivot axle (6) of said clamp housing (7) (fig. 2).

3. A heel clamp (1') comprising a base plate (2) secured to a ski or mounted on a guide rail secured to the ski for adjustement and positioning thereon in the longitudinal direction of the ski, and a bearing block (3) mounted on said base plate (2) and provided at its upper portion with a pivot axle (6) for a clamp housing (7') including a clamp-down member (8) and a step projection (9), and at its lower portion, with a further pivot axle (11) for a control lever (12) abutting a control element (7'b, 7'c) of said clamp housing (7') under the action of an adjustable-bias release spring (14), said control lever (12) carrying a hingedly mounted two-armed release lever (18') having a load arm with a hook-shaped end portion forming a first projection (18'a) engaging a lug (7'd) of said clamp housing (7'), characterized in that on each side of the forward portion of said clamp housing (7') carrying said clamp-down member (8) there is immediately provided a pair of lugs (7'd, 7'e) disposed at vertically spaced positions relative to one another so as to form an upper lug (7'd) and a lower lug (7'e), in that said release lever (18') is of substantially U-shaped configuration as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the ski, and that the free end of each leg of said release lever (18') resulting from said U-shaped configuration is provided with a projection (18'a) received between the two lugs (7'd, 7'e) of the respective pair thereof carried by said clamp housing (7') (figs. 3-5).

4. A heel clamp according to claim 3, characterized in that each projection (18'a) of said release lever (18') is substantially shaped - as viewed in the transverse direction of the ski - as a rectangle the upper side of which abuts the lower side of the respective associated upper lug (7'd) in the use position to thereby permit said clamp-down member (8) to be intentionally released (figs. 3 and 4).

5. A heel clamp according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that below each projection (18'a) of said release lever (18') there is provided a respective control curve (18'd) cooperating in the release position of said heel clamp (1') with the lower side (18'c) of the respective projection (18'a) of said release lever (18') to form a rest position for the two lower lugs (7'e) of said clamp housing (7') (fig. 5).

6. A heel clamp according to any of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that in the released state of said heel clamp (1') said release lever (18') on the one hand abuts said pivot axle (6) of said clamp housing (7') and is on the other hand retained in position by engagement with the lower lug (7'e) of said clamp housing (7') (fig. 5).

7. A heel clamp according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pivot axle (17) for said release lever (18,18') is guided on the one hand in an elongate hole (12b) extending in said control lever (12) in a substantially radial direction with respect to the pivot axle (11) thereof, and on the other hand, in two arcuate elongate holes (3a) formed in the sidewalls of said bearing block (3) and centered about the centerline of said pivot axle (11) of said control lever (12) (figs. 1-5).

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