EP0284743B1 - Safety ski binding - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a safety ski binding with a bearing block that can be swung out laterally about a vertical axis against the force of a return spring and relative to a base plate that can be displaced parallel to the upper side of the ski, with a latching rocker that is loaded by a release spring and that interacts with a bearing block that is fixed to the bearing block and that is mounted against pivoting of a bearing block on the bearing block Sole holder acts in the vertical direction, with a control track which is preferably fixed to the base plate and a locking element which is assigned to this control track and is preferably formed on the sole holder for controlling the lateral triggering between the base plate and sole holder and with an open one
Binding in a position locked in a counter-locking position, a lateral pivoting out of the bearing block relative to the base plate inhibiting locking element, wherein the locking rocker or a component rigidly connected to it has a control zone that actuates the locking element against the load of a spring device.

With safety ski bindings of this type, the sole holder is only locked against forces acting in the horizontal plane and can only swivel out laterally together with the bearing block once a predetermined height has been reached. Such "diagonal" triggers have proven themselves in practice.

In order to avoid that the binding swings out sideways when boarding, especially in difficult terrain, and thus it is difficult to lock the binding is, in some known bindings a locking element is provided, which on the one hand should prevent the pivoting of the bearing block about a vertical axis when closing the binding and on the other hand should not hinder the diagonal release process "(vertical and lateral pivoting out of the SOHA or bearing block when the binding is released) .

In addition to solutions in which the locking element is relatively unprotected in the open and is formed on the binding housing or is actuated by it, a solution is already known (according to EP-A-0216123, publication date: April 1, 1987, in which the latching arm or a component rigidly connected to it has a control zone which actuates the locking element, the locking element being held in a disengaged position, in which the side bracket swings out relative to the base plate, in every position of the locking rocker in which it engages under the locking lug.

The control zone moved with the locking rocker allows a more precise control of the locking element than is possible with the binding housing parts and also offers the possibility of arranging the locking element in the interior of the binding, protected from icing. In order to prevent the bearing block from swiveling out laterally from the centered central position even when there is constant lateral load, but without inhibiting the bearing block from swiveling out laterally during the triggering process, the more space-saving, simpler design variants place high demands on manufacturing accuracy and the materials used, since the position in which the locking rocker engages under the locking lug must coincide exactly with the position in which the locking element emerges from the counter-locking or enters it.

This goal can be achieved completely, namely when getting into the binding, to keep it centered for a long time, and on the other hand not to hinder a diagonal release process at all, at best by a complex variant of the known binding, in which a guide part of the locking element when opening and closing the Binding slides in different control grooves. However, this variant is complex and takes up a lot of space. In addition, there is the risk that the guide part of the locking element once gets into the wrong of the closely adjacent control grooves after long use of the binding. This would be particularly unfavorable if, when the binding is opened, the guide part slides in the control groove, in which the locking element is locked, because a diagonal release of the binding would then be inhibited.

The object of the invention is to provide a compact and functionally reliable safety ski binding of the type mentioned at the outset, even in the case of coarser manufacturing tolerances and in which the locking element swings out the bearing block, and thus the sole holder, from the centered central position, even in difficult, when boarding Terrain safely prevented with constant lateral load, but without inhibiting a lateral pivoting of the pedestal during the triggering process.

This is achieved according to the invention in that the locking element has at least one spring element, by means of which the locking element can be actuated by bearing the control zone on the spring element against the load caused by the spring device, and in that the counter-locking means for the locking element have lateral contact surfaces, one of which each Locking element when closing the binding holds in a locked position with a laterally loaded sole holder or bearing block until a certain compression or elongation of the spring element caused by the control zone is reached.

Through the indirect actuation of the locking element via a spring element, it is achieved in a simple manner that the locking element is actuated by the control zone of the locking rocker, but that the position of the control zone or the locking rocker does not exclusively determine the position of the locking element. When the binding is closed with a lateral load, the locking element can therefore "get caught" for a long time on a lateral contact surface of the counter-latch and thus prevent the sole holder from swinging out sideways when it gets in. During this "sticking" of the locking element, the spring element is compressed (compression spring arrangement) or elongated (tension spring arrangement), the closing movement of the locking rocker not being hindered by the locking element remaining behind. It is only after reaching a certain compression or elongation of the spring element caused by the control zone that the spring element snaps out of the locked position. At this point the binding is locked so far that it is impossible to swing it out to the side. The specific compression or elongation of the spring element, in which the locking element disengages when the binding is loaded laterally, depends not only on the dimensioning of the binding parts involved, but also on the external load acting on the outside, which determines the extent of the "sticking" "of the locking element on a lateral contact surface of the counter-detent.

A major advantage of this indirect actuation of the locking element via the spring element and the remaining of the locking element (compared to the control zone) in the locked position with a laterally loaded closing of the binding, in connection with the requirement to be met at the same time on the locking element, there is no way of obstructing a diagonal triggering process, i.e. the locking element must be disengaged as long as the binding is involuntarily released (fall) until the locking arm no longer engages under the locking lug and the binding is thus open.

This last-mentioned requirement and the requirement to keep the binding centered for as long as possible when boarding through the latched blocking element can namely be met in an elegant manner with the safety ski binding according to the invention at the same time that it allows indirect actuation of the blocking element via the spring element, with the same position of the Detent rocker (and thus the control zone) to find different positions of the locking element, depending on whether the binding is released or the binding is closed with a lateral load: While the locking element with one position of the locking rocker, in which it still engages under the locking rocker, one Tripping process of the binding is completely disengaged, the locking element can still be fully locked in the opposite position when the locking arm is closed when the binding is closed with lateral loading, the spring element then simply being compressed or elongated. Even with low demands on manufacturing accuracy and after prolonged use, these properties are maintained.

Further details and advantages of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings using an exemplary embodiment of the safety ski binding according to the invention.

1 shows a known safety ski binding in a side view in section in the downhill position, in which the locking element is actuated directly via the locking rocker, FIG. 2 shows a detail of FIG. 1 in a front view, FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of the locking effect and actuation of the locking element of crucial parts of an embodiment of the safety ski binding according to the invention when the binding is in the downward position, FIG. 4 shows a section along line AA of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 shows a section along line BB of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 shows the same view as in FIG. 3, but with the binding position ready for boarding, FIG. 7 an associated horizontal section, FIG. 8 the same view as in FIG. 6, but during a closing operation with lateral loading, FIG. 9 an associated horizontal section, FIG. 10 the same view as in Fig. 8, but with a purely frontal release and Fig. 11 an associated horizontal section.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, in the known safety ski binding, a guide rail 2 is fastened on a ski 1 by means of only indicated screws. On the ski-fixed guide rail 2, a heel holder of a safety ski binding, designated in its entirety by 3, is displaceably guided by means of a base plate 4. The base plate 4 can be locked together with the heel holder arranged on it in a known and therefore not shown manner for adapting the binding to differently long ski boots in the desired position.

In the base plate 4, a vertical axis 5 designed as a pivot is riveted, around which a bearing block 6 of the heel holder 3 fastened on a pivot plate 6a is pivotably mounted in the horizontal plane against the force of a return spring 7. The leg spring trained return spring 7 is formed forming a loop around the pivot 5 around. Its two free legs 7a point towards the rear end of the binding and are each provided with a bent end region 7b towards the top of the ski. By means of these bent end regions 7b, the return spring 7 is supported on a recess 6b formed on the rear end region of the swivel plate 6a and / or on a recess 4a formed on the rear end region of the base plate 4.

On the pedestal 6, a sole holder 8 is pivotally mounted about an axis 9 running transversely to the longitudinal axis of the ski. The sole holder 8 is held in its position holding the shoe by means of a latching device (latching rocker 16, latching nose 17) which is spring-loaded by a release spring 14. The locking rocker 16 is pivotally mounted on the sole holder 8 on an axis 30. On the pivot axis 9 arranged at the rear end region of the bearing block 6, viewed in plan view, an approximately U-shaped spring housing 12 located within the side walls of the bearing block 6 is pivotably mounted. The spring housing 12 receives at least one release spring 14, which acts at one end on a locking part 15 which engages in the locking pan of the pivoting arm 16 pivotally mounted on the sole holder 8, which in turn engages under the bearing block-fixed locking lug 17 in the downward position with a locking projection 16a. The second end of the release spring 14 is supported on a spring abutment 18 which is adjustable in the axial direction of the release spring 14 by means of a screw 19 rotatably mounted in the spring housing.

A housing-like cover 20, preferably made of plastic, is pushed over the rear end region of the spring housing 12 and with the spring housing 12 firmly connected, for example riveted. The cover 20 thus pivots together with the spring housing 12. The cover 20 is equipped with a window provided with a scale, which is provided for displaying the set spring preload.

The locking effective against pivoting in the horizontal plane is shown in FIG. A detent 8a formed on the sole holder 8 lies in the downward position of the heel holder 3 in a detent recess 13b of a control cam 13a which is formed on a detent part 13 which is firmly connected to the base plate 4 via a fastening part 13c. The front end region of the pivot plate 6a carrying the bearing block 6 engages under the fastening part 13c of the latching part 13 and is rounded concentrically to the vertical axis 5. In this way, on the one hand, an unimpeded pivoting movement of the bearing block 6 is ensured and, on the other hand, the bearing block 6 is additionally secured against lifting off from the guide plate 4. The heel holder 3 is blocked against a purely lateral release by the latching recess 13b of the control cam 13a. The front jaw, not shown, is therefore responsible for a purely lateral triggering process. If composite, so-called diagonal forces occur, after overcoming the blocking zone, the control cam 13a of the latching part 13 comes into effect, which allows the pivoted-up sole holder 8 to pivot laterally.

Furthermore, a release lever 20a is provided which, like the locking rocker 16, is pivotally mounted on the sole holder 8 about the axis 30. If the heel holder 3 shown in the downward position in FIG. 1 is to be opened, the release lever 20a together with its driving axis 21 is pivoted up. Through the upward moving axis 21 pivots the spring housing 12 in a clockwise direction and the latching rocker 16 in a counterclockwise direction, so that the latching projection 16a no longer engages under the latching nose 17 and thus the sole holder 8 together with the latching rocker 17 can pivot upward into a position which does not show a shoe.

The locking element to prevent lateral pivoting of the sole holder 8 or the bearing block 6 about the vertical axis 5 when entering difficult terrain, in the known, known ski ski binding shown, consists of the horizontally lying spring tongue 40 connected to the bearing block 6, which is in the in 1 is in a disengaged position from the base plate-fixed counter detent 41, being held down by the control zone 42 of the nose 16b pointing towards the base plate 4 on the detent rocker 16 engaging under the detent 17 against its own spring action.

On the one hand, lateral pivoting of the pedestal 6 about the vertical axis 5 should be possible at least in the initial phase of a diagonal triggering process, in which the catch 8a of the sole holder slides along the control plate 13 fixed to the base plate (FIG. 2) by the locking element (spring tongue 40) as far as possible long freaked out. On the other hand, when entering (closing the binding) with a lateral load, the spring tongue 40 should remain in the locked position (in which a lateral pivoting out of the sole holder 8 is not possible) until the catch 8a is between the control cams 13a shown in FIG. 2 , so that it is ensured that no (undesirable) lateral pivoting of the sole holder 8 occurs even when there is constant lateral loading when closing the binding, for example in difficult terrain. These two requirements can be met 1 and 2, hardly meet the known version at the same time, since the locking element 40 is actuated directly by the locking arm 16 and therefore the geometric position of the locking arm 16 is always exactly one position of the locking element 40 both when closing and when opening specifies. In a compromise, the point (position of the locking rocker 16) at which the locking element 40 is just snapping out or in must be determined.

In contrast, the two requirements mentioned (when the locking element is disengaged for a long time, when the side is loaded with a long locking element) with a binding designed according to the invention, in which the locking element is indirectly actuated by at least one spring element and thus the position of the locking rocker is not necessarily the Determines the position of the locking element, optimally meet even with lower demands on the manufacturing accuracy and after long operation.

An embodiment of such a binding according to the invention is shown schematically in FIGS. 3 to 11 in different binding positions, essentially only the parts essential for the function of the locking element being shown. The same or analogous parts are identified in the same way as in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The locking element consists of a component 50 which is pivotably mounted about an axis 52 on the bearing block 6 and, depending on the position, with its extension 50a lies between the contact surfaces 51a and 51b of the counter-latch 51 fixed to the base plate (latched position, FIGS. 6 to 9) or not (disengaged) Location, Fig. 3 to 5 and 10, 11). Such a locking element takes up little space in the binding housing.

The locking element is pivoted by control zones 42, which are formed on a lever 16b which is fixedly connected to the locking rocker 16, via two spring elements 53a, 53b which are symmetrical to the longitudinal axis of the binding, counter to a torque acting counterclockwise, which from the spring device 54a, 54b acts on the Locking element 50 is exercised.

The spring elements each consist of a leg spring which is coaxial with the pivot axis 52 of the locking element 50, one leg of which is essentially formed by the locking element 50 and the actual leg 53a of which stands out from the locking element 50 at an angle in the unloaded state (FIG. 6, binding ready for entry) . The coil spring part 53b of this leg spring is in each case fixedly pressed or otherwise connected to the locking element 50 at the points 55 (FIG. 4). The control zones 42 each abut the legs 53a. In this way, simple and functionally reliable pressure spring elements which can be pressed against the locking element 50 are formed and take up little space.

Especially because of the small space requirement, it is favorable if the spring device, which applies a torque to the locked position towards the locking element 50, is formed in one piece with the spring element (s) 53a, 53b of the locking element 50. As can be seen from FIG. 4, two helical springs coaxial with the pivot axis 52 are provided for this purpose, each of which is firmly connected to the locking element 50 in a central region (at the points 55), the one helical spring parts 53b belonging to the spring element each being in continue the actual leg 53a of the spring elements and the other coil spring parts 54a continue into further legs 54b which are supported on a bracket 56 fixed to the bearing block (and thus produce the torque counterclockwise on the locking element 50) and merge into one another in one piece. The two spring elements and the spring device are thus advantageously formed in one piece.

The functioning of the locking element and further preferred features are explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 11, which show different binding positions.

3 to 5, the binding is in the down position (closed position). The locking element 50 (or its extension 50a) is disengaged from the counter detent 51 (FIG. 5) and does not inhibit a lateral pivoting of the bearing block 6 about the vertical axis 5. In this fully disengaged position, a stop fixed to the bearing block limits the pivoting path of the locking element 50, which is vertical in the closed position of the binding. The legs 53a of the spring element are pressed as far as the blocking element 50 and the control zones 42 bear directly against the latter in the lower region. The locking element 50 and the spring elements thus advantageously take up little space in the closed position of the binding.

The binding ready for boarding is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The locking element is pivoted counterclockwise into the counter detent 51 under the action of the spring device 54a, 54b. The control zones 42 are pivoted upward with the latching rocker 16 or the levers 16b attached thereto, so that the spring elements are almost relaxed (the legs 53a are lifted off the locking element 50).

If boarding is now carried out with a lateral load, the bearing block 6 tries to pivot out laterally about the vertical axis 5 relative to the base plate 4. The task of the locking element 50 is to prevent this by making it possible for a long time (ie until the locking rocker 16 engages under the locking lug 17 and a catch formed on the sole holder has penetrated into a locking recess which reliably prevents the sole holder and the bearing block from pivoting out to the side). remains locked in the counter detent 51.

The contact surfaces 51a and 51b of the counter-catch are slightly undercut (FIG. 9), as a result of which the extension 50a of the locking element 50, which bears against one of these contact surfaces 51b when the binding is loaded laterally, is initially retained in the locked position when the binding is closed. This lagging behind the control zones 42 of the closing locking rocker 16 is only possible through the spring elements, whereby these are compressed. In Fig. 8 the locking rocker 16 already engages under the locking lug. The locking element 50 is still locked and the legs 53a of the spring elements are compressed up to an angle β to the locking element 50. Only when a certain compression of the spring elements is reached, which also depends on the lateral load exerted on the sole holder, does the extension 50a overcome the projection formed by the contact surface 51b and the locking element disengages. The binding is then already securely locked. At the latest, the locking element advantageously disengages when the legs 53a are pressed against a stop fixed to the locking element (angle β = 0), which in the present exemplary embodiment is formed by the locking element 50 itself. A jamming of the locking element 50 in the counter detent 51 is thus reliably prevented.

The undercuts of the contact surfaces 51a and 51b are advantageous, but not absolutely necessary. In principle, the friction between the extension 50a and the contact surface can be sufficient to retain the locking element 50 when the closure is loaded laterally. Characterized in that the locking element 50 with the lateral contact surfaces 51a, 51b of the counter detent 51 cooperating surfaces which enclose an acute angle with the direction of movement of the locking element 50 which is essentially present when the locking element is disengaged, and which are in contact with one of the contact surfaces 51a, 51b the counter detent 51 each extend parallel to this contact surface 51a or 51b, point loads are avoided.

In the binding according to the invention, because of the long locking of the locking element 50 when closing (with a lateral load), it is not necessary to accept an adverse, early locking when triggered.

10 and 11 show the binding in the event of a forward fall or in the first phase of a diagonal release. Although the locking rocker 16 is in the same position as in FIG. 8, the locking element 50 is disengaged in FIG. 10 (cf. also FIG. 11) and hinders a lateral disengagement of the bearing block 6 and thus also a diagonal release process that only occurs when one position shown in Fig. 10, in no way. If a diagonal triggering process begins, the extension 50a comes in front of the surfaces 57a and 57b lying on the side of the counter-latch, with the locking element 50 being held out until the heel holder is centered again and the locking element 50 snaps into the counter-latch under the action of the spring device.

When the binding is opened, the spring device 54a, 54b and the spring elements 53a, 53b compete, which load the locking element 50 in different directions. Since the torque caused by the spring elements 53a, 53b is greater in the area of the closed position than the opposite torque caused by the spring device 54a, 54b, the locking element 50 advantageously initially stops when opening and only follows when the spring elements (angle α, Fig 10) the control zone 42 or the legs 53a.

The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments shown. Both the location and the design of the locking element can vary. For example, the spring element can be designed as a leaf spring riveted onto the locking element. An even simpler construction is one in which the spring element is formed in one piece with the locking element made of resilient material. The locking element need only have a spring element, and tension spring arrangements are also conceivable in principle. The spring device that continuously acts on the locking element can also be integrated in the locking element, i.e. the locking element can be resilient. However, it is also possible, for example, for the spring device to consist of a leaf spring riveted onto the locking element.

Claims (11)

1. A safety ski binding comprising a bearing bracket (6) mounted for lateral pivoting against the force of a reset spring (7) and relative to a base plate (4) itself mounted for sliding displacement parallel to the ski top face, about an upright pivot pin (5), with a detent arm (16) biased by a release spring (14) for cooperation with a detent nose (17) fixedly connected to said bearing bracket, to act against a pivotal displacement in the vertical direction of a sole retainer (8) mounted on said bearing bracket (6), a cam face (13a) preferably fixedly connected to said base plate and having associated thereto a detent element (8a) preferably formed on said sole retainer (8), for controlling the lateral release between said base plate (4) and said sole retainer (8), and a locking element (50) for locking engagement in the opened state of the binding with a counterdetent (51) for preventing said bearing bracket (6) from laterally pivoting relative to said base plate (4), said counterdetent (51) for said locking element (50) being provided with lateral abutment faces (51a, 51b), and said detent arm (16), or a component rigidly connected thereto, respectively, being formed with an actuator section (42) for actuating said locking element (50) against the bias of resilient means (54a, 54b), characterized in that said locking element (50) is provided with at least one spring element (53a, 53b) by means of which said locking element (50) is adapted to be actuated against the bias of said resilient means (54a, 54b) by the engagement of said actuator section (42) with said spring element (53a), so that on closing the ski binding with said sole retainer or said bearing bracket (6), respectively, under lateral load, one of said abutment faces acts to retain said locking element (50) in a locked state up to a determined compression, or elongation, respectively, of said spring element (53a, 53b) caused by the action of said actuator section (42).
2. A safety ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that a stop acts to limit the displacement or pivot range, respectively, of said locking element (50) in a fully released position, said actuator section (42) acting, preferably by direct engagement therewith, on said locking element (50) on the side thereof opposite said stop, in the closed state of the binding.
3. A safety ski binding according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said spring element of said locking element (50) is formed as a compression spring element adapted to be compressed by said actuator section (42) against a stop fixedly connected to said locking element.
4. A safety ski binding according to any of claims 1 or 3, characterized in that said spring element consists of a torsion spring disposed coaxial with the pivot pin (52) of said locking element (50), one leg of said torsion spring being substantially formed by said preferably planar locking element (50), and the other leg (53a) thereof extending away from said locking element (50) at an angle in the relaxed state, said actuator section (42) abutting said leg (53a) so as to actuate said locking element (50) by way of this leg (53a).
5. A safety ski binding according to claim 4, characterized in that there is provided at least one helical spring (53b, 53a) disposed coaxial with said pivot pin (52) of said locking element (50) mounted on said bearing bracket (6) and being fixedly connected at an intermediate location (55) thereof to said locking element (50), one end of said helical spring being extended to form said active leg (53a) of said torsion spring, and its other end being extended to form a further leg (54b) taking support on said bearing bracket (6) to thereby form said resilient means torsionally acting on said locking element (50) in the direction of said counterdetent (51) fixedly connected to said base plate.
6. A safety ski binding according to claim 5, characterized in that there are provided two such helical springs, with the said further legs (54b) thereof being interconnected or integrally merged, respectively.
7. A safety ski binding according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said resilient means and/or said spring element is formed as a leaf spring secured to said locking element.
8. A safety ski binding according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said resilient means and/or said spring element is formed integrally with said locking element of a resilient material.
9. A safety ski binding according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the bias (force or torque, respectively) exerted by said actuator section (42) through said spring element (53a, 53b) on said locking element (50) is stronger, particularly at or near a fully released end position of said locking element (50), than the opposing bias (force or torque, respectively) exerted on said locking element (50) by said resilient means (54a, 54b).
10. A safety ski binding according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that in the closed state of the binding, said locking element (50) is preferably disposed perpendicular to said base plate (4) and has its end pointing towards said base plate (4) provided with a recess or a projection (50a), respectively, cooperating in the locked position of said locking element (50) with a counterdetent (51) fixedly connected to said base plate, said counterdetent (51) having lateral abutment faces (51a, 51b) which are slightly undercut in relation to the direction of release of said locking element (50) from said counterdetent (51).
11. A safety ski binding according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said locking element (50) is provided with surface portions cooperating with said lateral abutment faces (51a, 51b) of said counterdetent and enclosing an acute angle of less than 30° with the main displacement direction of said locking element (50) during release of said locking element, and which, when in abutment with a respective one of said abutment faces (51a, 51b) of said counterdetent (51), extend parallel to the respective abutment face (51a or 51b, respectively).

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