EP0337905B1 - Devices for fastening boots to skis - Google Patents

Abstract

These means (3, 4) possess possibilities of adjustable transverse displacement. According to the invention, these means permit continuous, precise and quantifiable transverse adjustment. <??>Application to the fitting-out of a ski (2) comprising lines of dimension marks substantially symmetrical relative to a longitudinal median plane. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to means for attaching a boot to an alpine ski.

The binding of a shoe on an alpine ski is most often carried out using a toe and a heel resting elastically, respectively against the front end and the rear end of the sole of a shoe ski. The toe piece and the heel piece are mounted centrally on the longitudinal median axis of the ski.

As is known per se, the stop and / or the heel are adjustable longitudinally to adapt to different lengths of shoe soles resulting from differences in size. The French patent application FR-A-2 270 911 of January 29, 1973 of SALOMON describes several embodiments thereof.

Similarly, it is known per se to position the median transverse axis of the sole of a ski boot either in correspondence, or slightly forward, or slightly behind the corresponding positioning mark indicated by the ski manufacturers, each position corresponding to a specific behavior of the ski, slightly different from that obtained in the other positions.

US Patent 4,141,570 relates to a connection between a shoe and a ski, comprising a platform, which supports the device for fixing the shoe. This platform is mounted on the ski by means of a mechanism allowing adjustments along three axes to compensate for the morphological defects of the different skiers. This document also indicates the impact of the longitudinal displacement of the binding on the behavior of the ski.

Among its many characteristics, a ski has lower steel edges, intended to allow the attachment on snow. Each edge is arranged in a profile called the dimension line.

The dimension lines of the two edges of a ski determine in particular its width at the skid (central part of the ski) and its divergence. By divergence is meant the angle defined by the median longitudinal axis of the ski and the straight line joining the front wide point of the ski to the rear wide point of the ski.

For a given distribution of stiffness in bending and stiffness in torsion, the dimension line determines the distributions of the normal and tangential forces exerted by the ski on the snow, and, consequently, directly influences the behavior of the ski.

A narrow ski on the skate allows the skier to exert greater efforts on the edges.

Indeed, for a given normal effort, the tilting torque of the ski to be exerted when taking an edge is lower when the ski is narrow, so that the skier can thus more easily place his center of gravity in opposition to normal forces exerted along the edge. This is why a ski that is narrow on the skate is generally less tolerant of variations in the angle of the edge and the balance movements of the skier. It is felt as a "pointed" handling device.

A ski with large divergence grips better on snow by its front part. Indeed, it is thanks to the existence of the dimension line that the ski tends to register naturally on a curve. As the point of equilibrium of the tangential pressure forces lies rather forward, it follows that the ski tends to "drive" from the heel. This is an advantage for making slippery turns but a disadvantage for making cut turns.

• C'est ainsi que le brevet FR-954 679 propose de disposer les carres d'un ski suivant un arc de cercle, et introduit la notion de divergence.
• Le brevet FR-85 02048 décrit un ski de structure voisine du précédent, introduisant la notion de dissymétrie des lignes de cotes par rapport à l'axe longitudinal du ski.
• Le brevet FR-81 13302 décrit un ski aux lignes de cotes fuyantes vers l'arrière.
• Le brevet AT-372 860 décrit un ski avec des lignes de cotes dissymétriques depuis leur naissance au point avant du ski, jusqu'à leur arrêt au point arrière.
• Les brevets US-4 688 821 et 4 700 967 décrivent un ski dont la ligne de cote intérieure est très incurvée vers l'intérieur et dont la ligne de cote extérieure est à peu près droite. Il résulte de cette structure la nécessité de monter la fixation, de façon définitive, non centrée par rapport à l'axe longitudinal médian du ski.

The prior art has widely reported on the various possibilities of arranging the side lines of a ski to influence its behavior:

• This is how patent FR-954 679 proposes to arrange the edges of a ski in an arc, and introduces the concept of divergence.
• The patent FR-85 02048 describes a ski with a structure close to the previous one, introducing the concept of asymmetry of the dimension lines with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski.
• The patent FR-81 13302 describes a ski with lines of dimensions flowing towards the rear.
• Patent AT-372,860 describes a ski with asymmetrical dimension lines from their birth at the front point of the ski, until their stop at the rear point.
• US Patents 4,688,821 and 4,700,967 describe a ski whose inner dimension line is very curved inward and whose outer dimension line is approximately straight. It follows from this structure the need to mount the binding, permanently, not centered relative to the median longitudinal axis of the ski.

In all these documents, the behavior parameters of the ski are therefore determined by the characteristics of the machine, in particular the configuration of its dimension line. A ski is more suited to a type of evolution (short or long turns), to a type of snow (powder or icy) or at a traveling speed (slow or fast). It cannot therefore be perfectly suited to all snow conditions or all skier temperaments.

The object of the invention is to provide means for attaching a boot to an alpine ski, allowing the skier to adapt the behavior parameters of the ski to his level, to his technique, to the nature of the snow, to the profile of the terrain, and at the desired speed of movement.

To this end, the means for attaching a boot to an alpine ski, comprising possibilities of transverse movement adjustable relative to the longitudinal axis of the ski, include elements allowing this transverse adjustment to be carried out continuously, precise and quantifiable, these elements comprising a micrometric pitch screw mounted locked in translation, but free in rotation and meshing with a rack.

It is thus possible by performing a lateral adjustment of the boot on the ski, to modify certain parameters of ski behavior, while benefiting from the sliding and stability qualities of a traditional ski. To improve the liveliness of the ski and its grip on the ice, it is possible to move the point of support of the boot on the ski in the direction of the inner edge, since it is on the inner edge of the ski outside the turn that the skier takes support. By making an angular adjustment of the boot on the ski, it is possible to artificially modify the effect of the divergence of the ski in order to influence the ease of handling of the ski, and the driving precision thereof. In addition, these means make it possible to take into account the morphology of the skier.

Insofar as the fixing means consist of a stop and a heel piece, each of the elements: stop or heel piece can be offset laterally separately, in order to artificially modify the angle of divergence defined by the longitudinal axis of l 'shoe and right binding assembly joining the wide front point of the ski to its rear point.

Advantageously, these means include a vernier ensuring the accuracy of the tracking system.

Advantageously, these means comprise a plate or the like fixed definitively and centrally with respect to the median longitudinal axis of the ski, on which is mounted adjustable transversely to the axis of the ski, the binding itself or part of fixing, respective stop or heel piece.

According to one embodiment, the stop of the binding comprises a plate which, intended to be fixed by screwing onto the ski, has a recess in its lower face and an opening, the recess of rectangular shape serving for housing a plate forming the pivot base, the front and rear edges of this plate being in contact with the front and rear edges delimiting the recess and the width of the recess being greater than that of the plate in order to allow movement of the latter transversely to the ski, while the opening formed in the plate, of elongated shape and oriented transversely to the ski, serves for the passage of the pivot of the stop, means being provided for ensuring continuous adjustment of the base on the plate, transversely to the ski.

According to one possibility, the means for continuously adjusting the base on the plate are constituted by a screw mounted locked in translation but free to rotate in the base and oriented transversely to the ski, meshing with a rack of the same orientation, integral with the platinum.

This structure allows immediate and very fine adjustment of the lateral position of the body of the stop relative to the plate, to allow a skier to instantly adapt certain characteristic parameters of the ski to the nature of the snow, to the profile of the terrain, to his technique and his morphology. It is interesting to note that this adjustment is carried out without having to modify the fixing of the plate on the ski which is, for its part, carried out definitively.

In accordance with one embodiment, the heel piece of the binding, of the type comprising a longitudinal ski slide on which the heel body is elastically adjustable and longitudinally adjustable, is characterized in that it comprises a plate of generally rectangular shape, intended to be fixed by screwing on the ski, having a recess in its lower face and a recess in its front part, the recess on the lower face, of width greater than that of the slide, serving to accommodate the rear part of the latter, and longitudinal edges thereof over part of their length, while the recess in the front part of the plate is used for the passage of the rear part of the heel body, means being provided to ensure continuous adjustment of the slide and the heel body transversely to the ski.

According to one possibility, the means for continuously adjusting the slide on the plate are constituted by a screw mounted locked in translation but free to rotate relative to the plate, oriented transversely to the ski, and the head of which is accessible through an opening of the plate, engaged in a tapped hole formed in a tip secured to the rear end of the slide.

Advantageously, the end piece integral with the rear end of the slide has a rib engaged in a complementary groove made in the plate and oriented transversely to the ski.

According to another characteristic, the end piece of the slide has in its center a recess turned upwards, while the plate has, in its rear edge, and in its central part, a recess turned downwards, of greater width to that of the recess in the end piece. These two recesses define an orifice for the passage of a screwdriver for adjusting the longitudinal position of the heel, this adjustment being possible whatever the transverse position of the heel body thanks to the large width of the upper recess.

This structure allows immediate and very fine adjustment of the lateral position of the heel body. The lateral positioning of the heel piece may be the same as that of the toe piece, in which case the axis of the boot is parallel to, coincides with, or different from, the ski centerline or different from that of the stopper , the axis of the boot then forming an angle with the median longitudinal axis of the ski.

According to another embodiment, insofar as the binding of the boot to the ski is a central binding with a plate of the type comprising a plate on which is intended to be engaged a recess formed in the sole of the boot, the plate and the boot being provided with complementary elastic assembly means, this binding comprises a plate permanently fixed, for example by screwing onto the ski, having a recess opening in its lower face and an opening made in its upper wall, the rectangular recess for housing a housing, the front and rear edges of which are in contact with the front and rear edges delimiting the recess, and the width of the recess being greater than that of the housing in order to allow movement of the latter transversely to the ski, while the opening formed in the upper wall of the plate, of elongated shape and oriented towards ersalement au ski, is used for the passage of a column including one end is mounted in the housing and the other end of which is fitted with the plate, means being provided for ensuring continuous, precise and quantifiable adjustment of the housing on the plate transversely to the ski.

According to one possibility, the means for continuously adjusting the housing on the plate are constituted by a screw mounted locked in translation but free to rotate in the housing and oriented transversely to the ski meshing with a rack of the same orientation secured to the plate.

Advantageously, the column at the end of which the plate is fixed, is mounted in the housing with the possibility of continuous angular adjustment. According to one possibility, the means for continuous angular adjustment of the column relative to the housing are constituted by a section of toothed wheel formed at the periphery of the base of the column, with which a screw locked in translation in the housing meshes, but free to rotate therein, the head of which is accessible through an opening in the plate.

This binding allows the lateral adjustment of the position of the boot and therefore of the skier's foot on a ski, as well as the angular adjustment of the boot relative to the median longitudinal axis of the ski insofar as this binding is fitted with a pivoting column in the housing.

• Figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une fixation à butée et talonnière indépendantes ;
• Figure 2 est une vue en perspective éclatée des principales pièces constitutives de la butée ;
• Figure 3 est une vue en coupe de la butée selon la ligne III-III de figure 1 ;
• Figure 4 en est une vue en coupe transversale selon la ligne IV-IV de figure 3 ;
• Figure 5 est une vue en perspective éclatée de la talonnière ;
• Figure 6 est une vue en coupe longitudinale des moyens de fixation de la talonnière sur le ski ;
• Figure 7 en est une vue en coupe transversale selon la ligne VII-VII de figure 6 ;
• Figure 8 est une vue en perspective d'une fixation à plaque centrale ;
• Figure 9 est une vue en coupe longitudinale de cette fixation ;
• Figure 10 en est une vue en coupe par un plan horizontal selon la ligne X-X de figure 9.

In any case, the invention will be clearly understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing showing, by way of nonlimiting examples, several embodiments of means of attachment between a shoe and a ski:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a binding with independent stop and heel;
• Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main components of the stop;
• Figure 3 is a sectional view of the stop along the line III-III of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line IV-IV of Figure 3;
• Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the heel;
• Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the heel attachment means on the ski;
• Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view along the line VII-VII of Figure 6;
• Figure 8 is a perspective view of a central plate attachment;
• Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of this attachment;
• Figure 10 is a sectional view through a horizontal plane along the line XX of Figure 9.

Figures 1 and 3 show a ski 2 whose central part is equipped with a stop 3 and a heel 4 intended to come to bear elastically, respectively against the front end and the rear end of the boot.

The stop 3 comprises a plate 5 which, intended to be fixed by screwing onto the ski through four holes 6, centered on the median longitudinal axis of the ski, has on the one hand, a recess 7 opening out in its lower face and, on the other hand, an opening 8 formed in its upper wall.

The recess 7, of generally rectangular shape, serves to accommodate a plate 9 forming the base of a pivot 10. The front and rear edges of the base 9 are in contact with the front and rear edges 12, 13 delimiting the recess 7. The width of the recess, considered in the transverse direction of the ski, is greater than the width of the base 9, in order to allow a transverse movement of the latter.

As shown in Figure 2, the base 9 has cutouts 14 allowing the free passage of the fixing screws of the plate.

As shown in Figure 2, the opening 8 formed in the plate 5 is elongated in the transverse direction to allow the passage of the pivot 10 over the entire range of transverse adjustment of the base. On the pivot 10 is mounted, in known manner, the body of the stop 15, with the possibility of adjustment thereof by a screw 16 engaged in a threaded hole 17 of the pivot.

As is apparent from Figures 2 to 4, the base is equipped with a micrometric worm 18 oriented transversely to the ski, mounted locked in translation, but free in rotation. The head of this screw, accessible through an opening 19 opening laterally into the base 9, allows it to rotate. The screw 18 meshing with a rack 20, of the same orientation, integral with the plate 5, the rotational driving of the screw in one or the other direction ensures a transverse displacement of the base and consequently of the pivot and of the stop body.

Figures 5 to 7 show the mounting method of the heel 4 on the ski 2. The heel body 22 is mounted, so known per se, on a slide 23 with the possibility of adjusting its position on the slide using a screw 24 opening into its rear face.

The heel is fixed to the ski by means of a plate 25, of generally rectangular shape, intended to be fixed definitively, centered on the median longitudinal axis of the ski, by screws passing through holes 26 .

This plate 25 has a recess 27 opening in its lower face and a recess 28 opening in its front part. The recess 27 of width greater than that of the slide 23 serves to accommodate the rear part thereof and the longitudinal edges of the latter over part of their length. Moreover, the longitudinal edges of the slide 23 have recesses 29 for the passage of the fixing screws of the plate. For its part, the recess 28 is used for the passage of the rear part of the body of the heel piece.

As is apparent from the drawing, the rear end of the heel piece is equipped with an end piece 30 which is integral therewith, this end piece comprising a tapped hole 32 oriented transversely to the ski. In this tapped hole is intended to be engaged a micrometric screw 33 passing through a hole 34 formed in the plate 25, and locked in translation relative to the plate using a pin 35.

The upper wall of the end piece 30 has a rib 36 intended to be engaged in a corresponding recess 37 formed in the plate.

It follows from the above description that the actuation of the screw 33 results in a transverse displacement relative to the plate 25, of the assembly formed by the slide 23 and the heel body 22.

A vernier system 31 makes it possible to precisely quantify the value of the lateral displacement of the heel piece.

In order to allow adjustment of the longitudinal position of the heel body 22 with respect to the slide, two recesses 38 and 39 are provided, facing up and down respectively, formed respectively in the end piece 30 and in the plate 25. The recess 39 has a width greater than that of the recess 38, in order to ensure access to the screw 24, whatever the transverse position of the slide 23 and the heel body 22.

Insofar as the transverse adjustments of the toe and the heel are not identical, the axis of the shoe forms an angle with the median longitudinal axis of the ski.

Figures 8 to 10 show another embodiment of this attachment, in the case of a central plate type attachment. This binding has, in a manner known per se, a plate 40 intended to be fitted inside a recess 42 opening into the underside of a shoe sole, the plate 40 and the shoe sole being equipped complementary assembly means 43.

In the embodiment shown in the drawing, this binding comprises a plate 44 mounted centrally on the median longitudinal axis of the ski and fixed permanently to the latter by screws passing through holes 45.

In the lower face of this plate 44 opens a recess 46 of rectangular shape, the upper wall of this plate having for its part an opening 47.

In the recess 46 is intended to be mounted a housing 48 also of rectangular shape, of width different from that of the recess and of length corresponding to that of the recess, so that its front and rear edges can bear on the front and rear edges of the recess which thus serve as a guide surface.

Inside the housing is mounted a micrometric screw 49 which is blocked in translation, but free to rotate, accessible from the outside of the plate and which meshes with a rack 50 secured to the plate. The actuation of this screw makes it possible to carry out a transverse adjustment of the housing 48 inside the plate 44.

Inside the housing 48 is mounted the lower end 52 of a column 53 which passes through the opening 47, and the upper end of which is fixed to the plate 40. The column 53 is pivotally mounted opposite of the housing 48, its lower end 52 being shaped as a toothed wheel section 54 with which meshes a screw 55 mounted free in rotation in the housing, but locked in translation therein. The actuation of this screw 55 is done from the outside through an orifice 56 formed in the plate.

In practice, to achieve the angular adjustment of the plate and consequently of the boot relative to the median longitudinal axis of the ski, it is necessary to actuate, according to the chosen position, in one direction or the other, the screw 55, which results in a pivoting of the column 53 and consequently in a pivoting of the plate 40 relative to the median longitudinal axis of the ski.

As is apparent from the above, the invention provides a great improvement to the existing technique by providing means for attaching a boot to a ski, which are permanently mounted on the ski while offering the possibility of lateral adjustment. and / or instantaneous and continuous angular position of the boot relative to the median longitudinal axis of the ski. This adjustment makes it possible, while having a traditional ski with rib lines substantially symmetrical with respect to its median longitudinal axis, to modify behavior parameters of the ski by artificial modification of the effect of the dimension lines and of the divergence of the skiing, taking into account the skier's abilities and morphology, the nature of the snow and the profile of the terrain encountered.

Claims (14)

1. Means for fixing a boot to an alpine ski, comprising facilities for transverse movement adjustable with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski, and including components enabling this transverse adjustment to be carried out in a continuous, precise and quantifiable manner, these components comprising a micrometer screw mounted so as to be locked with respect to translational movement but free to rotate and meshing with a rack.
2. Fixing means according to Claim 1, consisting of a front stop (3) and a heelpiece (4), characterised in that each of the components, the stop (3) or heelpiece (4), can be laterally offset separately, for the purpose of artificially changing the divergence angle defined by the longitudinal axis of the fixing/boot assembly and the straight line joining the broad front tip of the ski to its rear tip.
3. Fixing means according to either one of Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that they include a vernier system ensuring the precision of the adjustment system.
4. Fixing means according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that they comprise a plate or similar (5, 25, 44) designed to be fixed permanently in a central position on the ski, on which the fixing itself or a fixing part, either the stop or heelpiece, is mounted so as to be adjustable transversely to the longitudinal mid-axis of the ski.
5. Fixing means according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, including a stop, characterised in that the stop (3) on the fixing comprises a plate (5) which, designed to be fixed by screwing onto the ski (2), has a recess (7) in its bottom face and an opening (8), the rectangular-shaped recess serving to house a block (9) forming the base of the pivot (10), the front and rear edges of this block (9) being in contact with the front and rear edges defining the recess (7) and the width of the recess being greater than that of the block in order to allow movement of the latter transversely to the ski, whilst the opening (8) provided in the plate, elongate in shape and oriented transversely to the ski, serves for the pivot (10) of the stop to pass through, means being provided to afford continuous adjustment of the base on the plate, transversely to the ski.
6. Fixing means according to Claim 5, characterised in that the means for continuous adjustment of the base (9) on the plate (5) consist of a screw (18) mounted so as to be locked with respect to translational movement but free to rotate in the base (9) and oriented transversely to the ski, meshing with a rack (20) with the same orientation, secured to the plate.
7. Fixing means according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, having a heelpiece of the type comprising a runner (23) longitudinal to the ski, on which the heelpiece body (22) is mounted elastically so as to be adjustable longitudinally, characterised in that they include a plate (25) with an overall rectangular shape, designed to be fixed by screwing to the ski, having a recess (27) in its bottom face and a recess (28) in its front part, the recess (27) in the bottom face, with a width greater than that of the runner (23), serving to house the rear part of the latter and the longitudinal edges of the latter over part of their length, whilst the recess (28) provided in the front part of the plate (25) serves for the rear part of the heelpiece body to pass through, means being provided to afford continuous adjustment of the runner and heelpiece body transversely to the ski.
8. Fixing means according to Claim 7, characterised in that the means for continuous adjustment of the runner (23) on the plate (25) consist of a screw (33) mounted so as to be locked with respect to translational movement but free to rotate with respect to the plate (25), oriented transversely to the ski, and the head of which is accessible through an opening in the plate (25), engaged in a tapped hole (34) provided in an end piece (30) secured to the rear end of the runner (23).
9. Fixing means according to Claim 8, characterised in that the end piece (30) secured to the rear end of the runner (23) has a rib (36) engaged in a complementary groove (37) provided in the plate (25) and oriented transversely to the ski.
10. Fixing means according to either one of Claims 8 or 9, characterised in that the end piece (30) of the runner (23) has in its centre a recess (38) oriented upwards, whilst the plate (25) has, in its rear edge and in its central part, a recess (39) oriented downwards, with a width greater than that of the recess provided in the end piece.
11. Fixing means with a single safety mechanism, central or otherwise, according to Claim 1, of the type including a block (40) on which a recess (42) provided in the sole of the boot is intended to be engaged, the block and boot being provided with means (43) of complementary elastic engagement, characterised in that they include a plate (44) designed to be fixed permanently to the ski, for example by screwing, having a recess (46) opening out in its bottom face and an opening (47) provided in its top wall, the rectangular-shaped recess serving as a housing for a casing (48), the front and rear edges of which are in contact with the front and rear edges defining the recess, and the width of the recess being greater than that of the casing in order to allow movement of the latter transversely to the ski, whilst the opening (47) provided in the top wall of the plate, elongate in shape and oriented transversely to the ski, serves for a column (53) to pass through, one end of which is mounted in the casing (48) and the other end of which is fitted with the block (40), means being provided to afford continuous, precise and quantifiable adjustment of the casing on the plate transversely to the ski.
12. Fixing means according to Claim 11, characterised in that the means of continuous adjustment of the casing (48) on the plate (44) consist of a screw (49) mounted so as to be locked with respect to translational movement but free to rotate in the casing (48) and oriented transversely to the ski, meshing with a rack (50) with the same orientation secured to the plate.
13. Fixing means according to either one of Claims 11 or 12, characterised in that the column (53) at the end of which the block (40) is fixed, is mounted in the casing (48) with a facility for continuous angular adjustment.
14. Fixing means according to Claim 13, characterised in that the means of continuous angular adjustment of the column (53) with respect to the casing (48) consist of a portion of gearwheel (54) provided at the periphery of the base of the column, with which meshes a screw (55) locked with respect to translational movement in the casing (48) but free to rotate in the latter, and the head of which is accessible through an opening (56) provided in the plate.

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