EP0346414B1 - Self-releasing ski-binding unit - Google Patents

Abstract

A heel part (1) and a toe part (3) are interconnected at variable distance from each other and fastened as a unit to a ski (17). The toe part (3) can be tilted about an axis (40) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of ski. The heel part (1) has a housing (31), a support part (50) which can be moved longitudinally whith respect to the housing (51) against the force of the spring and which carries a sole holder (48), and a locking device (41, 42, 56), through which the housing (31) can be coupled semi-rigidly to the support part (50). The sole holder (48), when loaded, can be brought mechanically into functional connection with a signal receiver (64, 65) of the electronic control through a signal emitter (69), thereby activating the current supply. After a predetermined action time on the signal receiver (64, 65) an electromagnet (57) can be activated, the activated electromagnet (57) actuates a key (41) arranged in the locking device, thereby inducing a sudden longitudinal movement of the support part (50) in relation to the housing (31).

Description

The invention relates to an automatically releasable ski binding with a front and heel part, a mechanical shoe holding system, an electronic control and a release system for the ski shoe, in which a heel-side sole holder can be mechanically brought into a functional connection with a signal receiver of the electronic control in the event of a load via a signal transmitter.

Known ski bindings do not differentiate reliably enough between jumping and falling in real use; they therefore tend to trigger even brief impacts that are safe for the skier. In the case of known electronically controlled ski bindings, no triggering is possible in the event of a power failure due to constant power consumption.

A heel-side part of a ski binding with an electrical release device is known from AT-A 376 893. A contact clamped in the heel part, designed as a resilient rod, presses in the downward position against a spatial control curve formed in the rearward-facing part of the ski boot, so that movements which can endanger the leg or foot of a skier are triggered electrically by the ski binding activated becomes. The resilient rod is pressed against a further contact arranged on the heel part, so that a release circuit closes and the magnet of a solenoid valve which is installed in the heel part is excited. The energized solenoid valve releases the connection between two cylinder-piston arrangements and the binding can be opened almost without force. This ski binding only works with a ski boot that is specially tailored to it.

The invention has for its object to provide an automatically releasable ski binding, which ensures reliable holding and releasing under all operating conditions and can be easily exchanged ready for use under different skis.

• a) das Vorderteil und das Fersenteil eine miteinander verbundene Einheit bilden,
• b) das Vorderteil um eine quer zur Skilängsachse gelegene Achse kippbar ist,
• c) das Fersenteil ein Gehäuse, ein demgegenüber gegen Federkraft längsbewegliches Stützteil, das den fersenseitigen Sohlenhalter trägt, und eine Sperrvorrichtung hat, durch die das Gehäuse mit dem Stützteil halbstarr kuppelbar ist,
• d) im Belastungsfall

• synchron Batterien für die Stromversorgung aktiviert werden,
• nach vorgegebener Einwirkzeit auf den Signalnehmer ein Elektromagnet aktivierbar ist und
• der Elektromagnet einen Magnetanker aufweist, der durch die Aktivierung geschoßartig auf einen in der Sperrvorrichtung angeordneten Schlüssel aufprallt und ihn betätigt, wodurch eine Längsbewegung des Stützteils in bezug auf das Gehäuse schlagartig freigegeben wird.

The object is achieved by the features of claim 1, wherein

• a) the front part and the heel part form an interconnected unit,
• b) the front part can be tilted about an axis lying transversely to the longitudinal axis of the ski,
• c) the heel part has a housing, on the other hand a support part which is longitudinally movable against spring force and which supports the heel-side sole holder, and a locking device by means of which the housing can be semi-rigidly coupled to the support part,
• d) in case of stress

• batteries for the power supply are activated synchronously,
• an electromagnet can be activated after the predetermined exposure time to the signal pickup and
• the electromagnet has a magnet armature which, when activated, hits a key arranged in the locking device and actuates it, whereby a longitudinal movement of the support member with respect to the housing is suddenly released.

The tiltability of the front part about a transverse axis leads to a clear separation between the functions of getting into the binding unit and getting off by the skier on the one hand and triggering when there is a risk of injury on the other hand:

The former function is only assigned to the front part; only this is tipped down by the skier when putting on the skis from an entry position into a use position, preferably by simply depressing the front part with the toe part of the ski boot. Likewise, only the front part is actuated by the skier to get out of the binding unit as desired. The skier does not have to turn around because he can easily operate the front part with a ski pole in normal posture.

The release of the ski boot in the event of a fall, on the other hand, is triggered by the heel part of the binding unit, and this takes place after a certain exposure time of one Load exceeding the limit value, so that a reliable distinction is made between a shock which is harmless to the skier, for example during a jump, and a threatening fall.

However, the clear separation between the normal functions of the front part on the one hand and the heel part on the other does not rule out that the heel part can also be triggered arbitrarily, which can be just as advantageous for demonstration and testing purposes as in the case that the front binding is used for example in a Snow guard stuck skiers is difficult to reach.

• Fig. 1 eine Schrägansicht einer vollständigen Skibindung,
• Fig. 2 eine Seitenansicht der Skibindung,
• Fig. 2a die zugehörige Draufsicht,
• Fig. 2b die Draufsicht derselben, jedoch teilweise demontierten Skibindung,
• Fig. 3 eine vergrößerte Seitenansicht des Vorderteils der Skibindung,
• Fig. 3a die zu Fig. 3 gehörige Draufsicht
• Fig. 4 den senkrechten Schnitt IV-IV in Fig. 3a bei fahrbereiter Bindung,
• Fig. 4a einen der Fig. 4 entsprechenden Schnitt bei einstiegsbereiter Bindung,
• Fig. 4b einen der Fig. 4 entsprechenden Schnitt in einer Demontagestellung,
• Fig. 5 das Fersenteil der Skibindung in Draufsicht, teilweise in waagerechten Ebenen geschnitten,
• Fig. 6 den senkrechten Längsschnitt VI-VI in Fig. 5 bei fahrbereiter Bindung,
• Fig. 6a einen entsprechenden Schnitt nach dem Auslösen des Fersenteils,
• Fig. 7 die vollständige Draufsicht des Fersenteils,
• Fig. 8 das Fersenteil in Seitenansicht gemäß Pfeil VIII in Fig, 7,
• Fig. 9 das Fersenteil in Ansicht von hinten,
• Fig. 10 das Fersenteil in Ansicht von vorne,
• Fig. 11 ein abgwandeltes Fersenteil im senkrechten Längsschnitt XI-XI in Fig. 12 und
• Fig. 12 den waagerechten Schnitt XII-XII in Fig. 11.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are described in more detail below. Show it:

• 1 is an oblique view of a complete ski binding,
• 2 is a side view of the ski binding,
• 2a the associated top view,
• 2b is a top view of the same, but partially disassembled ski binding,
• 3 is an enlarged side view of the front part of the ski binding,
• 3a the top view belonging to FIG. 3
• 4 shows the vertical section IV-IV in FIG. 3a with the binding ready for travel,
• 4a a section corresponding to FIG. 4 with binding ready for entry,
• 4b shows a section corresponding to FIG. 4 in a disassembly position,
• 5 shows the heel part of the ski binding in a top view, partially cut in horizontal planes,
• 6 shows the vertical longitudinal section VI-VI in FIG. 5 with the binding ready for travel,
• 6a shows a corresponding section after triggering the heel part,
• 7 shows the complete top view of the heel part,
• 8 shows the heel part in a side view according to arrow VIII in FIG. 7,
• 9 the heel part in a view from behind,
• 10 the heel part in front view,
• Fig. 11 is a modified heel part in the vertical longitudinal section XI-XI in Fig. 12 and
• 12 shows the horizontal section XII-XII in FIG. 11.

Fig. 1 is an oblique view from the front top of the entire ski binding. Their main components are a heel part 1, a pair of connecting strips 2 and a front part 3. Together, these form a unit which can be exchanged as a whole and which is held in a selectable position in mounting rails 5 by locking devices 4, which are fixedly mounted on the ski 17 with screws 22 . The heel part 1 and the front part 3 of the ski binding are locked on the connecting strips 2 by means of locking devices 7 in accordance with the size of the associated ski boot 20 (FIG. 2 and following).

The front part 3 can be opened with a ski pole 19, the tip of which is inserted into a pan 6. For a fine adjustment according to different ski boot sizes, a length adjustment screw 8 is arranged in the front section of the front part 3 so that it is easily accessible. The required height corresponding to shoe soles of different thicknesses can be adjusted with a height adjustment screw 9.

On the heel part 1 and on the front part 3, a pair of vertical deflection rollers 14 is mounted, which, in a known manner, enable the ski boot 20 to be triggered horizontally, the front or rear edge of which is supported on them. The sole of the ski boot 20 (FIGS. 2, 4 and the following) only rests on mountings 13. A space for receiving snow or dirt adhering to the sole of the shoe is left between the connecting strips 2, so that the release properties are not changed by pressing or additional friction. The carriages 13 have rollers 18 on their underside which can be rolled off between the connecting strips 2.

In order to be able to better adapt the ski binding to the skill of the skier or external circumstances, there is a display on the top of the heel part 1 with a scale 10 for the skier's own weight and a scale 11 for the contact pressure for a given length of the ski boot 20, as well as a display 12 intended for electrical functions that enable the skier to check the functionality of his ski binding at any time.

2 and 2a show a side view and a top view of the heel part 1, the front part 3 and the releasable locking devices 4 on the front part 3. FIG. 2b shows the associated top view without the heel part 1 and with the front part 3 broken away. According to FIGS. 2a and 2b, the connecting strips 2 are provided with locking openings 16 and are connected to one another at their ends by webs, so that they can be inserted as a unit into the receiving rails 5. The locking devices 7 of the heel part 1 and the front part 3 can be snapped into the locking openings 16.

The front part 3 has a base which is fixedly mounted on a base plate 23 with rivets 21. The locking devices 7 of the front part 3 are arranged on the base plate 23. The connecting strips 2 have a common leaf spring-like front end 24, which is bent upwards according to FIG. 3 and carries the latching devices 4. The receiving rail 5 in the region of the front part 3 has rack-like latch arrangements 15, into which the latching devices 4 can be latched below the front part 3.

According to FIG. 2b, the locking devices 7 of the heel part 1 and the front part 3 are firmly locked in the locking openings 16 of the connecting strips 2. As a result, the ski binding is set for a specific sole length of the ski boot 20. The entire ski binding is fastened to the ski 17 by snapping the locking devices 4 into the locking arrangements 15 of the mounting rail 5 in the selected position, which is suitable, for example, for downhill or slalom.

3a and 4a, the front part 3 has a housing 25 which can be tilted with respect to the base plate 23 about a tilt axis 40 which is arranged at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the receiving rail 5 parallel to the ski plane. 4, 4a and 4b show a known type of locking of the housing 25 of the front part 3 on the base plate 23 thereof by means of a toggle lever 26 which can be pivoted from the entry position according to FIG. 4a into an extended position according to FIG. 4 by using the front sole part of the ski boot 20 steps on a pedal 30.

The toggle lever 26 can be triggered by means of a lever 27 on which the pan 6 is formed. If the lever 27 is mechanically, for example by a with the ski pole 19, If the downward force exerted on the pan 6 is actuated, the front part 3 is unlocked. The housing 25 then tilts upward about the tilt axis 40 according to FIG. 4a by an opening angle which is preferably greater than 25 °. However, this opening angle is considerably smaller than the opening angle required for opening and closing a ski binding with an heel part that can move upwards.

If, as shown in FIG. 4b, one presses the housing 25 in the vicinity of the height adjustment screw 9, the housing 25 tilts down from its ready-to-drive position shown in FIG. 4 about the tilt axis 40 and presses the latching devices 4 out of the detent arrangements 15 the receiving rail 5. The entire binding can now be adjusted along the receiving rail 5 or pulled out completely. If the housing 25 is then released again, the locking devices 4 according to FIG. 4 can snap back into the locking arrangements 15 in the new position of the binding unit.

5 to 10 and following, the heel part 1 has a support part 50 which clamps the rear heel edge of the ski shoe 20 by means of a spring-loaded sole holder 48. The support part 50 is guided on a housing 31 of the heel part 1 so as to be longitudinally displaceable. In the housing 31, a sleeve 32 is also longitudinally displaceable, which is open at the front and contains a spring 51. The spring 51 is supported to the rear on an adjusting screw 52 which is screwed into the sleeve 32 from behind. The front end of the spring 51 presses against a plunger 33, on the front end of which a roller 34 is mounted. The roller 34 presses from behind against the sole holder 48, which is pivotably mounted on the support part 50 about a transverse axis 35.

The spring 51 thus presses the support part 50 forward in the direction of the ski boot 20. The pretension of the spring 51 can be changed from the outside according to the body weight of the skier using the adjusting screw 52. Display devices 53, 54 show the skier changes in the setting.

In the lower part of the housing 31, a locking body 36 is guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner, which is fixedly connected to the sleeve 32 by a bridge 37 and with its rear end penetrates more or less far into a locking sleeve 38 fastened in the housing 31. The displaceability of the support part 50 is limited at the front by a vertical pin 55 which extends through a longitudinal slot 39 of the locking body 36. The locking body 36 and the locking sleeve 38 are part of a locking device with a pair of rolling elements 56, which are accommodated in the cage-like rear end of the locking body 36 and, when the binding is ready for travel according to FIG of the locking sleeve 38 and thereby prevent further penetration of the locking body 36 into the locking sleeve 38.

The locking device can be released via an electromagnet 57 and a magnet armature 58. This is done in that when the electromagnet 57 is energized, the armature 58 hits the rear end of the key 41 like a bullet and pushes it forward against the resistance of a return spring 43, so that the rolling elements 56 approach each other and can no longer prevent the Locking body 36, following the pressure of the spring 51, penetrates further into the locking sleeve 38 according to FIG. 6. As a result, the support member 50 can evade the pressure exerted by the ski boot 20 so that the sole holder 48 releases the heel of the ski boot.

The housing 42 is closed behind the electromagnet 57 with a screwed cap 59.

6 and 6a, a mechanical signal transmitter 69 is guided in the support part 50 against the resistance of a spring 47 to be displaceable to the rear. The signal transmitter 69 has at its rear end a thickening 44 with a rear-facing tip. A front signal pickup 64 and a rear signal pickup 65 are arranged in the range of motion of this thickening 44 and are actuated when the thickening 44 reaches a switching position S1 or S2. This occurs as a result of a load on the sole holder 48 which occurs during skiing, by means of which the support part 50 and the signal transmitter 69 are pushed backwards.

When the front signal pickup 64 is actuated, it activates batteries 78 housed in the heel part 1 (FIG. 5). If the pressure on the support part 50 and thus also on the signal transmitter 69 becomes even greater and this thereby moves it further backward, the rear signal pickup 65 is actuated next. This is in a circuit that contains a timer. The timing element ensures that the electromagnet 57 is only supplied with current when the duration of the action of the signal transmitter 69 on the signal receivers 64 and 65 has exceeded a certain period of time. This prevents the heel part 1 from triggering in the event of brief backward displacements of the support part 50, for example as a result of the skier jumping.

If the period of time is exceeded, the electromagnet 57 is activated and the magnet armature 58 is thereby attracted, which in a manner known in principle hits the key 41 in a bullet-like manner, so that it releases the rolling elements 56. As a result, the support member 50 becomes free and can now move backward by a relatively large distance so that the ski boot 20 can fall out of the ski binding completely freely. The skier can fall in any direction without being jeopardized by the binding.

If the ski boot 20 is no longer held in the ski binding, the rearward pressure force on the mechanical signal transmitter 69 is eliminated, and the spring 47 moves the spring back to the front. As a result, the current is interrupted immediately, so that the batteries are protected. The batteries 78 are preferably lithium SO₂ batteries, which have a one-sided current contact 79 according to FIG. 5 for connection to contacts 80 and 81 arranged in the housing 31. A function of such batteries down to minus 50 ° can be guaranteed for one year. To check the function of the trigger system, an additional signal transmitter 67 is arranged on the top of the heel part 1.

Even if the electronic circuit fails, the ski boot 20 can be deflected laterally both at the front and at the rear if the skier falls over the deflection rollers 14. Without the electromagnetically triggered retraction of the support part 50, the ski boot 20 is then completely released when it exerts such a rearward force on the support part 50 via the sole holder 48 that it reaches a position against increasing resistance of the springs 47 and 51 in which the sole holder 48 releases the heel of the ski boot 20. Then the springs, 43, 47 and 51 return the heel part 1 to its starting position.

Brackets of a ski brake 70 are mounted in lateral recesses of the heel part 1, which in the closed state 1 are positively integrated into the heel part 1. 7 and 8 show a top view and a side view of the heel part 1 after the ski boot 20 has been released with the ski brake 70 extended.

At the rear end of the heel part 1, openings 49 and 60 can be seen; The adjustment screw 52 is accessible through the opening 49 and the batteries 78 can be inserted through the openings 60. Also located at the rear end in the closure cap 59 is an emergency release button 62 which can be operated by hand in order to push the magnet armature 58 forward into its release position according to FIG. 6a. The skier has the opportunity to check the function of the binding at any time.

7 shows the displays 10, 11 and 12 as well as the height adjustment screw 9 and the position of the vertical deflection rollers 14 once again. FIG. 8 shows how the claw-like support part 50 is connected to the associated mount 13. The fixed arrangement of the receiving rail 5 on the ski 17 and the arrangement of the rollers 18 below the mount 13 can also be seen.

5 to 8 is a view of the heel part 1 with the ski brake 70 extended from the rear and shows the position of the connecting strips 2 in the mounting rail 5. Also, the adjusting screw 52 and battery locking screws 61, the locking cap 59 and the emergency release button 62 recognizable.

Fig. 10 is the front view of FIGS. 5 to 9 of the heel part 1 with the deflection rollers 14, the sole holder 48 and the support part 50. The rear locking devices 7 are each fastened by a leaf spring 63 to the housing 31 of the heel part 1 and engage in each one of the Locking openings 16 of the connecting strips 2 guided in the receiving rail 5, so that the housing 31 is held in the selected setting.

A further exemplary embodiment of a heel part 1 is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Here the sole holder 48 is formed directly on the support part 50. An additional, electrical emergency release button 66 and an adjusting screw 71 for the exact setting of the signal pickups 64 and 65 (FIG. 6) are arranged in the housing 31. Electromagnet 57 and magnet armature 58 are inserted into the heel part 1 from behind after unscrewing the closure cap 59.

5 and 10, the support part 50 is supported by a pair of springs 51 on the housing 31 of the heel part 1 according to FIGS. 11 and 12. The springs 51 can each be adjusted to the skier's body weight by means of an adjusting screw 52.

In all exemplary embodiments, the electronic triggering can be set to predetermined triggering values (for example for beginners or racing drivers) by means of a rotary contact 77 shown in FIG. 7.

In order to avoid that the ski binding is used without authorization, a locking device can be inserted between the support part 50 and the emergency release button 62, which causes the roller lock to be unlocked by the insertion and thus the ski binding cannot be misused. This type of anti-theft device can be provided with a specific code from the owner that prevents third-party access. The electronic release can also be controlled remotely, which means that when exiting the ski binding, only one remote control element worn on the body has to be actuated.

Claims (10)

1. A self-releasing ski binding comprising front and heel portions, a mechanical boot retaining system, an electronic control and a release system for the ski boot, in which a sole retaining means adjacent the heel is adapted to be brought in functional connection mechanically with a signal receiver of the electronic control via a signal transmitter, if load is applied,
   wherein

   a) the front portion (3) and the heel portion (1) form an interconnected unit,

   b) the front portion (3) is adapted to be tilted about an axis (40) which is oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of the ski,

   c) the heel portion (1) comprises a casing (31), a supporting member (50) which is adapted to be moved longitudinally relative to the casing, against the force of a spring, and which carries the sole retaining means (48) adjacent the heel, and a locking means (41, 32 56) by means of which the casing (31) is adapted to be coupled to the supporting member (50) in a semi-rigid manner,

   d) if load is applied,

   - batteries (78) are synchronously activated for the power supply,

   - an electromagnet (57) is adapted to be activated after the signal receiver (64, 65) has been acted upon for a given period of time, and

   - the electromagnet (57) includes an armature (58) which, in response to the activation, strikes a key (41) being arranged within the locking means in the manner of a projectile and actuates said key, thereby abruptly releasing a movement of the supporting member (50) in longitudinal direction relative to the casing (31).
2. The ski binding unit as defined in claim 1
   characterized in that the axis (40) is arranged in the forward region of the front portion (3) such that the front portion (3) is adapted to be tilted upwardly, out of its service position, by at least an angle of 25°, after an arbitrary release of a lock.
3. The ski binding unit as defined in claim 1 or claim 2
   characterized in that the heel portion (1) is connected to the front portion (3) by a pair of connecting rails (2) which are guided in a receiving guide means (5) and are locked in the same in the region of the front portion (3) only, by latching means (4).
4. The ski binding unit as defined in claim 3
   characterized in that the connecting rails (2) are adapted to be unlocked by the front portion (3) being tilted downwardly, out of its service position, about the axis (40).
5. The ski binding unit as defined in claim 3 or claim 4
   characterized in that one mount (13), each, is connected to the heel portion (1) and the front portion (3), said mounts being guided on the receiving guide means (5) between the connecting rails (2) and forming supporting areas for a ski boot (20).
6. The ski binding unit as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5
   characterized in that the sole retaining means (48) is mounted to the supporting member (50) so as to allow movement in longitudinal direction and rests against a locking member (36) via a spring (51) with adjustable pre-tension, wherein said locking member is prevented by the locking means (41, 42, 56) in the normal position thereof from moving rearwardly relative to the casing (31) of the heel portion (1) and is free to move rearwardly relative to the casing (31) after the locking means (41, 42, 56) has been released.
7. The ski binding unit as defined in claim 6
   characterized in that roller bodies (56) are retained within the locking member (36) which, in the normal position, are spread apart by the key (41) and are held to engage a shoulder (42) being stationary relative to the casing (31), but, after actuation of the key (41), are movable towards each other such that the locking member (36) can move rearwardly past the shoulder (42).
8. The ski binding unit as defined in claim 6 or claim 7
   characterized in that the signal generator (69) is guided within the support member (50) so as to be movable in rearward direction, against the resistance of a spring (47), and is supported at the sole retaining means (48) in forward direction.
9. The ski binding unit as defined in any one of claims 1 to 8
   characterized in that the signal receiver includes a forward sensor (64) which upon actuation by the signal transmitter (69) activates a power source (78), and further includes a rear sensor (65) which upon actuation by the signal transmitter (69) activates the electromagnet (57) via a time function element.
10. The ski binding unit as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9
    characterized in that the heel portion (1) includes at least one emergency release element (62, 66) which is actuatable arbitrarily, independent of the signal transmitter (69).

Images