EP0398794A1 - Adjustable binding device for skiing and skating - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adjustable binding sole plate for gliding sports, consisting of a plate (1) and of two slides (2) one of which is integral with the rear plate 3 and the heelpiece support 4, and the other of which is integral with the front plate 5 and with the stirrup-piece rod 6. Each plate comprises a bolt 7 which interacts with one of the slots 8 made in the plate 1 so as to be able to adapt, rapidly and without tools, the spacing of the rear heelpiece and of the front stirrup piece to the boot which has to be held. Additionally, this assembly is secured to a runner 9 by means of a screw 10 interacting with a slide 11 so that it can be positioned angularly and longitudinally on the device. The adjustable binding sole plate according to the invention is particularly intended for snow surfing. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to an adjustable sole for sliding sports and more particularly for snowboarding.

The fixing soles for snowboard adjustable to the size of the shoe and orientable relative to the longitudinal axis of the surf have been known for a few years and commonly used. These soles are designed either for a flexible shoe; in this case, they consist of a plastic shell, either for ski or trekking boots and then generally consist of a metal plate comprising front and rear stirrups allowing manual fitting but preventing any automatic release releasing the shoes in the event of a dangerous fall to the surfer's legs. It should be noted that these soles, as a whole, require a simple tool, a screwdriver or a key to carry out the adjustment of size and angulation, which can prove to be a handicap if one does not have this material to adjust or modify an inappropriate setting.

Furthermore, a safety fastening device described in patent application 89 04728 of the applicant, requires fixing soles, on the snowboard, allowing on the one hand, the essential adjustments taking into account the size, the morphology and the technical level of the surfer, and on the other hand the rapid disassembly of the safety fixing device in order to facilitate the transport of the surf by reducing the size.

It therefore appears advantageous to produce an easily adjustable sole with regard to the size of the shoe, its orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the board and its spacing with the other sole.

The object of the invention is to provide practical solutions to the problems thus posed.

It achieves this by making two sliders cooperate with an elongated plate, which support, one a so-called rear plate, integral with the heel piece for fixing and the other a so-called front plate, supporting the front stirrup with the same fixing. These plates, integral with their slide, can move along the longitudinal axis of the plate, and on top, on either side of the geometric center thereof, so that they can be positioned precisely to receive, one, the heel of the shoe the other the front part of the soles and whatever its size. Each plate has a manually actuated pin, the role of which is to cooperate closely with oblong perforations made in the plate transversely and on its longitudinal axis, so as to be able to immobilize each plate and its slide on the plate, as close as possible from the determined location corresponding to good positioning of the shoe. Each bolt is designed to move up and down when locking and up and down when unlocking, and is held in place by elastic means in each of the two positions.

The means for immobilizing the plates on the plate, which has just been briefly described, offers, in addition to the advantage of fine and rapid adjustment, that of very high security. Indeed, as will be shown more precisely in advance, neither of the two bolts can be unlocked when the shoe is fixed on the sole according to the invention, because they are pressed in the low position, one by the heel and the other by the sole.

In addition, it is becoming more and more essential that a fixing base can be, depending on the technical level and the morphology of the surfer, adjustable in orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the surf and it is also necessary to take into account that a majority of surfers are right-handed, but that however, left-handers remain numerous. To meet this need, and in a completely advantageous manner, the elongated plate is crossed, substantially in its geometric center, by a fairly large diameter screw, forming a pivot, which collaborates with a slide which can be positioned at different places of a slide secured to the surf, parallel to its longitudinal axis and thereon. A means ensuring the immobilization of the rotating plate and a means ensuring its immobilization, in the longitudinal direction of the surf using the pivot screw, complete this together.

• La figure 1 représente une vue en perspective d'une semelle réglable de fixation selon l'invention.
• La figure 2 représente une vue en coupe verticale selon la ligne AA de la semelle réglable.
• La figure 3 représente une vue en perspective du coulisseau de réglage longitudinal équipé de ses moyens de blocage.
• La figure 4 représente une vue en perspective éclatée d'une targette de blocage.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be highlighted in the following description given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of an adjustable fixing sole according to the invention.
• Figure 2 shows a vertical sectional view along line AA of the adjustable sole.
• FIG. 3 represents a perspective view of the longitudinal adjustment slide equipped with its locking means.
• Figure 4 shows an exploded perspective view of a locking pin.

Figure 1 shows the assembly of an adjustable fixing sole for sliding sports according to the invention. This sole comprises a plate 1, of elongated shape, substantially parallelepiped having its lateral edges parallel to the longitudinal axis and a profile capable of receiving, by its ends, two substantially identical sliders 2, coming to grip the lateral edges of the plate 1, so as to be able to slide on said plate in the longitudinal direction. On the flat face and on the top of each slide 2 is firmly fixed a plate intended to support the shoe. On the slide 2 chosen to be at the rear of the plate, is fixed a plate 3 of a shape suitable for accommodating on the one hand, in a groove arranged at the base of said plate, in the longitudinal direction, a support fixing 4 secured to the same plate 3 by screws 16 passing therethrough, and on the other hand a single-wire frame 13, fixedly arranged on top, constituting two lateral wedging stops at the same time as a horizontal arch supporting, on the 'before the plate 3, a bolt 7 constituting a manual control for blocking the assembly on the plate 1.

On the front of the plate 1, a plate 5 is fixed on the top of the second slide 2, of a shape suitable for receiving on the rear, on the one hand, a horizontal arch 15 supporting a targette 7, identical to the first, and on the other front hand, a rod 6 cooperating with an elastic ring 14, constituting the end of the front fixing bracket. On either side of the geometric center of the plate 1, and appreciably on its longitudinal axis, numerous perforations 8 formed perpendicular to this axis, and parallel to each other, can cooperate with the bolts 7 in order to allow adjustable positioning of the plates 3 and 5, so as to precisely adapt the rear heel piece and the stirrup before they support, to the size of the shoe to be maintained.

As a complement, this plate 1, which it is possible to fix directly on the surf, can be equipped, quite advantageously, with a means allowing its adjustment in orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the surf, at the same time as its longitudinal positioning. Indeed, for reasons first of all morphological, specific to each surfer, the distance between the front foot and the rear foot is variable according to its size. A small surfer will have feet closer together than a large surfer; it is also very important, if the surf is intended to be used by different surfers, that the spacing between the feet can be adjustable. Then, it turns out that right-handed surfers place their right foot on the back of the board, while left-handers place their left foot there; which results in a significant change in the orientation of the fixing soles. Finally, the practice of this sport shows that the orientations of the rear foot and the front foot relative to the longitudinal axis of the surf must be different, but that they evolve according to the technical level of the surfer and the type of descent performed.

Also, to allow these different adjustments, a screw 10 forming a pivot, passes through the plate 1, at its geometric center, to cooperate with a slide 11 which can move, when the screw 10 is sufficiently loosened, in the slide 9 which is fixed parallel to and on the longitudinal axis, using screws passing through the multiple perforations 19. Perforations 18, formed on the longitudinal axis of the slide 9, at regular intervals, can each accommodate the end of the pivot screw 10 and position longitudinally and in a robust manner, on the surf, the fixing sole according to the invention. A friction means, described further on, placed between the plate 1 and the slide 11 ensures a blocking, in orientation, of the plate, after the pivot screw 10 has been tightened. The latter thus performs a double function: that of positioning the adjustable sole at first on the slide 9 and that in a second phase, after taking care of positioning the plate 1 in orientation, of ensuring its blocking by appropriate tightening .

Advantageously, wedging pads 12 integral with the ends of the plate 1 and bearing on the surf, contribute to the rigidity of the fixing of the adjustable sole on the surf while reducing the mechanical stresses in the environment of the pivot screw 10 .

FIG. 2 shows, in longitudinal section, the assembly of the fixing plate according to the invention, where the locking means, in the position and at the location of the plate 1 on the slide 9, are clearly represented. The pivot screw 10, constituting the sole means of assembling the plate 1 on the slide 9, passes through said plate through a cylindrical orifice 23 arranged, substantially at the geometrical center thereof, to cooperate with a threaded cylindrical bush 25, fixed substantially at the center of the slide 11, and the upper part of which is partly engaged in the orifice 23. Between the plate 1 and the slide 11, centered outside the bush 25, a washer 24, of fan type or similar, of fairly large dimensions, cooperates with notches arranged on the underside of the plate 1 and on the top of the slide 11, in such a way that when the pivot screw 10 is tightened, the fins of the washer 24, embedded in said notches prohibit any relative movement between the plate 1 and the slide 11. A slight loosening of the pivot screw 10 is sufficient to release them in rotation, to modify their relative positioning. The spacing of the notches and the number of fins of the washer 24 determine the number of desired positions; the more they are numerous and the more the adjustment, ie the minimum angle between two positions will be fine. The slide 11, which moves between the parallel edges and folded upwards of the slide 9 can, according to another variant, have its lateral and parallel edges folded downwards, so as to cooperate with a rail fixed to the surf, in a similar manner to the slide 9, by screws passing through the perforations 18. This rail will also, like the slide 9, on its longitudinal axis, perforations 19 suitable for receiving the end of the pivot screw 10 ensuring the longitudinal adjustment of the sole on the surf.

On the front of the plate 3 and on the rear of the plate 5 a targette comprising a cap 7, of a shape suitable for being used as a pusher and a vertical zipper, which partially covers it, and whose flat part 7a cooperates respectively, on the one hand with the arches 15 and 17 of the plates 5 and 3 and on the other hand, with the perforations 8 made in the slides 2 and the perforations 8 made in the plate 1. It will be observed that the flat 7a of the front plate 5 is engaged, in the locked position, in one of the perforations 8, that the top of the cap 7 of the targette is flush with the top of the plate 5 and that the arch 15 is at the top of the oblong opening of the targette . Conversely, the flat part 7a of the rear plate 3 is released from the perforations of the plate 1 in the unlocked position, but that said flat part remains, however, engaged in the slider 2 so as to ensure stable positioning of the bolt 7, and that the hoop 17 is at the bottom of the oblong opening of said bolt. Thus, the high position of each bolt 7 corresponds to an unlocked position, position in which the plates 3 and 5 are immobilized on the plate 1, at the chosen location relating to the size of the shoe to be maintained. It will be noted that the arches 15 and 17 are rigidly fixed on their respective plate.

Furthermore, on the front plate 5, the bent rod of the stirrup 6 cooperates with an elastic stud 14, of oblong shape, and in a recess arranged in said plate, so that the stirrup rod 6 can move forward and in the longitudinal axis of the plate 1, and benefit from the elastic return of the stud 14 towards the rear.

Such an arrangement makes it possible to compensate for the difference between two perforations 8 and thus obtain a spacing between the stirrup 6 and the heel piece secured to the support 4, perfectly suited to the shoe to be maintained.

As we have seen previously, and moreover, wedging studs 12 fixed to the plate 1 by screws 21 passing through it, contribute to the stability of the sole on the surf; as well as arches 13 integral with the lateral flanks. of the rear plate 3 contribute to the centering of the shoe heel on the plate 3. Screws 16, passing through said plate, secure the heel support 4 to the latter. Independently, the slides 2 are securely fixed to their respective plates 3 and 5 by screws not shown in the figure.

FIG. 3 shows a slide 11, suitable for moving in a slide 9, not shown, collaborating with its parallel lateral edges 28, equipped, substantially at the geometric center of its upper face, with a washer 24, of the so-called fan type, with overlapping external toothing centered on a threaded fixing sleeve 25 which projects so as to cooperate with the orifice 23 (fig.2) of the plate 1 to ensure proper centering of the latter on the slide 11.

The washer 24 constitutes a means of immobilizing, in rotation, the plate 1 on the slide 11 after tightening of the pivot screw 10 (fig.1). Any sliding being to be avoided, notches 29 in which take place the leading edges of the fins 27 constituting the overlapping toothing of the washer 24 are formed on the upper face of the slide 11 and on the lower face of the plate 1 (fig .2). The number of notches 29 made on the plate 1 and on the slide 11 may be a multiple of the number of fins 27, so as to allow finer angular adjustment than with an equal number of notches and fins. Advantageously, the washer 24, which has an outer diameter slightly less than the width of the plate 1, and an inner diameter slightly greater than the sleeve 25, may alternatively receive in addition to its overlapping outer toothing, lying for example at right one overlapping toothing lying on the left, or vice versa, so as to reinforce its immobilizing capacity. This washer 24 will preferably be made of high-strength steel.

FIG. 4 finally shows an exploded view of the blocking pin in which the cap 7 receives in a recess 30, formed at its base and on its lateral flanks, on the one hand, the flat 7a, formed in a vertically elongated P, and on the other hand, the arch 17 which crosses it transversely and horizontally. The flat 7a, constituting the essential element of the bolt can, as has already been seen, move vertically on the hoop 17 which debates inside the housing 34 by supporting it and limiting its vertical stroke. An orifice 33 placed on the rear face of the flat 7a, cooperating with a lug arranged inside the cap 7, ensures the fixing of the flat and the cap, after the latter has been put in place. The lateral slots of the recess 30 leaving passage to the arch 17, are provided, on the front, with a slightly projecting part 31 placed at mid-height and giving each slot, at this location, a width less than the diameter of the arch 17. It results from this arrangement, that by using the elastic effect of the cap 7, a slight blocking of the bolt in the high or low position is obtained, constituting a security in the low position and a convenience in the adjustment. and disassembly in the high position. Advantageously, a projecting part 32, provided with fine transverse grooves, is arranged on the front of the cap 7 of each bolt in order to facilitate manual lifting.

It goes without saying that the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and shown. It is susceptible to variants accessible to those skilled in the art, depending on the applications and without departing from the invention. This will be carried out according to the constraints exerted on its various components, in the most suitable materials, whether plastic or metallic.

Claims (13)

1) - Adjustable fixation base for sliding sports comprising a plate 1 and two slides 2 integral, one with a rear plate 3 and a heel support 4, the other with a front plate 5 and of a stirrup rod 6, characterized on the one hand, in that each of the sliders 2 is locked in position on the plate 1 by a pin 7, operable manually, cooperating with slots 8 arranged in the plate 1, and on the other hand in that said plate 1 is positioned, angularly and longitudinally on the machine, by a single fixing means collaborating with two immobilization means. 2) - adjustable fixing sole, according to claim 1 tion 1 characterized in that the bolts 7 are mounted vertically movable on support arches 15 and 17. 3) - Adjustable fixing sole, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the bolts 7 are arranged opposite on either side of the pivot screw 10. 4) - Adjustable fixing base, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the bolts 7 comprise a manual control cap which is substantially flush with the upper face of their respective plates 3 and 5 5) - Adjustable fixing sole, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that each bolt 7 is equipped with an elastic means ensuring its positioning in the locked and unlocked positions. 6) - Adjustable fixing base, according to claim 1 characterized in that the pivot screw 10 cooperates simultaneously with the plate 1 and a slide 11, on the one hand, to achieve an angular positioning and, on the other hand with a slide 9 to achieve a longitudinal positioning of the plate 1 on the machine. 7) - adjustable fixing sole, according to claim 1 and 6 characterized in that the longitudinal immobilization means of the plate 1 on the machine consists of a stud 26, formed at the end of the filtered part of the pivot screw 10, capable of cooperating with one or other of the perforations 18 fitted in the slide 9. 8) - adjustable fixing base according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for immobilizing in rotation the plate 1 on the slide 11, collaborating with the pivot screw 10, and consisting of a washer 24 with overlapping external toothing. 9) - adjustable fixing sole, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the immobilizing washer 24 cooperates with notches 29, arranged on the lower face of the plate 1 and on the upper face of the slide 11, in number equal to those of the fins 27 of said washer 24. 10) - adjustable fixing sole, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number of notches 29 arranged on the plate 1 and on the slide 11, is a multiple of the number of fins 27 of the washer 24. 11) - Adjustable fixing sole according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the washer 24 has an overlapping toothing on the outside, lying in one direction and an overlapping toothing on the inside lying in the other. 12) - Adjustable fixing sole, according to claim 1, characterized in that the front caliper rod 6 cooperates with an elastic pad 14 of oblong shape, in a recess arranged in the front plate 5 allowing it a slight movement in the longitudinal direction of the plate 1, towards the front, with elastic return towards the rear. 13) - Adjustable fixing sole according to claim 1, characterized in that the heel support 4 is fixedly attached to the rear plate 3.

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