EP0457263A1

EP0457263A1 - Safety ski binding

Info

Publication number: EP0457263A1
Application number: EP91107770A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roberto Gorza
Original assignee: Nordica SpA
Current assignee: Nordica SpA
Priority date: 1990-05-18
Filing date: 1991-05-14
Publication date: 1991-11-21
Also published as: IT1240913B; IT9082568A0; IT9082568A1; JPH04231085A

Abstract

A ski-binding includes a rear coupling member constituted by a first body (2), which is slidably associated with a base (3) which is coupled to the ski, to which a lever (4) is articulated; a jaw (13) is in turn associated with the lever and engages the heel (12) of an item of footwear. The lever is rigidly associated with a pedal (10) pivoted to the jaw, and activated by the item of footwear. The pedal cooperates with at least one inclined plane and activate a second member suitable for allowing automatic resetting after a safety release.

Description

The present invention relates to a safety binding, and more particularly to a ski-binding.
Known safety bindings usable in skis are currently usually constituted by a heel element and by a tip element, both of which are associated with the ski and are suitable for allowing the engagement of the usually standard ends of a ski boot.
Known heel elements in fact usually comprise a lever provided with a jaw which interacts with the heel region of the boot.
Said heel elements furthermore have means for releasing the boot when the jaw is subjected to a force greater than a set value.
A disadvantage of said known types of binding is constituted by the fact that, in order to open the binding, and in particular a heel element, it is indispensable to impart to the lever a force which must overcome the loading force of an adapted spring arranged inside said heel element.
This forces the skier to perform a hardly negligible and ergonomically disadvantageous effort, because the heel element is not easily accessed; it is thus necessary for the skier to bend down and turn backward in order to firmly grip the lever so as to impart thereto the effort in the best possible manner.
The possible activation of the lever with the ski-stick is similarly awkward, since the skier must in any case transmit an adequate effort, with the problem due to the difficulty in correctly positioning the tip of the ski-stick on said lever.
Another disadvantage which can be observed in said known types of heel element consists of the fact that, once the release has been achieved, the skier must reopen the lever, reloading one or more springs, in order to fit the boot in the binding again; a considerable effort is therefore required also to reset the binding.
The aim of the present invention is therefore to eliminate the disadvantages described above in known types by providing a binding wherein it is possible to easily achieve both release and resetting, requiring a modest effort which in any case is smaller than the load which is or can be imparted to a spring which interacts with a jaw for locking an item of footwear.
Within the scope of the above described aim, another important object is to provide a binding in which the skier can secure the boot to said binding in an easy manner and therefore without stooping or manual efforts applied directly to a lever.
Another important object is to provide a binding which is structurally simple and compact.
Not least object is to provide a binding which associates with the preceding characteristics that of being reliable and safe in use.
This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a safety binding, particularly for skis, characterized in that it comprises a rear coupling means constituted by a first body, slidably associated with a base, said base being associated with said ski, a lever being connected to said base proximate to an end which is accessible to the user, said lever being associated with a jaw engaging the heel of an item of footwear, said lever being furthermore rigidly associated with first means, said first means being pivoted to said jaw and being adapted to activate second means suitable for allowing automatic resetting after a safety release.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

figure 1 is a sectional view, taken along a longitudinal median plane, of the rear coupling means when the lever is closed;
figure 2 is a view, similar to the preceding one, which schematically illustrates an intermediate step during the activation of the lever to open the rear coupling means;
figure 3 is a view, similar to the preceding ones, of the condition in which the lever is open;
figure 4 is a schematic plan view of some of the components of the binding.

With reference to the above figures, the reference numeral 1 generally indicates a rear coupling means, hereinafter also termed heel element, of a safety ski-binding which is constituted by a first body, indicated by the reference numeral 2, which is slidably associated with a base 3 adapted to be rigidly associated with a ski.
The rear coupling means 1 comprises a lever 4 which is connected to the first body 2, by means of a transverse first pivot 5, at an end 6 thereof which can be accessed by the skier.
The lever 4 is substantially U-shaped with wings 7a and 7b directed toward the underlying base 3 and toward the tip of the ski and inclined along a plane which forms an acute angle with said base.
The base 8 of the lever 4 is shaped so as to constitute an activation pushbutton for the skier.
The lever 4 has, at the first pivot 5, a slot 9 which is advantageously curved with a concavity directed toward the base 8.
When the lever is closed, it is naturally possible to impart a movement to said lever 4 by imparting thereto a movement in the direction of the underlying base 3.
At the ends of the wings 7a and 7b, the lever 4 is rigidly associated with first means, which are constituted by a pedal 10 which has, at its free ends, a head, indicated by the numeral 11, which has a substantially triangular configuration with the vertex directed opposite to the heel 12 of an item of footwear, such as a ski boot, and is pivoted proximate to the base transversely to a jaw 13 at a second pivot 14.
Advantageously, the pedal 10 can have one or more first rollers 15 at the connecting base between the wings; said rollers interact with at least one first inclined plane 16 which is connected, by means of an adapted first tab 17, to the end of a first adjustment screw 18, the head 19 whereof is rotatably associated at an adapted threaded hole defined in a wall 20 which protrudes rearward with respect to the base 3.
A cylinder 22 is associated at the stem of the first screw 18 inside a first cavity 21 arranged above said base 3, and a first spring 23 abuts thereon; at the other end, said first spring interacts with a second tab 24 of said first body 2 which protrudes toward the base 3 and is appropriately perforated for the passage of the first screw 18.
Said second tab 24 is interposed between the end of the first screw 18 which is connected to the first tab 17 and the cylinder 22.
The first screw 18 allows to adapt the binding to the length of the sole of the item of footwear, since it is possible to move the first body 2 backward, thus increasing the interspace for the mating of the sole with the binding.
The presence of the first spring 23 allows the elastic recovery of the rear coupling means 1.
The pedal 10 protrudes beyond the jaw 13 and can be activated directly by the sole of the item of footwear when the lever is open.
As an alternative, the end of the pedal 10 may not have the first rollers 15, the interaction of the heel of the boot with the jaw 13 occurring by means of an adapted fixed tab which protrudes from said jaw in a region adjacent to the base 3.
The ends of the heads 11 of the pedal 10 interact with an adapted pair of lugs 25a and 25b which protrude downwardly with respect to a pair of connecting rods 26 which are freely pivoted, at the other end, at an adapted third pivot 27, to the jaw 13.
Second rollers 28 are present proximate to each lug of said pair of lugs 25a and 25b on each of said connecting rods 26, and slidably interact with an underlying side of the heads 11 of the pedal 10.
A second spring 29 is arranged coaxially to the third pivot 27 for the pivoting of the pair of connecting rods 26 to the jaw 13, and abuts at the underlying first body 2; said second spring 29 is loaded during the last section of the counter-clockwise rotation which can be imparted to the pair of connecting rods 26, as described hereinafter.
The rear coupling means 1 furthermore comprises a cam 30 which is accommodated within an adapted second cavity 31 which is defined inside the first body 2 and is arranged above the first cavity 21.
A third spring 32 abuts inside the second cavity 31 at the cam 30 and controls, by means of the adjustment of a second screw 33 which is accessible from the outside of the first body 2, the release of the rear coupling means 1 of the item of footwear in extreme conditions.
The cam 30 furthermore interacts directly with the ends of the pair of connecting rods 26 which have the second rollers 28.
The rear coupling means 1 furthermore comprises, at the first pivot 5 for connecting the lever 4 to the first body 2, a fourth spring 34 for contrasting the closure of the jaw 5.
The operation of the rear coupling means 1 is therefore as follows: considering the position shown in figure 1, and therefore with the lever 4 closed and with the item of footwear associated with the binding, the lever 4 rotates with respect to the second pivot 14 upon a pressure imparted by the skier at the base 8, thus disengaging the pair of lugs 25a and 25b from the ends of the heads 11 of the pedal 10.
Consequently, the pair of connecting rods 26 is free to rotate at the third pivot 27, thus unloading the second spring 29 and simultaneously allowing the rotation of the jaw 13 at the first pivot 5.
The rotation of the pair of connecting rods 26 ends against the internal facing wall of the jaw 13.
Furthermore, during said rotation, the second spring 29 is unloaded completely until it separates from the underlying first body 2 and thus rotates together with the pair of connecting rods 26.
The rotation of the jaw 13 instead continues until it opens completely due to the third spring 34, making the cam 30 pass beyond the pair of connecting rods 26.
Said connecting rods, during the step of complete opening, move away from the internal wall of the jaw 13 simply by gravity, since they are no longer subjected to the effect of the second spring 29.
The rear coupling means is thus ready to be coupled to the boot again.
In order to achieve closure, it is in fact sufficient to locate the heel of the item of footwear at the pedal 10, imparting thereto a movement toward the ski until said heel is engaged at the jaw 13.
In this manner, the third spring 32 does not contrast the first step of the rotation, since the pair of connecting rods 26 does not press at the cam 30, as the lugs 25a, 25b and the ends of the heads 11 of the pedal 10 are not mutually engaged.
The only reaction to be overcome in this step is therefore only that of the fourth springs 34 (for the rotation of the jaw 13) and of the first spring 23 (backward motion of the first body 2).
It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a safety binding having been provided wherein the rear coupling means has the peculiarity of allowing to apply a very modest pressure on the base 8 of the lever 4 in order to open said rear coupling means.
During this step it is in fact sufficient to impart only the disengagement of the lugs 25a, 25b from the ends of the heads 11 of the pedal 10, opening following automatically.
Therefore, a great effort, equal to the reaction of the spring which acts on the cam 30, as conventionally occurs in known bindings, is not required.
The binding according to the invention is naturally susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the same inventive concept.
The materials and dimensions which constitute the individual elements of the invention may naturally also be the most pertinent according to the specific requirements.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting affect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

Safety binding, particularly for skis, characterized in that it comprises a rear coupling means (1) constituted by a first body (2), slidably associated with a base (3), said base being associated with said ski, a lever (4) being connected to said base proximate to an end (6) which is accessible to the user, said lever being associated with a jaw (13) engaging the heel (12) of an item of footwear, said lever being furthermore rigidly associated with first means (10), said first means being pivoted to said jaw and being adapted to activate second means which are suitable for allowing automatic resetting after a safety release.
Binding according to claim 1, characterized in that said lever is connected to said first body by means of a transverse first pivot (5) at said end (6) thereof which can be accessed by the skier, said lever being substantially U-shaped and having wings (7a,7b) directed toward said underlying base and toward the tip of said ski.
Binding according to claim 2, characterized in that said lever has a base (8) appropriately shaped so as to constitute an activation pushbutton for the skier, said lever having a slot (9) at said first pivot, said slot being curved with a concavity directed toward said base.
Binding according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lever is rigidly associated, at said wings, with said first means which are constituted by at least one pedal (10), having, at the free ends, a head (11) which has a substantially triangular configuration with the vertex directed opposite to the heel (12) of an item of footwear and pivoted proximate to the base transversely to said jaw (13) at a second pivot (14).
Binding according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pedal has at least one first roller (15) at one end, said first roller interacting with at least one first inclined plane (16) which is connected, by means of an adapted first tab (17), to the end of a first adjustment screw (18), the head (19) whereof is rotatably associated at an adapted threaded hole defined on a wall (20) which protrudes rearward with respect to said base.
Binding according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a cylinder (22) is associated at the stem of said first screw (18) inside a first cavity (21) arranged above said base (3), the end of a first spring (23) abutting on said cylinder, said spring interacting, at its other end, with a second tab (24) of said first body which protrudes toward said base and is perforated for the passage of said first screw, said first spring allowing the elastic recovery of said coupling means.
Binding according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second tab is interposed between the end of said first screw which is connected to said first tab and said cylinder.
Binding according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pedal protrudes beyond said jaw and can be activated, when the lever is open, directly by the sole of said item of footwear.
Binding according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that the ends of the head of said pedal interact with lugs (25a,25b) which protrude downward with respect to connecting rods (26) which are freely pivoted, at their other end, to said jaw at an adapted third pivot (27).
Binding according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that second rollers (28) are present proximate to said lugs (25a,25b) on said connecting rods and slidably interact with an underlying side of said heads of said pedal.
Binding according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a second spring (29) is arranged coaxially to said third pivot for pivoting said connecting rods to said jaw and abuts at said underlying first body, said second spring being loaded during the last section of the counter-clockwise rotation which can be imparted to said connecting rod.
Binding according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rear coupling means comprises a cam (30) which is arranged within an adapted second cavity (31) defined inside said first body arranged above said first cavity, a third spring (32) abutting at said cam, inside said second cavity, said third spring controlling, by means of the adjustment of a second screw (33) which is accessible outside said first body, the release of the item of footwear from said rear coupling means in extreme conditions.
Binding according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cam interacts directly with the ends of said connecting rods which bear said second rollers.
Binding according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rear coupling means comprises, at said first pivot for connecting said lever to said first body, a fourth spring (34) for contrasting the closure of one of said jaw and said lever.