EP0498153A1 - Safety ski binding - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a safety ski binding. <??>This binding is characterised in that it comprises, on its front face (1b) side opposite that where the jaw is located, an operating member (9) forming a second-class lever extending in the opposite direction from the jaw, beyond the body (1) of the binding, mounted pivotably on the body (1), about a horizontal and transverse shaft (11), an intermediate point (13) of the operating lever (9) being connected, via linking means (14), to the end part (5c) of a bolt (5) which is located on the second front face (1b) side of the body (1), so that raising of the operating lever (9) gives rise to an upward tilting of the bolt (5) and the passage of this bolt from its locking position to its unlocking position. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a ski binding for which the longitudinal position on the ski is adjustable, with a view to adapting this binding to the length of a boot to be immobilized on the ski.

Devices of various types are already known which make it possible to adjust the longitudinal position, on a ski, of a safety binding holding the front of a shoe (front stop), or the rear of the shoe (heel piece). Generally it is the heel piece that can be moved in the longitudinal direction, relative to the front stop mounted in a fixed position on the ski, to adapt the front stop / heel piece to a ski boot of a determined length. .

We already know, as described in the patents FR-A-2 451 756 and FR-A-2 614 545, heels which comprise, to allow the adjustment of their longitudinal position, a longitudinal slide integral with the ski, a body mounted sliding along the slide and a bolt mounted vertically rocking on the body of the heel. This lock has, on its lower surface, projecting teeth intended to engage in corresponding holes which are aligned longitudinally in the slideway by forming a rack. The lock is biased elastically, for example by taking advantage of the return energy of the heel recoil spring, so that its teeth tend to be engaged in holes in the slide corresponding to the desired longitudinal position. With this type of heel piece, when a change is made to its longitudinal position, a tool, such as a screwdriver, engaged from the rear of the heel piece, to lift the lock and tilt it upwards, in order to disengage the teeth of the lock from the holes in the slide, which then makes it possible to slide the body of the heel piece on the slide. Such devices, if they allow relatively easy adjustment of the longitudinal position of the heel piece, have the drawback of requiring the use of a tool to make this adjustment.

Patent AT-A-340,293 describes another type of heel piece in which the lock holding the body of the heel piece in the longitudinal position is constituted by the two end parts, folded transversely one towards the other, of a elastic loop extending parallel to the slide, along the latter and beyond the rear end of the heel body. This elastic loop can pivot around the transverse axis materialized by its two end parts folded towards one another and constituting locking fingers engaged in holes drilled in the sides of the slide. The unlocking of the body of the binding is done by pivoting from bottom to top and from back to front the loop as a whole, this pivoting movement causing, thanks to the provision of appropriate ramps, the separation of the end parts, forming the locking fingers, the buckle and their lateral clearance out of the holes of the slide. Such a binding, if it offers the advantage of not requiring the use of any tool for adjusting its longitudinal position, has the drawback that the body of the heel can be accidentally unlocked when '' a blow on the loop, from back to front, provokes the accidental pivoting of this loop, as often happens when the skis are engaged in the quivers of the ski lift cabins.

The present invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of safety fasteners known to date by providing a safety fastener whose unlocking of the sliding body, for the purpose of adjusting its longitudinal position, does not require the use of any tool, is achieved by a natural gesture with one hand and can in no case be caused by a shock exerted on its operating member.

To this end, this ski safety binding comprising a body carrying, on the side of a first front face, a movable jaw immobilizing one end of a boot on the ski, this body being slidably mounted on a longitudinal slide fixed on the ski. and being able to be immobilized, in an adjustable longitudinal position, on this slide, by means of a bolt mounted tilting vertically on the body, this bolt being resiliently biased by a spring and comprising at least one lower tooth capable of engaging, in position locking, in one of several holes formed in the longitudinal slide, at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction, is characterized in that it comprises, on the side of the second front face opposite to that where the jaw, an operating member constituting a lever of the second kind extending opposite the jaw, beyond the body of the fastener, mount é pivoting on the body, around a horizontal and transverse axis, a intermediate point of the operating lever being connected, by means of connection means, to the end part of the lock which is situated on the side of the second front face of the body, so that a lifting of the operating lever, by action under its free gripping end causes an upward tilting of the lock and the passage of this lock from its locking position to its unlocking position.

• Les figures 1 et 2 sont des vues en coupe verticale et longitudinale schématiques d'une talonnière suivant l'invention, respectivement en position de verrouillage et de déverrouillage de son corps monté coulissant sur une glissière.
• Les figures 3 et 4 sont des vues en coupe verticale et longitudinale schématiques d'une première forme d'exécution d'une talonnière suivant l'invention, respectivement en position de verrouillage et de déverrouillage de son corps.
• La figure 5 est une vue en coupe verticale et transversale faite suivant la ligne V-V de la figure 3, la moitié droite de cette figure représentant la moitié du tirant de liaison et la moitié gauche la moitié de la boucle de manoeuvre.
• La figure 6 est une vue en élévation de la partie postérieure du corps de la talonnière sur laquelle est montée la boucle de manoeuvre.
• La figure 7 est une vue en plan de la partie postérieure du corps de la talonnière, le levier de déchaussage de la talonnière étant supposé enlevé.
• La figure 8 est une vue en plan de la boucle de manoeuvre de la talonnière suivant les figures 3 à 7.
• La figure 9 est une vue en coupe faite suivant la ligne IX-IX de la figure 8.
• La figure 10 est une vue en élévation d'une seconde forme d'exécution d'une talonnière suivant l'invention.
• La figure 11 est une vue en coupe verticale et transversale faite suivant la ligne XI-XI de la figure 10.
• La figure 12 est une vue en perspective du verrou de la talonnière représentée sur les figures 10 et 11.

Various embodiments of the present invention will be described below, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawing in which:

• Figures 1 and 2 are schematic vertical and longitudinal sectional views of a heel according to the invention, respectively in the locking and unlocking position of its body mounted to slide on a slide.
• Figures 3 and 4 are schematic vertical and longitudinal sectional views of a first embodiment of a heel piece according to the invention, respectively in the locking and unlocking position of its body.
• Figure 5 is a vertical and transverse sectional view taken along the line VV of Figure 3, the right half of this figure representing half of the tie rod and the left half half of the operating loop.
• Figure 6 is an elevational view of the rear part of the body of the heel on which is mounted the operating loop.
• Figure 7 is a plan view of the part posterior of the heel body, the heel release lever is assumed to be removed.
• FIG. 8 is a plan view of the operating loop of the heel piece according to FIGS. 3 to 7.
• Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX of Figure 8.
• Figure 10 is an elevational view of a second embodiment of a heel according to the invention.
• FIG. 11 is a view in vertical and transverse section taken along the line XI-XI of FIG. 10.
• FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the lock of the heel piece shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

In Figures 1 and 2 is shown schematically the rear part of a heel according to the invention. This heel has a body 1 which carries, on its front end face, a tilting jaw immobilizing the rear of the shoe and whose tilting movement can be controlled manually by means of a heaving lever, this jaw and this lever heaving is not shown in Figures 1 and 2 to simplify these. The body 1 is mounted to slide longitudinally on a slide 2 itself fixed on the upper surface of a ski 3. This slide comprises, in its raised central part, several holes 4 spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction and forming a rack. With this rack cooperates a lock 5, tilting vertically, housed in the lower and rear part of the body 1. The lock 5 is constituted by a plate 5a carrying, on its lower face, teeth 6, projecting downwards, intended for come to lodge in some of the holes 4 according to the desired longitudinal position for the body 1. The rocking latch 5 is housed in a recess 7 provided in the lower and rear part of the body 1 and it is biased by a spring 8 which takes support on the body 1, so that the lower teeth 6 of the latch 5 are always resiliently biased towards the holes 4 of the slide 2. In the nonlimiting embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the spring 8 is the spring back of the heel which is longitudinally compressed between a front supporting shoulder 1a, transversely provided in the lower part of the body 1, and a front heel 5b of the bolt 5, this prior heel 5b being folded to 'square upwards relative to the plate 5 a of the latch 5 which is horizontal and is in contact with the upper face of the slide 2 pierced with the holes 4.

The heel piece according to the invention is provided, on the side of the rear front face 1b of its body 1, with an operating member 9 making it possible to lift the lock 5 and to make it tilt, against the action of the return spring 8, to move it from its locking position (Figure 1), in which its lower teeth 6 are engaged in holes 4 of the slide 2, to its unlocking position (Figure 2) in which the teeth 6 are cleared above the holes 4. The operating member 9 is produced in the form of a lever of the second kind which is pivotally mounted, at its anterior end, around a horizontal and transverse axis 11 housed in the upper and rear part of the body 1. The lever 9 can be grasped and raised at its rear free end 12 and an intermediate connection point 13 of the operating lever 9 is connected to the rear part 5 c of the rocking latch 5 by means of mechanical connection means 14. Consequently, when raises the operating lever 9, from its lower locking position (figure 1), this lever 9 pivots anti-clockwise around its transverse axis 11 (figure 2), the connection point 13 is raised, which causes, via the connecting means 14, the lifting of the rear part 5c of the latch 5 and consequently the tilting of the latter in the unlocked position. This tilting takes place around the transverse axis defined by the anterior contact zone 5d located at the location of the lower connection edge between the anterior heel 5b and the pad 5a of the latch 5. When one stops to exert an upward force on the rear gripping end 12 of the operating lever 9, the rocking latch 5, biased by the return spring 8, swings clockwise to return to the position of locking, which has the effect of bringing, via the connecting means 14, the operating lever 9 in the low locking position.

The type of attachment which is shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 2, moreover has a voluntary release lever 17 of which the rear part is the only one shown. In a known manner, this lever, passing from a high position to the low position shown in the figures, controls the opening of the jaw. The adjustment of the longitudinal position of the body is most often done with the jaw in the high position, therefore with the lever 17 in the low position.

Thanks to the construction which has been described above, the operation of unlocking the heel piece is carried out very simply by a pinching movement between the thumb and the index finger of the operator, one of his fingers resting on the top of the release lever 17 and the other finger being engaged under the rear gripping end 12 of the operating lever 9. Furthermore, the operator presents the shoe in the heel with his jaw open, to allow placing the body 1 of the heel at its correct location. Thus the operator unlocks, with one hand, the latch 5, by pinching together the operating lever 9 and the release lever 17, and with the other hand he holds the shoe by presenting it in the jaw of the heel piece. At the same time that he keeps the lock 5 in the high unlocking position, with one of his hands, he guides and slides the body 1 of the heel piece, with this same hand, to put it in the correct location. Once this location is reached, it releases the operating lever 9, which has the effect of releasing the rocking lock 5 which is returned to the locking position (FIG. 1) by the return spring 8. It also exerts vertical pressure towards the bottom on the shoe to engage the fastening by tilting the jaw down, which causes the body 1 of the heel to move back on the slide 2, relative to the lock 5 then immobilized in the locked position, the body 1 and the release lever 17 then occupying the positions shown in phantom in Figure 1. The locking of the latch 5 in its locking position is then achieved as soon as the body 1 recedes, that is to say in fact as soon as a shoe is engaged in the heel. To this end, the upper wall of the recess 7 in which the latch 5 is housed is moved sufficiently rearward to come to be placed above the rear tab 5c of the latch 5, as shown in phantom on Figure 1. This rear tab 5c is then prevented from lifting and the latch 5 is therefore held perfectly in the locked position.

We will now describe, with particular reference to Figures 3 to 9, a first embodiment of the heel according to the invention. In this heel, the operating lever 9 is constituted by a rigid wire mouth substantially C-shaped, shown more particularly in Figures 8 and 9. This operating mouth 9 is symmetrical with respect to the vertical and longitudinal plane of symmetry P of the heel piece and it comprises, on each side of this plane, an end portion 9a close to the plane of symmetry P and which is inclined up and down and back and forth in the locked position, as shown in the Figures 3 and 6. This end portion 9a extends outwardly by a horizontal and transverse section 9b engaged in a housing formed by a corresponding horizontal and transverse recess 15 provided in the upper and rear part of the body 1. The two transverse sections opposite 9b directed towards each other, are coaxial and they materialize the transverse pivot axis 11 of the operating mouth 9. Each transverse section 9b forming axis of pivoting is extended in turn by a lateral branch 9c which extends downwards, along and outside the body 1. Each lateral branch 9c is preferably inclined downwards and backwards and, seen in the transverse direction, it forms an angle of about 25 °, for example, with the end part 9a. The two lateral branches 9c are applied, in the locked position, against respective lateral stops 16 of the body 1. These stops can be constituted by plane bearing faces inclined up and down and from front to back. The two lateral branches 9c are connected to each other, at their ends, by a posterior transverse branch 9d, forming a gripping beak, the central part of which can be raised to facilitate engagement of a finger under this central part.

The connecting means 14 consist of an inverted U-shaped tie rod, movable vertically, which comprises an upper horizontal and transverse core 14a situated a little behind the transverse sections 9b, forming the pivot axis of the operating loop 9 and substantially at their level. Under this upper core 14a are supported the two inclined end portions 9a of the operating loop 9. This upper core 14a is extended downwards, on each side, by a vertical branch 14b, the two vertical branches 14b respectively extending from on either side of the mechanism and in particular of the hardness adjustment plug of the heel piece (not shown). Each vertical branch 14b is bent forward, at its lower end, to form a lower end branch 14c, substantially horizontal, extending longitudinally forward. Each extreme branch lower 14c of the tie rod 14 passes under the end part of a horizontal and transverse tongue upper 5c constituting the rear part of the rocking latch 5 connected to the tie rod 14. Each branch 14c can slide longitudinally under the tongue 5c of the latch, to follow the recoil movements that the body 1 performs, when skiing, relative to the latch 5, against the elastic return force of the spring 8. The length of the branches 14c is at least equal to the amplitude of this recoil movement .

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the rear transverse gripping branch 9d of the operating mouth 9 is, in the locked position, substantially in line with the rear end of the heaving lever 17 of the heel piece when it is in the low position on the body 1, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. This position corresponds to the high or open position of the jaw (not shown) pivotally mounted on the front part of the body 1.

The effort required to tilt the latch 5 in the unlocked position is multiplied by the ratio of the lever arms of the operating mouth 9. Therefore, the operator has only a small effort to provide to operate the maneuvering mouth. In addition, a shock or blow from the rear on the operating mouth 9 tends to press the operating mouth 9 against the body and therefore has no effect on the latch 5.

In the alternative embodiment shown in Figures 10 to 12, the tie rod 14 and the end portions 9a of the operating mouth 9 are deleted and the maneuvering mouth 9 acts directly on the latch 5. For this purpose this maneuvering mouth 9 comprises, between the inclined lateral branches 9c and the posterior transverse gripping branch 9d, intermediate horizontal segments 9e extending respectively under the lateral parts of the rear transverse tongue 5c of the latch 5 which, for this purpose, extends sufficiently rearwardly, outside and beyond the body 1. The intermediate horizontal segments 9e of the operating mouth 9 extend towards the up and back by branches 9f converging upwards and towards the posterior transverse branch 9d which forms a gripping beak. During the backward movements that the body performs during skiing, the horizontal segments 9e of the operating loop slide under the tongue 5c of the lock. The length of the branches is at least equal to the amplitude of the backward movement of the body.

Consequently, when the operator raises the maneuvering mouth 9, to move the heel-piece to the unlocked position, the lateral parts of the rear horizontal tongue 5c of the lock 5 which are raised by the two intermediate segments 9e of the maneuvering mouth 9 , slide along these segments. To allow sufficient lifting of the rear tongue 5c of the latch 5, the body 1 has, at its lower part, a recess 18 located above this rear tongue. This recess 18 is located, as can be seen in FIG. 10, under the plug 19 for adjusting the hardness of the heel piece. The wall which delimits the recess 18 constitutes a stop for the tongue 5c of the lock. The movement of tilting of the operating loop 9 is therefore limited by the abutment of the bolt against the wall of the recess 18. The operating loop 9 moreover achieves a reduction in the force required to lift the bolt. Given the position of the gripping branch 9d with respect to the sections 9b around which the buckle switches, a shock coming from the rear tends to press the lock against the body 1, and has no direct action on the lock.

Claims (9)

Safety binding for a ski comprising a body (1) carrying, on the side of a first front face, a movable jaw immobilizing one end of a boot on the ski, this body being slidably mounted on a longitudinal slide (2) fixed on the ski and being able to be immobilized, in an adjustable longitudinal position, on this slide (2), by means of a lock (5) mounted tilting vertically on the body (1), this lock (5) being resiliently biased by a spring (8) and comprising at least one lower tooth (6) which can engage, in the locked position, in one of several holes (4) formed in the longitudinal slide (2), at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction, characterized in that it comprises, on the side of the second front face (1b) opposite to that where the jaw is located, an operating member (9) constituting a lever of the second kind extending opposite of the jaw, beyond the body (1) of the fixing, pivotally mounted on the body (1), about a horizontal and transverse axis (11), an intermediate point (13) of the operating lever (9) being connected, via connecting means (14), to the end part (5c) of the latch (5) which is located on the side of the second front face (1b) of the body (1), so that a lifting of the operating lever ( 9), by action under its free gripping end (12), causes an upward tilting of the latch (5) and the passage of this latch from its locking position to its unlocking position. Ski binding according to claim 1 characterized in that the operating lever (9) consists of a rigid wire loop, substantially C-shaped, which comprises, in its end portions, two horizontal and transverse sections (9b), directed towards each other, engaged in respective housings ( 15), forming bearings, of the body (1) and materializing the transverse pivot axis (11) of the operating loop (9). Ski binding according to claim 2 characterized in that each transverse section (9b) embodying the pivot axis of the loop (9) is extended outwardly by a lateral branch (9c) which extends downwards, along and outside the body (1), and the two lateral branches (9c) are connected to each other, at their ends, by a transverse branch (9d) forming a spout gripping. Ski binding according to claim 3 characterized in that the two lateral branches (9c) of the operating loop (9) are applied, in the locked position, against respective lateral stops (16) of the body (1). Ski binding according to Claim 4, characterized in that the lateral stops (16) are constituted by plane bearing faces inclined relative to the horizontal. Ski binding for any one of claims 2 to 5 characterized in that the connecting means (14) are constituted by an inverted U-shaped tie rod movable vertically on the body (1), which comprises a horizontal core and upper transverse (14a), located near the transverse sections (9b) materializing the pivot axis of the operating loop (9) and substantially at their level, this upper core (14a) being extended downward, on each side, by a vertical branch (14b) which is curved, at its lower end, to form a lower end branch (14c) , substantially horizontal, extending longitudinally, ensuring coupling with the end part (5c) of the latch (5), and the operating loop (9) ends in two end parts (9a) connecting to the transverse sections (9b ), the two end parts (9a) being inclined in the locking position and bearing under the upper core (14a) of the tie rod (14). Ski binding according to any one of claims 2 to 5 characterized in that the operating loop (9) comprises, between its inclined lateral branches (9c) and its transverse branch (9d) forming gripping spout, segments horizontal intermediate (9e) extending respectively under the lateral parts of an upper transverse tongue (5c) of the lock (5) so that the operating loop (9) acts directly on this lock (5). Ski binding according to Claim 7, characterized in that the body (1) has, at its lower part, a recess (18) situated above the upper transverse tongue (5c) of the lock (5). Ski binding according to either of Claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the intermediate horizontal segments (9e) of the operating loop (9) extend upwards by branches (9f) converging upwards and towards the transverse branch (9d) forming gripping spout.

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