EP0638341B1 - Ski brake - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a ski brake which is intended to slow the motion of a ski. The brake comprises two braking arms (2, 3) having two active braking segments (4, 5) which can be moved in rotation between an active braking position and an inactive rest position about a substantially transverse spindle (10, 11) carried by a base (20), two actuation elements (12, 13), for the braking arms, which extend beyond the transverse articulation spindle, and a return spring (35). It is characterised in that the braking arms (2, 3) are independent, in that the return spring (35) is independent of the braking arms, in that it laterally has two means (36, 37) for tight fitting onto the actuation elements (12, 13) of the braking arms, and a loop (40) in its central region, which loop descends towards the base, the bottom part (41) of which bears against the upper surface of the base. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a ski brake. Such brakes are commonly used to slow the running of a ski in motion when the boot has been released by the fastening elements which hold it.

In known manner, a ski brake has one, preferably two braking arms which are movable between an active braking position where they protrude under the bottom surface of the ski, and an inactive rest position, where they are folded over of the upper surface of the ski. Advantageously, in the inactive position, the brake arms are also brought back towards the longitudinal axis of the ski so as not to risk catching in the snow or with the other ski, during skiing.

An elastic return means also recalls the braking arms in their active braking position, in particular for bringing the arms back to the active position as soon as the shoe is released.

Generally, the braking arms are articulated around a transverse axis carried by a base which is integral with the ski or the base plate of the binding. The arms also extend beyond the base, and a device such as a pedal or a roller is connected to the extensions of the arms. This device acts on the extensions and on the braking arms which they force to go up when the shoe is engaged in the retaining elements.

For some brakes, the spring consists of a mouth of metal wire of high elasticity, which is stressed in deformation, mainly in torsion. Such a brake is for example described in the German patent application published under the number 24 12 623.

Such a brake gives good results, but its disadvantage is that its construction is not very economical. Indeed, it has a large number of parts due to the fact that the spring is distinct, and more distant, from the braking arms.

For other brakes, the return spring is constituted by a mouth of the same wire as that which is used for the arms, that is to say that the brake arms and the spring constitute only one element. Such a brake is for example described in the German patent application published under the number 25 54 110, embodiment of Figures 1, 2 and 5. The brake has a metal wire bent so as to form a kind of "M". The legs of the "M" constitute the braking arms and are pivotally mounted around a transverse axis. Viewed from the side, the central part of the "M" forms an angle with the plane of the braking arms, and its lower part bears on the base, or a block integral with it. When the brake arms are placed in the inactive position, the central part of the "M" is forced to return to the plane of the brake arms, hence a restoring force due to the deformation of the wire.

This brake has the advantage of a very simple and reliable structure. However, its drawback comes from the fact that the stiffness of the return spring is imposed by the wire which is used for the braking arms, or vice versa.

In other words, it is good that the brake arms have a slight capacity for deformation, so as to absorb the jolts which occur during the active braking phase.

On the other hand, by its elasticity, the return spring elastically opposes the upward movements of the brake arms and then, if necessary, the retracting movements of the brake arms towards the longitudinal axis of the ski.

For a brake such as that of DE-OS 25 54 110, one cannot individually control the inherent elasticity of the braking arms on one side, the stiffness of the return spring and the stiffness of the retraction movement of the spades. another side. Indeed, it is the same wire which forms the three elements of the brake.

Another drawback lies in the design of the base and in the assembly of the "M" wire to the base. Indeed, the base is subjected to high stresses because the spring is constituted by the same wire as the braking arms, and that it is therefore relatively stiff. In addition, the base must allow assembly of the M-shaped mouth as a whole.

One of the aims of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a brake of this type, of simple construction, for which the stiffness of the brake arms rising and the stiffness of the brake arms retracting is independent of the elasticity of the brake arms.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brake for which the base is subjected to relatively low stresses.

Another object of the invention is to propose a brake whose assembly does not impose any particular design constraints.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will emerge during the description which follows, this description being given, however, by way of non-limiting indication.

The brake according to the invention comprises two braking arms with two active braking segments movable in rotation between an active braking position and an inactive rest position around a substantially transverse axis carried by a base, two actuators of the active segments of the braking arms which extend beyond the transverse articulation axis, a return spring acting on the extensions of the braking arms to resiliently bring the braking arms back to the active braking position.

It is characterized by the fact that the return spring is independent of the brake arms, that it has two fitting means laterally on the extensions of the brake arms, and in its central zone a mouth descending towards the base. , angularly offset from the plane formed by the extensions of the braking arms, the lower part of which bears against the upper surface of the base.

The invention will be better understood by referring to the description below and to the drawings which form an integral part thereof.

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a brake according to a first non-limiting embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the brake of Figure 1 in the active braking position.

Figure 3 is a side view of the brake of Figure 1 in the inactive position.

Figure 4 is a top view, in partial section of the brake of Figure 1, in the active braking position.

Figure 5 is a side view, in partial section of the brake of Figure 1, in the inactive position.

Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 show a side view and in partial section the brake of Figure 1 equipped with a foot pedal.

10 shows in side view and in section an alternative embodiment of the brake from FIG. 1.

Figure 11 shows another alternative embodiment of the brake.

Referring to FIG. 1, the brake comprises two braking arms 2 and 3.

Figure 12 shows in exploded view another alternative embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows in side view and in section the brake according to FIG. 12.

The arms are made of any suitable material, and advantageously of steel wire with a diameter of around 5 millimeters.

Each braking arm has an active braking segment 4, 5, the lower end of which ends with an overmolding 6, 7.

In the active braking position, the arms are generally inclined from the bottom up and from the back to the front with respect to the ski.

In their central part, the braking arms are folded inwards to form a rotation segment 10, 11 oriented in a transverse and horizontal direction.

Beyond the rotation segments, the arms continuously have an actuator 12, 13. The function of the actuators is to control the various movements of the braking arms, that is to say the rotational movement around the rotation segments and the movement of retraction of the braking arms towards the longitudinal axis of the ski.

The actuators are in two portions, a connection segment 14, 15, and an intermediate segment 16, 17. The intermediate segments 16, 17 diverge from the inner end of the rotation segments towards the outside of the ski, and the segments of connection 14, 15 are approximately in alignment with each other.

In the example illustrated, the active segments and the actuators are registered in the same plane. This is not limiting, and the actuators could be raised relative to the active segments.

The braking arms 2 and 3 are carried by a base 20. The base mainly comprises on each lateral edge a part 22, 23 with a transverse opening 24, 25 forming a bearing for each rotation segment 10, 11 of the braking arms .

In the embodiment shown, the transverse openings 24, 25 are delimited at the lower surface of the base 20 by the upper surface of a counter plate 26 which is adjusted to the lower surface of the base. This construction method is not, however, limiting.

The bearings have in section dimensions greater than those of the rotation segments, so as to leave a relatively large operating clearance. In addition, the width of the bearings 22, 23 is less than the length of the rotation segments 10, 11. This is linked to the retraction movement of the brake arms. When the brake arms are raised horizontally, they can flow transversely in the bearings to bring the active segments back to the top of the ski. This will be described in more detail later.

In front of the openings 24, 25, the portions 22 and 23 forming the bearing have two ramps 28, 29, facing each other, which are oriented from top to bottom and from the outside to the inside. These ramps cooperate with the intermediate segments 16, 17. At the end of the upward movement of the active segments, the intermediate segments 16 and 17 come to bear on these ramps 28, 29, which brings these segments and the active segments back towards the median longitudinal axis of the ski.

According to a preferred embodiment, the intermediate segments arrive on the ramps 28 and 29 when the end of the overmoldings 6 and 7 reaches the height of the sole of the ski. Thus, the retraction of the braking arms is done with the latter part of the arm raising movement.

Preferably, towards the inside, the bearings are bordered by a notch 30, 31, delimited towards the inside by a horizontal tongue 32, 33 oriented towards the front. The notches have a width slightly greater than the diameter of the wire of arms 2 and 3, and they are slightly flared towards the front. The bases of the intermediate segments are housed in the notches when the active segments below the ski sole, that is to say when the intermediate segments are not in contact with the ramps 28 and 29. The notches hamper movement bringing the braking arms together as long as the actuators are engaged therein, that is to say as long as the active segments are not raised above the sole of the ski. They also facilitate the positioning of the brake arms when the brake is opened to its active position.

The brake shown in Figure 1 also has an elastic return means to its active braking position. This means is constituted by a spring 35. The spring 35 is made of spring steel wire of finer diameter than the wire of the braking arms 2 and 3. In addition, its mechanical flexural characteristics are independent of those of the arms 2 and 3.

The spring 35 has on each side fitting means on the braking arms 2 and 3. These means consist of two windings 36, 37, which fit on the connection segments 14, 15. The internal dimensions of the windings 36, 37 are slightly larger in section than the external dimensions of the connection segments 14 and 15. The windings 36 and 37 are produced symmetrically.

Towards the outside, the windings 36, 37 have a hooked end 38, 39, which hooks onto the upper part of the intermediate segments 16, 17.

Towards the center, the spring has a loop 40 which extends in the direction of the base 20. The loop has a rectilinear lower base 41 which bears against the upper surface 42 of the base 20, in front of the openings 25 and 26 of the bearings. Forward, the movement of the base 41 is limited by a hook 43 open towards the rear. In the embodiment shown, the hook is formed by the front part of the counter plate 26, which passes over the front part of the base 20.

Seen from the side, the loop 41 is positioned relative to the hooks 38, 39, so that after fitting the spring on the segments 36, 37, and fitting the hooks 38, 39, on the segments 16, 17, the loop 41 is oriented forward with respect to the intermediate segments. In other words, with respect to the horizontal, the loop has a side view, an inclination greater than that of the intermediate segments, but below the vertical. The inclination of the loop does not, however, exceed the vertical, and it is sufficiently distant from the vertical so that a vertical pressure exerted at the level of the connection segments 14 and 15 causes the base 41 to slide backwards. of the loop 40. Optionally, the hook has a small ramp which facilitates the start of the sliding of the base 41.

Preferably, at rest, the base 41 tends to be placed in front of the hook 43, so that the positioning of the base in the hook puts the spring in prestress. The windings 36 and 37 tend to tighten on the segments 14 and 15 when the loop 41 is brought towards the plane of the segments 16 and 17.

As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the passage of the brake arms 2 and 3 from their active braking position (Figure 2) to their inactive position (Figure 3) forces the loop to come into alignment with the segments intermediaries 16 and 17. By this movement, the base 41 of the loop slides on the base and moves away from the hook towards the rotation segments 10 and 11. The tightening of the turns of the windings 36 and 37, and the bending of the loop 40 which result therefrom, develop a return force of the spring towards the active braking position of the arms 2 and 3. This return force is added to the initial preload of the spring 35.

Preferably, the spring 35 also exerts on the brake arms a preload oriented in the plane of the brake arms, which tends to move the active segments 4 and 5 away from each other.

Referring to Figure 1, in the original state, the windings 36 and 37 are offset relative to each other. The axes of the windings form an obtuse angle which extends opposite to the loop 41. The fitting of the windings on the brake arms brings the windings approximately in line with each other, which forces the loop 40 to open. This results in a prestress which tends to separate the active segments 4, 5 from each other.

Figure 4 shows seen from above the brake of Figure 1 in the active braking position. It can be seen in this figure that the intermediate segments 16, 17 are engaged in the notches 30, 31, which keeps the active segments 4, 5 apart.

Figure 5 shows the same brake in the inactive position. In this position, the base 41 of the loop 40 has slid backwards. The intermediate segments 16, 17 have come out of the notches 30, 31, and the cooperation with the ramps 28, 29 has brought the active segments closer to one another at the end of the movement. During this reentry, the rotating segments slide in the bearings 24, 25, in an approximately circular movement operating generally in a transverse direction.

In addition, this re-entry of the active segments increases the opening of the loop 40, which develops a restoring force which is added to that coming from the initial misalignment of the windings 36 and 37. This restoring force tends to distance the arms from braking 2 and 3 as soon as they return to the active position.

During this return, the base 41 of the loop 40 is again positioned in the hook 43. The hook constitutes for the brake a stop for the case where the active segments are biased backwards, that is to say from the left on the right in the case of FIG. 2. In addition, it maintains the spring 35 under prestressing.

The assembly of the brake of FIG. 1 can be carried out in different ways. For example, if the base is in two parts, the spring is fitted on the brake arms, then this assembly is put in place in the bearings of the base, and finally the base is assembled. According to another technique, the base is assembled then each braking arm is threaded into its respective bearing, finally, the spring is fitted on the arms. The base, for its part, can be assembled to the ski or to the base plate of a front or rear binding element by any suitable usual means.

The brake which has just been described can be associated with any appropriate means of action sensitive to the presence of the boot on the ski.

For example, FIG. 6 shows the brake 1 associated with a pedal 50 hinged to the base 52 around an axis 51 located behind the bearings 24, 25.

FIG. 7 shows a pedal 54 articulated on the base 56 around an axis 55 situated in front of the bearings 24, 25.

In both cases, the pedal 50 or 54 is in contact with the windings 35 and 36 of the spring 35.

The spring may possibly have, beyond the hooks 38 and 39, a stud 58, 59, which is received and slides in a lateral groove of the pedal, shown diagrammatically at 60 for the pedal 50 and 61 for the pedal 54.

FIG. 8 shows another variant, according to which the pedal 65 is directly articulated in its central part on the windings 36, 37, of the spring 35, or on the connection segments 14, 15.

FIG. 9 shows a variant in which the base 72 comprises a lower counter plate 73 and an upper base 74. The lower counter plate has at the front the retaining hook for the spring loop. A brake actuation pedal 75 is articulated around an axis 76 housed at the connection of the base counterplate. The pedal 75 has in its upper part a kind of gusset 77 in which the windings of the spring are housed. The windings circulate in the gusset 77 during the operation of the brake.

According to this variant, the base 72 is secured to the front part of the slide shown diagrammatically at 78 of the fixing by a central screw 79. The assembly also has at least one orifice 80 for the assembly screws of the element binding to the ski, so that the screw head is supported on the brake base.

Figure 10 shows an alternative embodiment of the spring. According to this variant, the base 66 of the spring 67 is substantially curved, so that the sliding of this base on the base is accompanied by a rolling as the arms pass from the active position to the inactive position. This makes it possible to reduce the lifting arm with which the spring return moment applies to the braking arms.

FIG. 11 shows a variant according to which the loop 68 of the spring 69 extends not backwards in the direction of the rotation segments, but forward. Switching the brake to its inactive position further distances the base of the loop from the rotating segments even more. In this case, the winding direction of the turns is reversed for the two windings of the spring, so that the windings tighten on the connection segments with the passage of the brake in the inactive position.

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment according to which the pedal is connected to the spring loops and to the intermediate segments of the braking arms.

This variant uses a spring 85 of the same type as the previous spring 35, with two windings 86, 87, and a central loop 88. The pins 58 and 59 are not useful here.

The brake also has braking arms 89 and 90 of the same type as the preceding arms 2 and 3.

The arms are here rotatably mounted in housings 91 and 92 produced in a backing plate 93. Preferably, the backing plate is metallic. It is surmounted by a small reinforcing plate 94 and a base 95 made for example of plastic.

Towards the front, the counterplate has a tongue 99, the end of which is folded back to receive the base of the loop 88 of the spring 85.

The assembly comprising the base, the plate and the plywood is designed to be assembled to a fixing slide by a screw housed in the rear hole 96a, b, c, and to the ski by two screws housed in the holes 97a, b, and 98a, b, which also pass through corresponding orifices in the slide.

The plate 94 is not essential, but its presence is preferred to reinforce the counterplate 93. In the embodiment adopted, the plate is crossed only by the screw of the orifices 96a, b, c.

Forward, the base 95 has the notches 108 and 109 which control the retraction of the braking arms along the body at the end of the ascent of the brake arms.

The brake also has a foot pedal 100. The pedal is designed to fit on the upper part of the brake arms 88 and 89, and on the windings 86 and 87 of the springs when these elements are assembled.

The pedal preferably has a domed upper part 101 which facilitates the sliding and rolling of the pedal under the shoe sole.

In addition, the pedal has on its top face a large recess 103 in the approximate shape of a quarter of a moon. This recess is provided to receive a plate 104 of corresponding shape with, from below, two studs 105 and 106 forming spacers with the underside of the pedal.

When the plate 104 is assembled on the pedal 100, the studs pass through the pedal between the brake arms 89 and 90, that is to say between their intermediate segment. The studs 105 and 106 are extended by pins 105a and 106a which pass through orifices in the underside of the pedal 100, and which are melted therein, in order to assemble the assembly by welding.

The pedal and its pad are assembled by this means to the brake arms. They also maintain the fitting of the windings 86 and 87 of the spring on the braking arms.

Preferably, the spring 85 is provided to bring the brake arms 89 and 90 naturally in close proximity. The notches 108 and 109 are in turn intended to hinder the approximation of the brake arms as long as the brake arms have not been raised high enough above the ski.

Naturally the present description is given for information only, and other implementations of the invention could be adopted without departing from the scope thereof defined by the claims.

Claims (10)

1. Ski brake designed to slow the travel of a ski in motion following the release of the boot, comprising two brake arms (2, 3, 89, 90) with two active braking segments (4, 5) movable in rotation between an active braking position and an inactive rest position around a substantially transverse axis (10, 11) borne by a base (20) or a backplate (93), two actuators (12, 13) of the brake arms which extend beyond the transverse axis of articulation, a return spring (35, 85) acting on the actuators of the brake arms in order to bring the active brake segments elastically back into active braking position,
      characterized by the fact that the brake arms (2, 3) are independent, that the return spring (35, 85) is independent of the brake arms, that it possesses laterally two means (36, 37) for connection to the actuators (12, 13) of the brake arms, and, in its central area, a loop (40, 88) extending downward toward the base, whose lower base (41) rests against the upper surface of the base.
2. Brake according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the connection means are windings (36, 37) made of the wire constituting the spring which extend on each side of the loop (40).
3. Brake according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the actuators (12, 13) incorporate, at their upper end, two transverse connection segments (14, 15) substantially aligned with each other on which the windings (36, 37) of the spring are fitted.
4. Brake according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that each winding (35, 36) incorporates, toward the outside, a hook-shaped end (38, 39) which grips the actuator (12, 13) of the brake arms.
5. Brake according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the loop (40) incorporates an inclination to the horizontal greater than that of the plane formed by the actuators (16, 17).
6. Brake according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the wire of the windings (36, 37) is wound on the actuators (38, 39) in the direction of tightening the windings on the actuators when the loop (40) is brought into the plane of the actuators (12, 13).
7. Brake according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that, at rest, the axes of the windings (36, 37) of the spring form an obtuse angle between them.
8. Brake according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the obtuse angle is formed opposite the loop (40), so that, after assembly, the loop (40) is prestressed in open position.
9. Brake according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the base covers a backplate (26, 93) which, forwardly of the transverse axis of articulation of the arms, has a hook (43) open to the rear in which the base (41) of the loop (40) is engaged in the active position of the brake arms.
10. Ski brake according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that, in the active braking position, the base (41) of the loop (40) is prestressed in the hook (43) which holds it in place.

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