EP0639393B1 - Ski binding component - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an alpine ski binding component comprising the following parts: a base (3), a body (2), a jaw (4) for holding the boot, and an energy spring (15) housed inside the body. The component is characterised in that the supporting plate (26) can move for a rolling movement, and in that connection means (40, 50, 54, 58) sensitive to the rolling movements of the supporting plate connect the supporting plate to at least one of the movable parts of the binding component, so as to reduce the opposing force which the boot must overcome in order to be released laterally by the jaw, and then to cause the jaw to swing freely beyond a rolling movement of given amplitude produced by the supporting plate. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to an alpine ski binding element, intended to retain a boot bearing on a ski, and to release it in the event of excessive stress.

It is known to retain a shoe resting on a ski by means of a front binding element and a rear binding element. Each retaining element has a jaw carried by a body, which is movable against the restoring force exerted by an energy spring, generally a compression spring.

The invention relates more particularly to a front fixing element. Usually, the front binding element reacts to a lateral stress on the front end of the shoe. Such stress results from a stress in pure torsion on the skier's leg.

Certain fasteners also react to vertical upward stress. Such stress corresponds to a fall towards the rear of the skier. The European patent application published under the number 102 868 describes for example such a fixation.

Other bindings have a compensation mechanism which reacts in the event of torsional stress combined with a forward fall of the skier. Such a mechanism is described, for example, in the German patent application published under the number 29 05 837. This mechanism comprises a support plate for the shoe which is vertically movable, the movement of which is caused by a vertical downward pressure of the shoe lowers the restoring force that the spring exerts on the jaw.

Another mechanism is described in the German patent application published under the number 33 35 878. This mechanism also comprises a shoe support plate which is movable vertically, and which forces the jaw to move in the direction of release of the shoe. Such devices compensate for the increase in friction of the shoe on its supports, that the forward component of the fall induces. Such mechanisms are satisfactory as long as the lateral component of the fall remains preponderant compared to the vertical component.

However, it happens that in the case of certain falls called "before twisting", that is to say with a forward component and a lateral component, the lateral component is not sufficient to cause the lateral tilting of the jaw. There is then a twisting of the shoe which gets stuck between the jaw and its support plate. The compensation mechanisms currently known are not sufficiently active to cause the opening of the jaw. Sometimes these falls are dangerous, and cause injuries in particular in the knees of the skier.

One of the aims of the invention is to provide a fastening element which releases the shoe, in particular in the case of a pre-twist fall where the lateral component is relatively weak.

Another object of the invention is to propose a fixing element which is relatively simple to construct.

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

• une embase reliée au ski,
• un corps monté sur l'embase,
• une mâchoire de retenue de la chaussure portée par le corps,
• la mâchoire comprenant deux ailes de retenue latérale de la chaussure et un serre-semelle de retenue verticale,
• un ressort d'énergie logé dans le corps pour s'opposer élastiquement aux mouvements d'ouverture de la mâchoire en réponse aux sollicitations de la chaussure,
• une plaque de support mobile sur laquelle repose la semelle de chaussure.

According to the invention, the alpine ski binding element comprises the following members,

• a base connected to the ski,
• a body mounted on the base,
• a shoe retaining jaw carried by the body,
• the jaw comprising two lateral retaining wings of the boot and a vertical retaining sole clamp,
• an energy spring housed in the body to elastically oppose the jaw opening movements in response to the stresses on the shoe,
• a movable support plate on which the shoe sole rests.

It is characterized by the fact that the support plate is movable around a longitudinal axis, that the body is connected to the base by a pivot, that a removable lock connects the base and the body, and that means connecting sensitive to the rolling movements of the support plate lower the resistance force that the spring opposes the opening movements of the jaw and control both the movement of the latch.

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

Figure 1 shows a side view in section of a fastening element according to a non-limiting implementation of the invention.

FIG. 2 represents two half top views in section through planes situated at different attitudes.

Figure 3 is a top view, in section of the fastener of Figure 1 at its base.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the rocker.

Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to Figure 3 and illustrate the operation of the device.

Figure 1 shows a fastener 1 which, apart from the support device and the base which will be described below in more detail, has a general structure known for example from the patent application in France published under the number 2 640 516. However, only the components of this fixing essential for the understanding of the present invention have been represented.

Referring to Figure 1, the fastening element 1 comprises a body 2 connected to a base 3 which is connected to the ski by any suitable means and for example by screws.

The body 2 carries a jaw 4 for retaining the front end of the shoe. The jaw 4 comprises two lateral retaining wings 5 and 6, respectively articulated to the body 2 around axes 7 and 8. The jaw 4 also includes a sole clamp 12 for vertical retention of the shoe.

The wings 6 and 7 are movable in response to the stresses of the shoe, against the restoring force applied to them by a spring 15.

The spring 15 is housed in the body. It actuates a piston 16 also housed and guided in the body for a longitudinal translational movement. The figures show that the piston is housed and guided in a housing 17 of the body, and that the spring is engaged inside the piston. Its front end bears against the bottom of the piston, located on the front side of the fixing element. A screw 20 whose head is retained by the front of the body moreover passes through the piston and the spring, and presents towards the rear a nut 21 which retains the rear end of the spring. A rotation of the screw drives the spring in translation, which makes it possible to adjust the initial compression of the spring.

The wings 5 and 6 have, beyond their axis of articulation to the body 7 and 8, a small arm 5a, 6a, which drives the piston 16 towards the rear, bearing against a shoulder 23 situated in the upper rear part of the piston 16.

The base 3 which carries the body allows rotation of the body about a vertical axis. As shown in Figure 1, the body has in its lower part a vertical pivot 18, cylindrical of revolution, which passes through a cylindrical orifice 19 of corresponding size presented by the base, by which it is guided. The assembly is for example produced by a disc 22 assembled to the pivot, for example by screws, the disc having a diameter slightly greater than that of the pivot, and being housed in a shouldered recess of the base. The pivot 18 is hollow, and it has a central recess 24 which opens upwards into the interior volume of the body, in particular which is in communication with the housing 17 of the piston.

A removable lock 54 retains the body in position aligned with the longitudinal axis defined by the base. This lock will be described later.

The fastening element 1 also comprises a support device 25 for the front end of the shoe sole.

The support device has a support plate 26 on which the shoe sole rests. The plate 26 can be equipped in its upper part with any suitable coating intended to facilitate the lateral sliding of the shoe, for example a PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) plate. It has a width which is of the order of the width of the ski at this level.

According to the invention, the support plate 26 on which the shoe rests can oscillate for a rolling movement on either side of a nominal position in which it offers the shoe a substantially horizontal support surface.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the support plate is articulated in rotation about a longitudinal axis 28 located towards the middle of the width of the plate.

The axis 28 is carried by a stud 29 which rises from a plate 31. The plate 31 extends under the support plate 26, against the upper surface of the ski. For example, it is connected to the base 3 which it extends backwards, or else it continuously extends the base 3.

The support plate has two vertical tabs 34, 35, in front of and behind the stud 29, which the axis 28 crosses.

A connecting means reacting to the rolling movements of the support plate 26 also connects the support device to the energy spring. This connecting means exerts on the spring a force which decreases the restoring force which the spring itself exerts on the lateral retaining wings. In the event of rolling stress exerted on the support plate, the shoe is released relatively more easily. This compensates in particular for friction and other effects which slow down the lateral movement of the shoe in the event of it twisting in its retaining jaw.

This means also actuates the bolt which retains the body aligned on the base, so as to release the body in rotation relative to the base beyond a determined displacement movement of the plate 26.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a rocker 40 is articulated around a horizontal and transverse axis 41 carried by the plate 31 or, where appropriate, the base 3, and located just in front of the support plate 26. The rocker 40 extends over substantially the entire width of the support plate 26. It has a horizontal branch oriented towards the rear and a vertical branch oriented downwards relative to the axis 41. The horizontal branch comprises two legs 43 and 44 which respectively engage under each lateral edge of the plate 26, so that the rolling movement of the plate 26 on one side or the other causes the horizontal branch of the rocker to rotate downward.

The rocker 41 also has a vertical branch 45 which provides at least in the vicinity of the median longitudinal axis of the fixing element a bearing face on which a longitudinal plunger 50 rests and on which it imparts its movement. The pusher 50 is guided in a groove 51 of the base oriented in a longitudinal direction. Forward, the pusher 50 carries a roller 52 which rests on the curved branch 53 of an anchor-shaped part 54 forming a lock. The body 55 of the anchor is carried and guided in the longitudinal direction defined by the body by the wall of the pivot 18 which it crosses right through.

Inside the pivot 18, in the recess 24, the body 55 of the anchor 54 bears against the vertical branch 57 of a rocker 58. The rocker 58 is partly housed in the recess 24 of the pivot 18, and it is articulated around a transverse axis 59 carried by the wall of the recess. Upwards, it has an approximately vertical branch made up of two forks 61 and 62 which pass on each side of the front part of the piston 16, and which are each pressing back and forth against a shoulder 63, 64, which the piston present in its rear part. These shoulders are of the same type as the shoulders 23 by which the lateral retaining wings urge the piston 16.

The anchor 54 also forms the removable lock retained by the body 2 in alignment with the base 3. The branch 53 of the anchor is housed in a recess 66 of corresponding shape located hollow in the wall of the orifice 19 for guiding the pivot 18. The shape of the recess 66 is determined so that the branch 53 of the anchor 54 is housed almost without play for a rotational movement around the axis of the pivot, but that the anchor 54 can slide in longitudinal translation under the action of the pusher 50.

The operation of the device which has just been described is as follows.

In the case of a pure lateral fall, the shoe biases one or the other of the wings 5, 6, which drives the piston 16 backwards against the restoring force developed by the compression of the spring. Beyond a determined opening, the wing releases the boot, or, if in the meantime the stress has ceased, returns the boot to the position centered on the ski.

If, during the fall, the shoe undergoes a twist, the support plate 26 is subjected to rolling. The support plate 26 transmits this stress to the rocker 40, by one or the other of its legs 43, 44, according to the direction of stress. The rocker 40 actuates the pusher 50, which in turn pushes the anchor 54 forward. The anchor 54 drives the rocker 58, which then biases the piston 16 backwards, that is to say in the same direction as the wings 5 and 6. At the level of the piston 16, the action of the support plate 26 is added to that of the stressed wing, so that the lateral force which the shoe must overcome to open a wing and be released is reduced. The increase in friction induced by the twisting of the shoe is compensated. By the dimensions given to the different elements, and by the lever arms of the different rockers, it is possible to generate a greater or lesser compensation. This is within the reach of the skilled person.

This compensation action is illustrated in FIG. 5, and it takes place as long as the branch 53 of the anchor 54 remains in its housing 66, that is to say as long as the tilting of the support plate 26 remains below a determined amplitude.

If this determined amplitude is reached or exceeded, the branch 53 leaves its housing. The lock which retained the body no longer exists, and the body can pivot freely around its pivot 18, which is illustrated in FIG. 6. The shoe is then released by the fastening element in an almost free manner.

Preferably, this rotational movement is free over a limited angular amplitude, sufficient however to cause certain release of the shoe.

During this movement, the branch 53 of the anchor 54 circulates in one or the other of two clearances 70, 71 that the recess 66 has on each side of its mouth in the orifice 19. The amplitude the angular movement is determined from the half length of the branch 53 and the length of these clearances 70, 71. These two dimensions are preferably close so that the roller 52 remains in abutment against the branch 53 during this movement.

After the release of the boot, the piston develops on the rocker 58 a restoring force which tends to bring the various elements of the connecting means and the support plate 26 back to their respective initial positions.

Where appropriate, the contact surface between the branch 53 of the anchor 55 and the wall of the recesses 70, 71, can be arranged to create a ramp effect which facilitates the return of the body 2 in the aligned position relative to the base 3.

Naturally, the present description is given for information only, and other implementations of the invention could be adopted within the scope of the claims. In particular, one could modify the nature of the means which creates compensation, and the nature of the removable lock. One could also modify the internal nature of the fixing element and adapt the connecting means to it. In this regard, it goes without saying that the invention applies in the same way to fasteners for which the energy spring is biased by a tie rod instead of a piston, or any other support means.

In addition, the rocker 58 and the latch 54 could be controlled from the support plate 26 by two independent circuits.

An adjustment on the circuit of the lock would also make it possible to control the moment when the unlocking of the body occurs, that is to say to have an unlocking more or less easy.

Claims (8)

1. Alpine ski binding element comprising the following members:

   - a base (3) connected to the ski;

   - a body (2) mounted on the base;

   - a boot retention jaw (4) borne by the body;

   - the jaw comprising two lateral boot retention wings and a sole clamp for vertical retention;

   - an energy spring (15) housed in the body for elastically opposing the opening movements of the jaw in response to the forces from the boot;

   - a movable support plate (26) on which the sole of the boot rests,

      characterized in that the support plate (26) is movable about a longitudinal axis (28), that the body (2) is connected to the base (3) by a pivot (18), that a removable latch (54) connects the base (3) and the body (2), and that linkage means (40, 50, 54, 58) sensitive to the rolling movements of the support plate lower the resistance force which the spring opposes to the opening movements of the jaw and control the displacement of the latch at the same time.
2. Element according to claim 1, characterized in that the linking means comprise a tipping element (58) of which an arm (57) is connected to the support plate (26) by a pusher (50) guided for a longitudinal translational movement, the tipping element further being journaled about a horizontal axis (59) borne by the body.
3. Element according to claim 2, characterized in that the removable latch (54) is actuated by the pusher (50).
4. Element according to claim 3, characterized in that the removable latch (54) is guided with respect to the body, and that it transmits the movement of the pusher (50) to the arm (57) of the tipping element (58).
5. Element according to claim 4, characterized in that the pivot (18) is affixedly connected to the body (2), that it has a central recess (24) in which the tipping element (58) is partially housed, demarcated by a wall crossed right through by the latch (54).
6. Element according to claim 5, characterized in that the latch (54) is partially housed in a recess (66) of the guide wall of the pivot (18).
7. Element according to claim 6, characterized in that the latch (54) has the shape of an anchor whose body (55) actuates the tipping element (58), and whose incurved arm (53) provides a support to the pusher (50).
8. Element according to claim 2, characterized in that the linking means comprise a tipping element (40) journaled about a transverse axis (41), with two lugs (43, 44) engaged beneath the lateral edges of the support plate (26) and a vertical arm (45) constituting a support for the pusher (50).

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