EP0701467A1

EP0701467A1 - Boot/ski interface device

Info

Publication number: EP0701467A1
Application number: EP95916689A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pierre Szafranski
Original assignee: Salomon SAS
Current assignee: Salomon SAS
Priority date: 1994-04-05
Filing date: 1995-03-31
Publication date: 1996-03-20
Also published as: FR2718046B1; JPH08511192A; WO1995026788A1; FR2718046A1

Abstract

A boot/ski interface device including an elongate plate (45) mounted between two widely spaced abutments and movable between a lower position in which the plate is parallel to the ski and an upper position in which at least one end of the plate is raised above the ski. The device is characterised in that it includes passive means (62) for preventing a build-up of snow under the plate (45).

Description

INTERFACE DEVICE BETWEEN A SHOE AND A SKI

The invention relates to an interface device aimed at modifying the natural pressure distribution of a ski such as in particular an alpine ski on its sliding surface.

The skis which are used for the practice of alpine skiing consist of relatively long boards, on which the skier's shoes are retained by front and rear fastening elements. The boots and binding elements are located approximately in the middle area of the ski. The skis have in themselves, at rest, a natural camber, by which the middle zone is raised naturally with respect to the front end of the ski, or tip, and the rear end of the ski, or heel. In addition, the skis have a flexibility which is due to their internal structure. During skiing, the ski deforms elastically in response to the various stresses to which it is subjected on the part of the skier, but also on the part of the terrain on which it slides.

We know from the European patent application published under the number EP 530 449 in the name of the applicant an interface device which dynamically modifies the pressure distribution of the ski on the snow, as a function of the vertical stresses that the skier exerts on his skis. This device comprises a vertically movable feeler which transmits to the base of the fastening element before the vertical stresses which it picks up from the shoe. These stresses are transmitted via a rocker, and in one of the embodiments of a substantially horizontal connecting plate articulated on one side to the rocker, and on the other to the base of the fastener .

Such an interface device has two mobile elements which have a vertical movement relative to the upper surface of the ski. These elements are the connecting plate and the probe.

When skiing, it may be that snow or dirt gets between these elements and the upper surface of the ski, thus disturbing the correct functioning of the device.

One of the aims of the invention is to improve the functioning of such a device.

Another goal is to offer a simple construction, light and economical.

Another object is to propose a construction which does not disturb the operation of the interface device during skiing.

These objects, and other objects which will appear during the description, are achieved by the device according to the invention as defined in claims 1 and 7.

By preventing the accumulation of snow under the plate or under the probe, these elements are allowed to have a vertical movement relative to the ski. Upon engagement of the shoe in the fastening elements, the plate lowers without encountering high resistance. In addition, during skiing, the plate and the feeler can be lowered vertically in response to the vertical stresses of the boot without being hampered by snow.

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

FIG. 1 represents a general side view of an interface device to which the invention applies.

Figure 2 is a view of the device of Figure 1 in the presence of the shoe.

FIG. 3 is a side view in partial section of the rear part of the device of FIG. 1. Figure 4 shows the plate seen from above.

FIG. 5 represents in cross section the plate of FIG. 4.

Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 show alternative embodiments of the plate.

Figure 10 is a side view of an interface device according to another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the plate of Figure 10, in its rear part.

Figure 12 shows in perspective the flexible cover located under the rear part of the plate.

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate, respectively side view and in top view, another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 15 shows a side view of another embodiment of the interface.

FIG. 16 is a partial sectional view of the rear part of the interface of FIG. 10.

Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view of the end portion of the plate.

Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view of the two parts of the plate.

Figure 19 is a perspective view of the brake base.

FIG. 1 represents the middle part of an alpine ski which is equipped with a front fixing element 3, and a rear fixing element 4.

In known manner, the ski 1 has an elongated shape, with a raised front end or tip, and a rear end or heel.

The front and rear fasteners are of any suitable type, and will not be described in detail. They are intended to retain the front and rear ends of a shoe, and to release the shoe when it exerts on one or other of the elements excessive stress.

In a known manner, in the case of the ski which is represented in FIG. 1, the shoe sole rests on the ski 1 by a front support plate 7, and a rear support plate 8, which are respectively associated to the front fixing element 3 and the rear fixing element 4.

The device shown in FIG. 1 also comprises between the fastening elements 3 and 4 a brake 9, this brake having two lateral braking arms 10 and 11.

Referring to Figure 1, the front fastening element 3 has in its lower part a plate 13, which is secured to the ski. Preferably, the plate 13 is mounted on a base plate 14, which raises it slightly relative to the upper surface of the base of the ski. The assembly constituted by the plate 13 and the base plate 14 is fixed by any suitable means, and for example by screws.

The rear fastening element 4 has in a known manner a body 16 which is longitudinally movable along a slide 17. The slide 17 is connected to the ski 1 by means of a base plate 18 secured to the ski everywhere suitable means, for example screws.

The articulation between the slide 17 and the base plate 18 is made by a pivoting about an axis parallel to a transverse and horizontal direction. In the illustrated embodiment, this axis is fictitious. It is materialized by two horizontal tabs 20 at the rear of the slide 17 which are engaged in corresponding housings of the base plate 18. Naturally, this is not limiting, and any other means of articulation is suitable, in particular a transverse articulation axis. The slide 17 has in its front part a support plate 30. Taking into account the mobility of the slide, this support plate is movable vertically. The support plate 30 forms both the rear support plate 8 for the shoe sole, and a feeler which picks up the vertical stresses of the shoe.

The interface device further comprises an elongated plate 45 which extends between the front base plate 14 and the area of the support plate 30.

The front end of the plate is connected to the base plate 14 by an articulation around a horizontal and transverse axis.

Advantageously, inside the base plate 14 is housed an elastic means which opposes the forward movement of the front end of the plate 45. This means has not been shown in the figures, and it is not essential for understanding the invention.

The rear end of the plate 45 has a shoe 52 which is designed to fit into the support plate 30. The shoe 52 has in its upper part a bearing surface 56 on which the shoe sole comes to bear when the shoe is engaged in the fasteners.

A lifting arm 58 articulated around a transverse axis 59 and resiliently biased upwards by a spring 60 is located under the rear part of the plate. It exerts on this part an elastic return force which tends to raise it, and therefore to dislodge it from the support plate 30 in the absence of a shoe.

Advantageously, the lifting arm 58 is extended downwards by braking arms 10, so as to form the ski brake 9.

A rocker 35 is articulated around a transverse axis fixedly carried on the ski. The rocker 35 is located under the rear end of the plate and connects the support plate 30, or the slide 17 to the plate 45. It collects the vertical stresses picked up by the probe 30 by a branch 34, and transmits them to the plate 45 by a bearing face 41 which cooperates with a corresponding face 53 situated at the rear of the shoe 52.

FIG. 4 represents a first implementation of the invention according to which the plate 45 has over a large part of its length two parallel sections spaced apart by a recess.

According to Figure 4, the plate 45 has two portions 90 and 91 nested one inside the other in a sliding manner. Each portion has overall in top view a shape of "U", whose branches, respectively 90a, 90b, and 91a, 91b, are parallel and are slidably engaged with one another.

Preferably, as can be seen in FIG. 6, the branches are superimposed. The lower branches are those of the portion 91 located towards the rear of the plate.

In section, these branches 91a and 91b have a "V" shape, the edge of which faces downwards.

Therefore, at the time of putting on, these profiled branches are capable of compressing and then breaking up the layer of snow which would have formed under the plate 45. Between the profiled branches is a longitudinal recess 92 where the snow can be pushed back without disturbing the operation of the device. FIGS. 4 and 5 represent the two portions assembled by a kind of bolt which is housed towards the middle of the recess 92.

The bolt 93 advantageously has a nut 94 of pointed shape, to prevent the accumulation of snow at this level.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, the plate 45 is formed by two tube portions 69a and 69b whose cross section has an elongated shape in a vertical direction. Figure 7 shows a triangular section with the tip facing down. Figure 8 shows an oblong section, and Figure 9 an oval section. Because of the shape of its section, the tube, when lowered, splits or breaks the snow that would have accumulated under the plate. Naturally, other tube sections may be suitable.

The tube is shown in two portions 69a and 69b which slide one inside the other to allow adjustment in length.

The two portions are assembled by any suitable means. The tube can also be made in one piece.

According to a variant shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12, the front part of the base plate 18 is covered with a flexible protective cover 80. This cover covers the support plate 30 and the front part of the base 82 brake. The cover 80 is located above the rocker 35.

Plumb with the shoe 52, the cover 80 has split lips 81 that the shoe 52 can move aside to enter the cavity covered by the cover and reach the rocker.

The cover is made of any suitable material, for example rubber. It may have alveoli. In this way, it can deform with the vertical movements of the support plate 30.

This flexible cover prevents snow from entering this area.

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate an alternative embodiment, they represent a rigid cover 85 located at the connection between the slide 17 and the plate 45. The cover is articulated in its rear part to an axis 87 carried by the front end of the slide 17.

Its front part is connected to the shoe 52 by a pin 88. The pin is carried by an oblong hole to allow the lowering of the plate 45, and if necessary the movements of the plate in a longitudinal direction. Naturally, any other suitable means of connection is suitable.

Seen from above, the cover 85 is provided to engage on each side of the shoe 52, as can be seen in FIG. 19. Laterally, the cover 85 has walls 86 provided to overlap the front part of the base plate 18 and close the rocker area from the side.

To improve the effectiveness of this protection, baffles could be provided between the walls which are movable relative to one another in a vertical direction.

FIG. 15 illustrates another embodiment of the invention. This figure is an interface device between a ski and front 103 and rear 104 fastening elements. The interface device comprises an elongated plate 145 the front part of which is connected by an articulation to the base plate 114 of the front fastening element . The rear part of the plate is resiliently urged upwards by a lifting arm 158 which also forms the upper part of the brake arms. Figures 15 and 16 show the device in the absence of a shoe.

In its rear part, the plate 145 has a shoe 152, which ends in an end part 154 of reduced width. This part 154 is curved in the shape of a beak. Preferably, the spout has in section the approximate shape of a triangle, the point of which faces downwards as shown in FIG. 17.

The spout carries on the rear a face 153 which is provided to cooperate with the front face 141 of the rocker 135. Advantageously, this front face 141 is carried by an intermediate piece 142 of reduced width corresponding to the width of the spout. This part is articulated in its upper part on the same axis as the rocker, and it is in abutment against the vertical face 133 of the latter.

As in the previous case, the plate 145 is formed of two superimposed parts 190 and 191 slidably mounted and assembled by a clamping mechanism, in particular a screw mechanism. Referring to Figure 19, the two parts have two parallel branches 190a, 190b and 191a and 191b which are profiled so as to slide one on the other. The branches are separated by a longitudinal recess 192. In cross section, the branches of the lower part 191 have a lower "V" surface, the surface of which located on the outside of the branch has an inclination relative to the horizontal which is smaller than that of the inner surface. The shape of the branches is further provided so that the side walls of the central recess 192 succeed one another substantially continuously through the lower and upper parts 191 and 190. Preferably, the side walls of the recess are vertical at the level of the upper part 190 and with a slight inclination towards the outside, from top to bottom at the level of the lower part 191.

Referring to Figure 16, the slide 117 of the rear fastening element is movable in the base plate 118 about a transverse axis materialized by lugs 120. The front of the slide bears on the horizontal branch 134 of the rocker 135. Preferably, a compression spring 136 is interposed between the bottom of the base plate and the slide. This spring resiliently recalls the slide upwards in abutment against the side edges of the base plate.

In addition, the rocker 135, or more precisely the intermediate piece 142, has an elastic tongue 137 which bears against the bottom of the slide. This tongue resiliently recalls the rocker in its position corresponding to the high position of the slide.

A rigid protective cover 185 connects the front part of the slide 117 and the rear part of the plate 145. The cover covers the rear part of the plate 145. It is perforated in its central part which covers the part 154 of the plate, and laterally, it has two downward-facing sides. The cover is articulated to the plate 145 at a transverse axis 188. In addition, the cover has a light at this level to allow the relative movement of the axis 188 when the shoe is engaged.

The cover is connected to the front part of the slide by a hinge pin 187. In its upper part, the cover has a bearing surface 156 provided for receiving the shoe sole. Of preferably, the cover has on the rear two small extensions 186 which are provided to bear against the lateral edges of the base plate when the cover is in the raised position. These extensions somehow lock the slide against the side edges of the base plate in the absence of the shoe. In addition, they facilitate the positioning of the various elements when the shoe is engaged, by preventing the slide from lowering before the hood.

In the present case, the cover is designed to support the shoe, and transmit the stresses of the shoe to the slide 117, via the axis 187.

FIG. 19 shows the base of the brake which is located at the front of the base plate, under the end portion 154 of the plate 145. This base has two lateral pads 161 and 162 which form the rotation bearings of the braking arm 158. Between the lateral studs is a recess in which the end portion 154 penetrates when the plate is lowered to come into abutment against the rocker 135. As can be seen in FIG. 19, this recess is covered by a flexible cover 163 with an opening 164 in the form of a slot for the passage of the end portion 154.

The structure of the plate is advantageous for breaking during the engagement of the boot the layer of snow which is if necessary under the plate 145. It should be noted that snow can remain in the central recess 192, this snow does not interfere with the movement of the plate during skiing. Despite this recess, the plate retains very good mechanical strength in the longitudinal direction.

The rear cover 185 protects the rocker area from snow infiltration. The flexible cover 163 more particularly protects the area of the rocker intended to cooperate with the plate.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been described, it encompasses variants, technical equivalents, and in general the constructions as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1 - Interface device between a boot and a ski, comprising a slender plate (45, 145) mounted between a front fastening element (3, 103) and a rear fastening element (4, 104) which are widely spaced, so movable between a low position where the plate extends parallel to the ski, and a high position where at least one end of the plate is raised above the ski, where, in the low position of the plate, the rear part of the plate fits into a vertically movable probe, characterized in that the plate has over a large part of its length two parallel profiled branches (90a, 90b, 91a, 91b, 190a, 190b, 191a, 191b) separated by a recess and that the branches (91a, 91b, 191a, 191b) have in section a lower part in the shape of "V" whose edge is rotated downwards.

2- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate is in two portions (90, 91, 190, 191) mounted in a sliding manner and assembled together by a bolt (93).

3- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection between the rear end of the plate and the probe is covered by a removable cover (85, 185) which closes on said connection when the plate is in low positron .

4- Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the cover is articulated around an axis (87, 187) carried by the probe, and that it is connected to the rear part of the plate by a connection with play .

5- Device according to claim 1 wherein the feeler acts on the plate by a rocker (35, 135) articulated around an axis located under the feeler, characterized in that a flexible cover (80, 163) provided with lips split (81, 164) covers the rocker.

6- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the rear part of the plate has the shape of a shoe (52, 152) of reduced width and bevelled section.

7- Device according to claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the shoe (52, 152) is provided to pass through the flexible cover (80, 163) at a split lip (81, 164) so as to reach the rocker.