EP0768102B1 - Length adjustable skibinding groundplate - Google Patents

Abstract

The fastener base consists of a slider (1) which is fixed to the ski and has a row of notches (4) lying parallel to the slider's axis. A plate (5) can slide along the slider and is equipped with a spring-loaded catch (6) which engages with at least one of the notches and fixes the plate relative to the slider. The catch also has a release lever (13) which is pivoted to the plate. The catch (6) is made from a component which is separate from the lever and slides transversely relative to the plate. The base has a moving element (16) to suppress the play between the plate and slider when actuated by the lever. The moving element is in the form of a shoe which slides in or beneath the plate on a level with the inner edge of the slider opposite the notches. The lever is connected kinematically to the shoe by a curved link (18).

Description

The present invention relates to a mounting base ski adjustable longitudinally including a slide intended to be fixed to a ski and having a row of notches parallel to the axis of the slide and a plate mounted sliding on the slide and carrying a lock engaged in at least one notch of the slide so as to immobilize the plate on the slide, as well as a mounted release lever pivoting on the plate around a perpendicular axis to the plate, the lock being made up of one piece separate from the lever, slidably mounted transversely to the plate.

Such bases are used to equip skis demonstration and high-end rental in the purpose of allowing the distance between the front binding and the rear binding in size of the user's shoe while retaining the center of the boot at the same point on the ski. In this effect it is necessary to move the fixation before the rear fixation during a change of shoe size.

We know such a base in which the lock is consisting of teeth formed directly on the lever release on which the spring acts directly. Taking into account manufacturing and assembly tolerances of such a base, the plate supporting the fixing presents a transverse play which, although light, does not is no less perceived by the sieur during the changes of edge. Not only is such a game unacceptable in high end skis, but it gives the skier a feeling of imprecision in guiding skis.

From document FR 2 632 200 we know a ski binding whose base is immobilized without play in a notched slide by means of a sliding bolt transversely and actuated by a cam against the action of a spring tending to spread the lock of the notches of the slide. The base is applied by the cam against the opposite side of the slide. So to block the lock and the cam in the locked position, the cam has a hollow in which engages a lock nose. The cam therefore occupies, in the position of blocking, a well-defined angular position and constant not favorable to the removal of the game. The game is removed leaving the lock with the ability to tilt slightly while compressing a material body elastic opposing the thrust of the cam in its blocking position.

The invention aims to remove the backlash in its slide without auxiliary elastic body and without the need to give lateral play to the lock.

The base according to the invention is characterized in that the lock is engaged by the action of a spring in the notch of the slide and in that said base further includes a movable element for removing clearance between the plate and the slide, this element mobile being movable by action on said lever unlocking.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the element of game removal consists of a sliding shoe actuated by the release lever by means of a knee joint.

According to another embodiment, the removal of the game is done by means of a cam vertically spreading the plate and slide from each other.

The accompanying drawing shows, by way of example, two modes of execution.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a base according to a first form of execution.

Figure 2 is a sectional view along II-II of the figure 1.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate, by means of a variant of execution, the operation of the first mode of execution.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a second form of execution in which the top plate has been cut to reveal the locking mechanism and game removal.

Figure 7 is a sectional view along VII-VII of the figure 6.

Figure 8 is a partial view of an alternative embodiment of the second embodiment.

The base shown in Figures 1 and 2 includes a slide 1 consisting of a cut metal plate and folded in such a way that over part of its length edges 2 and 3 are raised so as to form the slide itself, as shown in the Figure 2. In the body of this slide 1, is formed, by stamping, a row of trapezoidal notches 4. On the slide 2 is mounted a plate 5 on which just attach the ski binding, in the example considered, a front stop. Plate 5 is a molded plate with housings and guides on its underside.

In FIG. 1, the plate 5 has been partially torn off so as to reveal the locking mechanisms and backlash. Locking is assured by a lock 6 consisting of a sliding mounted part transversely in a housing on the underside of plate 5. This lock 6 is provided with two trapezoid teeth 7 engaging between at least two notches 4 under the thrust of a spring 8 penetrating laterally in a cutout 9 of the plate 5 and working in compression between latch 6 and edge 10 of the cutout 9. The lock 6 has an arm 11 passing through spring 8.

On the underside of the plate 5, is further mounted, pivoting around an axis 12, a lever 13 provided on one side of a spout 14 and on the other end of a handle 15 accessible for operating the lever 13. The lever 13 is also kinematically connected to a shoe 16 slidably mounted obliquely in a groove provided in the underside of the plate 5 and opening on the side of the plate 5 opposite the latch 6, at the level the vertical edge 17 of the slide 1 (FIG. 2), by a slightly curved link 18, articulated on the lever 13 around an axis 19 and constituting a toggle with lever 13.

Figure 1 shows the base in the locked position and game removed. In this position, the axis 19 is slightly to the right of the straight line connecting axis 12 to the articulation of the link 18 on the shoe 16. The rod 18 is slightly bent elastically by so that shoe 16 is pressed against the side of slide 1, so that plate 5 does not cannot move sideways on slide 1. This blocking also removes the game vertical.

If one wants to release the plate 5 relatively axially at slide 1, the lever 13 is pivoted clockwise. During this pivoting, one must first of all exert sufficient force to pass the hard point of the kneepad. The beak 14 comes next push back the latch 6 so as to release its teeth notches 4. As soon as the lever 13 is released, the spring 8 pushes the lock again in the notches 4. To remove the backlash, the lever is then pushed back 13 in the position shown in the drawing.

It is noted that the shoe 16 is pressed obliquely against the slide so that the reaction generated has a component parallel to the axis of the slide. This component removes the axial play that could exist. Furthermore if, when release the release lever, teeth 7 come accidentally come up against the teeth formed between the notches 4, this axial component promotes engagement teeth 7 on the notches.

The three phases described above are illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5 which at the same time represent a variant of the first embodiment.

There is again a lock 20 sliding mounted transversely and provided with two engaging teeth in a toothing 21 of the slide under the thrust a spring 22. This lock has a spout 23 and a heel 24 close to the teeth. An unlocking lever 25 is articulated around an axis 26 and it is connected to a shoe 27, similar to shoe 16, by a link 28.

FIG. 3 represents the device in the unlocked position, a force being exerted on the lever 25 as indicated by the arrow. In this position, a beak 29 of lever 25 pushes back lock 20 by its beak 23 by compressing the spring 22.

When the lever 25 is released, the spring 22 pushes back the latch 20 in the locked position. Leverage 25 takes a middle position (figure 4).

From the position shown in Figure 4, if the lever 25 is pushed back to the other side, as shown in FIG. 5, the knee brace constituted by the link 28 articulated on the lever 25 presses the shoe 27 against the slide and the toggle 28, which has passed the hard point, is blocked in this position. The beak 29 of the lever 25 also comes at least approximately in contact with the heel 24 of the lock 20, thereby in turn locking the lock 20. The heel 24 also prevents us from locking the system when the teeth of the latch 20 are not engaged in the notches.

The game can be removed significantly different, as illustrated by the second form shown in Figures 6 and 7.

We find in this embodiment a slide 1 identical to the first embodiment. On this slide 1 is mounted a coated metal plate 31 here a trim 32 of synthetic material. A lock 33 is pushed into the notches 4 of the slide by a spring 34 working in flexion between a stud 35 of the lock 33 and a pad 36 of the plate 31. The lock 33 can be actuated by a lever 37 mounted pivoting around an axis 38 and provided with a spout 39 engaging in a V-shaped cutout of the lock 33. This lock is therefore practically articulated at the end of lever 37. The lever 37 is crossed by an axis 40 extending parallel to plate 31 and provided, at one of its ends, of a pallet 41 and, at its other end, a cam 43 formed or attached to the axis 40.

In the position shown in Figure 6, the pallet 41 is folded down in a groove 42 provided for this purpose in the upper face of the plate 32 and the cam 43 is oriented perpendicular to the plate 31, as shown in phantom in 43 'in Figure 7, such that it spreads the plate 31 from the slide 1. This has the effect of strongly pressing the edges 31a of the plate 31 against the edges 1a of the slide 1. This metal-to-metal contact immobilizes by rubbing the plate 31 on the slide, removing all play, both lateral and vertical.

The deletion of the game can be ensured without regard to friction forces if we give a certain slope at edges 1a and 31a, as shown in Figure 8 where these edges are designated by 1'a and 31'a.

To release the plate 31, simply raise the pallet 41 perpendicular to the base, which allows actuate the lever 37 by means of the pallet 41. The latter is then folded back into the groove 42.

Pallet 41 could be replaced by any other handle for driving the entire lever unlocking in rotation and axis 40 in rotation.

Claims (6)

1. Base intended to receive a ski binding thereon, said base being longitudinally adjustable, including a slider (1) intended to be fixed to the ski, with a row of notches (4; 21) parallel to the axis of the slider and a fitted plate (5; 31) sliding on the slider and bearing a latch (6; 20; 33) engaged in at least one notch of the slider, in such a way as to immobilize the plate on the slider, as well as a fitted release lever (13; 25; 37) pivoting on the plate around a shaft perpendicular to the plate, wherein the latch (6; 20; 33) consists of a fitted part separate from the lever sliding transversally to the plate, characterized in that the latch is engaged in the slider through the action of a spring and in that the said binding base includes also a mobile part (16; 27; 43) for removal of play between the plate and the slider, this mobile part being moved by action on the above-mentioned release lever.
2. Base according to claim 1, characterized in that the element for removal of play consists of a fitted shoe (16; 27) sliding in or beneath the above-mentioned plate at the level of the interior side of the slider, opposite to the notches, and in that the lever (13; 25) is linked cinematically to this shoe by a link rod (18; 28) forming a knuckle with the release lever, a knuckle such that the shoe is pressed against the slider and held there when the release lever is pushed hard in a particular additional position opposite to its release position.
3. Base according to claim 2, characterized in that the link rod (18) is curved.
4. Base according to claim 2, characterized in that the release lever(25) comes at least approximately into contact with a boss (24) of the latch in the play removal position, in such a way as to lock the latch.
5. Base according to claim 1, characterized in that the release lever is in two parts (37; 40), one of these parts formed from a fitted rotating shaft (40), parallel to the plane of the plate (31) in the other part, and acting as a lever-operating arm, the play removal element consisting of a cam (43) fitted or formed on the said shaft, this shaft being provided with a handle acting, on the one hand, to drive the release lever, and on the other, to rotate the cam to take it to a position in which it moves the plate and the slider vertically one away from the other, in such a way that the plate is blocked in the slider.
6. Base according to claim 5, characterized in that the slider and the plate present oblique edges (1'a, 31'a) which press one against the other in the blocked position.

Images