EP0771228B1 - Device for fixing a boot to a snowboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/IB95/00493 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 16, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 16, 1997 PCT Filed Jun. 19, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO96/03185 PCT Pub. Date Feb. 8, 1996The device for fastening safely a shoe onto a snow board according to the invention includes two lateral jaws (2) carried by arms (15) mounted pivotally at their free ends on a first journal (17) perpendicularly to the plane of the board and movable in a direction parallel to this plane by the action of a resilient member (4) between a closed operative position, in which these jaws cooperate with a profiled pattern of the sole of the shoe and an open position, in which the same is released. Each jaw (2) is connected mechanically to the resilient urging member (4) via a rocking member (6) mounted in such a manner that it exhibits two stable positions, corresponding respectively to the open and to the closed position of the jaws (2).

Description

The present invention relates to a fixing device a shoe on a snowboard, and more particularly a safety fastening device, i.e. triggerable in the event of a fall, impact or torsion, and which includes an automatic interlocking system ("step-in").

Currently, the practice of surfing or snowboarding is generally done without security fastening, unlike to the practice of classic alpine skiing, using for example front and rear stirrups to block the shoe on the board. Safety fixings for snowboards have already been disclosed, for example in the document FR-A-2.618.688, which include for example on a support itself fixed on the surf a front stop and a heel piece similar to that of the safety bindings conventional alpine skis. Such devices have the same disadvantages as those provided for Alpine skis, i.e. insufficient safety in the event of shock in the toe / heel axis and the need for adjustment precise according to the length of the sole the shoe to be fastened; moreover, the presence of two devices mechanical, respectively front and rear, adds unwanted extra weight to the board snow.

We also know a fixing device for so-called central (or side jaw) snowboard more particularly as described in patent CH 682,133. However, this central fixation requires from the user manipulating the device to make move the jaws from their open position out of service in the closed position during operation, for example by actuation by hand with a lever. However, this manipulation can be difficult for some users to perform or when the snowboard is in a partially position covered by snow.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention consists in providing a safety device for fixing a shoe on a snowboard that does not have not the aforementioned drawbacks of fasteners known, allowing in particular to use the same device fastening for shoes of different lengths, without requiring adjustment of said device, and which comprises in addition an automatic interlocking system (or step-in).

The safety fastening device of a shoe on a snowboard, which is the subject of this invention and aims to achieve the above object, presents the characteristics defined in claim 1.

The invention will be described below in detail, and in reference to the accompanying drawing. This drawing illustrates schematically and by way of example a particular embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view, and Figure 2 a front view, also showing the sole portion of the attached shoe.

Figures 3 and 4 are views partially in horizontal, respectively vertical section, in position service closed.

Figures 5 and 6 are views partially in horizontal, respectively vertical section, in position open out of service.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the shape of the fixing device according to the invention illustrated by way of example comprises a housing 1, containing the operating mechanism of the binding, and intended to be fixed on the upper surface S of a board or snowboard, and two side jaws 2 operated by said mechanism and each provided with claws or attachment fingers 3; these claws 3 are intended to grip in closed service position an imprint or portion C profile forming part of the sole of the shoe to be fixed (not shown) or attached under it (see figure 2).

In practice, two fastening devices such as the one illustrated in figure 1 are fixed on the surf, parallel to each other or not, and at an angle by with respect to the longitudinal axis of said dependent surf so known per se of the imperatives of practicing this sport and user choices. Means can also be provided between the housing 1 and the surface S surf to allow easy adjustment of the position of each of the two fixing devices, in particular of the aforementioned angle.

In the open position (mixed lines), the jaws on the side 2 no longer maintain between they the profiled portion C of the sole of the shoe. The displacement between these two positions, respectively closed and open, is caused by the action of an organ elastic energy storage 4 preferably arranged in front of the jaws 2.

We will now describe, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6, the operating mechanism of the fixing device according to the invention to move from the open position jaws (out of service position) to the closed one (position on duty).

The action of the entire mechanism is therefore provoked by an elastic member represented here by a spring 4 disposed in front of the jaws 2, and whose force can be adjusted by an adjusting screw 5. This spring 4 acts on the side jaws 2 through a system of "rocker", intended to define two stable positions of the device, corresponding to the open and closed positions jaws 2, beyond a "dead center" located between these two positions. More specifically, a double lever engagement 6 is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis 7 and transverse, fixed laterally for example in side walls of the housing 1. This interlocking lever 6 serving as a "rocking" organ is connected forwards by through an axial link 8 to an axial rod 9 extending the elastic member 4. This rod 9 has an axial guide opening 10 cooperating with an axis fixed vertical 11, here a device mounting screw. On the other hand, the engagement lever 6 is connected to the rear to an operating member 12 pivotally mounted on a horizontal and transverse axis 13, fixed laterally by example in the side walls of the housing 1, through a straight rod 14; the operating device is itself controlled by a hand lever 14 extending outwards the transverse pivot axis 13.

On the other hand, each jaw 2 is articulated on a arm 15 by means of a vertical hinge pin 16, the free end of arm 15 being mounted pivoting on a vertical pivot 17 secured to the device, so that said jaw 2 can pivot in the horizontal plane. The articulation at 16 of the jaw 2 at the end of its support arm 15 is limited in its pivoting outwardly by a shoulder 18 that said jaw at its posterior end, this shoulder 18 coming into abutment against said arm 15 when opening fixing and this after catching an operating step.

Finally, the mechanical link between the "rocking" organ 6, itself controlled by the elastic member 4, is ensured by a double horizontal rod 19 secured in translation axial of the double engagement lever 6 and connected to a horizontal triangular link 20 by a link right 21, this triangular link 20 presenting an elongated opening 22 with which a hinge pin 23 secured to the jaw 2.

So at the backward translational movement of the rod device 9, under the action of spring 4 by example, corresponds to an opening movement of the jaws 2. As already mentioned, the "rocking" organ, constituted by the engagement lever 6, allows to define two positions stable mechanism, first open position (out of service) corresponding to that illustrated on the Figures 5 and 6, and a second closed or service position corresponding to that of FIGS. 3 and 4. To pass from one position to the other (passage from "neutral") against the action of spring 4, action should be taken on the engagement lever 6 either directly or indirectly.

When the binding is in the open position (Figures 5 and 6) the engagement lever 6 serves as a device automatic or step-in, the user pressing vertically up and down with his shoe to put it in position between the jaws 2, to rotate said lever around axis 7 and bring the whole sway system in the position closed service (Figures 3 and 4), the claws 3 of the jaws 2 then enclosing between them the profiled portion or imprint C presented by the surfer's shoe.

To open the jaws 2 and thus free the portion C of the shoe, the surfer will then have to activate hand lever 14 by pulling it up against the action of the spring 4 to rotate the operating member 12 and thus raise the locking lever 6 in its out-of-service position. This opening of the jaws can of course be caused in the event of a fall, shock or torsion, as soon as one of these events causes a tension on the jaws 2 which is greater than that, preset, of the elastic member 4; the device plays a security role, which constitutes progress undeniable on the fixing devices currently known for snowboarding.

The possibility of engaging the fixation automatically (step-in) thus constitutes a practical advantage and progress important, the fastening devices for surf to currently marketed snow all requiring handling by the surfer, for example to close a stirrup at the front of his shoe.

On the other hand, thanks to the realization of the pivoting of the jaws by means of an articulated arm, the claws 3 of these side jaws 2 always remain in contact with the corresponding fingerprints C of the sole of the shoe, even in the often unavoidable presence of a depth of snow, ice, even earth or small gravel, between this shoe sole and the plate upper of the fixing device, this "thickness" unwanted being somehow compensated by a game slightly larger gap (a few mm) of the jaws 2 outwards, made possible by the joint of these at 16 on the support arm 15, the pins articulation 16 also being spread outwards and the jaw 2 then forming an angle slightly obtuse with said arm 15.

Finally, it should also be noted that the principle side jaws provide many advantages, the most important of which is function security increased, the shoe can be released axially towards forward and backward without obstacle, and the fact that it no longer need to adjust the binding when the surf is used by another user having shoes having a sole of length different. This advantage is particularly appreciable in the case of snowboard rentals.

As for the shoe, it suffices that its sole has in its middle part an imprint or profile, or hooking formations, corresponding to those of jaws, either from manufacturing with said sole, be reported on it.

Claims (7)

1. A safety device for fastening a shoe onto a snow board (S), including two lateral jaws (2) carried by arms (15) mounted pivotally at their free ends on a first journal (17) perpendicular to the plane of the board and movable in a direction parallel to this plane under the bias of a resilient member (4) between an operative closed position in which prehensile fingers (3) carried by these jaws cooperate with a profiled section (C) of the sole of the shoe, and an open position in which the same is released, characterized in that each jaw (2) is connected mechanically to the resilient urging member (4) via a rocking member (6) mounted in such a manner as to have two stable positions corresponding to the respectively open and closed positions of the jaws (2), and in that said rocking member (6) exhibits an actuation section arranged to protrude above the fastening surface in the open position of the jaws (2), in such a manner that this section acts as an automatic engagement lever when the shoe presses vertically downwards upon the same.
2. A fastening device according to claim 1, characterized in that each lateral jaw (2) is pivotally connected to the end of the arm (15) carrying the same at a second journal (16) perpendicular to the plane of the board, and is provided with means designed for limiting the pivoting in a direction parallel to the plane of the board and outwardly of said jaw with respect to said arm.
3. A fastening device according to claim 2, characterized in that said means for limiting the pivoting consists of a shoulder (18) carried by each jaw (2) at its back and which is designed to abut against the arm (15) carrying it.
4. A fastening device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said rocking member (6) is mounted pivotally in the axial vertical plane around a horizontal tranverse axis (7) and in that it is connected, on the one hand, to the resilient urging member (4) via a bar (9) and a linkage rod (8) connected pivotally to each other and movable axially under the action of said resilient member (4) and, on the other hand, to the lateral jaw (2) by a system of linkage rods (19,21) and of a triangular linkage member (20).
5. A fastening device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rocking member (6) is connected by a linkage rod (14) to an operating member (12) mounted pivotally in the vertical plane around a horizontal transverse axis (13), this operating member (12) being controlled from outside by a hand lever (14) extending said transverse pivot axis (13).
6. An assembly constituted by a shoe for snow board and a safety fastening device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the shoe includes a sole of which the middle part comprises a profiled pattern (C) designed for cooperating in the operative position with lateral jaws (2) of said fastening device.
7. An assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that the pattern (C) is moulded integrally with the sole or in that it is provided as a member designed for fastening to said sole.

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