EP0820331A1

EP0820331A1 - Element for securing a boot to a ski

Info

Publication number: EP0820331A1
Application number: EP96912081A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christian Challande; Pierre Desarmaux
Original assignee: Salomon SAS
Current assignee: Salomon SAS
Priority date: 1995-04-13
Filing date: 1996-04-09
Publication date: 1998-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 2016-04-09
Also published as: FR2732899B1; DE69600729T2; DE69600729D1; WO1996032168A1; ATE171634T1; EP0820331B1; FR2732899A1

Abstract

An element for securing a boot to a ski, including two separate securing members (6, 7) each connected to a spring (11) by levers (6a, 7a) engaging the head (16) of a tie rod. A linkage (20, 21) is inserted between the head of the tie rod and each of the levers. The linkages (20, 21) are elongated and a retractable stop is provided for selectively locking the end of each of the linkages. In the locked position, the linkage amplifies the movement of the tie rod relative to that of the lever.

Description

Shoe retention element on a ski.

The invention relates to a retaining element intended to retain the boot of a skier in abutment on a gliding board, in particular an alpine ski, and to release said boot in the event of excessive stress.

The invention also relates to a set of two retaining elements associated with a set of two right and left boots for each of a skier's feet.

In the case of alpine skiing, it is known to retain a boot bearing on a ski by means of a front binding element and a rear binding element which retain the front and rear end caps of the boot. These two fastening elements comprise a jaw carried by a body. The jaw is movable in response to the stresses of the shoe against the force (I recall a spring which opposes its movement.

The hardness of the spring is adjustable, so that the shoe is released from the fastening element for a stress exceeding a determined stress threshold. This threshold is commonly referred to as the trigger threshold.

To be able to use shoes with the various fasteners on the market, the shape of the front and rear toe caps of the shoe has been standardized. In the ISO standardization system, the current standard has the reference ISO 5355. The fastening elements, on the other hand, are designed to be compatible with the standardized zones of the shoe and to ensure the release of the shoe at release values determined.

At the front, a shoe is retained by a front fastening element, the jaw of which has two lateral shoe retaining members which are independent or integral in their movement. The jaw is movable at least laterally towards the inside or outside of the foot, following a torsional stress exerted on the skier's leg. In the case where the jaw has two retaining members, each of the retaining members is movable in a determined direction, in fact towards the outside of the retaining element. Current bindings have a trigger threshold generally equal inwards and outwards of the foot.

However, it is known that the skier's knee, which is stressed during a torsional fall, is more fragile for a twist of the leg corresponding to a rotation of the foot inwards than for a rotation outwards.

To take this into account, fastening elements have been proposed which have a different triggering threshold according to the direction of tilting of the jaw. Such elements are for example described in French patents FR 1 503 847, 1 503 848, 1 503 849, or also in the German patent application published under the number 18 07 074. The major drawback of this type of device is that the fastening elements are constructed asymmetrically and therefore require pairing between the boots and the skis, that is to say the right and left skis. must be necessarily identified, and that the skier must especially put on the right ski with his right shoe and the left ski with the left shoe. It is materially possible to reverse the two skis, that is to say to put on the left ski for example with the right shoe. In this case, the effect of the asymmetry in the release of the binding acts in reverse, without it being possible to remedy it other than by exchanging the two skis.

The problem posed by the invention is to improve the operating mode of the existing retaining elements. It consists in particular in providing the retaining elements with an asymmetric trigger threshold, and in improving the operation of such retaining elements with an asymmetric trigger threshold.

According to the invention, the problem is solved by integrating into the elastic return mechanism of the jaw a simple, effective and inexpensive selection mechanism which makes it possible to choose different operating modes of the retaining element, depending on whether it has for the two directions of release of the boot, an identical trigger threshold, or a lower trigger threshold for one or the other of the directions. This selection can be done manually or automatically.

The retaining element according to the invention comprises two retaining members provided for retaining the shoe. The retaining members are carried by a body, itself carried by a base. It further comprises a return spring for the retaining members housed in the body, and a connecting rod connecting the retaining members to the spring, the pulling having a head with two contact zones against which each retaining member bears by a support area. Each retaining member is movable in a determined direction carrying with it the pulling against the restoring force exerted by the spring. It is characterized by the fact that at least between a zone of contact of the tie rod and a support zone of a retaining member, a free link is inserted, and that a retractable stop is provided for retaining one end of the rod during movement of the tie rod.

In this way, the retaining elements are constructed symmetrically, and their trigger thresholds can be made asymmetrical in one direction or another.

According to a secondary characteristic, when the tie rod is in the rest position corresponding to the absence of a shoe, each retractable stop is spaced apart by a determined distance from the end of the rod, in the direction of movement of the tie rod. According to another secondary characteristic, the retractable stop is linked to the base, to the body or to the tie rod of the retaining element.

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 is a side view of a retaining element according to a particular embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a top view of the retainer of Figure 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view in section through a horizontal plane of the retaining element of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a rear view in partial section of the retaining element.

Figure 5 is a side view of the tie rod.

Figure 6 is a front view of the retractable stops.

FIG. 7 is a side view in partial section of the retaining element according to the section AA identified in FIG. 3.

Figures 8 and 9 are side views in partial section which illustrate the different modes of operation of the retaining element.

Figure 10 shows in side view and in partial section an alternative embodiment of the retaining element.

Figure 11 illustrates in the same way another alternative embodiment.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the front part of the tie rod.

FIG. 13 schematically illustrates a mode of piloting the retractable stops.

Figure 14 illustrates another control mode.

Figure 15 shows schematically an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 16 schematically illustrates another mode of piloting the retractable stops.

Figure 17 shows the operation of the device of Figure 16.

FIG. 1 represents a retaining element 1 comprising a body 2 carried by a base 3. The base is designed to be assembled to the ski, or if necessary to an interface plate, by any appropriate means, for example screws.

The base is extended towards the rear by a support plate 4 which is designed to receive the shoe sole.

The body itself carries a jaw retaining the front end of the shoe. In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining jaw has two lateral retaining wings 6 and 7. The wings provide lateral retention of the shoe.

The jaw also retains the shoe in a vertical upward direction by a sole clamp. In the illustrated embodiment, the sole clamp is in two parts 6c and 7c respectively associated with each of the wings 6 and 7. The wings 6 and 7 are independent, they are respectively articulated around a substantially vertical axis 8, 9 carried by the body 2.

They extend beyond their axis of articulation by a wing return 6a, 7a. The wings 6 and 7 are returned to the rest position by a spring 11 housed in the body. They are connected to the spring by a tie rod 12. The spring bears at its rear end against a wall 13 of the body, and at its front end against a plug 14 screwed to the end of the tie rod. The cap adjusts the initial compression of the spring.

The tie rod has a long section 15 which passes through the spring, the wall 13, and it ends on the side of the wing returns with a head 16. The wing returns 6a and 7a are each engaged with the head of the tie rod.

In this way, the rotation of one of the wings towards the outside causes the displacement of the tie rod towards the rear, and the compression of the spring. The release of the boot is reached for a predetermined value of opening of a wing, which has caused a determined compression stroke of the spring. This construction is not, however, limiting for the invention, and the connection between the tie rod and the spring could be different.

According to the invention, amplifier or reduction means are interposed between the returns of the wings and the head of the tie rod. These means modify the ratio between the displacement of one of the wing returns and the displacement of the head of the tie rod. In addition, these means can be activated or deactivated at will, for one or the other of the wings, so that the triggering threshold of one of the wings relative to the other can be modified, depending on the case in the meaning of an increase or a decrease.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 8, these means comprise two rods 20 and 21 which connect the wing returns to the tie rods in two distinct areas of the rods. Each of the links is articulated at the head 16 of the tie rod by a transverse articulation axis, respectively 22, 23. In addition, to improve the connection between the links and the wing returns, an intermediate piece, respectively 24, 25 is interposed between each wing return and the head of the tie rod, and the links are articulated to their intermediate part associated respectively by a transverse articulation axis 26, 27. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 9, the axes 22 and 23 are located above the axes 26, 27.

Advantageously, the intermediate parts have a parallelepiped shape. They are guided along the tie bar just behind the head of the tie rod. At this level, the tie rod has two lateral guide faces 29, 30 for these intermediate parts. Preferably, the head of the tie rod has a side view of a square shape, the vertical part of which acts as a stop for the parts intermediate, and the horizontal part, located above the vertical part, carries the hinge pins 22, 23.

In a transverse direction, the links are located respectively on the outside of the head and of the intermediate parts. At rest, that is to say in the absence of a shoe, the spring recalls the tie back, the wing returns push the intermediate pieces into abutment against the head 16 of the tie, and the links have a approximately vertical orientation. From this position, the rods can oscillate freely in a vertical and longitudinal plane, thereby causing relative movement between the head of the tie rod and one or the other of the intermediate parts, that is to say one or the other. another of the wing returns.

To cause this oscillation, a third zone of the link is retained so as to impede its movement during the displacement of the tie rod. For example, as shown in the figures, the links 20 and 21 are extended downwards by a foot, respectively 32, 33 which reaches substantially at the level of the base 3. Two longitudinal grooves 34, 35 are provided in the 'base to allow the movement of the feet 32, 33. In addition, a transverse bar 38 movable in a transverse groove 37 is provided to close at will one or the other of the grooves 34, 35, thereby hampering the movement feet 32 and 33.

The bar 38 shown in Figure 6 has solid areas interspersed with slots. The solid zones are provided for closing one or the other of the grooves 34 and 35, the slots 39, 40 and 41 are, on the contrary, provided to allow free passage at the feet 32 and 33 when they are located in alignment from one or the other of the grooves 34 and 35. It should be noted that the zones situated beyond the ends of the bar are equivalent to slots. The number and arrangement of slots are not limiting. It can be provided that the slots are arranged so that, depending on the transverse position of the bar, the feet of the rods are blocked together by solid areas, or that one or the other of the feet is free, or that the two feet are free together.

In Figure 4, it is visible that the link 32 is retained by the bar, while the link 33 is free.

The operating mode of the device is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9.

In FIG. 8, the groove 35 is released. A force exerted by the wing return 7a on the intermediate piece 29 is transmitted directly to the head 16 of the tie rod, because the intermediate piece remains in abutment against the head 16 of the tie rod.

In FIG. 9, the groove 35 is closed by a solid area of the bar 38.

The wing return 7a carries with it the intermediate part 29. As the foot 33 of the link is retained by the bar, the link switches and drives in its tilting the head of the tie rod, which therefore has a greater range of motion than that of the intermediate piece. The ratio between the amplitudes of displacement of the intermediate piece and of the tie rod is determined by the ratio of the lever arms between the three zones of the link, the foot 33, and the two axes of articulation 23 and 27.

The release of the shoe is obtained for a given opening of one or the other of the wings, and therefore for a determined displacement travel of its return. In the first case, the determined stroke of the wing return corresponds substantially to the determined stroke of the tie rod. In the second case, the link amplifies the travel of the tie rod, the determined return stroke is reached for a greater stroke of the tie rod. To be released, the shoe must overcome in the second case a greater restoring force of the wing than in the first case. The increase in this force comes from the increase in the compression stroke of the spring, and from the fact that the return force of the spring is increased due to this increase in stroke.

It should be emphasized that the operating mode which has just been described applies independently to the two links 20 and 21, therefore to the two wings 6 and 7. That is to say that depending on the position of the bar, the trigger threshold for each wing can be changed independently of the other. Preferred modes of operation will be described later in more detail.

Preferably, the bar 38 is placed slightly behind the feet 32 and 33 in the rest position which they occupy in the absence of a shoe. In this way, the stop (s) which hold the feet of the rods, if they are active, do not intervene immediately, but only after a short stroke of displacement of the tie rod. A first advantage is that the bar is completely free at rest, and that a very small force is enough to move it. Another advantage is that when the shoe is engaged, it is known that the wings deviate substantially, in particular to compensate for the manufacturing tolerances allowed over the width of the shoe. This adaptation to the width of the shoe is done here automatically without the links abutting against the bar. The stops of the bar are only active beyond the travel of the tie rod which is provided for adapting the opening of the wings to the width of the shoe.

Preferably also, the orientation at rest of the links is provided so that they oscillate on either side of a vertical orientation, so that the vertical component of the movement of the links and of the intermediate parts is as small as possible. .

FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment according to which the bar 50 is no longer located in the base of the retaining element, but in the part upper body. As in the previous case, the bar 50 is guided in a transverse groove 51.

The rods, and their connection with the head of the tie rod are reversed. That is to say for the link 53 which is only visible in FIG. 10 that the articulation 56 of the rod at the head 55 of the tie rod is located under the articulation 57 of the rod at the intermediate part 58, and that the foot 60 of the link is still above this articulation 57.

The operation of this variant is substantially the same as that which has been described previously. In addition, as in the previous case, preferably, when the tie rod is in the rest position, there is play between the base of the rods and the bar.

FIG. 11 illustrates another variant according to which the rods have an effect, not an amplifier, but a multiplier, that is to say when they oscillate, they slow down the movement of the tie relative to that of one or the other wing returns.

In Figures 11 and 12, the links 61 and 62 are articulated in their central part at the head 63 of the tie rod. At their lower part, the rods are articulated respectively to the intermediate parts 65 and 66, but unlike the previous cases, the head 63 of the tie rod does not hamper the longitudinal movement of one or the other of the intermediate parts, this is that is to say that these parts can freely protrude the head of the tie during its movement.

In their upper part, the rods bear against a fixed stop, for example a stop 67 secured to the body. Between the stop 67 and the articulation at the head 63 of the tie rod, the links are respectively in abutment against a movable bar 68 which is housed in a groove 69 carried by the head of the tie rod and situated in front of the link rods. As in the previous case, the bar carries slots which leave the links free to oscillate, and solid areas which link the links to the support of the bar, that is to say at the head of the tie rod.

When the link is free to oscillate, the displacement of the tie rod is multiplied with respect to that of one or the other of the intermediate parts. When the link is retained by a solid area of the bar, the intermediate piece directly drives the tie rod. The shoe is released in this case for a higher release force.

Naturally, other construction variants are possible. In particular, it should be noted that the role of the intermediate parts is to ensure a good transmission of movements between the wing returns which move in a horizontal plane, and the links which, when they pivot, follow a pendulum movement. These parts are not essential, or could be replaced by any suitable means. In addition, in general, the rods are connected to the head of the tie rod or to the intermediate parts by joints. These joints are advantageous because they maintain a constant connection between the different elements, in particular during the displacement of the tie rod, they maintain a connection on the side of the wing which is not stressed by the shoe. Other constructions could also be suitable.

The retaining element which has just been described in different embodiments is intended to form an assembly with another element of the same type. In addition, the two elements of this assembly are provided so as to be adjusted either identically, that is to say with identical trigger thresholds for each of the wings or of the retaining members, or else symmetrically , that is to say for the two elements, identical and distinct outward trigger thresholds from inward trigger thresholds. In the latter case, preferably, the trigger thresholds of the wings located on the outside are lower than the trigger thresholds of the wings situated inward, so that the shoes are released more easily for a rotation of the foot towards the inside where the knee is weaker. This differentiation, which can also be called polarization, can be obtained either by starting from a high nominal trigger threshold for the two wings, and by lowering the trigger threshold for the wing located on the outside, or good starting from a low nominal trigger threshold and increasing the trigger threshold of the wing located inside.

The construction which has just been described makes it possible to easily obtain such a polarization of the retaining elements, without it being necessary to locate the right and left skis.

To illustrate this, Figure 13 shows schematically the front of a shoe in which a magnetic insert 80 is embedded, for example during molding. The insert has a different polarization or position for a right shoe or a left shoe. An electronic sensor 81, for example a Hall effect sensor, is integrated in the retaining element, for example at the level of the sole clamp. This sensor, sensitive to the magnetic field, is able to decode the polarization of the insert 80 or its position. An electronic system 82 processes this information, and powers a small electric motor 83 which is engaged on a rack located for example in the upper part of the bar 84. According to the information received, the electronic system distinguishes whether the shoe engaged is a right shoe or left shoe. It then supplies the electric motor, and the motor positions the bar in the desired position corresponding to the polarization of the retaining element provided for the shoe engaged. Figure 14 illustrates another mode of operation. Each of the bars is here manually controlled by an operating lever 90 which is for example on the upper surface of the retaining element. The lever is connected to the bar by a rod 91 which passes through the cover of the retaining element.

The lever is accessible and visible on top of the retainer. Its orientation directly indicates the position of the bar. When the shoe is engaged in the retaining elements, the lever makes it possible to check, according to its orientation, that the bar is indeed in the desired position. If this is not the case, the lever can be pivoted for example with the ski pole, to be placed in the correct position.

FIG. 15 illustrates another alternative embodiment according to which the bar 94 is curved according to an arc of a circle, and flows in a groove 95 of the same radius located in the base of the element. An arm 95 is pivotally mounted around an axis located at the center of curvature of the bar and of the groove. The free end of the arm is connected to the bar and controls its movement. The arm is pivoted by two electromagnets 98 and 99 located on each side of the arm, each electromagnet being designed to push the arm back into a determined lateral position.

FIG. 16 illustrates another mode of piloting the retractable stops. This device comprises a mechanical sensor 100 which is articulated at its base around a vertical axis not visible in the figure. The sensor is provided to be located between the wings of the jaw, so as to be placed just in front of the sole of the shoe.

The probe 100 comprises a central upright 101 freely articulated at the base of the retaining element around a vertical axis not visible in the figure. The sensor carries a feeler 102 which is connected by a hinge 103 about a transverse axis. The probe is designed to come into contact with a shoe which would be engaged in the retaining element, in an area situated above its standardized retaining area. It has in its upper part a transverse plate 106 with two lateral bosses 107 and 108. The bosses are provided to bear on the front part of the upper of a shoe, above the standardized retention zone, in order to feel the presence of a bump that identifies the right or left nature of the shoe. Such a bump 109 is shown in FIG. 17 on the front of a shoe 110. In fact, the feeler is located substantially above the sole clamp of the retaining element.

The sensor also has a connecting element with the bar, or generally with the member which controls the polarization of the retaining element.

In the illustrated embodiment, the link is located between the upright 101 which is movable in rotation about a vertical axis, and the bar 112 which is located guided in a transverse groove. This connection is preferably elastically deformable, for example, as illustrated in the figure, it is a flexible wire of the piano cord 113 type, the ends of which are engaged in the base of the upright and in the central part of the strip 112. Naturally, any other means is suitable, for example an elastic blade or even, a rigid connection.

Thus, by pivoting to one side or the other, the sensor drives the bar or the polarization member in one or other of its lateral positions. Optionally a suitable spring or elastic member is provided to bring the sensor back to a middle position. Such a spring is not shown in the figures.

The amount 101 extends behind the feeler 102, that is to say opposite the shoe, by an extension 104, and a spring 105 ensures the elastic return of the feeler towards the front. A non-visible stop, for example a stop integral with the upright 101 and located in front of the probe 102 limits its tilting towards the shoe. The assembly is provided so that, in the absence of a boot, the feeler is returned to the rest position towards the rear of the ski.

Figure 17 illustrates the operation of the device. A shoe 1 10 has a bump 109 on one side of its front part. The bump 109 identifies the right or left nature of the shoe. Naturally the other shoe of the pair has a bump located in another zone. When the boot engages, the bump 109 meets one of the bosses of the probe, in this case the boss 108. This causes both the rotation of the probe relative to the upright around the transverse axis 103, and a rotation of the upright around its vertical axis. The stiffness of the spring 105 is determined so that the feeler offers resistance to its tilting around the axis 103 which is high enough to cause the upright 101 to pivot about its vertical axis.

In addition, the rest position towards the rear of the ski is provided for the feeler so that it is able to react to the engagement of most of the shoes currently on the market. Above the standard area, these different shoes have some differences in shape. In addition, this rest position is provided so that the feeler is actuated when most of the shoes currently on the market are engaged, which would not be fitted with a bump. In this case, the feeler pivots about its transverse axis 103 without causing the upright 101 to rotate towards one of its lateral positions. The retainer is not polarized under these conditions.

Thus, the rotation of the probe around its transverse axis 103 is useful mainly to give it reliable operation whatever the type of shoe used. Naturally, the device which has just been described could operate in a different manner, for example on the basis of a recess in the shoe, instead of the bump, or on the basis of a relief situated in the standardized zone. Other methods of detecting the nature of the shoe could also be suitable, for example an optical reading means which reads a mark on the shoe, or the like.

For a pair of retainers, the two retainers are constructed identically. As has been described, each element is designed to have a similar operation for each of its retaining wings, or else two distinct asymmetrical operating modes can be obtained automatically or manually by the selection device, the triggering threshold d 'one wing being higher than that of the other wing for each of these operating modes.

Good polarization is thus obtained without the need to pair skis and boots, that is to say to identify a straight ski to be used with the right shoe, and a left ski to use with the left shoe .

The invention is not limited to the case of a front retaining element. It relates more generally to any retaining element which has two separate retaining members designed to release the shoe in different directions.

Claims

1- Element for retaining a boot on a ski provided for releasing the boot in two distinct directions, comprising two retaining members (6, 7) provided for retaining the boot carried by a body, a base (3) which carries the body (2), a return spring (11) for the retaining members housed in the body, and a connecting rod (12) connecting the retaining members to the spring, the rod having a head (16) against which each restraint exerts support by a return (6a, 7a), each retaining member being movable in a determined direction carrying with it the pulling against the restoring force exerted by the spring, characterized in that a link (20, 21 ) free connects the return (6a, 7a) of a retaining member and the head of the tie rod in two distinct zones of the rod, and that a retractable stop (38, 50, 68) is provided to oppose the displacement of a third zone of the link during the movement of the tie rod.

2- element according to claim 1, characterized in that the retractable stop (38) is distant from a determined distance from the end (32, 33) of the rod (20, 21) when the tie rod is in rest position, in the absence of a shoe.

3- element according to claim 1, characterized in that the link is connected to the head (16) of the tie rod (12) by a joint (22, 23).

4- element according to claim 1, characterized in that the retractable stop (38) is mounted on the base.

5- element according to claim 1, characterized in that the retractable stop (50) is carried by the body.

6- element according to claim 1, characterized in that the retractable stop (68) is carried by the tie rod, and that a fixed stop is also located near the retractable stop.

7- Element according to claim 1, characterized in that the retractable stops are linked together.

8- Element according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a first means (83, 100) for actuating the retractable stops (84) in a coordinated manner.

9- Element according to claim 8, associated with a shoe provided with a second means (80, 109) provided to cooperate with the first means for actuating the retractable stops (84) according to the right or left nature of the shoe.

10- element according to claim 9, characterized in that the first means comprises a sensor (100) movable about a vertical axis, with a feeler (106) provided transversely with two bosses (107, 108) and that the shoe has a bump (109) provided to cooperate with one of the bosses of the probe.