EP0840640B1 - Device for adjusting the position of a binding on a snowboard - Google Patents

Abstract

The device for positioning a binding on a snowboard is intended to engage into a rail portion (5) provided in the board. It comprises a central plate (3) placed on the board and intended to receive, directly or indirectly through a base, a boot retaining device; a sliding member (20) housed inside the rail portion (5) and a central stud (21) which connects the sliding member (20) to the plate (3); a friction means (22); an actuation means (23) which controls the central stud (21) translationally in order to modify the vertical position relative to the sliding member (20) inside the rail portion (5). One of the objectives is to provide a wide selection of continuous adjustment possibilities particularly in angular orientation and in longitudinal position of the plate with respect to the board.

Description

Device for adjusting the position of a binding on a plank gliding, in particular snowboard and gliding board adapted to such device.

The present invention relates to a position adjustment device of a fixation on a gliding board. It relates more particularly to a device suitable for a board of the type 'Snowboard'.

The invention also relates to a snowboard equipped with device.

Snowboarding is done using an elongated board, including the front end, at least, is raised to form the tip. The two user's shoes are immobilized on the board by suitable retaining elements. The positions adopted for the practice of this sport varies greatly depending on the discipline practiced, level or habits of the user, or depending on its morphology For example, for the practice of certain disciplines oriented towards the research of the realization of figures, such as "free style" or "out of bounds" practice such as "free ride ", the feet are very far apart and are very inclined by relation to the longitudinal axis of the snowboard in a position substantially transverse, generally not parallel to each other. Sure some boards completely symmetrical about the axis transverse median, the surfers adopt a position of feet called in "duck" to allow the practice indifferently in one direction or In another.

On the contrary, for the practice of slalom or speed disciplines, the feet are less spaced from each other and move closer together, inclination, of the median longitudinal axis.

To respond to this diversity of adjustment, current systems do not not entirely satisfactory. One of the most common is provide several rows of threaded holes on the board for the passage of screws used to immobilize a generally circular plate; the plate itself holding a mounting base in a position angular determined. Patent AT 1387/92 discloses a system of adjustment of this type for the support of a snowboard binding. According to what device, the choice of positions remains limited, in particular according to the longitudinal direction of the board. Similarly, the adjustment requires the use a tool such as a screwdriver and therefore makes handling long and tedious, and therefore generally impossible in the field. These devices are not no longer suitable for rental where ease and speed of adjustment are paramount.

Document DE-U-295 01 515 describes a system for adjusting the position of a device for retaining a shoe on a board. The adjustment system brings together contact surfaces having recesses and bumps which interlock with each other in the others to oppose reciprocal rotational movements. The system according to this document allows step-by-step position adjustment, reducing the choice of setting.

One of the aims of the present invention is therefore to propose a device for adjusting the position of a fixing which really brings a wide choice of adjustment possibilities in particularly in angular orientation and in longitudinal position while remaining easily and quickly maneuverable without having special tools.

Another object of the invention is to propose a device which adapts, in particular in snowboard, to most current mounting base systems that use the usual standard 4x4 thus serving as an adjustment interface between the snowboard and the base.

The present invention also relates to a snowboard particularly adapted to receive the position adjustment device according to the invention.

One of the goals is therefore also to offer a snowboard with a integrated adjustment that adapts to most current mounting base systems used. In more, the board offers a range of continuous adjustment in longitudinal position allowing to obtain an adaptation to the different disciplines practiced in snowboarding.

Another object of the invention is also to propose a snowboard which has a high resistance to tearing of the fasteners under the conditions of use the harder.

• une platine centrale reposant sur la planche pour recevoir directement, ou indirectement par l'intermédiaire d'une embase, un dispositif de retenue d'une chaussure ;
• un organe de coulissement logé à l'intérieur de la portion de rail et une tige centrale qui relie l'organe de coulissement à la platine ;
• un moyen de friction disposé entre la platine centrale et la surface de la planche ;
• un moyen d'actionnement qui commande la tige centrale en translation pour modifier la position verticale relative de l'organe de coulissement à l'intérieur de la portion de rail ; entre une position libérée de la platine en rotation et en translation le long de la portion de rail et une position de serrage au cours de laquelle la surface inférieure de la platine comprime le moyen de friction contre la face supérieure de la planche.

To meet these and other objects, the present invention is presented as a device for adjusting the position of a binding on a gliding board intended to cooperate in a portion of rail formed in the board, characterized in what he understands:

• a central plate resting on the board for receiving directly, or indirectly via a base, a device for retaining a shoe;
• a sliding member housed inside the rail portion and a central rod which connects the sliding member to the plate;
• friction means arranged between the central plate and the surface of the board;
• an actuating means which controls the central rod in translation to modify the relative vertical position of the sliding member inside the rail portion; between a position freed from the plate in rotation and in translation along the rail portion and a clamping position during which the lower surface of the plate compresses the friction means against the upper face of the board.

• la figure 1 est une vue générale en élévation d'une planche de snowboard avec dispositif de réglage intégré selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe longitudinale selon A-A du dispositif de la figure 1 selon un premier mode de réalisation ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en élévation détaillée du dispositif de la figure 2;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective éclatée du dispositif des figures 2 et 3 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique du principe de fonctionnement du dispositif des figures 2 à 4 avant serrage ;
• la figure 6 est une vue schématique similaire à celle de la figure 5 après serrage ;
• la figure 7 est une vue en coupe A-A selon une variante de l'invention ;
• la figure 8 est une vue en élévation détaillée de la variante de la figure 7 ;
• la figure 9 est une vue en coupe A-A d'une seconde variante de l'invention ;
• la figure 10 est une vue de dessus de la variante de la figure 9 ;
• la figure 11 est une vue schématique du principe de fonctionnement de la variante des figures 9 et 10 avant serrage ;
• la figure 12 est une vue schématique similaire à celle de la figure 11 après serrage ;
• la figure 13 est une vue en coupe transversale de la planche de la figure 1 selon la ligne B-B.

Different embodiments illustrate the invention which will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description, as well as to the drawings attached thereto, including:

• Figure 1 is a general elevational view of a snowboard with integrated adjustment device according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view along AA of the device of Figure 1 according to a first embodiment;
• Figure 3 is a detailed elevational view of the device of Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the device of Figures 2 and 3;
• Figure 5 is a schematic view of the operating principle of the device of Figures 2 to 4 before tightening;
• Figure 6 is a schematic view similar to that of Figure 5 after tightening;
• Figure 7 is a sectional view AA according to a variant of the invention;
• Figure 8 is a detailed elevational view of the variant of Figure 7;
• Figure 9 is a sectional view AA of a second variant of the invention;
• Figure 10 is a top view of the variant of Figure 9;
• Figure 11 is a schematic view of the operating principle of the variant of Figures 9 and 10 before tightening;
• Figure 12 is a schematic view similar to that of Figure 11 after tightening;
• Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the board of Figure 1 along line BB.

Figure 1 shows a snowboard 1 equipped with two position adjustment devices 2 according to the invention. Each device is intended to receive a fixation for the immobilization of a shoe (not shown). Different types of fasteners can adapt to such a device for retaining rigid shell shoes or soft type boots. It is therefore not in the spirit of present invention to be limited to the use of a particular type of fixation.

In the mode shown, each device comprises a plate central 3 connected to the board by a special mechanism which will described later. A base 4 whose main function is to support the shoe retaining means is shown in line dotted as an example. The base is secured to the plate and is oriented along a main axis O forming an angle of inclination α by relative to the longitudinal axis (I-I '). One of the objects of the invention is to ability to vary the angle of inclination α, at will, releasing the central plate 3 in rotation and providing a locking mechanism fast in the desired angular position.

The snowboard also includes two portions of rails 5 arranged along the longitudinal axis (I-I ') and spaced from each other. The length of each rail portion and the spacing between them are parameters easily determined by a person skilled in the art to cover all, or at least most, of the usual settings used and wanted by users. Another object of the invention is therefore also to be able to vary the longitudinal position of the plate central 3 in relation to the board over the length of the rail portion planned, at the same time as the angular adjustment is obtained and without additional handling.

It is preferable to provide for each device, a portion of rail distinct and separate so as to influence the free as little as possible bending of the board. However, we can consider that each portion is not oriented strictly along the axis (I-I ') but on the contrary either slightly offset and parallel, or inclined with respect thereto.

According to the first mode of Figures 2 to 4, the adjusting device 2 comprises a central plate 3 in the form of a disc, provided with a surface lower 30 in contact with a friction means 22; himself in contact with the upper surface 10 of the board. An organ of slide 20 is housed inside the rail portion 5 and is connected to the central plate by a central rod 21 fixedly secured to the sliding member 20. The central plate 3 is provided with a upper receiving surface 31 intended to receive a base of fixing (not shown), a central housing 32; and inside the latter with a central bore 33 for the passage of the central rod 21. The central rod 21 is mounted free in vertical translation in the bore 33 of the plate.

An actuating means 23 controls the central rod 21 in vertical translation. The central rod 21 includes a threaded portion 212 onto which is screwed a threaded adjusting means 232 such as a simple nut for example. A washer 233 is disposed between the means 232 and the board. The actuating means comprises a cam eccentric member 230 pivotally mounted on the adjusting means threaded 232 by two radial pins 234.

In this mode, the cam eccentric member is indirectly connected to the central rod by a pivot link and manually operable at by means of a lever 231 secured to the member to move the rod 21 in axial translation through the bore 33, upwards to reach the clamping position and vice versa, down to reach the position released.

The threaded adjusting means 232 has the function of making it possible to adjust the clamping force in the clamping position of the plate.

The central housing 32 has a sufficient depth relative to the surface 31 to contain the actuating means 23 without overshoot of lever 231 when the latter is in the retracted position corresponding to the clamping position of the plate.

The operation of the device is as follows: in position unlocked, shown in Figure 5, the lever 231 is raised, so that the cam eccentric member which is integral with it is located clear of the surface of the central plate 3. The plate being mounted by a pivoting link sliding on the rod 21 can then be oriented in the desired angular position. Similarly, without clamping effort, the sliding member, or slide 20, is released in translation in the rail portion, also allowing to move the whole of the device in the chosen direction A or B.

The locked position of figure 6 is obtained by lowering the lever 231 in its retracted position. It drives in rotation the eccentric member 230 which bears on the central plate 3; this which moves the central rod 21 upwards and constrains the slide 20 to be reassembled in the rail portion. In the clamping position, the organ eccentric exerts a tensile force on the rod and therefore on the slide, resting on the plate which compresses the means of friction 22 on the surface of the board. In this configuration, the longitudinal displacement of the slide in the rail and displacement angle of the stage are no longer allowed. The tightening can be controlled by threaded adjusting means 232 before lowering the lift. By screwing, the cam is brought closer to the eccentric member of the surface of the plate along the central rod, and therefore the tightening is increased.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention. The only significant change from mode previous comes from the actuating means 23 which is different.

There is a central plate 3 in the form of a disc in contact with a friction means 22. A sliding member 20 is housed at inside the rail portion 5 and is connected to a central rod 21 of in solidarity. The central rod passes through the central bore 33 of the platinum. It is mounted freely in axial translation relative to the platinum by a sliding link. To allow transmission of vertical movement, the rod is blocked in rotation by a flat 211.

The actuating means 23 has a lever 231 which controls in rotation of an annular ramp member 234 mounted by a pivot link sliding relative to the central rod 21 and which acts on one or more radial lugs 210 of the central rod to move the latter in axial translation upwards to reach the clamping position and, inversely downwards, to reach the released position.

As shown in Figure 8, the central rod has two radially opposite lugs 210. The annular ramp member has, two ramp surfaces 234a for guiding the pins and which each have a gradual slope ending in position high by a radial recess 234b for blocking each lug in clamping position of the plate.

As in the previous mode, the central plate 3 has a upper reception surface 31 and a central housing 32 of sufficient depth from the top surface to contain the member with an annular ramp without protruding either from it or from the end of the central rod relative to the upper surface of reception 31 when the upper blocking position is reached.

The device comprises a second housing 34 formed under the plate, set back from the lower surface 30 of the plate in contact with the friction means, which communicates with the housing central 32 on the one hand and which opens out through an opening 34a on the side of the stage on the other hand. The lever, meanwhile, has an arm 231a which connects the annular ramp member 234 through said housing and which extends out of the opening 34a by a lever 231b actuable in rotation.

The device not being adjustable, an elastic means is provided, such as one or more Belleville 24 washer (s), housed in the portion rail and which offers an elastic resistance to compression for keep the sliding member under pressure. More specifically, the 'Belleville' washer is simply mounted through the center rod and housed between the slide 20 and a support washer 25 whose width is chosen greater than the opening 50 of the rail.

The clamping passage of the device in the released position, and conversely, is done simply by operating the lever 231b of the lever by about a quarter turn rotation.

Figures 9 and 10 detail another variant of the invention with an actuating lever offset relative to the plate; what has advantage of allowing adjustment without having to remove the shoe from retaining means directly or indirectly attached to the platinum.

The device has an actuating means 23 which includes a transmission element 235 housed, at least in part, in the portion rail 5. The element is connected to the central rod 21 by a pivot link slippery. It has a first elongated portion 235a which ends by a support means 236 offset by a certain distance d1 with respect to the axis of the central rod. The support means 236 is in the form a cylindrical portion of width greater than the opening 40 of the rail. The actuating means has a second elongated portion 235b which extends on the opposite side to the first portion, and is connected by an offset clamping member 237, located at a distance d2 from the axis of the rod. The distance d1 of the first portion 235a is less than the distance d2 from the second portion 235b, so that the action of tightening of the offset clamping member 237 causes leverage which moves the central rod 21 in axial translation down to the clamping position of the plate.

To improve the leverage generated, the transmission element 235 includes, between the two elongated portions 235a, 235b, a disc 235c support, through which the central rod passes. The 235c disc bears against the sliding member 20 to push it towards the bottom, by leverage generated during the clamping action of the offset clamping 237.

• un second organe de coulissement ou coulisseau 237a logé à l'intérieur de la portion de rail ;
• une tige 237b fixée à l'organe de coulissement 237a et se prolongeant en dehors du rail et au travers de la seconde portion allongée 235b, de façon libre en translation ;
• un organe d'excentrique à came 237c relié à la tige par une liaison pivot et actionnable au moyen d'un levier 237d solidaire dudit organe pour déplacer la tige en translation axiale vers le haut pour atteindre la position de serrage, et inversement, vers le bas pour atteindre la position libérée.

The offset clamping means 237 comprises:

• a second sliding member or slide 237a housed inside the rail portion;
• a rod 237b fixed to the sliding member 237a and extending outside the rail and through the second elongated portion 235b, so as to be free in translation;
• a cam eccentric member 237c connected to the rod by a pivot link and actuable by means of a lever 237d secured to said member to move the rod in axial translation upward to reach the clamping position, and conversely, towards the down to reach the released position.

Rod 237b is provided with a threaded portion on which is screwed a threaded adjusting means 237e. The eccentric member 237c is mounted swiveling directly on the threaded adjusting means by means of two radial pins 237f.

The adjusting means 237e can be a hexagon nut for example. Its function is to allow the adjustment of the clamping force of the clamping means 237.

The central rod 21 of the device is also provided with a portion threaded upper 212a. It is blocked in translation relative to the plate by an adjustable threaded element 212b, of the nut type for example. This element allows a backlash of the device. The threaded element takes place in a central housing 32 large enough to ability to handle it using a tool such as a key.

The operating principle is illustrated by the figures schematics 11 and 12.

Figure 11 shows the device in a configuration of locking. The lever 237d of the offset clamping member 237 is in retracted position; which has the effect of placing the cam of the organ eccentric 237c in support position on the end of the second elongated part 235b, which therefore moves downward and approximates the sliding member 237a which moves it towards the high by translational driving of the rod 237b. Support exercised down on the end of the second elongated portion is transmitted in an upward support of the support end 236 and in a more effort significant traction due to the leverage on the central rod which tends to bring the plate closer to the surface of the board and to compress the friction means 22.

In the unlocked position, the lever is in the high position; of so that the cam of the eccentric member 237c does not apply any more force tightening at the end of the second elongated portion 235b. Thereby, the downward traction force exerted on the slide disappears which frees the device in translation, and the plate which no longer exerts compression on the friction means is released, in turn, rotation. The entire device including the offset clamping member can be moved in translation in the rail portion in the direction wanted A or B.

In all the modes represented, the friction means plays a role important since its function is to create between the lower surface of the plate and the upper surface of the board, an interface which when subjected to a compressive force, participates in immobilization of the rotating plate by friction effect.

Such a means can consist of a disc of material chosen from those with compressibility and elasticity properties important. Among the materials likely to be suitable; we can particularly mention natural and artificial rubbers, some plastics, cork and felt. Of course, the disc constituting the friction means can be glued or screwed onto the surface bottom of the deck or on the top surface of the board so to facilitate the movement of the device in the rail portion.

In the examples illustrated, the plate has the shape of a disc provided at least four threaded holes 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d forming a quadrilateral for receiving a suitable mounting base (Figures 3 and 4).

Preferably, the holes are separated two by two by a distance of 4 cm to meet the usual snowboard standard.

Of course, the plate can take other forms than that of a disk. For example, it can be an elongated plate of shape substantially identical to the sole of a shoe for reception direct from a snowboard binding of the 'hull' type or other.

As shown in Figure 13, each rail portion is made up of a profiled element 6 having a substantially transverse profile rectangular.

It includes a channel 60 delimited by a bottom wall 61, two side walls 62, 63 connected to the bottom wall and two edges upper 64, 65 which oppose to form an opening 66 of width l less than the largest width L of the channel. Instead of a rectangular shape, the profile can be chosen trapezoidal, for example. The profiled element also comprises lateral anchoring edges 67, 68 which extend the bottom wall and extend outwards, so to improve the strength of the anchor in the structure of the board.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the modes of which have been explicitly described, but it includes the various variants and generalizations contained in the field of claims below.

Claims (19)

1. Device for adjusting the position of a binding on a gliding board adapted to cooperate with a rail portion (5) provided in the board, comprising:

   a central plate (3) resting on the board to receive a boot retaining device, directly, or indirectly through a base;

   a sliding member (20) housed within the rail portion (5) and a central stud (21) which connects the sliding member (20) to the plate (3);

   an actuation means (23) which controls the central stud (21) in translation in order to modify the relative vertical position of the sliding member (20) within the rail portion (5); between a released position of the plate in rotation and in translation along the rail portion and a tightening position,
   characterized in that a compressible friction means (22) is arranged between the central plate (3) and the upper surface (10) of the board to ensure, by friction resulting from its compression against said upper surface (10), the immobilization of the plate in rotation and in translation along the rail portion in the tightening position of the central plate (3).
2. Adjusting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuation means (23) has an eccentric cam member (230) connected to the central stud (21) by a pivot linkage and manually actuated by means of a lever (231) affixed to said member to displace the stud (21) upwardly in axial translation to reach the tightening position, and inversely downwardly to reach the released position.
3. Adjusting device according to claim 2, characterized in that the actuation means comprises a threaded adjusting means (232) on which the eccentric cam member (230) is pivotally mounted; the threaded adjusting means (232) being screwed into an adjustable position on a complementary threaded portion (212) of the central stud (21) to allow adjusting the tightening force in the tightening position of the plate (3).
4. Adjusting device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the central plate (3) has an upper receiving surface (31) and a central housing (32) having sufficient depth with respect to said surface (31) to hold the action means (23) without extending past the lever (231) when the latter is in the retracted position corresponding to the tightening position of the plate.
5. Adjusting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuation means (23) has a lever (231) which controls in rotation an annular ramp member (234) mounted by a sliding pivot linkage with respect to the central stud (21) and which acts on one or more radial lugs (210) of the central stud (21) to displace the latter upwardly in axial translation to reach the tightening position, and inversely downwardly to reach the released position.
6. Adjusting device according to claim 5, characterized in that the central stud (21) is equipped with two radially opposed logs (210), and in that the annular ramp member (234) has two ramp surfaces (234a) each having a progressive slant ending in a raised position by a radial hollow (234b) for blocking each lug in the tightening position of the plate.
7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the central plate (3) has an upper receiving surface (31) and a central housing (32) having a sufficient depth with respect to said surface, in order to hold the annular ramp member (234) without extending past the latter or the end of the central stud (21) with respect to the upper receiving surface (31) when the raised blocking position is reached.
8. Adjusting device according to claim 5, 6, or 7, characterized in that a second housing (34) is provided under the plate, set back with respect to the lower surface (30) of the plate in contact with the friction means (22), which communicates with the central housing (32), on the one had, and which opens out with an opening on the side of the plate, on the other hand; the lever (231) of the actuation means (23) being equipped with one arm (231a) connecting the annular ramp member (234) through said housing (32) and extending beyond the opening (34a) by a handle (231b) which can be actuated in rotation.
9. Adjusting device according to any of claims 5-8, characterized in that an elastic means (24) is housed in the rail portion (5) which opposes an elastic resistance to the compression in order to maintain the sliding member (21) under pressure.
10. Adjusting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuation means (23) comprises a transmission element (235) housed, at least in part, in the rail portion (5) connected to the central stud (21) by a sliding pivot linkage, having a first elongated portion (235a) which ends by a support means (236) offset by a certain distance d1 with respect to the axis of the central stud; a second elongated portion (235b) extending on the side opposite to the first portion and connected by an offset tightening member (237) located at a distance d2 from the axis of the stud (21), with d1<d2, such that the tightening action causes a lever effect that displaces the stud in a downward axial translation until the tightening position of the plate.
11. Adjusting device according to claim 10, characterized in that the transmission element (235) comprises, between the two elongated portions (235a, 235b), a support disk (235c) through which the central stud (21) passes; said disk taking support against the sliding member (20) to push it downwardly, by the lever effect generated during the tightening action of the offset tightening means (237).
12. Adjusting device according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the offset tightening means (237) comprises:

    a second sliding member (237a) housed within the rail portion (5);

    a stud (237b) attached to the sliding member (237a) and extending outside of the rail and through the second elongated portion (235b), freely in translation;

    an eccentric cam member (237c) directly or indirectly connected to the stud (237b) by a pivot linkage and manually actuated by means of a lever (237d) affixed to said member in order to displace the stud (21) upwardly in axial translation to reach the tightening position, and inversely downwardly to reach the released position.
13. Adjusting device according to claim 12, characterized in that the offset tightening means (237) comprises a threaded adjusting means (237e) on which the eccentric cam member (237c) is pivotally mounted; the threaded adjusting means (237e) being screwed in an adjustable position on a threaded portion of the stud (237b) to allow adjusting the tightening force of the tightening means.
14. Adjusting device according to any of claims 10-13, characterized in that the central stud (21) is quipped with a threaded upper portion (212a), blocked in translation with respect to the central plate by an adjustable threaded element (212b) to allow backlash elimination for the device.
15. Adjusting device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the friction means (22) is constituted of an element made of a deformable and elastic material selected from the natural and artificial rubbers, certain plastics, cork and felt.
16. Adjusting device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central plate (3) has the shape of a disk equipped with at least four threaded holes forming a quadrangle for receiving an adapted binding base.
17. Snowboard equipped with an adjusting device according to any of claims 1-16, characterized in that it comprises two rail portions (5) arranged substantially along the longitudinal axis (I-I') and spaced apart.
18. Snowboard according to claim 17, characterized in that each rail portion (5) is constituted of a shaped element (6) having a substantially rectangular or trapezoidal section which comprises a channel (60) demarcated by a bottom wall (61), two lateral walls (62, 63) connected to the bottom wall (61) and two upper edges (64, 65) inwardly opposing one another to form an opening (66) having a width (l) lesser than the greatest width (L) of the channel (60).
19. Snowboard according to claim 18, characterized in that the shaped element (6) comprises lateral anchoring edges (67, 68) which extend the bottom wall (61) and extend outwardly.

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