EP1155717B1 - Device to raise at least a ski binding used on a sliding board - Google Patents

Abstract

Steeping up support (1) is made of a fixation mounting zone (5) and a connecting zone (6). The connecting zone has one end (8) integral with the superior face of the board. The two elements are held together by fixing means. A groove (20) in the support is filled with an elastic material, which straightens the board back in its original shape.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to the field of snow sliding sports.

It relates more particularly to the devices used on skis and including alpine skis.

It relates more specifically to devices for raising the fasteners to optimize the transmission of the support exercised by the skier in the direction of the board.

Previous techniques

In known manner, gliding boards and in particular alpine skis comprise safety fasteners consisting of a stop cooperating with the tip of the shoe and a heel trapping the back of the shoe.

It is already known to mount the fasteners on platforms of raising the objective of which is to raise the shoe compared to the board of gliding. This is particularly advantageous when the gliding board has a relatively deepened side line and it is therefore necessary to avoid that the shoe does not come into contact with the snow when the board is inclined laterally.

Other enhancement platforms have already been proposed to ensure some unbridling of the ski. In this type of platform, the rigidity is dissociated the sole of the shoe and that of the board, so that the ski behavior corresponds to the intrinsic properties of the board independently of that of the shoe.

Other types of raising platforms have also been proposed. on the contrary, act as a stiffener in order to further increase rigidity and the stiffness of the board, especially in the area of the pad. An example of a Such a platform is described in particular in document FR 2,684,885 in which the different elements mounted on the platform interact with each other when effort is exerted vertically by the skier.

Another type of platform such as that described has also been proposed. in document FR 2 777 792. Such a platform is composed of a plate on which the fixing elements are arranged. This plate of the riser rests on flexible slats that extend forward and backward mounting area of the binding, and rest on the upper face of the ski at medium damping pads.

Due to the flexibility of the longitudinal blades, such a device does not allow to transmit sufficiently effective support, especially when the skier exerts effort at one of the elements of fixation. In addition, the presence of elastomeric pads tends to dampen the behavior of the entire board, so that such devices are rather intended for relatively comfortable, and on the contrary, very dynamic skis used especially in competition.

A problem that the invention proposes to solve is to allow a booster platform to modify the behavior of the board slips when the efforts are exerted by the skier, while not increasing its stiffness in bending and thus allowing its bending.

Presentation of the invention

• une zone de montage de la fixation, solidaire de la planche de glisse ;
• une zone d'appui, prolongeant la zone de montage en direction de l'extrémité de la planche.

The invention therefore relates to a device for raising at least one fastening element used on a gliding board, comprising:

• a fixing mounting area, integral with the gliding board;
• a bearing zone, extending the mounting area towards the end of the board.

This device is characterized in that the end of the bearing zone directed towards the end of the board is secured to the upper face of the board by hooking means, so that the forces exerted at the of the fastener element are partially transmitted to the board at said end of the bearing zone, and in that it also comprises a transverse groove situated between the mounting zone and the bearing zone, so as to allow the deformation of this support zone when the board is bent.

In other words, the device according to the invention makes it possible to postpone part of the forces exerted by the skier in front of the stop of the binding or in back of the heel.

In this way, when the skier initiates a turn and exerts at the stop before the fixation, some of these efforts are made via the device according to the invention a few centimeters or even a few tens more centimeters forward.

Under these conditions, the supports are exerted on a longer zone of the pad, which allows for efficient cornering and better driving control.

Indeed, the platform according to the invention does not disturb the behavior of the board when it is hinged since the transverse groove This feature allows the bearing area of the platform to deform when the board flexes.

In a particular form of the invention, the transverse groove can advantageously be filled with an elastic material, so as to allow the return of the support zone in position when the cause of the bending disappears.

In other words, the presence of an elastic material energizes the device of raising and therefore the entire board by opposing the bending of the area support.

Advantageously, in practice, the raising device can also comprise a stud intended to receive the other element of the binding. This stud can be connected to the fixing mounting area by a connecting rod.

Advantageously, in practice, this stud may have a capacitance of longitudinal sliding. In this case, the faculty of deporting supports more front or rear than the binding, without involving the stiffness of the sole of the shoe on the stiffness of the board. In other words, we ensure thus a certain unclamping of the shoe with respect to the board.

In another embodiment, the mounting area of the attachment extends opposite the support zone and receives the other element of the fixation.

In other words, the raising device then comprises a platform which receives the two elements of the fixation by filling the gap situated between the shoe and the upper face of the board.

Advantageously, in practice, the attachment means of the end of the support zone on the upper face of the board, allow movement longitudinal of said end when the board is strongly bent.

In other words, when the board is strongly curved, the end of the zone of support can slightly slide with respect to the upper face of the board to prevent longitudinal forces being exerted on the board.

Indeed, the attachment means have the essential function of ensuring a part of the vertical forces exercised by the skier and must not be secure the raising device by two ends at the risk of cause clamping of the board.

Advantageously, in practice, this longitudinal displacement capacity of the end of the bearing zone, can be obtained by interposing a layer of viscoelastic material between the upper face of the board and the end of the support zone.

In this case, this layer of viscoelastic material effectively transmits the forces exerted vertically, and works in shear when the area support tends to move longitudinally.

In practice, the lower face of the bearing zone is shaped to release a free space between the support zone and the upper face of the board, between the integral end of the board and the mounting area.

In other words, only the end of the bearing zone comes into contact with the board to avoid the risk of bridling the board, and to push the furthest away from fixing the zone in which the efforts are deported.

According to a particular embodiment, the support zone may comprise two arms extending in the longitudinal direction of the board, these arms being connected to proximity to the fastener mounting area and at the means hanging on the board.

In this way, the transmission of efforts near the lateral areas of the board, substantially in line with the edges.

Brief description of the figures

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective sommaire d'un dispositif de rehaussement conforme à l'invention, montré dans sa globalité ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective sommaire du dispositif de la figure 1, montré uniquement dans sa partie avant ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe selon les flèches III-III' de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessus de la partie avant du dispositif de la figure 2.

The manner of carrying out the invention as well as the advantages which result therefrom will emerge from the description of the embodiment which follows, in support of the appended figures in which:

• Figure 1 is a summary perspective view of an enhancement device according to the invention, shown in its entirety;
• Figure 2 is a brief perspective view of the device of Figure 1, shown only in its front portion;
• Figure 3 is a sectional view along the arrows III-III 'of Figure 2;
• FIG. 4 is a view from above of the front part of the device of FIG. 2.

Way of realizing the invention

As already stated, the invention relates to an enhancement device for to be set up on a snowboard such as in particular an alpine ski.

Several different architectures can be used while staying in the spirit of the invention, and the latter is not limited to the sole form of embodiment illustrated in Figure 1.

Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the raising device (1) comprises a front portion (2) and a rear portion (3), connected by a rigid blade (4). The front part (2) comprises a fixing mounting zone (5) and a bearing area (6).

Of course, the invention is not limited to this particular geometry, but it also covers the variants in which the characteristic zone (2) receives not the stop but the heel of the fixation.

Moreover, the invention also covers variants in which the raising device comprises two characteristic zones comprising each a support zone, associated with the stop and the heel of the binding.

To return to the variant illustrated in FIG. 1, the characteristic zone (2) supporting the abutment includes a mounting area of the attachment (5) which is secured to the upper face of the board at four points hooking, located substantially at the four corners of the mounting area (5).

This mounting zone therefore comprises four housings (13) intended to receive fastening screws on the board.

These housings (13) are opening laterally to allow the evacuation of possible piles of snow or ice that could form there.

To avoid changing the natural camber of the board, the underside of the mounting area (5) of the raising device has a curvature greater than that of the board.

In this way, when the device is mounted on the board, it does not generate parasitic forces that upset the natural camber of the board.

The upper face of the mounting area of the fastener has a plurality of holes (14), intended to receive the fastening screws of the abutment of the fixation.

The zone (5) for mounting the binding is extended forward by the zone support (6). These two zones are linked by a connecting portion (7) located at the front of the mounting area of the fastener.

This bearing zone (6) is thus mechanically secured to the (5) of mounting of the binding, and the connecting zone (7) allows the transmission of the supports exerted at the fixing mounting area (5).

The bearing zone (6) originates above the connection zone (7) and It should be noted that the support zone only comes into contact with the board at the level of its front end (8). Thus, between the connecting zone (7) and the catching zone (8), the bearing zone (6) defines a blank space above the upper face of the board, as shown in Figure 3.

In the illustrated form, the bearing zone (6) has a central recess (10) which defines two parallel arms (11,12). These two arms (11,12) are solidary of the attachment zone (8) and come substantially in line with the lateral zones of the board, squaring the edges. Efforts exerted from the assembly area fixing (5) in the direction of the attachment zone (8), are therefore transmitted by these lateral arms (11,12) so that the forces are exerted in a privileged way to Plumb with the side areas of the board, at the edges.

In the illustrated form, the attachment zone (8) comprises a light through (15) elongated longitudinally.

This light (15) receives a stud (16) which has a shoulder (17). This shoulder (17) ensures the maintenance of the attachment zone (8) at the level of the board and prevents the bearing area (6) from rising.

The elongated light (15) allows a slight displacement of the area hooking in front of the position of the stud (16). The stud (16) provides a plating closes the catching area (8) on the board, and therefore a good transmission forces exerted at the mounting mounting area (5).

According to the invention, the raising device comprises also a transverse groove (20) located between the mounting zone (5) of the fixation and the support zone (6), intended to ensure a certain flexural capacity the bearing area (6) relative to the mounting area (5) of the binding.

This transverse groove (20) can advantageously be filled with a material allowing the adjustment of its bending capacity. So, this material can be chosen for its elastic properties, thus enabling the device to be energized.

Among the elastic materials, it is also preferable to those presenting some damping capabilities, such as viscoelastic materials. In this case it is also possible to absorb some of the energy generated during the crushing of the viscoelastic material, and thus to dampen the raising device. These materials can be natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or thermoplastic materials such as polyurethane or the like.

In the form illustrated in FIG. 1, the fixing mounting zone (5) has a housing for receiving the rigid blade (4) of connection with the part rear (3). This rigid metal blade (4) makes it possible to secure the front parts (2) and rear (3) of the raising device.

In the illustrated form, the rear stud (3) is mounted on the upper face of board with four screws (23) passing through four elongated lights longitudinally.

In this way, the rear stud has a certain sliding capacity longitudinal. This gives a constant separation between the stop and the heel of the binding while making independent the rigidity of the sole of the shoe and board.

This unclamping allows to use the board without interfering with its properties intrinsic mechanical.

In operation, the raising device according to the invention allows to deport part of the efforts exerted by the skier at the stop fixing. These forces are transmitted via the connection zone (7) and the material filling the transverse groove (20) with the bearing zone. This support zone (6) being secured to the upper face of the board at the level of the area of attachment (8), part of the efforts of the skier are therefore exerted on the face superior ski about twenty centimeters ahead of the level of the stop.

It follows that the behavior of the ski, in particular turn, corresponds to that of a relatively steep ski, which facilitates the inscription in the bend. This extra stiffness disappears when the skier releases his support at the stop.

When the board tends to bend in the middle of the turn, or in contact of an obstacle in the snow slope, the transverse groove (20) allows the bending of the compression-enhancing device for the material which fills it.

In this way, the longitudinal stiffness of this support zone does not come add to that of the board when it is not necessary.

When the material that fills the transverse groove (20) is particularly elastic, this helps to accelerate the return of the support zone in the position of rest. When the bending motion of the board is particularly accentuated, and that the ability of the compression of the material filling the throat cross section (20) has been used, the stall area (8) can then slide by relative to the upper face of the board to avoid clamping.

Nevertheless, in such an embodiment, such a capacity to sliding is not essential to obtain satisfactory results.

• le déport d'une partie des efforts exercés au niveau de l'élément de fixation ;
• le débridage de la plate-forme de rehaussement par rapport à la planche grâce à une simple capacité de flexion ;
• la possibilité de régler le comportement de la plate-forme, notamment sa capacité de dynamisation.

It follows from the above that the device according to the invention has many advantages, such as in particular:

• offsetting a portion of the forces exerted on the fastener element;
• unclamping the raising platform relative to the board with a simple bending ability;
• the ability to adjust the behavior of the platform, including its ability to boost.

Claims (9)

1. A device (1) for raising at least one element of a binding used on a board for gliding, including:

   a zone (5) for mounting the binding, fixed on the board for gliding by means of attaching means (13) ;

   a bearing zone (6), extending the mounting zone (5) in the direction of the end of the board,

   wherein the end (8) of the bearing zone facing toward the end of the board is secured to the upper face of the board by attaching means (16) in such a manner that the forces exerted at the location of the element of the binding are partially transmitted to the board at the location of said end (8) of the bearing zone (6), and which includes a transverse groove (20) located between the mounting zone (5) and the bearing zone (6) so as to allow the deformation of the bearing zone (6) when the board is bent.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the groove (20) is filled with an elastic material so as to allow the return of the bearing zone (6) into position when the cause of the bending disappears.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1, which also comprises a block (3) for receiving the other element of the binding, said block being connected to the zone for mounting the binding via a linking pin (4).
4. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the block (3) has the ability to slide longitudinally.
5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the zone (5) for mounting the binding extends in the opposite direction from the bearing zone and receives the other element of the binding.
6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means (15-17) for attaching the end of the bearing zone (6) onto the upper face of the board allow a longitudinal displacement of said end when the board is bent.
7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower face of the bearing zone (6) is shaped so as to clear a free space (9) between the bearing zone (6) and the upper face of the board, between the end (8) secured to the board and the mounting zone (5).
8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bearing zone (6) has two arms (11, 12) extending in the longitudinal direction of the board, said arms being connected in the vicinity of the zone for mounting the binding and at the location of the means for attaching onto the board.
9. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a layer of viscoelastic material is interposed between the bearing zone and the upper face of the board.

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