EP1208881A1 - Safety binding for a ski boot - Google Patents

Abstract

The fastening consists of a flat housing (1) containing a pair of pistons (7, 8) with parallel springs (14, 15) to actuate the jaws of a boot sole clamp. The pistons are connected by a plate (20) which can be actuated by control arms (24, 25) so that the pistons can be moved together or separately, at least for part of their travel. The control arms are operated magnetically by the boot to give a fastening with asymmetrical resistance to release.

Description

The invention relates to a safety binding for ski boot with a sidewalk sole comprising a fixing body, a part of which, horizontal, intended for the vertical support of the shoe and extending under the shoe, contains a pair of movable pistons biased by means elastic bands, and another part has a sole clamp shoe retention by its sidewalk, this sole clamp being mounted to pivot about at least one axis approximately vertical for the release of the shoe and pivoting at a limited angle in one plane vertical around a real or virtual axis located at level of retention of the shoe by the sole clamp, this sole clamp being provided with two arms descendants rigidly linked to the sole clamp whose ends respectively bear on each of pistons.

The sole clamp is preferably divided in two independent sole clamps, each swivel around an own axis.

A binding of this type, comprising a single sole clamp and a single piston, is known from the patent.
CH 686 707. This binding has the advantage of controlling, by means of a spring placed under the bearing surface of the shoe on the binding, both the pivoting of the sole clamp around a vertical axis in the event of fall as the tilting of the sole clamp in a vertical plane. The arrangement of the spring under the bearing surface of the shoe makes it possible to have a favorable relationship between the resistant couples exerted on the shoe in the horizontal plane and in the vertical plane. A binding of the same type, but comprising two sole clamps is known from international patent application WO 00/29078 incorporated by reference. The sole clamps constitute two levers of the first kind having divergent arms intended to laterally retain the shoe and two converging arms substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and each provided with a descending arm bearing at two points near one of the 'other on the end of a piston mounted axially in the body of the binding extending under the shoe and pushed by a spring. The presence of two sole clamps with two close bearing points makes it possible to reduce the lateral forces on the piston and consequently to reduce the frictional forces opposing the sliding of the piston. The friction of the sole clamps on the sidewalk of the shoe is also less significant than in a fixing with a single sole clamp. According to an embodiment represented in this document, the sole clamps are based on two parallel pistons, but it is noted that it is preferable to have a single piston common to the two sole clamps. The inventor therefore did not see the advantage he could get from having two pistons.

FR 1 503 847, 1 503 848 and 1 503 849 patents, also knows fasteners with resistance to asymmetric trigger to account for the fact that the skier's knee, torsional stress during a fall, is more fragile for a rotation of the foot towards the inside only for a rotation of the foot towards outside. These fasteners require fitting between shoes and skis, that is to say a ski left for the left foot and a right ski for the foot straight and the inversion of the skis leading to the effect reverse to the desired effect, which can have serious consequences, we tried to achieve a binding adapts automatically to the shoe when of the binding. The skier can thus put on the skis indifferently usually used, with the advantage of having fasteners with tripping resistance lower for rotational loading of the foot inward only for a rotation towards outside. Such attachments are described in the documents EP 0 692 286, EP 0 712 648, WO 96/32168 and EP 0 739 646. These fasteners have in common a classic design of the stop, namely a spring arranged in front of the sole clamp, at the height of the sidewalk of the shoe. The sole clamp is either in one piece and the spring pivots with the sole clamp (EP 0 692 286) or in two pieces, lever-shaped leaning on a tie rod (EP 0 712 648, WO 96/32168, EP 0 739 646). The asymmetrical setting of the binding is carried out by a complex mechanism controlled mechanically or electromagnetically by the shoe provided for this purpose with bosses or a permanent magnet.

The object of the present invention is to take advantage of the presence and arrangement of the two pistons of the means for controlling release of fasteners described in documents CH 686 707 and WO 00/29078 for simpler attachment asymmetrical or symmetrical with automatic positioning by shoes.

The binding according to the invention is characterized in that that the elastic means consist of two parallel springs on which to rest respectively each of the pistons, in that the pistons are connected to each other by a connecting means and in that the attachment includes means for control of this link means likely to occupy a first position, in which the pistons are joined together by the connecting means and a second position in which one of the pistons can be move alone, at least from a certain stroke common of the two pistons and on at least part of the total stroke of the two pistons.

Like pistons and springs, the means of control can be fully arranged under the shoe support plate. The necessary mechanism is relatively simple and compact.

The sole clamp is preferably divided in two independent sole clamps, each swivel around an axis at least approximately vertical clean and made up of two levers of the first kind with two divergent lever arms for laterally hold the shoe and two arms converging at least approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the binding and taking respectively press on the end of each of pistons by means of a descending arm in two points close to each other.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the means of connection consists of a bar hinged to each pistons.

A clearance is provided at at least one of the joints or in the piston guidance to allow the swivel bar.

The fastener can therefore be used either as a asymmetrical fastening, either as a fastening symmetrical classic.

According to one embodiment, the positioning means of the bar include means for controlling the bar comprising means for retaining the bar in its middle position, these means being able occupy two positions, a restraint position either a release position of the bar.

According to one embodiment, the means for retaining the bar include a pair of retainers independent retaining the bar on each side by its ratings.

According to embodiments, the means of controlling the bar include pieces of material ferromagnetic or permanent magnets so that be capable of being actuated by a shoe fitted with a permanent magnet.

The retaining parts consist of rockers or of movable studs in translation perpendicular to the fixing plane. These rockers and these studs could themselves be made of ferromagnetic material so that you can be attracted to a magnet equipping the shoe.

According to another embodiment, the retaining parts of the bar are made up of tiltable rockers mechanically by studs or the like fixed on a side of the shoes.

The attachment preferably further comprises a second lateral, fixed, bar retaining means, arranged so that the bar is released only after a certain simultaneous stroke of the two pistons. This second means advantageously consists of a notch in which the bent end of the bar.

The accompanying drawing shows, by way of example, modes of carrying out the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a binding, more precisely of a stop as it appears in the first two modes of execution which will be described.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the control of the release of the fixation according to a first mode of execution, in neutral position or symmetrical.

Figure 3 shows the central part of the mechanism according to figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view, from above, of the mechanism according to FIG. 2 in an asymmetrical position, in trigger course, also showing ways hardness adjustment, here in the hardness position minimal.

Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4 but with the hardness setting in the hardness position Max.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a mechanism according to a second embodiment.

Figure 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of figure 6 showing the control of the mechanism by a shoe fitted with a magnet.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a stop according to a third embodiment.

Figure 9 shows the mechanism of this third mode running in symmetrical position and during trigger.

Figure 10 is an elevational view from the rear in arrow direction, figure 11.

Figure 11 shows part of the mechanism, without pistons and springs and without the means to order scales.

Figure 12 shows one of the control levers flip-flops.

Figure 13 shows one of the scales.

Figure 14 is a detail of Figure 9 showing only one of the scales and its control lever.

Figure 15 shows the automatic positioning of the fixation by a shoe in the third mode execution.

Figure 16 shows the binding and the shoe according to Figure 15 being triggered.

Figure 17 is a plan view of the raised scale and its control lever in the same position as Figure 16.

Figure 18 is an elevational view of the parts of the figure 17 seen in the direction of the arrow, fig. 17.

The attachment shown in Figure 1 includes a body binding 1 intended to be attached to a ski, body on which is mounted a pair of sole clamps 2 and 3 intended to hold a shoe by its sidewalk normalized front as shown in Figure 8 where the shoe is shown in broken lines. The sole clamps 2 and 3 are each pivoted around an approximately vertical proper axis and they can also tilt around a limited angle of a horizontal transverse axis. The sole clamps 2 and 3 are mounted as shown in Figure 26 of the document WO 00/29078 which must be considered as forming an integral part of this description. We will therefore refer to this document for all details. concerning the form and mounting of the sole clamps 2 and 3. Regarding the shape of the sole clamps, it is shown in detail in Figure 4 of document cited. We will simply remember that the sole clamps 2 and 3 constitute two levers of the first genus with two divergent arms 2a and 3a intended to hold the shoe laterally and two converging arms substantially perpendicular to the axis longitudinal and each provided with a descending arm 5, 6 (figure 4) bearing on two points near one of the other and respectively on two parallel pistons 7 and 8 moving horizontally parallel to the axis longitudinal of the binding. In Figure 4 we have also schematically represented axes 9 and 10 approximately vertical pivoting of each of sole clamps 2 and 3. As can be seen in the Figure 1, the base 4 is provided with a separate base 11 of the fixing body 1.

In the fixing body 1, behind the sole clamps 2 and 3, i.e. in an area below the shoe, is mounted the device for controlling the release of the binding, as in the bindings described in document WO 00/29078. This mechanism is mounted in a housing 12 of the body 1 and it is covered by a cover plate 13 on which comes to rest the shoe. Pistons 7 and 8 are general rectangular parallelepiped shape. They are partially guided in the base 11 and partially in the fixing body 1. The piston 7 is supported by a first spring 14 and the piston 8 on a second spring 15 identical to the spring 14 mounted parallel to this one. These springs 14 and 15 are supported by their other end on a plate transverse 16 (fig. 3) simultaneously forming a nut fixed in rotation engaged on a screw 17 extending axially through the binding and fitted with a head 18 coming to rest on the base 4 at the front of the attachment, as shown in Figure 8. As we will immediately understand, the screw 17 is used to adjust the precompression of springs 14 and 15, i.e. the hardness of the fastening on release. Sure the support plate 16 is fixed a stirrup 19 whose role will be described later.

The pistons 7 and 8 are interconnected by a bar 20 articulated on the pistons 7 and 8 around two studs 21 and 22. These joints have a transverse play so as to allow movement straight pistons while the pivoting of the bar 20 tends to print on these pads a trajectory in an arc. The bar 20 extends towards the rear of the binding, along the axis of symmetry of the fixing, this in neutral or symmetrical position fixing. The bar has one end 23 angled downward engaged in a notch 38 in the body 1 opening towards the rear. On each side of the accommodation 12 of the fixing body is mounted a rocker 24 and respectively 25. These scales have an arm of control 24a, 25a and a retaining arm 24b, 25b. All these arms are directed towards the axis of symmetry of the fixation. The control arms 24a and 25a carry a magnetic chip 26, 27 for example made of ferrite. If the flip-flops 24 and 25 are made of non-ferromagnetic material, pads 26 and 27 could be simply in ferromagnetic material. The bent end 23 of the bar has two wings intended to abut against one of the arms 24b or 25b.

In the position shown in Figure 2, the bar 20 is held in the middle position by the notch 38 in which is engaged the end 23 of the bar and the pistons 7 and 8 are aligned transversely. In the absence of stress on the control arms 24a and 25a, the rocker arms occupy a low position under the influence of their own weight and, if necessary, under the effect of an auxiliary spring. The fixation is symmetrical, i.e. it will have the same resistance to tripping whether one or the other sole clamps which is driven by the shoe. As will be clear from the description how the binding works.

Suppose now that the skier is wearing a shoe such as the shoe shown schematically by the rectangle 28 in Figure 7. The sole of this shoe contains a permanent magnet 29 placed asymmetrically in such a way so that when fitting the binding it comes stand in front of one of the pads 26 or 27.

If, for example, the permanent magnet 29 is placed above the pad 27, this pad is attracted towards the sole of the shoe and the rocker 25 is raised. His arm 25b is no longer in able to retain the bar 20 laterally.

If the shoe is driven outward, as this is shown in Figure 9, the sole clamp 2 is driven by the shoe and his arm 5 comes push back the piston 7. The bar 20, retained in the notch 38 by its end 23, is not released immediately, so both pistons 7 and 8 are first driven. At the end of a certain stroke, the bent end 23 escapes the notch 38 and the bar 20 can then pivot. This measure prevents inadvertent pivoting of the sole clamp located on the inside of the shoe during normal stress. A movement of sole clamp in this case would be the opposite detrimental to good ski guidance and could even cause a fall. This measure therefore allows to obtain, by very simple means, a behavior favorable non-linear.

When the force on pistons 7 and 8 is sufficient to release the bar 20 from the notch 38, the bar 20, which is not retained by the rocker 25, can rotate as shown in figure 4, so so that piston 7 can move on its own without drive the piston 8. Only the spring 14 continues to be compressed, so the resistance to trigger is significantly reduced relative to that offered in the symmetrical position shown at FIG. 2. After a certain stroke of the piston 7, the bar 20 abuts against the end 19b of the caliper 19. If the piston 7 continues to move, it then drives the piston 8 so that the resistance to tripping increases. The same effect product if the bar abuts against the wall side of the housing 12. The piston 7 therefore does not move only on part of its course. When the stress on soleplate 2 stops, the system springs-pistons-bar tends to return in its initial position of equilibrium and the end 23 of the bar 20 returns to engage in the notch 38. The bent end 23 of the bar 20 is supported on the cylindrical face 50 which is smooth so as to facilitate the sliding of the end 23 under the effect of the tangential component of the force acting on the bar 20. The face 50 has a curvature favoring the refocusing of the bar 20.

If it is the sole clamp 3 which is requested, it comes push back the piston 8. In this case, the bar 20 does not cannot rotate because it is held by the rocker 24 and the piston 7 is driven with the piston 8.

Figure 5 shows a trigger similar to trigger shown in Figure 4, but with a setting the maximum hardness of the attachment, the springs 14 and 15 being strongly precompressed by means of the screw 17. In this case, we see that the bar 20 comes abut against the side wall of the housing 12.

The shape of the curvature of the face 50 has an influence on the trigger curve. If, for example, the center of curvature of part 50a of face 50, on which rests on the bar 20 in FIG. 4, is located at A spring 15 is neither compressed more nor relaxed when the bar 20 moves along the part 50a of the face 50. If the center of curvature is at B the spring 15 relaxes and if the center of curvature is in C the spring 15 is compressed and the recentering force is high. The center of curvature of part 50b of face 50 is of course symmetrical to that of part 50a. The position of centers of curvature of the faces 50a and 50b will therefore chosen according to the shape of the curve desired trigger.

To allow the pivoting of the bar 20, a clearance to only one of its joints on the pistons would sufficient. Instead of having a game at the level of joints, we could have lateral play in the guiding pistons 7 and 8.

The embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7 does differs from the first embodiment only by the means lateral retaining bar 20. These means of retainers consist of two studs 30 and 31 relatively thin, here in the form of a mounted disc vertically movable, i.e. perpendicular in the plane of attachment, in housings 32, 33 practiced in part in the fixing body 1 and in part to cover plate 13. In the center of these studs is fixed a permanent magnet 34, 35 or a piece corresponding ferromagnetic material. The studs 30 and 31 are held in the low position by a spring 36, respectively 37. In this position low, the studs 30 and 31 are located on each side of the bar 20, at the same level as this, such so that they laterally hold the bar 20 of each side. The bar 20 is also retained laterally by the engagement of its bent end 23 in notch 38 as in the embodiment previous.

If the magnet 29 of the shoe 28 comes to be placed above of one of the magnets for example above magnet 35, it is attracted towards the sole so that the stud 31 releases the bar 20. This second embodiment differs in slightly apart from the first embodiment in that the pivoting of the bar 20 is not limited by a stirrup.

A third mode of execution, purely controlled mechanical, is shown in Figures 8 to 18. In this mode of execution there are two flip-flops 40 and 41 articulated like flip-flops 24 and 25 on the sides of the fixing body and whose function is the same. The flip-flops 40 and 41 have a bent arm 40a, respectively 41a, arms which come to retain laterally the bar 20 by its bent end 23. It will be noted that the bar 20 is exactly the even in the three modes of execution. The arms of retaining rockers are here elongated and intersect to increase the vertical displacement of the ends of these arms.

The scales 40 and 41 are actuated by cams 42 and 43 mounted on each side of the body of the binding. These cams are mounted on axes 44 and 45 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the binding, on which the cams can move in translation and rotation. Cams 42 and 43 are requested by a spring 46, 47 working both in compression and in torsion. These springs therefore tend to push the cams 42 and 43 forwards in abutment against stops 49 formed on the fixing body and at keep the cams in an upright position.

The lever 40 and its control cam 42 are shown in detail in Figures 12, 13, 14, 17 and 18. The lever 40 has, on the side opposite the arm 40a relative to its pivot axis, a tab 40b slightly curved in an arc. Cam 42 has a projection 42a also having the function of cam and pushing back the tab 40b of the rocker 40 when moving in translation towards the rear of the cam 42, which has the effect of tilting the tilt 40, that is to say to raise his arm 40a as this is shown in Figures 17 and 18. For actuation of cam 42 or cam 43, the shoe 28 is provided in this case with a stud, stud, finger or the like 48 protruding slightly from the side of the sole, as shown in figure 15. When the binding is put on, this stud 48 repels behind the cam 42, which actuates the rocker 40 which releases on one side the bar 20 as in the first mode of execution.

When the torsional attachment is released, the cam 42 opposes only the very low resistance in torsion of its spring 46, so that it tilts outwards so that the shoe.

Claims (17)

Safety binding for a ski boot, the sole of which has a pavement comprising a binding body (1), a horizontal part of which, intended for the vertical support of the boot and extending under the boot contains a pair of pistons (7 , 8) movable biased by elastic means (14, 15), and another part (1) carries a sole clamp (2, 3) for retaining the boot by its sidewalk, this sole clamp being pivotally mounted around '' at least one axis at least approximately vertical for the release of the shoe and pivoting by a limited angle in a vertical plane around a real or virtual axis located at the level of the retention of the shoe by the sole clamp, this sole clamp being provided with two descending arms (5, 6) and rigidly connected to the sole clamp and the ends of which bear respectively on each of the pistons, characterized in that the elastic means consist of two parallel springs (14, 15 ) on lesq uels are supported respectively each of the pistons (7, 8), in that the pistons are interconnected by a connecting means (20) and in that the fixing comprises control means (24, 25; 30, 31; 40, 41) of this connecting means (20) capable of occupying a first position, in which the pistons are secured by the connecting means and a second position in which one of the pistons can move alone, at least at from a certain common stroke of the two pistons and over at least part of the total stroke of the two pistons. Attachment according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting means consists of a bar (20) articulated to each of the pistons. Attachment according to claim 2, characterized in that the control means of the bar include means for retaining the bar in its middle position (24b, 25b; 30, 31; 40a, 41a), these retaining means being able to occupy two positions, either a retaining position or a release position of the bar. Attachment according to claim 3, characterized in that the retaining means of the bar comprise a pair of independent retaining parts (24b, 25b; 30, 31; 40a, 41a) retaining the bar (20) on each side by its sides . Binding according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the control means of the bar comprise pieces of ferromagnetic material or permanent magnets (26, 27; 34, 35) so as to be able to be actuated by a shoe fitted with a permanent magnet. Fastening according to claim 5, characterized in that the retaining parts consist of rockers (24, 25; 40, 41). Attachment according to claim 6, characterized in that the rockers have a first arm (24b, 25b) serving to retain the bar (20) and a second arm (24a, 25a) directed in the same direction as the first arm and carrying a permanent magnet (26, 27) intended to be attracted by a magnet fitted to a shoe for raising the rocker and releasing the bar. Fastening according to claim 5, characterized in that the retaining parts (30, 31) are movable perpendicular to the plane of the fastening against the action of springs (36, 37) and that they carry a piece of ferromagnetic material or a permanent magnet (34, 35) or that they are themselves made of ferromagnetic material for actuation by a magnet fitted to a shoe. Binding according to claim 4, characterized in that the retaining pieces of the bar consist of rockers (40, 41) mechanically tiltable by studs or the like (48) fixed on one side of the shoes. Binding according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises means for actuating the rockers made up of parts (42, 43) mounted on the sides of the binding, movable by said studs against the action of return springs. Binding according to claim 10, characterized in that said actuating parts (42, 43) of the rockers are pivotally mounted about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the binding and that they are biased by a spring working at both in compression and in torsion, so as to allow said pieces to tilt towards the outside of the binding to let the boot pass when the binding is released and to straighten these pieces when the boot has left the ski or when the boot is in the correct position on the ski. Attachment according to one of Claims 2 to 11, characterized in that it comprises a second, fixed means (38) for lateral retention of the bar (20), arranged so that the bar is only released. after a certain simultaneous stroke of the two pistons. Attachment according to claim 12, characterized in that the second lateral retaining means of the bar consists of a notch (38) in which is engaged the bent end (23) of the bar. Binding according to claim 13, characterized in that it has, on each side of said notch (38) a cylindrical face on which abuts the bent end (23) of the bar after having escaped from said notch (38). Attachment according to claim 14, characterized in that the position of the centers of curvature of the two cylindrical faces (50a, 50b) is chosen according to the shape of the desired trigger curve. Attachment according to one of Claims 2 to 15, characterized in that it comprises means for limiting the pivoting of the bar (20) so that, after a certain pivoting, the two pistons (7, 8) are necessarily driven simultaneously. Attachment according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the sole clamp is divided into two independent sole clamps (2, 3) each pivoted about an axis (9, 10) at least approximately vertical proper and constituting two levers of the first kind having two diverging lever arms intended to laterally retain the boot and two converging arms at least approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the binding and bearing respectively on the end of each of the pistons by the through a descending arm (5, 6) at two points close to each other.

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