EP1464368B1 - Automatic binding for a snowboard - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a grip jaw (31) including a driving arm that is pulled by a shoe while introducing the shoe into the device relative to a base plate (30). A radial wall (37) is linked with the grip jaw such that locking of the wall leads to locking of the jaw. A locking unit has a slope structure resting against a stop to lock the wall when the jaw attains retaining position of the shoe.

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic snowboard binding adapted to hold a shoe by its sides, comprising a base plate carrying at least one pivoting jaw about a horizontal axis and secured to a driving arm intended to be driven. by the boot during the introduction of the boot into the binding and a retaining member opposed to the jaw, wherein the jaw has a cam-shaped portion cooperating with a movable locking member in a guide and biased by a elastic means in the blocking direction, the locking element and its guiding being such that a locking of the jaw is ensured for different jaw positions corresponding to different levels of the shoe relative to the base plate.

Such a fixation is known from US Patent 5,871,226 ( EP 0 778 055 ).

This attachment allows good retention of the shoe in the presence of snow or ice on the base plate and when the snow or ice melts and the shoe tends to descend, the difference in height of the shoe is automatically overtaken by the fixation. Furthermore, the locking element provides a firm attachment without elastic play without the jaw must be solicited by a powerful spring. Maintaining the jaw in support position on the shoe is indeed assured by the blocking element, this blocking being ensured by suitable shapes, without the need for a strong spring acting on the blocking element. Such a fastening obviates the disadvantages of prior fasteners such as the fasteners described in FIG. US Patent 4,973,073 and the FR 2 321 912 , the first can not be closed in the presence of snow and on the base plate, while the second does not include a blocking element.

In fixing according to US Patent 5,871,226 , the jaw is urged by a return spring and the wedge-shaped locking member is also used as a jaw retainer in the open position, the jaw being supported on the end of the jaw member. blocking. This locking element is therefore permanently resting against the cam of the jaw and, when donning, the jaw must first push the locking element. In the open position, the cam being supported by a rounded portion against an equally rounded portion of the end of the locking element, wear of the surfaces in contact is likely to cause locking of the jaw in open position.

The present invention proposes to remedy these disadvantages.

The automatic attachment according to the invention is defined in claim 1.

The jaw is not held in the open position by the locking element, but by its return spring. It is not likely to close unexpectedly. Moreover, in its first phase before reaching at least approximately a position likely to be a retaining position of the boot, the locking element does not interfere with the closing movement of the jaw.

The attachment is preferably equipped with two opposing jaws interconnected kinematically so as to ensure a simultaneous lowering of the two jaws, so that one jaw can not close without the other jaw also closing. A mechanical clearance is advantageously provided in the kinematic connection between the jaws so as to take account of a slightly oblique position of the boot due to the presence of snow or ice under the boot.

According to one embodiment, the cam-shaped portion of the jaw has a lateral wall forming a stop for the locking element, so as to keep it away from its locking position, and a circumferential stop forming cutout and the blocking element consists of a movable finger at least approximately parallel to the axis of rotation of the jaw and wedge-shaped abutting against the circumferential stop during its penetration into said cutout after a certain rotation of the jaw .

The opposite retaining element advantageously consists of a second jaw identical to the first and the two locking fingers are kinematically connected to each other. In this case also it is advantageously provided a mechanical play in this kinematic connection.

The attached drawing shows, by way of example, two embodiments of the binding according to the invention.

The figure 1 is a perspective view of a different attachment of the invention.

The figure 2 is a perspective view similar to that of the figure 1 but without the base plate and the covers covering the jaw frames.

The figure 3 represents one of the jaws in the open position and the locking means located inside the jaw frame.

The figure 4 is a top plan view of the fastener without the baseplate.

The figure 5 is a side view, according to arrow V, figure 4 .

The figure 6 is a view of the elements represented in figure 4 in direction VI, at the beginning of footwear.

The figure 7 is a sectional view along VII-VII of the figure 4 .

The Figures 8 and 9 are views similar to Figures 6 and 7 , the binding being shown in the highest riding position with a wedge of snow under the shoe.

The figure 10 is a perspective view of the jaws and locking elements in the position shown in FIGS. Figures 8 and 9 .

The Figures 11 and 12 are views similar to Figures 6 and 7 , in a pavement position in which shoe is at its lowest level, that is to say in the absence of snow or ice on the base plate or under the shoe.

The figure 13 is a perspective view in a position similar to the position shown in Figures 11 and 12 .

The figure 14 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention, in the absence of shoes.

The figure 15 is a view similar to that of the figure 14 but without the base plate, the bearings of the jaws, or those of the drive devices of the locking elements.

The figure 16 is a plan view from below of the pieces represented at the figure 15 .

The figure 17 is a sectional view according to XVII-XVII of the figure 16 wherein the shoe, schematically shown, is just in contact with the jaw drive arms.

The figure 18 is a view similar to the figure 16 , but after penetration of the locking fingers in the cams.

The figure 19 is a sectional view according to XIX-XIX of the figure 18 which shoe is shown locked in the up position.

The figure 20 is a plan view similar to figures 16 and 18 but after complete engagement of the locking fingers in the cams of the jaws, i.e. in the lowest position of the shoe.

The figure 21 is a sectional view according to XXI-XXI of the figure 20 .

The figure 22 schematically represents a simplified variant of the first embodiment.

The figure 23 schematically represents the kinematic connection between the pads of this variant.

The figure 24 represents the variant in pavement position.

As it stands for the user, the fastener shown in FIG. figure 1 comprises a base plate 1 intended to be fixed on the surfboard, two opposing jaws 2 and 3 mounted on the base plate 1 and covered by a cover 4, respectively 5. The attachment further comprises a heaving lever 6 of which the actuation releases the jaws which then return to their open position as shown in FIG. figure 1 . The jaws being identical, we will be content to describe the jaw 2 with reference to the figures 2 and 3 .

The jaw 2 is in the form of a profiled flat piece, mounted in a frame 7 consisting of a metal part stamped and folded so as to form a tubular piece provided with two lugs 7a and 7b through which the frame is fixed on the base plate 1. The jaw 2 is rotatably mounted in the frame 1 by means of a horizontal axis 8 and is provided with a spring of recall 58 tending to bring the jaw back into its open position. The jaw 2 has a driving arm or pedal 9. On one side of the jaw 2 is fixed a cam 10 approximately in the form of an eccentric circle sector extending over 90 °. This cam can of course come from a room with the jaw 2.

The frame 7 also constitutes a guide for a moving element 11 carrying in its upper part a stud 12 of axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the jaw and constituting the locking element of the jaw. This stud 12 is itself engaged, by its ends, in two opposite grooves or slots 13 and 14 formed in two opposite walls of the frame 7. The stud 12 is provided with a radial arm 15 integral in rotation with the stud 12. The arm actuating ring 9 extends circumferentially by a portion 9a in the form of a cam intended to cooperate with the stud 12 to ensure the locking of the jaw, as will be described later. In the open position of the jaws as shown in figures 2 and 3 the arm 15 is supported, at its end, on a bearing surface 16 of the frame 7 and is held in this position by the cam 10. The movable element 11 has, in its lower part, a curved portion 17 around the lever of heaving 6 and thus ensures a mechanical connection between the mobile assembly 11 and the lever 6.

The lever 6 is oblique in the rest position, but traverses the part 17 of the moving equipment by a short horizontal section as can be seen at the figure 5 . Beyond the portion 17, the lever 6 is extended by a transverse portion 18 extending under the base plate 1 to go up on the other side of the opposite jaw 3 where its end is engaged horizontally in the portion 17 'of the moving element 11 'of the opposite jaw. The two mobile crews are thus mechanically and kinematically connected to each other. The locking is done simultaneously by the two jaws by the simultaneous lowering of the blocking pads 12 and 12 '. The connection between the portion 17 of the moving assembly and the lever 6, however, has a clearance 19, also present in the corresponding portion 17 'of the other jaw. This game allows, in the locked position, to take account of a slightly oblique position of the sole of the boot relative to the base plate, position due to the presence of snow or ice on one side or unevenly on both sides.

Around the portion 18 of the heaving lever is mounted a torsion spring tending to lower the heaving lever 6, that is to say, to drive the mobile teams 11 and 11 'down. The operation of the binding will now be described with reference to Figures 6 to 15 . In general, the elements of the opposite jaw 3 are designated by the same references accompanied by the sign '.

The Figures 5 to 7 represent the jaws still in the open position, that is to say the same position as that shown in figures 2 and 3 . We see in particular figure 7 that the arm 15 'of the jaw 3 is in abutment against its abutment 16' so that the studs 12 and 12 'are retained at the upper end of their guide.

The shoe 20 provided laterally with two housings 21, 22 is supported on the actuating arms 9 and 9 '. We see ( figure 7 ) that in this position the pads 12 and 12 'are still maintained in their upper position, their arm 15 to 15' bearing against the stops 16 and 16 '.

When the shoe 20 exerts a pressure on the drive arms 9 and 9 ', this pressure drives the jaws in rotation ( Figures 8 and 9 ). The rotation of the cams 10 and 10 'has the effect of allowing the arms 15 and 15' to leave their stop, as can be seen for the arm 15 ', figure 9 . The studs 12 and 12 'can thus descend, guided in the lights of the frame 7. It is first assumed that the descent of the shoe is limited by snow lying on the base plate of the binding or under the soleplate of the shoe, this position being represented at figure 8 . The shoe can not go lower, but it can not go up either, because the studs 12 and 12 'are engaged and get caught between the cams 9a, 9a' and the outer sides of the guide lights 13 , 14, 13 ', 14'. The shoe is thus perfectly held in this position.

If the snow is melted or melted and the shoe tends to descend, the shape of the cams 9a, 9a 'and the shape of the guide lights of the studs 12 and 12' is such that the studs continue their descent to come again. wedge between cams and guide lights.

The lowest position is represented at Figures 11 and 12 . In this position, the blocking pads 12 and 12 'have almost reached the lower ends of the guide lights. It is also noted that the heaving lever 6 is lowered as the shoe goes down to finally occupy a very slightly oblique position.

If one of the jaws falls less than the other because of the presence of snow on one side of the shoe or a different thickness of snow on both sides of the shoe, one of the studs 12 or 12 'will go lower than the other stud. This is what can be seen at figure 12 . This difference in height is authorized by the game 19 mentioned above and that can be seen at figure 12 . This game can of course be distributed on both mobile crews 11 and 11 '.

To take off it is sufficient to pull the heaving lever upward, which has the effect of driving the mobile crews 11 and 11 'upwards and with them the locking studs 12 and 12'. The jaws, released, get up under the effect of their return spring and the retaining arms 15 and 15 'moving crews return, under the effect of their return spring, to abut on the frame.

The embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 14 to 21 .

As can be seen at figure 14 , in this embodiment there is a base plate 30 carrying two opposite jaws 31 and 32 pivotally mounted in a pair of bearings 33, 34, respectively 33 ', 34'. The jaws 31 and 32 are identical and it will therefore be sufficient to describe the jaw 31 using the figures 15 and 16 .

The body of the jaw 31 is in the form of a cylinder 35 provided with a hub 36 for the passage of the axis of pivoting of the jaw. The cylinder 35 has a cam-shaped portion consisting of a radial wall 37 projecting radially on the circumference of the cylinder 35. This wall 37 has a cutout 38 whose lower side 39 extends substantially radially relative to the axis of the cylinder. body 35 and thus forms a circumferential stop. Around the hub 36 is mounted a return spring 59, one end of which is hooked to the hub 36 in a known manner. The spring 59 tends to keep the jaw in its open position shown in FIGS. figures 14 and 15 . The upper end 53, respectively 53 ', of the radial wall 37, 37' constitutes a driving arm for the jaw.

The locking element of the jaw consists of a finger 40 in the form of a cut plate disposed parallel to the base plate 30 and provided with a hook-shaped rear end 41 by which the finger 40 is secured to a drive bar 42. More specifically, the bar 42 is supported on one side against the hook 41 and on the other side against an arm 43 of the finger 40.

The finger 40 'is provided with a second arm 60 cooperating with the upward bent portion of the drive bar 42, as will be described later.

The bar 42 has two angled ends at right angles respectively engaged in a drum 44, 44 '. These drums are urged in rotation by springs (not shown) which tend to push the bar 42 towards the jaws, that is to say in the direction of the arrow, figure 15 .

The fingers 40 and 40 'guided in the base plate 1 and driven by the bar 42 abut, by their ends, against the radial wall 37, 37'. When the fastener is open, the fingers 40 and 40 'are thus held out of the cutouts 38 and 38'. The fingers 40, 40 'have a portion 45, 45' narrowing and thus forming a ramp 46, 46 '. The end of the fingers 40, 40 'instead has a portion 47, 47' of constant width, the length of the portion 47 being greater than that of the portion 47 'of the other finger. The end of the fingers 40, 40 'resting against the wall 37, 37' is chamfered.

As in the first embodiment, the locking fingers 40 and 40 'are kinematically linked by the bar 42 to synchronize the locking of the two jaws. but in this case one of the links, in this case that of the finger 40 'is made with a clearance 51, the arm 43' being shorter than the arm 43. This game 51 is occupied by a spring 57 ( figure 18 ) now the bar 42 against the hook 41 '.

The attachment is further equipped with a release lever 52 for rotating the drum 44 'and with it the bar 42.

The operation of this second embodiment will now be described using the Figures 15 to 21 .

The fastener being in the open position, jaws raised, when a shoe 54 ( figure 17 ) is introduced into the binding, it abuts against the drive arms 53, 53 '. In this position the finger 40 is held without play against the cam 37 by the control bar 42 and the finger 40 'is held without play against the cam 37' by the support of the bar 42 on the auxiliary arm 60. In its descent, the shoe drives the arms 53, 53 'and with them the jaws 31 and 32 in rotation. After a certain angle of rotation, the fingers 40 and 40 'are in front of the cutout 38, 38' and can advance under the pressure of the bar 42, as shown in FIG. figure 18 . The chamfered ends of the fingers 40 and 40 'avoid a sharp advance of the fingers and, thus, a sudden closure of the jaws. The fingers 40, 40 'follow the rotation of the cams 37, 37' rather than participating in the training of these cams.

The fingers 40 and 40 'penetrate simultaneously or with a time shift due to an oblique position of the shoe, in the respective cuts 38 and 38'. The rectilinear part 47 is longer than the corresponding part 47 'because the displacement of the finger 40 is linked to the displacement of the bar 42, whereas the finger 40' is pushed by the spring 57 as soon as it leaves the lateral face of the cam 37 '. The rectilinear portions 47 and 47 'are a guarantee, by their engagement in the cutouts 38 and 38', that the fingers 40 and 40 'are well engaged before the intervention of the ramps 46 and 46'. They are therefore a safety measure.

In the case of a descent of the shoe laterally oblique position, such that the jaw 31 descends first, the finger 40 is pushed forward by the bar 42, but the bar 42 deviates from the auxiliary arm 60 of the arm 40 and the displacement of the transverse portion of the bar 42 is absorbed by the spring 57. The finger 40 'then catches the arm 40 under the thrust of the spring 57.

If the jaw 32 descends first the finger 40 'also advance under the thrust of the spring 57, while the bar 42, held by the finger 40, remains stationary.

The position represented figures 18 and 19 is the uppermost position of the shoe above the base plate in which the jaws 31 and 32 can be locked. The cams 37 and 37 'are at the bottom of the ramps 46 and 46'.

If the shoe can go down further, the jaws can continue to rotate in the direction of closing. The fingers 40 and 40 'can then continue their advance, the ramps 46, 46' of these fingers sliding against the stops 39, 39 'and therefore follow the position of these stops, keeping the jaws blocked. The lowest position is represented at figures 20 and 21 , the stops 39, 39 'having reached the top of the ramps 46, 46'.

In the roadway position, a pulling force exerted on the boot tends to drive the jaws in rotation and the force of the cams 37 and 37 'on the ramps 46 and 46' results in a component tending to push the fingers 40 and 40. In order to avoid unintentional opening of the jaws, additional friction has been introduced by means of an auxiliary bar 48, 48 'associated with the finger 40, 40' and moving between two friction plates 49, 50, respectively 49 ', 50 '.

The heaving is done by operating the heaving lever 52, which has the effect of removing the fingers 40, 40 'behind and therefore release the jaws which are raised under the effect of their return springs 59, 59' .

The increase of the friction force opposing the inadvertent opening of the fastener could of course be achieved in another way, by friction, hydraulically, by piston or by a viscoelastic material.

A different variant of attachment of the invention is schematically shown in FIGS. Figures 22 to 24 . The jaws are identical and we will confine ourselves to describing one of the jaws.

The jaw 61, in the general shape of circle sector, is articulated about an axis 62 in a stirrup 63. The axis 62 passes through the center of the circle corresponding to the sector of circle. The jaw 61 is urged elastically in the direction of its opening by a spring surrounding the axis 62. The jaw 61 is provided with an actuating pedal 64. On the side opposite to the pedal 64, the jaw has a domed portion. Cam Shape 65. Above portion 65, the jaw has a shoulder 66 slightly oblique in the raised position of the jaw. The blocking element is constituted here by the cylindrical horizontal arm 67 of a crank-shaped part 68 ( figure 23 ). The locking element 67 passes right through the stirrup 63 through two lights 69 similar to the lights 13 and 14 of the first embodiment. In the raised position of the jaw, represented in figure 22 the blocking member 67 is retained by the shoulder 66 of the jaw at the upper end of the lumens 69. crank 68 and the corresponding part 68 'of the other jaw are connected to the parallel arms of a rigid U-shaped part 70, constituting the kinematic connection between the locking elements 67 and 67', by a connecting piece 71 exclusively allowing the rotation of the cranks 68, 68 'respectively. The connecting piece is articulated at two opposite points 72 and 73 close to the transverse part, so that the U-shaped part 70 with the cranks 68 and 68 'tends to tilt about an axis 74 in a direction corresponding to the descent of the locking elements 67 and 67 '.

When donning the binding, the shoe 20 drives the jaw 61 by its pedal 64 as shown in FIG. figure 24 . During this descent, the blocking element 67 leaves the shoulder 66 and descends, guided by the lights 69, until it meets the cam 65 and blocks the jaw. The coupling 71 allows the locking element 67 to follow the shape of the lights 69.

To remove, it is sufficient to exert pressure on the transverse part of the U-shaped part 70. The stroke of the part 70 is limited by a stop 75 so as to avoid a twist on the cranks 68 and 68 '.

The lights 69 could be rectilinear and vertical instead of curved.

Claims (12)

1. Step-in snowboard binding designed to hold a boot by its sides, comprising a baseplate (30) carrying at least one jaw (31) pivoting about a horizontal axis and equipped with a return spring (59) which tends to keep the jaw in an open position, and a locking element (40) urged in the locking direction by an elastic means, the locking element being configured such that the jaw may be locked in any of the plurality of closed, locked positions to accommodate various boot levels relative to the base plate, the body of the jaw (31) having a cam-shaped part, a driving arm (53) which is driven by the boot as the boot is introduced into the binding so as to drive the jaw (31) in rotation and a first stop (39), the locking element (40) having a means (46) resting against the stop (39) so as to maintain the cam-shaped part (37) locked, characterized in that the cam-shaped part consists of a radial wall (37) projecting radially from the body, the wall (37) comprising the driving arm (53) and the stop (39), and in that the cam-shaped part (37) is maintained locked when the jaw has at least approximately reached a position likely to be a position for retaining the boot.
2. Binding as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the wall (37) presents a cutout (38) formant the stop (39).
3. Binding as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the body of the jaw (31) presents a hub (36) for the passage of the jaw (31) pivot axle.
4. Binding as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the means (46) of the locking element (40) slides against the stop (39) of the wall (37) when the boot moves down further, keeping the jaw (31) locked.
5. Binding as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a second jaw (32) identical to the first, these two jaws being kinematically linked (42) so that the two jaws can be lowered simultaneously.
6. Binding as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the kinematic link is between the locking elements (40, 40')
7. Binding as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the kinematic link is by means of a bent bar (42).
8. Binding as claimed in one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that in the closed, locked, position, the jaws have a differential play (51), this play being eliminated when the binding is in the open position.
9. Binding as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the feature (37) has a cam-shaped part having a lateral face forming a stop for the locking element (40) and a cutout (38) forming a circumferential stop (39), and in that the locking element consists of a finger (40) which can move at least approximately parallel to the axis of rotation of the jaw (31) and is in the shape of a wedge pressing against the circumferential stop (39) as it enters said cutout (38) after the jaw has rotated a certain amount.
10. Binding as claimed in claim 1 or 9, characterized in that it comprises means (48, 49, 50) intended to increase the friction forces that oppose inadvertent opening of the binding when it is closed around the boot.
11. Binding as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the means for increasing the friction consist of an auxiliary bar (48) moving with friction between two friction pieces (49, 50).
12. Binding as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the kinematic link between the locking fingers consists of a bar (42) urged by elastic means which tend to push the bar toward the jaws.

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