EP1795236B1 - Ski bindings - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a ski binding according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a ski binding is from the WO 01/66204 A1 known. In this known construction, however, no measures are provided to keep the ski brake in its inactive position when lifting the heel of the ski boot relative to the ski. Accordingly, there is a risk that when lifting the shoe heel the ski brake at least partially reaches its active position and hinders the sliding of the ski on the ground.

Based on the aforementioned prior art, the object of the present invention is to make available a ski binding, in particular touring, telemark or cross-country binding, with a ski brake which is activated only when the shoe breaks away from the binding and thus from the ski, either deliberately or unintentionally in a fall.

This object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1.

Accordingly, the ski binding according to the present invention differs from the prior art, in particular, in that the ski brake operating portion associated with the front sole of the ski boot is effective between the pivot axis of the ski boot-holding connecting portion and the shoe sole. By this measure It is absolutely certain that the ski brake is inactive as long as the shoe remains fixed on the front retaining element. The ski brake is activated in a completely defined manner only when the front sole of the front retaining element emerges. Accordingly, it is prevented by the measure according to the invention that the ski brake moves when lifting the shoe heel, as in the prior art according to the WO 01/66204 A1 can not be excluded.

Advantageous embodiments and structural details of the binding according to the invention are described in the subclaims.

In a particularly simple and safe working execution, the ski brake is designed as a resilient pivoting lever according to claim 2.

Fig. 1

zum allgemeinen Verständnis eine synoptische Darstellung einer Skibindung der hier fraglichen Art ohne Skibremse in Art einer kombinierten Seitenansicht und Längsschnitt-Darstellung in einer senkrechten Schnittebene, wobei zwei verschiedene Stellungen der Skischuh-Vordersohle gezeigt sind;

Fig. 2

eine weitere Darstellung der Skibindung nach Fig. 1 in Form einer mit Teilschnittdarstellungen in zur Skioberfläche parallelen Schnittebenen kombinierten Draufsicht;

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Darstellung von Konstruktionselementen der Skibindung nach Fig. 1 und 2 (ohne Bindungsgehäuse); und

Fig. 4 und 5A-5C

skizzenartige Darstellungen einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform einer Skibindung mit Skibremse gemäß vorliegender Erfindung in Draufsicht sowie drei Seitenansichten in verschiedenen Stellungen eines Skischuhs.

The claims 3 ff relate to other parts of the ski binding, in particular the front and rear retaining element and the clamping device together with connecting part, the function and advantage of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. This shows in:

Fig. 1

for general understanding, a synoptic representation of a ski binding of the type in question without ski brake in the manner of a combined side view and longitudinal section in a vertical sectional plane, wherein two different positions of the ski boot front sole are shown;

Fig. 2

another illustration of the ski binding after Fig. 1 in the form of a partial sectional views in parallel to the ski surface cutting planes top view;

Fig. 3

a perspective view of construction elements of the ski binding after Fig. 1 and 2 (without binding housing); and

Figs. 4 and 5A-5C

Sketch-like representations of a preferred embodiment of a ski binding with ski brake according to the present invention in Top view and three side views in different positions of a ski boot.

Fig. 1 and 2 show a ski binding 1 in the mounted on a (not shown) ski state, where you have to imagine on the left side of the figure, the ski tip and on the right side of the ski end. Fig. 3 shows the essential components of the front part of the ski binding 1 again in a spatial representation. In Fig. 1 the ski surface 3 is shown as a solid line, and it is shown the front lower part of a ski boot 5 to a fully lowered position and the other with a slightly raised paragraph. The ski boot 5 has a front sole 7 with a circumferentially protruding sole edge 7a and a rear sole end 7b, which are in engagement with essential functional elements of the ski binding 1 (see below).

The ski binding 1 comprises as essential functional units a mounting plate 9, a front holding element 11 with associated elastic pressure element 13, a rear holding device 15, a front holding element 11 with the rear holding device 15 connecting flexible plastic plate 17 and arranged in front of the front holding element unlocking 19th

The front retaining element 11 is formed as a resilient steel retaining clip with a substantially U-shaped cross section, wherein the legs of the "U" inwardly directed bends 11a have, with which the retaining clip 11 from both sides of the sole edge 7a of the ski boot front sole embraces. How best in Fig. 2 and 3 can be seen, the retaining clip 11 is slightly widened in adaptation to the shape of the ski boot front sole to the rear. Their resilient design allows under the action of an impermissibly high torsional force between the ski boot and ski a resilient expansion, which allows unscrewing the front sole 7 from the retaining clip 11 and thus releasing the ski boot 5 from the binding 1 and thus of the ski.

The in the embodiment shown immediately before the retaining clip 11 arranged, designed as a solid elastomer block elastic pressure element 13, whose top is slightly convex and running slightly sloping backwards, is in surface contact with the underside of the front sole 7, presses the top of the sole edge 7a against the underside of the folds 11a and thus creates a frictional resistance against rotation of the ski boot 5 about an axis perpendicular to the ski surface. This ensures that a rotation of the ski boot is only possible with larger lateral forces and unscrewing the ski boot 5 from the binding only at dangerously high lateral forces. The elastomer block 13 thus provides in this regard for reasonable guiding properties of the binding in combination with a safety trip function. On the other hand, the elastomer block 13 opposes an increase in the heel of the ski boot 5 an elastic resistance at the top of the front sole 7 and thus generates the biodynamically desirable restoring force in such a lifting.

The rear holding device 15 is - as it does not concern the core of the invention - described below only in broad terms. It comprises as a rear retaining element a spring-loaded pivoting lever 21, which is connected via a pair of rollers 23 in engagement with the rear sole end 7b. By a pivoting movement follows the (in Fig. 1 pivoting lever 21 shown in two pivoting positions, to a certain extent lifting the heel of the ski boot 5, without the engagement between the pair of rollers 23 and the rear sole end 7b is canceled. A rear spring device 25 embedded in a retainer housing 27 attracts the rear retainer 21 against the rear sole end 7b. An adjusting screw 29 is used to adjust the rear holding device 15th

The unlocking device 19 for opening the binding comprises substantially designed as torsionsfederbelastete pivot lever first locking element 31 and designed as a spring-loaded slider 33 second locking element. Both parts 31, 33 are approximately U-shaped in cross-section and have at the front end in each case a fold 31a, 33a as an engagement portion for mutual engagement.

The first locking element forming pivot lever 31 is pivotable about an axis of rotation 35 which is mounted in a U-shaped holder 37. To the rotation axis 35 acting as a torsion spring coil spring 39 is wound, which biases the pivot lever 31 in the engaged position with the slider 33. By pressure from above with a (in Fig. 1 Dashed line shown) ski pole 41 which is inserted into a guide opening 43 in a front binding housing 45, the pivot lever 31 can be pivoted clockwise far enough that its fold 31a out of engagement with the fold 33a of the slider 33 device.

The second locking element (slider) 33 has in addition to the aforementioned first, upwardly facing edge 33a, a second, downwardly facing edge 33b, which projects into a front spring device (coil spring) 47. This biases the slider 33 forward - ie in the engaged position with the pivot lever 31 - before. The slider 33 passes through the elastomer block 13, in which two (not separately designated) slots are provided for this purpose, and the retaining clip 11 and is connected at its end via a fastening and pivot axis 49 with the plastic plate 17. Although this is biegelastisch, but not stretchable, whereby a total of a tensile connection between the front end of the slider 33 (the fold 33a) and the rear holding device 15 is formed. As long as the pivot lever 31 and the slider 33 are locked together, an elasticity of the binding in the longitudinal direction for flexion compensation is realized solely by the Torsionsfederbelastung the rear support member 21.

However, if by the above-mentioned pressure from above with the ski pole 41 on the pivot lever 31 whose engagement with the slider 33 is released, pushes the rear spring means 25, the rear holding means 15 in total (and with her the plastic plate 17 and the slider 33) to the rear until the engagement with the rear sole end 7b of the ski boot 5 is released and the skier can get out of the binding. After this is done, the front spring means 47, the slider 33 and with it (via the mounting axis 49) push the plastic plate 17 forward again, the engagement with the pivot lever 31 is restored, and the binding is ready for a new boarding.

The Figures 4 and 5A to 5C show a relation to the aforementioned embodiment by a ski brake 50 "supplemented ski binding 1".

This ski binding 1 "has a ski brake 50" in the form of a spring-loaded pivot lever which is mounted in a mounting plate 9 "on the surface 3 of the ski.

The pivot lever 50 "is angled here in the region of a rotation axis 51" and its front portion 55 "is so long that it engages over the attachment and pivot axis 49 of the flexible plastic plate 17". At the same time, the front portion 55 "projects through a longitudinal slot 17a" in the plastic plate 17 ". The front end of the front portion 55" has a hook-like downward bend to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the mounting and pivoting axis 49.

The FIGS. 5A to 5C show the position of the ski brake 50 "in different positions of the ski boot 5 in the binding 1". It can be seen that when flat on the ski or the mounting plate 9 "resting shoe 5 ( Fig. 5A ) is clamped with its front end between the underside of the front sole 7 and the mounting and pivot axis 49, as with the raised heel of the shoe of the front portion 55 "of the ski brake 50, whereby the ski brake in its inactive position with aligned parallel to the ski surface lateral legs 57a ', 57b' is held. Only when the shoe 5 has left the binding 1 "( Fig. 5C ), the front section 55 "is released and the entire ski brake 50" is pivoted about its pivot axis 51 "by a torsion spring 53. As a result, the ski brake enters the active position shown in the image, in which the lateral legs 57a ', 57b' are in alignment with the plane of the ski include an acute angle and plastic pads 59 'disposed thereon brake the ski.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1; 1"

ski binding

3

ski surface

5

ski boot

7

front sole

7a

sole edge

7b

rear sole end

9; 9 ".

mounting plate

11

front retaining element (retaining clip)

11a

fold

13

elastic pressure element (elastomeric block)

15

rear holding device

17; 17 "

flexible plastic plate

17a "

longitudinal slot

19

unlocking

21

rear retaining element (pivot lever)

23

roller pair

25

rear spring device

27

Retainer housing

29

adjusting

31

first locking element (pivot lever)

31a

fold

33

second locking element (sliding piece)

33a; 33b

fold

35

axis of rotation

37

holder

39

Coil spring (torsion spring)

41

ski stick

43

guide opening

45

front binding housing

47

front spring device (coil spring)

49

Mounting and swiveling axis

50 "

Ski brake (swivel lever)

51 "

axis of rotation

53 '

torsion spring

55 "

front section

57a '; 57b '

lateral thighs

59 '

plastic pad

Claims (17)

1. Ski binding, especially a touring, telemark or cross-country binding, having

   - a ski brake (50"),

   - a front retaining element associated with the front end (7a) of the sole of a ski boot (5),

   - a rear retaining element (21) formed for engaging an edge (7b) on the boot foresole or on the heel of the ski boot, and

   - a tensioning means (17; 25; 47; 17") connecting the front and rear retaining elements to one another which has a connecting part and which allows locking of the front and rear retaining elements to the ski boot and, especially in the locked state, allows lifting of the heel of the ski boot away from the ski,
   the ski brake (50"), in the state mounted on the ski, being attached between the surface (3) of the ski and the tensioning means, especially the upper side of the flat connecting part (17; 17"), an actuation portion (55") of the ski brake being, in the use position, in direct contact with the underside of the front end of the sole (7) of the ski boot (5) in such a manner that, when the front end (7a) is fixed in the front retaining element, the ski brake is inactive and it becomes activated when the front end exits from the front holding element (11),

   characterised in that
   the ski brake (50") is fixed to a mounting plate (9") of the ski binding and its actuation portion (55") is located above a pivot axle (49) of the connecting part (17; 17") at the front end of the latter in such a manner that, in the state mounted on the ski, the ski brake, on raising of the heel of the ski boot (5), remains in its resting position on the ski and its actuation portion (55") remains fixed between the underside of the front end of the sole (7) and the upper side of the flat connecting part (17").
2. Ski binding according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the ski brake is in the form of a resilient pivot lever (50") the front portion (55) of which is, in the use position, by virtue of a recess (17a") in the flat connecting part, in contact with the sole (7) of the ski boot (5) and which in the middle region has a pivot axle (51 ") and, in the rear region, on the other side of the pivot axle, straddles the ski in a U shape (57a'; 57b').
3. Ski binding according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   the front retaining element engages around the sole of the ski boot close to the tip of the boot on both sides in the manner of a clamp, especially with lateral resilience, and there is associated with the front retaining element a resilient element (13) against the action of which the front end of the sole is downwardly movable at the same time as the boot heel is raised.
4. Ski binding according to claim 3,
   characterised in that
   the retaining element (11) is in the form of a retaining clamp of substantially U-shaped cross-section, the base of which is attached to the ski and which especially is made of resilient metal or high-strength plastics material and the ends (11 a) of the limbs of which are inwardly angled and the resilient element (13) is in the form of an elastomer block located, in the use position, under the sole of the ski boot and in and/or in front of the retaining clamp.
5. Ski binding according to claim 3 or 4,
   characterised in that
   with the tensioning means there is associated at least one spring-loaded unlocking device (19) for release of the locking between the ski binding and the ski boot (5) on manual application of a force to a first locking element (31) having substantially interlocking-shape action.
6. Ski binding according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the clamping means has a flat connecting part (17; 17"), which is flexurally resilient in a longitudinal sectional plane of the ski binding, for at least indirect, resiliently non-rotatable connection of the front retaining element (11) to the rear retaining element (21).
7. Ski binding according to claim 6,
   characterised in that
   the flat connecting part (17; 17") is laterally guided relative to the ski, especially by side walls of a binding housing (45) fixed to the ski which engage around the side edges of the connecting part.
8. Ski binding according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   in the region of the front retaining element (11) there is provided a second locking element (33) co-operating with the first locking element (31) and also a front spring device (47) for biasing the first locking element into the engagement position with the second locking element and, at the rear retaining element (21), a rear spring device co-operating with the front spring device (25) for biasing the rear retaining element into the engagement position with the boot foresole (7) or the heel, the spring force of the rear spring device being greater than that of the front spring device.
9. Ski binding according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the rear retaining element (21) is attached to the tensioning means so that it can pivot about a pivot axle (49) located substantially parallel to the ski surface (3) and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ski.
10. Ski binding according to claim 9,
    characterised in that
    the pivot axle (49) is arranged in the region of the front retaining element (11), especially in the region beneath the foresole (7) of the ski boot.
11. Ski binding according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    the rear retaining element (21) is so constructed that it can be actuated by a projection (7b) on the ski boot foresole (7) or by the rear edge of the heel when the ski boot (5) is set down.
12. Ski binding according to claim 8 and 9,
    characterised in that
    the rear retaining element (21) is so connected to the rear spring device (25) in the manner of a lever that actuation of the retaining element is accomplished, against the spring biasing produced by the rear spring device, by setting down of the ski boot (5) behind the projection (7b) on the ski boot foresole (7).
13. Ski binding according to one of claims 8 to 9,
    characterised in that
    on the rear retaining element (21) there are provided, for flexion compensation, resilient means (25) which are formed, especially, by the rear spring device.
14. Ski binding according to one of claims 8 to 13,
    characterised in that
    the front spring device (47) has a compression spring, especially a helical steel spring, one end of which rests against a binding mounting plate (9") and the other end of which biases the second locking element (33) towards the front and therefore into the engagement position and therefore with the first locking element (31).
15. Ski binding according to one of claims 8 to 14,
    characterised in that
    the first locking element (31) is in the form of a pivot lever which can be pivoted about a horizontal pivot axle oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ski by manual actuation against the biasing force of a torsion spring (39) coaxial with the pivot axle.
16. Ski binding according to one of claims 8 to 15,
    characterised in that
    the second locking element (33) is in the form of a sliding piece connected to the front end of the flat connecting part (17; 17") so that it can pivot by way of a pivot axle (49) at its rear end, its front end being in engagement with the first locking element (31) at rest and also in the use position of the ski binding but not during the manual actuation for the purpose of release.
17. Ski binding according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    on the rear retaining element (21) there are provided adjusting means (29) for length adjustment of the ski binding, especially having a sliding piece that is fixable in a longitudinal guideway.

Images