Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
  • A63C9/00—Ski bindings
  • A63C9/08—Ski bindings yieldable or self-releasing in the event of an accident, i.e. safety bindings
  • A63C9/086—Ski bindings yieldable or self-releasing in the event of an accident, i.e. safety bindings using parts which are fixed on the shoe of the user and are releasable from the ski binding
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
  • A63C9/00—Ski bindings
  • A63C9/02—Non-self-releasing bindings with swivel sole-plate or swivel parts, i.e. Ellefsen-type
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
  • A63C9/00—Ski bindings
  • A63C9/08—Ski bindings yieldable or self-releasing in the event of an accident, i.e. safety bindings
  • A63C9/0807—Ski bindings yieldable or self-releasing in the event of an accident, i.e. safety bindings for both towing and downhill skiing
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
  • A63C9/00—Ski bindings
  • A63C9/08—Ski bindings yieldable or self-releasing in the event of an accident, i.e. safety bindings
  • A63C9/085—Ski bindings yieldable or self-releasing in the event of an accident, i.e. safety bindings with sole hold-downs, e.g. swingable
  • A63C9/08507—Ski bindings yieldable or self-releasing in the event of an accident, i.e. safety bindings with sole hold-downs, e.g. swingable with a plurality of mobile jaws
  • A63C9/08521—Ski bindings yieldable or self-releasing in the event of an accident, i.e. safety bindings with sole hold-downs, e.g. swingable with a plurality of mobile jaws pivoting about a vertical axis, e.g. side release
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
  • A63C9/00—Ski bindings
  • A63C9/08—Ski bindings yieldable or self-releasing in the event of an accident, i.e. safety bindings
  • A63C9/085—Ski bindings yieldable or self-releasing in the event of an accident, i.e. safety bindings with sole hold-downs, e.g. swingable
  • A63C9/08557—Details of the release mechanism
  • A63C9/08564—Details of the release mechanism using cam or slide surface
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
  • A63C9/00—Ski bindings
  • A63C9/08—Ski bindings yieldable or self-releasing in the event of an accident, i.e. safety bindings
  • A63C9/085—Ski bindings yieldable or self-releasing in the event of an accident, i.e. safety bindings with sole hold-downs, e.g. swingable
  • A63C9/08557—Details of the release mechanism
  • A63C9/08578—Details of the release mechanism using a plurality of biasing elements
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
  • A63C9/00—Ski bindings
  • A63C9/08—Ski bindings yieldable or self-releasing in the event of an accident, i.e. safety bindings
  • A63C9/085—Ski bindings yieldable or self-releasing in the event of an accident, i.e. safety bindings with sole hold-downs, e.g. swingable
  • A63C9/08557—Details of the release mechanism
  • A63C9/08585—Details of the release mechanism using transverse biasing element
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63C—SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
  • A63C9/00—Ski bindings
  • A63C9/20—Non-self-releasing bindings with special sole edge holders instead of toe-straps

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a toe-piece for ski bindings provided with safety release means for the toe of the ski boot . It is known in the technical sector relating to ski touring that there exists the need to provide safety bindings comprising a front part or toe-piece able to lock the toe of the ski boot, allowing it to be rotated about a substantially horizontal axis, and a rear part or heel-piece able to cooperate with the heel of the ski boot so as to allow three different modes of use, respectively: heel released (normal walking) ; heel resting with greater or lesser degree of inclination of the ski boot (walking uphill) and heel locked (downhill skiing) .
• EP 0,199,098 describes, for example, known bindings of the type mentioned above which have, however, the drawback consisting in the fact that the toe-piece does not have independent means for releasing the boot in the transverse direction, as required in the event of a fall or a twisting movement during downhill skiing, said safety condition being achieved by means of corresponding means for operating the rear heel-piece, which is therefore very complex and heavy and results in an assembly which has poor rigidity and is awkward during fitting.
• the technical problem which is posed, therefore, is to provide a ski binding toe-piece able to achieve locking of the boot toe with the rigidity normally required for such applications and with the possibility of rotating the same toe about a horizontal axis, but at the same time able to allow the toe to come out of the toe-piece in the event of it being acted on by transverse forces, independently of the action of the heel-piece.
• P
• a toe-piece for ski bindings comprising a fixed support base having two jaws, with a respective end pin, able to rotate about an axis substantially perpendicular to the support base so as to pass from an open position into a closed position for locking the toe of a ski boot, said jaws having a resistance arm co-operating with actuating means able to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the support base against the opposing action of resilient means integral with the said toe-piece, said actuating means being constrained to a sliding piece able to be displaced in both senses in the longitudinal direction upon actuation of associated operating means, so as to cause closing/opening of the two jaws.
• Figure 1 is an exploded view of the toe-piece according to the present invention
• Figure 2 is a top plan view of the toe-piece according to Fig. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a cross-section along a plane indicated by III-III in Fig. 2;
• - Figure 4a, 4b is a perspective view and a top plan view of the toe-piece according to Fig. 1 during normal opening for positioning of the toe of the ski boot;
• Figure 5a, 5b is a perspective view and a top plan view of the toe-piece according to Fig. 1 during closing onto the toe of the ski boot;
• Figure 6 is a top plan view of the toe-piece according to Fig. 1 during release of the ski boot when acted on by transverse forces;
• FIG. 7a, 7b is a perspective view and a top plan view of the toe-piece according to Fig. 1 during resetting;
• FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the toe-piece according to the present invention.
• Figure 9 is a view, from above, of a further embodiment of the toe-piece according to the present invention.
• FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a further embodiment of the toe-piece according to the present invention.
• FIG. 11 is a view of the toe-piece according to Fig. 10, partially open;
• FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the toe-piece according to Fig. 10 during opening for positioning of the toe of the ski boot ;
• FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the toe-piece according to Fig. 10 during closing onto the toe of the ski boot for use during downhill skiing;
• - Figure 14 is a perspective view of the toe-piece according to Fig. 10 during closing onto the toe of the ski boot for use when walking uphill;
• - Figure 15 is a view of the toe-piece according to Fig. 10 during release of the ski boot when acted on by transverse forces;
• FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the toe-piece according to Fig. 10 during resetting.
• the toe-piece according to the invention comprises essentially:
• a fixed base 100 formed by a first substantially flat base-piece 110 with raised longitudinal sides 111 having a respective eyelet 112 elongated in the longitudinal direction and a respective hole 113; the base-piece 110 is elongated in the longitudinal direction towards the front in the form of a strip 114 in which a hole 114a is present.
• the base 110 also has formed therein an inset area 110a able to contain the thickness of a counter base-piece 120 made of steel and having raised flanges 121 in the form of a C, the arms of which parallel to the plane of the base 110 are provided with respective coaxial holes 121a able to receive a pin 122 forming an axis of rotation perpendicular to the plane of the base 110; this being intended for two jaws 123 arranged opposite each other and symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis X-X and in turn formed with a power arm 123a, substantially perpendicular to the base 110 and having a respective conical pin 124 extending parallel to the said base and able to engage with a respective seat Ib in the toe Ia of the ski boot, and a resistance arm 123 substantially parallel to the base 110;
• the fixed base 110 also has, integral therewith, resilient means 200 arranged so as to project towards the inside of the said base and acting in a direction parallel to the transverse axis Y-Y; said
• said actuating means comprise a lever 310 formed by a central body 311a extending in the longitudinal direction so as to be able to be arranged between the two said springs 210, a head 311 shaped so as to have two curved seats 312 symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis X-X and open towards the outside, as well as a through-hole 315 able to allow the insertion of means 320 perpendicular to the base 100 and forming an axis of rotation for the lever 310, as well as the element for locking displacement thereof in the two - longitudinal and transverse directions; said axis of rotation 320 comprises essentially a threaded pin 321, the head 321a of which makes contact against the bottom surface of the base 110 and the shank 321b of which passes through an eyelet 115 in the said base, an eyelet 125
• the sliding piece 350 also has, formed thereon, a flange 356 in the form of an overturned L, the free arm of which is able to support a longitudinally acting safety spring 357, the function of which will become clear below in connection with operation of the toe-piece.
• the sliding piece In its front part, has an eyelet 354 suitable for engagement with retaining means 354a able to prevent raising in the vertical direction Z-Z, but allow displacement of the sliding piece 350 in both senses of the longitudinal direction X-X.
• the sliding piece 350 has a transverse seat 355 which houses inside it : - the transverse arm 411 of a resilient U-shaped element 410, the longitudinal arms 412 of which have ends 412a folded towards the outside for insertion in corresponding seats 421 of a lever 420 for operating the entire toe-piece, able to be rotationally operated by the user.
• said operating lever 420 is provided with an eyelet 422 elongated in the longitudinal direction and receiving, inserted inside it, a button 430 with a gripping head 431 and fork-shaped body 432 able to be arranged over a longitudinal extension 313 of the lever 310 so as to lock/release rotation thereof.
• the sliding piece 350 is situated, in the vertical direction, between two strips 340 of material with a low coefficient of friction for facilitating displacement thereof with respect to the base and rotation of the lever (311) .
• the toe-piece has the operating lever 420 partially raised in the clockwise direction, lever 311 kept in alignment by the two opposite springs 210, jaws 123 with resistance arm 123b inserted in the seat 312 of the said lever 311 and rotated outwards so as to allow entry of the toe of the ski boot in the axial direction; once the toe Ia of the ski boot is correctly positioned (Figs. 4a, 4b)
• the operating lever 420 is rotated in the anti-clockwise direction, causing by means of the U-shaped means 420, recalling, towards the front, of the sliding piece 350 which, via the pin 320, causes displacement of the lever 311 which in turn, acting on the resistance arms 123b of the jaws 123 causes rotation thereof towards the inside with closing of the toe-piece and penetration of the conical end pins 124 inside the respective seats Ib of the toe Ia of the ski boot; in this condition the ski boot may only rotate about the said pins 124 if the heel-piece part (not shown) of the binding is free; if (Fig.
• the lever 420 is operated (Fig. 7a, 7b), applying a force such as to overcome the resistance of the longitudinal safety spring 357 which hitherto had not intervened and forcing the rotation in a clockwise direction of the said lever which pushes the sliding piece 350 and therefore the lever 310 in the axial direction, causing the arm 123b of the other jaw to come out also from the respective seat and total opening thereof ;
• the lever 420 upon reaching the end-of-travel position - formed by the transverse side of the eyelet 354 which comes into contact with the pin 354a - the lever 420 is rotated in the opposite direction so as to obtain the return movement of the sliding piece 350 towards the front of the toe-piece, said return movement causing reinsertion of the resistance arms 123b into the respective seats 312 of the lever 310 and therefore resetting of the toe-piece which is again ready for use.
• Fig. 8 shows a first variation of embodiment of the toe-piece according to the present invention, in this configuration the operating lever 1420 being connected to the resilient U-shaped element 1410 so as to rotate in the opposite direction to that described above, namely with rotation in the anti-clockwise direction for closing of the toe-piece and rotation in the anticlockwise direction for opening thereof.
• the lever 420 and the lever 1420 have respective seats 420a, 1420a for engaging with the end of the ski pole so that the force for closing/opening the toe-piece can be applied.
• Fig. 9 shows a further variation of embodiment of the toe-piece according to the present invention which, in this configuration, has opposition springs 1210 arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction X-X; as shown the springs 1210 are supported by associated means 1220 which are fixed to the base piece 110 and conventional per se and therefore not described in detail, the springs acting in this case against the head part 312 of the lever 311 and the operating principle of the toe-piece remaining the same as that already described.
• a further embodiment of the toe- piece according to the present invention comprises essentially:
• a fixed base 2100 formed by a first substantially flat base-piece 2110 with raised longitudinal sides 2111 provided with two respective holes 2113,2114 coaxial with each other and arranged at different heights from the plane in the direction Z-Z.
• the base 2110 also has, incorporated therein, a counter base- piece 2120 provided with raised flanges 121 in the form of a C, the arms of which parallel to the plane of the base 2110 are provided with respective coaxial holes 121a able to receive a pin 122 forming an axis of rotation perpendicular to the plane of the base 2110;
• reaction means comprise a cam 2311 shaped so as to have two curved seats 2312 symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis X-X and open towards the outside, for allowing entry/exit of the resistance arms 123b of the jaws 123; as well as a through-hole 2315 able to allow the insertion of means 2320 perpendicular to the base 2100 and forming an axis of rotation of the cam 2311; said axis of rotation 2320 comprises essentially a pin 2321 fixed by means of pressure to the sliding piece 2350 and able to be inserted inside corresponding holes 2355 of a sliding piece 2350 inside which said cam 2311 is inserted.
• the sliding piece 2350 is made in the form of a box open laterally so as to allow seating of the cam 2311 and a constraining element 2600.
• Said element 2600 has a hole 2605 extending in the transverse direction Y-Y and suitable for engagement with a pin 2430a passing through corresponding holes 2113 in the sides 2111 of the fixed base 2100; in this way the element 2600 forms the means for constraining the sliding piece 2350 to the fixed base 2100 with respect to which the said sliding piece is able to be displaced in both directions and the support surface for the cam 2311.
• the constraining element is in the form of a ⁇ U" with arms 2601 which have two transverse coaxial holes, one of which 2602a is a through-hole and the other one 2602b threaded, suitable for engagement with a corresponding pin 2603 having a threaded end and therefore able to exert a compressive force on the arms 2601 of the "U" for the purposes which will be described below with reference to operation of the binding.
• the transverse arm 2604 of the ⁇ U" has, projecting axially therefrom, a pin 2605 able to form the support of resilient opposition means acting in the longitudinal direction X-X and consisting of a spring 2210 housed inside the sliding piece 2350 inside which it is inserted via a threaded hole 2351 which is closed by an adjusting screw 2351a, greater or lesser screwing of which causes greater/lesser compression of the spring and therefore greater/lesser resistance to release of the jaws 123.
• the sliding piece 2350 has a surface 2350a which is suitably shaped so as to interact with a 5 corresponding surface 2311a of the said cam 2311 so as to cause correct centring thereof in the rest condition.
• the sliding piece 2350 has transverse extensions 2352 shaped in the manner of a cam 2352a in
• the toe-piece comprises, moreover, a front fork-shaped lever 2420 pivotably mounted on the base piece 2110 by means of an associated transverse pin 2420a inserted
• the operating principle of the toe-piece is as follows:
• the control lever 2420 is operated, causing it to rotate downwards (Fig. 12) and producing the action of the rear ends 2420b of the lever 2420 on the corresponding arm 123b of the jaw 123 so as to bring it from the rest position into a more open position able to allow insertion of the toe of the ski boot ; once the toe Ia of the ski boot is correctly positioned (Fig. 12)
• the control lever 2420 is released and, rotating in the clockwise direction, disengages its ends 2420b from the resistance arm 123b of the jaw 123, causing the recall, towards the front, of the sliding piece 2350 which causes the displacement of the cam 2311 which, in turn, acting on the resistance arms 123b of the jaws 123 causes rotation thereof towards the inside with closing of the toe- piece and penetration of the conical pins 124 inside the respective seats Ib in the toe Ia of the ski boot; once the ski boot is positioned, release of the control lever 2420 causes the return of the toe-piece into the rest condition described above which allows the user to select two respective modes of use: for downhill skiing (Fig.
• the toe-piece according to the invention allows easy adjustment depending on the variation in transverse width of the seats engaging with the ski boot, said width diminishing with the wear of the said seats, as well as a practical fitting action obtained by means of the thrusting force applied on the lever 2420 by the tip of the ski pole, resulting in widening of the jaws, allowing insertion of the toe of the ski boot.

Landscapes

• Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
• Fishing Rods (AREA)
• Surgical Instruments (AREA)
• Golf Clubs (AREA)
• Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=37589182

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (25)

Family Cites Families (2)

• 2005
  • 2005-07-22 IT IT001429A patent/ITMI20051429A1/it unknown
• 2006
  • 2006-07-20 EP EP06779929A patent/EP1907078B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2006-07-20 AT AT06779929T patent/ATE444788T1/de active
  • 2006-07-20 DE DE602006009660T patent/DE602006009660D1/de active Active
  • 2006-07-20 WO PCT/IB2006/002131 patent/WO2007010392A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events