EP1941935A2

EP1941935A2 - System for releasing ski boot or snowboard binding elements and similar

Info

Publication number: EP1941935A2
Application number: EP06820006A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pablo De La Torre Rodriguez
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-10-04
Filing date: 2006-09-29
Publication date: 2008-07-09
Also published as: WO2007039655A2; WO2007039655A3; ES2261095B1; CA2624891A1; US20090243259A1; ES2261095A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for releasing the bindings of ski or snowboard boots and similar. The invention consists of an electronic transmitting device (1) which is equipped with a detector for detecting the release of a handgrip and which is housed in a handheld object. The invention also comprises an electronic receiving device (5) which can be housed in the bindings (6) of the ski boots, the snowboard and similar and which opens said bindings (6) in response to a command from the electronic transmitting device (1), said command being generated when the aforementioned handheld object is released.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention as expressed by the title of this descriptive report refers to a system for releasing the binding elements of ski or snowboard boots and similar whose essential objective is to provide a system to reduce the number of injuries resulting from skiing and similar sports because it makes possible to open the bindings that keep the boots locked onto the user regardless of the pressure or torque exerted on the bindings and in that it can be activated voluntarily and involuntarily.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that skiing, snowboarding and similar are sports that entail a great deal of risk and that the numerous injuries resulting from the practice of said sports usually affect the locomotor apparatus and are caused mainly by unexpected falls and loss of balance. Knee injuries are particularly significant and in many cases there are instances of knee ligament trauma. The reason this occurs is because the torque created by the length of the ski or the board secured by the boot bindings determines these injuries. Currently there is no actively efficient safety solution in the market for this problem, since although the standard bindings are prepared to open in case of accident, the bindings only opens in some specific cases when they are forced by mechanical means. Also, in the case of conventional mechanical opening means, the user usually is confronted with the choice of having to fasten the bindings too loosely, so they can be unexpectedly released by the actual motions of the user while practicing the sport, or tighten them excessively so in case of accident or fall the bindings will not open and the user will sustain an injury as a result.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the stated objectives and avoid the disadvantages mentioned in previous sections, the present invention comprises a system to release the binding elements of ski or snowboard boots or similar applicable elements used in the practice of these or similar sports, such as the handles of ski poles and snowboard and ski boot bindings.
The novelty of the present invention relies in that the system described presents an electronic transmitting device equipped with a detector for detecting the release of a handgrip and which is housed in a handheld object; as well as an electronic receiving device that may be located in the bindings of the ski boots, snowboard and similar, and that carries out the release of said bindings when receiving an order from the aforementioned electronic transmitting device, said order being triggered when the user releases the handgrip that holds the handheld object and releases it.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, said transmitting and receiving devices communicate by wireless technology, preferably by radio or infrared waves.
In addition, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, said handheld object consists in either the handle of a ski pole or in a special actuator that is a sort of main body that is manually held and joined by means of a cable or similar to a fastening wrist band or bracelet, so that the user can wear the wrist band or bracelet in his or her wrist and hold the main body in his or her hand without risking losing the object if it is released or escapes their grip.
The main advantage of the system object of the present invention resides in that the release of the ski boot bindings or similar occurs independently from the movements and mechanical pressures applied to the bindings, so the user that is wearing the system object of the invention in the event of an imminent fall will let go of the ski pole or the actuator voluntarily and this action will cause the boot bindings to open up preventing the accident (sic); another situation that may occur is the user releasing go of the ski pole or the actuator involuntarily as a reflex act when falling, a course of events that will also result in the opening of the boot bindings with the desirable outcome of preventing the accident (sic).
The figures described in the next section are intended as an aid to facilitate a better understanding of the features of the present specification and are to be considered as an integrated part of it intended as illustrative and not limiting of the scope and object of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1.: Shows a schematic view of a system for releasing ski or snowboard boot binding elements and similar according to the present invention.
Figure 2.: Shows a view of the special actuator that can be used in replace of the ski pole represented in the previous Figure 1.
Figure 3.: Shows s a schematic view of the user' hand wearing said special actuator device.
Figure 4.: Shows the user's hand represented in previous Figure 3 after the user has released said special actuator device.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention is described following referring to the numbered parts shown in the drawings described in the previous section.
The ski boot, snowboard and similar binding release system described in this particular example of the invention is equipped with an electronic transmitter device 1 and with an electronic receiving device 5.
The electronic transmitter device 1 can be installed in the handle of a standard ski pole 2 - as represented in Figure 1- so the electronic transmitter device 1 detects the moment at which the user voluntarily or involuntarily lets go of the ski pole and this action triggers the transmission of a control signal to the electronic receiving device 5 commanding it to release open the ski boot bindings 6.
Also, the electronic transmitter device 1 - as shown in Figure 2 - may be installed in a special actuator 3 instead of in the handle of the ski pole 2 in such a manner that said special actuator 3 may be joined by a cable, chain or similar to a wrist band or bracelet 4 that can be worn by the user as shown in Figures 3 and 4 to prevent the loss of electronic transmitter device 1 when the user releases the handgrip holding special actuator 3. In this case, just as it was the case if the device was installed in the handle of ski pole 2, when the user lets go voluntarily or involuntarily of special actuator 3, the electronic transmitter device 1 sends a command to electronic receiving device 5 to release open the bindings 6.
Communication between the electronic transmitter device 1 and the electronic receiving device 5 is preferably done by means of radio or infrared waves.
Figures 3 and 4 show respectively how the user's hand 7 grips and releases special actuator 3.
This configuration as described allows the user to start practicing the chosen sport - after having activated the system - by holding in his or her hand the ski pole 2 or the special actuator 3 which keeps bindings 6 securely closed. In case of accident the user will voluntarily or involuntarily as a reflex act let go of either device which will trigger the transmission of the command to receiving device 5 which will effect the opening of bindings 6 to release the user from the ski boot, snowboard or similar thus preventing injuries from occurring.

Claims

SYSTEM FOR RELEASING BINDING ELEMENTS FOR SKI OR SNOWBOARD BOOTS AND SIMILAR applicable in elements required for the practice of these and similar sports such as ski pole handles (2) and boot bindings (6) of the corresponding boards, characterized in that it is equipped with an electronic transmitter device (1) having a detector for detecting the release of a handgrip housed in a handheld object, as well as an electronic receiving device (5) which is housed in the bindings (6) of the ski, snowboard or similar boots and that opens said bindings (6) in response to an order from issued by said electronic transmitting device (1), said order being generated when the aforementioned handheld object is released.
SYSTEM FOR RELEASING BINDING ELEMENTS FOR SKI OR SNOWBOARD BOOTS AND SIMILAR according to claim 1, characterized in that said electronic transmitter device (1) and said electronic receiving device (5) communicate by wireless means, preferably by radio or infrared waves.
SYSTEM FOR RELEASING BINDING ELEMENTS FOR SKI OR SNOWBOARD BOOTS AND SIMILAR according to claim 1, characterized in that said handheld object consists of the handle of a ski pole (2).
SYSTEM FOR RELEASING BINDING ELEMENTS FOR SKI OR SNOWBOARD BOOTS AND SIMILAR according to claim 1, characterized in that said handheld object consists of a special actuator (3) shaped in a sort of main hand-gripped body joined by means of a cable or similar to a fastening wrist band or bracelet (4); in such a way that allows a user to wear the fastening wrist band or bracelet in his or her wrist and to grip the main body with his or her hand (7) without losing said main body in case of releasing it.